Cheetos Bag of Bones

It's crunch time here on The Holidaze and I'm not talking about bone-crunching action!  We're only 4 days away from Halloween and it's time to roll out all the amazing products I've been sitting on for the last few weeks.  A lot of writers tend to bring you these things as soon as their released, usually in hopes of being the first so that their number of hits increase and more people click those ads.  Personally, I couldn't care less about any of that.  I'm here to celebrate!  I'm here to create an experience - for you and me - and this week is most important of them all!  Sure, I could have talked about Twinkies and Krispy Kreme Donuts a few weeks ago, but this is the main event!  If I did that, all I'd have left are granola bars.  That doesn't end the season on a high note and it's my goal to roll out the All-Star lineup.

It's Halloweek!

Holiday Pretzel Crisps

Amazingly, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and there's no better bridge to Christmas than Turkey Day and time spent with family.  By now, you've probably purchased everything you need for your festive feast, but did you pick up the Pretzel Crisps?  What, you've never heard of them?  They're amazing!  In a time where everybody is flipping out over a chocolate covered Lays potato chip, these are completely flying under the radar.  Having never seen them before, I first tried "Buffalo Wing" Pretzel Crisps at a family party and got hooked.  They were so great that we went out and bought more when we got home.  Sure, they're a bit expensive compared to your traditional bag of chips, but you truly get what you pay for.  Whether it's Original, Chipotle Cheddar, or Cinnamon Toast, you're really in for a treat.

Now, with the holidays upon us, Snack Factory has released seasonal Pretzel Crisps that are perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and this time of year!

Mint Chocolate Crunch!

The tagline is "Rethink Your Pretzel" and I think that's fitting.  For a second, think about this - you're getting a tiny, crunchy, salted pretzel, coated in mint chocolate and covered in chocolate chips.  How in the world are you going to go wrong with that?  Between the green bag, snow graphics, and images of deliciousness, this is the type of product that pulls you in and takes your money.

Okay, not gonna lie - the bag is definitely misleading and borders on false advertisement.  If you look at the Pretzel Crisps displayed on the bag, they're evenly and overly coated in an abundance of mint chocolate.  The actual Pretzel Crisps?  Not so much.  Fortunately, these pretzels are covered enough for my liking and, at the end of the day, flavor is all that matters.  Because these taste so good, there's no way I can be mad at the lying bag.  This is what you expect from a chocolate covered pretzel.  You need that perfect contrast between sweet and salty.  Combine that with mint, which I didn't even think would work, and you've got a great snack for the holidays.  Sure, it may not look as pretty as depicted, but once they hit your taste buds, you won't even care.

To go along with Mint Chocolate Crunch, we have White Chocolate & Peppermint flavored Pretzel Crisps.  Look, between now and Christmas, just about everything is going to be dedicated to peppermint and gingerbread flavored products.  Just about everything I've purchased already tastes like one of those two things, but that's okay during this time of year.  It should be expected and welcomed as flavors of the season.  For me, personally, it sparks the spirit and that's why this bag, even if the flavor was close to the other, had to be picked up.  Besides, the Candy Cane theme is more Christmassy than the Chocolate Mint Crunch.  I'm easy, what can I say?

Unlike the first batch of Pretzel Crisps, this White Chocolate & Peppermint variety does a better job living up to it's promised coating and, for the most part, matches the photograph printed on the bag.  I wasn't expecting much from these, but wow, they're so much better than the Mint Chocolate Crunch!  Believe me, that's saying a lot because they're both outstanding products.  The broken Candy Cane pieces add so much to the flavor but aren't so crunchy that they'll break your teeth.  It's like salted candy!  Everything about these Pretzel Crisps work so well together and I'm happily surprised by their punch.  This is the type of knockout game you want to play!

I'm not exactly sure where you can buy Pretzel Crisps, but we found them at Target.  They're the type of chips that I don't go looking for, but love when I have them.  In that way, they're similar to Pringles, but I think they're a hell of a lot better.  Obviously I wouldn't eat these two varieties outside of the holiday season, but Pretzel Crisps offer much more than even I was aware of and, now, I'm hungry and want to go buy more.  If you're out and still have time and money to pick up a last minute snack for Thanksgiving, make these your choice.  They'll get everybody excited for Christmas and thankful that they came to your house for the big day!

French Toast & Vanilla Cupcake Goldfish

Quick post today and it probably took me longer to design the banner above than it will for you to read this.  But even though I'm clearly in a Halloween mood, I can't let Summer go completely.  With a few "official" weeks left, we're still going to see and do a few things that are clearly related to the Summer 'Daze.  I'd hate to overlook anything in an attempt to speed the spooky months up, so you're going to see a random assortment of posts until I can fully commit to the horrific daze of September and October.

Because I have my eyes set on orange and black, I probably would have missed this new Goldfish variety from Pepperidge Farm.  It was Eileen who spotted these "Grahams French Toast" Goldfish and, at first, I thought she was kidding.  My favorite breakfast in the world is French Toast.  That's all I need.  Smother it in butter and syrup and I'm all set.  I've been like that since I was a kid.  My used to make it for me so often that I would wind up asking to have it for dinner.  In the morning, It's still the only thing I ever order at a New Jersey Diner, Ihop or Perkins.  So, when she told me there was a bag of French Toast flavored Goldfish?  I was pumped!

These are sooo good! Granted, I'm biased, but these are incredible.  They remind me of a few different things but, most notably, I'd compare them to French Toast Crunch.  Discontinued here in the United States, French Toast Crunch was a cereal shaped to look like tiny slices of bread and tasted just like French Toast.  I used to love it!  For a while, it was the only cereal I ate.  There have been similar flavors, like Waffle Crisp and Eggo Maple Syrup, but nothing came close to French Toast Crunch.  That's until these Goldfish came along.  It may not be cereal, but it's close enough to satisfy me at the end of Summer.  For a more precise description, it's like French Toast Crunch meets a Cinnamon Teddy Graham and covers him in all that maple flavored sugar to create the only type of fish this picky eater will ever enjoy.

Once I saw the French Toast variety, I had to take a close look at the shelves to see if there was anything else I may have missed.  Now, this one doesn't say "New" in the upper left corner, but it's new to me and that'll work.  I told Eileen to get this one because, when I think of cupcakes, I think of her.  Not only does she like them, but she bakes the best I've ever had.  They taste delicious and she decorates them perfectly so, of course, it only made sense that we bought these too.  One for her, one for me.  But really, both for me.

I really like the way these Goldfish look.  I love the sprinkles added to make more of a "cupcake" impression.  I took these photos outside yesterday to really make those tiny sprinkles pop.  If you look closely, you'll see the rain drops on my classy paper plate.  But the money is in the flavor and that's where it kinda falls flat.  It's a cross between cake batter and animal crackers, but doesn't hit the landing quite right.  They're good, don't get me wrong, but I don't think the flavor is right.  I'll have to leave that up to my girlfriend.

Now, here's a word of advice from Pepperidge Farm:

Haha, that's so Finny! ;)

Watermelon Oreo

We're taking a break from the busy schedule and Summer adventures to talk about something everybody else has been talking about.  Ahh, yes, the elusive Watermelon Oreo Cookies!  I heard about them weeks ago, I saw them on the news, and even friends of mine were finding them before me!  I went to my local Target, the same one I found Candy Corn Oreo Cookies at, but they had nothing new.  Another one, a bit further, had some cool items but, unfortunately, no new Oreos.  So, thanks to a tip from a friend, I figured out where they were and, with our goal within reach, my girlfriend and I traveled to Union, NJ in hopes of finally finding this hype machine!

There they are!!  Just as I was told, this Target was fully stocked with Watermelon Oreo Cookies and, finally, we could bring them home and see what all the talk is about.  I mean, these have been everywhere.  Well, they've been everywhere but where I've been, but these are a media sensation.  If you remember, the Candy Corn and Gingerbread Oreo Cookies caught the world's eye, as well.  I never found the Gingerbread edition, but the Candy Corn was a hit.  I liked it a lot.  

Besides a few of those "Ice Cream" Oreo Cookies, these special edition Oreos have been a hit.  I love the fact that Nabisco continues to go above and beyond by releasing items that nobody expects.  Who would have ever imagined that we'd have an Oreo Cookie that tastes like a watermelon?  That certainly never crossed my mind.  Neither did Candy Corn or Gingerbread, but they work!  The best idea I ever had, when I was a kid, were soda flavored Jolly Ranchers and Peanut Butter and Jelly Starbursts.  Much like these special editions, they're gross until they're real and you actually try them.  Then you end up hoping that they return, next year.

As soon as you open the resealable yellow bag, which is obviously reserved for these special edition Oreos, two of your senses are smacked right in the face - your abilities to see and smell.  Wow, you can smell that watermelon, immediately.  It's strong, but not overbearing.  It reminds me of a Summer scented Yankee Candle.  It's nice!  It's the type of air freshener that you'd like to hang from your rear-view mirror.  Maybe I'll just throw a bunch of Watermelon Oreos in the backseat and see what happens in 85 degree heat.

As for sight, it's beautiful.  I once purchased the Sherbert Oreo Cookies and, in terms of color, these are almost identical to those.  I didn't review the Sherbert edition because they sucked, but they're both stuffed with pink and green creme filling. The Watermelon Oreos are a bit more red and that's good because I want these Oreos to look like real watermelon's.  The closer, the better. 

So far, we're off to a great start.  Now, let's get down to what matters - the taste!

 

Yes!!!  There are so good!  Look, if you go into this thinking that they're going to taste like chocolate or golden Oreos, then you're going to be disappointed.  Every one of these special edition Oreo Cookies need to be embraced for what they are and appreciated for their distinct holiday flavors.  The Candy Corn Oreos represented Halloween, the Gingerbread did the same for Christmas and, now, Watermelon Oreo Cookies exemplify the Summer season, perfectly!

So what do they taste like?  I'm reminded of a few different things.  It definitely reminds me of "Watermelon Wave" Bubblicious Gum.  That's probably the best way to describe it to somebody who's never tried this cookie.  The creme is creamier, more like cake frosting than the typical Oreo icing.  It also brings watermelon Skittles and Warheads, minus the sour face, to mind.  It's a combination of flavors that sparks the mind and brings you on a ride.  But, in the end, it's awesome and symbolizes Summer better than any other cookie on the market.  I used to give that honor to the red, white, and blue Chips Ahoy Cookies, but there's a new kid in town and, even if it's for a limited time, Watermelon Oreo Cookies live up to the hype.

I love that Nabisco keeps pumping these out.  I mean, if you were them, wouldn't you?  They release a new Oreo flavor, attach it to the holidays, create a cool package and the foodie's and media go bananas.  Everybody and their mother's run to Target, pick up the latest edition, and post pictures on every social media outlet.  The cookie goes viral, sales go up, and by the time you're sick of them, Nabisco is already on to the next wave of limited-edition Oreo Cookies.  It's absolutely genius.  But, the best part, is that the cookies actually taste good!  So, next year, if Nabisco decides to re-release these limited editions, we'll all be back in line to buy more.  It's a win-win situation and, personally, I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

I heard there are Limited-Edition "Lemon Twist" Oreo Cookies out there, but I haven't come close to finding them.  They may be the Summer's Gingerbread cookies, but that's okay.  I'm just happy I was able to try the Watermelon Oreos and enjoyed them.  If I do find the Lemon Twist variety, I'll definitely review them.  But It's not looking good.  In the meantime, I'm going to have myself an Oreo.

New Teddy Grahams

 

Teddy Grahams are the type of snacks, or cookies, that I never think to buy, but always do whenever I see them.  I don't go out of my way to pick them up, but I can never seem to turn them down when I see them on the shelf.  There they are, smiling at me.  They're holding the cookie version of themselves, laughing, inviting me to have a great time with them.  They're enticing and, every time, they lure me in and steal my money.  But that's fine, because I love Teddy Grahams.  I usually kill a box in less than 24 hours and I'm sure that's all part of Nabisco's plan!

My favorite flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie, but it's a close call between that and Cinnamon.  Really, you can't go wrong.  Along with Chocolate and Honey, Teddy Grahams are a guaranteed hunger fix.  I love laying back, watching a good movie, with a box of Teddy Grahams.  But when I get to the bottom of that foiled bag?  Heartbreaker!

But the point of this post isn't to talk about the classic Teddy Graham flavors.  Oh no! I'm here to introduce you to two NEW Teddy Graham flavors to join our favorites!

 

Strawberry Banana and Apple!!  What do you think?  If you're anything like me, you might be thinking this is a bad idea.  I mean, when I think of fruit, I tend to think healthy.  When I think Teddy Grahams, I really don't care much about health.  How can I justify going from Chocolate Chip to Strawberry Banana?  I'd feel like a sell-out!  But, you know I had to give them a shot.  Maybe they'd prove me wrong?

You know what?  These new Teddy Grahams are awesome!!  I absolutely love them.  They're not what I expected at all and that's a good thing.  To start, they're both basically honey flavored with a hint of whatever flavor they're supposed to be.  Strawberry Banana is really just Banana, but Apple is soo good.  Remember those Caramel Apple Cookies I reviewed in October?  That's what these Teddy Grahams remind me of.  So much that I actually wish they were a limited-edition seasonal item.  If they released them in a Fall box, it would really enhance the season.  Regardless, they're perfect for Spring and I think they're a homerun!

Now, I didn't know it, but after Googling, this isn't the first time Nabisco has released different varieties of Teddy Grahams.  A few years ago, they released a Mixed Berry flavor followed by Banana and, most recently, Oatmeal.  As far as I know, they've all been discontinued but apparently Mixed Berry was a huge hit.  Fans are still clamoring for a comeback but, unfortunately, I missed out on the edition and can't say what the fuss was all about.  But these two new flavors are here, for now anyway, and they're worth hyping.  Not only for their taste, but because of the new box, too!

On every Teddy Grahams box that I can recall, the Teddy Bears on the front were always naked.  I was going to say they were "bare" but that pun wasn't really working for me.  But there's no longer to call them anything but fashionable, now!  The Teddy Bears are now wearing T-shirts!  Each flavor is designated a different colored tee.  Strawberry Banana gets the pink, and Apple gets the green.  Makes sense.  The classic flavors are also packaged in the updated design and, if memory serves, the t-shirts were blue, red, brown, and yellow.  But the best part is that these bears are obviously good negotiators.  Nabisco surely asked them to cover up and become a bit more family friendly.  I doubt they wanted to conform, but they met their bosses half way and put a shirt on.  But pants?  Hell no.. They're all business up top but it's a party down below.  Hey now!

I'm curious to know if there are any discontinued flavors that I may have missed in my Google searches.  I didn't realize there were as many as I found.  But, in this case, find these Teddy Grahams and give them a shot!  I'd bet you love them and, if you don't, pretend that you never read this blog.  Nobody else does, anyway :)