SPOTTED (TRADER JOE’S EDITION): 11/12/2024

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

Trader Joe’s Chocolatey Caramel Pretzel Drumstick Decorating Kit
Trader Joe’s Teeny Tiny Pecan Pies
Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Spiced Coffee
Trader Joe’s Sweetened Sweet Tea Black Tea Beverage
Trader Joe’s Unsweetened Black Tea Beverage
Trader Joe’s Soppressata Uncured Salami
Trader Joe’s Double Cream Brie Cheese Log
Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Mangosteen
Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Turkey Gravy
Trader Joe’s Triple Creme Brie With Calvados Apple Brandy

(Spotted by Sarah R at Trader Joe’s.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Nestle Coffee mate Xtra Flavor Coffee Creamer

Nestle Coffee mate Xtra Flavor Coffee Creamer.

If we want extra flavor from our coffee creamer, can’t we just take our usual creamer and add more of it to our coffee. (Spotted by Sage G at Target.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Skittles Pop’d Freeze Dried Candy

Original Skittles Pop'd.

Sour Skittles Pop'd.

I like freeze dried ice cream, so I’m probably going to like this. (Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Peanut Butter & Jelly M&M’s

In my never-ending quest to be cool, I’m a “Full-sized-Candy-Bar-at-Halloween-Guy.” The thing about it is that I get approximately ten trick-or-treaters on an average Halloween. (15 in a real bustling year.) My neighborhood is mostly filled with extremely old people whose grandchildren are beyond trick-or-treating age. This means I end up with a whole bunch of full-sized candy bars. And while that sounds amazing, it really just means that I head into the Holiday Fattening Season carrying more weight than I wanted.

All this to say, I really didn’t want to like new Peanut Butter & Jelly M&M’s. I didn’t need to like them. Oh sure, I enjoy Peanut Butter M&M’s, but I was holding out hope that the inclusion of jelly would somehow render these inedible and disappointing.

I was wrong.

Peanut Butter & Jelly M&M’s aren’t far off from the Peanut Butter M&M’s you already know, but the addition of jelly is a welcome touch. (Though, I cannot, for the life of me, tell what KIND of jelly it is, so don’t ask.) Each M has the customary peanut butter/chocolate vibe, but then there’s just a pinch of fruity sweetness. The food scientists at Mars did a fine job of making sure the jelly wasn’t too light or too overwhelming, either one of which could’ve totally ruined the new variety.

It’s worth noting that M&M’s has been here before. In 2009, it introduced Strawberried Peanut Butter M&M’s, which is, frankly, a terrible name. But I believe these are probably about the same from a conceptual standpoint. (I didn’t have them in ’09, though, so I can’t vouch for their similarity/difference. But I mean, even if I had tried them 15 years ago, it’s extremely unlikely I would remember how they taste.)

One thing that is a little different about these M&M’s is that there are only red, dark brown, and light brown (Or gold? Off-yellow?) candies. So if you’re someone who’s really into the green or the blue M&M’s, my deepest condolences; you’re out of luck. But if you like the regular Peanut Butter M&M’s and don’t mind a drab color pallet when it comes to your bite-size chocolate candy choices, you’ll wanna check these out before they leave shelves. Or just wait for 2039 when they come back with another name.

Purchased Price: $4.78
Size: 8.6 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, including 13 grams of added sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

SPOTTED: 11/11/2024

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

Bettergoods Spicy Pineapple Habanero BBQ Sauce
Bettergoods Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Bettergoods Traditional Competition Style BBQ Sauce

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

365 Whole Foods Market Black Pepper & Parmesan Popcorn
Whole Foods Olive & Artichoke Phyllo Flutes

(Spotted by Sarah R at Whole Foods.)

Bob Evans Queso Macaroni & Cheese

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

Calbee Harvest Snaps Jalapeno Pepper Jelly with Cream Cheese

(Spotted by Rachel J at Safeway.)

Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites Beef Jerky
Texas Roadhouse Rib Rub Beef Jerky
Texas Roadhouse Sirloin Seasoning Beef Jerky
Texas Roadhouse Steak Sauce Beef Jerky

(Spotted by Dorothy at Country Fair.)

Meal Simple by H-E-B Pork Dumpling Soup
Meal Simple by H-E-B Chicken Pho Soup
Meal Simple by H-E-B Pork Pozole Soup
Meal Simple by H-E-B Chicken Caldo Soup

(Spotted by Amanda Y at H-E-B.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.