Author: Vin

QUICK REVIEW: 7-Eleven Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries Slurpee

Vin 2 Comments

7 Eleven Cap n Crunch s Crunch Berries Slurpee

What is it?

A strange marriage between 7-Eleven and the Cap’n to say the least – Crunch Berries Slurpee.

How is it?

I was skeptical, but this really hit the mark. They managed to “slurpitize” Cap’n Crunch Berries.

7 Eleven Cap n Crunch s Crunch Berries Slurpee 3

It was especially good for the first few sips while the ice was still crystallized. You get the classic Crunch Berries taste up front, but also a starchy cereal flavor. This is basically “Oops! All Berries” in Slurpee form, but I contend there is a hint of the corn cereal pieces in there as well that brought a nice dry finish to early sips.

While I’m pretty positive there’s no lactose element, they somehow managed to mimic a milky vanilla creaminess. It’s somehow both creamy and icy, but in no way like ice cream – if that makes sense. Just nod your head.

Those flavors paired with the fluffy slush reminded me a bit of cotton candy.

Is there anything else I need to know?

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You probably need to be a fan of Crunch Berries to enjoy this. While I figured this was a berry-flavored frozen drink that they just slapped a familiar name on, it honestly tastes like full-blown Cap’n Crunch cereal.

It may be shocking to taste these flavors at this temperature, but I really dug it.

I would recommend getting a small because it’s best fresh from the machine. Once the ice melted, it became a slurry of pure syrup.

Conclusion:

This is an ambitious partnership. I imagine it may be polarizing as it is definitely strange to taste cereal in frozen form, but I’d say give it a go. It won’t be around forever, and Slurpees cost a buck and change.

Some 7-Eleven stores are also selling exclusive Cap’n Crunch Slurpee T-shirts, and I won’t lie, I’m pretty mad I didn’t get one.

Oh, and be forewarned, you’re gonna have a blue tongue.

Purchased Price: $1.59
Size: Large
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Not available on 7-Eleven website.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Oreo Cookies

Vin 7 Comments

Limited Edition Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Oreo Cookies

Why isn’t the “Oreo of the Month” club a thing yet?

Instead of running out to stores and dropping four bucks every time there’s a new flavor, charge me a flat yearly fee and deliver these babies to my doorstep. Whattaya say, Nabisco?

I’ll assume the big-wigs there are reading this and nodding their heads. You can thank me when you’re all card-carrying members of the Oreo “Creme of the Crop” Club. (Trademark Vin, or Nabisco if they pay me)

Anyway, the most recent flavor to hit shelves is Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake. I assume everyone’s aware of the iconic ice cream bar, so I’ll spare you the history.

This isn’t the first strawberry Oreo. This isn’t even the first Strawberry Shortcake Oreo, but it’s the first cookie collaboration with Good Humor. (There are Good Humor Oreo ice cream bars)

I’ve always thought ice cream flavors should stay in the frozen section, but I had a good feeling about this.

Limited Edition Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Oreo Cookies 2

When I ripped open the package, I was immediately hit with strawberry overload. It was really nice, but I’d go so far as to say they might be too fragrant. Still, it made me want to dive right in.

Limited Edition Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Oreo Cookies 3

The cookie wafers are some of the best Oreo has put out so far. It’s a Golden Oreo with “strawberry flavored bits,” and it’s quite pleasant. They’re a little on the hard side, closer to Nerds than the crumbs on the Good Humor bars, but they definitely enhance the cookie.

Limited Edition Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Oreo Cookies 4

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The creme filling has a candy strawberry and vanilla flavor that I think may be a bit too sweet for some. While tasty, I can see it getting very cloying after a while.

So, these are great, but do they mimic the Good Humor ice cream bar well?

Yes and no. You’ll talk yourself into it, but without reading the package, I’m not sure anyone would ever realize this cookie is a Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Bar.

I don’t wanna put the kibosh on it, but I don’t think traditional ice cream flavors ever truly work at room temperature. Take away the cold refreshing aspect of ice cream and it loses its essence. That happens here, but you’re still left with a tasty strawberry Oreo.

I’ve joked about the overabundance of Oreo flavors, but I gotta give Nabisco credit. It’s done an excellent job realizing that changing the creme isn’t enough as they’ve bombarded us with new flavors. The bits of strawberry in the cookie here was a genuinely great idea. This might be the first time I’d consider eating the cookies without the creme.

This is a limited edition, so go get it. Let’s be real though; there are probably more strawberry Oreo variants down the pike. I’m hoping this is the start of the Good Humor partnership because Chocolate Eclair and especially Toasted Almond Oreo sound like winners.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 70 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fiber, and 1 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.49
Size: 10.7 oz. package
Purchased at: ShopRite
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: The cookie is one of the best they’ve done. Smells and tastes great if you can handle the sweetness. A beautiful partnership between iconic brands. The potential Oreo of the Month Club I just made up.
Cons: Not exactly like the ice cream bars. Strawberry bits are hard sometimes. Overly sweet. Limited edition.

QUICK REVIEW: Kellogg’s Raisin Bran with Bananas

Vin 13 Comments

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas

What is it?

You’re not gonna believe this, but it’s Raisin Bran with bananas added in! No false advertising here.

How is it?

It’s everything you expect it to be. Do you like Raisin Bran? If so, this improves on the original. I mean, think about it, how could you possibly go wrong adding in banana flavor?

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas 2

I’ve actually been on record about not really being a big “fruit in cereal” guy. While I’ll eat banana in just about anything, I always found adding banana slices in milk a little too slimy for my liking. This cereal takes care of that.

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas 3

The banana chips are great. Actual banana is too wet and mushy. The standard banana chips you buy in bags are too hard and caramelized. These are a perfect width, flavor, and texture. They really knocked it out the park. The banana pieces have a nice little crisp and a perfect banana flavor without it tasting too sugary and artificial.

Sometimes raisins can be overwhelming but mixed with the early crunch of the bran flakes (they sog up super quick) and the crisp of the banana chips, this cereal really blends textures nicely.

Also – and don’t hold me to this – I think the flakes had a tad of banana flavor added to them. It tasted that way to me at least.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Don’t expect a banana in every bite. If Raisin Bran gives you two scoops of raisins per box, you’re probably looking at about a half scoop of bananas. Sure, I’d prefer a few more, but I didn’t think the ratio was too bad. The banana flavor is constant.

Conclusion:

There’s something about Raisin Bran that just feels like a fulfilling start to the day. Adding bananas to the mix was a brilliant move, and this cereal is a big flavor and textural win in my book.

Purchased Price: $3.00
Size: 14.5 oz. box
Purchased at: Acme
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 200 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 105 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreo Cookies

Vin 3 Comments

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreo Cookies

Oreo is the Star Wars of cookies. While I’m always excited about the new flavor announcements, I feel like they come out too frequently these days, and I may be coming down with a case of “cookie fatigue.”

Seriously, how many peanut butter varieties can Nabisco possible pass off as new? We’ve already had the standard Peanut Butter, PB&J, and Reese’s in recent years. Was Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie necessary? Doesn’t this kinda feel like a slight swerve on an established flavor?

Will Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie be the Solo of the Oreo Snackematic Universe?!

Better question – What the heck am I talking about?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreo Cookies 2

I’m talking about Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreo Cookies. The biggest difference between these and the aforementioned Peanut Butter flavors is the graham cookie, which I somehow overlooked even though it makes perfect sense to the pie it’s mimicking.

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Upon ripping open the annoying Oreo packaging, I was hit by the pleasant scent of Nutter Butter, and all my worries flew out the window. It was comforting and akin to seeing that nostalgic “a long time ago in a galaxy far far away” pop up on screen.

I’ll stop trying to make this Star Wars parallel now and start the review.

Everything about this cookie is grittier than your normal Oreo. The Graham cookies have a slightly harder and sandier texture, which again, reminded me of Nutter Butter.

The crème also chews like it has bits of cookie crumb, but there was no indication of that on the package.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreo Cookies 4

As for the taste? It’s nice. They would have really had to screw up for it not to be though, right?

I wouldn’t say the crème flavors explode. In the end, I was left thinking the graham was the lead of the movie. I’m not sure that’s gonna make too many people happy to hear, but the chocolate and peanut butter, while good, were a little masked by the cookie flavor.

The aftertaste was heavily graham, with peanut butter on the back of my tongue. I keep coming back to it, but these do remind me of Nutter Butter, so I guess the chocolate kinda gets a bit lost.

With all that said, I like these. They aren’t better than the Reese’s Oreo, but they’re better than the standard Peanut Butter Oreo, which I’ve always found to be disappointing.

These aren’t as cloying as the last few Oreo flavors I’ve tried, so that was a nice change of pace. The grittiness did, however, dry my mouth out, so maybe keep a glass of milk nearby.

So, like Solo, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie: An Oreo Story was pretty much a fun little detour that will probably be ultimately forgettable. These aren’t gonna be anyone’s favorite Oreo cookie.

I was ready to write them off as unnecessary, but they ended up standing on their own well enough. I would recommend picking up a bag if that’s even what you call Oreo packaging.

(Nutrition Facts – 2 cookies – 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 90 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of sugar, less than 1 grams of fiber, and 1 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 12.2 oz. package
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: A nice blend of the three flavors involved. Not as disgustingly sweet as the previous flavors. You’ll like these if you like Nutter Butter. Solo was a decent movie, I guess.
Cons: A gritty reboot of the normal Peanut Butter Oreo. Dry. A little too Graham heavy. Chocolate gets outshined. Oreo may be running out of ideas soon. Cookie fatigue.

QUICK REVIEW: The Simpsons Donut, Bubble Gum, and Blueberry Tic Tacs

Vin 7 Comments

The Simpsons Tic Tacs

What are they?

The Simpsons and Tic Tac have partnered on three new flavors – Donut (Homer), Blueberry (Marge), and Bubble Gum (Bart). Each package contains yellow mints with various expressions of each character. In the spirit of the show, we’ll call them “meh-mojis.” Or “e-DOH-jis!” Or, “shut up and get on with the review, Vin.”

The Simpsons Tic Tacs 2

How are they?

The Simpsons Tic Tacs 3

Donut is probably the flavor you’re wondering about most, so I’ll go more in depth on it. It smells like maple and is the least “minty” of the three. My flavor parallel might sound weird, but it reminds me of Toasted Marshmallow Jelly Belly with a touch of chocolatey leaning sweetness. Don’t expect the flavor of Homer’s favorite pink (Strawberry?) glazed donut. Once you chew ’em, a little menthol mint kicks in.

The Simpsons Tic Tacs 4

Blueberry is along the lines of Tic Tac’s normal fruit efforts, starting out authentic and sweet but then getting bitter. There is more of a lingering minty-ness to these that I could’ve lived without.

The Simpsons Tic Tacs 5

Bubble Gum is the best of the three by a decent margin. It tastes exactly like the Orbit Bubblemint chiclet style bubble gum if you’ve ever had those. There is a big menthol finish that cools the mouth and is the most successful mint integration of the bunch.

Is there anything else I need to know?

A donut-flavored Tic Tac is a cute little gimmick, it serves as much purpose to me as that “single serve” indentation on the Tic Tac lid. Blueberry is decent, but it falls near the bottom of Tic Tac’s fruit efforts.

Conclusion:

For a show that has been on for approximately 63 years, the only food brands I can even remember The Simpsons pairing with without looking are Butterfinger and 7-Eleven, so I’m glad I bought these. I’m enough of a Simpsons nerd that I’m keeping the boxes as “collector’s items,” because why not? Grab the Bart Bubble Gum pack.

Purchased Price: $1.19 each
Size: 1 oz.
Purchased at: Harmon Drug
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Donut)
Rating: 6 ouf ot 10 (Blueberry)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Bubble Gum)
Nutrition Facts: (1 mint) They are usually 2 calories per mint without much else.