Too Much of a Good Thing?

A quickie, since I've been burnt out at work but I wanted to keep my posting streak up. 

Pink is the best Starburst flavor. I thought this was universally agreed upon, so I was shocked when several friends, and even my own mother, confessed that they didn't like pink at all! (Blasphemy! They don't like red Skittles either!) Since there are no all-lemon or orange packs hitting the shelves, I am pretty sure they're on the wrong side of the flavor-wars. 

My Starburst ranking (of just the original line-up) would be 

1. Pink
2. Yellow
3. Red
4. Orange

And I think that's a fairly common take. (Let me know your order in the comments) 

So, given that pink is my favorite, I thought this, "Oops, All Pink,"-version would be the best pack of Starburst ever, sadly, it wasn't.

Another Mexican Street Corn Product!

There was a huge bag of this stuff at Costco and since I love Elotes, it was really tempting. But they weren't sampling it in-store, and I had never tried this brand before, so I didn't want to overcommit. I've been burned by jumping into wholesale-club sizes of new products in the past, so walking away was the right move at the time. Thankfully, Dollar Tree had this mini bag! 

Let's check it out and see if I should take the plunge. 

Dots: Summer Edition

Watermelon Dots - Dollar Tree 

Last fall, I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed Ghost Dots. The Halloween variation contains the classic year-round flavors, but every candy is the same shade of looks-like-it-glows-in-the-dark green. (They don't actually glow, FYI.) The novelty of the Halloween version is you don't know which flavor you are going to get because they all look the same. 

In snacking, I would classify myself as a hunter-picker. I seek out what I want, leaving my least favorites (usually orange or grape in most mixes) for last. Or I meticulously make the rounds until everything is even and then choose the least favorites to go first so I can savor my favorites last. (Not sure if that is a normal thing.) Long story short, I couldn't do that with Ghost Dots, but I liked it. I really liked it. Even though I was never a massive Dots fan, I went out of my way to buy several Ghost boxes before they disappeared for the season. But my supply ran out, and normal Dots just don't appeal to me, so I decided to try this summery version instead. 

And this is kind of similar in a way. They all look the same....because they are the same. This entire box is just watermelon flavored, and I have never had Dots' take on Watermelon, so let's home I like it! 

Summer 2022's Watermelon-flavored Death Rattle

This time of year is bittersweet for a summer-loving Halloween-obsessed nerd like me. I'm excited for pumpkins and skulls and horror movies, but I'm not ready to let go of the long days, sunny weather, and summer treats just yet. Thankfully, it's not over yet. I'll cling to summer just a bit longer with this watermelon cotton candy.

Caffeinated Peeps? - Donut Shop Coffee Peeps

Donut Shop Coffee Peeps - Dollar Tree

It's St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, and I don't have anything on-theme, but this package is green...so I'm going with it.

After years of doing this, I knew I had eaten a lot of Peeps, but typing "Peeps" into my blog's search bar still blew my mind. So many variations have come and gone! Mystery, Alex's Lemonade, Gingerbread...and yet, I don't think any of them were coffee based. 

Sure, we had Peeps flavored coffee at Dunkin a while back, and a Peeps flavored International Delight coffee creamer, but never an actual coffee flavored chick. Until now. 

Churro Cotton Candy - Sounds like Disney but actually it's Dollar Tree

Cinnamon Churro Cotton Candy - Dollar Tree 

Doesn't this sound like something you'd get at Disneyworld? Even though it's just a bag of pre-made cotton candy you buy at Dollar Tree, it does sound deceptively delicious. Fingers crossed it's as yummy as I expect! 

Snap, Cackle, Pop! - Ghoul-Aid Popping Candy

Ghoul-Aid Popping Candy - Dollar Tree

Back in 2015 I reviewed pouches of Ghoul-Aid, but those were blackberry flavored, so I think this product might be a in-name-only kind of deal. It says "Ghoul-Aid" and it's purple, but according to the illustration, it's generically berry flavored.

With Halloween items getting discounted and disappearing from shelves, let's see if it's worth scooping up.  

Crazy Coated Candy Corn Combinations!

Nerds Candy Corn - Dollar Tree 

It's officially spooky season and I am so excited! Time to pop on a horror movie (Trick r' Treat is currently on HBO) and crack into some candy corn, but not just any candy corn, Nerds Candy Corn. 

Laffy Taffy Explores Citrus - Orange Sherbet and Lemon-Raspberry

Laffy Taffy - Orange Sherbet & Lemon-Raspberry

When I saw these, I thought I had already reviewed them, specifically in some kind of Easter-themed mix. Searching through my blog, there was no sign of them. Did I imagine it? Was it something I ate and never wrote up? Are these completely new and my brain is finally at the point where I've forgotten what I've tried and what I haven't? 

Time to fix that.

Mr. Owl's Eggs? - Tootsie Roll Eggs

Tootsie Roll Eggs - Dollar Tree

Tootsie Rolls are one of those products I never think to buy on their own, but I am always happy to see it in a candy dish or in a seasonal candy bag. They're simple, chewy, chocolatey, and unlike other candies, they still taste exactly how I remember them. (Can't say the same about Crunch bars or Buncha Crunch, have you guys eaten those lately? What the heck happened to it?!)

Other than a few new flavors of Tootsie Pops over the years, like banana, pomegranate and others, there hasn't been much innovation to their product line. Which is why these Tootsie Eggs, essentially Tootsie Rolls with a crispy sugary shell, were so intriguing. Would it drastically change my opinion on the candy? After all, I'm a sucker for a crispy shell. I love chicklet-style gum, I love the candy shell on Cadbury eggs, m&m's, and the Reese's cup with Reese's Pieces mixed in is phenomenal. Probably my favorite new thing Reese's has done in the last 5 years. So, why not see what a crispy shell can do for a classic like Tootsie. 

Two Tantalizingly Tangy Tropical Taffys! - Pineapple & Guava Laffy Taffy

Pineapple and Guava Laffy Taffy - Dollar Tree

First those Laff Bites last week, and now these? 

Turns out I've been doing this for long enough that I have finally forgotten what items I've reviewed and what I haven't. In my mind I thought I had already written up a bunch of flavors of Laffy Taffy, so I searched for them on my own blog and ended up finding only one post, the fall themed Pumpkin Donut and Apple Crisp flavors they released in 2016. (And last week's Laff Bites of course.)

That's it. How is that possible? I know for a fact I have eaten a ton of Laffy Taffy in my lifetime, maybe not so much in the last 3-years, but still! This is something I should remedy, and thankfully Dollar Tree had this fun tropical peg-bag at the ready. 

Oh, and when can peanuts laugh? 

Banana Laff Bites - Lafflettes

Laffy Taffy Gone Bananas Laff Bites  - Dollar Tree

I really liked Laffy Taffy as a kid, back when there used to be monsters on the wrappers and mix-ins, like candy watermelon seeds, but since they changed to a more stream-lined look with less texture, it just hasn't been the same. I still buy it from time to time, and if there is a new flavor (like apple crisp) I'll write about it, but when it comes to my normal non-blogging candy cravings, they just aren't in the rotation. 

When I spotted these at Dollar Tree I thought it was interesting that another product was looking for a way to ditch the wrapper and go bite-sized. I also wondered if this really was the same as normal Laffy Taffy, just more snackable, or if it suffered the same fate as all the unwrapped Starburst products that were completely reformulated. 

Let's find out. Oh! And why did the banana need medicine?  

Peeps, Revisited: Cotton Candy and Party Cake

Cotton Candy & Party Cake Peeps - Dollar Tree 

Sorry for tapping out there, it was totally unplanned, but I gave myself a week off. Now I'm back, refreshed, and about to bombard you with more sugary Peep goodness. 

Marshmallows are one of my favorite things ever, right up there with gummies. Whether they're tiny freeze-dried ones for cereal and cocoa, to braided pastel-colored ropes, to jumbo S'more, to Peeps. I love snacking on them, cooking with them, and strategically leaving them out to age like a fine wine. (Stale marshmallows are the best marshmallows. Unless they're freeze dried, which is like stale without the chew.) 

Crushing It? - Crush Soda themed Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids

Crush Soda Candies - Dollar Tree

Since the branding, flavors, and pretty much everything about these two Crush themed candies are the same, I thought it would be fun to compare them and find any differences. (Other than one being sour, obviously.) Will all four flavors be the same, just with a sour-coat of paint? Or will the flavors actually differ in their Fishy or Kid forms? Let's find out!

Tiny Burgers, Fries, and Fruits, Oh MY! - 4D Gummies

4D Gummies - Dollar Tree

I bought these because I wanted to photograph them. I mean, look at them! They're little 3D gummy shapes of fruits and burgers and stuff. It's like, my kryptonite. But, I know what I'm getting into. After my experience with 4D Gummies (which were also from Dollar Tree) I knew these would likely be more of a fun visual novelty than a decent candy. 

So I am going into this with a healthy amount of skepticism and very low expectations. (Kind of like dating in your 30's, am I right? Self-burn.) 

Let's jump right into it!

Limited Edition Stars and Stripes Cranberry Ginger Ale -

Cranberry Ginger Ale - Dollar Tree

I was at Dollar Tree grabbing holiday giftbags, (because if you're paying more than a dollar for a giftbag, you're insane,), and I spotted giant bottles of soda. They're like 2.5 Liters and only a dollar, so you know it's not the best quality, but they'll do in a pinch when you're having cheap at-home birthday party in the 90's. Anyway, I was going to walk right by them, when I noticed a limited edition flavor.

Since when has that been a thing? I was intrigued, and it was only a dollar, so let's see if it's any good! (At the very least it should make for a fun season-appropriate post.)

Ice Cream Candy Canes, For a Dollar...I'm Skeptical - Coldstone Creamery Candy Canes

Coldstone Candy Canes - Dollar Tree

Another Dollar Tree find, I grabbed these because I thought they looked pretty, and for only a dollar, why not? 

Right away the packaging is questionable. Sure, we have Coldstone logos that are legit, but the packaging and design are done in a way that the logo on the bottom left of the package is obscured by the packaging itself. Not a great sign in terms of quality.  

Inside you get 6 candy canes, two of each flavor. 

The flavors are: Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Our Strawberry Blonde, and Birthday Cake Remix. All classic Coldstone Creamery flavors.  

Swim with the Fishes - Tropical Mini Swedish Fish

 Swedish Fish Mini Tropical - Dollar Tree

No cool story or anything behind this buy. I just like Swedish Fish. I grew up eating classic red, and so far I have had nothing but good things to say about their new and innovative products. I've tried their candy canes, Trident chewing gum, Rita's water ice flavor, and more recently their Heads and Tails. I purposefully avoided known-duds, like the Swedish Fish Oreos, and overall I have been happy with the quality of their new releases.  

So when I spotted this at Dollar Tree, I figured, why not?

Inside we have four different colors/flavors, and my only pet peeve so far is that two of them are super generic.  

Moving Dum-Dums out of the foodie-friend-zone & Limited Edition Hawaiian Punch Review

Limited Edition Hawaiian Punch Dum-Dums - Dollar Tree

We take Dum-Dums for granted. They are affordable, offer tons of variety, and they don't just play it safe, they have seasonal/limited edition flavors, like pizza, gingerbread, funnel cake, bacon, and banana split. Plus their long standing "mystery" flavor  is a master class in marketing and preventing food waste. (Turn those lemons into lemonade-lollipops.) Overall, a really solid candy, but no one talks about them. 

Sneaking Easter Candy into the Year-Round Scene

Big Chewy Nerds - Dollar Tree

I spotted these at Dollar Tree and thought they looked awfully familiar... I'm pretty sure they're just Nerds Jellybeans, rebranded, for year-round snacking. They have the same premise: chewy center, crisp candy shell, and they come in the same flavors/colors. 

Even if they are a re-packaging, I've never reviewed Nerds jelly beans, and for a dollar? Why not check them out?