16

Feb. ’16

News: Three New Cereals on the Way from Annie’s Homegrown

Move over, Trix Rabbit: you aren’t the only bunny in the cereal aisle any more. Annie’s Homegrown and General Mills have just announced the launch of three new USDA certified organic breakfast cereals.

From soup, to yogurt, to crackers, Annie’s has a bigger product line than a litter of rabbits. They even had a larger line of cereal that lasted from 2007-2012. I will say, though, that in my college town, the brand is best known for its legendary and addictive Shells & White Cheddar pasta.

Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately depending on who you are), none of these cereals are mac & cheese flavored. Instead, the three flavors are Berry Bunnies, Cocoa Bunnies, and the conspicuously non-bunny shaped Frosted Oat Flakes.

I can only hope that the bunny cereals taste just like their Bunny Grahams in a bowl, just because I’m so desperate for a spiritual successor to Teddy Grahams Breakfast Bears. At the very least, I can dream that Frosted Oat Flakes will be like a glazed version of the already delicious Trader Joe’s Toasted Oatmeal Flakes.

Regardless of how they taste, when these cereals are released in April, you’d better believe that me and so many others will be “making like rabbits” to go out and try them.

Wait, wait…I don’t think that phrase means what I think it does.

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15

Feb. ’16

Review: Sweet Home Farm Maple Pecan Granola

IMG_4393The year is 2066.

The Great Nut Pronunciation Civil War is in its darkest hour. The armies of “pih-cahn” are closing in on the forces of “pee-can.” There was once a small tribe of heretics who insisted it was “pee-khan,” but they were quickly laughed off the battlefield.

Both sides have been assaulted, both have been “a salted,” and the wise delegate Mr. Peanut refuses to mediate. But there is one things both camps can agree on.

Maple syrup glazed pecans taste really, really freaking good.

That being said, would Sweet House Farm’s Maple Pecan Granola be tasty enough to make peace between these fighters? To save our future world from being split in two like peanuts from their shell, I decided to find out. Continue reading →

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13

Feb. ’16

Review: Lucky Charms Marshmallows Only Cereal

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Whether it’s an engagement ring, the One Ring to rule them all, or that darn videotape from The Ring, every so often an object enters your life and changes it forever.

For me, this object wasn’t a ring, but receiving it did make my mouth form into a perfectly round, gasping ring. That’s right: it’s a box of Marshmallows Only Lucky Charms. One of only 10 in existence.

Alright, alright. I should back up a bit. Let’s Tarantino this story before I tear into this mythic box. Continue reading →

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11

Feb. ’16

News: Root Beer and Orange Crush Pop-Tarts Coming Soon?

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Forget frosted orange fudge: I’m ready for frosted Orange Crush!

(UPDATE: I reviewed both flavors: Frosted A&W Root Beer Pop-Tarts and Crush Orange Pop-Tarts!)

Snap! Crackle! Pop!

Nope, I’m not talking about the Rice Krispies mascots. I’m talking about actual soda pop-flavored Pop-Tarts based on popular carbonated drink varieties!

As part of a recent cost-cutting effort dubbed “Project K,” Kellogg’s CEO John Bryant teased root beer and Orange Crush and new pastry flavors. Project K will also lead to a further evolution of the Special K brand towards eating that is “wholesome,” instead of just lower calorie. Project K also sounds like the name of a low-budget alien invasion movie, but that’s beside the point.

In light of recent rumors about Orange Creampop Cap’n Crunch, this might just be a good year for orange-loving breakfast fans.

Let’s just hope these root beer and Orange Crush Pop-Tarts don’t fizzle, because if they succeed, then we’re all one step closer to the Mtn Dew & Doritos flavored Pop-Tarts that I know everyone has been asking for.

 

Info source: Crains Detroit

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11

Feb. ’16

Review: Kellogg’s Special K Nourish Coconut Cranberry Almond Cereal

IMG_4366You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em both up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em both up
Put a lime in the coconut, you drink ’em both up

More beautiful musical poetry has never been written. Aside from making us existentially reconsider the frivolity of our corporeal existences, that song also makes me think about two flavors that are grossly underrepresented on cereal shelves. I mentioned last week how little attention blueberry gets in cereal, but lime and coconut get even less.

Now that Trix has ditched artificial flavors, we’ve lost the only lime cereal pieces I can think of. And with lime Skittles forever replaced by awful green apple, it’s a hard time to be a lime fan. Maybe once we all start getting scurvy, cereal companies will amp up the green citrus.

Coconut doesn’t have it much better. Sure, there’s a little coconut in Cracklin’ Oat Bran, and Cap’n Crunch’s cereal bits may be swimming in coconut oil, but ever since Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends Mango Coconut was discontinued, we’ve had no way to get a good bowl of coconut flakes in the morning.

Well, besides lucky Canadians, who still have Cinnamon Coconut Cheerios Plus. And I suppose any Hawaiian could just grab a cheese grater and a ladder.

But now all of that is changing. The second of two new Special K Nourish varieties, Coconut Cranberry Almond teases game-changing coconut flavor, along with a smorgasbord of other taste sensations. Let’s see how it stacks up. Continue reading →

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10

Feb. ’16

Special: A Look at New Star Wars Decal Cereal Prizes

IMG_4364Cereal boxes don’t have enough prizes any more. Read that in an angry old man voice if you want to, but I miss the days when every cereal box bottom harbored some secret treasure: a wrist watch, a plastic toy, or perhaps even a Cap’n Crunch whistle that could be used for hacking phone lines.

General Mills must feel that way too, because select boxes of their cereal, including Cheerios, Multi Grain Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Cookie Crisp now contain collectible, sticky Star Wars decals. Aside from the exciting thrill of the cereal aisle hunt (even Boba Fett would have fun tracking every decal down), the other half of the fun with these is finding creative places to stick them. Whether it’s your fridge, laptop, car, cat,  resume, or future tombstone, everything looks better with a giant C-3PO on it.

I have that last part listed in my will.

General Mills did send me and some other Star Wars junkies these six decals of Chewbacca, BB-8, C-3PO/R2D2, Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, and a Stormtrooper (is that you, TR-8R?), but apparently there’s an extra super rare Millennium Falcon decal out there in boxes of Reese’s Puffs. If you’ve seen it, let me know!

But for now: Chewie, fire up the hyperdrive, because we’re about to make the Meijer Run in under 12 parsecs.

Posted by . Categories: Specials. Tags: , , . 2 Comments

09

Feb. ’16

Review: Kashi GoLean Honey Pecan Baklava Plant-Powered Bar

IMG_4360From cereal to oatmeal, muesli, cookies, fruit thingies, crackers, waffles, and even pizza, the products available from the grain-loving folks at Kashi are spread all over the map like grocery store Carmen Sandiegos.

So while Kashi’s cereal usually gets the most buzz, it’s worth sharing the attention with some of the brands more interesting options for morning sustenance. And speaking of buzz, this one’s got a lot of honey.

One of four “Plant-Powered Bars,” Honey Pecan Baklava joins the ranks of Dark Chocolate Cashew Chia, Salted Dark Chocolate & Nuts, and Peanut Hemp Crunch.

I like to imagine these four Plant Power Bars forming a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles-esque team of vigilante crimefighters when the grocery store closes at night.

I won’t serve you a heaping bowlful of words here, either. I promise to keep this review conveniently snack-sized. It might be a stretch to even call this a “breakfast review,” but hey: they’re in the cereal aisle. And when’s the last time you saw the word “baklava” next to your Cap’n Crunch?

Continue reading →

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07

Feb. ’16

Review: Peace Cereal Maple Buckwheat Hemp Supergrains Cereal

IMG_4358From Reese’s Pieces to Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pops and Swedish Peacemärken, the idea of peace has brought us many delightful foods. Until Nabisco decides to release a line of “War-eo” double stuffed blood red sandwich cookies, I think the power of good will continue to dominate the snack aisle.

And the breakfast aisle, too, as the ever-healthy, organic, non-GMO (and all that jazz) Peace Cereal continues to produce innovative new flavor varieties. I’ve been meaning to try Peace Cereal for a long time, but the brand is tragically difficult to find on shelves (try Whole Foods for your best bet).

But now that I have a box on hand, it’s time to bring peace to the galaxy—or at least my cereal bowl—by reviewing Peace Cereal’s Maple Buckwheat Hemp cereal. Continue reading →

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