SPOTTED ON SHELVES – Bacon Pringles (Walmart Exclusive)

Pringles Bacon

OMG! Bacon is, like, soooo 2011. And OMG! Bacon Pringles is, like, soooo 2010-2011 in other countries. (Spotted by Stephanie at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – Triscuit Thin Crisps (Cinnamon Sugar, Wasabi & Soy Sauce, and Sour Cream & Chive)

Triscuit Thin Crisps Cinnamon Sugar

Triscuit Thin Crisps Wasabi & Soy Sauce

Triscuit Thin Crisps Sour Cream & Chive

Hey Nabisco! These Cinnamon Sugar Triscuit Thin Crisps better be good enough to make me forget the fact you didn’t offer your wonderful Sweet Cinnamon Wheat Thins last year? Because if they aren’t, I’m totally gonna do absolutely nothing because you are a giant corporation and I’m just one man. (Spotted by Dubba at Market Basket.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

REVIEW: Nabisco Limited Edition Marshmallow Crispy Oreo Cookies

Nabisco Limited Edition Marshmallow Crispy Oreo Cookies

I’ve complained on numerous occasions on this blog and to anyone who tries to make small talk with me that it sucks the makers of Kit Kat in the U.S. don’t make a bunch of limited edition flavors like they do in Japan. I understand Hershey’s makes them in the U.S. and Nestle makes them in Japan, but can’t Hershey’s see how awesome it would be to come out with limited editions flavors. Buzzfeed has no reason to make a list of U.S. Kit Kat flavors.

But last year I decided I’m over that because if you think about it, Nabisco Oreo cookies are now our Japanese Kit Kats.

If you look at last year, it’s as if Nabisco stacked a bunch on Oreo flavors and made it rain! There was Watermelon, Mega Stuf, Golden Mega Stuf, Banana Split, Heads or Tails Mega Stuf, and Strawberries n’ Creme. Plus, they also brought back Birthday Cake, Golden Birthday Cake, Gingerbread, Lemon Twist, Candy Corn, Peppermint, Candy Cane, and Rainbow Shure, Bert.

This year, they’ve made Lemon a regular flavor, and introduced Limited Edition Cookie Dough Oreo and these Marshmallow Crispy Oreo. So it appears Nabisco is letting their food scientists’ imaginations run wild again like an artist with a canvas and gallons of paint or a carnival food vendor with a deep fryer.

I know. It’s a bit weird saying, “Marshmallow Crispy.” You want to say, “Rice Krispies Treat” (or even “Marshmallow Treat”), but trademarks and competing global food conglomerates won’t make that happen. Just because Marvel and DC did it, it doesn’t mean everyone could.

The Marshmallow Crispy Oreo combines Golden Oreo wafers, a marshmallow-ish tasting creme, and rice crispy cereal-like bits. I’m saying, “rice crispy cereal-like bits” because the ingredients don’t list anything “rice crisps” or anything like that. The creme feels like it has a less stiff consistency than the stuff you’ll find in a regular Oreo cookie, although it could be the cereal-like bits strewn throughout the creme layer that make my tongue think that.

Nabisco Limited Edition Marshmallow Crispy Oreo Cookies Closeup

The cereal-like bits have a different crunchy texture than the Golden Oreo wafers. As expected, they have a light crispiness, much like a cereal. But their crunch gets mostly lost among the crunch of the Golden Oreo wafers when eating the cookie as a whole. If you’re one of those people who would twist off one of the wafers, toss it and leave it, and let Sir-Mix-A-Lot pull up quick to retrieve it, just so you can lick the creme, the crisps make the creme feel like it’s cleaning your tongue.

When eaten whole, Limited Edition Marshmallow Crispy Oreo does come close to tasting like a marshmallow treat, although there were also times when I thought it tasted like a regular Golden Oreo. It’s less satisfying than an actual Rice Krispies Treat-no stringy marshmallow gooeyness or chewiness-but I consider it to be one of my favorite Oreo varieties ever.

With all the Oreo flavors Nabisco released last year and this year starting off with two great flavors, I’m excited to see what comes next.

Note: I received a free sample of these cookies from Nabisco for this review.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 140 calories, 60 calories from fat, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 15 milligrams of potassium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and less than 1 gram of protein.)

Item: Nabisco Limited Edition Marshmallow Crispy Oreo Cookies
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 12.2 oz.
Purchased at: Received from Nabisco
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Tastes like a marshmallow crispy treat. One of my favorite Oreo varieties ever. The creme has crispy bits. Nabisco Oreo cookies are United States’ Japanese Kit Kat. Excited to see what other Oreo flavors Nabisco comes out with.
Cons: At times tastes like a regular Golden Oreo. The crispy bits’ crunch gets lost in the crunch of the Golden Oreo wafers. Limited edition (although they easily could make it a regular flavor like they did with Birthday Cake Oreo, which started as a limited edition).

QUICK REVIEW: Panda Express Golden Szechuan Fish

Panda Express Golden Szechuan Fish

Purchased Price: $9.57 (2-entree plate with premium)
Size: N/A
Purchased at: Panda Express
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: It’s Panda Express’ first fish product that’s been rolled out nationwide (They’ve been testing other fish dishes over the past few years). Tender, flaky fish with a pleasant fishy flavor. Sugar peas were crispy. Made with 100 percent wild-caught North Pacific Cod. Edges of battered fish were still crispy even though it was sitting in sauce on the drive home.
Cons: Having to pay a $1.25 premium for it; doesn’t taste like it’s worth the additional cost. Szechuan sauce tastes watered down and is more spicy than flavorful. The fish itself has a stronger flavor than the sauce. Ugh…Enough with the red bell peppers; it seems like it’s in 75 percent of Panda’s entrees.

Panda Express Golden Szechuan Fish Closeup

Nutrition Facts: 320 calories, 140 calories from fat, 15 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 450 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of sugar, 2 grams of fiber, and 14 grams of protein.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – Sriracha Pringles (Walmart Exclusive)

Sriracha Pringles

Why hello there, sriracha bandwagon jumper, who I thought would jump on the bandwagon much sooner than this. (Spotted by Dustin at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.