Author: Julie

REVIEW: Post Limited Edition Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal

Julie 1 Comment

Every year, the end of July marks the moment I’m over summer and ready to be embraced by the sweet chill of autumn. Maybe it’s because my birthday is at the end of July (gifts are welcome), after which I have nothing to celebrate other than a full month ahead of sticky humidity and overly aggressive bees who have taken an unsettling interest in my daily activities. Regardless of the reason, now also marks the time that my favorite summer flavors—berry and lemon—enter the clearance aisle of my heart, making way for pumpkin, apple, and, best of all, maple.

Post Limited Edition Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal feels like the perfect product for this transition period, combining flavors of bright summer fruitiness with sweet maple syrup. Imagine two Post greats, Fruity Pebbles and Waffle Crisp, joined as one in the form of tiny waffle cereal pieces flecked with rainbow bits. Fred Flintstone has never given me a reason not to trust him, so I bought the (woolly?) mammoth Family Size box from Walmart.

I could smell the maple emanating from the box the moment I took it off the shelf. The scent was so strong that my cat inspected the unopened box for several minutes with a thoroughness he usually reserves for salmon. From the scent alone, I expected Waffle Crisp cleverly disguised by rainbow sprinkles, but I was surprised that the fruity cereal taste was at the forefront. That generic fruity flavor, which I find to be mostly citrusy with some cherry notes, is supported by a subtle toasted, buttery base. There is a slight maple flavor in the cereal, but, weirdly, it leaves a pronounced aftertaste.

While I would have loved a touch more maple, I could not stop eating this cereal. I particularly love its texture: crisp and crunchy without the airy chewiness of cereals that use primarily corn bases. (Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal uses both oat and corn.) Even in milk, the pieces keep their crunch. The texture alone makes me prefer this cereal to the original Fruity Pebbles and their tiny, sogginess-prone flakes.

Post Limited Edition Fruity Pebbles Waffles Cereal is a fun, novel twist on two old favorites. The flavors complement each other well enough to overcome the mash-up gimmick, resulting in a product that feels very much like its own thing worth trying while you can find it. Unlike the immortal Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, this duo of flavors is only around for a limited time.

Purchased Price: $4.93
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 19 oz – Family Size box
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 1/2 cup serving) 160 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein

REVIEW: Post Limited Edition Frosted Chocolate Cake Cereal

Julie 4 Comments

I’m curious. The last time you ate chocolate cake for breakfast, were you:

a) Enjoying a donut with sprinkles
b) Digging into your birthday cake early
c) Having a rough week and running out of hoots to give
d) Actually enjoying a chocolate cake-inspired cereal?

Maybe the more important question is, what will you do NEXT TIME you have run out of your typical breakfast or personal quota of hoots? While other actions are certainly acceptable, Post Limited Edition Frosted Chocolate Cake Cereal makes choice d) possible and just as appealing as buttercream at dawn.

It’s a shredded wheat-style cereal consisting of cocoa-flavored biscuits made with chocolate chips and topped with sugar coating. The product offers a decadent twist on the shredded wheat you may pair with fruit or yogurt. However, it still boasts the whole grains and fiber absent from the layered cake you were dreaming about hours earlier.

Typically, the Venn Diagram of Frosted Chocolate Cake and shredded wheat cereal do not overlap much. While I can be critical of products that do not live up to their flavor inspirations (seriously, not every strawberry-flavored product needs to be named Strawberry Shortcake!), this cereal does justice to its namesake while remaining a palatable breakfast option.

The crunchy biscuits have a strong cocoa flavor with a dusting of extra sweetness from the solid white icing. Within the layers of wheat, chocolate chips add delicious pops of texture and taste. Not every biscuit is blessed with a chocolate chip, which might be a metaphor for life. But when they are present, the chips have just a hint of fudgyness that is never overwhelming or cloying. Like many shredded wheat products, the biscuits soak up milk like a sponge and soften quickly, but the chocolate flavor doesn’t diminish.

For those keeping score, we have flavor, layers, and, if I’m reaching, spongelike properties. The cereal ticks one more box of a good chocolate cake: it is satisfying in large or small portions. One serving is 26 biscuits, a solid breakfast, and now feels like the right time to sneak in how much I love that these pillow-shaped pieces of shredded wheat cereal are called biscuits.

Post Limited Edition Frosted Chocolate Cake Cereal tastes almost exactly like the now-discontinued Kellogg’s Chocolate Frosted Mini Wheats Little Bites, even down to the chocolate chips embedded within the wheat. While the Kellogg’s product consisted of smaller biscuits (and less sugar per serving), the Post product is an excellent dupe. Whether you were a Little Bites fan or simply appreciate a quality chocolate cereal, consider snatching up a few boxes of Post’s limited edition product while you have the chance.

Purchased Price: $3.98
Size: 16 oz box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 1 serving of 26 biscuits) 210 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 48 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein

REVIEW: Reese’s JUMBO Cup

Julie 6 Comments

In addition to an excuse to buy more chocolate, the new Reese’s JUMBO Cup has given me the opportunity to brush up on elementary school math and vocabulary.

The JUMBO Cup is Reese’s latest experiment with size, this time expanding its classic peanut butter cup to a 2.8-ounce confection. This weight is equivalent to four original size peanut butter cups, a King Size package.

JUMBO is an appropriate adjective to use because this thing is bigger than Big. (Literally—a Big Cup weighs in at 1.4 ounces each. Also, think of all the other adjectives Reese’s may have in store for us. I like to imagine a Reese’s Vast Cup as a Reese’s Thin the size of a dinner plate.) For visual comparison, I purchased a JUMBO Cup and a pack of original size cups.

The JUMBO Cup is shaped like the original cup, as compared to the comparatively tall Big Cup or squat Minis. With a diameter of about 2.75 inches and a height of one inch, it’s just smaller than a hockey puck. The cup comes in its own little tray, both to protect the cup and to set it on a pedestal as though it has won a race. The chocolate shell is heavy and solid, which, along with the side seam running along the outside of the cup, gives it a well-molded appearance.

The chocolate and peanut butter here are classic Reese’s, as familiar and delicious as ever. The JUMBO Cup has a thicker base and top layer of chocolate. This chocolate is not thin and pliable enough to get stuck on the wrapper, but it’s not too thick either. The perfect peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio is a very personal preference, and this JUMBO Cup only raises more opportunities for discourse. I suspect peanut butter lovers will want to stick with Big Cups or the seasonal shapes. Those who prefer equal parts chocolate and peanut butter (or give chocolate a slight edge) will find the JUMBO Cup to be a super-sized treat.

While the JUMBO Cup is impractical for me in that I can’t eat it in one sitting, I won’t fault it for this in my rating. Yes, one benefit of smaller Reese’s products is the ability to enjoy conveniently portioned packages. However, there is something equally satisfying about carefully cutting a JUMBO Cup into slices and pretending that I’m sharing dessert with a cadre of gnomes. This novelty may fade, but Reese’s assures that my range of peanut buttery choices never will.

Ultimately, Reese’s JUMBO Cup is just that, a really big Reese’s cup. That means more of the chocolate and peanut butter that I love. No complaints here.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 2.8 oz
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 400 calories, 23 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 42 grams of sugar, and 8 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kit Kat Pink Lemonade

Julie Leave a comment

If all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. . . . does that mean all strawberry lemonade is pink, but not all pink lemonade is strawberry?

Based on my collective understanding of geometry, the color wheel, and fruit, the answer is, “Yeah, sure.”

Luckily, Kit Kat takes a decided stance on what makes pink lemonade pink with its candy creme interpretation of the classic summer beverage. Kit Kat Pink Lemonade, a limited edition summer release, is described by the brand as “classic, crisp wafers wrapped in a pink lemonade flavored creme — this new flavor delivers a refreshing taste experience with unexpected hints of strawberry.”

The combination of strawberry and lemon in a Kit Kat sounded berry good to me. While the Lemon Crisp variety is one of my favorite Kit Kats, I worried that Kit Kat Pink Lemonade would be the very same flavor dressed up in a pink costume.

When I found a package of snack size bars at Walmart, I needed to quench the thirst of my curiosity. First impressions: The candy smells, for lack of a better word, pink—like pink Starburst or strawberry lip gloss. The creme coating is visually appealing, the perfect shade of creamy pink usually reserved for Valentine’s Day.

On first taste, I double-checked the packaging to be sure I hadn’t picked up a Valentine’s Day castoff that had been clinging to the shelves since February. The flavor was primarily strawberries and cream. Contrary to my fear of a Lemon Crisp clone, this Kit Kat reminded me more of Strawberry Ice Cream Cone Hershey Kisses, another summer offering. Both products have a strawberry milk vibe that is not too artificial and carries the creme’s sweetness well.

The lemon was hard to detect. At first, I thought the creaminess of the base might be hiding the flavor. I tasted the Kit Kats several times over the course of three days, and it has taken me that long to concede: there is some lemony tang in the aftertaste. It’s a zesty finish, if you will, like a drizzle of lemon juice on a strawberry shortcake.

I anticipate the comments section filling with disbelief: “You fool! These bars are dripping with zest!” “Thanks to Kit Kat, my mouth is in a permanent state of pucker!” “IDK, they taste like lemonade to me.”

If anyone’s experience does reflect my imaginings, I’ll eat my hat (as a palate cleanser before testing yet another Kit Kat Pink Lemonade). Until then, the Kit Kat Pink Lemonade bar is a familiar, fruity take on a summer favorite—just not the one you’re expecting.

Purchased Price: $2.37
Size: 5.88 oz package (contains twelve .49 oz snack size bars)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (per 2 bars) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Dunkin’ Vanilla Frosted Donut Signature Latte

Julie Leave a comment

Dunkin’s summer menu takes inspiration from the fresh, delicious flavors of the season, like watermelon, blueberry, and…donuts? Donuts are an unconventional choice for summer only if you do not celebrate National Donut Day on June 7. If you need a better reason to embark on the spiritual journey known as Hot Donut Summer, reach with me: think of the shape of inflatable pool rings, or the treat you enjoy at work while counting down the days to your beach vacation.

The Frosted Vanilla Donut Signature Latte is a tribute to that besprinkled beacon, reminding you that better times are ahead—even if those times involve only the caffeine-and-sugar-induced euphoria that comes with treating yourself. Available hot or iced, the latte is made with rich espresso, milk, and two kinds of sweet flavoring: vanilla and Donut Swirl, described on Dunkin’s website as having “notes of vanilla frosting, pastry, and donut sugar.” The signature drink is topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and rainbow sprinkles.

I ordered a hot Signature Latte on a chilly day. Removing the drink’s lid revealed fluffy whipped cream, melting against the coffee’s heat and decorated invitingly with caramel and sprinkles. In appearance, it reminded me of an ice cream sundae (foreshadowing established) with a strong vanilla aroma.

After a few sips, my notions of Hot Donut Summer had melted away just like the whipped cream. If I hadn’t known the intended flavor, I would have thought I was sipping on an Ice Cream Sundae Latte. The drink was very richly creamy and sweet—a little too sweet, especially where pockets of unmixed flavor syrup lingered at the bottom of the cup. The drink’s vanilla flavor and general sweetness were the most pronounced flavors, although the coffee wasn’t lost. Lacking any bitter notes, the coffee flavor seemed equal in ratio to the vanilla creaminess, which together reminded me of coffee ice cream. I could have dumped my cup’s contents into an ice cream maker, churned for a spell, and transferred the results to a waffle cone for a nice dessert.

As I envisioned this experiment, my mind’s library of useless knowledge released from its archives a lyric from a Beastie Boys song: “I like my sugar with coffee and cream.” If you share the sentiment, the Dunkin’ Frosted Vanilla Donut Signature Latte will be a good match for you: it is sweet, creamy, with elevated vanilla flavor, with extra sweet toppings as the icing on the alleged donut.

Don’t let my ice cream tangent make you think I forgot about the unfulfilled promise of the donut. While combining the longtime colleagues of coffee and donuts into a latte is a fun idea, the resulting product doesn’t remind me of the pastry at all, save their like sweetness. While it may be a sweeter, more dessert-like twist on your usual coffee beverage, the Dunkin’ Frosted Vanilla Donut Signature Latte feels like a missed opportunity for a unique seasonal treat to bask in the summer spotlight.

Purchased Price: $4.39
Size: Small
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 300 calories, 11 grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 43 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 39 grams of total sugar, and 3 grams of protein.