Oreo Birthday Party (Ocado) By @Cinabar

I love an excuse to buy Oreos, and this new variety won me over even though it isn't my birthday, or even my birthday month. I spotted these Oreo Birthday Party biscuits and added them straight to my Ocado basket.

As happens to me quite often, I put things in an online basket thinking I know exactly what I've bought, without fully reading the description. That was certainly the case here. I assumed they would be birthday cake flavoured, perhaps with notes of vanilla sponge, jam and buttercream. They are actually caramel flavoured, although they do contain birthday sprinkles within the filling. Unfortunately, the sprinkles are quite hard to see unless you prise the two biscuit halves apart.

The biscuits may not look very different from standard Oreos, but the caramel aroma is immediately noticeable when you open the pack. They are very much like regular Oreos, but that twist of caramel makes them even sweeter than the original version.

They are certainly tasty and paired well with a coffee, but they were not quite as exciting as the name "Oreo Birthday Party" had led me to expect. It is a shame that even the colourful sprinkles feel a little hidden away. A fun variation on the classic Oreo, but perhaps not quite the celebration I was hoping for.

Pasquier Beignets - Choc & Hazelnut [@NLi10]

 While looking for enticing snacks for the Grandmother I spotted these little Beignets - or mini doughnuts (petits doughs).  You get 6 in a bag and they are all individually sealed for freshness.

And as usual they are very French

And it's a lovely little magic bag

The little doughnuts look quite classy

The outer is very soft and inviting, and the inners are all very luxurious.  I think these are certainly snack size - 2 is the right amount but I resisted.

There is a red variety of these too, which means if nanna actually eats them then we can get more.

Savoursmiths Desert Salt and Black Pepper Flavour Potato Crisps (Ocado) By @SpectreUK

Salt and Black Pepper is one of my favourite flavours of crisps. They go with pretty much any sandwich, cheese and cold meets meal, or just for a snack with a beer, or a cup of tea.

I tried these Savoursmiths Desert Salt and Black Pepper Flavour Potato Crisps with a Moussaka and veg, instead of French Bread as the store had run out. I’m a bit obsessed with French Bread, as it too goes with so many meals itself, from Spagbol, lasagne, cheese meals, Moussaka, picky-bits, and even a good curry.

On opening the packet there was a salt and peppery aroma from the crisps inside. These crunchy Desert Salt and Black Pepper Flavour Potato Crisps had a sweetness from the salt I hadn’t experienced before.

Usually salt and pepper crisps are sea salt. The desert salt seems to have a slightly sweet taste to it. After this sweet saltiness came the spicy warmth of black pepper. These Desert Salt and Black Pepper Flavour Potato Crisps were very moreish, and complimented my Moussaka and veg very well indeed.

Information on the 150g bag; Per 100g there were 501 calories, with 27g of fat, 1.3g of sugar, and 1.20g of salt. Gluten free and Vegan friendly, please see photograph for the ingredients.

Mr Kipling 4 Cookies and Cream Whirls (Ocado) By @Cinabar

We are big fans of Mr Kipling products and always keep an eye out for any new flavours or twists on their classic treats. These new Cookies and Cream Whirls immediately caught our attention. They are clearly inspired by the brand's popular Viennese Whirls, but with a chocolatey cookies and cream makeover.

Inside the box are four dark cocoa-coloured whirls sandwiched together with a pale cream filling, creating an attractive contrast. They sit somewhere between a biscuit and a cake, sharing characteristics of both. Whatever category they belong in, they certainly look appealing. Getting one out of the tray required a little care as they are extremely crumbly. Mine shed plenty of crumbs before reaching the tasting stage, although it managed to stay mostly intact.

The dark cocoa appearance led me to expect a rich chocolate flavour, but that wasn't really the case. Instead, the overall taste is quite mild. There is a gentle chocolate note, a hint of cookie flavour and a simple vanilla style cream filling in the centre. Even the buttery richness often associated with Viennese Whirls is fairly subdued, with the cocoa flavour taking centre stage, albeit in a restrained way. These are perfectly pleasant to eat and the texture is nicely crumbly, but I couldn't help feeling they missed an opportunity. Given their striking appearance, I was expecting something bolder and more indulgent. A stronger chocolate flavour or a more distinctive cookies and cream filling would have made them much more memorable.

Overall, these are enjoyable enough if you're looking for a light sweet treat, but they don't quite deliver the rich cookies and cream experience their appearance promises.

Ülker Metro Mini (Home Bargains) – Review by @Cinabar

I do love a wander around discount shops for imported treats you just would not normally come across. These Ülker Metro Mini bars definitely caught my eye, even though we had originally gone in for something as exciting as toiletries. That is the magic of bargain stores though, you go in for one thing and somehow leave with a basket full of things you did not know you needed.

These little bars are imported from Turkey and are essentially mini versions of a familiar style of chocolate bar. Each one contains soft nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate, all neatly packaged into small individually wrapped pieces. They really are mini as well. When I opened the packet I was surprised by just how tiny they are, but in a cute, snackable way rather than disappointing.

Taste wise, they are very pleasant. The caramel and nougat flavour comes through nicely, and the chocolate is sweet and smooth. The texture is quite soft and a little sticky, which works well for this kind of treat, although I think I would personally prefer them to have a slightly firmer bite. That is just my preference though, and it does not take away from the overall enjoyment.

One thing I do really like is that they are individually wrapped. It makes them perfect for sharing, especially if you put a bowl out when friends are over or during a film night. They are the kind of sweet you can just graze on without thinking too much about it.

I would happily pick these up again. They are simple, easy-going little treats that work well for snacking, and they feel like a fun find from the bargain aisle rather than something you would normally go looking for.