Chocolate Peanutbutter cups - Mini

I'm actually not a HUGE chocolate freak. I tend to gravitate more towards salty snacks, however like every human on the planet....sometimes you just need some chocolate. I used to like reeses, much like I used to like snickers. A LOT. now I find myself snagging one from the kid's halloween haul and going "WTF? why did I use to like these?" and then just feeling poorly about myself later for consuming enough fat, calories, and sodium for a weeks worth of food.

Enter Trader Joe's!

These are really tasty and kind of pop in your mouth in a burst of peanutbutter and chocolate. The best thing I think about these is that 27 is considered a "serving" and unlike most treats where I eat an entire package or large brownie or whatever because I don't want it going bad or wasting it (oh mom, so many food issues!) you can eat just a few.
I've been keeping these hanging out near my couch parking spot and after the kids goto bed having 5-6 or 10 of them and I no longer feel like snacking.

Plus it's been a few months now and my container is still like 2/3rds full. I may try the slightly larger but still small version of these next, or making cookies with them.

My coworkers hate me already. Muhahahha!

A

Gone Bananas!

More about my weird texture issues. I don't like cocolate dipped cones or bars. I find the combo of the waxy crunchy chocolate and sweet cold ice cream something akin to eating worms. It just plain squicks me out. However i'd heard good things and the price was good (1.99) for these and even if I didn't like them and they were subpar - I knew the kids would eat the snot out of these. For two young (certainly not little!) my kids both eat more than a grown man does. I just know my grocery budget when they are teens will be more than my morgage and car payments combined. Unless I go and buy a BMW. But I digress...

Box comes with 20 pieces, and while they look small they really are filling. I was admittedly still rather full from my ham and cheese kolache (yum!) but 2 pieces left me patting my tummy with glee. Since my kids were away for the weekend, I didn't have to hide them either!

There is the vague air of the dipped chocolate deal, however the chocolate is GOOD and slightly thicker so I didn't get the odd crunchy chocolate weirdness that normally makes me gag down my frozen treat and smile politely as I watch others scarf theirs down with glee feeling awkward.
Bananas were ripe and firm and tasty. Frozen aspect was good as well, it will be a nice treat esp when it's hot outside.
The kids may have to pry these out of my cold dead hands.

A

Trader Tots

My kids thought me even more insane than normal as I kept yelling "trader tots" because of the punny nature of it. Plus their weird looks were making me laugh more.
I have an odd issue with textures, but when it comes to tater tots and fries I want the outside to be super crunchy and well well done, and the inside to be mealy and delish.
I like sonic tots when done EXPERTLY, however 99% of the time you get the cold and soggy version. The rare day when they are done really well is always a happy day.

Cooking them myself tends to be better, but I always cook my potato items nearly double the suggested time. If that gives you any idea.

Pros - The outside was SUPER crisp and nearly over done, even from the frozen state. IMHO this makes them perfectly done.
Cons - Inside was more mashed potato than baked potato, if you get what I mean. I enjoy the texture of the sonic tots (done well) where you can almost pick out the bits of potato but they are mealy and good but have a little fight left in them. The TTs were a bit mushy for me.

However - Trader tots are definately better than sonic tots are 99% of the time, and fun to cook at home. When you have young kids like mine who consider ketchup a side dish, tots are always a hit with them :)

B

Banana Snacks

The kiddos were somewhat split on the banana chips. The little guy was ok with them, but didn't LOOOVE them. Elder thought they were the spawn of something satanic and evil. Both kids however ADORED the freeze dried variant.
So much so that we returned the mostly uneaten chips (those things are pricey!) and bought freeze dried.

OBC - D
FDBS - A

Turkey Burgers

I'm not a expert on turkey burgers, but it's always a nice alternative to replace beef. I cooked up a few of these for me and the kidlets and there is a certain odd flavor - I think sage or some other herb. I ended up putting a few dabs of A1 onto the patties as they cooked and it upped the favor and made them a bit more meaty.
All in all however, they were very tasty and cheap. I have a few boxes in my freezer now!

B-

Stuffing Mix

I kinda have a weird thing about texture and veggies. It stinks because i'd love to eat healthier but texture is a hard thing to get past. I've done the stovetop - and I can eat it but the pieces of onion and celery squick me out a bit. I actually prefer to eat it dry out of the box. LOL.
Tried this at thanksgiving and was surprised. It was pretty tasty and I didn't have any weird veggie complex going on. About similar flavor to ye olde stovetop.

I'd say it could definately stand a bit more oompf, but I generally show up for thanksgiving for rolls, potatoes, and gravy. Stuffing just makes its way into the pile.

B

Joe Joe's

Im not a huge fan of oreos persay. I think i've bought them twice in 12 years?
one of the times they would have been thrown out if my dad hadn't visited and eaten them all. LOL.
I'd heard joe joes were better than nabisco, but I figured that was damn hippy talk.
I was wrong. Very wrong!
I bought a box for the kiddos, being a mean mom they have had them once with me EVER....but I had to give em a try. and then I ate about half the box. ha!
The cream is creamier and squishy unlike oreos which have that firm styrofoam like texture. The cookies are delightfully chocolately and also a tad lighter which makes them easier to eat.
they are not crumby like oreos, you can easily bite into them when dry....and are very tasty! and CHEAPER too! huzzah.
I bought my second box last week :D

A