The Zeer Blog

Share your Thankgiving reviews and enter to win a Zeer Shopping Tote!

When you share your Thanksgiving-themed reviews on Zeer, you’re automatically entered to win 1 of 3 chic, eco-friendly Zeer shopping bags. It’s easy to enter!

1. Search for product that you love to use at Thanksgiving.
2. Write a review on Zeer about how you like to use this product in your Thanksgiving feast.
3. Be sure to mention the word “Thankgiving” in the review.
4. By posting the review on Zeer, you’re automatically submitted to win!
5. Increase your chances by writing more Thanksgiving reviews! You can only win once, but you can enter as many times as you’d like.

Contest ends at 11:59pm Friday, November 21st, 2008. There are three Zeer shopping bags being given away and there will be 3 separate winners. Good luck!

We’re having a virtual Thanksgiving and we need your help! When you share your Thanksgiving-themed Zeer reviews before November 21st, 2008, you’re automatically entered to win 1 of 3 chic, eco-friendly Zeer shopping bags. For more details, check out the Zeer Blog.

Ah, it looks like our virtual Thanksgiving is already rapidly underway! Stacy L. is in the Zeer kitchen shredding Hoffman’s Super Sharp Pasteurized Cheddar Cheese for Shannon S’s delectably gooey Mueller’s Elbow Macaroni and cheese.

Meanwhile Jiffy’s Corn Muffin Mix fan, Sarah C., fends off Zeer founder, Michael P, who tries to sneak a taste of the fresh baked cornbread cooling in the cast iron pan. If we’re lucky, maybe Christine M. remembered to bring Land O’ Lakes Sweet Cream Salted Butter to melt on top. If not, we could always use Lee Lacocca’s 60% Vegetable Spread. which Damien S. rejoices as “The best BEST buttery spread around.”

If the heat in the kitchen makes us thirsty, Southern transplant Molly P. will make sure our whistles stay wet with a couple pitchers of Lipton Iced Tea while Rachel K. keeps us giggling with Man Vintners South African 2005 Chenin Blanc, a wine famed for its “potential to instigate a lot of funny innuendos at the dinner table.”

Gluten-free Zeers will also be giving thanks this year because Lisa B. (who’s been sharing her GF Thanksgiving tips in the Gluten Allergy Community ) has whipped up a couple of perfect pumpkin pies using Whole Foods Frozen Gluten Free Pie Crust. Has Sara Lee been replaced by Lisa B.? Only taste will tell.

Barnaby D. can put down the Hungry Man Roasted Carved Turkey today because we’ll be having a Tofurkey (for our hungry Vegans and Vegetarians ). Which reminds me, should we spring for the Tofurkey Giblet Gravy, too?

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From the Zeer Better Buyer, November 18, 2008

The Better Buyer is a newsletter that brings the best advice found in Zeer reviews straight to your inbox. With Zeer’s Better Buyer, you can see what products are buzzing in the Zeer community, check out the newest Zeer members, and glimpse a smorgasbord of new reviews. To make sure you receive Zeer’s Better Buyer, sign up for Zeer and double check that the newsletter box is currently in the “checked” position on your email settings page here.

After a very long and hard fought presidential race, it’s understandable to feel a little hungry for results. But, before the votes are tallied and the winner is announced, gather your friends and family together, pour yourself a celebratory drink and give yourself a pat on the back for exercising your right to vote.

If you’re a Republican relaxing at home after casting your vote, drum up some red-positive ju-ju by breaking out your highball glasses for a whiskey produced in a state that’s gone red five of the last seven presidential elections. Even if Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey doesn’t win the popular vote, cigar-wielding Texan, Lizania S, has been a loyal patron of this brand for over a decade.

For Democrats looking to kick back a few glasses of wine while waiting for states to light up bright blue, Francis Coppola California Vineyard Blue Label 2003 Merlot is a vino that filmmaker John N. endorses as “silky smooth, varietally correct, and complex enough to make you think you’re quaffing a more expensive wine.”

Meanwhile, impartial voters can enjoy some post-voting therapy while nursing a beer that represents both sides of the same coin. Sam Adams Cherry Wheat is a red-colored beer that is brewed in liberally leaning Boston. Even if you’re not sure if you voted for the right candidate, at least the four star reviews on this brew let you know that you’ve got a good chance this beer will work for you. Then again, Sarah R. might have put it best when she wrote, “I wouldn’t go out of my way to find it in the store, but again, if your options are limited you could do worse.”

While Americans will have to wait another four years before they’ll get the chance to vote again in another election, Zeers don’t have to wait. Every Zeer has the right to vote on all user-generated content throughout our site everyday. So don’t forget to express yourself and vote!

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From the Zeer Better Buyer, November 4, 2008

The Better Buyer is a newsletter that brings the best advice found in Zeer reviews straight to your inbox. With Zeer’s Better Buyer, you can see what products are buzzing in the Zeer community, check out the newest Zeer members, and glimpse a smorgasbord of new reviews. To make sure you receive Zeer’s Better Buyer, sign up for Zeer and double check that the newsletter box is currently in the “checked” position on your email settings page here.

Over here at the Zeer labs, we like to celebrate the holidays. So, when the Cambridge Innovation Center told us that adorable trick or treaters would be coming by the Zeer office the day before Halloween, we were thrilled!

So starting at 3pm yesterday, kids began to Trick or Treat at the various start-ups in the building. There were lots of cute kids to give our Kit Kats and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to — some were dressed as Jedis, Frogs and Cowboys — others as Princesses or Bugs — but one very cool girl named Sarah came by our office dressed as — wait for it — a Trader Joe’s Grocery Bag!

We just thought it was too cute not to take an iPhone photo of it and share with all of you.  As you can see she has a couple of products on Zeer tucked away in there — King Arthur All Purpose Flour, Kashi Trail Mix Chewy Granola Bars, and what looks like Lactaid Lowfat Cottage Cheese.

After a little inspiration from our lovely little Trick or Trader (heh) — I decided to compile a few of my favorite food-themed costumes. Happy Halloween and ENJOY!

Our 10 Favorite Food Themed Halloween Costumes

1.) Hormel Classic Spam

2.)  Dean’s 1% Lowfat Milk

3.)  A.1. Steak Sauce

4.)  Pocky Chocolate Covered Biscuit Sticks

5.)  Campbell’s Tomato Soup

6.) Mr. Peanut from Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts

7.)  Kikkoman Soy Sauce Costume and Sushi

8.)Tuong Ot Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

9.) Jolly Green Giant from Green Giant Cut Asparagus Spears

10.)  Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer

With 24-hour horror marathons and brisk, fall weather to look forward to this Halloween, I predict you’re going to need a lot more than popcorn, cider, and candy to last you through the most ghoulish of nights.

Instead of handing out Snickers this year, why not raise a few nostalgic candies from the dead? Spoil your little princesses and brides with Ring Pop bling for their fingers and entertain those evil little scientists with Pop Rocks, an 80’s treat that Russ S. commends as “one of the best examples of a gas dissolved into a solid.” If your kids still aren’t impressed, wow them with the most popular product on Zeer that no one is brave enough to try, the Fear Factor Gross out Gummy Pig Out Platter.

As apple picking season comes to a close, you’ll find some Zeers channeling the ghost of Martha Stewart as they hand-caramelize apples, but those of us in the On The Run community know a secret. We can save time and still get our fruit fix with the convenience of Tastee Carmel Apples tucked in our bag for quick All Hallow’s Eve bite.

Of course, if you prefer a more passive apple experience, forego bobbing for apples and grill yourself up a batch of Aidell’s Chicken & Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage while catching “Casper the Friendly Ghost” on the tube. Food Network fan Damien S. claims these mighty little sausages go awesomely with well, everything – “except mint ice cream and hair gel.”

Looking for something to wash it all down? Even though outdoor BBQ weather may be waning where you live, Bryan K. reminds us that beer is always in season with his topic on Pumpkin beers in the Beer Lovers Community. Though Bryan personally recommends Shipyard Pumpkinhead or Doghead Punk’d, Scott W points Zeers to O’Fallon Brewery Pumpkin Beer to quash any nutmeg brewed cravings.

Did you know that your Zeer reviews can live on your blog as well as on Zeer? With our cool new Zeer recent reviews widget, you can share the foods you love with the world. Click here to get started!

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From the Zeer Better Buyer, October 22, 2008

The Better Buyer is a newsletter that brings the best advice found in Zeer reviews straight to your inbox. With Zeer’s Better Buyer, you can see what products are buzzing in the Zeer community, check out the newest Zeer members, and glimpse a smorgasbord of new reviews. To make sure you receive Zeer’s Better Buyer, sign up for Zeer and double check that the newsletter box is currently in the “checked” position on your email settings page here.

As the grocery costs continue to break records, many of you have been finding ingenious ways to save your grocery bill from hitting all time highs. In fact, there were so many great budget finds hidden in the wealth of Zeer reviews that the Zeer team created a community where our members can better discuss the art of pinching pennies. In the Frugal Shoppers community, you can meet other prudent shoppers and find new ways to stretch your grocery dollars week-to-week.

It’s pretty obvious that Silk Soymilk has become a staple in a lot of Zeer diets, but Sarah R. reminds us that it’s not the only soy milk on the market. With a little careful snooping in the milk section at your local grocery store, you may discover that 8^th Continent Original Premium Soymilk is also tucked inconspicuously in the stacks. As Sarah (who is self proclaimed as a budget-concious buyer) points out, 8^th Continent Soymilk often costs less than Silk Soymilk and is effective in meeting her Soymilk needs especially when it comes to lactose free Mac and Cheese and for pouring over cereal. For those of you who are fans of Silk Vanilla Soymilk, 8^th Continent also has a vanilla.

Just because grocery prices are high doesn’t mean you should miss out on a few luxuries while dining at home. If your idea of fine dining includes a glass of wine with dinner, David C. reminds us all that sometimes that mainstream bottle of wine for 8 or 9 bucks isn’t a bad bet when you want a nice, cheap, drinkable vino. For David this wine is Blackstone Winery’s 2002 Merlot, but for others like Molly P. and Alli G. a wine like Bogle Vineyards California Vintage 2004 Petite Sirah (available in Trader Joe’s) keeps their palate happy while finances are tight.

Buying fruit in season (and from local farmers markets) is a great way to cut down on the price of produce, but as winter approaches you could see the prices on vegetables and fruits you love increase. To keep the costs down, consider buying canned or frozen vegetables when the produce you’re buying is out of season.

For those of you who shop for organics even when prices are high, you might find a little reprieve at your local Stop and Shop where Emma K. was happy to discover that Nature’s Promise produce is organic without the sky high organic price.

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From the Zeer Better Buyer, October 7, 2008

The Better Buyer is a newsletter that brings the best advice found in Zeer reviews straight to your inbox. With Zeer’s Better Buyer, you can see what products are buzzing in the Zeer community, check out the newest Zeer members, and glimpse a smorgasbord of new reviews. To make sure you receive Zeer’s Better Buyer, sign up for Zeer and double check that the newsletter box is currently in the “checked” position on your email settings page here.

For some of you, snacking isn’t a handful of Lay’s during a Project Runway marathon - it’s a part of your continual effort toward a healthier and happier life.

As many dietitians will tell you, you should eat more frequently, not less frequently when trying to lose weight. By having several mini meals several times a day you can help manage your hunger and keep yourself from getting seconds and thirds at lunch and dinner.

In the Fitness Fans community, Patti S. and Or M. tackle the tough question of “What do I eat before working out?” Both recommend snacking throughout the day, but holding off right before a workout since eating before leaves new and undigested food in your stomach. Instead, rock your work out first, then eat a light and savory snack while you prepare your dinner — veggies and a light dip or a half turkey sandwich should do the trick. But, Valerie T. prefers munching Edamame on some  with Kosher salt as a post workout reward.

What about those pesky chocolate cravings? Cara P. snacks it out with the chocolatey taste of Luna Nuts Over Chocolate which she claims stomp out a craving and fill her until the next meal. Meanwhile, you’ll find Weight Watchers champion Bill S. with a Vitalicious Deep Chocolate Vitatops stashed in his cycling jersey, a morning treat that easily turns into mock Brownie Sundae at night when topped with a little low fat ice cream.

Mom on the go, Tracey N. happily kicks hunger pain butt with Keebler’s Fudge Shoppe grasshopper Fudge Dipped Mint Cookies but what quick and healthy snack will keep your kids bellies happy? Ex-babysitter, Molly P. recommends giving toddlers Stonyfield Farm Banana, Vanilla Organic Yogurt, an instant favorite that will keep kids happy until dinner time. Hey, don’t deny yourself either, if you’re like Molly, you’ll get to sneak a taste, too.

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From the Zeer Better Buyer, September 9, 2008

The Better Buyer is a newsletter that brings the best advice found in Zeer reviews straight to your inbox. With Zeer’s Better Buyer, you can see what products are buzzing in the Zeer community, check out the newest Zeer members, and glimpse a smorgasbord of new reviews. To make sure you receive Zeer’s Better Buyer, sign up for Zeer and double check that the newsletter box is currently in the “checked” position on your email settings page here.

It seems like everyone has a twitter account these days, I know I do, and Mike Putnam, CEO of Zeer, does too. We like to keep our finger on the pulse of the social world and get the word out about everything that is going on with Zeer.

Since people can opt in to following us, it’s a great alternative to traditional marketing – we can have a conversation, site users can choose to talk back, follow or unfollow us if we become boring or outdated (hopefully we’re not) and it’s a great repository for finding new blog content.

However, recently, I’ve been using twitter not only to communicate what is going on with Zeer, but I use it as a tool to find out what’s going on with my favorite blogs, news sources, and heck, even brands.

Twitter Empowers Consumers

As the USA Today reported in July, Twitter has become a powerful tool for brands to reach out to their customers. Big companies like Comcast, Whole Foods, and Zappos are tweeting and tweeting well.

There are already tons of fantastic food bloggers sharing their juicy recipes and blog posts online, but now that brands are invading the twitter space, the birth of a new kind of “tweet” has been born. Consumers can actually talk to a brand (as long as it’s within twitters limited 140 characters) and that brand can well… talk back.

So far, I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen brands promote contests, new products, and publicly show off their customer service skills. I’ve seen them respond to the public conversation about their product (a task made easier with tools like Summize or Tweet Beep) And, I’ve seen them be friendly, helpful, and informative when Twitter users have questions or concerns. If a brand you’ve used is on twitter and you want to reach someone who cares, Twitter is a great way to put pressure on a brand publicly to fix it fast.

And the best part is: You can follow or unfollow whoever you’d like. As long as their tweets are public, there is no need to “join in” on the conversation unless you want to. I can go days without saying anything on twitter, but when a brand things they have something newsworthy or interesting to say, you better believe they’ll be tweeting it.

If you’re following only people you care about (and not following just anyone who comes along) you usually can stay informed on issues you like and care about without having to read extra long blog posts.

Twittering About Food

So what food companies are on twitter? There are a lot of lists out there, like this great one called Social Brand Index but I’m making one here that’s food-centric. If you want to follow food throughout your day, then this is the blog post to reference.

Food/Specialty Products

Dewmocracy http://twitter.com/Dewmocracy
Elanas Pantry http://twitter.com/elanaspantry
M&Ms http://twitter.com/msgreen
The Organic Dish: http://twitter.com/theorganicdish
Pangaea Organica http://twitter.com/PangaeaOrganica
Popeyes Chicken http://twitter.com/PopeyesChicken
QinoOneVodka http://twitter.com/QinoOneVodka
Templeton Rye http://twitter.com/templetonrye
Vinquire Wine Search http://twitter.com/vinquire
Whole Foods http://twitter.com/wholefoods
zSweet Sugar Substitute http://twitter.com/brianazsweet

Brewing

21st Amendment http://twitter.com/21stAmendment
BridgePort Brewery http://twitter.com/bridgeportbrew
Flying Dog Ales http://twitter.com/flyingdog
Magic Hat http://twitter.com/magichat
Open Source Beer http://twitter.com/opensourcebeer
Scmaltz Brewing http://twitter.com/ShmaltzBrewingW
Lift Bridge Brewing http://twitter.com/LiftBridge
Deschutes Beer http://twitter.com/DeschutesBeer
Marin Brewing Co http://twitter.com/MarinBrewingCo
Moylans Brewery http://twitter.com/MoylansBrewery
Hooker Beer http://twitter.com/hookerbeer

Wine/Wineries
Wine Enthusiast http://twitter.com/WineEnthusiast
Cult Vines Winery http://twitter.com/cultvines
American Winery http://twitter.com/americanwinery
Don Giovanni Winery http://twitter.com/DonGiovanniWine

Am I missing a brand that twitters? Comment below with your best food brand bets!

Uh-oh, your fridge just got a little hungrier. Fortunately, we have something that will hit the spot:   Introducing the Zeer Better Buyer, the most delicious updates about food products, mined fom the best Zeer reviews!

The Better Buyer is a newsletter that brings the best advice found in Zeer reviews straight to your inbox. With Zeer’s Better Buyer, you can see what products are buzzing in the Zeer community, check out the newest Zeer members, and glimpse a smorgasbord of new reviews.

If you know of any topics that you’d like to see covered in the Better Buyer, please email feedback@zeer.com. To make sure you receive Zeer’s Better Buyer, double check that the newsletter box is currently in the “checked” position on your email settings page here.

Here is part two of our Fall Guide series!

In our last edition, The Fall Allergy Product Guide 2008, we compiled some of our favorite new allergy products from the past year using blog entries from across the web. However, in this edition, we’re focusing on new products for parents and kids that will get you through the cooler, leaf filled days.

Parent Friendly Products

Over at Iateapie, my favorite source for healthy diet reviews (other than Zeer, of course) is raving about Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal as a healthier and tasty replacement for Cap’N Crunch Cereal.

The people over at Slashfood can’t get enough of Cocio aka “the best chocolate milk you can find in a bottle”

5 Minutes for Mom is so busy, she doesn’t have time to bake, so instead she turns to Quaker’s new line of Granola Bars with Protein - her son is at a peanut-free school, but the bars are a lifesaver when her son needs something on the go.

And if you prefer healthier treats, Parent Hacks recommends freezing corn as a cool snack.

For parents still puzzled over the whole BPA will-they-won’t they ban, Safe Sippy offers a cute non- leaching stainless steel sippy that your young ones will love but will make you feel safe.

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative for your kids, Cheerios Snack Mix is getting some good vibes from Does Mommy Love it, though it wasn’t to her taste, her kids loved it. Bonus! She also recommends Kaboost Portable Chair Booster. It’s portable, works great, and fits on almost any standard four legged chair, and unlike a booster seat, your kid won’t grow out of it right away. Is there a new parent product you think we should include? Comment to share your new favorite product with our readers!