Sierra Mist Gets "Smart" With Undercover Orange

One place I never thought I'd see Steve Carell in would be the my local market in the beverage section. I wish it was in person but alas, he was only on the label of a bottle of soda. Carell, star of NBC's "The Office," will soon also be featured (along with fellow label mate Anne Hathaway) in the movie version of the old television series "Get Smart." As a tie-in to the upcoming film, PepsiCo has unleashed Sierra Mist Undercover Orange, a "limited edition" lemon-lime soda with mandarin orange flavor. Undercover Orange is clear in color (guess the orange went "undercover") and is quite tasty. The mandarin flavor gives the beverage a nice, crisp citrusy flavor. There's also a Sierra Mist Free (diet) version of this soda which I haven't been able to track down. Kudos to the designers of the label as it really grabbed my attention with the bright colors and clear "orange" soda, as well as the unusual flavor combination. But honestly the selling point for me was that "Michael Scott" was staring at me, daring me to buy this soda. Who knows, maybe I'll even grab my shoe phone, an Undercover Orange and head to the theater to see "Get Smart." And that's what she said.

POWERade's Option Really Turns To ZERO

There's a dizzying array of "sports drinks" on the market currently, with Coca-Cola and Pepsi trying outdo each other at every turn. Recently, Pepsi launched G2, a "lighter" version of Gatorade, and Propel Fitness Water, a lower-calorie Propel. I tried both of these and while they're fine, I just don't see the point of having yet another lower cal version that removes the sugar and adds crap sweetener so it can be marketed as more of a "diet" product. Coke's POWERade Option was one of my favorite beverages to drink—that is when I could find it. Of course now that I finally located an outlet for my Option, Coke's gone and screwed it up by replacing that product with POWERade ZERO. Let me get this straight: Coke decided to remove the 10-calorie Option for zero calorie ZERO? I was worried that those 10 calories would really go to my hips. Also Option was a clear liquid which was enough of a tip-off to me that it was low-cal. I get it. Note to Coke: a gigantic "ZERO" on the label is not going to get me to keep buying this stuff. Geez, Louise. A taste comparison unveils that the ZERO is much sweeter tasting because of the addition of some type of fake sweetener with about 30 letters in its complete name. Option had a nice mild taste. The best thing about POWERade ZERO is that the label is nicely designed, with the white against the now-colored liquid shining brightly. If you're interested, ZERO comes in mixed berry (blue), grape (purple), and strawberry (red). So Coke, I want my Option back. And cut it with the "zero" on all your labels. We ain't stupid.

http://us.powerade.com/#/drink/zero

Häagen-Dazs Goes Green With Tea Ice Cream

On a recent shopping trip to the market, I tried my "don't look at the ice cream case" manuever but I'm weak. A pint of Häagen-Dazs Green Tea ice cream caught my eye. The packaging is attractive, complete with the "limited edition" label adorning the lid. This product falls under the "must try" category simply based on the fact that it's green tea and made by Haagen-Dazs. I've tried a few green tea ice creams in my day and usually it's not something I go out of my way for because I've always thought them fairly bland. Well let me be among the first to say that this Green Tea ice cream is amazing. It's creamy and the taste of the tea—from Japanese Matcha green tea—really shines through. According to Häagen-Dazs's site, this flavor is the number one selling ice cream for the company in Japan, which is no surprise. This flavor will only be around until August so if you're into a fantastic dessert ice cream, grab a couple of pints of this green wonder. I'd tell you where I found mine but I want it all to myself.

http://www.haagen-dazs.com/products/product.aspx

Don't Limit My Diet Dr Pepper Cherry Chocolate!

I'm very late to the game for the Diet Dr Pepper Cherry Chocolate bandwagon. However, there's a good reason for that: I couldn't find the darn beverage anywhere in New York City. I've searched countless bodegas, grocery stores and specialty shops and always came up empty. But then along came Mel, who came through like Eli Manning in Super Bowl XLII. Mel happens to also enjoy trying offbeat flavored sodas and he mentioned that he picked up some of the Cherry Chocolate soda, which he liked quite a bit. He was kind enough to offer to grab some cans from Target and finally last week there it was sitting in my office. I admired the pop art-style artwork that adorns the cans and brought some home, making sure they got nice and chilled. Then it was time to take a sip. And it did not disappoint. The sweet soda starts out with the familiar Dr Pepper taste and a cherry flavor, finishing with a nice little blast of chocolate. Personally I think it's one of the best sodas I've ever had the pleasure to meet. It's limited edition availability is over after April so I'd suggest stocking up. It may or may not return depending on its sales figures but as far as I'm concerned I'd love to see it return permanently and be able to actually buy some on my own. I'm rationing my last few cans and I won't be happy when they're gone. To quote (more like, butcher) the old Dr Pepper jingle, "I'd like this to be a Pepper too."

http://www.drpepper.com/

Pringles Pickle Chips Really Are Extreme

Potato chips that taste like pickles are not everyone's cup of brine. About a year ago I tried Lay's Dill Pickle Potato Chips which were interesting and quite pickle-y, but a bit on on the bland side, at least for me. Along comes Pringles' Extreme Flavors line which includes Screamin' Dill Pickle, Kickin' Cheddar, and Blazin' Buffalo Wing. I was most interested in the latter chips as my first choice but alas, my local deli only carried Dill Pickle and Cheddar so I bought a canister of Screamin' and thought I'd see what some of my co-workers thought. ML (previously mentioned on this blog for her love of Kinder's Bueno chocolate bar) wasn't all that impressed as she thought they were "too tangy," while Belle and Kristen ate just a few and said they were "pretty good." I suspect they were not exactly feeling the Screamin' pickle chip love and didn't want to indulge any further in my "weird" purchase. I took the Extreme plunge myself too, and I'll admit they are an acquired taste. They are an assault to your taste buds but in a good way. I regard these Screamin' Dill Pickle chips as the nasty cousin to the Lay's Dill Pickle chips. I'd like to say that you cannot possibly eat too many at one time but I just finished them before I wrote this post. Of course that was for research purposes.

http://www.pringles.com/pages/products/extreme.shtml

Egg-stra Special: Mom's Easter Treat

In my little world, there are several reasons to look forward to the Easter season. The baseball season is on the horizon (and the Knicks season is mercifully drawing to a close), another birthday is about to rear its ugly head, and then there's the actual Easter dinner, which is always delicious. While the ham, sweet potatoes, green beans with almond slivers and the like are all very fine, the one thing I really go nuts for is a pastry that we call "Egg in a Basket" (pictured, but I think this one was the "runt" of the bunch so it doesn't do it justice). For as long as I can remember my Mom has been making this wonderful treat, which is not quite cookie nor cake. This "Egg in a Basket" is actually called "Pupa Cu L'ova," and as best as I can tell is a traditional Italian pastry that is symbolic of the Easter season. My Mom recalls learning the recipe from her Aunt Mary, my Dad's aunt, sometime in the early 1960's. The treat is made from scratch using cookie dough rolled out, with strips placed across a hard-boiled egg in a cross shape and then baked. After the baskets are removed from the oven, icing (also made from scratch) and sprinkles are added on top at just the right moment. Mom makes them perfectly, which to me is having the dough still be doughy and chewy. I always try to scam a few extras but I have to fight with my two sisters, a brother and my four nieces and a nephew for them, not to mention my Dad, so this usually results in my coming home with just two. I may give this a try when I get the recipe from Mom but I'm sure it won't be half as good as hers. So I think next year I'll ask my Mom to make me a few extras in exchange for some Dior or L'Occitane products. Whaddya say, Mom? Do we have a deal?

So Sweet: Utz Kettle Classics Is Smokin'

I was in the mood for potato chips, a craving that hits me just once in a while. I was in Duane Reade and the little mascot girl with the red bow on the Utz bags caught my eye. I wonder who she is. Is she a caricature of the Utz owner's daughter? Does she have a name? Did you know that you can buy an Utz Girl doll or that there are several blogs dedicated to Utz Girl fans? I didn't but now I do. Anyway, after searching through the vast collection of Utz potato chip choices available, I settled on Utz Kettle Classics Smokin' Sweet BBQ Flavored, which is perhaps the longest name for the smallest bag of chips. Well, I don't know how long these snacks have been around but where the hell have I been? Smokin' Sweet is just that: these chips are not too hot and nicely sweet and best of all, have no cholesterol and are kettle cooked in 100 percent pure peanut oil. For once I was able to eat chips and not have my fingers covered in grease. Utz's other Kettle Classics include Regular, Reduced Fat Regular, Dark Russet, Sweet Potato, Jalapeno, and Salt & Malt Vinegar, which all sound quite delicious. I'm so overjoyed with my Utz experience that I also joined the company's Tasting Club. You go, Utz girl!

http://www.utzsnacks.com/products.html

Ahoy! I Love It Big & Soft

Despite what this blog often has as entries, believe it or not I don't always have a sweet tooth. In fact, I rarely had a hankering for chocolate or cookies until my co-worker ML came onboard. Several days during the week, I'll accompany ML to the local deli to pick up lunch. And each day ML gets a chocolate bar (her candy of choice is Kinder Bueno). Sometimes ML will get a bag of cookies to share with everyone. Sometimes I get to it too late and there's only one or part of one cookie left. So thanks to ML, I now notice cookies in the grocery store. And to that end, my thinking has always been if you want a cookie (or cookies), then darn it eat a cookie. I've always thought that the 100 calorie packs are a bit of a joke. I mean how often do you finish eating one of those tiny "treats" and think, "Hmm, should I have another?," or perhaps you've said, "Was that cardboard with chocolate?" Go ahead, keep sticking your fingers in that bag. There ain't nothing left. Those packs are so puny they don't even leave crumbs. They are a pathetic tease. Smartly, Nabisco has debuted its new line of cookies which I think makes more sense. For 80 calories more, you can now have a delicious, tasty treat without feeling guilty (well, I don't). Nabisco's Big & Soft cookies come in boxes of eight, with each cookie individually wrapped so it's easy to transport and/or snack on while you are on the go. Or toss Biggie Soft in your bag to eat as a snack later at work and make your co-workers jealous. Thus far I've tried the Chips Ahoy! Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Big & Soft and I was very satisfied. You can also pick up the Nutter Butter and Chocolate Chunk versions. I suspect you won't go wrong no matter what you choose. So go ahead and have a more substantial and tasty snack. ML, this cookie's for you.

www.nabiscoworld.com/chipsahoy/

Turning Water Into Chocolate

Awhile back I was reading about Metromint's newest bottled water variation, Chocolatemint. You may or may not know these folks. Soma Beverages's Metromint is the company who have the tall eye-catchingly-designed bottles with the large dots on the shelves of your local delis and gourmet shops. Metromint's line of zero calories, zero sugar waters already includes Peppermint, Lemonmint, Spearmint and Orangemint. Since I'm not an enthusiast of drinking plain water, oftentimes I seek out beverages that have a flavor (Propel) or mask the taste of the water altogether (Vitamin Water). Before trying Metromint I always assumed that mint and water together would never really be a good fit. Turns out I was as incorrect as all those so-called "experts" who picked the Patriots to run rings around the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. (By the way, congratulations to the Giants. That game was the most amazing sporting event I've seen since the Mets came back to beat the Red Sox in '86. And that catch by David Tyree should be dubbed "The Helmet Heave.") What I love about Metromint and the Chocolatemint flavor in particular is that the beverage is quite refreshing. The taste of the chocolate and mint is most obvious at the end of the sip. It's incredibly chocolatey and minty and, considering that there's no sweeteners of any kind, that's quite a feat. One note about drinking all the Metromint flavors--for best results make sure to drink it very cold. Lukewarm mint flavor is pretty bad and doesn't do these beverages any justice. If you can't find the Chocolatemint flavor, try Whole Foods or gourmet shops like Balducci's. Maybe you can get a bottle for your significant other for Valentine's Day. Chocolatemint might compliment that box of chocolates you've picked up. But make sure it's Godiva or Vosges, not Russell Stover.

www.metromint.com

Skittles: Taste The Brown-Hued Rainbow

The most recent addition to the Skittles family, Chocolate Mix Skittles, has popped up in some stores (I found mine at Duane Reade). I laid some of the pieces on a table only to have my cat Samantha mistake them for toys and knock some on the ground. Oh well, still have enough. Anyway, these Skittles consist of five different varieties: S'mores, Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate Caramel, Vanilla (since when is vanilla a chocolate?), and Brownie Batter. For the most part each of the flavors tastes as it should with mixed--but mostly good--results. Chances are if you are a fan of the oddly-flavored Jelly Belly beans which include such flavors as Jalapeno, Berry Blue, Buttered Popcorn, Cantaloupe, and Caramel Corn, you'll probably enjoy Chocolate Mix Skittles as well. (Incidentally, Jelly Belly makes their own Chocolate Pudding bean.) I think the Skittles are much better mixed and matched but see for yourself. Is the color brown in a rainbow? Yup, in the world of candy it is now.