Gerbs Pumpkin Kernels (Pepitas) - Roasted & Unsalted

The truth is, I've never really liked shelled pumpkin seeds. Like what's the point? They just taste like pliable dirt, which I have plenty of in my yard. So why am I the owner of a 2lb bag of them? Ha ha, so true. The reason is that Gerb's only sells 2lb bags, and I needed some pepitas for a recipe. (Pepita is a cute name for a pet by the way. I had a lil guy named Pepito way before that internet cat was even born. Just saying.) Where was I? Oh yes. I used these to make a crust for a pumpkin cheesecake (I know, it's a little 親子) and it was way less delicious than pretty much any other crust would have been, but certainly more fibrous and magnesiumous. So there's something. Anyway, I will use these in recipes and they will serve their purpose and be nut free. But I will not snack on them because they do not delight me, or even really fill me. 

Overall
Cost: 5/10 [24$ish]
Taste: 5/10 

Strawberry Vanilla Chex

Some of my best friends are naturally flavored with other natural flavors! (That is to say, they're not actually friends, but some other human-type thing that passes for friendish. Ew.) This strawberry flavor is exactly the same as every other strawberry flavored cereal I've had lately (cinnamon toast crunch? special k? frosted flake?) and it tastes artificial even if it's not. Luckily you can still taste the rice chex through it, especially after milk saturation, and sweetened rice chex cereal is one of the greats. Perhaps I'd be better off with regular rice chex and a little sugar, but at least this saves me the sugar packet and gains me a new food review. Now, where was I. The vanilla is so subtle as to be nonexistent, and once the strawberry washes off, this is pretty good. 

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10 

Hershey Candy Cane Kisses

Have these always had shea oil in? Feels like that would have freaked me out, but anyway, we move. I gotta binge on cals before I'm off to NOLA, the #1 worst US city I've ever been in for (my) food allergies. My own tragic version of pre-Survivor carbo-loading. These are not as good as most other kisses. They have no chocolate. However, they are exactly like a big version of these tiny pastel mint chips (like these, but less sketch?) that I used to get at Boscov's after the holidays to great excitement. So there is some nostalgia baked in. I'd much rather a cookies 'n mint, though. Moderation is absolutely essential here.

Overall
Cost: 7/10 [on sale, 3$ish]
Taste: 7/10 (thru nostalgia glasses) 

Gerbs Sea Salted Whole Pumpkin Seeds

Wow! Whatever the opposite of "comparison is the thief of joy" is is really resonating with me lately. Compared to the unsalted ones, which I ate 2lbs of over the last semester (gratefully but not especially happily), these are so, so good. It is rare that I really experience the transformative power of salt, but here it is on full display. These are like, actually tasty. And they're fresh so they don't even hurt to chew (yet). Only downside is they're packed so tight in a smaller package, so you have to eat 2 servings before you can even struggle to close the bag. Impressive. All the people snacking on nuts 24/7 should really switch to these. They're definitely at least as healthy, probably cheaper, obviously allergy-friendly, and I can't imagine they taste worse (but maybe they do). 

Overall
Cost: 6/10 [26$]
Taste: 7/10 

my mochi - vanilla bean

Behold, a new flavor, available in PA! You know it's vanilla bean and not just regular vanilla because there are little black specks in it. Oooh, aahh (except that's a negative in my book because it could be bad to see black specks in most foods). Anyway, this was a bad, freezer burn-y texture, even after much defrosting time, but I don't know if that's due to my parents' bad freezer, the store's bad freezer, or the product somehow. Most likely the first thing. Other than that, it was indeed very vanilla. The white mochi makes me lol because it looks like modelling clay. Anyway, I only had one so I can't say much more, but it was fun and cute as are they all. And nut free!

Overall
Cost: ?/10
Taste: 7/10 

Hanover Frozen Asparagus Spears

Finally, a veg! For some reason, I have a memory of (some??) Hanover veggie having a peanut warning, but I couldn't find any record of this online or in my blog tome, so maybe it was something else. Anyway, these are fine. Not as good as real asparagus, but we're in PA, so, no veg box and no real asparagus. Wet and fine. Could do worse!

Overall
Cost: ?/10
Taste: 6/10 

Skinny Pop - Sea Salt (Microwavable Version)

Blergh, the micowavable version of this is much less delicious than the prepopped version! But it is still nut free and, I guess, skinny. Certainly the portion size is larger here than with the other stuff, and I guess the taste is just the same as other microwave popcorns, so maybe I'm just not in the mood for popcorn. I am only eating this to have something to review, after all! (Why was it at my parents' house, I wondered, since my mom can't eat popcorn and my dad righteously has no interest in Skinny Things? Is it because it's nut free, on my behalf?! Is it because Hershey makes it so they got it for free? Questions I wish I had asked!)

Overall
Cost: ?/10
Taste: 6/10