SPOTTED: Netflix Late Night Ramen Popcorn

Netflix Late Night Ramen Popcorn.

Late night ramen popcorn for late night Netflix binge watching. (Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) 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: Tabasco Bugles

Tabasco Bugles.

A Tabasco sighting! (Spotted by Sarah R at 7-Eleven.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) 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: Taco Bell Decades Menu Caramel Apple Empanada

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

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!

SPOTTED (TRADER JOE’S EDITION): 12/2/2024

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 English Toffee Ice Cream
Trader Joe’s Cocoa Truffles Collection
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane Marshmallows
Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Baton Wafer Cookies
Trader Joe’s French Onion Popcorn
Trader Joe’s English Fudge Collection
Trader Joe’s Shishito Crisps
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Orange
Trader Joe’s Sugared Rice Cracker Stars
Trader Joe’s Soft Italian Nougat
Trader Joe’s German Iced Gingerbread Soft Spiced Cookies
Trader Joe’s Garlic Gondolas
Trader Joe’s Festively Shaped Pretzels
Trader Joe’s British Shortbread Cookie Collection
Trader Joe’s Crunchy Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines
Trader Joe’s Boozy Bottles

(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 (theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com) 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.