It’s not often that I spend $3 on a box of gummy candies but this time of the year, I make a lot of exceptions to the rules. You are supposed to and if you don’t, Krumpus will eat your face. This particular box caught my eye in the candy section of Fresh Market a couple of weeks ago and if you saw the display, you know that’s a feat! Okay, I’ll show the display.
See? That’s a heck of a box to rise above this holiday mess! But it did and as if I was taken over by a tortured soul who needed purgatory relief and it could only be found in a box of holiday gummy candy, I grabbed it up quick. I didn’t even check the price or look to see if it was made with baby seal eyes. I just picked up the box, threw it at the cashier and yelled, “SHNUWABABBABA!”. We both knew what I meant.
So, one Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer gummy nose box richer and $3.08 poorer, I headed to the house to eat, think and write. Some people write about health care and the looming Iranian nuclear crisis, I write about Christmas candy in the shape of iconic noses. Eh, it keeps me simple.
Here we have the two flavors…of noses. One is watermelon and the other is red. I say red because for whatever reason, I believed it to be cherry and could not pull that flavor from the obvious not-watermelon nose. It was strawberry. You would think the process of elimination would determine strawberry but I really wanted it to be cherry. I am a fan of strawberry scent but just not a strawberry flavor. I blame Hubba Bubba circa 1984.
What can I say about an expensive candy that is a Rankin/Bass inspired body part? Awesome is what I can say! I love these tasty blops and to be honest, it’s the wrapping and I do think these should be a mandatory stocking stuffer. If for nothing more, you can do this to your wiener dog.
Kinda like the dog in A Nightmare Before Christmas, no?
I am about to enter into a week of work-hell so before I checkout starting Sunday through next Saturday, I thought I might link you to some past Thanksgiving-Holiday-Christmas posts from years past. It’s a cheap filler but if you have not read them, here is chance to grow your heart three sizes and decorate the dog.
Click the images to be whisked away to magical holiday…just click the images.
A couple of years ago I wrote 1100 words describing a one minute McDonald’s commercial from 1987. Back before the war against McDonald’s, kids had a special love for the restaurant. Every holiday season, these types of commercials left an indelible impression on us. I still remember most of them, mentally linking the airing to certain CBS holiday programming like Garfield’s Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It was a simple time with simple pleasures like tearing up to Hardnose Mrs. Hatcher and her third grade class.
Oh my gorsh, the Muppet Family Christmas is my favorite holiday special. It’s the king and if you have never seen it, I weep for you. Jim Henson goes full nuclear on us by bringing together the Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock under one roof for a Christmas never to be equaled again. We even get a little cameo from the master himself and if you have a dry eye, you have no soul.
Back before I knew the magic of Black Friday, I created a list of things I would rather do than subject myself to the herd of crazy bargain shoppers. Then, last year, the girl I was dating at the time introduced me to alcohol while shopping and I finally got it. Look for me at Target come 12:01am this coming Black Friday. I’ll be wearing something stupid and drinking a Big Gulp cup full of margarita.
Years ago I was in a bidding war on eBay for an ugly Christmas sweater. When the price got to $200 I backed out and lost the bid. Thank God because then I would have never had the motivation to create this monstrosity. AND, get “pinned” on Pintrest over 300,000 times. Sometimes fame comes in weird forms.
Hey, did you know certain European countries believed St. Nick had a demon sidekick that would kill and rape the bad kids? Yeah, it’s not bad enough to be screwed out of gifts because you didn’t finish your peas but get violated and killed by Krampus? Damn Christmas, you scary.
This blog is no stranger to candy canes. Last year and the year before I did a pretty extensive review of all candy canes from the Smarties flavored ones to Jolly Rancher. It caused some awkward moments at the dentist the following month but it was well worth it to let the world know where these Christmas treats, which double as tree ornaments, stand. It’s my duty as a silly blogger.
I was positive that I tapped the cane market. They couldn’t possibly have come out with any more variations. I wrote damn near $200 off my taxes in just candy canes last year (kidding IRS) so if they made another version, I would certainly know about them.
And then I strolled into World Market.
SRIRACHA CANDY CANES!
You have got to be kidding me. I have been boasting to know the entire candy cane market only to get one-upped by a flavor that should not be.
The Canadian company, J&D Home Enterprises has defied all that is holy and infused Sriracha hot sauce with candy, colored it red, green and white and molded it into a cane. It’s 90% evil with 10% awesome and that is 100% VeggieMacabre approved. You might say nothing is sacred anymore but we live in a time when you can quit smoking by sucking on bubblegum flavored vapor. I don’t know.
Now I have to eat this craziness.
When breaking off a piece I immediately noticed a marrow that I am assuming is the Sriracha blend. It smelled like a regular candy and the first bite tasted like a regular candy cane but soon something else began to creep in. Yikes! It’s pretty darn spicy especially in the back of the throat and the sweet-tasting spot on the tongue (front center). I even felt a little heartburn after I finished. *swoon*
I think I love these Sriracha candy canes more than I should. In fact, I am looking for a mountain cabin getaway for the both of us. These things are my new favorite Christmas candy by a mile. Even though they don’t bear a liking to the Huy Fong Sriracha sauce we have come to love and put on everything, it has a kick that will leave you confused to why you have all twelve canes shoved in your mouth.
I bought these fine candy canes at World Market for around five bucks and if you have a tough time finding them in you area you can certainly order them at here. Trust me, if you like something spicy and new, you should probably buy at least forty boxes because they are awesome. Even on the back of the box it states “…great for tricking children…”. Come on, maaaan!
It’s been a slow kickoff for the new holiday blogger-anza (made that up) but don’t fret, I have something that not only sings to my heart, it sings to my esophagus. Ever have something sing to your esophagus? It’s weird because you sing using esophagus. I have derailed.
This year Target is offering an array of various hot sauces with different flavors and levels of heat in their “Holiday Heat” variety pack. I love spicy condiments so much I am pretty sure I haven’t had plain food in twenty years. Shit, I might not even like chicken! The fact that this is married with Christmas, I can’t even feel my legs from the excitement.
There are ten, count them, ten bottles of pain. Each on has a different flavor from the pepper variety and obvious heat level. I thought I would list each one with a paragraph explaining why my mouth is on fire but I figured that would fly for three of them. Ten bottles, however, I need to make this a bit more entertaining. That is why you notice the video below.
Nevermind, I just shot a video and it’s as repetitive and stupid as I imagined it to be. You’re getting a seven bottle countdown with the three hottest reserved for a video. Too much of both is a problem so I have spread out the pain.
Enjoy this and get this holiday pack even if it’s just to decorate your childish office.
Snowman Meltdown Zest Garlic
Is there anything better than a murdered snowman on the front of a hot sauce bottle? It puts a morbid spin on the classic Frosty the Snowman cartoon and song. Imagine if hunting stores had Rudolf carcasses displayed? Actually, they probably would do that, having lived in the Northwest for a while.
At first taste, it was extremely tart with no heat but soon after the garlic hits you and doesn’t leave for three days. I ended up taking down half the bottle in a desperate search for the spice but in the end, all I had was bad breath and a pucker face. This sauce is great against vampires but horrible against your self respect.
Mistletoe Madness Garlic Cayenne
Aw horse shit, more garlic? I just got over the last bottle thanks to sucking on a two-day old coffee filter. I understand the point of garlic flavoring but perhaps I should have spaced these two apart. I have to be on a plane tomorrow and I don’t need the attendant button pushed on me because I am sweating garlic.
Mistletoe Madness Garlic Cayenne is pretty tasty, less sour and garlic from the last but not hot at all. I don’t know what I am expecting out of this holiday pack. I guess I like hyperventilating and involuntary diarrhea?
Chimney Inferno Smokey Chipotle
Finally, I am out of garlic infused breath death and on to something totally new. Chipotle!
Am I the only one who can not say chipotle? I feel that I am not alone on this. Anyway, this smoky sauce is pretty tasty and sweet for a designated “hot sauce”. I wouldn’t apply it everywhere but in some cases like chicken or fish, I probably would lean to that. In other words, I wouldn’t kick it out of bed for eating crackers. And it’s also not spicy. NO!
Seasonal Disturbance Jalapeño Fire
OOOH! !t’s Linda Blair green and looks like a potential for a possible win. I have a thing for green hot sauces and to be honest, that’s one of the weirder things about me. Do you believe that? I think it’s just because the thought of applying green sauce to normal tacos makes me feel more extraterrestrial.
Well, it ain’t verde. Or is it? No, I think it just looks and tastes like it.
So far there has been zero heat with these reviewed sauces and it’s sucking my will to live.
Yule Be Sorry Spicy Pepper
If this sucks at least it still has the best name of the batch.
It sucks. And I am sorry.
Holiday Madness Original Tabasco Pepper
Whoa, bringing out the tabasco peppers with is one! I don’t know if that makes a difference or if it just makes me feel a little more comfortable knowing “tabasco” is on the label. I am the type of person who will probably eat spagetti if it boasts that it is made with real Coke rather than cola. It’s a horrible comparison but sadly accurate.
I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a person who should never review such products but this is exactly the same as Snowman Meltdown. I mean, it’s not even slightly different and now my breath smells like a dogs ass again. Both of my mutts are looking to stick their noses in my mouth.
Ho Ho Hot Jalapeño Pepper
Uh oh, I have a feeling this might be a repeat as well. It looks the exact same as the Seasonal Distrurbance even using the exact same ingredience and sodium level. Unless this as magic, I expect this to be a repeated bottle only better looking. I mean it, the other green jalapeño bottle looks like early 90’s Southwestern decor.
Well, slap my hammies and call me Chair, it is the same! I recognize that tart non-spicy green sauce of the deep anywhere. It’s good on bland wheat crackers and the last shred of hope I had for this pack. Happy Christmas!
Okay, we have come to the last three. Well, two. I left one out because IT IS THE EXACT SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS! Here is a short video featuring me and an old man who damn near killed himself thinking he was tougher than he really was. I have to admit, I admire the old bastard.
In closing I will give this pack a multi-tier grade because it is unfair to hammer hot sauce holiday variety pack because the concept is something that is the soul of VeggieMacabre. The soul.
A- It’s a variety pack
A- It’s hot sauce
A- It’s holiday themed
G (below F)- Because it’s says “Hot” too much and it is not. Never absolutely never not hot it isn’t.
H (Below a G)- All the sauces are the same except in different bottles.
It was a great run we had this Halloween season. Even though I was away on business the last week and traveled the whole day of Halloween, it was one for the books. I definitely want to thank you for hanging around and being apart of the celebration. I might not know you personally but I definitely feel we shared a special time this season. So bring it in and let’s hug.
NOW…no more talk about Halloween until next August. We have important work to do.
Welcome to the next fun and from now until December 25th, we will be talking about all things Christmas and Thanksgiving. I know you might think it’s a little early but in my mind, if the stores are pushing chocolate covered reindeer, it’s okay for me too. I have put together a pretty extensive list to cover and much fun will be had.
You may have noticed the Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale above with my pot roast backdrop. I am not sure if this is a seasonal beverage or if it is a constant but to me, this is only a November-December drink. That always makes something a little more special. Just like drinking a cool glass of eggnog at a 4th of July pool party probably would lessen the feeling come this time of the year. Not to mention that’s kind of gross.
Since Cranberry Ginger Ale has been on the market for a few Christmas seasons, I don’t feel the need to review it but I will say that you need to have this in your fridge. If nothing more, its color screams Yuletide.
Now this is what I want to review. I heard about Sprite jumping on the cranberry train like Sierra Mist and 7-UP but didn’t think it would arrive at the store so early. I was pleasantly surprised to buy it when I came home from my trip last week and immediately shot a picture to Matt over at Dinosaurdracula.com. It looks like I was tardy to the party, however, because he already tried it. I am always a day late and a dollar short when new products are introduced. I’ll review it anyway.
I had high expectations for this because I like Sprite a bit more than one should. The red label makes for a pretty damn attractive bottle though it’s contents is clear unlike other cranberry soft drinks. Please great Almighty, make this taste amazing.
Hrm. After having a glass I stood there for a while not sure what to think. I liked it, there was no question about that but was it “blow your socks off slap your mama shoot a gun” good like I was hoping? Not really.
I couldn’t grasp the cranberry taste and perhaps it was because I bought full-on fat kid Sprite rather than the diet or Zero version. Usually the diet versions are less sugary and more tartness and in the cranberry soda world, that makes big difference.
So, I give it 7.5 out of 10. I do like it but if given a choice, I would probably take the advise of the Holiday Hawk.
Casserole of Disaster 