Guittard Choc-Au-Lait Baking Chips

Choc-au-lait is a silly name, played very seriously here. Two thumbs up. Yes, I really went deep into my baking chocolate stores when I was snowed in, and now they're fully depleted. But I actually did bake with these (in addition to eating some as a wee snack, of course)! They taste a lot like the outside of a Hug, which isn't the greatest tasting white chocolate (maybe there really is no great tasting white chocolate and my childhood memories aren't to be trusted?) but did grow on me. Most importantly, these are white chocolate chips that are safe! (Allergy-wise and brain diet wise, if we still cared about that last thing). They're a small size, like a normal chocolate chip (serving size=30), which is notable because the Guittard milk choco chips are like twice as big as these (serving size=12). The small size is less fun but probably better for melting, baking, etc. Overall I am not blown away with delight, but these are the only nut-free white chocolate chips I know of, so they are very important nevertheless.

Overall
Cost: 4/10 [~15$]
Taste: 7/10
Market importance: 10/10 

Pepperidge Farm Salted Caramel Chessmen

Breaking news: I've finally left my house. Just in time for these New Cookies! There's also a new pecan flavor (which contains soy protein and "pecan distillate"), but this flavor seems to be safe from both of those evils. Honestly their allergy labelling is not so hot, but, I've been eating their cookies for so long that I'm like "surely it's fine". Plus they taste good. 

Well, I don't know that there was anything wrong with regular ol' chessmen (chesspeople), but these do indeed add an additional level of salty, buttery caramel coating. Both as a top glaze and as little speckles in the cookie itself. It's good, and increases the textural diversity (the caramel speckle parts are extra cronchy), but it's really not too different from the original flavor. I guess I prefer this version, but it's a very close call!

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10 

Sauder's Free Range Large Brown Eggs

Whew, things are bad over here, y'all. But these eggs are OK. Honestly they aren't as good as my usual white eggs, because those were jumbo and these are large and it turns out that large is actually small and jumbo is actually large. Starbucks-ass egg sizing!! Older hens lay larger eggs, so maybe there's a baby boom among chickens, which I guess is good. That's probably what's going on. No questions, please. 

But I digress. These are free range, which is good. Apart from being weirdly small, and brown, they also have thinner shells than I'm used to, with some red specks inside of unknown origin. Are they chicken parts?? Wee feet?? Blood?? Best not to think about such things. They taste fine. Only one was cracked. No complaints, because large is actually fine if you eat 2. 

Overall
Cost: 6/10 [4$]
Taste: 6/10 

Filippo Berio Olive Oil

I found some unreviewed oil! It's a Tree New Year miracle! :p 

This is what I use for pasta. I used to not, because I had it ingrained in me that you can't cook with olive oil at high temps. But it turns out that's mostly EVOO and mostly at temps higher than what we're dealing with in the noodle realm. Anyway, it's certainly more appropriate for the noodle/veg/chicken life than canola oil is (which is more of a stir-fry oil imo). It lasts a long time and I usually ALMOST finish it when it expires, but not quite. Good ol' oil. I don't really like the taste or feel of it, but without it things are intolerably dry! 

Overall
Cost: 5/10 
Taste: 5/10 

Guittard Milk Chocolate Chips

Having blown through my stores of rice, pasta, veg, coffee, and snacks, I've resorted to snacking on these 15$ nut-free baking chocolate chips. It occurs to me maybe I ought to have just baked something instead (lol). Anyway, the upside is that these are great, which is why they're worth the 15$ and shipping. About twice as a big as a normal chocolate chip (or half the size of a Hershey kiss), and a pleasant milky taste. If only there were a cheapo allergy-free brand, but at least I'm living in the lap of luxury (in the realm of baking)!

Overall
Cost: 4/10 [15$ plus shipping because you know Acme could never]
Taste: 7/10 

ma ma mia produce - Grape Tomatoes

So many tomato producers out there! Here's another one. I was confused about the spacing of the name, and refused to research it out of annoyance. That's where we are after not leaving the house for 8 days! A few were a lil wrinkly, but overall they were fine, both in taste and hardiness. Pretty girthy for grape tomatoes. Enjoyed them in both rice and noodle. Hang in there, frozen blog fans!

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10 

Wandering Bear Vanilla Cold Brew

I'm trapped in my house once again! 2020 flashbacks. Anyway, at least I have this cute bear-themed cold brew. It's just ("natural") vanilla flavor, no sugar/milk, which I appreciate. Quite bitter/strong, all told. The vanilla is subtle, which is good. The packaging and company are good. The taste is just OK. I don't really like vanilla flavor in drinks, I guess. It's better with milk added, but I don't have any milk right now!! A good zip and lasts a long time. I prefer the unflavored one, but I'd get this again if it's offered in the veg box. (Coffee isn't really a veg, and you know it's not local (it's Canadian! ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ), but I like that it's there anyway.)

Overall
Cost: 5/10 [14$ for 5 servings, hm. maybe not that good, but coffee's doubled in price everywhere this year! on par with last year's Dunks, I think]
Taste: 6/10