New product reviews

Somehow it worked out today at lunch that we tasted lots of new items that I haven't purchased before. OF COURSE, I had coupons and got most of these things cheap or free. Since there are several moms (and couponing moms at that) who read this blog, I'd thought I'd pass on our opinions of these new things.



First, Hot Pockets Ultimates (no pic). These are supposedly 50% larger than normal hot pockets. Jonathan and Jeremy said they were great. I had two coupons, which meant I only got 2 HPs, and J&J were the first to the freezer to claim them. I think after coupons, I paid $.50 each. Totally worth that price! They liked them better than regular hot pockets (which they love), more meat and cheese-and of course bigger. Seemed like they took longer to cook than the directions on the pkg. But with a couple of extra mins in the microwave, they were fine.







Duncan Heinz Oven Ready Brownies. These were super easy and tasted as good as regular DH brownies, which are the very best, in my opinion. We added plain M&Ms (that we got cheap at Walgreens) to the top after they were done cooking. There's nothing left of this new treat, needless to say. Actually it was nice because it makes a smaller pan than a regular 13x9 pan. My boys can finish off an entire 13x9 pan of brownies if given the reins, so it was nice to know that even though the pan is gone, it wasn't a huge pan. AND there's no pan to clean up! Jeremy said that he likes the process of making brownies (in other words, the batter!) but everyone agreed these tasted just as good. I think I paid $1 or maybe a little more for these. I would do it again, especially if I didn't have easy access to eggs and oil or the time to prepare the brownies.

Diet Mint and Honey Sweet Leaf Green Tea: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this tea. I like tea. It's been a good substitute as I'm trying to get away from soft drinks. This tea though is the best I've had ever. I could probably have finished off this entire bottle at lunch but I want to have some for later. My boys don't like tea, but Jonathan drank some by mistake (that's what he gets for grabbing mom's drink and swigging away!) and said that it actually wasn't bad. That's as close to a "thumbs up" review I'll ever get from my boys on tea. Who knows, maybe this soft drink fast they're on will drive them to tea.....probably not. That just means I don't ever have to share!! :-) They make this tea in Austin, so I don't know if you can only buy it in TX or not.

I got these Green Valley Steamers for free with a coupon. In my opinion (and that of the boys as well) that's all it's worth. The boys choked down their servings (brownies were on the line!). I thought it needed salt and wasn't sweet at all. The texture of the kernels was pretty un-plump. It's just as easy to dump a can of corn, or even frozen corn in a pan and the ones I've had before, even store brands, tasted much better. I might get it again if I had a coupon to get it free, but probably to put in soups or in dishes, not to eat plain.

And, our fresh green beans were yummy! Jeremy said they "were a little good". Jonathan and Jeffrey said that they think they like fresh green beans better than canned! YES!!