I'm a culinary judge who shops at Trader Joe's. Here are 12 things I recommend buying.

Alongside a panel of culinary experts and journalists like myself, I've previously been a judge for the sofi awards (dubbed the "Oscars" of food). Many of the products we taste land on market shelves across the country.

So I use my knowledge of food while shopping for my husband and myself, and I particularly love some of Trader Joe's products, such as the chili-onion crunch.

This item contains crispy onion bits suspended in olive oil, with dried chili peppers bringing the heat and bell peppers rounding out the flavor.

I'll slather it on a toasted wedge of sourdough and baked Brie.

A 6-ounce jar costs $4.29.

There are plenty of reasons to eat this cultured butter that's produced in Brittany, France, and costs $2.99.

It has probiotics that benefit your microbiome. Plus European butter has a lower water content than the American stuff, and less moisture makes for better browning and baked goods.

I eliminated certain fats, chemicals, and additives from my diet as a teenager for health, taste, and environmental reasons, so high-quality butter and unrefined vegetable oils are mainstays in my kitchen.

I also like to finish pasta dishes with a knob of butter, à la Chef Scott Conant.

Trader Joe's carries all sorts of fun, seasonal hybrid fruits, and these cherry plums are divine.

The thin, red skin gives way to an intense burst of jammy sweetness, followed by a tart finish.

If we don't eat the whole box, I'll cut up a few and add them to an arugula salad with goat cheese, honey, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and candied pecans.

A 16-ounce package costs $4.79.

This chili-spiked, vinegar-based hot sauce is built around the aromatic peel of yuzu, an East Asian citrus fruit with complex notes of florals, herbs, and spice.

It's spectacular on cooked or raw seafood and brightens chicken dishes. I also drizzle it on sliced avocado, grilled asparagus, and, in the summertime, grilled peaches.

This stuff has a long, yet forgiving afterburn and a bottle costs $4.99.

When I go out for Indian food with friends, I often find myself making a case for paratha while everyone clamors for naan.

I cook Trader Joe's frozen take in a hot pan slicked with ghee, and in a few minutes, I'm tearing off pieces to dunk in a bowl of the chain's tikka masala.

A five-pack sells for $2.29.

Thailand is one of my favorite travel destinations, and the combination of herbs on these cashews mentally takes me back there.

A few handfuls of these large, whole nuts look great on a cheese plate with a fudgy cheddar and a chunk of blue cheese. Plus they pair well with a Thai beer or citrusy beverage.

They also add spice, pucker, and meatiness to my rice-noodle dishes.

A 16-ounce bag costs $7.99.

This colorful pack of carrots makes for an easy, yet impressive side dish roasted whole in oil and balsamic vinegar, with a vigorous shake of thyme and herbs de Provence, or with Aleppo-pepper flakes.

A bag costs $4.49.

Some frozen berries come out of the bag as a lumpy mess and lose all structural integrity when defrosted in the microwave.

However, these raspberries often look good enough to top a cake, but we eat them a couple of times a week for their sweet-tart taste and health benefits, like high fiber and antioxidants.

I defrost them in a bowl on the counter and stir them into a cup of yogurt with a handful of walnut pieces or add some on top of my oatmeal and buckwheat pancakes.

A 12-ounce bag costs $3.99.

Many recipes benefit from a bit of cream, and this shelf-stable variety lasts for up to six months in the pantry.

It enhances my chowders, gravies, and curries, plus it whips well with a sprinkle of powdered sugar when very chilled. I'll often float a cloud of it on top of espresso or add a dollop to a bowl of berries for a quick, light dessert.

A box costs $1.39.

The way I feel about kale is the way some people feel about that one liquor they overdid back in college: I overused it, and now it makes me recoil.

But sipping this juice throughout the week circumvents my aversion and gets some of that green goodness into my system.

The cucumber, lemon, grapefruit, and bit of mint tea give it a cooling quality that's especially revitalizing in hot weather.

A 32-ounce bottle costs $5.99.

Good soup is deceptively simple but quite hard to pull off.

I've yet to master a truly decent chicken soup, so I rely on Trader Joe's take, flecked with carrots, celery, and plenty of shredded chicken.

It's sold in the refrigerated section, but I keep a container stashed in our freezer in case one of us doesn't feel well. Sometimes I'll doctor it with frozen corn kernels and fresh dill.

A 24-ounce container that yields two big bowls or 4 cups of soup costs $4.99.

I've rotated through many of Trader Joe's dessert offerings but always come back to these elegant, impossibly light cookies.

Even though they're simply made of sugar, egg whites, and vanilla, homemade meringues can be easily derailed by humidity, over- or under-beating, or even the tiniest drop of yolk.

These are just right for dressing up a dessert plate or satisfying a craving for a sweet cap to any meal.

A container of meringues costs $3.49.

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