Category Archives: Snack Time

Snack Time #37 – Sweet Shoppe Jelly Beans

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The Sip Advisor is a jelly bean fan, but I’m also quite particular about which types I enjoy. Among those I prefer are these candies from Sweet Shoppe, which are satisfyingly tasty and the right consistency, in my humble opinion.

With five different colours, flavours include cherry, blue raspberry, lemon, orange and apple, all of the sour variety. In a serving, I typically have two of each colour, unless Mrs. Sip has removed all the blues and reds, her favourites.

Sour Jelly Beans.jpg

The product can be found at Dollarama stores for the low, low price of $1. I can’t seem to find much more information on the product online, but if the Sip Advisor’s word is good for anything, it should be for jelly bean advocating.

A trip to the dollar store doesn’t go by without a jaunt past the candy aisle. Superb deals can still be found on these products. While some dollar store items can be suspect, name brand treats shouldn’t cause any concern.

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Snack Time #36 – Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

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While this is the season of pumpkin spice everything, the Sip Advisor is not really of fan of the taste. That said, these Pepperidge Farm cookies, which Ma Sip recently picked up for Mrs. Sip and I, are pretty darn good.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies are soft and full of flavour. The pumpkin is nicely balanced and enhanced by the cheesecake. While only available seasonally, this limited edition release should be tracked down by all cookie aficionados.

Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies.jpg

Similar Dessert Shop soft baked cookies from Pepperidge Farm, include Caramel Apple Pie, S’mores, Chocolate Brownie, Key Lime Pie and the seasonal Strawberry Cheesecake and Pecan Pie. There’s a few items there I’d like to try.

Of the line, Pepperidge Farm touts the treats are “baked with ingredients to satisfy the most decadent cookie cravings.” The only downside is that each pack only comes with a handful of cookies, but they’re worth it.

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Snack Time #35 – Kalev Vana Tallinn Cream Chocolates

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What do you get when you combine one of the Sip Advisor’s favourite liqueurs with chocolate? A Sip Syndicate member, recently on vacation in Europe, has provided empirical evidence for us to consider from Kalev Chocolate Candies.

The Vana Tallinn Cream Chocolates come from Estonia, using the country’s famous liqueur. What I like best about them is that they’re not simply dark chocolate and liqueur, but because they are creamy, they aren’t as sharp in taste as other boozy chocolate.

Kalev Vana Tallinn Cream Chocolates

Kalev Chocolate Candies, also an Estonian institution, was first established back in 1806. For those unfamiliar with the liqueur used in these chocolates, it is so very good. Vana Tallinn is rum-based with flavours of cinnamon, vanilla and citrus.

Mrs. Sip and I visited Tallinn, Estonia in 2013 and it was a highlight of our Baltic cruise. Perhaps the relaxing day, sipping beer from the city’s medieval wall and buying neat alcohols played a role in my affection for the port stop.

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Snack Time #34 – Pillsbury Pizza Pops Poutine

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On a recent grocery shopping expedition, the Sip Advisor was casually strolling the store aisles when what to my wondering eyes should appear but this intriguing Pizza Pops variety. The store was closing, so I had to be quick.

Meant to recreate one of Canada’s most famous dishes and contributions to the world, the special edition Poutine release is pretty tasty. It reminded me of a beef pie, thanks to its gravy and potato filling. And who could ever turn down cheese curds.

Pillsbury Pizza Pops Poutine

The product comes with the tagline, “Not your average poutine,” and I’d agree with that, preferring the fry dish. There are also Butter Chicken Pizza Pops, with both flavours being voted on by Canadians, although I didn’t see them while shopping.

One thing that has always bothered me is why Pizza Pops and Pizza Pockets have the names they have. After all, Pizza Pops have a pocket design, while Pizza Pockets are round, which more resemble what I’d call a pop.

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Snack Time #33 – Ben & Jerry’s The Tonight Dough

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As previously mentioned, Mrs. Sip has been really into ice cream throughout her pregnancy. Given her love of cookie dough, when we came across this Ben & Jerry’s product recently, I knew we’d be bringing a pint or two home with us.

The Tonight Dough is named in honour of Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show. It is constructed using caramel and chocolate ice creams, garnished with chocolate cookie swirls and balls of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie doughs. The tasty treat is quite decadent.

Ben & Jerry_s The Tonight Dough

“The Tonight Dough is chock full of the stuff people love – a double-double flavor with two ice creams, two cookie doughs and a crunchy cookie swirl,” said Eric Fredette, a Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Guru and creator of The Tonight Dough. “It’s simply over the top!”

For his part, Fallon will donate all proceeds from The Tonight Dough to the SeriousFun Children’s Network, which helps kids with serious illnesses, as well as their families. Ice cream for charity… my kind of philanthropy!

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Snack Time #31 – Magnum Minis

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One of Mrs. Sip’s few cravings during her pregnancy has been ice cream… and lots of it. Therefore, I usually keep some Magnum Ice Cream products on hand, so that I’m not waken from my sleep and sent out in the middle of the night to track them down.

Among Mrs. Sip’s favourites have been the Magnum Mini bars, allowing us to indulge in delicious sustainable cocoa and decadent vanilla ice cream, while keeping with the idea of moderation. A full-size serving may be too rich, but the Mini bars are just right.

Magnum Minis.jpg

If you do decide to treat yourself to a larger portion, other great flavours from Magnum include entries from their Doubles line, such as Double Peanut Butter, Double Caramel and Double Cookies & Cream. There’s also the simple, yet classic variety.

You’d think Mrs. Sip would lose interest in the product after my jokes about purchasing multiple boxes of Magnum’s (in reference to the similarly named condoms), but the cravings always win out. Must be why she sends me out all alone!

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Snack Time #30 – Doritos Sweet Chili Heat Tortilla Chips

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While I previously only enjoyed Doritos Tortilla Chips on rare occasions (ie. whenever they were served), I have to credit this flavour as being my favourite of the line. I’m even willing to bump Cool Ranch down a peg to make that happen.

The Sweet Chili Heat variety has a wonderful mix of sweet and spicy, with a little burn on the backend that is addictive. For whatever reason, the taste reminds me of soy sauce, but I doubt this experience is shared universally. Maybe my palate is all out of whack.

Doritos Sweet Chili Heat

As Doritos describes: “Savour the sweet bold crunch and wait for the heat to kick in. The sweet and savoury spiciness of these tortilla chips will delight your taste buds, making sharing with friends and family a must at your next party, or get-together.”

I first tried these chips at a gathering for a wrestling pay-per-view and I was instantly hooked. Now I use them for nachos, providing a spicy version of the pub favourite, as well as chowing down on them on their own, with satisfying results.

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Snack Time #29 – Oreo Jelly Donut Cookies

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On Ma Sip’s recent shopping excursion to the US, she found these Oreo cookies and just had to pick up a pack for Mrs. Sip and I. Released on National Doughnut Day, the treat can be found exclusively at Walmart locations.

The cookies really do taste like jelly donuts, combining two great desserts into one. They are comprised of Golden Oreo cookies sandwiching custard cream with a raspberry cream center. They do work best with Golden Oreos, although I’d be curious to try a Chocolate Oreo version.

Oreo Jelly Donut Cookies

I really respect Oreo for experimenting with different flavours as much as they do. Other current (I believe) Oreo flavours I’d like to try, include Cookie Dough and Cinnamon Bun. Now, it’s just a matter of tracking down the packages, likely across the border.

Sadly, I missed out on such limited edition releases as Watermelon, Fruit Punch, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, S’mores, Brownie Batter, and Root Beer Float. Now that’s playing around with a tried and true recipe!

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Snack Time #28 – Kettle Brand Korean Barbecue Potato Chips

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Any visit to Ma and Pa Sip’s home is sure to provide some great food. That was the case on my most recent stay, as we sat down to an afternoon snack, highlighted by opening a bag of these Kettle Brand Potato Chips.

The Korean Barbecue Potato Chips aren’t brand new, but I had not seen the product before until recently and I kind of track these things. In recent times, I’ve really come to enjoy the Korean Barbecue taste and that continues with this spicy release.

Kettle Brand Korean Barbecue Potato Chips.jpg

I really like the Kettle Brand product line. While some experimental products are a bit of a miss (Moscow Mule, Classic Caesar) in my books, I’ve found some real gems, such as their Pepperoncini, Honey Dijon and Maple Bacon.

The Kettle Brand website is also perfect for finding some recipes, as well as potato chip pairing suggestions. I hope they keep up their trial and error ways, for the pleasure and enjoyment of the general potato chip public.

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Snack Time #27 – Leclerc Celebration Caramel Truffle Cookies

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I am not ashamed to admit that I love Leclerc’s Celebration Cookie line. Recently, Mrs. Sip and I picked up a box of the delicious Caramel Truffle variety, with the only downside being it’s hard to limit your consumption of them.

Made in Canada, with real milk chocolate and a dollop of creamy caramel, I could eat a whole box of these in one sitting and still be ravenous for more. They are quite decadent and fans of dark chocolate may find them even more exquisite.

Leclerc Celebration Caramel Truffle Cookies

As Leclerc writes of the Celebration brand: ““Whether they’re butter or cream cookies, in wafers or sticks, all the products in the Celebration family have become huge hits. Why? It’s simple: they taste like the real thing!

Aside from the Caramel Truffle cookies, we also routinely pick up the Butter Cookies, as well as their Mini pack, which contains seven snack-sized bags of the biscuits. No wonder Leclerc has been around for over a century!

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