Candy Apple M&M's

You know by now, we can't have seasonal products without seasonal M&M's.  For the last few years, M&M's have come second only to Oreo cookies in the battle for most-unique-flavors supremacy.  Whether it's Red Velvet, Pumpkin Spice, Carrot Cake, or Gingerbread, there's no doubt M&M's do their fair share of getting involved and enhancing the season.  Unlike some of you, I never knock a company for taking advantage of the system and using my curiosity for their profit.  In fact, I welcome it.  I love these new, sometimes oddball, off-the-wall flavors and always go out of my way to review and appreciate them.  In today's case, there's nothing too out of the ordinary and the flavor is probably long overdue.  Falling in line with Fall 2014, M&M's have gone apple picking!

Bud Light Lime: Apple - Ahhh - Rita

I apologize for the lack of Holidaze updates.  My girlfriend and I are currently in the process of moving into our new apartment and it's gotten in the way of posting about drinks and candy.  Believe me, I told mover after mover how important this stuff was, but they just weren't hearing it.  But I'm back today and want to talk about something I've been drinking a lot of, this season.  For well over a month, since as early as August, I've been indulging in the fine flavors of Bud Light Lime! Their signature "Rita" collection has been a favorite of mine since they were first introduced and, during the Summer months, they're the perfect mix of alcohol and fruit flavor.  When I visited Las Vegas in July, nothing beat an ice cold Straw-Ber-Rita by the pool on a 110 degree day!  But, what about Fall?  What about the Season of the Witch?  Well, have no fear!  Bud Light Lime has us covered!

Bewitching Blend Tic-Tac

A busy day means a quick post, but that doesn't make today's any less special.  Throughout the Halloween season, there are so many products released that some get lost in the shuffle or don't make my radar.  Usually, the smaller the product, the less I notice it.  I guess that makes sense, but it's important to give all Halloween products their due diligence so that we continue to receive such a vast variety from so many different companies.  Sure, they may not all lead to 1,000 words, but not everything has to.  There's only so much I can say in today's review, but Halloween Tic-Tac's deserve to be featured!

These Bewitching Blend Tic-Tac's aren't new for 2014, but I never gave them the respect they deserve in the past.  Tic-Tac's aren't something I normally by.  This is the type of product you hope somebody else has when you're in need of a mint.  But when you see that a company has changed things up in celebration of your favorite season, ya gotta reward that with a few pennies.  What's so special about this?  The way it look!  Orange and Apple flavored Tic-Tac's aren't especially intriguing, but together they make Halloween art.  Combine that with a purple sticker, a pretty witch, and her Bewitching Blend logo and we officially have Halloween in our pockets!

This Witch is impressed.  I don't know if she enjoys the flavor or is green with envy after seeing a non-green, non-scarred, Bewitching Witch on the Tic-Tac sticker.  I feel for her, as do most women who look at the People Magazine covers, but she has nothing to worry about.  Personally, I prefer my Witches green and gross.  Frankenstein would probably wife this Witch up!  But maybe I'm totally off-base.  Maybe she is impressed with the flavor!  After all, they're not bad at all!  The Green Apple Tic-Tac's are delicious, but the Orange taste like medicine.  Believe it or not, I actually like that because there's nostalgia attached to it.  I guess I'm weird like that, but I enjoy Orange Tic-Tac's and certainly don't eat them for fresh breath.  If you're looking for something minty and refreshing, you gotta go the traditional route.  These are for your fruity taste buds and they're worth the few cents.  Just think of how cool you're going to be once you whip these out from your pocket and offer them to your friends.  Oh snap, look at you!

8 / 10

Caramel Apple Laffy Taffy

When I told you that this season belonged to the Caramel Apple flavor, I wasn't kidding!  As I write this, I have at least 4 new Caramel Apple products in my kitchen and we're only half-way through September.  Although Pumpkin Spice may be the unofficial flavor of Fall, there's no denying Caramel Apple is making a strong run at the title.  No matter what aisle you turn down, you're bound to find companies cashing in on Caramel Apple's popularity!

Jolly Rancher Caramel Apple Crunch -n- Chew Candy

Before I begin tonight's review, let me preface it by telling you that this season, without a doubt, belongs to the Caramel Apple flavor.  In recent years, Pumpkin Spice ran the show and it seemed as if the whole world had become obsessed with everything orange and brown.  Pumpkin coffee, ice cream, donuts, cake, candy - you name it, they made it!  And it's not that Pumpkin Spice has gotten any less popular, it's just that Caramel Apple is climbing the ranks and finally getting just as much, if not more, notoriety for it's amazing taste.  When you look through the Halloween aisles, you'll see it everywhere.  As we progress on The Holidaze Halloween Countdown, you'll see it even more.  For a guy like me, who isn't really a fan of Pumpkin Spice, this is far from bad news.  I love the Caramel Apple flavor and enjoy seeing so many companies roll out their varieties.  The more we have, the more we all win in the end.  So this isn't a warning, but just a simple notice to be prepared - there's going to be a lot of Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice, and Candy Corn.

Tis The Season!

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 :)

Apple Cider Donuts

About a week ago, I went camping with my family for the second time in my life.  The first time was around 1999.  I went with my Parents and cousin.  We went in the middle of April, it was freezing and, to make a long story short, we wound up "camping" in a heated hotel room with our tents stored in my Dad's truck.  This happened two nights in a row so, looking back on history, I didn't think I'd be cut out to make it through another round of camping, no matter how much older I am.  But, thankfully, it wasn't as cold, I was better prepared, and this city boy spent a night in the woods without any sign of Jason Vorhees or Racoons.  

But is that's not what this blog post is about.  See, before we made it to Cheesequake Park, we stopped at Path-Mark to get some snacks.  You know, the typical popcorn and smores.  We needed some drinks, too.  But, the first thing that caught my eye were donuts.  They're not the name brand variety, but they're not Path-Mark's either.  They're that in-between brand that never gets any recognition, but should because they're so good.

They had Pumpkin donuts, but here's what I went with..

Harvest Time Apple Crisp Donuts!  That's their official name, but Path-Mark had one of those hand drawn posters calling them "Apple Cider Donuts."  I like that much better!  I had amazing Apple Cider donuts last year while apple picking with my girlfriend, so I had high hopes for these.  They're made by Country Treats, but that doesn't mean much.  That most likely means they were made on some farm in the tri-state area.  Who knows what that means?  As far as I was concerned, these were new, looked good, and I had to try them!

These Apple Cider Donuts didn't actually get opened until we got home from our camping trip because I didn't want any bugs invading my beauties and getting a chance to try them before we did.  I absolutely hate bugs and because of a scary daddy long leg spider, I almost didn't get into my tent.  He was guarding it well with his tree-like legs and big black body.  No matter how big I am, I will always be more afraid of bugs than they are of me.  I can handle flies and tiny aunts.  But anything bigger than a quarter that flies?  I'm outta here.  I'm a big baby.

So, I popped the plastic open as soon as I got home and was very pleased with the scent.  It's appleicious.  That's not a word, but as soon as I smelled them, that word came to mind and I had to share it.  The donuts were also very soft so I knew they were fresh.  Sometimes, the baked donuts from grocery stores aren't so good.  Maybe they're made there and sit for a while, maybe the farm is slow with their delivery.  I couldn't tell ya, but I know these are good to go!

I used my Iphone to snap the pictures because I like the way the flash makes them pop.  They look more like cinnamon donuts than apple, but that's okay.  In fact, they're called Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donuts.  I know I told you they're called Apple Crisp, but obviously Country Treats has problems making up their minds.  That's why I just call them Apple Cider Donuts.  That makes things much easier and sounds better.  Even Path Mark didn't want to waste their time writing out "Apple Crisp Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donuts."  Other than Martha Stewart, nobody talks like that.  And by the time they do, I've usually lost interest.  Apple Cider.. Boom! Done!

No matter what you call these donuts, or who made them, they absolutely delicious.  These were soo good!  They're actually some of the best donuts I've ever had.  They taste like Apple, they have a hint of cinnamon, and are perfectly textured.  I sound like a fat guy, but look, I love these donuts.  They didn't last very long here because they're so addictive.  

I tried Googling Country Treats to find out where they come from, but I didn't find anything.  I wanted to tell you guys where to get them, because I know you'll be pleased with the Apple Cider Donuts, but I have no idea.  I don't know if they're exclusive to Path Mark or to my area.  I can't tell you where to go, but I do advise you to find them and give them a try.  I'm not usually into this type of donut, but I wanted something for the cool, Fall season and thought this would be perfect.  I was definitely right.  If you're looking for the same thing, check out your local Path Mark and see if they have it in stock.  It might be a long shot, but a worthy one.  But, if you happen to live near Jersey City, NJ, check out the Path Mark on Rt. 440 and you're guaranteed to find this Fall gem.