Wonder creme-filled Chocolate Cupcakes are Delicious, High-Quality Treats

With a huge snowstorm poised to hit Connecticut in approximately 36 hours, I decided to shop for a few needed items at the West Hartford Big Y supermarket last week.

While standing in the incredibly long line for the self-checkout lanes, I noticed a nearby display of Wonder chocolate cupcakes. As a lifelong regular consumer of snack cakes and a lover of chocolate, I had to purchase one of these two-packs of cupcakes.

As soon as I saw the Wonder cupcakes, I wondered if they were actually Hostess cakes. Later that evening, I looked-up the connection between Hostess and Wonder and learned that they are now two separate companies.

According to several reputable websites, the Flowers Foods company now owns the Wonder brand, and the Hostess Brands company is now owned by the J. M. Smucker Company. Until 2012, the Hostess and Wonder companies were owned by the Interstate Bakeries Corporation. 

Last night, I ate the two Wonder creme-filled chocolate cupcakes and I'm very glad I did so. Here's a little more information regarding these delicious snack cakes.

Size

The two-pack of Wonder Chocolate Cupcakes weighs-in at four ounces. These two-ounce cupcakes are standard in size, with a good ratio of cake to frosting.

It can be difficult to eat only one of these treats, however, because they're so delicious.

Price

The price that I paid for one four-ounce package of Wonder creme-filled chocolate cupcakes at Big Y was $1.50. To my tastebuds, these cupcakes are very similar to fresh bakery cupcakes, which are generally higher-priced.

Texture

One of the first things I noticed when I ate my first Wonder creme-filled Chocolate Cupcake was the moist-yet-dense texture. The chocolate frosting on top is thick and creamy and it works well with the pleasing chocolate cake.

Nutritional Facts

One Wonder creme-filled Chocolate Cupcake contains 200 calories, with 5 grams total fat. Each cake also contains 2 grams of saturated fat, 15 mg of cholesterol, 25    grams total sugars, 38 grams total carbohydrates and 2 grams of protein.

Flavor

When it comes to flavor, the new creme-filled chocolate cupcakes from Wonder are top-rate, for packaged snack cakes.

The cake has a deep and enjoyable taste, while the frosting offers an equally satisfying flavor.

Actually, the Wonder creme-filled Chocolate Cupcakes are the best-tasting snack food cupcakes I've tasted in years.

Overall Rating

If you're a fan of chocolate cupcakes, there's a good chance that you'll enjoy eating Wonder creme-filled Chocolate Cupcakes.

For years, I've been purchasing and eating Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes and I still enjoy eating them.

While both brands are excellent, it seems like the Wonder cupcakes provide a deeper, real chocolate flavor. Their slightly moist texture is another plus.

On a scale of one through ten, I would give the Wonder creme-filled Chocolate Cupcakes a solid 9.25. Highly recommended.

Texture

The chocolate frosting is creamy, not semi-hard like some other brands of cupcakes.

  

Some Unusual Pizza Slices in the Hartford, Connecticut area

 Do these pizza slices look attractive and/or appetizing?

When I went to one of my all-time favorite West Hartford restaurants last Saturday, I ordered the same thing I frequently order. A small pizza with extra sauce and very light cheese, to-go. Sometimes, I order pepperoni, but this time I wanted a very simple pie.

All week long, I'd been thinking about getting a pizza on Saturday. One week earlier, I went to the same restaurant and placed the exact same pizza order. The pizza I got last week was superb! A generous layer of pizza sauce covered the delicious, golden-brown crust along with a small amount of melted and browned mozzarella cheese.

As a former pizza cook at three different pizza restaurants, and a lifelong pizza-lover, I know a little bit about making and baking pies. As soon as I opened the box holding this pizza, I said "What is this?"

When I looked closer at this funky pizza pie, it appeared that it had cooked in the oven, then another coat of pizza sauce was spread on top of the cooked cheese. It looked to me like the extra layer of pizza sauce on top was applied cold and was not heated in the oven.

Seeing this unusual pizza made me wonder if it was a pizza that was previously cooked, then covered with a bunch of extra sauce when I placed my order. From experience, I know that somtimes pizzas don't get picked-up by the people that order them, and will often sit on top of pizza ovens for hours.

Even if the pizza was baked fresh for my order, the extra sauce should be able to fit comfortably underneath the cheese. While I am very fond of this restaurant's pizza sauce, the visual presentation was not very appealing.

It should be added that when I was paying the cashier , I could easily look into the mostly-open kitchen, and noticed three new employees whom I'd never seen before. Two of the staff members appeared to be prep cooks and one guy was holding a pizza peel while standing near the pizza ovens.

Since I've been patronizing this restaurant for decades now, I know some of the employees by name, including the waitress who rang me up that evening. A few minutes after seeing this freaky-deaky pizza pie, I called the restaurant and spoke to the waitress on the phone.

It was reassuring to hear her say that I could bring the pie back right away, and they would cook another one for me. Because it was already fairly late at that point and I didn't feel like going out then, I said I'd try to get there the next day. 

Although I wasn't able to get back to the pizza restaurant the following day, I do appreciate their offer to replace the pie. Maybe, in the future, I'll have to check the appearance of all the pizza pies I order. Hopefully, not. 

Groovy New Hand-Painted Wall Switch Plates- 2025

In the early-2000s, I was regularly painting lots of light switch plates, and full-sized paintings . 

Switching from 12, 16 and 24-inch canvases to "4.5 x "2.75 plates can take some getting used to.

In the past few months, I painted these wall plates. The plates are great conversation-pieces, and add a sense of fun to any room they're placed in. 

 

Why Doesn't Hostess Offer Peanut Butter and/or Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Flavored Donettes Mini Donuts?

The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is very popular with consumers of all ages. Reese's peanut butter cups are now available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and flavor variations.

For decades now, I've been eating Hostess Donettes on a regular basis. More often than not, I purchase the chocolate frosted variety, but sometimes, the powdered sugar option is the Donette of choice.

Occasionally, I'll also purchase and eat Little Debbie brand mini donuts, but they're often not available at the stores where I shop. 

Ever since I was a kid, the food I eat more than any other is peanut butter. Quite often, an opened jar of Jif or Skippy peanut butter will sitting on my kitchen counter.

Sometimes, when I'm eating Hostess chocolate frosted or powdered white sugar Donettes, I'll put a little bit of peanut butter on them. The combination of flavors is boss, groovy dynamite! In other words, the flavors work very well together.

After experiencing peanut butter on these chocolate mini donuts, I wonder if Hostess has considered producing plain peanut butter-flavored Donettes and/or chocolate/peanut butter-flavored mini donuts.

Most likely, either variety of peanut butter-flavored Hostess Donettes would be a big hit with consumers.

If Hostess were to begin selling peanut butter and/or chocolate/peanut butter-flavored mini donuts, do you think you would purchase and eat them?

The Combination of Ritz Crackers and Fresh Cherries is Incredibly Delicious

 If you're looking for a refreshing, sweet and salty snack, the combination of Ritz crackers and fresh cherries certainly fits the bill.

Like many other taste sensations, the combination of cherries and Ritz crackers was discovered largely by coincidence.

One night a few weeks ago, I decided to eat a couple of the fresh cherries I purchased earlier that day at Big Y supermarket. As I bit into a cherry, I noticed the partially full sleeve of Ritz crackers a few inches away, on the kitchen counter.

Since I really enjoy eating both Ritz crackers and fresh cherries, the two items were combined for the second bite of the cherry. The mild saltiness of the crackers complements the natural sweetness of the cherries, creating a delicious taste treat that's fun to eat.

Since I first tried combining fresh cherries and Ritz crackers, I've eaten the combination several times.This naturally sweet and salty snack is highly recommended.

Little Debbie Cookies & Creme Brownies are Sweet, Full-Flavored Treats

Are you a fan of brownies? Do you enjoy eating Cookies and Cream-flavored desserts? You might want to try the new Cookies and Creme-flavored brownie that the Little Debbie snack cake company introduced fairly recently.

When I first saw the Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownies at a local corner market in Hartford two weeks ago, I was impressed with the appearance of the packaging. Half of the brown and white brownie is visible, with the blue and white label offset by the red and white Little Debbie logo. When I look at the package, the colors remind me of a Winter snowstorm.

As soon as I tasted the Little Debbie Cookies & Creme Brownie, I realized that this chocolate treat really packs a sugary punch. Between the chocolatey brownie part and the white, creme-flavored hard frosting, there's a whole bunch of sweetness rocking this snack cake.

Size

The single-serving Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownie weighs-in at four ounces, and it measures roughly 5.5" x 2.5". Because of its large size and rich sweetness, I find that eating one-half of one of these brownies is pretty satisfying.

Price

At Amigo's Market, I think I paid $2 for one of the Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownies. Several online websites sell these single-serving brownies, and the price averages around $2.50 each.

Nutritional Facts

One single serving size Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownie contains about 510 calories. Each brownie contains 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 grams total carbohydrates and 3 grams of protein. With 42 grams of sugar, this brownie is definitely a sweet treat.

Taste/Flavor

When I tried the Little Debbie Cookies & Creme Brownie for the first time, the initial couple of bites I took tasted quite good. Pretty quickly, however, I noticed that this treat was very rich. Due to the rich, sweet flavor and dense consistency, I've eaten only one-half of these brownies on each of the two times I've tried the item.

It seems as though these brownies would really shine when paired with a frosty glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.

Packaging

The single-serving size Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownie is packaged in cellophane, with the top half being clear, and the lower half is dark blue with white writing.

Overall Rating

If you like eating very-sweet brownies and/or Cookies & Cream-flavored desserts, there's a good chance you'd enjoy eating a Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownie.

Personally, I'd prefer to eat brownies that are less sweet in flavor. For myself, one-half of one of these brownies is enough to satisfy my sweet cravings. If you're looking for a large snack treat that's pretty reasonably priced, the Little Debbie Cookies & Creme brownie may be just the right treat for you.

Outdated Potato Crisps at the Gas Station Mini-Mart

Pringles are everywhere these days. Whether it be at a large supermarket, small bodega, gas station, pharmacy or online retailer, there's a pretty good chance you'll find these canned potato products there.

For approximately two years now, I've been purchasing different varieties of Pringles from a range of different businesses. After years of buying ridged Utz potato crisps from the bodega around the corner from my apartment, I didn't appreciate the way the price of their chips doubled there a couple of years ago.

When I was a kid, my Family would often have State Line potato chips on hand, and they still make some very good chips, but they can be hard to find. Munchos are also pretty awesome, but they're usually even harder to find.

Even though they can sometimes taste a little greasy, the different varieties of Pringles are pretty consistent in size and flavor. Most of the time, they're also unbroken chips.

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped at a local gas station/mini food mart in my neighborhood to buy lottery tickets and a can of pizza-flavored Pringles. Keep in mind that this is one of the largest and most well-known gas station brands, with locations everywhere.

A small rack containing two shelves of various Pringles varieties was situated in the mini-mart section. On the top shelf were small, half-size cans of the potato crisps, and on the bottom shelf, approximately 25 full-sized cans of different Pringles varieties were displayed.

For decades now, I've been checking the expiration dates on most of the food items I purchase. When I looked at the bottom of one of the cans of Pizza-flavored Pringles from the shelf, I thought I was seeing things.

The expiration date on the bottom of the can read October 2022. After looking at the date several times, to confirm what I saw, I put the can back on the shelf, and picked up another one. The second can also had an expiration date of October 2022.

By that point, I was pretty freaked-out at discovering the two pizza-flavored cans of Pringles having expiration dates that were more than a
year out of date. Just for ha-ha's, I checked the expiration date on a can of Pringles BBQ-flavored chips, and it was in early-2023.

After discovering that the three regular-sized cans of Pringles were almost 1.5 years past the expiration date, I decided to check the freshness of the half-sized cans of Pringles on the top shelf of the rack.

All three of the half-sized cans that I checked had early-2025 expiration dates. Go figure.

So far, I haven't had a chance to mention the prehistoric Pringles to the staff members at the gas station/mini mart, but I hope to do so soon.

The employees at the gas station seem pretty honest and ethical (I hope), and my guess is that they don't even know about the outdated potato crisps. Maybe, when the chip vendor brings their products in for re-stocking, nobody is regularly checking expiration dates and/or rotating stock.

Whatever the reason may be, it's always unacceptable to sell outdated food items.

Is it worth the effort to check the expiration dates on food products?

Definitely, yes.