And now, a song: (sung to the tune of “Mrs. Robinson”)

Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going through the talking heads debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you’ve got to choose
Ev’ry way you look at it, Colts lose

Where have you gone, Peyton Manning
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you (Ooo, ooo, ooo)
What’s that you say, Mr. Irsay
The Colt’s Sheriff has left and gone away
(Hey, hey, hey…hey, hey, hey)

Yes, Junk Food Nation, yesterday Peyton Manning, longtime QB of the Indianapolis Colts, known as “The Sheriff” by idiot Jon Gruden (THAT’S NOT HIS NICKNAME, JON), 11-time Pro Bowl, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 4-time NFL MVP, 6-time AFC Player of the Year, Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, parted ways with the only franchise he’s ever known. Like him or hate him, I think this is a sad moment in sports.

This is different than the Brett Favre situation.  While this was about an organization that wanted to go younger and minimize the risk that the QB position held, the risk was different – with Peyton, it was injuries, with Favre, it was his complete fucking insanity and ego. Oh yeah, and Favre was a lot older.  Unlike Favre, however, despite some messy and uncomfortable weeks of tweets and press and statements, Peyton said, “OK, let’s do it.” Mr. Colt, the face of this franchise since 1998 – gone. It’s like when your favorite teacher retires after he taught you and your two older sisters.  End of an era.

It makes sense.  This team was already changing – no Marvin Harrison already, no Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark was constantly hurt, no running game at all, and no real improvement in sight.  The Colts needed a reboot.  Peyton was the last chip to go.

So what now? I think Peyton lands in Miami, where he has a home and where they have a good line to protect his glass neck.  Still – I can’t help but be a little sad.  End of an era there in Indy.

Today’s junk food: Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries!

The Money Shot

First of all, this was one of the largest bags of chips I’d ever seen.  I put a pen next to it for comparison.  This bag of Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries was like a pillow for a king size bed.  I bought it at Costco, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but once I got it home, I thought, “What have I done??? I can’t eat all this!”

This bag is so big it will last until the Fall

I’d reviewed Snikiddy snacks before on this blog, and have loved their Eat Your Vegetables Chips.  When I saw these in Costco, however, I was eager to try another line of their snacks.

Fries + Cheese = good

I mean, when I saw Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries, my brain went DING! and it the behemoth bag was in my cart instantly.  BTW, the photo on the front of this bag is kind of silly…the cardboard carton overflowing with fries? I WISH my local fast food joint gave me that many fries!

Potato + corn = ....errr...good?

Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries, I think someone forgot to finish the paint job on the bottom of your bags….just sayin’…

Simple signs

I’ve always enjoyed the simple symbols on the bags, and it’s no different on this one.  Plus, I like that vegetarian is noted with a flower, because everyone knows vegetarians eat flowers.

Lots of cheese here

Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries have whey, cheddar cheese, butter milk, whole milk, nonfat milk, romano cheese, parmesan cheese, and milk protein. That’s a whole lottta dairy.

This bag is so big we can fit an entire story on here

Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries are made by a local company by real people (shown).  I like this – usually when you see a photo on the back on these chip bags, it’s some random kid who won a Doritos award or something.  This is more personal – I’d like to see the execs of more junk food companies on packaging!  Let me take a gander at the inventor of Peeps, please!

OOOOOOOOOOO

Snikiddy All Natural Baked Fries comes in sea salt, BBQ, and buffalo varieties???? ME NEEDSY!

Avalanche of fries

Open the bag, and holy mother…it’s like a deluge of Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries!  I’m drowning!!! WHY DID I BUY A BAG THIS BIG???  Immediate cheese smell…not sure if it’s cheddar cheese, per se, but definite cheese smell.

Sticks and sticks and sticks

After popping a few fries in my mouth and crunching, I can say that these Snikiddy All Natural Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries are pretty tasty.  The fry itself is light and crispy – imagine a lighter flakier version of a Cheetos cheese curl.  It’s kind of like that, or like an Andy Capps Fry.  Now, I didn’t really LOVE Andy Capp’s Fries, to be honest, because I felt like the corn/potato mix could’ve been ANY shape, and the fry shape was unnecessary.  Still, the light flaky corn flavor was satisfying.  Here, too.

Crunchy logs

The real standout with this snack, however, is that it REALLY has a strong cheddar cheese taste.  Most snacks that have cheese have decent cheese flavor, but more onion and garlic powder flavor to round out the savory.  Here, it was the exact opposite…for cheese lovers, these fries REALLY packed a strong sharp cheddar cheese taste.  So strong, honestly, that I wished there WAS a tiny bit more onion powder to round the aftertaste a little.  The cheese flavor is bright and flavorful, but without some extra spices, the taste just kind of ends when swallowed.

Still, all in all, a wonderful snack.  35 fries for 130 calories and really great flavor? Sign me up, Snikiddy.

Comments? Hit me in the comments below or hit me on Twitter @junkfoodguy or on my Facebook Page.

Sincerely, Junk Food Guy