REVIEW: Flamin’ Hot Ruffles Potato Chips

Brandon 9 Comments

I have to admit I went into this review with a small bias, as “Flamin’ Hot” is a very familiar Frito-Lay flavor for me. I am a big Flamin’ Hot Cheetos fan, being second only to Tapatio Doritos on my spicy chip tier list. What? Don’t tell me you don’t have a spicy chip tier list!

Based on the friendly flame mascot and smoldery font that is identical to the branding from Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, I assumed I was in for standard Ruffles blasted with the same atomic red seasoning.

Upon opening the bag that is exactly what I discovered. My chips were in good shape, with most of them whole. This was a good sign for a delicious, evil experiment I had planned for them.

Ruffles Flamin Hot Potato Chips 3

The chips themselves pack the standard Flamin’ Hot heat (not too over the top, but a little much for spicy wimps). The distribution of dust was a little light for my liking, but I’m a bit of a spice fiend, so most will probably find them quite balanced.

So how does this tried and true seasoning fair on crispy, fried potatoes? Oh my, Chester Cheetah better watch out. The Ruffles are probably on about equal footing with Cheetos as vessels for Flamin’ Hot dust. Things get interesting, however, when you consider the versatility of Ruffles.

Ruffles Flamin Hot Potato Chips 2

The one shortcoming of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos is they’re a bit one-dimensional. It’s a straightforward chili powder type of spice without much variety or depth. However, with their sturdy ridges and wide surface area, Ruffles are tailor-made to combat this problem because you can dip them. Remember that delicious, evil experiment I mentioned earlier?

When I was at the grocery store picking up these bad boys, I realized that many of the tried and true potato chip flavors all had something in common: sour cream. Through all the promotional and crazy flavors Lay’s ships out, I can remember Cheddar & Sour Cream and Sour Cream & Onion even since I was little. Even plain Ruffles beg to be dunked in french onion dip.

Ruffles Flamin Hot Potato Chips 4

Let’s just say I did a dollop of Daisy with these suckers, and the bag quickly grew lighter. The combination felt natural and right. The sour cream cut through the somewhat bland spice to create a cool balance. Maybe Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and sour cream would be just as good, but that just doesn’t sit quite as well in my head. Ruffles have ridges for a reason!

(Nutrition Facts – 11 chips – 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 323 milligrams of potassium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 8.5 oz. bag
Purchased at: Albertson’s
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: Classic Flamin’ Hot flavor translates well. A new contender for the top of my spicy chip tier list. Dippability.
Cons: Chips themselves are a bit one dimensional. Getting greasy red smears on my notebook.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Hershey’s Flavor of New York Cherry Cheesecake Bars

Marvo 5 Comments

Hershey s Flavor of New York Cherry Cheesecake Bars

New York is known for cherry cheesecake? Also, since it’s New York, I’m slightly disappointed this isn’t pizza flavored. (Spotted by @kkrugzhear at Cub Foods.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) 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.

FAST FOOD NEWS: Hardee’s APORKalypse Burrito and Biscuit

Marvo 24 Comments

Hardee s APORKalypse Burrito

The APORKalypse is upon us!

Run…to your nearest Hardee’s if you want to experience the chain’s new APORKalypse Burrito and APORKalypse Biscuit, both of which feature three types of pork.

Three? Come on, Hardee’s! There’s the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse! Why couldn’t you fit one more type of pork? Canadian bacon? Cheese made out of pig’s milk?

The APORKalypse Burrito combines four ham slices, two sausage patties, bacon pieces, folded eggs, American cheese, and Swiss cheese in a warm flour tortilla. It has, brace yourselves, 1110 calories, 740 calories from fat, 82 grams of fat, 29 grams of saturated fat, 435 milligrams of cholesterol, 3170 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 48 grams of protein.

The breakfast burrito is available for $3.99. It can also be ordered as a small combo with hash rounds and a drink for $5.69.

Hardee s APORKalypse Biscuit

The APORKalypse Biscuit comes with four ham slices, three bacon strips, just one sausage patty, a folded egg, and American and Swiss cheeses on Hardee’s Made from Scratch Buttermilk Biscuits. It has 920 calories, 590 calories from fat, 66 grams of fat, 25 grams of saturated fat, 240 milligrams of cholesterol, 2540 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 35 grams of protein.

The biscuit sandwich has a price of $3.79 and a small combo costs $5.49.

If you’ve tried either one, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Images via Hardee’s)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES IN CANADA: Haagen-Dazs Spirits Ice Cream

Marvo 6 Comments

Haagen Dazs Spirits Ice Cream Rum Ginger Cookie Vodka Key Lime Pie and Rum Vanilla Caramel Blondie

Haagen Dazs Spirits Whiskey Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream

Häagen-Dazs Spirits Irish Cream Coffee & Biscotti Ice Cream

I’m going to guess these have the flavor of alcohol, but you won’t be able to get drunk off of them. (Spotted by Yan at Metro and Carrie G at IGA in Canada.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) 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.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme Pudding

Rachel 10 Comments

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding

If there was a Nobel Prize for food flavors, whoever invented Cookies & Crème (Cream if you prefer) should’ve been awarded one.

Sometime in the early/mid 80s, my mother and young self slid into a booth at Friendly’s for our weekly lunch and ice cream out. I spied a new flavor: Cookies & Creme. “What’s that?” I asked the waitress. “Vanilla and Oreos” she said. EXCUSE ME? OREO ICE CREAM? My tiny cookie-obsessed mind was blown. “This is the best thing ever!” I chanted after every spoonful. Ever since, it’s been my flavor magnetic north.

As fan of Jell-O Oreo Cookies ‘n Creme pudding mix, Jell-O Oreo Pudding cups, and Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme candy bars, it was a no-brainer that I would try Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme pudding cups.

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding 2

The appearance wasn’t exactly exciting for a cookie fanatic. All I saw were microscopic specks mixed into the white pudding. Maybe all the cookie bits were inside. Way inside.

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding 3

Under the foil, there was a faint whiff of cookies, but still no bits. What the hells bells was going on here? I dug around with a spoon, hoping to rile up some hidden chunks. Didn’t happen. C&C fans know that the enjoyment of any given product is dependent on the mass of cookie in relation to the overall mass. See chart 1:

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding 4

(Note this chart only goes to 70% – beyond that you risk under-creaming.)

Taste-wise, this pudding wasn’t bad. It’s reminiscent of Hershey’s candy bar of the same name – heavy sweet vanilla with a shadow of cookie. But it was missing something – cookie balls!

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding 5

The greatest part of the candy bars are the little crunchy balls. They goose the flavor and impart much-needed texture. They’re completely absent in the pudding, and it’s a real shame. It needs them. It’s just a smooth white mass that left a slightly greasy film on my tongue.

I liked this pudding, but not enough to buy again. Jell-O’s Oreo puddings were closer to the mark for me – less sweetness, less vanilla, more cookie.

This under-cookied pudding was screaming to be repurposed, so I made mini-icebox cakes out of it. Drop dollops of pudding between Oreo cookies. (I ate the fillings out of mine!) Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding 6

The moisture from the pudding soaks into the cookies, making something like a cold cakey milk-dunked Oreo.

Hershey s Cookies N Creme Pudding 7

(Nutrition Facts – 1 cup – 110 calories, 10 calories from fat, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: 4-pack
Purchased at: Key Food
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Like a melted version of its namesake candy bar (If you like that candy bar).
Cons: A severe, drought-like lack of cookie bits or varied texture of any kind. Greasy tongue slime trail.