REVIEW: Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes

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Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Both

What are Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes?

Available in Chocolate Mocha and Caramel Macchiato flavors, these individually wrapped donuts are infused with caffeine via unflavored coffee bean extract. Per the wrapper, each Jumbo Donette contains 50-70 milligrams per pastry, or about the caffeine content of one cup of coffee.

How are they?

Although I’m not a regular coffee drinker, I do consume caffeinated beverages – usually diet soda or sparkling water – each morning. My daily caffeine intake ranges 40-75 milligrams. More than that makes me struggle to fall asleep at night, and if I want to stay up late, I usually just over-think embarrassing moments from my past.

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes make some intriguing caffeine claims, and since their caffeine content falls right within my usual range, I was eager to test them out. For two days in a row, I ate one in lieu of my morning caffeinated beverage.

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Mocha Mug

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Mocha Split

Both Chocolate Mocha and Caramel Macchiato varieties are the size I would consider to be standard for a donut (equivalent to three regular Donettes, for the Hostess brand-minded). The pastry is dense and chewy, with some inconsistency throughout the texture. Pockets of the donut contain tough, gummy crumbs, which felt unusual. Both products are also covered with a smooth, sweet icing glaze that, happily, doesn’t create the oily aftertaste I’ve experienced with other packaged baked goods.

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Macchiato Mug

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Macciato Split

Of the two varieties, I preferred the Caramel Macchiato flavor. Although I couldn’t taste any hint of espresso, the caramel flavor was strong, creamy, and sweet. The Chocolate Mocha variety is bland by comparison, tasting of mild coffee and very little chocolate. Both varieties, which list natural and artificial flavorings as their main flavor source, would have benefitted from a stronger coffee taste.

Most importantly, was the best part of waking up a Jumbo Donette (not in my cup)?

It sure helped! Both days, I felt as alert and energized as I normally do after my daily intake, and the effects sustained throughout the day. If you are a five-cup-a-day coffee drinker, a Boost Jumbo Donut will probably feel like a drop in the metaphorical mug, but it was just enough for me to substitute one or two daily beverages. I guess we could always chalk it up to the placebo effect, but that in itself is also a very powerful thing.

Anything else you need to know?

The wrappers note that this product is not recommended for pregnant women, children under 18 years old, or individuals sensitive to caffeine.

For the caffeine-conscious, keep in mind that caffeine content per cup of coffee can vary wildly from the 50-70 mg a Boost Jumbo Donette promises. Many online sources can estimate the content of your favorite caffeine source if you wish to compare like I did.

Conclusion:

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes Stack

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes provide a gentle, well, boost from the infused caffeine. Neither variety completely recreates the flavors found in your favorite coffee shop, but both will provide an effective pick-me-up.

Purchased Price: 2 for $3.75
Size: 2.5 oz. (71 g) each
Purchased at: Sheetz
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Caramel Macchiato), 5 out of 10 (Chocolate Mocha)
Nutrition Facts: (Both flavors) 300 calories, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 25 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Garlic Parmesan Combos

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Garlic Parmesan Combos Bag

What are Garlic Parmesan Combos?

The ‘bos are back in town, this time in the flavor of garlic bread.

How are they?

Garlic Parmesan Combos Copy

I imagine most people enjoy the taste of garlic bread, and Garlic Parmesan Combos do a pretty good job mimicking that flavor profile. That being said, you’ll probably also need to be a big fan of hard, horrific smelling cheeses to really enjoy these. More on that later.

I usually prefer pretzel Combos to the baked cracker cylinders, but the crackers did a great job as a bread proxy. They’re basically as salty as the pretzels too, which I appreciated.

Garlic Parmesan Combos Innards

The filling is exactly as advertised. It’s a cheesy, garlicky clump of dry mud. If spread on a loaf of bread, it’d be gross but would probably taste how you’d want snackified garlic bread to taste, with perhaps more cheese flavor than you’re accustomed to. It was definitely a bit too much for me.

The garlic didn’t bother me, but that cheese…

Anything else you need to know?

Garlic Parmesan Combos Bowl

I mean, look, I knew what I was getting into, but the filling smells awful. Garlic and parmesan aren’t exactly scents you’d want to burn a candle of, but it’s so much worse than I expected.

I basically held my breath before popping each one in my mouth. I called them “‘bos” as a joke, but I think I now know what the “BO” stands for.

It stinks (literally) because they do actually taste good. The smell was just so hard to overcome. If I walked into an Italian joint and caught a waft of garlic and parmesan, I’d probably find it appetizing. Something about that smell coming off that weird Combo paste nearly made me sick.

Conclusion:

Garlic Parmesan Combos Ooze

It probably didn’t help that my bag had a loose asteroid of filling just floating amongst the crackers like a bag of inverse silica gel, but I really couldn’t get over that rancid smell. It knocked the score of these otherwise tasty snacks down 4 whole points.

Maybe I’m just too sensitive? If you’re one of these maniacs who pop provolone cubes like Tic Tacs, these may not bother you. You’ll most likely enjoy the taste, but just know that if you eat a bag, you might want to steer clear of society for a day or two because you’ll probably reek.

Purchased Price: $2.39
Size: 6.3 oz.
Purchased at: Wawa
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 300 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of total carbohydrates, 3 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Jack in the Box Spicy Cluck Sandwich and Blazin Cluck Sandwich

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Jack in the Box Spicy Cluck Sandwich Full

What are the Jack in the Box Spicy Cluck Sandwich and Blazin Cluck Sandwich?

Let’s have Jack’s website explain what the former is.

Jack’s Spice Squad has rated our new Spicy Cluck Sandwich as certified perfection. It’s a bigger, crispier and better-than-ever perfectly spicy, breaded fillet, topped with Jack’s Good Good Sauce, crunchy pickle chips, on a toasty brioche bun. But it doesn’t take an expert to know it’s the perfect amount of spice. You’ll know.

Jack in the Box Blazin Cluck Sandwich Full

As for the Blazin Cluck Sandwich, instead of Jack’s Good Good Sauce (which seems to be The Condiment Formerly Known As Mystery Sauce), it has Jack’s Spicy Good Good Sauce. Basically, the Spicy one doesn’t have a spicy sauce, just a spicy fillet.

Are we good?

Good.

Sauce.

How are they?

Well, I’m not going to believe the “certified perfection” that Jack’s Spice Squad claims its Spicy Cluck Sandwich has achieved because if it’s “perfection,” why is there a second, spicier version of it?

Jack in the Box Spicy Cluck Sandwich Split

As for that “bigger, crispier and better-than-ever perfectly spicy, breaded fillet,” it’s not what I’d consider perfectly spicy. There’s a scant amount of heat, and I think Jack’s regular spicy chicken sandwich was spicier. But the breading on this is crispier, and it seems to be slightly bigger.

The fillet’s lack of heat is really noticeable with the Spicy Cluck Sandwich. The regular Good Good Sauce dampens the breading’s spiciness enough that you might think you’re eating an original Cluck Sandwich.

Jack in the Box Blazin Cluck Sandwich Pickles

However, with the Blazin version, the darker orange Spicy Good Good Sauce turns the heat up several notches while preserving the regular sauce’s tangy and peppery flavors. Granted, if it’s on a 10-point scale, we’re going from a one to a three or four. It’s a mild heat, but it’s not at a level where I felt the need for a cold beverage. Also, it doesn’t help that the pickle’s tanginess cuts through the spiciness.

Jack in the Box Blazin Cluck Sandwich Split

The chicken’s coating could’ve had more heat, but I enjoyed these two as much as the original Cluck Sandwich. Although, with the Spicy one, it’s because it pretty much tastes like the original. While the Blazin one isn’t, you know, blazing, I’m okay with it being that way because it has the perfect amount of spice, thanks to the sauce. It’s spicy, but not so much that it takes away from its flavors.

Anything else you need to know?

Jack in the Box Blazin Cluck Sandwich No Apostrophe

I’m slightly surprised the Blazin version didn’t come with jalapeños or an apostrophe. But I can understand why. The pickled peppers would’ve overwhelmed the sauce’s flavor and heat, while the punctuation mark would’ve hurt Jack’s cred with the cool kids.

There are also Deluxe versions of both menu items that swap the pickles for Swiss-style cheese, onion rings, and bacon.

Conclusion:

If you’ve been waiting for a spicy version of Jack’s Cluck Sandwich, your wait is over. But, if you want to feel any heat, go for the Blazin Cluck Sandwich.

Purchased Price: $6.39 each*
Size: N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Spicy), 8 out of 10 (Blazin)
Nutrition Facts: Numbers not available at publication time.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats

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Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats 1

What are Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats?

The breathlessly-fawned-over, on-off seasonal Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal spinoff Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch has collided with the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats. You got your limited edition cereal in my cereal treat bar! You got your cereal treat bar on my limited edition cereal!

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats 2

How are they?

I only recently tried Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch for the first time, and while I found it a tasty cereal, it wasn’t as good as the OG CTC or French Toast Crunch. I hoped these treats were a better showcase of its subtler (weaker) charms.

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats 3

Sadly, they were not. Much like the CTC Treats, the texture had a stale cereal feel. The buttery vanilla flavor of the cereal was there, but without that signature SCTC blizzard-thick layer of granulated sugar, a good amount of the magic was missing. The milk-frosting bottom and drizzle didn’t do much in any direction.

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats 4

However, I will give these treats an extra point for the small sizing. As I’m trying to avoid having to buy larger pants in January, I appreciated the 1” x 4” size, which racks up a fairly small calorie count. If you’re physically incapable of putting down an open food like I am, this is great.

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Mini Treats 5

Anything else you need to know?

Why are you all still freaking out over SCTC when Apple Pie Toast Crunch exists now? Are you insane? If I don’t see Apple Pie Toast Crunch Mini Treats in stores next winter, I will RIOT. I mean it. I don’t have kids, so I’ve got lots of time on my hands.

Conclusion:

If you’re a SCTC fanatic, by all means, try these, but be prepared for a chance of disappointment. If you’re meh on SCTC, you might want to pass. And if you’ve got the good sense to love APTC more than any of those, definitely hard pass here.

Purchased Price: $8.98
Size: 17.5 oz box (35 bars)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar / 14g) 60 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 50 milligrams of sodium, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of sugar, including 5 grams of added sugars, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Blue Bell Eggnog Ice Cream

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Blue Bell Eggnog Ice Cream Carton

What is Blue Bell Eggnog Ice Cream?

Just in time for the holidays, Blue Bell has released a new eggnog flavored French ice cream with nutmeg and whipped topping.

How is it?

Let’s just say that if I wanted Santa to give me some spectacular gifts, I’d leave a bowl of this ice cream next to the fireplace (and I know it would melt by the time he came down the chimney, but I’m going to assume he’s magical enough to resolve that issue).

Blue Bell Eggnog Ice Cream Top

This is rich, creamy, silky, and not all that dissimilar from fancy vanilla ice cream, but you also get hints of nutmeg (even though the advertised nutmeg “flecks” are really hard to see) and the subtle but distinct eggnog flavor. This was the first time I’ve ever had eggnog-flavored ice cream, and I loved it.

The only thing I didn’t love was the whipped topping, which I’ve mentioned in other Blue Bell reviews. There’s quite a bit of it in here, and it has the taste and consistency of Cool Whip. Now I have nothing against Cool Whip. When there’s a tub of it sitting out, I’m going to jam my finger in it for a taste. I might even take a second taste, but that’s about it.

Blue Bell Eggnog Ice Cream Scoops

Cool Whip is fine when it plays a minor role, so a scoop of this ice cream that is 80/20 eggnog to Cool Whip is great. But when you get a bite with the opposite ratio, then it’s a little off-putting. So use that spoon wisely.

Anything else you need to know?

I’m probably in the minority in that I don’t have a strong opinion on eggnog. It seems everyone else either loves it or hates it. If someone offers me some, I’ll probably take it, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually purchased eggnog.

Blue Bell Eggnog Ice Cream Nog Mug

I think it can be delicious, but its consistency sometimes bothers me. It’s not as thick as a milkshake but not quite thin enough to pass for liquid, at least in my book. And if it’s a little too yellowish, it makes me think I’m about to drink uncooked scrambled eggs. I even get a little bit of a slimy or mucous-like vibe from some. Perhaps that’s why I liked this ice cream so much. It has all the taste and richness of eggnog without reminding me of nasal drainage!

Conclusion:

If you are already on Team Eggnog, chances are you will really like this. If eggnog is on your naughty list because of its consistency, you might still want to give this a shot. And if you just don’t like the taste of eggnog, why are you reading this review anyway?

Purchased Price: $6.17
Size: 1/2 gallon
Purchased at: H-E-B
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 240 calories, 14 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 24 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

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