October 2016 Lowest Pumpkin Prices in Chicago suburbs

Every year I typically wait until two weeks prior to Halloween to pick out a good size pumpkin to carve.  I hold off purchasing pumpkins too early as I do not want to freely feed my offering up to the local squirrels. I also avoid early purchasing so I can patiently wait it out and test the volatile “pumpkin market” in pursuit of the lowest price possible. The September and October typical dollar range for Chicago area pumpkin prices ranges anywhere from three to ten dollars per pumpkin. The three to four dollar range is considered sales prices offered up at big box stores; and the higher end pricing is what one will encounter at the local pumpkin patches and farms in the area.  As we are at the mid-point of October 2016, I did some research to reveal those exceptionally low prices I found in the western suburbs of Chicago. Most big box stores during periods when there are no sales will list around the five dollar mark.

Aldi Carving Pumpkins ($2.49) this was the price listed in the flyer this week (October 12). I am not sure how long this sale price will last. I noticed the large box of pumpkins in the store last week, though the stock was severely depleted. This store will offer the best prices, but the sizes are medium at best for carving and the supply is not as plentiful as the other stores (Meijer, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc).

Meijer Pumpkins (Currently $3.99) this week, Meijer is pricing their carving pumpkins for just under $4.00 a piece! That is a good price considering they have pumpkin sizes ranging from medium to very large. The good news is this retailer carries plenty of pumpkins in stock in their numerous cardboard containers at the entrance to the store. Just be wary that this lower price may entice a heavy run on pumpkins this weekend.

Wal-Mart ($3.88) the price is a tad lower than Meijer. I am almost convinced Wal-Mart observes the competitors closely and knocks the price down a few cents just to claim they are the lowest.  Aldi still holds the” lowest price in the land” claim, though Wal-Mart wins out due to greater supply and offers larger sized pumpkins for carving still at this $3.88 price.

Review of Extra Large Mama Cozzi’s Mega Meat Pizza

This was not my first take and bake pizza review,  nor will it be my last. First of all, I have tried Mama Cozzi brand pizza’s before and this will be my first review of the Mega Meat variety.  We typically purchase the mama cozy four cheese pizza and improvise adding our own additional  toppings such as bacon, sliced mushrooms, garlic, etc. As much  of my Sunday got away from due to chores, I was left with few options  for dinner  so I went to Aldi to pick up a take and bake. The “Cheese only” pizzas were picked clean leaving only the Mega Meat and the Supreme options. I chose the all meat since my kids usually like pepperoni  and  sausage.

This extra large 16 inch pizza is a thin crust. The meat toppings include Italian sausage, pepperoni, salami, beef pizza topping and bacon. I am not sure what the “beef pizza topping” really is, but I am assuming it is ground beef.Aside from the meat, there appears to be plenty of sauce and cheese.

The preparation is no more difficult than preheating oven and baking on center rack for 15 minutes.

The pizza is thin crust and I would say to expect to feed a family of five will require a second pizza if it is a hungry group. A smaller group will get by with this pizza. Next time I will buy a second pizza. (I did serve salad with this pizza which helped satisfy everyone’s hunger).

At $5.99 for this 16 inch pizza, I will rate this Aldi Mama Cozzi mega meat pizza a strong buy. I am still preferential to the all cheese variety, but this one works too.

Low Prices on Caramel Apples at Aldi

During autumn season, just about anyone that enjoys apples really enjoys gets pumped up to see stores carrying caramel apples. One of the most well known brands of caramel apples sold in the grocery stores are those produced by Affy Tapple. This company has been selling the treats since 1948. This brand of caramel apple is pretty much the only commercially made caramel apples sold at your local grocery stores. All others caramel apple options can sometimes be found at a local confectioner. Those higher end apples are usually much larger and very delicious, but with a hefty price tag.  I have to shop for a family of five so I continue down the path of the Affy Tapple brand label. I have been eating these Affy Tapple caramel apples every year since I was about three.

On that note, I was really happy to see Aldi has the package of three Affy Tapple caramel apples ( 12 ounces) for only $1.29! How is that for a low price? The current sale price at Meijer had them for $1.99 which is also not a bad price. Aldi is the store to go this week to stock up on Affy Tapples.  

Review of Arizona Iced Tea with Natural Lemon Flavor

So I recently picked up the twenty three ounce tall can of Arizona Iced tea with natural lemon flavor. The enticement of paying a buck for almost a double sized portion beverage made this an easy choice.

Here is my quick breakdown on this beverage:

Positives:

•  The price. At ninety nine cents this is a steal of price that can be beat by other beverages. Even a twenty ounce soda is more expensive.
•   Less heavy than soda. This is a sweetened beverage but has only slightly fewer calories than a soda. The tea comes off lighter due to the absence of carbonation and thus is more refreshing.
•   Quantity – This tall can will easily pour over two to three glasses of ice and serve more than one person. While it is a large can, it still magically fits in my car cup holder.

Negatives

• Too much citrus flavor. Though the first ingredient is tea, I felt like the strongest element of this beverage was lemon flavor. I really only refer to this as iced tea because that is what the label shows.
•  Corn syrup is the sweetener. Arizona does not hold back on its use of corn syrup in this drink. I would have preferred cane sugar for a lighter finish. I wish more beverage companies would resort to using cane sugar instead of syrups.
•  Calories – Though this drink is only slightly lighter than calories of a coca cola or sprite, I still think the calories are way too high for an iced tea beverage.

Overall

The return on one dollar spent is good considering you get almost three servings in this tall can. The quality leaves a bit to be desired since I really enjoy true iced tea, and the tea flavor is definitely lacking here. This drink could be more passable with more tea flavor and less lemon and syrup. Still I would consider this 23 ounce drink much more refreshing up against a soda. A Lipton Pure leaf or Snapple tea beverage has Arizona beat in flavor, but they are also way more expensive. I would consider this drink an average buy at best.  

Review of L’Oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

For years I have been a huge fan of the King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls as they were a huge hit when it comes time to get a side kick for fried chicken dinner or a great bread accompaniment to the Thanksgiving meal. These little sweet bread rolls also are fantastic for making miniature sandwiches or “Sliders” as we refer to them.  Our most common uses of Hawaiian rolls include using ham and swiss sliders and occasional sweet, savory stuffing.

For years, Kings bakery has had a monopoly on this sweet type of dinner roll as no lower cost competition existed anywhere, that is until my last trip to Aldi. I found these gems immediately tucked away to the side of the bread case in their tropical floral packaging. I could not believe with my own eyes I found a substitute. The packaging is outlined in turquoise and orange that includes the transparent “window” in the middle showing the actual rolls much like that of the rolls sold by Kings.

These Aldi rolls are sold a dozen to a package for $1.99 compared to $3.25 price of King. That is serious savings, but does the quality measure up?

Absolutely! Not sure I could tell the difference if I was given a blind taste test. We recently used the L’oven fresh rolls to make four dozen sliders last weekend for a party and they were delicious; at more than $1.25 savings per package!

I am already considering working these into holiday menus in some way. This is a definite recommended purchase.

Review of Benton’s Fudge Mint Cookies

Aldi does a pretty good job of offering their brand of knock offs of most popular style cookies and the girl scouts thin mint cookies are no exception. My last trip down the entry aisle at Aldi revealed that this great store carried fudge mint cookies. I felt it was a calling to try this one out and see if they even came close the name brand treat sold by the scouts.

Appearance

The cookies are sold in a glossy green plastic package with a plastic tray holding two rows of thin mints. There is approximately 10 ounces of cookies in one package. The packaging hypes up the fact that these are “minty” and made with “real cocoa”.

Taste

The first sample of the thin mint was tried at room temperature.  I like to point that out, because I prefer my Girl Scout thin mints in a frozen state, but wanted to taste at least one cookie before subjected them all to the freezer. I think sometimes some chocolate coatings lose their flavor when frozen. (This actually happens with Keebler grasshoppers). So the first taste of the Aldi thin mint revealed decent hints of chocolate and mint flavor but a very bland lifeless cookie at the base. Was that really a cookie or a tasteless cracker hidden in there? The cookie layer also lacked the firmness that one is accustomed to when eating a thin mint or grasshopper. The frozen state sampler was no better and probably worse as the chocolate flavor sort of went away, though I could still taste the cool mint. The mint was really the only strong performer.

Price

The price of a package of Benton’s Fudge mint cookies is only $1.29. Much lower than $3.00 grasshoppers or the $2.00 Meijer fudge treasures mint cookie.

Overall Result

Though this is a heck of a lot cheaper than other brands, the flavor is meh and the texture or crunchy bite is severely lacking. This cookie is lifeless. Spend at least a little more and go with the Meijer brand or better yet help out your local Girl Scout troop and buy a box of thin mints from them.

Review of Aldi Specially Selected Ciabatta Sandwich Rolls

The breads and rolls sold at Aldi can be hit or miss. We recently tried a package of the Specialty Select Ciabatta rolls. Ciabatta is a great base for serving a grilled chicken, steak or veggie sandwich.  This type of bread is also not always an easy find when browsing the supermarkets. Aldi has it! Now let’s get to the review.

Appearance

The bread is sold in clear packaging of six (6) three ounce rolls which pre split. No cutting required! The rolls are fresh and pull apart fairly easily. These Specially select rolls resemble a top tier product one would expect to find at a cozy lunch eatery.

Preparation

It is up to you how you want to prepare these. We like our ciabatta slightly warmed so drizzle the underside with a tad of olive oil and warm them in an oven for about five to ten minutes at 300 degrees, until lightly toasted and crisp. From there we add a spread of herb mayo underside of top slice and close it over grilled chicken with melted cheese.

Taste

First bite reveals crisp crunch and a delicious flavor. The bread is airy and flavorful, not to yeasty or doughy. Every “nook and cranny” of this roll is superb. I suppose one could eat this at room temperature and it would still be good. I am so stuck in my ways of lightly toasting Ciabatta as I like it better that way.

Price

The price of the Ciabatta is $2.79 for package of six. Much pricier than your normal hamburger buns, but they taste way better and a much better option when you are making a grilled chicken or steak sandwich. Keep the hamburger buns for hamburgers.

Overall Result

The Aldi Ciabatta rolls are a solid buy for fewer than three dollars. This fun rectangular shaped flavorful bread makes your grilled offering look much more palatable. I highly recommend.

Review of Aldi Deutsche Kuche Apple Strudel

Apple season is finally here. I made a late afternoon stop at Aldi to pick up a jug of cider and something additional of apple origin to serve as a Sunday evening dessert. Low and behold in the frozen food section, I stumbled upon the Aldi version of apple strudel. One box contains two miniature “loaves” or strudels which in frozen state (pictured) weigh in at approximately 19.2 ounces (544 grams) as indicated on the box. 

I understand that pastry has a tendency to rise during the heating process so I was optimistic that these two strudels would feed our household of five as the product information label on the  packaging indicates this package provides six servings.

Preparation

Getting this strudel from frozen state to serving at the table is fairly easy. No need to thaw pastry. Process is really simple. Place frozen strudels on sheet pan and bake at 425 between 35 to 40 minutes…or so I thought! I placed these strudels on parchment paper before placing on sheet tray on center rack. The baking times will vary depending on oven and sheet tray. My sheet tray is dark metal and probably would have fared better using my higher end no stick cookie sheets. The time I chose was right down the middle of the manufacturers recommendations, at 37 minutes, which was still too long as the pastry was slightly blackened on the bottom. Despite that slight charring, I was able to scrape the blackened crust off the bottom with a knife. Lesson learned. Next time, bake with a better quality pan and decrease cooking time a few minutes. Note to self, always pick the lowest time suggested.

Taste

There are not a whole lot of comparisons to make when tasting strudel. Most strudels I have sampled have been at German restaurants of which no frozen product can compare. The stores I shop at don’t have any brand name or generic equivalents. Anyway, this strudel was pretty darn good in spite of my over baking mishap. The outer crust had a nice golden flaky and buttery finish. The dense filling of sweet apples came out in every bite with hint of cinnamon. The box advertised that there were raisins but I did not find one in my particular bite. The only thing missing with this dessert was the a la mode.

Price

The price of the Deutsche Kuche Apple Strudel was only $2.69. Is that a fair price? Well that all depends on your appetite. I think for a family of five or six, one definitely needs to buy two boxes. I consider one box of strudels to be approximately four servings.

Overall Result

This dessert is a winner.  Again, I would suggest purchasing two boxes for groups greater than four people. Apple strudel is a great break from the all too common apple pie and makes a great autumn dessert especially when preparing a festive Oktoberfest meal. I recommend this dessert

Review of Meijer Country Style Baked Beans

Labor day weekend is a red flag sign that one needs to get out and grill. Grilling meats often involves the desire for a little corn on the cob and baked beans. Normally I pick my name brand standby of Bush’s baked beans. While I enjoy the lovable golden retriever, Duke as their marketing shtick, I would probably still buy these beans due to their exceptional flavor. Labor Day sales at Meijer tempted me to try a new option from the Meijer brands. I decided to go for the larger 28 ounce size can of Meijer Country Style Baked Beans with Bacon and Brown sugar. There were numerous options within the Meijer bean family, though bacon and brown sugar sounds most to my liking.

My option to select the larger can of beans was out of necessity to feed five as we served cheddar bratwurst, hot dogs, and needed some beans to go with it. The smaller sixteen ounce can was not going to cut it. The large can of these high fiber beans by Meijer was only $1.69 and approximately thirty cents cheaper than the Bushes counterpart.

As I opened the can I noticed a runny or thinner consistency than Bush’s baked beans. However that all seemed to change as the beans warmed up in the saucepan and I served them in a more thickened state.  The beans surprisingly also measured up in flavor and aroma. I was pleased with the decent sweet taste of the Meijer beans. The hint of brown sugar was recognized though the chunks of bacon were slight. I am pretty sure there are no commercially made baked beans that provide ample amounts of bacon in a can, probably more reason to add a few chopped slices of your own.

My conclusion of these beans was mixed. I like them but will most likely stick to my Bush’s option and splurge on the extra thirty cents. While I liked the taste of the Meijer beans, I was slightly put off by the pale color of the beans as they did not have the darker tones of other brands I have tried. I also found the sweet and smoky flavors of the Bush brand to also have an edge over Meijer. Overall, I would still consider Meijer baked beans an average buy.  

Review of Bakers Treat Peanut Butter Wafers

It has been a long time since I posted. Perhaps, I mark this return to this site with a food review vengeance, or I return to my self- imposed exile and mutter my good and bad food tasting experiences to my dog, cat or anyone willing to lend an ear. Nevertheless I am going to give you the quick and dirty on my latest trial with Baker’s Treat Peanut Butter Wafers.  First of all, peanut butter wafers (or Nutty Bars) are a guilty pleasure of mine. I prefer this sweet post lunch dessert over any commercially made cookie such as Oreos, Famous Amos or even the girl scout thin mint.  Nutty bars have a whole lot of goodness going on,  all in every bite.

 Let’s see..numerous thin wafers hit with layers of peanut butter all to be pressed together before the final dunk in a chocolate coating; pure magic. Probably the only peanut butter chocolate combination better than this is the Reese’s sticks, which coincidentally also has a wafer base.

I usually have one standby peanut butter wafer brand; Little Debbie. Little Debbie is the benchmark of this delectable treat. I have had the Hostess peanut butter wafer ,but that was many moons ago and that product is not as prevalent in the local stores. In addition to these two Nutty Bar competitors, there is also a third option, Bakers Treat Peanut Butter Wafers sold at Aldi.

The Baker’s Treat box contains 12 bars as they are sold two bars in mini packages. To the naked eye, these bars look suspiciously close to the competitors Little Debbie and Hostess. Unfortunately, that is pretty much where the competition ends.

First bite reveals a similar crunch and texture of Little Debbie, but leaves the taste buds demanding more peanut butter and chocolate. I get more flavor of dry wafer than anything else.  The chocolate coating must be sprayed on with chocolate coloring because it is barely detectable. Peanut butter also very skimpy (not skippy).

The price of a box of Baker’s Treat Peanut Butter Wafers is a really low $.99. Meh. Take that dollar and add another seventy five cents and upgrade to the Little Debbie box. Your taste buds will thank you.

Review of Meijer Watermelon Flavored Water

Review of Meijer Watermelon Flavored Water

In my daily quest to keep caloric intake down, I realize one of the areas that it is best to cut back is when enjoying a beverage. I usually accompany daily meals with coffee, unsweetened ice tea, water, and occasionally diet soda for calorie free refreshment. I have recently noticed the assortment of fruit flavored waters sold at Meijer. I decided to try their watermelon flavored water.

The water is sold in seventeen ounce plastic bottle portions. Bottle opens with a carbonated “fssst”, and pours light and fizzy over a tall glass of ice. The sparking beverage is pleasing to the eye and reminds me of the occasional watermelon flavored jolly ranchers I sometimes enjoy at my desk.

Taste

First taste was crisp and delightful. While there are artificial sweeteners (sucralose), I did not really pick up on any heavy or negative flavor one typically associates with such products.

Price

The Meijer line of fruit flavored water is sold as 12 ounce single bottles. There are no six or twelve pack arrangements. A single bottle of the watermelon sparking water goes for eighty nine cents. Competitive fruit flavored labels of similar size go between $1.00 and $1.20.  

Overall Result

I love watermelon flavor so this was an easy thumbs up. I like the taste of this beverage and find it an excellent break from drinking diet soda or tea. I have also not seen this flavor of water carried by other companies so I rate this product a strong buy. 

Review of Aldi Baker’s Corner Fudge Brownie Mix

We recently hosted a playoff hockey party with a few extended family members coming over to watch the game and indulge in munchies.

The food planning was easy as 1-2-3 as I ordered some carry out pizzas and broke out a salad to go along with dinner.

Dessert? I had brownies on my mind. Brownies are so easy to prepare as one can simply mix a few ingredients, bake in the oven in less than one hour and viola, brownies are ready! I headed up to Aldi food store for a box of their brand of mix known as Baker’s Corner Brownie mix. Baker’s Corner is apparently the only brownie mix brand carried by Aldi, so by default I chose this box. I am accustomed to Betty Crocker and Ghirardelli from other stores, so I was expecting an average to below average result with this mix.  Bakers Corner, please don’t fail me!

Preparation

Like all quick prepared brownie mixes, this one was pretty easy to assemble. Besides the mix, I only needed two eggs, some vegetable oil and water. I mixed those items together in a large bowl before putting the brownie batter in a greased nine by nine baking pan. The brownies cooked at 350 degrees F for approximately thirty eight minutes. The baking process made the entire upper level of my house smell like a bakery. The yield was about twenty brownies.

Taste

After knocking out a very large pizza with very little salad, we were ready for the dessert taste test. I tried a corner square of the brownies. (I always like the corner pieces). The chewiness and fudge flavor were there, and I found these brownies to be as equally as satisfying as the Betty Crocker Triple Chunk mix with Hershey’s chocolate. A blind taste test would never reveal this was a “generic” brownie at all. One possible alteration full blown chocolate lovers would consider, would be to add a small handful of chocolate chips to the batter prior to placing in oven. Personally, I don’t think the extra chocolate was needed. My wife thinks otherwise as she puts chips in brownie mixes regardless of brands.

Price

One box of Baker’s Corner Fudge brownie mix only set me back $1.29 compared to a similar sized box of the Betty Crocker Triple Chunk Premium Mix at $2.29, a dollar savings.

Overall Result

There is no second guessing the value and satisfaction of the Baker’s Corner Mix. The brownies are enough to get my family through at least three desserts; assuming no one sneaks a square when I am not looking. This is a very strong buy. 

Aldi Cerveza Monterrey Beer : A Review

Several times I have browsed the beer selection at Aldi as these beverages are conveniently positioned across from the chips and salty snack shelves. (Excellent product placement Aldi!). Well, I recently had a backyard cookout and decided to pick up some Cerveza Monterrey beer to accompany my other cooler standbys of Miller Lite and Goose Island 312.  For the most part, I have been experiencing a hot streak of satisfaction with Aldi products so I thought I would try my luck with one of their beer selection.

Physical Description

The beer is sold only in six pack counts as there are no twelve pack or case options. The packaging is quite familiar to the blue, yellow and white packaging of Corona. The bottle is clear and light just like Sol or Corona with a palm tree emblem with the word “MONTERREY” all in caps written across. The lager beer takes on a very pale gold tone.  Chilled ice cold with a lime on top sells it even further.

Taste

Time for the all important taste test. I drink light Mexican beers such as Sol or Corona only a few times a year, usually in the middle of a heat wave or just craving that beer that pairs well with a lime. The Cerveza Monterrey was iced down in a cooler for an hour and that did the trick. A blind taste test would still reveal a close resemblance to Sol or Corona but a tad heartier and less aromatic. I also picked up a refreshing crisp bite at the end of each taste that left me wanting a little more. Taste did not suffer, though these drinks were consumed iced down with a little citrus wedge enhancement. A less chilled version of this without a lime might yield a different result.

Price

The six pack of Cerveza Monterrey only set me back a $5.49. Competitive brand names such as Sol or Corona usually go between seven to eight bucks for the same quantity; though Corona could compete with this price on occasion when the twelve packs go on sale between $10.99 and $11.99.

Overall

As a comfort to entertaining others, I would probably always purchase the brands such as Corona and Sol just because my guests know those labels. For my own personal enjoyment, I would definitely consider picking up Cerveza Monterrey again especially when shopping for my other regular Aldi weekly provisions, and I don’t want to make a second stop on the way home for other beer. This is a good buy. 

Review of Krusteaz Apple Cinnamon Supreme Muffin Mix

Every so often I get the taste for muffins or quick bread to go with my morning coffee. On that note, I recently picked up a box of the Krusteaz apple/cinnamon muffin mix. I usually try to make muffins from scratch but every so often I encounter a full schedule where a premade mix makes the job a lot easier. This time around I decided to go with an apple flavored muffin mix as opposed to my usual blueberry choice. The muffins were purchased at Meijer under their three boxes for five dollars sale. A box of the Krusteaz mix at $1.67s seemed like a pretty good deal next to competitive other brands at $2.30 per box.

The packaging is like your typical cake/pancake mix with the white background and red Krusteaz labeling. The package contents weigh in at 19.2 ounces and provide enough to make two trays of muffins or in my case one shallow loaf pan quick bread. I usually prefer to prepare quick breads as opposed to muffins since I dread cleaning muffin pans. I also think muffins are more susceptible to drying out during baking and cooling process.

The preparation of this breakfast item was easy as it was simply a matter of mixing premixed muffin mix along with 1 and ¾ cup of water along with the special apple jam like ingredient that was in a separate pouch. No oils needed! The apple compote item was the last ingredient that was gently folded into the batter.  I then placed the quick bread into a 350 degree oven for 50 minutes. The baking process left the entire upper level of my home smelling cinnamon apple fresh. Yes! 

Taste of Krusteaz Apple Cinnamon Quick Bread

As the loaf cooled, I cut ten decent size slices for serving. The slices were still moist and the apple compote was visible throughout the bread. The taste was an immediate let down. While I enjoyed the additional apple flavor, the parts of the muffin that did not have the compote were really flavorless. I was really looking forward to this breakfast and barely got through one piece. The dough needed to be sweeter or required a little cinnamon blast throughout, something………..anything.  The rest of the family also gave this breakfast item a thumb's down.

I am not going to give up on cinnamon apple muffins as I will search for another brand or search for a recipe online.

I rate the Krusteaz Cinnamon Apple Supreme Muffin Mix a weak purchase. 

Review of Clancy's Cinnamon Churros

You got hand it to Aldi, that store is good for bringing out seasonal products that are amazingly tasty and satisfying, only to learn such items are deemed seasonal and nothing more than a tease. I recently picked up a seasonal promotion bag of the Clancy’s Cinnamon Churros twists. The bag was surprisingly under one dollar! The choice to throw this bag into my cart was easy as I am a huge fan of getting my churro fix at White Sox games and at the Costco food court. (I have not even tried the churro breakfast cereal as of yet).

The Clancy’s snack brand has not really ever disappointed when it comes to getting a chip side kick for sandwiches or just getting some tortilla chips for dipping, so I figured to give the churro chips a fair shake.

The churro twists are sold in thin plastic bright red bag with contents weighing in at a mere three ounces. Due to the solid colored packaging, there is no way of getting a sneak peak of this snack by observing the chips beforehand. 

Taste of Clancy’s Churro Twists

Upon opening the bag, I noticed each chip resembles a small pretzel braid but a heck of a lot lighter and puffy. No wonder the entire contents weigh in at a paltry 3 ounces! The crunch is definitely audible. A thief in the night would not stand a chance of taking a few of these in the middle of the night without getting revealed. The crunch factor is times 10.

Flavor of the cinnamon sugar coating of each twist is pure churro-gasmic. Why, why, why Clancy’s can’t produce these churro twists on a regular basis is beyond me.

The price for a bag of Clancy’s Cinnamon Churro Crispy Sweet twists was a mere eighty nine cents at my local store. For the next “Churro season”, I may have to buy a pallet of these from the local Aldi just to stay ahead of the curve

I definitely recommend Clancy’s Cinnamon Churros Crispy Twists a strong purchase. 

Review of Meijer Sandwich Crèmes

In a last minute Sunday night run for a few food essentials, I was on a quest to find a package of the golden and chocolate sandwich style cookie for packed lunches for the upcoming week. Meijer ran a sale for a generous size package for $2.00.  This small purchase seemed like a deal so I opted to pick up them up and give it a try.

The cookies count totals about fifty two to a package. The total weight is one pound eight ounces; plenty of cookies to last, hopefully. I am a big fan of the Hydrox and Oreo style cookies so I was upbeat about this purchase.

The cookies are sold in thin plastic tray at three rows of approximately fourteen cookies with a thin plastic semi transparent wrapper. The wrapper is cheap and non re-sealable much like the Oreo brand. I believe Oreo might be the only sandwich cookie I am aware of that has a cool re-sealable wrapper to keep the cookies fresh. I proceeded to move all cookie contents into our jumbo cookie jar to prevent them from going stale.

The cost of these cookies is tough to beat as they averaged at about four cents per cookie. The two cookie serving is what we pack in the lunches at a pittance cost of eight cents. Not too shabby. The value is definitely there, but is the flavor?

Taste of Sandwich crèmes.

Ok. The first test was the chocolate cookie. Nothing like an Oreo. The cookie disintegrated upon first bite with bits flying everywhere all over my mouth and onto my desk. The cookie itself really didn’t exhibit any cocoa or chocolate flavor. The golden cookie held a little more vanilla flavor but still not a lot going on there. The only upside to this cookie was the crème filling which tasted surprisingly decent.

The cookie is barely passable, but would consider going with these again if considering grinding up and using as a cheesecake liner or a cookie pie crust.

I rate the Meijer Sandwich Cremes a weak purchase. 

Review of Millville Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bar

There is that dead zone part of the day, whether mid morning or mid afternoon which one craves that 100 or 200 calorie snack just to get by for the next few hours. This snack is critical for energy replenishment, if not more or less to serve as a bridge to that next meal.

One of my “go to” snacks are granola or chewy bars. Our latest trip to Aldi included picking up a box of Millville Sweet and Salty Nut Granola Bars.  The flavor choice we went with was the combination of peanut, almonds, and dark chocolate chunks. A box of six of these bars was listed at $1.89. The bars are larger and much denser than the 100 calorie Quaker chewy bars which I do purchase on occasion.  Calorie total of one bar is 170.

The individual bars are packaged in chocolate brown colored wrapper with an alluring picture of the snack bar on the wrapper. The unveiled actual bar resembles the picture; go figure! Usually most advertised pictures couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to representing the actual product.

The top half or two thirds of bar is a conglomeration of chopped peanuts, almonds, and granola. The bottom layer is a decadent blend of dark chocolate. The whole bar is a slam dunk that reminds me of the Hershey Whatchamacallit; though at much lower calorie count. From the initial taste to the last crumb, I enjoyed this snack to the nth degree. I cannot imagine picking up a box of these bars  at least once a month. Averaging at thirty one cents a bar, I declare the Millville Sweet and Salty Nut Granola Bar a strong buy.