Target's New Gourmet Side

Target has always been known for its' delicious snacks and holiday treats. Who could resist the fun Italian sodas at Halloween or the yummy holiday cookies at Christmas time? The chain is amping up its' food department by installing mini groceries within every store. Not only can you buy nachos and creme cookies, you can also stock up on essentials too.

My local Target has scooped out enough space to include fruit and veggies. I've seen this in larger Super Targets and was amazed by the amount of fresh products the store had. Now smaller ones have expanded too(I think every Target now has a fully stocked grocery to rival nearby supermarkets). Not only can I get their yummy potato chips and mocha chip cookies I can also buy the ingredients for a fresh salad and pick up some fruit too. Target also has a line of their own baked goods under the Market Pantry label along with other brands. I bought two pack of mini angel bundt cakes for strawberry shortcake. They wer e light and heavenly, probably the best I've bought for this kind of dessert.

With this expansion comes bigger aisles and definitely more national and in house brands to try. I picked up two boxes of Target's gourmet brand Archer Farms gnocchi with mushroom sauce. These have been imported from Italy and are even better than what I've picked up in local groceries such as the A&P and even Stop and Shop . The gnocchi were tender and the sauce , downright flavorful. They have more of these , mostly pasta,s that I will definitely test out. I also love their oatmeal and had to try their new banana split flavor.

Target isn't just all about the trendy designer clothes and furnishings (well it is, really). Since the chain has expanded their grocery sections, they've become a gourmet heaven. Try some of their amazing gourmet foods. You'll be turning to Target for all your food shopping.

Farm Fresh Goodness

It' time t visit the farms as late June melts into early July Summer is the season for all things fresh and handpicked. What better than harvesting them yourself at the local farms in your area. It's also a fun way of getting the kids away from their Play Stations . You can start with strawberry season which is right now and work your way though the second raspberry season in mid September.

One of the first things you can do is Google what farms are in your area.I've mentioned this in one of last summer's posts. Mostly every state has some kind of farm with some kind of festival too.How you pick depends on the farms. Most give you pails or baskets and you pay by them. Some have an entry fee which is minimal. Others such as our great Delicious Orchards here in New Jersey come with a store where you can by other food stuffs such as fresh baked goods, cheeses and even meats. Their produce is usually from the gardens and orchards around it.

If you do decide to go any kind of fruit o veggie picking make sure you're prepared. Wear a protective straw hat to keep out the sun's strong rays. Also bring along plenty of sunblock an lip balm as well. Wear a comfy old shorts and a tee and make sure you have comfortable sneakers . I wouldn't recommend flip flops because your heels and ankles may get cut up by thorns or rocks. Bring plenty of water too. Picking is thirsty work and you want to keep hydrated.Also bring a rain poncho if the weather is looking cloudy or there are storms predicted.

This is the time to get out to your farms and enjoy their bounty. You can literally enjoy the cream of the crop. It makes for both healthy and delicious eating!!

Target Foodies

It's no secret that I love Target. Almost everything that I have is from there including their food. They have two great divisions, Archer Farms and Market Pantry. Archer farms is the more upscale and "gourmet" if you will and offers interesting treats and sweets. Market Pantry is more basic, offering everyday staples. Together they bring in an extra fun factor at this store.

Archer Farms is the more upscale of the two. With their candy line , Choxie, Target brings gourmet treats at good prices. The brand is made with the best ingredients and there's no skimping on taste. I am madly in love with their Chai cookie, a buttery version of the German classic pfefferneuse. It's a rich blend of cinnamon, cardamon and clove mixed with premium butter and flour. I can finish a bag off in one sitting. The raspberry version comes a close second. I also love the Archer Farms chocolate chunk cookies. This is a yummy blend of crunch and bittersweet chocolate. For the savories try the sea salt and barbecue flavored potato chips or the salt and pepper pretzels. This last is a neat mix of traditional salt pretzels dusted with a fine coating of black pepper. They're like little fireballs but oh so good.

Market Pantry is the more down to earth version. They have everything from frozen pizza to eggs to popcorn. They're great for supplying you with pantry and fridge basics like cookies, crackers and soups. I'm a big fan of their popcorn and 100 calorie packs of cookies. The popcorn is by far the best of any fo the microwave kinds.It has a not too buttery taste and is lightly salted. Another plus is that the entire bag pops , unlike some other brands that leave you with half the pack unpopped. The cookies are great!!! My favorite are the cappucino ones but I'm duscoveringthe chocolate chips ones are pretty tasty too.

The next time you head to Target go straight to their food section. This company has a dazzling array of good and delicious in house brands. Try them. You'll then think twice about Target beging your go to store for clothing and appliences.

On Target

.It's no secret that I love Target and everything about the store. Let's face it it , the place has cool, designer clothing and neat stuff for the home and yard. I adore the soaps and som eof the cosmetics from there. Yet it's the food that's really something. You can buy national brands such as Pepperidge Farm and Wise there but you can also get Archer Farms and Market Pantry Target's in house brands.

I love Archer Farms 100 calorie packs of cookies. The flavors are so decadent , like the espresso flavor, that i forget that they're meant for dieting. There's a richness in those little rounds that other brands don't have. I also am a big fan of the Chai Petite tea cookies which taste like buttery pfefferneusse. Archer Farms also makes spritzes, buttery, ridged cookies in intriguing flavors like lime and raspberry. Another good product from this division is their Italian sodas which come in deeply intense flavors like blood orange and pomegranate.

Target's Market Pantry has some good stuff as well such as their staples like breads and soups. I also live the market Pantry popcorn.It's much better than any of the national brands and doesn't have that metallic taste some microwave popcorn's do. There's a whole grained version which I 've just bought. This should be interesting and I'm wondering if the flavor is different from regular popcorn too.

The next time you hit your local (or favorite) Target, head over to their food sections. they have so many different in house products. Soon enough you'll realize that this is not only a shopper's paradise but a foodie's one as well.