Too Haute Cowgirls: The Good, the Bad, and the Peanut Butter Popcorn

Edited on 11/13/10 to add:
This is actually a re-run review of sorts. My original photo's were what could best be described as "melty" looking thanks to the shipping company. The kindly little ladies of Too Haute Cowgirls were nice enough to send along new samples so thanks to them I was able to redo the photo's and give this popcorn the food porn justice it deserves!

The rootin' tootin' ladies of Too Haute Cowgirls have certainly been making quite the impression on me. They have a caramel popcorn base that is to die for, and they have many, many different versions and toppings that they have piled on.

Today's cluster is The Good, the Bad and the Peanut Butter. Which is caramel corn drizzled with white chocolate and peanut butter. Also tossed into the mix are peanuts, cashews, pretzels, and sea salt flakes.

Now, I go into this eager yet scared: I love everything on that list except for white chocolate. And sadly, white chocolate is going to play a major role here. With that admission of bias up front, let's give her a try:

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The peanut butter is the first thing you taste. It has that sweeter peanutty taste that seems more common in peanut butter flavored items than in actual peanut butter itself. Think less roasted nuts and more sugary. Kinda like peanut butter flavored cereal. I may not like that taste in a sandwich, but it works really well with the caramel corn.

The sea salt makes both the caramel and the peanut butter pop.

The white chocolate just adds a little extra vanilla-like sweetness. There's a lot of it, but to my delight it didn't make the popcorn oily or distract from the other ingredients. It also adds a little smooth melt.

The nuts are plentiful and very crisp.

I just wish there had been more pretzels! They tasted great along with the caramel corn and the peanut butter. And like the nuts, they were very crispy.


I can't say enough about the caramel corn. Even if they'd packaged plain caramel corn on its own, it would still be good. The caramel is milky and salty. The corn itself is plump and crunchy.

Even as a non-fan of white chocolate I really liked this flavor!



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Contains nuts.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
toohautecowgirls.com

Too Haute Cowgirls: Chili Con Chocolate Popcorn

Edited on 11/11/10 to add:
This is actually a re-run review of sorts. My original photo's were what could best be described as "melty" looking thanks to the shipping company. The kindly little ladies of Too Haute Cowgirls were nice enough to send along new samples so thanks to them I was able to redo the photo's and give this popcorn the food porn justice it deserves!

I have to admit that as soon as I hear or see the words "Chili Con" anything, I immediately think of my favorite episode of South Park, Scott Tenorman Must Die, in which Cartman invites his arch nemesis (for that episode, at least) to a "Chili Con Carnival" that has a rather disturbing, but classic Cartman ending.



Given the episode's outcome, I should maybe be more wary than I am of trying anything marked "Chili Con (insert random food)." But we all know I am a little twisted myself, so in reality it only made the product seem more awesome to me.



Too Haute Cowgirls' Chili Con Chocolate is made up of caramel coated popcorn that's been covered in dark chocolate, mixed with pecans, and then everything is covered in a special chili coating. And I think we all know once you put the words "chili" and "chocolate" together, I am there.

So, we know I love the idea of this popcorn...but did I love the popcorn itself?

It's definitely an unusual mix. First, I have to give Too Haute Cowgirls props: this popcorn actually does pack some serious heat. I am frequently disappointed by the lack of heat in supposedly "hot" products. But this one really does bring it.

Just as with their Fluer de Sel Popcorn, the actual corn itself is light and fluffy. The caramel is sweet and buttery. The chocolate coating is thick enough to completely enrobe the popcorn, but not so thick that it forms a hard crust (which is good).



The nuts are whole pecans, and they were crunchy and fresh. They are also covered in chocolate, but are caramel free.



The spice blend that covers everything does indeed bring the heat it promises to the table. I am not sure what is in the chili blend, but for the most part it really compliments the popcorn, the caramel, the chocolate and the nuts. The only thing that sort of got me is that some bites seemed to have a lot of cumin flavor to them (I don't know for sure that the mix actually contains cumin, but most chili blends do). I didn't care for the cumin taste with the chocolate and the caramel. But I loved the pieces that were all chocolate and heat.

This is an interesting mix that's well worth rustlin' up.



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

PRICE:
Sample from company

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Contains nuts.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
toohautecowgirls.com

Too Haute Cowgirls: Fistful of Fleur de Sel

If long time readers know anything about me, it's that three of my favorite words in the world are Fleur de Sel. How do you not love salt, and how do you not love salt even more when it's paired with caramel, chocolate, and popcorn? It's probably impossible. So when Too Haute Cowgirls mosied off the range to ask me if I wanted to try some of their popcorn creations, I struck faster than an angry rattlesnake at a cowboy caught wearing his cousin as boots (or something like that). Anyway...

The popcorn is stuck together with caramel in nicely sized clusters, which are then covered in dark chocolate along with large chunks of toffee sprinkled with fleur de sel.

OMG! If life in the Wild West were more like this and less like about a dozen bad Kevin Costner movies, maybe I would regret not living there.

The popcorn is fluffy and manages to not pick up that oily taste and spongy texture that packaged popcorn tends to get. The caramel is buttery and you know it's there -- but it's not so strong that it overrides any of the other flavors.



The toffee pieces were crunchy and sweet, and complimented the caramel perfectly.

But it's really the salt that brings the whole thing together. It makes the cocoa in the dark chocolate stand out. It balances the caramel and the toffee, and it reminds you of the best part of really good freshly popped corn.



This stuff is truly addicting. And we actually blew through the entire bag while writing the review. So grab old Trigger and go get some...of course, if you're riding a horse to get to your internet connection, you may have bigger issues.



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Made in facilities along with dairy, soy, peanuts, wheat, and tree nuts are used.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
toohautecowgirls.com

Herr's Puff'n Corn: Cheese Flavor

We have my sister from another mother -- Net -- to thank for this review. We were preparing dinner in her New Jersey apartment, when she made the mistake of pulling out a bag of these Puff'n Corn things and asking me if I wanted to try them. Little did I know the delicious evil that lurked inside the harmless-looking cellophane!

You see, folks, until that moment -- while I had heard of the Herr's brand -- I had never tried any of their products, as they are unfortunately not sold on the West Coast. My biggest exposure to them came via the "Grief Counseling" episode of the U.S. version of The Office, in which Jim and Karen spend the day looking for her favorite flavor of Herr's chips that are sold out from the office's vending machine.

If Jim and Karen were looking for this flavor, then I completely understand why they felt the need to blow off work and hunt them down. (At my job we call such activities "getting fired," and I am not so sure Jim's job is safe any more either. After all, Jay Leno isn't on in the eight o'clock hour...yet.)



These puffs are described as a hulless puffed popped corn (that, in this case, happens to be cheese flavored). These snacks are all about the texture. Looking at them, I feared that since they looked a little like Styrofoam packing peanuts, that they might taste like them as well...oh, no!

Imagine the tasty love child of a piece of regular popcorn and an old school Planters Cheese Ball. (Modern-day cheese puffs are kinda close, but those who remember the Planters Balls will better understand). As you bite into the puff there is a crunch that, while satisfying, doesn't threaten to cut your gums open. (Yes, Cheetos Giant, I am talking smack about you). But at the same time, once you're through the outer shell, there is an almost chewy inside, rather than the scratchy nothingness that is often at the center of a cheese puff.



The cheese flavor is good. I mean, it's standard issue powdered artificial cheese flavoring. It's hard for it to be bad (or really great). It's salty, but not excessively so. And at the same time I wouldn't call it bland either. There a distinct popcorn flavor, and it's a little buttery. And it's a bright enough orange that should you need a snack for an impending hunting trip, this could be perfect!

Poor Net. She created a monster. I ate her bag, made us go get another, and then spent the night trying to sneak rogue puffs into everything from the salad to the chicken to the apple pie. I am sure that it was every bit as pathetic to watch as it is to read about. All I know is that no cheese puff from here on out will ever be as good.


(A special shout out to Tony for posing "Jersey Shore" style for this newest rating!)

PURCHASED FROM:
Shop Rite supermarket

PRICE:
$2.19

CALORIES:
150 per 1 ounce serving

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
herrs.com

Harry & David Milk Chocolate Moose Munch Bar

Again I have to credit Jim for inspiring me to want to try something
Jim reviewed this bar back in September (check out his review HERE) and I thought it sounded pretty darn good.

Wandering around Walgreen's last night I found they have started to carry the bars so you know... I had to get one (what you thought I could pass it up?)

The bar has popcorn, caramel, nuts, toffee bits and a fudgy center wrapped in milk chocolate (they have a dark chocolate version as well but the ones on the shelf looked crushed)

I love the idea of popcorn in a candy bar. Off the top of my head I can't think of another bar that has popcorn in it. The bar smells great. Sweet and milky- almost marshmellow like.

Biting into the bar I think because of the smell I had been expecting a soft, chewy texture. What I actually got both smooth and crunchy from the nuts and the popcorn. It was actually a pleasent surprise.

The popcorn was just like I hoped it would be. Crunchy, salty and the pieces were big fluffy kernals. The nuts when I could find them were slightly salty and crispy. As far as I could tell from the label there are supposed to be cashews and almonds. My bar seemed to have mostly cashews. As for the caramel while I can tell from the flavor that it is in there I didn't see any visable traces of it. The toffee bits were crisp and buttery. The chocolate was cool on the tongue, sweet and has an instantly creamy melt. I think without the fillings it may be too sweet but as is it balanced everything out.

My only complaint with the bar really isn't a complaint so much as I wish- I wish there had been more popcorn!

I have got to try the dark chocolate version!

PURCHASED FROM:
Walgreens

If you have never had one of these bar's they are a must try.

Trader Joe's Kettle Corn

With the L.A. County Fair coming up in less then a month you would think I might be able to keep my kettle corn craving at bay
After all kettle corn is (as far as I am concerned) the single best fair food EVER!
There is just something so great about fresh hot corn, the sugar caramelizing from the heat. The salt on your fingers...mmmmmmmmmmm...

Ok, clearly I am a fan. And since I am also not a patient person when I saw the TJ's version on the shelf I had to give it a try.

Unfortunately, there is just no way to get some of my favorite parts of the kettle corn experience out of a ready made bag. You don't get to eat it warm and you can't ask them to go heavier on the salt or the sugar. And pre-made bagged popcorn always has a chewier, staler texture then fresh popped.

Even with all that being said TJ's did a pretty good job with they're version. One of the things I liked that they did is that some of the pieces (kernels) are salted, others are sugared and others are plain. I think that blending the flavors this way rather then trying to cram everything on to each kernel is what makes this version better then any of the other ready made kettle corns I have tried.

The corn is sweet- but it's not overwhelming or sticky like a Crunch N' Munch type corn (and trust me I LOVE Crunch N' Munch). It is salty but not excessively. I also give TJ's points for the corn only having four ingredients:
Popcorn, Salt, Sugar and Sunflower Oil. Let's face it kettle corn is not the best snack in the world for you but I like the fact that it is also not full of preservatives and additives.

PURCHASED FROM:
Trader Joe's

Orville Redenbacher's Natural- Buttery Salt & Cracked Pepper

What ever happened to Orville Grandson Gary?- and why do I even remember him?

Well a Google search turned up that he is now a very respected attorney so good for him.
I picked up a box of the Buttery Salt & Cracked Pepper corn because I love anything that features pepper- yes, I know I could easily just sprinkle the pepper on myself but that takes away the fun of the review doesn't it?
So I got myself a box of the popcorn...

First thing I noticed is that the bags are Mini bags rather then full sized. I liked that. In my microwave anyway the mini bags pop much better and I never finish a large bag anyway so the smaller portion saved on waste.

I think I can safely say this is the best microwaved popcorn I have ever had. The popcorn it's self is plump and crisp. The butter actually manages to taste like butter- without being greasy or artificial. The salt is well balanced and if you like pepper (and I do) you will love this because the pepper is generous, there is no missing it or barely a hint. The pepper is the strongest flavor. I could see where people who aren't as big of a fan of pepper as I am may be overwhelmed but I loved it.

I will definitely be checking out the rest of the naturals line.

PURCHASED FROM:
Kroger (Ralph's depending on your location)