Hillshire Farm Turkey, Cheddar & Wheat Crackers Snack Kit

You know this isn't for kids because it was extremely hard to peel off the plastic top! Otherwise, the idea of an adult lunchable certainly appeals, and it's nice that it's "minimally processed" and there's no Reese's cup or weird little drink in there to mess about with. Also no nuts! It doesn't really taste that good though, alas. The crackers are the best part -- firm wheat circles, almost a sesame/rye taste but they're just plain wheat (yum). There's 6 of them I think. Then there's like, 4 turkey scraps, and 5 cheese squares. Absurd portion choices in other words. They even show a little sandwich on the packaging!! But OK. The turkey is the worst part: it's deli meat, kinda slimy, kinda smokey taste even though it's "oven roasted" and not "smoked". But pairing with cheese and/or cracker helps mitigate this. The cheese is also not my favorite, but that's cheddar for you. It's a pretty mild cheddar, and it is indeed less processed than a lunchable cheese that flaps in the breeze. A good little snack, less delicious than Lunchable but also less toxic, probably. Only 220 calos, some good protein, cute. 

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10 

Old Tyme Gameday Sandwich Rolls

Continuing my Old Tyme adventures... this is another sesame/nut/soy flour-free roll option from Old Tyme. What makes it "game day" and/or "premium"? It's the same calorie and protein info as their regular roll, but it has a line down the middle. It's also a little fluffier/firmer. OK, fine. Mine were 1 week from expiry but had some weird black flecks on top (mold?!??!) which I peeled off, but maybe that's supposed to be there, but probably not though. They also made me flushed and itchy like the high-protein ones did, but is that just anxiety or do I have a secret wheat protein allergy and/or there's unlabelled legume? Being real, I think it's probably the first thing. I'll report in after having a few more. [Reporting in: yep, it was transient.] Taste-wise, these are NOT weirdly buttery like the non-game-day rolls, which is a plus. But they kinda taste like stale bread mixed with air (not like tasty potato), which is a minus. I guess these aren't potato rolls at all, are they? Dang. I miss Martin's. Maybe I'll go back, sesame be darned. Anyway, no butter, bad texture, no sesame, play ball!

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10 

Colleen Strawberries

These make me think of Cool-een from Survivor. Otherwise, they weren't great, but that's on me buying California strawberries in October -- they looked so pale and sad in the store (and were on sale therefore; yay) but the recipe I was compulsively due to make called for them, so here we are. I lost only 4 to mold/browning, which is generally a reasonable condition for OCTOBER strawberries. They weren't super red obviously, but tasted just fine (cooked in a paste). Better than expected actually. Sometimes soft bigotry... sometimes soft happiness.

Overall
Cost: 6/10 [3$]
Taste: 6/10 

Domino Granulated Sugar

Mm, sugar. Nature's sugar. This stuff is essential for baking, but the box design is not optimal. You need super strength to puncture the half-moon cutout in the side, and then you hope and pray no pests or water enter the unsealed airhole. Luckily, ever since my roommates moved out I've had no sugar storage issues in terms of bugs/clumps (so far...), though the pouring process is still sometimes slow and annoying. I guess ultimately it does work well though, it's just tedious. But you get a smooth pour of that white gold... like sweet sweet freedom.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10 

Argo Corn Starch

A thickener made from corn, what more could you want? Actually I was expecting a different brand when I went to the store, but this is the only one. It's interesting the color signals -- all corn starches are yellow with blue tops -- and I wonder who started it. Anyway, this was used to thicken some strawberries for a dessert topping, and it did its duty. No taste, which is the desired situation, although I may have used too much because the sauce ended up kinda gritty (lol). The FAQ from Argo (no allergens here except corn!) talks a lot about pica, which is interesting. Is corn starch dirt? Apparently for some! 

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste?: 6/10 

Pepperidge Farm - Dublin Cookies

Feeling very "woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown", I look to the cookie. Also I needed shortbread cookies for the crust of a cheesecake bar. Somehow, I never had these before, even though they're nut free and presumably have been around for some time. I think the reason is that shortbread sucks and is boring (for a cookie). The texture is pleasantly crumbly, but the taste is, like, burnt butter (and not in a sugary way, which would be the good way). Chessmen are vastly superior, I guess because they're less burnt and more sugary, even though their texture is nothing to write blogs about. Anyway, I ended up going with Lorna Doone for the crust because they're cheaper per ounce (although still bafflingly expensive; like 9$/box), but maybe shortbread just isn't my flavor of choice since I didn't love those either (the daily meal ranks them in total opposition; those are the only two options I'm not allergic to, so it's nice I can reject both ends of the scale). Really I'm into cookies for sugar, not for butter and/or toffee (maybe my least British trait). That said, I do still love Dublin.

Overall
Cost: 4/10 [5.49$]
Taste: 6/10 

Waterloo Strawberry

Finally facing my waterloo...

This flavor is, as expected, not my favorite. It doesn't taste like medicine, or even really artificial/chemical (in a bad way), but it does taste exactly like those cute little strawberry wrapper hard candies, except not sweet and not a candy and instead a slightly bitter fizzy water. So that's...not my favorite. But it's OK. Something to drink, anyway.

Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 5/10