The Zeer Blog

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.