Monday, February 3, 2025

Hostess Strawberry Cupcakes

 
Strawberry is a common holiday thing particularly for Valentine’s Day.  Hostess Strawberry Cupcakes are common this time of year. They kind of come up like mushrooms after a rain.  I admit that these are not at all bad to have around but as I’m no fan of strawberry in particular I’m not in love with them.


 

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Campbell's Chunky Savory Chicken with White and Wild Rice Soup


 Campbell's Chunky Savory Chicken with White and Wild Rice Soup is passable. It is everything written on the tin. It could have had a few herbs to give it flavor and more vegetables, but if you want those things you can add them yourself. 

Canned soup is made to not offend people and this does not offend me. I'm not the biggest fan of soup, but needing to try something new I'm not sorry I found this. 

Stuff is okay.

 

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Boston Market Salisbury Steak

If Dr. Salisbury could see this version of his meal he would roll over in his grave. This Boston Market Salisbury Steak starts as a D grade meal to me because it's got nothing but protein and simple starch, but when you read the nutritional facts it just gets worse. 

I hope a lot of that salt is in the gravy that you don't end up eating.

Anyway, it tastes okay. It's not good for Salisbury stake and it's hard to eat with only a fork. I managed, but part of these frozen meals in convenience and knife free is always a plus.   

What can I really say here? These things are bad for me, I know it, and I eat them anyway. They taste okay, but I've had better.
 

Friday, January 31, 2025

Campbell's Chunky Spicy Steak & Potato Soup


 Campbell's Chunky Spicy Steak & Potato Soup doesn't look that chunky. I mean, in the picture it just looks like soup. Then again chunky soup is just stew so it really is as chunky as it should be without adding stew to the name. 

Anyway, it wasn't spicy enough for me to reach for water. In addition, this is on the simple side with few ingredients.  This wasn't bad, but it wasn't life changing. I'm not sad that I can't get more, because I need to try new things for this blog. 

If you're not a spice lover and you need to clear your nose out this is a top soup. I would even go to say that it would be good to keep a can of this on hand. Still, if you like spicy then this will disappoint. 

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Bar Variety Pack


 When Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Bar Variety Pack showed up at my local discount market I hoped it was because one of the bars was packed upside down. I hope that because Tony's makes cruelty free chocolate, and I respect what they do. If I made enough off this blog I would make it a point to try every product they sell. 

It looks like that's just how they come and that dark green label is supposed to be like that.  

Well, you do pay a little more with Tony's and you get better chocolate that is better for the world we live in. Buy it, and be a good person. 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Lean Cuisine Comfort Cravings Chicken Fried Rice

 Lean Cuisine Comfort Cravings Chicken Fried Rice is more like rice stew with some kind of sauce or water added to give it weight. 

Stuff is edible but not much more than that. I find the whole thing too wet and not having enough vegetables.

This falls under that category of diet food that will not fill you up and probably isn't all that good for you. If you were going to have this with more vegetables it would be better, but eat it on its own and you'll be wanting a snack in short order. 

I have to call this a fail.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Lucky Mouthwash Zero Alcohol Ice Cool Mint


Keeping your mouth clean is very important and Lucky Mouthwash Zero Alcohol Ice Cool Mint can help. I used it and found that my mouth felt cleaner afterwards and I even tried using this before brushing my teeth and found that even without toothpaste it worked okay. 

I still would recommend brushing twice a day with toothpaste, but brushing does work better when you use mouthwash first. This stuff works and that's what's important.

Monday, January 27, 2025

Tel Taco Double Del Cheeseburger


 My Del Taco Double Del Cheeseburger had been sitting too long and that was my fault. Well, it was more that things got odd at work and so I didn't have time to eat it right away. This is still not the fault of the food. 

As Cheeseburgers go, this one was not that bad. I mean, meat was okay, had the right stuff inside. If you burger you should try this. It must be a lot better hot but that's just not how I had it. 

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Jelly Belly Sunkist Tangerine Jelly Beans

My Jelly Belly Sunkist Tangerine Jelly Beans have a best by date of 2022 so I'm not surprised they aren't that great. They start out strong but quickly fade to a lackluster flavor. It's like you start out with tangerine and ended up with a big wad of pith.
 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Green Giant Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce


 The Broccoli Spear is a floret with a long stem. It was likely made a thing to sell broccoli that didn't grow as well or nice as other broccoli. Green Giant Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce has some of the lowest quality broccoli spears I've ever seen. They are clearly main stalk that has been cut to look like a nicer product.

Now, there is nothing wrong with eating main stalk. I cut it up and eat it myself. It's just not a high quality product. It's as healthy for you as any broccoli but has an inferior look and mouthfeel.

If you're eating this to add vegetables to your diet then go four it. If you want to serve something nice for dinner give this a pass,

Friday, January 24, 2025

Green Giant Veggie Select Carrots in Butter Sauce

I found Green Giant Veggie Select Carrots in Butter Sauce to be on the bland side with the sauce almost absent. I guess carrots for breakfast may be odd to start with and the sausage and pancakes may have been too rich an accompaniment.  

I would say that these are carrots, and I should have lightly steamed them before adding them into my pan as I cooked and making them more flavorful with searing. I'm not a big fan of frozen carrots to start with, but then who is?
 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar and Bacon Bits Soup

Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar and Bacon Bits Soup tastes like potato chowder. There is no hint of the bacon or cheddar advertised. 

It sounds so good, but is so there that I wouldn't recommend it. There was nothing wrong with this it just wasn't as good as I thought it would be. 
 

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Smart Ones Cheese Scramble with Hash Browns

Smart Ones Cheese Scramble with Hash Browns has no hash browns. It has potato wedges. Small potato wedges but that is still what they are. I mean, what the heck, people?

 

It’s like the smart in these Smart Ones is some dumb person who said they were smart and is too dumb to know they are dumb. You literally named something for a product they don’t contain.

 

I will say these smell really good, they taste okay, and didn’t make me sick. Would I get more? Hell no, things are too small, and they don’t taste that great, but they cook in only three minutes.


 

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets


 Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets are big for nuggets and, well, chicken. I mean, these are not the the 'chicken' you get for normal nuggets but rather real chicken. Chicken nuggets made of chicken are popcorn chicken, but I guess there is no legal definition of what chicken nuggets are. 

As chicken goes this chicken is worth eating. If you have a Taco Bell near you this is worth trying. I wouldn't call it earth shaking but I found them just fine.

Wendy’s Cobb Salad

 
I can say that the Cobb Salad at Wendy’s is just about bursting with chicken, cheese, bacon, and egg. There may have been some Cobb in there but it was rather hard to find. It was also free of onions so I have to say it was my kind of salad even as it was not all that salad like now that I think of it.

Being a big fat man I’m not into salad and I’ve eaten a good many of them. I’ve made a good many of them as well but we won’t talk about that.

All in all, good product. I would get this again.


 

Monday, January 20, 2025

Pop-Tarts Frosted Confetti Cupcake


 Pop-Tarts are like cookies. I don't think you should have them for breakfast but here we are. I mean, the flavors sounds cool and tastes like cookies with frosting. 

Frosted Confetti Cupcake flavor makes you ask the question 'what is this filling?' and there is little filling. I mean, really, these may taste good but there isn't much too them. 

If you like Pop-Tarts these don't have the tart but they're about as good as any. 

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Lean Cuisine Comfort Cravings Chicken Enchilada Suiza


Dear Lean Cuisine, your Comfort Cravings Chicken Enchilada Suiza is a war crime and you should stop selling it, apologize to the public, and never make anything like it again. 

Someone found an old tortilla and dumped it into old rice. There were a few shreds of chicken in there, but you couldn't taste them. 

I think the idea of these is to make food so bad you won't eat it, and so you will drop those pounds. If I had to eat this every day, I'd be skin and bones.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Sonic Crispy Tenders


 It's hard to find a Sonic where I live and I can tell why, because these Crispy Tenders were almost chicken. The breading came right off and they were of general low quality. 

Come on Sonic. Chicken is inexpensive and easy to keep frozen and yet you hand me this crap which I could have made in the microwave.  

I would never get this again, because it just isn't hard to find better chicken. 

Friday, January 17, 2025

Boston Market Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole

Do you see broccoli in this Boston Market Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole? There isn't enough broccoli in this to call it a broccoli casserole. There could be more chicken but the broccoli should be the main feature. 

This was cheese and rice. I would say that it was edible. I didn't want to spit it out or leave it on the plate but it needed more broccoli. I save the healthy meals for January given that everyone is trying to get healthy but this isn't healthy.  

If you wanted to make this healthy you would need to add a good deal more vegetables. Frozen food is often bad for you and the fact that there are vegetables make this better for you but only just.  
 

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Jelly Belly Sunkist Lemon Jelly Beans


 Jelly Belly Sunkist Lemon Jelly Beans taste like lemon drops. I'm not the biggest fan of this flavor but it takes me back to my youth when I used to get lemon drops and life was good. 

Eating these is like eating little drops of sunshine. I love them. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Taco Bell Blue Raspberry Freeze


 The Taco Bell Blue Raspberry Freeze is a blue Raspberry slushy. It's small for how much you pay and otherwise, well, spot on for the flavor. I wouldn't say I would get this again but if you're a fan of this blue it's a must try. 

Jack in the Box Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich


 Jack in the Box Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich has two slices of cheese, two slices of ham, two eggs and some bacon. The ham is too dang thin and the rest is kind of, well, meh. 

I really stopped thinking there was much to say about Jack in the Box and their all day breakfast and this doesn't change my mind. 

This isn't very ultimate but it is a breakfast sandwich. It's just okay but it is a bit on the big side so for all it is it is a win.

I would get this again but I wouldn't be looking forward to it all day.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Vive Organic Sparkling Immunity Blackberry Elderberry Drink


 A crazy man handed me a few cans of this Vive Organic Sparkling Immunity Blackberry Elderberry Drink. It is indeed very berry in flavor. It's berry-ness reminds me of red wine or at least grape juice.

This will never be as good as a soda to me, not a normal soda anyway, but it may help with a hangover more. The fellow who gave them to me knows hangovers well but I think he found this stuff rather than paid for it. 

Well, I drank it and I'm not dead. Buy yours from the store and don't risk death. 

Monday, January 13, 2025

Lean Cuisine Comfort Cravings Cheese Ravioli


You get six ravioli in this Lean Cuisine Comfort Cravings Cheese Ravioli and they are not cheesy at all. I mean, they were fine, not good, but I did finish them so I guess they were fine. 

I wouldn't get them again and they were about as good as canned ravioli which would be harder to heat but can be eaten out of the can which is what I would rather do. 

Fail!

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Taco Bell Hidden Valley Fire Ranch Dip Sauce


 Over at Taco Bell they had this Hidden Valley Fire Ranch Dip Sauce. It's about as fire as a frogs ass. I would hardly have know it wasn't normal ranch sauce which is fine because I like ranch enough but this disappoints. 

They need to put more fire in this ranch to make it something with fire in the name.

Campbell’s Chunky Hearty Bean Soup with Ham


I was sick at home from work when I found this Campbell’s Chunky  Hearty Bean Soup with Ham in my cabinet and feeling too sick to cook gave it a try. It was only two years past it's best by date. 

Let's face it, you eat old canned food all the time. 

It wasn't much for the ham. I gave my cats a can of this and they left some of the ham behind. It was hearty enough to get me out of bed and productive again so I have to admit this is a great thing to have around on a bad day when your sick. 

Yeah, it could have used more pepper and vegetables, but what do you really expect from canned soup. dump some pepper on top and this will do when you feel like crap.

Thumbs up.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Smart Ones Creamy Rigatoni Pasta with Broccoli & Chicken


 Smart Ones Creamy Rigatoni Pasta with Broccoli & Chicken is okay. I mean, I've had worse from Smart Ones all right. 

Is it good? No. If I were to make this at home I would use better chicken, have more broccoli, and likely add a bit of pepper, but it didn't make me want to cry.

I mean, frozen food is often so bad it makes me ask myself what the people of this nation are eating. This was almost real food. 

Friday, January 10, 2025

Comfort Creek Foods Gravy & Chunk White Chicken

You could be forgiven for thinking that Comfort Creek Foods Gravy & Chunk White Chicken was cat food. It was on sale at the Dollar Tree and, well, comes in a can that looks like it's for cat food. I can further say that when I flip it open the cats come running thinking it's cat food and they eat it just like it's cat food. 

Here, I've served this over rice and vegetables using the rice to soak up all the gravy. It worked well, but I should have used more vegetables. That's on me.  

What you have here is canned food, easy to open, and ready to eat. If you needed something to take for lunch this would be just fine or as an emergency food it would do well but needs a hint of pepper to give it a little more life. 

All and all, I'd have to say that I like this as a food. It's not really good but good enough to be worth keeping on the shelf.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Atkins Cheesy Chicken Risotto

Atkins Cheesy Chicken Risotto is the best use of rice cauliflower I have ever had. That isn’t saying much but normally riced cauliflower makes me want to barf so this was really good by comparison. Still way to small to be considered a meal but otherwise unoffensive.

The whole Atkins thing is supposed to be that you eliminate carbs to lose weight. It is not that you restrict calories, and this feels like a calorie restriction. On the other hand, this is something that is good enough for you. It could be better, but I would say I have no complaints.

 

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Minees Sandwich Cookies Strawberry Cream

You wouldn’t think Strawberry Cream Sandwich cookies would go well with coffee, but I tell you these do. I’m impressed, Minees, these are really good. I love the little burst of strawberry flavor when you eat them.

You would think the cookies being small would be a bad thing but in truth they are just the right size and really pack the flavor.

Good show, Minees, I love these little things.

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Jack in the Box Extreme Sausage Sandwich

 Come on Jack in the Box. This is what you call an Extreme Sausage Sandwich? I would call it a double sausage sandwich because it has two sausage patties and two slices of cheese but extreme is taking it a bit far.

I would honestly expect extreme to mean the thing was really big or had really crazy sausage. I think we use that word too much.

As sausage sandwiches go this isn’t bad for fast food. I would expect something better at home but that would mean cooking it myself and finding the right sausage. I recall this being called a silver dollar sausage at some point. However the name does not appear to have stuck.


Monday, January 6, 2025

Embie Farms Mixed Vegetables

 Embie Farms Mixed Vegetables do the one thing so many of us want and ditch the green beans. I have to point out that corn, carrots, and peas are technically not vegetables. I guess carrots are 'root vegetables', but that name was probably made up to hide the fact that they are just tubers. 

Anyway, these didn't last long at my local discount store because everyone wanted them. 

Good stuff, would buy again.

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Jack in the Box Smoke Show Boneless Wings

If you take popcorn chicken and cover it in sauce you get Jack in the Box Smoke Show Boneless Wings. They fail the point of popcorn chicken which is that they are a finger food and make them something you shouldn't pick up with your hands. Then they don't give you a fork. 

These are bigger and better than one would think of as chicken nuggets, but I would go for original rather than the Smoke Show flavor which is okay but not great. These are fine but not worth the price.
 

First Street Sesame Seed Bagels


 Over at Smart and Final you can get these First Street Sesame Seed Bagels which are per-sliced but too close to the top. Now, I have to say that I gobble these things when I'm working and don't have time to cook. They're not the best bagels in the world but as bagels go they're good enough. 

I would get these again. 

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Campbell’s Chunky Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup


 This is the time for soup and Campbell’s Chunky Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup is soup. I mean, it is light on the chunky but then do you want soup to be chunky? 

As soup goes, I don't care. I really feel indifference towards this soup. Given that canned soup can be thought of as a survival food then indifference isn't a bad reaction. It also has an easy flip top lid so no can opener is needed. The only problem is when I opened this my cats came running because they thought it was for them. 

The only think I would change about this would be to add some black or red beans to make it more filling, and add some pepper to give it flavor. After that, it kind of just is. 

Friday, January 3, 2025

Aces Food Sriracha Rooster Ramen Noodle Soup


 I have no idea what puts the Rooster in this Aces Food Sriracha Rooster Ramen Noodle Soup but Rooster is what distinguishes it from the pink one. The black one has more spice. 

If you want to make ramen for two I would suggest adding more water. There wasn't enough broth in this to serve two even as the pack said it was two servings. I put enough vegetables for two and it was hard to finish this meal. I did need water. 

Honestly, I would have like more vegetables and less noodles but I live alone and had no one to share this with.   

Anyway, cleared my sinuses right and fast. It didn't take long for me to let the boogers fly. This is a hangover cure for shore. You could still use and ibuprofen but it got me cleared out and feeling better. 

If your sick, if you feel bad, or if you just don't want to cook, this is a great thing to have around the kitchen. The flavor is rather strong. Not really strong, but it is strong by ramen standards. I'd still get the bowl over the pack so you can take it to work, this does what ramen should.

Thursday, January 2, 2025

First Street Tuna Premium Chunk Light in Water


 The big cans of First Street Tuna Premium Chunk Light in Water were on sale at my local Smart and Final and so I got a few for holidays with my cats. Yes, I give my cats better food for holidays. Don't judge me, the little boogers are always more cuddly that way. 

You get a mixed bag with this tuna. Some of it was really dry but most of the cans are very good. It tends to go that way with tuna. In addition I found that I best open the cans over the cat's plate because I spill all the water in there. There is a lot of water in there and the cats lap it up. 

If you're a health hog and you need that build batter to get your pump on then this is a great product to have around the house.  If you get tired of it you can always find a cat lover to give it to and it's good tuna. It's not the best tuna I've had but it is good.  I'll be watching to see when this goes on sale.

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Black Rifle Coffee Berry Mocha Espresso


 It's the New Year and the new you has a hangover or will have a hangover because the party is over and you have a lot of beer to drink. It could be hard booze, I don't judge, just remember that there is a limit. 

So you need something strong to wake that tail end up and get you to work. The boss said if you call off you get canned. 

Is Black Rifle Coffee Berry Mocha Espresso that something? It could be. I mean, it would not replace a good V8 to get that body back on line but V8 will not have the kick you need to start things off. 

So Black Rifle Coffee Berry Mocha Espresso is a semisweet smooth brew with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I would say I like it and it does get me going for work. They didn't have all that much of it at the store where I got it so I can't tell you about long term impact, but this stuff is solid all the way.   

I'm putting this on my buy list. Good stuff.