Snyder's of Hanover - Twisted Pretzel Sticks (Nacho Cheese)

These are quite tasty! I thought they would be a good snack for me to very slowly graze on, but alas, they are too delicious for that purpose. Hardly even a pretzel! They're thinner than I expected and easier to bite. The powder isn't skimpy, and it's got a nice sour/spicy tang to it. Does it taste like nacho cheese? My first instinct is "no", it tastes like a powder for a cracker/chip/etc, but I guess the aftertaste is somewhat cheese-dip-y. These could just as well be 'tangy ranch' flavored, though (even though they aren't gross, as ranch might imply). The twist shape is also fun. Good stuff. Plus, the 'peanut free facility' label is lovely as ever!

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 8/10

Dunkin' Espresso-Style Extra Dark Roast k-cups

As I'm sure I've said many times before, Dunkin' makes an awful lot of similar tasting types of "plain" and "dark" k-cups. The dark ones are all more ~premium~ tasting and less "k-cup" tasting, so I do like them and ultimately I've come to prefer them. This is good, especially with milk. It does give a little "burnt grounds" flavor, which is the authenticity I crave from a k-cup. Good job dunks.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Mountain Dew

Soda is always like "ehhh" for me and this is an extra special one because it has 77!!! grams of sugar. 77!!! In a single serve bottle!!! However, when you are bone tired, the caffeine and sugar boost in this can really perk you (me) up. It's a classic road trip and long work day drink. However, it also gives me a stomach ache. So it's not worth it in the end. The flavor is OK -- I like that there's orange juice in it, and it does taste citrusy. It's good for a soda, especially with a ton of ice, but it is also very sugary and not great flat. 

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

2019 Bleasdale 'Mulberry Tree' Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a solid cab! Although I was surprised to see it isn't ~pure~, it's actually got merlot, verdot, and malbec mixed in. Does that make it smoother? Maybe! It's pretty smooth and not too strong/fruity/heavy. So I'm a fan. I didn't make the suggested lamb pizza pairing because it seemed like a lot of work for very little payoff, but I bet this would go well with pizza nevertheless. Pretty good both warm and cold, although I may give the edge (or the less hangovery me) to the warm version.

Overall
Cost: 4/10 [22$]
Taste: 7/10

Reddi-wip

Woah. I'm having a Mandala effect over here over the lack of "h" in reddi-wip. It's whipped cream for heaven's sake!!! OK, breathe in, breathe out. This stuff is tasty and fun. Creamy and sweet. A great topping for any treat. So why don't I get it more often? Because they check your ID when you buy it, which is a whole hassle. I should buy a bunch at once to avoid the stress, except then that's super sus. Stupid society. Anyway, it tastes good though.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Haribo Starmix

Hey there Haribo! This was cheap and new to me so I got it. Typically, I don't like Haribo candy because of the insanely tough texture. But they are nut-free and cute. Anyway I must have gotten a lucky fresh batch on this go-around, because it wasn't as insanely firm as usual, just quite firm! What's in here? There's the happy cola bottles, which are fun, and that's probably the thing there's the most of in here. (7/10). Then there's the twin snakes, I guess one is sweet and one is sour, although that varies a lot depending on flavor. But I like the sour ones! (7/10). The rings are a mystery, I like the pineapple ones but the shape is weird. The red ones I can't ID the flavor and they aren't as good (6/10). The plain bears are fine, but boring (6/10) and the cherries are super cute, and have a decent light sour cherry flavor. Nice (7/10).

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10

Raisin Bran Crunch

This is tasty! I never had it as a kid, possibly because the oat crunch balls evoke "nutty cereal" to me. But there are no nuts here, just raisin bran and sweet oat clumps. I don't really like the firmness of Kellogg's Raisin Bran normally, but as firmness is the point here, it's much more enjoyable.Very sweet and filling-feeling. I get a "healthy cereal" vibe from this even though it's obviously a sugar bomb and not that healthy. But it tastes good and is fun to eat, so hooray.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10

School Safe Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Muffin Bars

I always assumed "school safe" was top 8 free, so I avoided these in my store because top 8 free either means they taste like trash or they have pea protein or something shady in 'em. But these are just nut and dairy free, not gluten-free! So they still resemble a fairly normal cakey. Praise the lord (and Canada, where these are made). They weren't even that pricy -- I think 5$ for a box of 8. Therefore, I was pleased. They taste like a bit of banana bread. My box expired in (1) day from purchase, so I did put it in the freezer as suggested. When frozen, they aren't as good, so you really should let it thaw. But thawed, they taste like a less decadent version of my grandma's banana chocolate chip bars, which I adored. Thanks, School Safe!

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew - Pumpkin Cream

Let the pumpkinification begin! I must say, I prefer winter flavors (mint, ginger, hot chocolate) to fall ones, but the pumpkin beers and coffees are pretty solid. And this one is too! Only ("only") 80 cals for a sweet cold creamy pumpkin drink that you can tote around. I like that and I like the little baby foam on top. I don't like the man who works at my grocery store and makes a point to stare into every single thing I buy in the self checkout. But that's OK, it was worth it to buy a fun little drink. There is still a bit of that "can" taste, which I don't like, but it isn't too overpowering here. It's my favorite Starby's can anyway.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Spring Tree Maple Syrup

People can get very precious about ~pure maple syrup~, but in their defense, this is pretty good stuff. I grew up with the fake corn syrup, but I do prefer this in the end. A nice pure syrup taste, not as strong as some are, but nice, classy, and sweet. Not too sticky on the bottle yet either, thank goodness.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Annie's Organic Confetti Pancake & Waffle Mix

These are cute, I can't deny that. I've only tried 'em as pancake so far, and I never really LOVED homemade pancakes, but they're OK. It makes about 8 pancakes (even though it says 12), and they came out fine, and the little sprinkles are cute and don't change the flavor much. Goes with syrup, a little bit boring plain. Very filling - I couldn't eat all 8 in one serving, maybe 2 servings would work. Quick to make and a fun change of pace; I'm curious to try the waffle form next.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

2019 Bodegas y Vińedos Merayo Mencia Bierzo

Light and bright! This is an interesting wine. I accidentally cut myself on the wrapper, but I won't hold them responsible. This is low-tannin, i.e. not gritty, but it is still fairly acidic, which is interesting. Sweet, sour, fizzy, and fruity. I like all those qualities, and fizzy wines are always fun (even if not expected), but it is still a sipper and not a chugger. I wish it were a tiiiny bit less acidic/sour. Or that I had some turkey to pair with it! 

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Snickerdoodle Pop-Tarts

I didn't have very high expectations for these, but they exceeded them anyway. The biggest downside is not the fact that they aren't frosted, surprisingly, but is how floppy and crumbly they are. After toasting it was near impossible to get them out of the toaster safely. Other than that, though, I like the little sugar on top. They taste a little buttery, like a nice cinnamon cookie. The filling is wetter than normal, which I like. It's a sweet treat for sure. Decent Poppy T.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10

Pepperidge Farm - Raspberry Turnovers

This is fancy for a freezer dessert. Raspberry is just a classy flavor. Also, it's healthier and cheaper than a pie. And better than a toaster strudel. I should get these more often! I do wish they had some sort of icing, or that I had a scoop of vanilla cream to pair with, but they are still quite good on their own, especially out of the oven. And easy to cook! Hurray, pepfarm!

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 8/10

Goldfish Mega Bites Cheddar Jalapeño

In spite of the "mega bites" label, I was surprised that these were actually BIG FISHES! Not your usual goldfish size, but rather 2-3 times that size. A fun novelty. Am I in Japan, I wondered. Anyway the size and shape are the highlight. The taste isn't bad or anything, it's just the same 'ol goldfish taste to me, albeit with a little bit of lingering heat to them. Light "burnt cheese" flavor, mild "garlic/salt/pepper" spice. Fine, but not amazing. That makes this a good snack that I don't super-duper binge on, though.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Bowery Baby Romaine

Another classic from Bowery! I like the idea of Romaine, it's healthier than iceberg and not mysterious, but this particular instantiation was a little bit "earthy" for me. Maybe they're all like that! Still, good concept, good amount for one salad, etc. It'd be cool if the pieces were a little smaller (I know I can tear 'em myself, and I do, but I'm just saying. If wishes were horses.)

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Starburst Swirlers

Why are there suddenly so many strange variations of Starburst?! This is an interesting one. I like that they're individually wrapped, and I like that they look like candy cane sticks. The texture is a little strange, though -- more pliable than a starburst. 

Cherry/Strawberry: I found it odd that this was pink and dark pink rather than red. I guess it's prettier, but it took away from the starburst vibe and the whole thing was more medicinal than regular starbursts are. I prefer a regular starburst for the taste even though I like the shape of these. 6/10

Cherry/Lemon: Ooh, so based on this one I think I can conclude it's the cherry bit that tastes medicinal. Not in a horrible way, maybe it's just Luden's cough drop vibes, but I still don't love it, and it's not in regular starbursts. The lemon flavor seems nice here, though, it's just the cherry that's weird. Too bad I can't try the orange/strawberry one, I predict that's the best. 6/10

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Lucerne Jalapeño Cream Cheese Spread

I wonder why there aren't more kids named Lucerne. I could see someone thinking "that's a nice name" without remembering it's a store brand of dairy products. Not me though. 

This stuff is good. (Or maybe I'm just happy to have cream cheese again?) The allergy info for Philly's cream cheese didn't pan out to be very reassuring, so I'm convinced the lack of info for the store brand is somehow safer. Woo! This flavor has a little kick to it, which I like.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10

Dunkin' Caramel Me Crazy k-cups

Caramel me crazy, but I don't like the artificially flavored cofes. They always taste very chemically and strange. Do others not notice this? Am I a super-taster? But I digress. This does taste like butterscotch, which is a pleasant taste, it's just that it's also mingled with a weird taste. OK in moderation but I'm glad I only have a tenner.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Ray's New York Bagels - Bialys

Love these not just because they say "nut free" right on the box, but also because they are actually quite good. The texture is impressively non-freezerlike, and the cooking (2 toaster cycles, no defrosting) was simple as can be. The texture was akin to a nice roll at a restaurant, which is a treat I rarely can partake in. I wasn't expecting the onion flavor or soft onion bits in the middle, but it's still good, filling, and goes with eggs. I will get these again if I can, but try not to become too attached as they seem rather rare. Definitely tastier than Lender' s (although pricier and calorie-er too).



Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 8/10

Parmesan Goldfish

What I really want is to try the new Dunkin Goldfish flavor, but since my store is 30 years in the past, I doubt it will ever come to pass, so I got these instead. They're OK. Honestly pretty indistinguishable from all the other cheese flavored fish (and cheez-its) I've tried, but maybe a little bit on the better side -- less burnt? More seasoned? But only just. Cute fish and a serving is 60 of 'em, so I'm a fan, just not a super-duper-fan.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Marie Callender's Pumpkin Pie

My parents had this pie for a holiday meal at their place, and although I was nervous about allergens (they make a peanut pie!! eek!!) the packaging read safe and so I consumed the pie. And my review was: 'really good!'. Nicely said, past-me. I do love pie.

Overall
Cost: 4/10
Taste: 8/10

Dunkin' Cold k-cups

Talk about clever marketing. What I wouldn't give for a cold k-cup that didn't require me to buy a whole new machine! But guys, this is literally identical to a hot k-cup in every way I can see. I followed the rules completely, and not only did all the ice melt and my cup overfloweth, but it tasted like gross typical coffee. Probably gross because it was neither hot nor cold, though it was watery. I'm going to try putting it in a tumbler with like 10x the ice to see if that helps, but I am not optimistic. They tricked me! I'm a sucker for new DUNKIN' products! Alas.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Newman's Own Mushroom Trio Pizza (pre-flax)

Alas, friends, this was on super sale because apparently now it comes with a "multigrain crust" full of flax, and I got a pre-flax one (at least according to the ingredients on the box). So I can never get it again! I also accidentally bought a flax one that I have to throw out since none of my friends want a flax frozen pizza. Lol. But I digress; this one was good for a frozen pizza -- not super oily or fatty, and no tomato sauce to make things disguistingly sweet. The mushrooms were a little wet, and the crust was kind of boring (but a good texture), but I thought the overall taste sensation was positive. Kind of like a restaurant flatbread, but less buttery (which is a good thing!).

Overall
Cost: 7/10 [2.50!]
Taste: 6/10
Annoyance at recipe changes: 7/10

Canada Dry Ginger Ale

I got this 'cause I'm feeling sick (classic new semester vibe), which is maybe counterproductive due to all the sugar. But it doesn't have caffeine, so it's good for settling your system, I guess. Anyway I'm not a huge soda fan, but I think this is what I often get on planes, so I like that vibe. Unlike the hordes of maskless kids on the bus!

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Starbucks Canned Nitro Cold Brew - Vanilla Sweet Cream

Huh, I thought I reviewed the whole set of these already! I must be losing my mind. Oh well. This tastes like sweet canned coffee, you know the drill. The unique element is the "nitro" bit, which means there's a little bit of fizz involved here, and that's some fun. Really this tastes a bit like lucky charms in milk, which is OK, but not really "coffee" in my heart.

Overall
Cost: 5/10 [on sale for 2.50]
Taste: 6/10

Sunny Fruit Organic Apricots

Dried fruit is very 'whatever' to me, but these are more decadent than most: very wet, large, sticky apricots. I think there's about 5 in a pack. And the pack says "nut free" right on it, which is a blessing. Good fiber balances out the high sugar, and this is certainly filling, though messy to eat on the go because of how sticky they are.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Popsicle Popsicles (Orange/Cherry/Grape)

Of course, the only nut-free frozen treats are things like this, which aren't amazing but are still nice to have and I appreciate them more than normies would. Popsicles are pretty classic, and they're not too unhealthy, especially these days with the natural colors. Plus, nice for summertime. The sticks have jokes, which I like, but are make of wood, which gives me bad teeth feelings. Ah well. 

Cherry: This is nice, refreshing, and tasty. Not too sweet. 7/10

Grape: This is good too, but doesn't really taste like anything. Very mild. 6/10

Orange: At first I thought "ooh, this is giving me creamsicle vibes" which was good, but then it got a weird kinda chemical taste, which was bad. Lol. 6/10

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Post Raisin Bran

Alas, this isn't quite as good as I remember it being from my youth, but it's still my top raisin bran. Very filling, and the flakes become soft in milk, which is what I prefer and what sets it apart from the Kellogg's version. I thought the raisins used to have sugar on them, but they don't seem to anymore, which is less tasty but still pretty enjoyable. Plus it doesn't feel like a "kids cereal" so I feel better about buying it, irrational though that may be.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Cabot Pepper Jack Slices

Although I hated the Cabot cheddars, this is a normal, tasty, pepper jack cheese product! Hooray! These slices were softer and more flex-y than I expected, which is neither good nor bad, really, just surprising. The taste was your classic pepper jack, maybe a bit on the milder side but still good. It is hard to eat just 4 slices in one sitting. 

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10