Author: Amber

REVIEW: Trolli Gummi Pop

Amber 5 Comments

Being a fan of all things sour, I’m certainly no stranger to the Trolli brand… I also really love popsicles, so I figured I had a good idea of what I was getting into. Well, dear Impulsive Buyer, I’m here to tell you that I was 100% wrong.

These are, in a word, weird. In two words, they’re very weird. That’s not to say that they’re bad, not exactly, or that you shouldn’t try them. I’m just hoping that some of you will be better informed than I was before jumping into this big old pop of strange.

The flavor is great. Very reminiscent of a good Sour Brite Crawler but kicked up a notch, although not in sourness. I actually found these to be even less sour than the aforementioned Sour Brite Crawlers themselves. My Walmart, unfortunately, only had the Cherry Lemon variety, but I like both of those flavors, and that turned out to be important, as they are strong despite their frozen state. They never reach cloying or unpleasant levels at all, but both the lemon and the cherry are most assuredly there, and they announce their presence with gusto!

Next, we have no choice but to talk about the texture. It’s not gummy at all, like I’d been expecting, but nor is it exactly a popsicle either. Rather, it exists in some unique, third state…maybe even a different state of matter entirely, somewhere between Jell-O and an Italian Ice. The only thing I’ve ever tasted that even comes close to this texture was a “Not Melting Popsicle” from Kanazawa Ice I had while on a trip to Japan. It’s wholly unique, but not terrible, at least not once you get used to it.

Trolli Gummi Pop Cherry Lemon 4.

Did I hate these popsicles? No. Did I enjoy them? Also, no, but not as strong of a “no,” if that makes sense. I liked them enough to finish the box, and I’d probably buy the blue variety if I happened to see them (even if just to try that texture on my favorite flavor).

Purchased Price: $4.97
Size: 10 pops
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 pop) 70 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of total carbs, 0 gram of dietary fiber, 15 grams of total sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Decades Menu Caramel Apple Empanada

Amber 6 Comments

Throw on that pair of mismatched sunglasses from Pizza Hut and jump in the Delorean because we’re going BACK IN TIII-IIIIME!

… and I just realized that Back to the Future is closer to the OG release of the Caramel Apple Empanada than we are now and had a mini existential crisis.

Ahem. All good!

In case you missed the news, Taco Bell recently launched a Decades menu featuring favorites from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and now the 00s with the topic of this review, the Caramel Apple Empanada.

I’m not quite sure why we had to wait an additional three weeks for said empanada, but let me first assure you all that it was well worth the wait.

The shell is perfectly crisp and flaky, with a lovely tender, yet toothsome texture. The filling is a beautiful marriage of apple chunks with just enough texture to make themselves known without being overwhelming, and the sea of gooey caramel they are swimming in has a thick, unctuous mouthfeel that made me feel nostalgic for the days of butterfly hair clips, Smash Mouth, and way too much body glitter. The Bell managed to strike a perfect balance in the ratio of filling to crust as well, just enough that the crust is there to add texture and crunch, but still know when to step back and let the filling take center stage. Even the smell was perfect, a combination of pastry, sugar, and fryer grease that someone should eye for a limited edition scented candle or perhaps an empanada-shaped car air freshener.

Those of you who remember the OG CAE (Caramel Apple Empanada) will be thrilled to learn that, just like the original, the filling is served at roughly the temperature of the sun. Please be cautious when taking that first bite, lest you wind up with a tastebud impairing burn to go along with your dessert, especially if you’re a dessert-first kinda person like me.

All in all, the CAE is a delicious callback to a bygone era of Taco Bell, when there was a dessert on the menu you could pretend was vaguely healthy due to the presence of actual fruit imprisoned within its deep fried walls. The only demerit it receives is due to its unfortunately limited availability. So go get your hands on one while you can! Maybe if they sell well enough, Taco Bell will consider bringing them back on a more permanent basis. At least, a girl can hope.

Purchased Price: $1 with App Promotion ($2.99 regular price)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 280 calories, 13 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 260 milligrams of sodium, 38 grams of total carbs, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 14 grams of total sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

ANNOUNCEMENT: New Impulsive Buy Reviewer Amber

Amber 9 Comments

Hi, I’m Amber: food nerd, bird nerd, tech nerd—and I wear those badges with pride. As a longtime New Englander, I’ve perfected the art of sporting a Pats T-shirt and sipping iced Dunks while shoveling snow. My home is a delightful chaos shared with my wonderful husband (who cheerfully joins me on Food Adventures across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut), three lovable French Bulldogs, and Monty, our resilient 2.5-legged rescue toad, named after Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Few things light up my world like spotting a “New” or “Limited Edition” sticker on junk food, especially if it’s seasonal. Slap a snowflake, fall leaf, or Santa hat on candy, cookies, or crackers, and I’m halfway to the checkout while my husband mutters about my hypothetical demise in a zombie apocalypse. Sour flavors, though? They’re my true weakness. When nothing on the shelves is tangy enough, I’ve been known to dunk gummies in a DIY citric acid-sugar mix to get my fix.

I also have a deep love for baking. A few years ago, I embarked on a personal quest to revive Ermine Frosting. While I didn’t quite achieve world domination with it, I whipped up a lot of cupcakes for friends, family, and neighbors and had a lot of fun in the process!

When it comes to food, I have opinions—strong ones—and I’m not shy about sharing them. That’s why I’m thrilled to join The Impulsive Buy, a site that’s been my go-to for years when hunting down grocery list must-haves. A few things you should know upfront:

  • Pumpkin Spice is like Duck Sauce of flavors—it belongs on pumpkin, it doesn’t contain pumpkin.
  • Frosting and cheese are life; there’s no such thing as “too much.”
  • Thin crust pizza reigns supreme, but only if it crunches audibly with every bite.
  • Ice cream in the winter and hot soup in the summer? Yes, please! They’re not just acceptable—they’re genius moves that let the weather work for you.

I hope my rants, raves, and ramblings bring you some joy—and maybe even inspire you to try something new. I’m excited to share my foodie adventures and unfiltered reviews with all of you!