Author: Vin

QUICK REVIEW: Lay’s Popppables Creamy Jalapeno

Vin 4 Comments

Lay's Poppables Creamy Jalapeno

What are Lay’s Poppables Creamy Jalapeno?

The latest flavor in Frito-Lay’s Poppables line is Creamy Jalapeno. While I’ve loved every variety thus far, I can’t decide if the random “Creamy” in the name sounds appetizing or gross.

How are they?

I’ll end the short-lived suspense. Lay’s Poppables Creamy Jalapeno are anything but gross. In fact, I’m ready to admit I’m a full-on Poppables fanboy. These things are delicious.

I love the shape of these. It provides for an excellent airy crisp unlike basically everything on the market right now. The shape of these are like giant potato Chex in a way.

Lay's Poppables Creamy Jalapeno 2

The jalapeno flavor is the standard you’d expect from Frito Lay, which is a good thing. If you’ve had the jalapeno chips or Fritos, there’s not much deviation from that flavor, although the “creamy” element does provide a nice counterbalance. Plus, the potato flavor seems slightly more pronounced than a normal chip for some reason, and it all just marries together perfectly. There’s really a bit of “creaminess” at play here.

The spice level is manageable, and dare I say “pleasant” in its afterburn.

Is there anything else I need to know?

I don’t necessarily know what to attribute the “creaminess” to, but “creamy jalapeno powder,” sour cream, and yogurt powder are ingredients. I’m thrown off because Frito-Lay usually makes it a point to show a dollop (the worst word in the English language) of sour cream or something on the bag itself.

Oh, and if you’re wondering, I loved the smell of these. It reminded me of unwrapping an Italian sub (or “hero,” or whatever weird name you call a sandwich).

Conclusion:

I’m just a big fan of Poppables, and I think Creamy Jalapeno is the best flavor so far. There’s a bigger bag than the one I purchased, and I’m kicking myself for not getting it.

I assume this snack line is doing well, so all I can hope is that Frito-Lay parlays the success into a reboot of Dorito’s 3Ds, which I’ve been clamoring for since they disappeared over a decade ago.

Purchased Price: $1.48
Size: 2 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s

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White Chocolate Peanut M M s

What are White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s?

Mars is continuing its recent rollout of Peanut M&M varieties with an old classic –- White Chocolate.

As far as I’m concerned, they can go years without even thinking of doing anything but new peanut flavors, because Peanut M&M’s are flat out better than regular M&M’s. Go ahead, admit it.

How are they?

The white chocolate is nice, but it’s very mild. It’s not as pronounced a flavor as regular chocolate, so it gets masked by the peanut and shell. I almost wanna call these “boring,” but that wouldn’t be fair.

White Chocolate Peanut M M s 3

The texture and crunch of the peanut in the M&M makes up for the lack of bursting flavor. I still enjoy these a lot despite the fact there’s almost nothing going on flavor-wise.

It’s almost like Mars made a “low sugar” version of Peanut M&M’s, which of course isn’t the case.

These are an enigma. Regular white chocolate M&M’s probably taste better, but when you factor in the texture, and the idea that Peanut M&M’s destroy regular milk chocolate M&M’s, they’re basically on the same level.

Is there anything else I need to know?

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I’ve only seen these in a Sharing Size bag, so if you don’t feel like spending $3 for ten servings of White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s, maybe wait and see if smaller sizes hit convenience store shelves.

Conclusion:

White Chocolate Peanut M&M’s may be the least flavorful M&M’s I’ve ever eaten, but I didn’t want to stop eating them. They went down so easy that my “Sharing Size” bag was practically reduced to “Fun Size” before I knew it. I dig ’em, but wish they were a little sweeter. Maybe mixing these with regular White Chocolate M&M’s might make for a winning combo.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 9.60 oz. bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (14 Pieces) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 15 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Maple Cheerios Cereal

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Maple Cheerios Cereal

Well, all the pumpkin stuff is out, so that can mean only one thing – it’s also maple season!

Now I don’t know if fall necessarily makes people think “maple syrup” but brands sure like to load the shelves with maple flavor variants around this time of year, and I’m certainly not complaining.

I’m particularly excited about one brand’s (American) foray into the maple realm – Cheerios.

Cheerios has been knocking it out of the park lately with new flavors. In the past year, I’ve enjoyed its takes on banana, peach, cinnamon, and peanut butter, so I have little doubt about this one.

There’s a nice waft of maple scent when you open the box, but the cereal pieces themselves aren’t flashy. They look like a standard bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.

Maple Cheerios Cereal 2

I ate a quick handful of dry Maple Cheerios before pouring in the milk to get a true idea of the taste. The amount of flavor is on par with the aforementioned flavors you’ve probably already had. Cheerios never really overpower you with too much sweetness. I enjoy that because it gives me a sense that I’m eating healthy. Well, healthier.

After I added milk, the cereal lost some of its luster. Honestly, they kinda tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios, which is an all-time classic cereal, but I imagine that news may be disappointing to some. Don’t be too bummed, as there’s still a maple finish, so it’s not exactly like Honey Nut.

Maple Cheerios Cereal 3

One other thing I noticed was that despite not being “waffle” flavored, there’s almost a buttery essence as they sog in the milk. It was really nice. If you’re expecting these to be the new “Waffle Crisp” or “French Toast Crunch,” that’s not what you’re gonna get, but I will say this is like a snooty grownup version of those confectionary classics.

While there isn’t a maple explosion, fans of Honey Nut Cheerios should find this a satisfying bowl of cereal. The leftover milk was pleasantly maple flavored and somehow a lot sweeter than the cereal itself. It was a little too sweet for me if I had to find fault.

Maple Cheerios Cereal 4

You can eat these plain or in milk, and you’ll more than likely enjoy them either way. You can also do what I do and cover a banana in peanut butter, then sprinkle Cheerios on top™. I find this to be a great pre-gym snack. I actually sold the recipe to Blue Apron. I’m pretty sure Food and Wine Magazine named it the “Best New Recipe” of 2014.

So yeah, Maple Cheerios is another great flavor in its lineup. I hope it keeps the product line rolling. Gimmie some coconut Cheerios. How about something crazy like pineapple? How about going nuts and combining them for a Pina Colada type flavor? I’m excited to see what’s next.

(Nutrition Facts – 3/4 cup – 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 120 milligrams of potassium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 10.8 oz. box
Purchased at: Wegmans
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Another winning flavor for Cheerios. Tasted like Honey Nut. Good dry or in milk. Tastes great on a peanut butter covered banana! Game on the back of the box.
Cons: Perhaps a little light on the Maple flavor. Milk runoff somehow too sweet. Canada’s apparently had this flavor for a while. Summer’s over. I lied – Blue Apron sent me a cease and desist.

QUICK REVIEW: Ghost Pepper Chex Mix

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Ghost Pepper Chex Mix

What is it?

After discontinuing the “really freaking hot” Hot & Spicy variety, Chex Mix is back with a new “scary hot” Ghost Pepper flavor.

How is it?

Chex Mix is my all time favorite snack (they’re all good, except Bold Party), so naturally, I’m a fan.

Ghost Pepper Chex Mix 4

Ghost Pepper Chex Mix smells and even faintly tastes like Honey BBQ Twist Fritos, which are underrated and delicious. That was a welcome surprise because I had no idea what I was in for.

I’ll be honest. I was expecting torturous heat. I like spicy food, but any time I tell people that they tell me I’m a wimp for liking foods that barely register on the Scoville Scale.

Ghost Pepper Chex Mix 2

While these aren’t in the ballpark of those Paqui Carolina Reaper chips, they’re still pretty hot. Are they “scary hot” like the bag says? Not really.

Is there anything else I need to know?

These get you with an all-encompassing mouth heat. It’s not just gonna get you in the back of the throat. My lips burned, but at no point was I running for the milk.

They lose a bit of that initial BBQ-like flavor as the heat grows, but they’re still tasty. I also felt a soft burn for a good 15 minutes after eating them.

I only ate about two handfuls before I stopped. I’m not sure that’s even a full serving, so these could very well continue to build to the point they become unbearable if you eat too much.

Ghost Pepper Chex Mix 3

Oh, and in case you were wondering, you get all the standard Chex Mix favorites represented – Chex, Pretzels (windows and circles), Pumpernickel Bagel Chips and Breadsticks.

Conclusion:

If you like spicy food and Chex Mix, these are a no-brainer purchase. Don’t be afraid, as I’m not even positive these are hotter than the Doritos Blaze chips.

I like it, but Ghost Pepper is not a Chex Mix flavor I can polish off like I usually would, so I’ll personally never repurchase them.

They ultimately just made me yearn for a Honey BBQ Chex Mix variety.

Purchased Price: $3.19
Size: 8.75 oz. bag
Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 130 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Limited Time Only 7-Layer Dip Pringles

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Limited Time Only 7 Layer Dip Pringles

What is it?

Pringles in seven layers – Refried Beans, Sour Cream, Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese, Black Olives, and Chives.

How is it?

Limited Time Only 7 Layer Dip Pringles 2

These chips are poppable. In fact, these chips might very well be unstoppable!

Limited Time Only 7 Layer Dip Pringles 3

Right from the jump, Pringles nails it. The smell of Mexican spice and tacos resonates from the tennis ball tube the second you pop the lid.

When it comes to chips that are supposed to mimic multiple flavors, I usually find that one is always more prominent than the other. Here, Pringles had to juggle seven, and I give them major props for doing it so admirably.

Limited Time Only 7 Layer Dip Pringles 5

While I do think the cheese and an overall “taco-style spice” are most noticeable, I was able to convince myself I was tasting every layer.

With a little concentration, I got the guac, slightly spicy salsa, sour cream and onion, and even the black olive flavor. These do taste like your standard summer 7 Layer Dip. I literally had some the day before eating these chips, and I’m impressed.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Limited Time Only 7 Layer Dip Pringles 4

I don’t have much to nitpick here, but I will say that I would really like to try this flavor dust on a Doritos-type of tortilla chip. They remind me of the classic Doritos Taco flavor except on a potato chip, which knocks them down a tad. That being said, I think this flavor is better suited for a Pringles potato “crisp” than a standard Lay’s potato “chip.”

Conclusion:

This is a solid Pringles flavor. I’d recommend it wholeheartedly, but feel I should at least mention the fact they’re slightly spicier than I expected. The salsa element here may be a step up from “mild,” so know that going in. The aftertaste will trick you into thinking you just had a delicious Mexican dinner.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: 7-Eleven
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.