DeLallo Orecchiette

Do these even look like (human) ears? Do ears really look like little cups? Am I just unable to imagine an ear detached from the head? These are the thoughts that calm me as I find myself with too much to do today. I think we've pretty much covered all there is to say about DeLallo pasta by now. It is, on the whole, pleasant. This shape is fun but a little too stackable, such that you get too much pasta-per-cubic-inch and not enough air. These also have a pretty long cook time (~12 minutes), which is no doubt related to the lack of air. Once the DeLallo backlog is complete (soon!) I think I'll return to my usual elbow-spaghett rotation, and only venture outside that on special occasions.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

La Clare Goat Mozzarella

My cheese education continues! I've had a lot of goat cheeses (mostly LaClare ones), and a lot of cow-milk mozzarella cheeses (mostly on pizza), but never a goat mozz. My (foolish) assumption was that this would be more mozz-like than goat-like. But it is not. It tastes exactly like the sharp, tangy sour notes I have come to expect from a non-mozz goat variety. That's not a bad thing, but it's not really mozz, is it? Well, maybe it is. The texture is absolutely right -- firm, smooth, shiny. Not smooshy or dry like your non-mozz-goat cheese. So the name is accurate, but my priors were not. I'm not sure I have a good use for this stuff, as it's far from neutral, but I'm gonna think on it. Thanks, goats!

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Abe's One Big Muffin - Corn

This sure is a big muffin. Which I like. However, this might be old-fashioned of me, but I think the primary note in a corn muffin ought to be corn (and not sugar, like here, or even salt or butter etc). I could hardly taste the corn! Just a whisp of corn! Other than that minor(?) issue, this was very pleasant. Large, as mentioned, and moist and sweet. Plus the packaging is all about how Abe's dad loves his trago allergy-having son. Some beautiful wish-fulfillment-via-muffin-packaging there.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Atoria's mini Naan (Traditional)

Can you believe I found a store that sold these? Incredible stuff. A pack of 4 minis was just perfect for my 4-day conference needs; one holds a single egg or a single 1/3 tube goat cheese very nicely. Tastes like plain naan, which it is. No allergens, no mold; good as gold.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Vital Farms Pasture Raised Hard Boiled Eggs

These precooked eggs in a bag were surprisingly good. I don't really like eating eggs, especially plain, as they always make me a bit vommy and the taste is just "eh". But these eggs had no ill effects on me, and if anything I think they made me feel a bit better (the power of protein? idk). They were smaller than your average egg, and a bit wet due to the form factor of "being in a bag", but they do taste like eggs. A yellower yolk than normal, which their non-bagged-eggs have too. It is hard for me to say "non-bagged eggs" (but that's not due to my recent brain issues; it always would have been). Anyway, I can usually boil my own eggs so I don't need this, but if I'm travelling again I will definitely look for these! They were a lifesaver! Yay egg!

Overall
Cost: 6/10 [3$ish]
Taste: 7/10

abe's vanilla cupcakes

Philly grocery really crushing it in the allergy-free space!! For an egg-free, milk-free, soy-free cupcake, this is quite good. Surprisingly normal, although not quite as delicious, especially in the frosting (although there is somehow a tangy note, which impressed me). A little bit less sweet tasting than those milkful nutfree mini cupcakes at my local store, even though I believe the sugar content is the same. These were a nice treat to reward me for not dying or vomming during any famous linguists' talks! Yay me!

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Annie's Hidden Veggies - Cheesy Cheddar

It's so rare for "hidden veggies" to NOT be peas and beans and etc! Thank you, Annie. I'm in a hotel right now with no cooking implements, so any form of veggie is a plus, even if it's tiny amounts of squash powder flavoring a flat bunny cracker. Which this is. But even though it's flat and not that veg-y, the taste is good. Buttery and heavily seasoned. And the flat-ness is kind of a fun novelty. More fun than a traditional puffed goldfish (or cheddar bunny) shape. Or maybe I'm just in a good mood because I'm back on my "brain diet be damned" bs and sleeping 2 hours a day :)

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10