Lemon Cracker Cookies?

I buy generic, store brand, and no-frills whenever I can. They're cheaper and, more often than not, they're the same product or better than name-brand. 

Take Frosted Flakes for example. Here in NJ, a family sized (24.7 oz.) box with Tony the Tiger on it goes for $4.28 at Walmart, which seems to be the cheapest price I can find without coupons. Meanwhile, a family sized box (26.8 oz.) box of Millville Aldi-branded cereal goes for $2.75. The Aldi version tastes the same AND it's bigger AND cheaper. Not sold on the Aldi version? Well the Walmart version, Great Value (26.8 oz.) goes for even less! It's just $2.30! Sorry, Tony. This must be why Frosted Flakes is branching out into new flavors like Strawberry Milkshake, because once the masses realize the normal stuff is cheaper elsewhere, he'd be put out to pasture. 

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Like Doritos. No knock-off flavored tortilla chips has ever come close to having the same flavor-punch. Same goes for crunchy Cheetos and Ritz crackers. 

Ritz crackers are so crispy, thick, savory, and buttery. I could easily eat an entire sleeve like they were potato chips. I still fondly remember all those Ritz Bits commercials where the tiny crackers would skate around in cheese or peanut butter (PB is my preferred Ritz combo), so I'm no stranger to a Ritz sandwich, but, lemon? This I gotta try.  

Extra Toasty Cheez It (Guest Review) - Target 2.99 cents

Extra Toasty Cheez It - Target 2.99 cents

My sister is an experienced extra-toasty-Cheez-It-hunter, and since I've been so busy with house related stuff, I asked her to help me out by writing this guest review. Will these toasty little squares meet her extra-toasty expectations?

I see that on this box of Cheez-Its, it's noted that this extra toasty variety is their #1 requested flavor. I am unsurprised. While I have never submitted any formal flavor requests, I've spent many years sifting through bags inside of boxes, all in the hopes of encountering the rare and elusive toastiest of Cheez-Its. I had even considered toasting them in a toaster oven myself. Perhaps those days are over. Maria – Santa Maria (gratia plena) of Sometimes Foodie – has blessed me with this box of special, extra toasty Cheez-Its.

I had heard about these special Cheez-Its, and I've been wanting to try them for a while. It's well known in my family that I covet the extra dark Cheez-Its, so Maria hooked me up knowing my expectations were high. Right before she opened the package to take photos, she asked me how I'd feel if I was disappointed by a product that had appealed to me so strongly. Nonsense! How could I be?

Honey Mustard & Pretzel Goldfish - Target

Honey Mustard & Pretzel Goldfish - Target 

My little sister loved Goldfish crackers growing up, but I was more of a Cheez-it or Cheese Nip kind of girl. Honestly, I always felt like Goldfish were a blander, fish-shaped, version of the cheesy square-crackers I loved, and that they were meant for little kids, so I didn't really give them the time of day, until they started coming out with all of these new flavors. 

There's been cheeseburger flavored fish, vanilla cupcake, french toast, and even more mature cheese flavors. The list is ever growing. It's nice to see this company trying new things to keep up with all the other food products out there, and even though I was never a Goldfish fan, the foodie in me just couldn't resist the allure of these new fancy flavors. I've always had a thing for flavored pretzel pieces, like Snyders, so I figured, why not give this new cracker and pretzel flavor combination a try?

Parmesan Goldfish -Target : Cherry Hill, NJ

Parmesan Goldfish -Target : Cherry Hill, NJ

I am not a fan of the original Goldfish crackers. (My sister and mother love them.) As a kid, Cheese Nips were my go-to cheesy cracker. Now that I am an adult, I am addicted to Parmesan, so I decided to give this flavor a try.

Goldfish are made by Pepperidge Farm, which uses foiled-paper-bag packaging for a lot of their products. The sweet Goldfish (reviewed here) actually broke the mold and used a foiled plastic bag, which I surprisingly liked more. Typically I like paper packaging because it provides a lovely texture, but I feel like the plastic bag kept my graham crackers fresh for a longer period of time. As for design, the bag follows the traditional Goldfish branding. Instead of cheddar, it features a little block of Parmesan. Instead of orange, it has a swoosh of green. This is not an amazing or innovative design, but it’s simple and it works.

Julie’s My Luv Cookie Convi-pack - Asian Food Market : Cherry Hill, NJ

Julie’s My Luv Cookie Convi-pack - Asian Food Market : Cherry Hill, NJ

See my packaging review HERE. This one will only be about the cookies and crackers inside.

Julie’s My Luv Cookie Convi-pack - Asian Food Market : Cherry Hill, NJ

Julie’s My Luv Cookie Convi-pack - Asian Food Market : Cherry Hill, NJ

I had too many photos for one post, so I had to break this up. This post will be for the packaging and coming up next will be the tasty treats inside!

I had never heard of Julie’s cookies before, and typically I don’t seek out treats like this…but the packaging really sealed the deal on this purchase.