Cinnamon Toast Crunch Creamy Spread taste test comparison

Cinnamon Toast Crunch with another new item? I mean, we've tried so many different ones before, we've got to try one more! So so much Cinnamon Toast Crunch things. 

And whenever the need arises, I like to bake a fresh loaf of bread to go along with it. If we're having Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, freshly baked bread with cinnamon sugar is going to be perfect! 

But today instead of cinnamon sugar, Cinnamon Toast Crunch has given us a Creamy Cinnamon Spread to go on top!

Saturday Morning Cereals - Captain Crunch Birthday Crunch Cereal taste test comparison

It's Captain Crunch's 60th birthday? Happy Birthday Captain!

And the day I'm posting this happens to be my birthday too! Happy Birthday to me! 

Seems fitting that I should do a post about Birthday Cake cereal!

Doritos Dips and Chips taste test comparison

We love our Doritos Chips. There was even a taste test where we tried 11 different flavors at the same time in an effort to find our favorite! Today though, we're moving away from the Doritos Chips and trying the new Doritos Dips!

There are two different flavors of Doritos Dips. Doritos Dip Spicy Nacho and Doritos Dip Cool Ranch Jalapeno. We'll be tasting those with tortilla chips, but for comparison we'll be having Doritos Chips. 

Starburst Cotton Candy FaveREDs - Cherry and Strawberry - taste test comparison

While visiting Michigan, Aubrey and Jared took the family out to a store that specialized in importing unique snacks and drinks from other countries. They knew I'd love it. I'll have pictures of all that in a post in the future, but for now, let's look at some of the treats that I got from there! 

Starburst Cotton Candy! We love just about everything coming from Starburst, and this is something new! The last thing we had were those Starburst Airs and Starburst Gummies, so hopefully this can provide some sort of redemption. And they have included my favorite flavor! Strawberry Starburst! 

This is Starburst Cotton Candy FaveREDs so they've included Cherry and Strawberry. To go along with it, I bought a Sharing Size bag of Starburst FaveREDs from the local grocery store. 

Milkis Korean Soda Beverage taste test - all 6 flavors compared

Today we are having a giant Milkis beverage taste test! The kids are certainly excited to try all the flavors!

There's 6 different flavors we'll be sampling. Original, Strawberry, Peach, Apple, Melon, and Banana! 

Moon Pie Cotton Candy taste test comparison

Moon Pie Cotton Candy? I'm always up for trying something new! 

Growing up in the south, Amy and Richard were both big fans of the original Moon Pie. Will a Moon Pie Cotton Candy be able to take its place? Let's find out!

It's like they knew people would want to do the comparison. On top of each container of cotton candy, they included two small Moon Pies! Thanks for doing my job for me! 

The Story of Ian and His Big Heart

My son Ian has a beautiful heart. He's a really thoughtful and caring kid. Ready to help out whenever anyone needs it, and regularly puts others needs before his own. 

But that's not what this story is about. This story has to do with his physical heart. It's a Flowers Tale I wasn't sure I'd ever write up, but Ian has asked me to do it a few times now and he wants to read about a big time in his life. 

So in a post that's going to bring back a lot of memories for Theresa, myself, and the rest of the family, here's The Story of Ian and His Big Heart!

Hawaiian Punch Drink Mix taste test comparison

How about a nice Hawaiian Punch? 
I found 4 different Hawaiian Punch drink mix packets and figured we'd have to try them all! 

There's Hawaiian Punch Lemon Berry Squeeze, Fruit Juicy Red, Berry Blue Typhoon, and Wild Purple Smash. 

Hot Tamales Cotton Candy taste test comparison

Hot Tamale Cotton Candy? I love Hot Tamale candies! They are one of my favorite movie snacks! But, can that spicy goodness be captured by a cotton candy? We'll find out! 

The Hot Tamales candies are a bright red color, while the Hot Tamales Cotton Candy is definitely not. It's the standard pink color that we're used to seeing. I think the bag is maybe exaggerating the color of the cotton candy. It's nowhere close to that color. 

Theresa - Can you imagine how much red dye would be in that if they did? 

Theresa - This is going to be a love/hate relationship. My favorite candy and my least favorite candy. 

She does not like the texture of cotton candy at all. 

Nespresso machine coffee taste test

Today we are testing out 3 different Nespresso coffee machines. It just so happened that while we were in Colorado, we had 3 different versions of coffee makers that all used the same Nespresso coffee pods.  When an opportunity like that comes along, we like to compare them. 

Way back when, Theresa and I had a Starbucks habit that was getting to be expensive. Looking for another option for quick coffee in the mornings, we turned to Nespresso and their coffee pods. 

And all three of these were ours at some point in their lifecycle. 

First there's the Nespresso Essenza Mini by Breville (~$170). This is our latest purchase and is hopefully going to be just the right size for the RV. 

Second is the Nespresso Lattissima by De'Longhi (~$300). This was actually our first Nespresso purchase and we've had it for over 10 years now. It has the benefit of a removable milk frother than can be refrigerated when not in use. This has since become my mother's coffee maker. 

Last is the Nespresso Lattissima Pro by De'Longhi (~$500). It's a step up the from the regular model, including a larger milk frother and bonus hot water dispenser. This is what we've been carrying around in the RV with us, and it's time to let it go. 

Minecraft Suspicious Stew Pringles taste test comparison

Minecraft? Pringles? Two things that the kids just happen to love! 

A longtime reader of the blog sent me a link to these Suspicious Stew Minecraft Pringles, letting me know about them and suggesting we make a stew to try along with them. That definitely sounds like our kind of taste test! Thank you for sending it to us!

But, despite all my efforts, I could not find these Minecraft Pringles in stores anywhere! Luckily, my brother Patrick keeps an eye out for these sorts of things too, and grabbed a canister for us. Thank you!

So, we've got to make a stew now. I know just who to ask to help. 

Tabasco Pipcorn Popcorn and Cheese Balls taste test

While perusing a Market World, I found a snack I've been wanting to try for a while! Pipcorn! 
I first saw this brand of popcorn on Shark Tank years ago (like 2019). Back then, you could only order it online, and when I went to place an order, they were overwhelmed by the Shark Tank success and had sold out. I hadn't thought about them much until I saw these again in stores years later. Tabasco flavored popcorn and cheese balls! Yum!

I had first tried a licensed Tabasco popcorn while visit my brother in Texas during his flight school. It was some of the most delicious popcorn I've ever tried and I've been trying to find something like it again ever since. Will this Tabasco Pipcorn satisfy my spicy popcorn cravings? Read on and see!

Pop Pop's Homemade Raisins

Homemade raisins? I knew it was possible, but I never really thought about trying it. My dad was given a grocery bag full of grapes and knowing there was no way he could possibly eat them all before they went bad, he set off to make homemade raisins!

And thought it would be fun if we did a taste test with them. One of these came from the store, the other is homemade. We'll taste them blind and see what we think! Which one will be better? Let's find out!

Kit Kat Churro taste test comparison

A new Kit Kat flavor! We love trying all the different Kit Kat flavors! 

Walking through a local 7/11, Megan saw these at the counter. 
Megan - Joe, do you want to get them? 
Knowing how many taste test things I still have waiting to do, can you believe I actually said "No thank you."
Well, Megan wasn't about to let me slide and went ahead and bought one. Then the next day she went back and bought 2 more! Okay then, let's do a Kit Kat Churro taste test!

There are times when I would make my own churros to go with it, but in this case, Patrick and Megan picked up churros from Costco before coming over. Thanks!

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! We had a great time at Patrick and Megan’s.

Megan and Patrick invited us over to have dinner and watch fireworks from their porch. We've got burgers, steaks, and more!

July 4th Manitou Incline Hike

 It’s a beautiful day to hike on America’s Mountain! Today I got up early to hike the Manitou Incline with my dad Mickey and brother Patrick. 

Dr Pepper Baked Beans taste test comparison

What's my favorite soda? It's got to be Dr. Pepper. In the 1880s, when Charles Alderton combined those 23 unique flavors into a carbonated beverage, he definitely had a winner. 

And when I saw that Dr. Pepper was teaming up with the Serious Bean Co. to make Dr Pepper Baked Beans, I knew I had to try them! 

But not just try them alone. Is Dr Pepper Baked Beans something I can make myself? Let's find out!

July 4th Ribeye Steak Taste Test - Cooked 4 ways - Air Fryer, Stovetop, Grill, and Smoker

It's the Fourth of July weekend and as we were trying to figure out meals together, having steak was at the top of the list. But how should we cook it? There's so many options. Megan and Theresa both thought it would be a great idea for a taste test! And so today we'll be trying out ribeye steaks cooked four different ways! 

Air fryer, Stovetop, Propane Grill, and Pellet Smoker. Yum! 

With 4 different cooking methods, Megan, Theresa, Patrick and I are all in charge of cooking 2 steaks each. Let's jump right in!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Happy Fourth of July weekend! My brother and SIL's community had bike parade, free hot dog cookout, and more!