Tag Archives: Tim’s Cascade Jalepeno Chips

The Fun Of Taste Tests

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Back in the 1980s, Pepsi gained the upper hand over Coke in the Cola Wars by staging public taste tests. Called the Pepsi Challenge, the beverage company would set up blind taste stations in public places and allow consumers to sample the rival colas and determine their favorite. Pepsi was preferred.

Because of that experiment, the concept of a taste test became mainstream and people realized that you didn’t need to be a billion-dollar company to conduct them. Even relatively normal people like yours truly could do them…and do them I did.

Over the past 10 years, I have staged/taken part in numerous taste tests. The reasons to do them are plentiful: they are educational, fun, and make really good blog content. For a family looking to do something on a rainy day or seeking to test assumptions, a taste test is a wonderful activity.

I wanted to highlight five taste tests I have been involved with over the years…

Jalapeno Chips – In 2019, my brother and sister-in-law helped me pull off a taste test for my favorite type of chip—the jalapeno variety! I sampled three different brands of chips as it was interesting to compare thickness and spiciness. I definitely sweated it out through the competition and in the end Tim’s Cascade (which I consider the all-time best potato chip of any flavor) came out the victor.

Sitting down to take the jalapeno chip taste test!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream – This was a really fun taste test with surprising results. I “let” Sidney try five different cookie dough ice creams in 2016. Although the creaminess of the ice cream proved to be a major factor, the frequency and size of the cookie dough pieces was a fun thing to track. Against all odds, the Great Value ice cream topped giants such as Ben & Jerry’s and Blue Bunny as the favorite.

This is the lineup of different cookie dough ice creams I used for the taste test.

Lemon Lime Sodas – When Starry was introduced as Pepsi’s lemon lime soda replacement (bye bye Sierra Mist), we knew we had to try it. However, we wanted to sample it in the context of other lemon lime giants. Sidney and Sloan took the reins as supreme taste testers as they sampled Starry, 7Up, and Sprite. The winner? Split decision! Sid preferred 7UP while Sloan opted for Starry. In addition to the blog post I wrote, you can also watch this video that I created of the contest.

Sloan received the opportunity of a 5-year-old’s lifetime when I told her she would get to sample three lemon lime sodas.

Bottled Water – Staying on the topic of beverages, I even participated in a bottled water taste test. Orchestrated by my sister-in-law, she challenged my palette to see if the bottled water brand I preferred (Fred Meyer) actually topped other competitors. News flash: It didn’t! If you think all bottled water tastes the same, you really need to read this blog post.

I didn’t know the taste of Fred Meyer water like I thought I did.

Knockoff Vs. Generic – The taste test of all taste tests was actually the first one I ever did for Don’t Blink. Back in 2015, I had Sidney blind taste test five premium products against generic counterparts. I had Sidney try Cheetos vs. Cheez Doodles, Cheez-Its vs. Tangy Cheddar Squares, Pop-Tarts vs. Toast’em Pop-Ups, Fruity Pebbles vs. Fruity Dyno-Bites, and Kraft Mac & Cheese vs. Greenbrier Mac & Cheese. Guess what? The premium brand was graded higher by Sid every time. But even though I spoiled the outcome you still need to read the blog post because it was pretty epic!

On this table are the products I purchased for the Premium vs. Knockoff Showdown!

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So friends, what taste test are you going to do? If you are looking for a family-friendly activity this weekend I encourage you to try one out. And if you do, PLEASE tell me about it. Most people hate tests, but a taste test is something everyone can enjoy 😉. Don’t Blink.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Thursday Rundown

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Well, how is your summer going? It doesn’t get any better in Spokane than July and we are certainly living it up. Let’s get started with my latest Thursday Rundown…

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza – Apparently all the cool kids are playing Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. It is a sequence-based card game that challenges players to think fast when a card is turned face-up on the pile. Sloan has played the game all summer at daycare and is pretty good. Me? I had a hard enough time getting the basic taco-cat-goat-cheese-pizza order down, let alone remembering what to do with the special cards. Even with my lack of skill, I still had a blast playing it with my family.

Beau was a little slower at “Taco Cat Goat Cheese” than the rest of us so Sid played a special 1-on-1 game with him.

Picture of the Week – How could you have anything but an ear-to-ear grin when you are at the pool on a hot summer day? I guess the answer is when your mom is photobombing you. Last Saturday, my family went to the Northside Aquatics Center in Spokane County. We had a great time at the sparkling facility as I raced Sloan on the water slides and Beau continued to impress us with his comfort in the water after his timidity last summer. Except for Sid, this photo definitely doesn’t convey the enthusiasm the kids exhibited for most of the afternoon.

I love this photo of Sid photobombing Beau and Sloan at the Northside Aquatics Center.

Dog Theme – Throughout the years, I have chronicled the clever birthday party themes (here and here) my sister has pulled off for her kids. Another opportunity came up this past weekend when my sister and brother-in-law hosted my nephew’s 8th birthday party. The family recently adopted a yellow lab they are in love with so it was natural that my nephew, John, would want a dog-themed party. Below is a photo of some of the “doggy treats” offered at the party. You have doggy poo (no-bake cookies), dog toys (oranges), puppy piddle (lemonade), puppy chow (muddy buddies), pup-corn (popcorn), and more. Happy birthday to John who celebrates his actual special day today!

This was the birthday dog-themed spread at John’s party.

That Makes Sense – Last week I mentioned that a brother from my Knights of Columbus council recently passed away. Rob Heacock had many hobbies and areas of expertise, including that of a Lewis and Clark historian. He wrote a book that documented the various campsites of the explorers and how to access them. In the introduction of the book (I now own a copy), he encouraged those looking to discover the campsites with the following advice: There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. In a moving eulogy, his son referenced his dad’s quote as well. So, whenever you want to mail something in because it is starting to rain or it might be too hot, just remember the words of Rob.

Rob Heacock was a talented, smart, and kind man. He was fond of saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” I will miss Rob.

Jalapeno Chips Mania – I am a BIG fan of jalapeno chips. The heat and flavor just do it for me! On this date six years ago, I had the pleasure of blind taste testing three different brands of jalapeno chips. This experiment was made possible by my sister-in-law who purchased the goods and then conducted an extremely regimented and scientifically-acceptable taste test. The winner? Hands down it was Tim’s Cascade Jalapeno Chips. Thick, crunchy, flavorful, and HOT, no one does the jalapeno chip better than Tim’s. In fact, I would argue that no one does the potato chip better than Tim’s. The thickness and texture should always win over any potato chip fan. It is just a shame that Tim’s only distributes its products in the Pacific Northwest.

The best chip is the Tim’s Cascade jalapeno chip.

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Hope you continue to rack up those summer memories. Mid-July is a great time so take advantage of it! I look forward to touching base next week. Don’t Blink

My Top 5 Favorite Chips

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A signature part of Don’t Blink is my annual #DoUsAFlavor Lay’s potato chips review and ranking. However, do you want to know something? On my top 5 list of favorite chips, you won’t find a Lay’s item. But you will find the below snacks on it! For tonight’s blog post, I am counting down my five favorite types of chips.

I enjoy Lay’s Potato Chips, but they aren’t on my top five list.

5. Tostito’s Rounds – In my opinion, a bag of Tostito’s Rounds is the perfect snack. Salty and easy to eat, you don’t have to worry about jagged pieces piercing your gums or crumbling in an inconvenient mess like regular tortilla chips. The size and shape of the snack makes it seem like you aren’t eating as much which is a good feeling. The biggest upside, however, is that they serve as a great base for quick nachos. I love piling a bunch of them onto a plate, dropping a layer of cheese, and sending it into the microwave for a minute. Out comes an easily containable, no mess serving of nachos!

4. Fritos Scoops – I like Tostito’s for nachos but I don’t necessarily like them best for dipping. If Sidney makes her famous sausage cheese dip, I want to pair it with Fritos Scoops. Thank goodness the leader in corn chip production makes a product specifically for dipping. Unlike tortilla chips, Fritos Scoops won’t break when you swoop in for a dip. Additionally, corn chips just taste better than tortilla chips. This is why I don’t even need a dip if I am going to eat Frito’s Scoops….just give me the bag and I am content.

3. Sun Chips Harvest Cheddar – I enjoy the entire Sun Chips line, but the cheddar version is my favorite. Scrumptious to eat alone, these chips taste delicious and contain a distinctive, full flavor. When I go to Subway, I am always grabbing a bag of Sun Chips just not to accompany my sandwich but to put on my sandwich. That’s right, there is no better chip to put on a sandwich than Sun Chips. The flavor and crunch combine to put any sandwich over the top. I have ate Sun Chips since I was little and I will always be a fan.

2. Cheetos – I am laughing a bit as I write this. Yes, I understand that Cheetos might not classify as a chip on everyone’s list but I think they are close enough (perhaps this could be the new “is a hot dog a sandwich?” argument). Notice how I did not specify “Crunchy” or “Puffs” as my favorite. Truth of the matter is that I enjoy both equally, although sometimes I will be more in the mood for one over the other. The best word to describe a Cheetos snack is addicting. You can open a bag and start munching and before you know it the bag is empty and your fingers are bright orange. I really enjoy the satisfying taste and crunch of Cheetos and have no problem eating imitators either. The cheese puff is simply a wonderful creation.

1. Tim’s Cascade Jalapeno Potato Chips – I prefer my potato chips thick and spicy. In a nutshell, that is the description of Tim’s Cascade Jalapeno Potato Chips, a snack based out of the Pacific Northwest. Sidney and I enjoy these chips so much that my mom will send us party size bags through the mail. The snack is simply perfect. The chip itself is pure quality, a hearty slice of potato fried until crispy and golden brown. A dynamite combination of spices is then added to pack a serious jalapeno punch to each chip. You will sweat when eating these but you won’t put the bag down. They are that good and addicting. Outside of the Tim’s brand, I still enjoy jalapeno chips but nothing beats the version that this Washington state company produces.

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Thanks for talking chips with me tonight. Did I omit a deserving snack from the list? Let me know, just make sure it has flavor and crunch. Don’t Blink.