QUICK REVIEW: Marcela Valladolid Chile Lime Flaquitos

Marcela Valladolid Chile Lime Flaquitos

Purchased Price: $3.00 (on sale)
Size: 9.9 oz. bag
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Tasty, spicy snack. Hearty crunch. Nice chili pepper and lime flavor with noticeable notes of paprika. Even though they look like they’re going to be painfully spicy, they have a nice low-to-mid level heat.
Cons: They look like Satan’s claw clippings. Exclusive to Safeway. Not going to be liked by those who dislike monosodium glutamate. They’ll turn your fingers red. I don’t think they’re very spicy, but why are they making my nose run while I’m eating them?

Marcela Valladolid Chile Lime Flaquitos Closeup

Nutrition Facts: about 15 chips – 150 calories, 70 calories from fat, 8 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 3 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 460 milligrams of sodium, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES (SEASONAL EDITION) – 11/22/2013

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Limited Edition Starbucks Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino

Starbucks Limited Edition Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino is back! To be honest, I didn’t know this existed until I received this photo. Bad junk food reviewer! Bad! (Spotted by Ariana at Westside Market.)

Limited Edition Duncan Hines Holiday Velvets

Green Velvet? Can Duncan Hines just invent a new velvet cake color like that? Well, I guess so. If that’s the case, I look forward to blue velvet cake sometime next year. (Spotted by Jennifer at Brookshire’s.)

Good & Delish Egg Nog Cream Cookies

I’m really surprised (and disappointed) egg nog-flavored products aren’t as prevalent as pumpkin spice products. (Spotted by Kitty at Walgreens.)

Limited Edition Old Orchard Apple Pie Juice

I’m not going to lie, apple pie juice sounds quite awesome. Too bad stores here don’t carry that brand. I guess I’m going to have to stick a plate of apple pie à la mode into a blender. (Spotted by Richard at Walmart.)

3 Musketeers Minis Hot Cocoa with Marshmallow

3 Musketeers Hot Cocoa Marshmallow Minis are back! And this time I knew they existed before receiving this photo because we already reviewed them. (Spotted by Lindsay at Meijer.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition 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. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

QUICK REVIEW: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Classic Favorites Spicy Black Bean Soup

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Classic Favorites Spicy Black Bean Soup

Purchased Price: $2.49
Size: 8 oz.
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Nice savory and smoky flavor. Pleasant mild spiciness. Cilantro and lime have a very mild flavor and complement the spiciness well. I can pronounce most of the ingredients listed. Only 170 calories. Vegetarian. Good source of fiber; thanks black beans! Awesome source of vitamin A; thanks…corn? 4 PointsPlus.
Cons: I wish it had more black beans because I loves the fiber. Not as filling as this Smart Ones soup. Waiting 5 minutes for soup seems a bit long when you want something warm in your body. Fire roasted corn looked like regular corn.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Classic Favorites Spicy Black Bean Soup Closeup

Nutrition Facts: 170 calories, 25 calories from fat, 3 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat, 1 gram of monounsaturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 470 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar, 8 grams of protein, 45% vitamin A, 10% calcium, 10% vitamin C, and 20% iron.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Post Sugar Cookie Pebbles Cereal

Limited Edition Post Sugar Cookie Pebbles Cereal

Dear Santa,

How are you? Well, I hope jolly and fat as usual. I know you’re quite busy this time of year, and I know you’ve already received four sets of revisions to my annual Christmas list. On that note, I have good and bad news. The good news is I won’t need those Super Bowl tickets. The Bills suck again this year, and I could care less about watching the Chiefs play. So consider yourself free and clear from any anti-scalping laws you might have been worried about. Now, to the bad news…

I realize you’ve already got something of a dealio with our neighborhood and the, uh, thanks we give you. What with Tommy Thomas’ mom and her applesauce cookies, or Jackie Johnson’s parents and their anti-dairy crusade. It ain’t like the old days of whole milk and Tollhouse, and I can definitely sympathize. With that said, I can’t serve you milk and cookies this year.

But don’t go returning that Playstation 4 quite yet. We’ve been doing this present thing for 25 years now and you know I got your back (and your stomach). That’s why I’m going to do you one better. Any schmuck kid with a grocery store can buy some refrigerated cookies for you. But this year, I’ve got Sugar Cookie Pebbles Cereal.

I know what you’re thinking, “Cereal? What gives!?! And cereal that’s got vitamins and minerals and fiber and crap. You think this fat man has time to stop at a gas station bathroom every five seconds on Christmas night?”

Well no, at least I seriously hope not, mostly because there’s a chance I’ll be stopping at one of those bathrooms the next day during that six-hour car ride to Grandmother’s house. So it’s a good thing for both of us that this is about the least healthy cereal ever, with no fiber whatsoever. What’s more, it tastes like that. Which is to say it tastes like the most awesome interpretation of a baked good in cereal form.

Limited Edition Post Sugar Cookie Pebbles Cereal Closeup

Trust me, this is no replay of Cookie Crisp Sprinkles. I’ll even leave you the whole box. As soon as you open it, you’ll be greeted by that Dear-God-Yes aroma of frosting and sprinkles that will remind you of all those years I spent asking you to please, just please bring me a lifetime supply of Dunkaroos with Vanilla Frosting and Sprinkles. The smell alone is good enough to warrant some extra presents this year, although I can’t be held liable for any dogs chasing you because they think they’re getting in on some giant sugar cookie deliciousness.

The taste? Seriously sugar cookie-esque. I happen to know, you know, because I’ve been a little naughty this year and have taken more than the allotted one free sugar cookie at the doors of Harris Teeter. (But seriously, that’s not going to count against me because it’s a self-admission, ok? Besides, it saves the actual kids from childhood obesity.)

The cereal is sweet and crispy, artificially but admirably floral, with each little toasted rice pebble packing tons of sugar cookie flavor. And of course, it fully embraces the colors of the season, lending itself wonderfully to any number of baking projects your elves might embark in while not slaving away buying toys for the whole world on Amazon.

Limited Edition Post Sugar Cookie Pebbles Cereal Closeup Milk

Now Santa, you’ll notice I’m not leaving you any milk with this cereal. I consider this for your own good. Lest you be disappointed by the slightly diluted taste of sugar cookie in milk and a none too hearty crunch that left me a bit disappointed, I think your sugar cookie experience is best enjoyed dry. As a snacking cereal, it might just be the best I’ve had this year, with the exception of Peanut Butter Toast Crunch. So do yourself a favor and don’t damn our neighborhood to the naughty list quite yet. I know you have plenty of holiday themed options to eat this time of year, and only so much artery space left before Tim Allen is forced to take over, but you won’t regret trading in some actual milk and cookies for Sugar Cookie Pebbles cereal.

(Nutrition Facts – 3/4 cup – 110 calories, 10 calories from fat, 1 gram of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 0 milligrams of cholesterol 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 9 grams of sugars, 1 gram of protein, and, seriously, do you even care about the token amounts of 10 vitamins and minerals?)

Item: Limited Edition Post Sugar Cookie Pebbles Cereal
Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 11 oz. box
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: smells like the best thing ever. Tasty sugar cookie flavor with notes of vanilla cupcake and Dunkaroos. Addictively crispy as a snacking cereal. Christmas colors.
Cons: Sugar cookie taste is muted in milk. Not for those who like cereal that stays crunchy in milk. A candidate for the definition of “Empty Calories” in next year’s dictionary. Taking a chance at pissing off Santa and not getting that PS 4.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 11/21/2013

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Nestle Nesquik Strawberry Cookies

Remember these Nesquik sandwich cookies? Well, just like Nesquik chocolate powder mix, they have a strawberry cousin. (Spotted by Tom at Big Lots.)

Best Foods Limited Edition Sweet & Smoky Barbecue Flavored Mayonnaise

I just realized these limited edition flavored mayonnaises from Best Foods and Hellmann’s have reduced fat mayonnaise. Yeah, I’d want to mask the flavor of reduced fat mayonnaise too. (Spotted by Marvo at Target.)

Stride Shaun White Golden Fruit Gum

Another Shaun White Stride Gum? Why can’t Swedish curler Anette Norberg, who has two Olympic gold medals, won seven European Curling Championships, and three World Curling Championship, have her own Stride Gum? (Spotted by Marvo at Target.)

Campbell's Sweet & Sour Chicken Skillet Sauces

Campbell's Creamy Parmesan Chicken Skittle Sauces

When I first received these photos, I thought they were some of the old flavors, which we already covered. But it turns out they are new. So if you’re tired of the original six sauces, here’s two more you can eventually get tired of. (Spotted by Meral at Walmart.)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Chocolate

Wild Ophelia makes these bars, so for them it’s not The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, it’s The Hunger Games: Catching a Ride on the Sweet Money Train of Blockbuster Movie Promotional Tie-Ins. (Spotted by Sylvia at Von’s.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition 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. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Scroll to Top