Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.
Silk Protein Chocolate Pea, Almond & Cashewmilk
Silk Protein Vanilla Pea, Almond & Cashewmilk
Silk Protein Original Pea, Almond & Cashewmilk
Silk Prebiotics Original Almond, Cashew & Oatmilk
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Target.)
So Delicious Organic Coconutmilk Toasted Coconut
So Delicious Organic Coconutmilk & Coconut Water
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Target.)
Suja Organic Plant Protein Milk (Unsweetened and Original)
(Spotted by Jarred at Target.)
Sprouts Tropical Sandwich Cremes
Sprouts Coconut Cake Batter and Pineapple Cake Batter Cookies
(Spotted by Laurie at Sprouts.)
Simply Balanced Lunch Kits (Smoked Turkey & Provolone Cheese and Uncured Ham & Colby Cheese)
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Target.)
Simple Truth Date Bar (Apple Cinnamon and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip)
Simple Truth Pack Bar Cashew Cherry Nut Bars and Chocolate Cookie Dough Date Bar
Simple Truth Sea Salt and Peanut Butter Pack Bar Nut Bars
(Spotted by Sylvia at Ralphs.)
If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new 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. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.
Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.
Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.
Archer Farms Cold Brew Coffee (Black Mocha, With Milk Mocha, and With Milk Original)
Archer Farms Cold Brew Coffee Black (Original and French Vanilla)
(Spotted by Robbie at Target.)
Simple Truth Organic Cold Brew Coffee (Black Brew and Vanilla)
(Spotted by Jade H at Kroger.)
Trader Joe’s Thailand Mae Kha Jan Chiang Rai Small Lot Coffee
(Spotted by Sylvia at Trader Joe’s.)
Annie’s Gluten Free Cheddar Bunny Tails
(Spotted by Sarah R at Sprouts.)
Idahoan Smokey Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potatoes
(Spotted by John W at Kroger.)
Mott’s Sour Fruit Snacks
(Spotted by Robbie at Sam’s Club.)
Giant Quick Breaks (Pepper Jack Cheese, Raisins & Honey Roasted Peanuts and Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, Dried Cranberries & Almonds)
Pero Family Farms Grab n’ Go Salad Organic Plant Protein Southwest
Pero Family Farms Grab n’ Go Salad Organic Plant Protein Italian Harvest
Pero Family Farms Grab n’ Go Salad Organic Plant Protein Apple Quinoa
Pero Family Farms Grab n’ Go Salad Organic Plant Protein Sweet Kale
(Spotted by Amanda Y at Market Street.)
If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new 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. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.
Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.
At first, I thought the idea of using almond milk to make a non-dairy version of Ben & Jerry’s fantastic Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream sounded like using gluten-free ingredients to make Cinnabon’s classic roll. But, while gluten-free Cinnabon doesn’t seem too appetizing, that’s not the case with this pint.
While the dairy version has caramel ice cream, this one features a cinnamon-flavored non-dairy frozen dessert base. But, like the original, cinnamon bun dough pieces and a cinnamon streusel swirl are included.
How is it?
If you love cinnamon, you will enjoy this flavor immensely. There’s so much of it that it’s as if someone used the spice as talcum powder on their hands and then punched me in the face with them. It does an outstanding job at hiding the fact it’s a non-dairy dessert.
Most of the cinnamon flavor comes from the gooey swirl. It has that sugary grittiness one would feel in a cinnamon bun and the same explosive flavor. Surprisingly, the non-dairy base doesn’t taste as if it has much of the spice. I do get a little bit of the almond milk, which my brain seems to registers as a bit of doughiness.
The cinnamon dough balls have the same texture as the chocolate chip cookie dough balls in Ben & Jerry’s classic variety. The spice is in every bite, but they don’t have as much of a punch as the swirl. There’s also an equal amount of brown sugar that adds a sweetness that cuts through all the spice. This is welcomed because it makes the dessert not so one note.
Is there anything else I need to know?
The flavor does linger and makes your mouth feel as if you’re chewing on a well-worn piece of Big Red Gum.
Conclusion:
As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, I find the original Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream to be superb, and this non-dairy version, while not as creamy, is just as hard-to-put-down tasty.
(Click here to read our other Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy reviews.)
DISCLOSURE: Ben & Jerry’s sent me coupons for free pints to celebrate National Ice Cream Month, which was last month. I used one of the coupons to purchase this. Receiving the coupon didn’t influence my review.
Purchased Price: FREE Size: 1 pint Purchased at: Target Rating: 9 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 260 calories, 120 calories from fat, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 25 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
When first looked at Nestle Toll House’s Simply Delicious Snack Bar Dough and saw it’s made with a “5-Grain and Seed Blend,” my first thought was, “So, um, Nestle is making bird treats now?”
But after scanning the packaging like a hawk, I learned the snack bar dough is not for birds.
The instructions for them are as simple as they are for the brand’s cookies — preheat oven, break up the dough, place on baking sheet, put in oven, wait several minutes, enjoy the aroma of baked goods radiating from your oven, pull out sheet after time is up, lift oven door with foot, close oven door shut by hip-checking it, let the goods cool a little, and then enjoy. But unlike the cookies, the bars look the same going into the oven as they do coming out of the oven.
There are two varieties available Chocolate Chip with Toasted Oats and Cranberry Walnut with Dark Chocolate.
Chocolate Chip with Toasted Oats
If you like chocolate, this is the one you should get. Yes, the other one has dark chocolate, but with this one, the semi-sweet morsels stand out in every bite. To be honest, this tastes and feels exactly like a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. The 5-Grain & Seed Blend (which by the way is made up of barley, wheat, brown flax seed, quinoa seed, and sunflower seeds) doesn’t seem to enhance or diminish the bars’ flavor.
The instructions say to let them cool completely before consuming, but the smell of chocolate chips in the air is an aroma that tests my patience. Because I have don’t have strong willpower, I tried one after about 5 minutes of cooling down. The underside of the bar has a slight crispiness, and so do the rolled oats on top.
But the bar in this warmed up state is super soft. So much so that I wondered if they were fully baked. I’m sure they were, but the bar’s thickness and seeing the “Do not eat raw snack bar dough” gets me a little paranoid. Letting them cool down completely made them chewier, so I guess I should learn patience. I also noticed eating them made my mouth dry. Maybe the oats are soaking up my saliva?
But, again, they taste and feel like chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. So if you’re a fan of those, you’ll like these, but might I recommend eating them with milk.
Purchased Price: $5.99 Size: 14 oz. package (makes 10 bars) Purchased at: Safeway Rating: 7 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 170 calories, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 120 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.
Cranberry Walnut with Dark Chocolate
If you like chopped walnuts on your floor, then this is the one you should get. Unlike the oats with the other variety, the nuts fell off the bars anytime I moved them. To make the photos in this review look less balding, I had to transplant a lot of walnut bits back onto the bars.
When I opened the oven door to pull them out, a sweet cinnamon aroma came wafting out. Oddly, the spice is not an ingredient. Much like the other variety, they do taste cookie-like, but it’s also less exciting because no flavors stand out.
The walnuts, if they don’t fall off, give a nutty flavor that’s hard to detect most of the time and a nice crunch. The sweetened dried cranberries are bland. As for the dark chocolate morsels, I don’t taste chocolate in every bite as I do with the other variety. But when I do taste them, they don’t have enough of a punch to satisfy my sweet tooth.
But, this one didn’t make my mouth dry. So that’s a plus. But if you care more about flavor than oral dryness, go with the Chocolate Chip with Toasted Oats one instead.
Purchased Price: $5.99 Size: 14 oz. package (makes 10 bars) Purchased at: Safeway Rating: 5 out of 10 Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) 170 calories, 8 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.
America’s favorite fast food punching bag, Arby’s, should stick to the one thing they do best: roast beef sandwiches.
Think about it: have you ever, in your life, stopped what you’re doing and made a beeline for the joint because you simply had to nosh on its gyro or down a fish sandwich pronto? Has a day ever been made better by one of its ice coffee drinks? Ever sat at work daydreaming about a big bowl of those curly fries, well, okay, I’ll give you the curly fries. But, still, Arby’s meandering attempt to enter the barbeque game — one of many, I’m sure — by putting a beef short rib sandwich on the menu is mediocre at best.
Utilizing the mainly fatty beef parts of the aforementioned short rib, an admittedly nice big handful of that cheap cut is packed between two thick slices of mostly toasted Texas toast and topped with soggy fried onions, misplaced melted cheddar cheese and a little slight drizzle of barbeque sauce to give it more of that down-home back-country feel. It doesn’t work, but kudos for trying, Arby’s.
As I took as large a bite as my medium mouth could allow, I tasted more of the sauce than the meat which is never a good sign, especially when it Arby’s barbeque sauce. However, pulling a few pieces of the short rib out to taste by its lonesome, I can see why; the meat was a bit dry, and a good dollop of that sickly sauce gave it its much needed (but still pretty unwanted) flavor.
Additionally, that fraudulent smoky sauce seeped deep into the bread as well, so there’s that if you’re big into sticky, damp bread.
Alongside the Short Rib Sandwich, Arby’s has a quasi-companion piece taking the form of Short Rib Loaded Fries which are exactly how they sound: a decent pile of their quintessential curly fries, bastardized with short rib meat, even more melted cheddar cheese, and a whole mess of that barbeque sauce to give them a sense of purpose and meaning.
It’s an unapologetically mishmash of flavors, none of which seemingly belong together in the slightest. The corporate entity barbeque sauce sweetens, almost to a fault, the mildly limp fries. Meanwhile, the short rib meat makes a pretty garnish but not a very useful tater topping, big clumps falling everywhere, just looking for that Texas toast.
For a nice size bowl of these loaded fries—loaded fries being my favorite of all fries, honestly, it’s kind of a wasted effort. Give me some plain curlies and few packs of Horsey Sauce and I’m gold, kid.
Arby’s, your bold experimentalism let me down again, but don’t worry: come Christmastime I promise I’ll be back in line for your five roast beef sandwiches for five bucks. You all still do that, right? Please tell me you do.
(Nutrition Facts – Sandwich – 590 calories, 28 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 1510 milligrams of sodium, 59 grams of carbohydrates, 14 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fiber, and 26 grams of protein. Loaded Curly Fries – 730 calories, 41 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 2300 milligrams of sodium, 75 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of sugar, 6 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of protein.)
Purchased Price: $5.99 (sandwich) Size: N/A Rating: 3 out of 10 (Sandwich) Rating: 2 out of 10 (Loaded Curly Fries) Pros: Lots of meat. Good to see Texas toast on the menu. Chance to visit your local Arby’s. Cons: Barbeque sauce too “fake sweet.” Soggy onions and bread. Cheese sauce not like I remember.
