Review: Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars (Limited Time Only @ Target) & The Junk Food Gal Has Never Read Calvin & Hobbes
Junk Food Nation, I love Calvin & Hobbes. I grew up with the mischievous boy and his pet Tiger in the Sunday comics, and had a library of Calvin & Hobbes comic books that would make any fan proud. For many of us, before the widespread proliferation of internet comics, Calvin & Hobbes was a staple, a titan – there was Peanuts, there was Garfield, the Far Side was a classic, and then there was Calvin & Hobbes.
My friend Nevin loves Calvin & Hobbes, and has even written a book about it (learn all about it here!) He even appears in a few cameos of a MOVIE that has been make about the impact of Calvin & Hobbes. Let’s watch the trailer, shall we?
Anyways, I remember when I first learned about Nevin’s book, I was very excited to share it with the Junk Food Gal. I showed her the book, and recently, I remember commenting about this movie to her. I thought the conversation was going swimmingly with the Junk Food Gal, when she dropped this bomb on me:
“What’s Calvin & Hobbes?”
My jaw DROPPED. WTF. WHO WAS I DATING??
Through more conversation, it was revealed that, (phew) yes, she knew what/who Calvin & Hobbes was/were, but, no, she did not grow up reading it like I did. She did not, like I did, spend hours with a Calvin & Hobbes comic book under the covers with a flashlight. She did not, like I did, spend winter afternoons trying to draw Calvin & Hobbes on pieces of scrap paper. And she did not, like I did, own a 10+ book collection of Calvin & Hobbes comic collections!
So I have a new goal, which I hope you will help me with, Junk Food Nation. Those previous comic books I had a boxed up and who know’s where the heck they are. Help me find the best collection of Calvin & Hobbes comic strips to purchase to share with the Junk Food Gal. Which one of THESE books should I buy? Or should I buy all of them? Or should I just get that Complete Calvin & Hobbes that costs like 90 bucks? Help me, Junk Food Nation! Let me know what you think.
Today’s junk food: Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars from, you guessed it, TARGET!
Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars: The Money Shot.
Okay okay. I know during this Halloween season I have featured Market Pantry items more than usual. I promise that these Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars will be the last one. I mean, after the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies and the Pumpkin Shaped Cheesy Potato Puffs were such a huge hit…in my mouth….how could I NOT eat these as well?
Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars: IMPROVISATION!
Now I’m not really a cereal bar person; I tend to eat a TON OF EGGS in the morning, and other staples like bacon, toast, etc… cereal sometimes, but cereal bars almost never. Still…. Pumpkin Cereal Bars? Why not? They sort of look like cake. And I like cake.
PS: I love the suggestion these Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars make – just dip the whole thing into YOGURT! ‘Cause THAT makes sense….
Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars: Pretty wrapper
Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars: about…three inches long?
Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars come individually wrapped, and are not big – maybe 3 inches long? Basically, the length of a computer space bar. Well, I guess it depends on what type of computer you’re using. Point being, not that big.
They come piped with what looks to be cream cheese icing. These look (and smell) pretty good. Pumpkin spice-y. Let’s get our breakfast bar on!
Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars: Vanilla Filling!
I’m still not sure what makes a breakfast bar a cereal bar, but these Market Pantry Pumpkin Cereal Bars were pretty good. The texture was very soft, like I was eating pumpkin bread. The dough was soft and very sweet, with plenty of pumpkin spice. Definitely felt like a pumpkin bread mix. The texture did have some oat-y bumps to it though – I guess that’s where the cereal comes in.
The cream cheese-y vanilla filling and the cream cheese-y icing gave the whole flavor that familiar taste that you get when you have carrot cake or pumpkin bread that has cream cheese icing. The resultant flavor was familiar and very sweet. Satisfying, although the oils in the icing made it smudge too easily.
Overall, I could see eating these for breakfast or dessert. Not my absolute favorite of all the Market Pantry snacks I’ve had recently – but a well executed product. If you’re a cereal bar kind of person, you’ll like these.
PURCHASED AT: Target
COST: $1.99
Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. Let’s hang out.
Sincerely,
Junk Food Guy
Discuss - 12 Comments
What a Susie Derkins!
@Stanley: +1
I’m the same way. I’ve heard of Calvin & Hobbes but have never read any of their stuff. I’ve never really been big on comics in general (now or as a kid), as I’ve always preferred just reading regular books (my main staple as kid were the Goosebumps books). Most of the comics that I do know about are only because there was a cartoon version of them at some point, and I don’t think there ever was a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon.
@DEVIN: You should check it out! BUt in large volume – can’t really get the impact from only 5-7 comics.
@junkfoodguy: Hey, I posted this a while ago but never heard back, so figured I’d re-post it here. Just some back-dated banter about Calvinball, er I mean baseball!
@Junkfoodguy: PLAYOFFS! Now, if only the Yankees were in it, but alas, that ship has sailed.
Anyway, on to the actual series- I’m cheerin’ hard for the Pirates. Have you heard the amazing story of how their bullpen got their Shark Tank nickname?? Absolutely outstanding. And tonight they had quite the victory! I’ve been rooting for the Pirates all season, and am just so sick of the Cardinals at this point that anything less than a Pirates victory will be devastating.
Between the Dodgers and Atlanta, I’d love it if the Dodgers make it, but man oh man what the hell Mattingly??! You NEVER intentionally walk somebody to face Heyward. Can’t wait to see Puig and McCann go at it in “Wrestlemania on Dirt” (and you just KNOW it’s going to happen).
Your line about wanting both teams to lose in the Boston vs Tampa Bay series was absolutely hilarious. I want the Rays to advance, but they just seem out of it this year. Not sure what’s going on down in Tampa Bay….almost like they’re just happy to be there.
Tigers vs Athletics is the series I’m least excited about. Like with the Cardinals, I’m so sick of the Tigers at this point that I can’t help but cheer for Oakland, yet I don’t see them making it past the daunting Tigers pitching.
Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on the awards (MVP, ROY, CY, Manager, etc.?).
Oh, by the way- when do we get to see a picture of the Fantasy League Trophy??!
Talk to you soon!!
-John C.
@John C: Calvin ball! Such a great call back.
Yeah, I was cheering the Pirates too. Sucks they didn’t make it. I wonder what they’ll do next year since Cole has emerged as an Ace. They can probably let Burnett go, but need to add another inning-eating veteran. Strangely a guy I dislike (Ryan Dempster) might be perfect for them.
And yes, I looked up the SHark Tank reference after you mentioned it 🙂
I’m glad the Dodgers pulled it out, and am rooting for them over the Cards, although I must be honest I think the Cards are the best team in the playoffs now. Hitting, pitching and bullpen – they have all 3.
I was sad to see Oakland go, but my thought at the time was, well at least the Tigers can beat the Sox. But they’re bullpen always scared me – and last night I was proven right.
MVP, ROY, CY…hmmmmmm on the AL side, I think it probably will be Miggy although I’d think Chris Davis has to be in the running. He just kind of fell off towards the end though. CY on the AL side will be Scherzer or Yu Darvish, I’m betting Max gets it. AL ROY is Wil Myers hands down.
NL MVP *I* would argue is Matt Carpenter. He was a revelation at 2B for the Cards. But I wouldn’t mind if McCutchen won it.
NL CY is Kershaw, without a doubt.
NL ROY…err….I mean, does Puig qualify? Not sure on the NL side. That pitcher from Miami?
For the rest of the playoffs, I’d like to see a Detroit and LA WS, but wouldn’t be surprised if it was a Cards Sox series.
If you really don’t know where your old books are, I would say the Complete Calvin & Hobbes is a great investment. Everything is there and in order, and it looks beautiful. If you calculate what you are being charged versus how much it would cost to buy all those comics in the separate books, it’s definitely a fair price. Your girlfriend is in for a real treat.
@Mike: Yeah the Complete looks like the way to go! I’m excited to re-read them myself? How long do you think it’d take to go through that many comics….a couple days? LOL
Hmm, in the pumpkin bars I got, the filling wasn’t oily or smudgey at all–in fact, it had that sugary graininess to it (prob’ly thanks to the dry milk powder?). Makes me wonder which one of us got the “normal” batch. Anyway, I also wanted to check if you tried nuking one–epic!
@May: I might’ve mistyped/misspoke – I meant that the icing on the outside was a little oily, getting all over my fingers.
Nuking it sounds epic, for sure!
@junkfoodguy: Yea, at this point the playoffs seem like a big bummer with the Pirates out of it and the Dodgers stumbling every step of the way. I would absolutely HATE to see a Sox vs Cardinals series- they’re probably my two least favorite teams in the league. I’m just so sick of seeing the Cards in it, and of course the Sox are the Sox….
I’m right there with you- I wish Chris Davis got it, but have a feeling it’ll go to Miggy again. As for the NL ROY, I’m rooting for Puig, but apparently the media and voters are leaning more toward that pitcher from Miami that you mentioned- Jose Fernandez.
Glad to hear about your fantasy football team. I completely screwed myself this week- benched Newton in favor of Luck. He better have the game of his life tonight…..
Also, that’s so cool about your friend being involved with that book! I’ve been meaning to buy a copy even before you mentioned it on your blog. The world works in mysterious ways. Any chance you think you could help me get an autographed copy?? I absolutely LOVE Calvin and Hobbes- actually wrote about it as the most influential work of art, culture, literature, etc. that I had been exposed to for my college essay.
Talk to you soon.
John C.
@John C.
Hey man, sorry i went into hibernation mode after the Red Sox won. Man, it was depressing. Looks like the World Series ended up just the way neither of us wanted. Bummer.
Wil Myers and Jose Hernandez winning the ROYs – what do you think?
My fantasy football team is on a full four week losing streak. It’s awful. Damn you Hakeem Nicks!
I’m sure, honestly, that if you wanted the Calvin and Hobbes book autographed, I could make it happen. This is the book he wrote:
http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Calvin-Hobbes-Unconventional-Revolutionary/dp/1441106855