… with Archer Farms. aka Target. aka… my favorite place on Earth.
If you’ve read this blog for any amount of time you probably already know that Target is my Disney World. I get giddy walking through the aisles and often come home with more chocolate than makes sense. So I was thrilled when I had the chance to partner with them and create some quick treats using Archer Farms products.
I received a Target gift card to pick up whatever Archer Farms items I wanted. I may have been a little overexcited during the shopping trip — it felt like one of the best days of the year. I was aware that my local stores sometimes have limited food selections, but I still found plenty to experiment with.
One of the best discoveries was edamame in the freezer section. I often can’t find it at my regular grocery store, so this was a win. I thawed the edamame, patted it very dry, then heated two to three tablespoons of canola oil in a skillet. I tossed the beans until they were golden and slightly crispy, then finished them with grated Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper. Simple, crunchy, and addictive — this might be my new favorite snack.
I have a cereal obsession and can eat bowl after bowl without getting tired of it. Archer Farms granola has long been a pantry staple for me, and I used two flavors — strawberry flax and vanilla almond crunch — to make creamy Greek yogurt parfaits. I whipped vanilla yogurt until silky, layered it with granola and fresh strawberries, and ended up completely hooked. There’s something about layering granola, yogurt, and fruit that makes every bite feel like a little celebration.
Next, I used Archer Farms gnocchi and pesto cream sauce to make a creamy caprese-style pasta salad. You can serve it warm or cold. I cooked a package of gnocchi, tossed it with about half a jar of pesto cream, then folded in halved grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, lots of basil, and a bit of salt and pepper. It was fantastic. Gnocchi has always been my preferred “pasta” growing up, and it works wonderfully in a pasta salad format — creamy, tender, and full of bright flavor.
Here are a few quick, fun ideas. My favorite sandwich upgrade: add chips. Potato chips on a sandwich add crunch and salt that change everything. I buy Archer Farms kettle-cooked potato chips all the time — the salt & vinegar is my go-to, and their smoky BBQ cheddar and buffalo wing flavors are fantastic for sandwiches. They also offer sweet Thai chips and other interesting varieties that keep things exciting.
I found a summer fruit salsa with strawberries, pineapple, and kiwi and used it as a filling for grilled whole wheat tortillas with freshly grated cheddar. The fruit salsa is still savory enough to work with cheese, creating a sweet-and-salty grilled quesadilla that’s surprisingly addictive. The salt & lime corn chips are perfect with guacamole — thick, sturdy, and ideal for scooping.
And now, the best part: the cookies. Archer Farms white chocolate amaretto wafers are a revelation — tender and almost melting in your mouth. These cookies were the runaway favorite of everything I bought. I made ice cream sandwiches with plain vanilla ice cream, then rolled part of each sandwich in sprinkles. The combination of the delicate cookies, creamy ice cream, and colorful sprinkles was irresistible. I’ll be buying more of these very soon.
Finally, I made mocha coconut macaroon milkshakes. I brewed Archer Farms coconut macaroon coffee in a French press and chilled it. In a blender I combined the coffee with chocolate fudge syrup in the glass bottoms, a generous amount of vanilla ice cream, a little ice, and extra coconut. I blended until thick and creamy, then topped each shake with heaps of whipped cream and toasted coconut. They were rich, coconut-forward, and exactly what I wanted.
Overall, I’m smitten with many of these Archer Farms items. My other favorites include their trail mixes, nuts (the smoky BBQ nut mix is especially good), peanut butters, granola bars, and fruit strips — which are like grown-up fruit roll-ups. I’ll be revisiting these products all summer and experimenting with more combinations.
[this post is brought to you by Archer Farms at Target.]