Herr's Flavored in Philly Winners Return

Attention Walmart Shoppers! Herr's has brought back the past few winners of their Flavored in Philly contest. Unfortunately, both the Tomato Pie and Stromboli were inferior efforts that beat out better chips (I don't know anyone that didn't love the John's Roast Pork flavor). Long Hots with Sharp Provolone was pretty good, as I recall.

McDonald's Szechuan Sauce Returns, But You Better Act Fast

I am not in the age range for hardcore Chicken McNugget lovers. The groundbreaking menu item became a worldwide staple in 1983 and I always viewed them as a) kid food and b) kinda gross. I recall my nephew loving them in ample quantities but I found their taste and texture a bit too funky for my taste. (Strong words from a man who looks forward to his annual McRib and Filet-O-Fish feasts.)

But almost as popular as the nuggets themselves are the dipping sauces – Creamy Ranch, Honey, Honey Mustard, Spicy Buffalo, Sweet 'N' Sour, and Tangy BBQ – which are probably good at hiding the weirdness of the finger food behind a sweet or creamy sauce.

The one sauce that rules them all, though, is the Szechuan Sauce introduced as a limited option to promote Disney's 1998 animated classic Mulan. Since then the sauce has been immortalized by an episode of Rick & Morty, brought back in limited supplies (in October 2017 and February 2018), and even made available in bottled form with music producer Joel Zimmerman of Deadmau5 shelling out – gulp – $15,000 for a bottle of the stuff.

Well mark your calendars because McDonald's is bringing the beloved dipping sauce back via its app on Thursday, March 31st. For a limited time Szechuan Sauce will be available as an option when you place an order for Chicken McNuggets via the app and customers will be allowed to purchase up to five packets while supplies last (again through the app).

So if Szechuan Sauce is your thing or you're just curious (and a potential sauce flipper) like me, get that app downloaded and ready! – Dan Taylor

Your Grocery Store is a Sugary Mine Field of Processed Junk

My normal grocery shopping routine has changed over the last year or so.

I used to shop almost exclusively at Giant with the occasional stop at ShopRite or – if I felt like braving the parking lot (and craved their macaroni salad) – Wegmans.

But the opening of an ALDI about a mile away has drastically changed how I shop. While I was skeptical at first and had a sorely misplaced view of what ALDI offered, I am a full-fledge ALDI-vangelist at this point. The limited selection and lower price points mean I am in and out in about 20 minutes and I've cut my weekly grocery bill by 30% to 50%.

Oh sure, there are still things I can't get at my beloved ALDI but if I make one mid-week trip to Giant that about covers my needs.

Which means I'm out of practice at least as far as wildly over the top limited edition seasonal items go. So, when I had to stop at the Mega-Wal-Mart up the road for turkey wings the other day, I was taken aback by what a gauntlet of sugar-frosted monstrosities the aisles held.

Luckily, my daughter never liked sugary cereals, doesn't drink soda and is still pretty good about keeping her snacking at bay despite closing in on 6' before she hits her teenage years so if any of this stuff DOES appear in our pantry it's because I'm such a mark.

Here are just a few of the processed "treats" that await you this holiday season...

The Elf on the Shelf might come in handy to get your kids to behave after a couple bowls of the "Official Cereal of the North pole".

This cereal doesn't even try to hide behind a corporate shill or some kind of health benefit.

The post-breakfast crash should be over just in time for a healthy lunch. Or you can just give them this.

I think these were some kind of tie-in with FROZEN 2 but in looking at the package now I'm not so sure. Maybe they were just trying to capitalize on the flick without actually coughing up the csah to slap a talking snowman on the box. Either way the filling looks like toothpaste.

See any crazy limited edition treats (?) during your shopping trips? Send them to editor@hungovergourmet.com with your name and where you saw it and we'll share with our readers. – Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is the editor/publisher of The Hungover Gourmet. He can resist sugary treats with the best of them but he is really jonesing for a McRib right about now.