Day 70 - Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal

Nothing takes me back to childhood like flavored Instant Oatmeal.  It is quick and easy to make, even for a snot-nosed kid.  It warms the belly and can fill ya up until lunch.

Today I review Quaker Apples & Cinnamon Oatmeal and Better Oats Thick & Hearty Apples & Cinnamon Oatmeal.

For most of my life, I just added hot water to the oatmeal, until my mom visited 7 months ago.  She added cold water and milk to her oatmeal and heated it in the microwave.  We got in a big fight about the proper way to make oatmeal.  Dishes and knives were thrown, name calling ensued.  We disowned each other as mother and son, tears were shed, the cops were called.  In the end, I realized that she was right, oatmeal is way better heated up in the microwave.  The oats soak up the water way better yielding a much smoother texture.  Making it with milk or half milk/half water also makes it taste better.

Now, I compare the two kinds of oatmeal.  Quaker is a classic.  There are generic versions that are very similar but this is the stuff of memory.  I like the texture, it is smooth and creamy.  There is a good balanced apple and cinnamon flavor with some tang, sweetness and spice.

I don't like the Better Oats kind as well.  The oats are thicker cut so it is a little chunkier and they don't absorb the water as much so it is a little runnier.  It also could be a little sweeter for me.  This oatmeal also includes flax seeds, known as an ancient grain, used by the ancient Druids in Pagan rituals!

So my pick is Quaker Apples & Cinnamon Oatmeal.  The flax seeds in the Better Oats did not give me super-hero ancient Druid powers as I was hoping!

Next time, I review Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Apple Cinnamon Soft Baked Bars.  Crunch on!
  

Day 69 - Seneca Apple Chips

A tale of apple chips times three.  Of tart, of sweet, of balanced thee.  Today, I review Seneca Apple Chips, the Original, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious version.

Seneca Apple Chips are made in Washington state's Yakima Valley, which is noted for being one of the best apple producing areas in the world (also for producing three quarters of the nations hops and many wines).  In addition to the chips I'm reviewing, Seneca makes Sour, Caramel and Cinnamon  apple chips, pear and sweet potato chips.  According to the Seneca website, they believe in farming and making products in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.  Some example of this: potato starches released during slicing are used to make recycled paper products, produce that doesn't meet their standards are composted to make topsoil and excess cooking oil is used to make environmentally-friendly bio-diesel fuel.

I like these chips.  They are big 'ol slices of apple, crunchy with a good fruit flavor.  They have no cholesterol.  I could not find what type of apple the Original chip is made out of.  The Original and Golden Delicious have 140 calories per serving, 30% of your recommended daily vitamin C and 8% daily fiber.  The Granny Smith have 150 calories per serving, 25% recommended daily vitamin C and 8% daily fiber.

They do all taste a little different.  Golden Delicious is the sweetest, Original middle, Granny Smith most tart.  I mentioned in my Apple Jacks blog that I crumbled some on my cereal and I wasn't lying.  It was excellent!  All three types of Seneca Apple Chips are good and it's hard to stop eating them!

Next time, I review a classic breakfast, Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal.  Crunch on people, if you don't have teeth, you can still gum the oatmeal!

Day 68 - Toaster Strudel Apple

Have I wandered into a fancy French bakery?  Not quite but sometimes you just need a little pastry in your life.  Bonjour Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Apple!

Toaster Strudels were introduced by Pillsbury in 1985 as an alternative to the Kellogg's Pop-Tart.  They are found in the freezer section and are sold in 6, 12 or 24 count boxes.  They have a flaky crust, some kind of sweet filling and come with a frosting packet to top each pastry.

There was a golden period of time when boxes included frosting packets 30% larger, also known as Megapackets!  These were glorious, gluttonous days indeed when like the ancient Romans, we could bath in frosting!  One of my biggest complaints normally is an underwhelming amount of frosting.  Pillsbury, I implore you, BRING BACK THE MEGA FROSTING PACKETS!

Here is a list of the Toaster Strudel flavors available.  Some are seasonal or may have been discontinued.

• Apple
• Apple Cream Danish
• Apple Cinnamon
• Blueberry
• Boston Cream Pie
• Chocolate 
• Cinnamon Roll made with Cinnabon™ Flavor
• Cherry
• Cream Cheese & Strawberry
• Danish Style Cream Cheese
• French Toast 
• Pumpkin Pie
• Raspberry
• S'mores
• Snickerdoodle
• Strawberry (the first flavor)
• Strawberry Apple
• Watermelon
• Wildberry

Now specifically, Toaster Strudel Apple.  'Tis good.  The crust is crisp with layers and they brown up nicely in the toaster.  The apple filling is decent, a good mix of sweet and tart with a touch of cinnamon.  There is never as much filling as the picture on the box, a little more would be good.  I in fact, had to pull a little of the filling towards the cut for the pic above so you'd see it but whatever.

I was supposed to have done it already but it got pushed back, next time the Seneca Apple Chips review.  Crunch on and get your breakfast on!