Review: Philadelphia Indulgence (Milk Chocolate)

My neighbor gave me two small crates of strawberries a few weeks ago (yes, this is a long delayed post) and I enjoyed them tremendously. Mostly, I cut the strawberries and made fruit shakes, but the rest I ate with my Philadelphia Indulgence.  Oh, and did I tell you that it was the same neighbor who let me pick some lemons from their tree?

Because Kraft Philadelphia Indulgence was fairly new and still in the introductory phase, they were on sale (BOGO) at our local grocery store. My mother-in-law snagged a pair and I was the lucky recipient of the "Get One" part of the sale (thanks again, Mom!). We got the milk chocolate variety (apparently, the dark chocolate kind was very popular and the store quickly ran out of stock). Here is my two cents worth.

What I liked:

- Good taste. No pretensions - it tasted exactly like cream cheese with chocolate.
- Not overly sweet. 
- Works as a frosting too! Try it with brownies! (Yum!)


What I didn't like:

- The texture is something that might take getting used to. Especially when trying it with fruits.
- 120 calories per serving. I guess I shouldn't be surprised - it IS cream cheese, after all.
- Regular price is about $3 per 8 oz tub. A bit too pricey for me.

The Verdict:

I have mixed feelings about this product. I like it, but am not overly crazy about it. Cream cheese and chocolate seemed like a good idea in cheesecake - but it didn't really translate with the Indulgence. Would I recommend it to a friend? Hmmm... I don't think I will. Would I try it again? Maybe the dark chocolate variant.


P.S. As a thank you to my neighbor, I made this card for her!

Thank you "berry" much!

Visit my shop to see more!

 

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Product Review: Royce Nama Chocolates

It even comes with a mini spatula!

I have wanted to try Royce Nama Chocolates after reading it from my friend Guia's blog. Sadly, it is not available here in the States. I tried eBay, Google shopping, even the official Royce website - they just don't sell/ship here.

Well, I recently found out why. Nama chocolates contain 20% cream, and as such, shipping to the US from Sapporo, Japan wouldn't be feasible. I mean, it would, but the chocolate won't be as good as people rave about. And personally, I don't think cream would survive that long a trip without refrigeration.

I had the chance to travel to Asia recently and sample these sweets. And wow, the Nama totally blew me away. I tried their other chocolates like the Pure Chocolate and Bar Chocolate, and they are also good - comparable to Dove (and maybe even Godiva), but the Nama (which is Japanese for "fresh") is something else. Read on.

Sorry - bad lighting.

What I liked: 

The chocolate just melts in your mouth. Literally. No kidding.
"Velvety" and "smooth" is an understatement when describing Nama.
The chocolates are pre-cut (sort of!) in bite-size pieces. Makes for easy mouth-popping.
They are rolled in dark cocoa powder. 
Fairly inexpensive. $12-15 is a good bargain for chocolate this decadent.
The taste. Just absolutely amazing.
Hubby said what he likes about it is that "Nama" rhymes with "Mama" which he finds very comforting. (Don't ask.) 


What I didn't like: 

Much as I like the dark cocoa powder, it sticks to your fingers when you pick a piece of Nama. Let's just hope your hands are clean when you do that, because trust me, you would want to lick those cocoa powders off your fingers!


The Verdict: 

All I really have are raves for this product. They are so delicious. I would recommend it to everybody - and if you don't love it, then you probably should live under a rock (no disrespect, Patrick). The Royce crew is even kind enough to put your Nama purchase in a special aluminum bag with a piece of dry ice to make sure it gets to you fresh. Would I buy it again? Yes. In fact, in a span of 3 weeks, I bought several boxes of Nama chocolates in 2 countries. I loved it that much (and wanted my son and in-laws to have a taste of it too!).

The Bitter variety is our favorite!

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Product Review: Nonni's Biscotti Turtle Pecan

I am in denial. I keep telling myself that I don't like caramel, but I find myself eating (and enjoying) a lot of products with caramel. For instance, I cannot resist Twix bars, DeMet's Turtles, and I am certainly loving this new Turtle Pecan biscotti from Nonni's.

While son sticks with the tried and tested Cioccolati flavor, I love branching out and trying new variants. Out of all that I have tried, I think I like this Turtle Pecan the best. Read on to know why.


What I liked: 

- Individually wrapped, Nonni's style. I like it that way -it kinda' tells you that the product is always fresh.
- The thick layer of milk chocolate on the bottom in always a plus.
- The chewy caramel chunks in the cookie. Ooooh, it is just delish! 
- Only 110 calories per serving. Yipee!

See the circled part? That's the yummy caramel!

What I didn't like: 

- Hard to find! Unlike the "Originali" and "Cioccolati" variety which are always in the aisles.
- A bit pricey. About $4 for a 6-pack. (But I got mine on BOGO so yay!!!)


The Verdict:

It's really hard not to love this product. It is absolutely delicious and very well-balanced - not overly sweet and not bland at all. Just the light, perfect yumminess that would go well with your morning joe. And 110 calories a piece! My (supposedly) healthy cereal has 160 calories with FAT-FREE milk! I would gladly indulge on that sumptuous biscotti! So yes, this product is highly recommended. And I would buy it again - if they put it on sale (or if I have a coupon). 

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Product Review: DIY Blizzard Maker

Son got this Dairy Queen® Blizzard Maker for Christmas (yes, it was that long ago!) and I was kinda' perplexed as to why he wanted one, when we have a Cuisinart Professional Ice Cream Maker at home.

Needless to say, it kinda' gathered dust in his closet until I dug it out and bought the necessary ingredients to make ice cream with it. We were so excited - we were even thinking of turning the ice cream upside down before serving to see if all Blizzards work that way.

All for naught. Well ok, maybe a little.

First, the Blizzard Maker was defective - there were two parts that were supposed to lock together, but they didn't, causing a leak. And of course, this makes it impossible to churn custard anything in the contraption.

I didn't want to waste our efforts (and the ingredients) so I decided to salvage it by putting it in our ice cream maker to churn. Which posed another problem. Since the ice cream base was just half & half milk and the included powder mix, it was very thin and took 4x longer to churn. But still, I didn't want to disappoint son, so instead of the supposedly 15 minutes it would take to hand crank the ice cream base in the Blizzard Maker (don't ask me how!), it took an hour to make it in the professional ice cream maker.

Cuisinart to the rescue!

The Blizzard Maker came with tiny DQ cups and spoons, flavor packets and pop rocks. In fairness to the product, it did taste a bit like the Blizzard you buy in stores (though the texture is very different). However, the "pop rock" is nothing more than a mix of colored sugar and small pieces of hard candy. Nothing popping at all. Duds.

Churn, baby churn!

So we got creative and put shaved chocolate in our ice cream. It actually improved the experience, if not the taste. 

Chocolate shavings

I emailed Spin Master (the manufacturer of this Blizzard Maker) and they told me they would gladly replace it if I would: a.) pay for shipping, and b.) send in the product and the receipt. Hmmmmm..... it was approximately 8 months ago, so who knows where the receipt is?!?! Not to mention, this was a Christmas present, and if it didn't come with a gift receipt, I wouldn't ask for one.

Moral of the story: if you are craving for a DQ Blizzard, just run to the nearest store and get some. Would have saved us a lot of trouble. 

The finished product

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Review: Godiva Strawberry in Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar

The Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club has got to be one of the best clubs to be in. You get a lot of freebies, discounts, and you get to be the first to try their new products. Such as the Strawberry in Milk Chocolate truffle bar.

After sampling this product (launched around Valentine's Day), here are my thoughts: 


What I liked: 

- It has the rich and delicious chocolate that Godiva is known for.
- The truffle bar has the right amount of filling. When I bit into it, the filling didn't run down my finger (like some chocolates do).
- The strawberry filling had the right consistency - not too thick and not too thin.
- It was segmented! The bar has four segments, and each segment has its own filling. Originally, I thought the bar has fillings all through-out. That would have been a very messy eat.

What I didn't like: 

- The strawberry filling is sweet, but not in an overpowering way. I just would have wanted a bit more tanginess to it.
- One bar has 220 calories. Ouch!
- I wish it came in a dark chocolate variety.
- Kinda' pricey. It was $3 for a bar. 

The Verdict: 

I'm not really a fan of chocolate stuffed with anything - I prefer solid chocolate over fancy bonbons anytime. But I like the Strawberry in Milk Chocolate truffle bar by Godiva. It has a good blend of chocolate and strawberry filling, and the chocolate would just melt in your mouth. Nothing extra-ordinarily fantastic, but definitely worth trying. Would I recommend this to a friend? Of course. Would I buy it again? Yes. (It is still cheaper than chocolate-covered strawberries!)   

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Product Review: Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares with Caramel Latte Filling

Thanks to the holiday season, we had a slew of sweets and other yummy goodies to fill our stash (think: bear getting ready for hibernation). Homemade, store-bought, self-made - you name it. But this by far is our favorite - the Ghirardelli Squares Milk Chocolate with Caramel Latte Filling. Here are our observations:

What we liked:

- Perfect for coffee lovers. You begin to get the latte taste even before biting (the aroma and all... *sniff* *sniff*).
- The first few bites are glorious as the caramel latte filling bursts out.
- The chocolate is not as waxy as regular Ghirardelli square varieties.
- You finish with the smooth milk chocolate, yet a faint hint of latte lingers in your mouth.
- Good balance of chocolate and caramel latte flavor.
- One chocolate square is only 57.5 calories. Yeah!!!

What we didn't like:

- It seemed like fate has played a cruel joke on us since every other piece was "broken" and the filling had spilled. It kinda' ruined the balance.
- Eating more than two is too much. Like the Law of Diminishing Returns - each one has less and less positive impact (by the time you have eaten 3 squares, you'd probably have had more than enough).

Yummy, gooey goodness!

The Verdict:

Of all the Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares variety in the market, this is probably the best. The flavor is so rich and creamy, and it truly delivered on its promise of caramel latte taste. We suggest eating a whole square in one bite, though. If you take little bites or nibble on it, you might not get the same effect. So open your mouth wide, cram it in, break the delicious chocolate with your tongue (or teeth), and savor the yummy goodness. Would I recommend it to a friend? A big YES. Will I buy it again? You bet.

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Product Review: Dove "Unconditional Chocolate" Ice Cream

"Unconditional Chocolate" is probably the best ice cream from Dove that I have ever tried. I couldn't think of a name more apt for such a product. It is so good, you would have to exercise a great deal of self control to stop from eating. Seriously. Here are my thoughts:


What I liked:

• Thick layer of ganache on top. Soooo inviting. I just want to peel off that whole layer of ganache and eat it like a cookie!
• The chocolate ice cream is smooth, rich, and so creamy!
• Decadent chocolate swirls under the ganache layer.
• Chocolate chunks. Lots of them. You will get at least one chunk (but more likely 2 or 3) in every bite. I kid you not.
• Although this flavor is chockful of chocolates, it is not overly sweet. There is actually a semi-sweet/dark chocolate undertone to it.

 What I didn't like:

• Half a cup of this (overly delicious) ice cream has 300 calories. Oh, yeah. You will pay for something as delightful as this.
• A serving would give you more than half (55%) of your daily value of saturated fat.   

The Verdict:

I really enjoyed Unconditional Chocolate immensely, and I am sure any chocoholic out there who tried this product would share the same sentiments. However, thinking of the nutritional value, it is safe to say that you should eat this treat sparingly, or double your gym time to burn off the extra calories. Apart from that, I couldn't say anything negative about the taste, as it was really divine (and on a personal note, it tasted like they broke up pieces of their Dove chocolate bars and put it in the ice cream). If you love chocolate, and if you love Dove, this is a must. Would I recommend this product to a friend? I think I just did. Would I buy this again? Yes, yes, yes.

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Product Review: Bahlsen Truffet

I couldn't resist this chocolate for a number of reasons: (1) It is from Bahlsen, which from our experience makes great (but underrated) products, and (2) It is Swiss chocolate. Who doesn't love Swiss chocolates? So I tried one, and I wasn't disappointed.

Bahlsen Truffets are crunchy meringue biscuits filled with nougat creme and coated with chocolate. Sounds good, eh? Wait till you taste it!


What I liked:

• The meringue is so light. It reminded me of Nestle's Aero chocolate. 
• The nougat creme is perfect - not too sweet and not too bland.
• Chocolate covered. Need I say more? :-)
• Only 160 calories per serving (4 pieces). Awesome. 40 calories a pop is NOT bad at all.
• Genuine Swiss chocolate. Bahlsen is one of Europe's leading biscuit manufacturers.

Aero Chocolate. Photo Credit: www.Nestle.com

What I didn't like:

• Only 12 pieces in a box. 
• 5% saturated fat. Boo!!! Saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol. That is why you always have to have portion control.
• Does not come in a resealable (plastic) package.
• Pricey - $2.70 for a box. It is cheaper to buy them online (although there is the risk of melting before the chocolate ever gets to you).

The Verdict: 

The Bahlsen Truffet is very good, I like the rich taste and the contrasting texture. However, it is not a chocolate for kids, rather it is a good after-dinner treat enjoyed with coffee or tea. The reason for this is because it is not overly sweet, and as such, kids might not like it. Imagine having tea in England, but instead of crumpets, you are having truffets. Haha. It would also be good with ice cream, as it would balance out the sweetness. Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes. Highly recommended. Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

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Product Review: Godiva Coffee (Chocolate Truffle)

Hubby surprised me with a package of this Godiva Chocolate Truffle Coffee one evening, and I felt like the happiest woman in the world. That was, until I tasted it. The package looked so promising, the thought of silky coffee and smooth chocolate together was so inviting... but after a few sips, I had to re-evaluate. Here are my two cents worth.


What I liked:

• Creamy coffee.
• The price was ok. It was around $7 for a 12-ounce pack. Starbucks price range.

What I didn't like:

• The smell was overpowering. It was delightful at first, when you kinda' get a whiff from the packet, but after one night in our cupboard, the whole cupboard just smelled like it - in a pungent kind of way. We actually had to take the jar out because we thought it might make our other coffee beans taste like chocolate truffle. NOT a good thing to happen.
• I thought that it would be a deep, dark roast. Instead, it was lighter and sweeter than I expected.
• Truffle was not a word that came to mind when I had it. More of a creamy undertone, not chocolatey.
  

The Verdict:

I would say that the Godiva Chocolate Truffle Coffee is more of a dessert coffee than a breakfast coffee. Or maybe I am just getting old and leaning toward the natural coffee varieties. You know... as you get old, you get boring. Hahaha. Kidding aside, some people might love this product, but it was just OK for me. Would I recommend this to a friend? Sure. For my coffee-lover friends. Would I buy it again? I will give the other flavors a try. I have read other online reviews which said that the Hazelnut Cream variety was better.

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Product Review: Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Chunk (Dark Chocolate Pecan)

I love Pepperidge Farm products because they are so yummy and perfectly baked. Prices are pretty steep, but Pepperidge Farm is a premium cookie brand, and they usually deliver on taste. However, I was disappointed with the Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Chunk Dark Chocolate Pecan. Perhaps I didn't read the label well, or I was just expecting something entirely different from what I had. But I didn't like it as much.


What I liked:

- The cookie itself was big.
- There were large dark chocolate chunks.
- You can definitely taste the pecans. Yes, they didn't skimp on that.


What I didn't like:

- It was crunchy! I would have loved a soft-baked variety.
- The taste wasn't very chocolatey... more of sugary. It reminded me of Snickerdoodles, though not that sweet.
- 140 calories per cookie. Boo!
- 8 grams of fat per serving? Ugh! The rest of the ingredients aren't something to be happy about, either.


The verdict:

I wasn't impressed with the Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Chunk Dark Chocolate Pecan. Sure, it had big chocolate chunks, but that was the only saving grace. The cookie, as a whole, lacked the deliciousness and "comfort" of soft-baked ones. Maybe I should have dunked it in milk to soften it. Or popped it in the microwave for a few seconds. Nothing special about it, except the brand. Would I recommend it to friend? I'd recommend other Pepperidge products first. Would I buy it again? Probably not.

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Product Review: Ritz Fudge Covered Crackers

Mother-in-law gave me a box of these Ritz Fudge Covered crackers from Nabisco. The first thing that I noticed were the words "Limited Edition." I had mixed emotions about it - why was it limited edition? Are they any good? Would the chocolate clash with the buttery taste of the crackers? And so to satify my curiosity, I opened the box and took a bite!

It kinda' reminded me of Fibisco Choco Crunchies from the Philippines. But Choco Crunchies were sweeter, and the crackers were thicker. Ritz, on the other hand, used their traditional buttery/salty crackers and coated it with milk chocolate.

Fibisco's Choco Crunchies. Photo Credits: www.tsikot.yehey.com

What I liked:

• Good balance of salty and sweet.
• The crackers underneath the chocolate were light and crispy.
• Only 160 calories for 4 pieces! Gimme more!!!
• The chocolate was not overly sweet.

What I didn't like:

• Milk chocolate. I would have liked it more if it was dark chocolate.
• The chocolate coating was kinda' waxy. Sorry.
• The word "fudge" was misleading. When I hear "fudge", the words "sweet", "creamy" and "rich" comes to mind. None of were in the Ritz crackers that I just tasted.

The Verdict:

Ritz Fudge Covered Crackers are a good snack, but nothing really wowed me. It made me think of Keebler Cookies Fudge Stripes. I mean they taste good, but nothing extra ordinary. Would I recommend it to a friend? Maybe... after all, it is "limited edition." (Probably off the shelves by now). Would I buy it again? I would give it another shot if they make a dark chocolate variety.

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Product Review: Godiva Dark Chocolate Raspberry

Being a member of the Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club has a lot of perks - one free chocolate every month, free shipping on orders, free gift when you spend $10 or more... the list goes on and on. I could probably think of a hundred excuses to go to their store (my favorite is - "I have to get my free chocolate!"). The downside - you get tempted to buy more chocolates when you see the scrumptious displays in their shop *sigh*.

I finally gave in and bought the Dark Chocolate Raspberry bar. I thought of it as a "healthier option" because it is dark chocolate, and has raspberries. It's really a win-win situation - I satisfy my cravings for chocolate and I get the health benefits of the dark chocolate and raspberries. ;-)


What I liked:

• It is the perfect balance of bitter and sweet.
• The chocolate is very smooth.
• The raspberries provide a bit of tang and sweetness that goes well with the bitter dark chocolate.
• The texture of the raspberries is quite unique - it is similar to the "crunch" in a Nestle Crunch bar.
• 2 big blocks (portions) of the bar are just 100 calories. Hurray!

What I didn't like:

• Like real raspberries, the crunch gets stuck in your teeth.
• Quite pricey. $4 for a 3.5oz bar. Although you probably won't eat it in one sitting.
  

The Verdict:

The Godiva Dark Chocolate Raspberry is really very good. It is the perfect bar to finish dinner off, paired with an espresso or dark roast coffee (ah, chocolate and coffee - my two favorite things). The 50% cacao content is perfect for this variety, as the fruit lends its sweetness to balance the bitter dark chocolate. Would I recommend this to a friend? Absolutely. Would I buy this product again? Yes. But maybe I'll wait for it to go on sale. ;-)

P.S. Hubby ate most of it. I couldn't fend him off.

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Product Review: Ben & Jerry's S'mores

This was probably one of the (very few) flavors of Ben & Jerry's that missed the mark for me. Not that it wasn't good, but I just couldn't taste S'mores in the flavor. It was also very similar to the "Marsha Marsha Marshmallows" flavor, but the latter was already pulled out and is probably resting right now at the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard.

Ben & Jerry's S'mores is chocolate ice cream with fudge chunks, toasted marshmallow and graham cracker swirls. Sounds good if you're reading it from the label, but the taste failed to deliver.

Anyway, when you say "S'mores," a campfire pops into mind, and that gooey hot marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers and chocolate squares. I just didn't have those happy thoughts while devouring this flavor from Ben & Jerry's.

Me making S'mores. This is probably the most you'll ever see of me. ;-)

What I liked:

• It has a very profound (for lack of a better word to use) chocolate flavor.
• I like the crunchy grainy texture of the "graham crackers."

What I didn't like:

• The marshmallows were not as prominent in this flavor. I couldn't even tell that they were "toasted." (I like the marshmallow swirl in Phish Food better)
• The graham crackers were lost in the hodge-podge of ingredients. I can only surmise that they were the grainy texture that I felt in my mouth.
• Half a cup is a staggering 260 calories. That's probably 4 licks if you eat ice cream like I do.

The Verdict:

I wouldn't say that this flavor was a failure, but it just didn't taste like S'mores to me. The chocolate taste was very rich, but I felt that the ice cream flavor as a whole lacked the charm of the campfire. Would I recommend this to a friend? Hmmm... I'd recommend other flavors before S'mores. Would I buy it again? I think I'm open to giving it another shot.

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Product Review: Bailey's Non-Alcoholic Creamer

We were watching TV one evening when an advertisement for Bailey's Non-Alcoholic Coffee Creamer went on. They repeated the words "non-alcoholic" so many times that son asked, "so some people put alcohol in their coffee?"

I didn't really plan on buying this product, but it was BOGO ($2.50 for 2) at our local grocery store, and I had a dollar-off coupon. So since it is only $0.75 apiece due to the promotion and the coupon, I thought it was a good deal and got two bottles.

I got the Caramel and the Irish Cream variety. I am doing a review for the latter, but watch out for my Caramel review sometime this week month.


What I liked:

• Tastes very rich and creamy.
• Only 40 calories per tablespoon.
• Very, very good taste. So Irish Cream-ish. ;-)
  
• The flavor is not overpowering - just the perfect addition to your coffee.

What I didn't like:

• Number one ingredient is sugar. Then water, cream, corn syrup, natural and artificial flavor, sodium caseinate, mono and diglycerides, and others that I can't even pronounce. No wonder it tastes so good - it is loaded with sugar and other sweeteners.
• I did say that it is 40 calories a tablespoon. But who can use just one? It tastes so good, I want to pour half the bottle on my coffee. Multiply the calories... ugh.

The Verdict:

Bailey's Non-Alcoholic Coffee Creamer (Irish Cream flavor) is really very good, and would make your morning joe a delicious coffee experience. However, I am not really a big fan of all the sugar and chemical ingredients that make it taste very good. I think I will pass up on this one, and go back to good ole fashioned milk. Would I recommend this product to a friend? Sure, if my friend is after good Irish Cream taste. Would I buy this product again? Probably not.

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Product Review: Hershey's Special Dark Pieces

Hershey's recently launched a new line called Pieces. They are described as "candy in a crunchy shell." The brands they included in the Pieces line are Reese's, Almond Joy, York and Special Dark.

Photo credit: www.totallytarget.com

I wasn't really interested in it, but I had a $2 off coupon, and the candy was just $2.99 so I decided to try it to see if it was worth my buck.

What I am really curious about is the fact that Hershey's discontinued the Kissables line which was very similar to the Pieces products, and yet created this "new" line. The only difference was the shape - Kissables were shaped like the traditional Hershey's Kisses chocolate, but was candy coated. I actually liked it. Oh well. Some good things never last.

Photo Credit: sugarstand.com

After trying the Hershey's Special Dark Variety, here are my two cents worth.


What I liked:

- The Dark variety. We all know that dark chocolate contains more cocoa, flavonoids, and other supposedly healthy stuff. Yeah! The perfect excuse to stuff my mouth with more chocolate!
- Reasonably priced. The 297g pack costs $2.99 which is ok compared to M&Ms.
- The chocolate center is smooth. It's not silky like Dove or Godiva, but regular Hershey's standards.
- Just 180 calories for 50 pieces. Wow.


What I didn't like:

- The colors are bleak and ominous. Red, brown and maroon. Come on. They're not even shiny and pretty like M&M's shells. They probably couldn't have it in rainbow colors cause the M&M's lawyers would be at their tails in no time.
- The shells are thicker than M&Ms. And these shells are made of sugar so it made the candy sweeter than I would have preferred.


The verdict:

The Hershey's Special Dark Pieces are excellent, especially if you like the Hershey's line of chocolate. It adds crunch to the same old flavor we love. But I would still stick with M&M's cause I prefer their thin candy coating. Hershey's tried (and failed?) the crunchy shell avenue before, just a proof that the M&M's brand is still top dog at the candy coating division.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Sure, if I know that they like Hershey's. Would I buy it again? I would consider it if they make a Milk Chocolate version. And only if I have a $2 off coupon.

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Product Review: Cinnabon Bites

life doesn't... but your new product does!

I just discovered that Cinnabon launched a product called "Cinnabon Bites". They are bite-sized versions of Cinnabon's Classic and Pecan Rolls, served in an easy to handle, portable sleeve. Even smaller than the Minibons. After sampling the Cinnabon Bites Caramel Pecanbon variety, here are my thoughts.


What I liked:

-They are small, so you can snack on just one or two pieces without mutilating the whole roll.
- Reasonably priced. A 6-piece pack costs $4.50 (give or take a few cents, depending on where you are buying). It is the same price as one regular-sized Pecanbon.


What I didn't like:

- You can only buy it in a 6-piece pack. Boo!!!
- I felt that they skimped on the Makara Cinnamon and cream cheese frosting. There were still a good amount of pecans on top, but the cinnamon and frosting were pathetic. It actually tasted dry.
- One diminutive serving of the 6-piece pack has a whopping 510 calories. So if you eat all of the 6 pieces, it is a total of 3060 calories. (Okay, so maybe I shouldn't ask for more frosting...)


The Verdict:

While the Cinnabon Bites are cute and perfect for some, I would much rather prefer the classic rolls, where they don't skimp and take short cuts on the ingredients. "Bigger is better" might not always be true, but in the case of my favorite brand of cinnamon rolls, it is.

Photo Credit: www.cinnabon.com

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Product Review: Nonni's Soft-Baked Tusconi

Being a fan of Nonni's Biscotti, I was delighted to see this new product on the market stands - Nonni's Soft Baked Tusconi. Of course, I grabbed the Double Cioccolato (Double Chocolate) variety instead of the Classico (for some reason I always tend to gravitate towards the worst or unhealthiest kind).

I was eager to eat breakfast and try my new find the next morning. Well... I wasn't very thrilled with it. Let's just say it was not "love at first bite". Here are my thoughts:

What I liked:

• It was individually wrapped.
• Low calorie. Sort of. 160 a pop.
• Ribbons of dark chocolate on it. Yummy.
• The flavor was good. It wasn't fantastic or stellar, just OK.
  

What I didn't like:

• The fact that it was soft - almost like a brownie.
• High fructose corn syrup content. Whatever happened to good, old fashioned sugar? Sure, it has honey on the list of ingredients, but it was listed towards the end after Maltitol Syrup (whatever that is. Quick reminder, the ingredients on the package labels are listed from the highest to lowest content).
• The almonds were thin slivers. If I had braces, I would have a hard time with it.
• I couldn't dip it on my coffee like I sometimes do with my biscotti. :-(
  

The verdict:

Nonni's Tusconi is good with coffee, if you are looking for a chewy brownie-type breakfast. However, I would say that Nonni's Biscotti is still the better product. I like the crunch and texture that the harder biscotti offers. I might consider the tusconi for dessert, though it isn't that sweet. Would I recommend it? Not really. Would I eat it again? Not when my good old biscotti is around.

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Product Review: Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee

Starbucks recently launched their first instant coffee, called Starbucks Via Ready Brew. Via means "road" in Italian, so this is perfect for people on the go who are looking for an instant caffeine fix. After sampling the Colombia Medium Roast variety, here is my ten cents (used to be two cents before inflation) worth of comments.

What I liked:

- Tastes good. In a blind taste test, you probably couldn't tell that it was instant, especially if you just drink Starbucks brand every once in a while. But it is good compared to other instant coffee brands that I have tried.
- The coffee is pleasantly strong with a hint of bitterness, especially if you follow the ratio of the coffee to water on the packet.
- The dark, rich aroma is unmistakably Starbucks. (Mmmmm!)
- A packet is small and convenient - you can put it in your purse, pocket, etc!
- Perfect for people on the go. VIA. Hmmmm....
- Reasonably priced. Around $3.50 for 3 packets.

What I didn't like:

- Black - not so good. But if you add cream or sugar, it gets better.
- They don't sell it in bigger bags or jars.
- No lingering coffee aftertaste. (This could be a plus for some, though)

The verdict:

I'm not saying that it's the next best thing since sliced bread, but for instant coffee, I think VIA is good. Actually, better than other instant coffee brands that I've had. The sachet-type packet is perfect for travelers or daily commuters that don't have time to sit down and eat their breakfast - the "grab and go" types. It still has the same Starbucks taste, minus the hassle of preparing filters, coffee maker settings, etc.

Coffee purists and meticulous drinkers might not enjoy it, but for occasional drinkers like me, I don't mind the Via. Instant coffee = instant satisfaction of coffee cravings. :-)

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Product Review: Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee

I am slowly making my way to trying all of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream flavors, but I think I stumbled on a gold mine here! My new favorite from Ben & Jerry's is Creme Brulee (Phish Food is a close second).

Creme Brulee is custard ice cream with a crunchy caramelized sugar swirl. So much caramelized sugar that you can taste the crunch in every bite. Not that anybody is complaining! Although it made me wonder how they managed to pack all those delicious caramelized sugar bits without making the ice cream overly sweet.

The only bane of this product is that it is not for people watching their diet. A 1/2 cup serving packs a whopping 310 calories and 17g fat! (Errr... how about doubling your time on the treadmill, then?)

This flavor is so good that I didn't bother putting toppings or any other accoutrements on it. I just have one question: Where did the blow torch go?

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Product Review: Simply Cookies

There is probably no other product most befitting of the name "Simply." This cookie is a no fuss, no frill, pure fun treat! No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. "Simply" brought me back to the time when my grandma used to bake cookies from scratch using only the freshest and finest ingredients - only, my grandma's kitchen didn't smell as good as mine did when I baked these cookies.

Preparation is a whiz too - just break, put on baking sheet, stick in the oven and it is ready in minutes! I was suspecting that eating would take longer cause I would want to savor all the morsels of goodness. Yum!

Simply cookies are available in two flavors - peanut butter and chocolate chip. I tried the chocolate chip and loved it. I only wish there were bigger chunks of those chocolates.

Perfect with milk. Pun aside, it is "Simply" delicious.

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