Waaaay back in mid-December, Donna and I found some time to dive into the last Universal Yums box in my gift subscription of 2022. Donna wrote about it, here. Pardon my tardiness in posting! Mid-December to mid-January is usually a time when I “hibernate” both socially and in terms of projects (and become even more introverted and introspective than I already am) and I am just starting to come out of this period now.
So, without further delay: I give you the Italy box!
We started off with the world’s tiniest cookies (to my knowledge 😉): Amarettini Almond cookies.
Next up: Pizza-flavoured corn rings.
Another savoury treat followed – Paprika potato chips aka the main ingredient in BBQ chips we learned by tasting, as that is pretty much what these tasted like. Universal Yum’s writeup on this chip stated they had never tasted a chip seasoned like this before. Seriously? BBQ is an OG Canadian chip flavour, as I recall. It was around even before ketchup chips!!!
After all that salt, we tried the Chocolate Tiramisu Cream Cake. The name tiramisu means “carry me up”, and the booklet assumes this means “to heaven”…LOL!
After that we tried the chocolate bar with hazelnuts. I think everyone can imagine what that would taste like. (Nutella, that you still have to chew.) Apparently containing hazelnuts from the Piedmont region of Italy.
After all that chocolate, I was relieved to taste something different – the Italian fruit jellies. I am not normally a fan of fruit candies but these were quite tasty and delicious! Made with real Italian fruit juices, apparently.
Finally, we came to the last treat in the box – Milk chocolate popcorn bites. Sounded intriguing but nothing extraordinary or exciting in flavour.
This gift subscription was a whole lot of fun – and the most fun when I got to share it with Donna and all of you lovely readers! Donna and I are going to put together our own box – the Canadian version of a Universal Yums package – we have all the goodies picked out already.
That probably won’t happen until later in February though as I am leaving the island next week. First, to spend some shenanigans IRL time with Joanne (of the now quiet blog My Life Lived Full) in Ontario, and then to join my practically life-long friend CJ for our annual 2 weeks reading books under the palms and drinking Banks beer enjoying the sea and sun of Barbados. YES! After 2 long years, I am getting on a plane and heading out of Canada to a tropical destination again, universe-willing!
Rock on,
The WB
BBQ chips been around for a LONG time here in good old Canada. Wonder why we have more flavours than the rest of the world. Tiny cookies all right! Definitely burd size!! Enjoy your time away!
I wonder about that too, Bernie. Thank you 💕. My plan for my time away is nothing but enjoyment 😁. (Last time I flew to Ontario, it was for a funeral so…)
OMG – I had totally forgotten that I had made googly-glasses with the pizza-flavoured corn rings. Those amarettini cookies must have been spiked! 😀 I absolutely loved going on this Snack Box Adventure with you. It was tons of fun. And readers will be surprised by our restraint. We only ever sampled a small piece of each treat….usually leaving the rest for your lovely son-in-law! 😀
Yeah…about that 😉. Son-in-law only got passed on what I didn’t love so he got a lot, but not everything 🤭. It was such a treat to do this with you my friend! Thanks 💕
Looks like you had a lot of fun with the boxes! I’ll be interested to see your own Canadian box.
We really did! Thank you 💕
Loved your adventure into Italian snackies & will await your return from warm sea & sandy beaches! Hoping all your flights are on time and your tan is memorable in the best sense. 😉
Thank you very much, Del 💕 Nice to see you are blogging again!
I always wonder if these things are really popular in the host country… or just paid for inclusion in the boxes for promotional purposes. Barbecue chips? Italians take their food seriously … that seems suspicious. But the journey was a hoot and that’s all that really matters. I’m sure your Canadian box will be authentic.
😉
That’s an interesting thought, Rivergirl. But if you can’t get the snack outside of that country, why promote it to an international audience? (Although I think if you really like a snack, you can purchase more of it from Universal Yums, so you could have a point there!) Yes, the journey was a true hoot. Thanks 💕
Sounds like the Italian box was not your favorite overall. Which country’s goodies were? Happy travels!
I think the best box we tasted was South Korea but let me confer with Donna about that! Thanks, Liesbet 💕
I tried to order that box for my son, but they were out of stock. Hopefully they’ll have some by next fall.
Canadian box – Nanaimo bars; BBQ chips; Hawkins cheezies; pemmican; jerky; garlic sausage; smoked salmon; mustard horseradish; saskatoon pie. Have a wonderful holiday.
That’s an interesting list! You’ll just have to wait and see what is in our Canadian box 😁. Thank you very much 💕
Barbados yes! For two weeks! Sounds wonderful!
I’m hoping after 2 years away it is still as wonderful as in my imagination. It will be interesting to see what changes the pandemic has wrought. Our favourite restaurants are still in business and the hotel we always go to used the drop in business to make some big upgrades to the fresh water pool (that I have yet to swim in) and pool deck, so I am hopeful Barbados in general came through lockdown OK. Thanks, Kate 💕
Great post! The milk chocolate popcorn bites you featured do remind me of a similar treat — Maltesers. The centers for Maltesers are made with malted milk (known as Horlicks over here).
Maltesers – that is something I have tried. Yes, these balls are similar. Thank you, Monch 💕
Your trip sounds so fun! Say hello to Joanne for us please. 😀
Hi Deborah!! I may be quiet on the blogging scene, but I’m still lurking in the shadows 😆
Hope all is well with you!!
Hi Joanne! All is well here. You’re missed in the blogging community. I hope all is well with you and your family!
Hi Deb and Donna – these have been great fun … so thank you for sharing with us … for some reason I can’t get excited about this box – but the amaretto tinies are delicious that I agree. Looking forward to your Canadian choices …
While enjoy Ontario with Joanne and then bliss .. those wonderful-to-be two weeks in Barbados … sounds perfect – have lots of fun … cheers Hilary
You are most welcome! Thank you, Hilary 💕
Thanks Hilary! I haven’t seen Deb in over 2 years so I’m really looking forward to this catch-up in person 🙂
Enjoy your time away from blogland. Say “hi!” to Joanne who I wish would start blogging again. Miss her. I remember all your previous trips to Barbados, know this upcoming one will be super special.
I wish she would too, and I will certainly pass on your “hi!”. Thank you very much, Ally 💕
Hi Ally!! It’s so lovely to be remembered … and better yet, to be missed 🥰
AH HA! You are still around, Joanne. You could always go back to blogging… just saying… putting it out there… 🤓
The almond cookies sound delightful. I remember eating Whoppers in my childhood days. I should probably pick some up for nostalgic reasons.
Enjoy your trips!
Those almond cookies were great! Thank you very much 💕
I can’t wait to see what Canadian goodies you come up with. HAVE FUN ON YOUR VACATION! I’m looking forward to seeing some beautiful photos. ❤️
Thank you, Kari 💕 Hmmm…I have posted so many times before about Barbados that I was thinking not to, this time. (How many annual shots of sandy beaches, surf, palm trees, sunrises and sunsets can one bear to look at??) But maybe I should, for new readers…
In my humble opinion, there are never enough pictures of beautiful beaches and palm trees. ❤️
When we were in Nanaimo last summer, we fell in love with the all dressed chips (or something like that) and definitely the coffee crisp candy bars. And the gelato at Cold Front gelato–can’t put that in a box unfortunately. I’ll be eager to see what your box contains because we’ll be back in July, ready for culinary adventure.
Enjoy your trip!
All-dressed chips! Can’t get more Canadian than that. Oh yeah, loved coffee crisp bars as a kid. Thank you, Sheila 💕
I’m going to miss these (sort of) monthly adventures into snackland! I hope you plan to include that amazing chalk licorice I bought at the cute little candy store in that little town I can no longer remember the name of in your Canadian Yums Package. Or, better yet, just send a generous supply down to me 🙂
Chemainus was the town, and I can never remember the name of the candy store, except it has a real witchy theme going on. Liquorice is so divisive, though. I’d have to keep apologizing for including it in the list (as is the Canadian way 😉, plus that liquorice is actually a Dutch thing). Thanks, Janis 💕
Janis, I’m with you on this one. My Canadian snack box would contain a great deal of liquorice. What’s not to love?!!
… and I also remember that candy store as being a dangerous place for someone with a sweet tooth, like me! I may have spent a few dollars in that place 😉
I love an Amaretti biscuit (or two), they go really well with the fabulous coffee Himself makes with his Italian coffee machines. Yeah, why have just one when you can have two (and two coffee grinders). But I digress. We really like Paprika crisps which – over here anyway – are not BBQ flavoured but rather understated and delicious. But in all my visits to Italy, I’ve never seen them there.
It’s been great fun joining you on your food trips – you’ve been fabulous hosts.
Have a brilliant holiday – and I also vote for pics please 🙂
Thank you, Debs 💕
I’m so glad you explained that the tiny cookies were made for a man, not the birds. Although, judging by the size of them, the birds were more likely to get full on them.
These all looked interesting and laughing at the BBQ chips. Those are standard way down here. Also, you had me at popcorn and chocolate….but hey, I grew up on Whoppers too!
I’m so happy you are getting away with some of your besties. Cheers to a lovely getaway; you deserve it my friend!!
I felt the need to clarify what was meant by a cardinal as my first thought would be the bird 😁. Thank you very much, Suz 💕
Hi Deb, What a fun post to read! I too, get it on the ‘hibernate.’ I love how your fingers/hands help depict the tiny cookies. Intriguing about the Canadian Yum package. I think I can guess a few items…yet, packaging some of them may be an issue.
Exciting about you visiting Joanne. Please say hi to her for me. We had a ton of fun when she came to visit. And, extra excited about Barbados!!💕
Will do, Erica! Thank you 💕