Tropicana Juice Sparklers were juice blends that also contained carbonated water to make them fizzy. My favorite was a blend of orange and passionfruit juices called Tropical Orange. I also liked the Wild Berries. I never noticed any other flavors, but this article says that there were two more: cranberry and grapefruit.
These drinks were sold in multi-packs of four 10-ounce glass bottles as well as in larger bottles. Check out this photo or this video to see if you remember them.
Tropicana Juice Sparklers were manufactured back in the early '90s. I used to buy them all the time until they went away.
Tropicana Juice Sparklers
Softsoap Lavender & Chamomile Moisturizing Body Wash
Softsoap Lavender & Chamomile Moisturizing Body Wash was a shower gel that was available for several years. From the moment I discovered this product, it was the only shower gel I bought--until it was discontinued.
I'm very sensitive to perfumes, but this didn't bother me at all. I think it's because it was lavender, and I can usually handle that. In fact, lavender is one of my favorite scents. Just as it was supposed to be, this product was very calming.
The first two shower gels made by Softsoap were also discontinued long ago, before this variety was introduced. I also liked them, but the lavender and chamomile version was my favorite.
I believe that this scent is still available in a liquid hand soap, but I can't use it due to sensitive skin.
Rubicon
Rubicon was an original series presented by American Movie Classics (AMC) last season. It was a conspiracy show with a gripping premiere, and I watched every episode. Unfortunately, a lot of people apparently lost interest at some point, because the ratings went down.
I thought Rubicon was a compelling series with very interesting characters. I was disappointed to hear that it would not be renewed for a second season.
Peanut Butter Frost Candy Bar
I discovered Peanut Butter Frost candy bars in the early 1980s. I saw one in a vending machine and had no idea what it was. Because of the name, it sounded good, so I decided to try one.
Peanut Butter Frost was coated in white chocolate, which I normally don't even like. Inside, it contained peanut butter and crisped rice. I think it also had some caramel, but I'm not sure about that. My less-than-perfect memory is also telling me that it came in two pieces about the same size as Almond Joy halves, but again, I'm not sure.
I couldn't remember who manufactured Peanut Butter Frost, so I did some digging and found that it was made by Luden's. I don't think it was available for very long. I know I had very few of them. Too bad. They were delicious!
Men, Women & Dogs
Men, Women & Dogs was a sitcom from 2001. Due to bad ratings, it was cancelled before all the episodes could air.
I won't say this was a fantastic show, but there was something about it--or rather, about one of its stars--that made me laugh hysterically every time he was onscreen. His name was Linus the Dog.
Linus was a French bulldog who played a Frenchie named Betsy, and he managed to steal every scene he was in. His other credits include Secondhand Lions and Bringing Down the House, but his work as Betsy is my favorite.
It's unlikely that Men, Women & Dogs will ever make it to DVD, but if it does, I'll have to buy a set.
Addendum: This is not the same Linus the Dog with this Facebook page, although both dogs are absolutely adorable.
Keebler Opera Cremes
Opera Cremes were sandwich cookies. That may not sound like anything special, but they were special. One package of Opera Cremes came with two kinds of cookie: chocolate and vanilla. What made them so good was that the creme filling was lemon.
I always gravitated toward the chocolate ones. Chocolate sandwich cookies with lemon creme filling are incredible. It's just such a delicious combination. I don't know why they were discontinued or why they haven't been resurrected. All I know is I would love to see them return to the store shelves. I would definitely be buying them.
Joan of Arcadia
Joan of Arcadia was a TV show set in the fictional town of Arcadia, Maryland. The show's premise was that God appeared in the flesh (in the form of several different people) to Joan. Although it had all the expected teenage angst, it wasn't just for and about teenagers. Both of Joan's parents figured prominently in the show.
Joan of Arcadia debuted in September 2003 and lasted two seasons. Since it was cancelled after the end of the second season, there was no official ending to the series. As often happens, it ended on a cliffhanger that left the fans wondering what the network was thinking when it ordered the show's cancellation.
Grape-Nuts O's
I always had a hard time eating Post Grape-Nuts. I liked the flavor, but they made my jaws tired, and I was afraid of breaking a tooth.
Grape-Nuts Flakes and Grape-Nuts O's were more my style. Grape-Nuts Flakes have been around since the 1930s, while Grape-Nuts O's hit the shelves in 1999. The flakes are still available, but the O's were discontinued a while back.
Why is it that so many great O's cereals don't stick around?
Grape-Nuts O's were sweetened with brown sugar, and they were delicious. Contrary to their name, they weren't exactly o-shaped. The outside edges weren't uniform; they almost resembled petals--almost. This cereal was crunchy, and it stood up well to milk without causing a major dental hazard.
I really wish Post would consider bringing Grape-Nuts O's back.
Fudge Jumbles
Back in the 1980s, Pillsbury had a variety of boxed dessert mixes called Fudge Jumbles. Each box contained a mix for three-layer dessert bars, all of which contained fudge. I think they all contained oats as well, but I'm not sure.
Fudge Jumbles were quick and easy to prepare. I've seen quite a few recipes, such as this one, that attempt to recreate the magic.
The person who posted the aforementioned recipe decided to try a peanut butter version. I really don't know whether there was a peanut butter version of Fudge Jumbles. I don't think there was, because it's definitely something I would have tried if I'd seen it. In any case, this recipe looks incredible!
Citra
I can't believe I'm doing another post about a soft drink so soon after the last one.
Well, maybe I can. After all, I did drink a lot of them in the past.
I have a feeling most people haven't heard of Citra, but it existed. Here's a picture of a can of Citra.
I never actually had a can of Citra. I only had it from a 2-liter bottle. Citra was a grapefruit-flavored carbonated drink that was around in the 1990s. The fact that I liked it is strange, because I don't like grapefruit, and I never liked any of the other grapefruit soft drinks I tried before this product came along.
Of course, it's gone now. I've heard that Fanta Citrus is identical to it, but I really don't know. Without having tried it or even seen it anywhere, I suspect that something is different--probably the sweetener.
Betty Crocker Sour Cream Chocolate Cake Mix
I found Betty Crocker Sour Cream Chocolate Cake mix many years ago, and it made me really curious. I don't normally like products containing sour cream, but something about this mix was calling to me. I had to try it.
I can say without reservation that this was the best chocolate cake mix I have ever had. Even though I don't like sour cream, this product was delicious. I topped it with Betty Crocker Sour Cream white icing, and the combination was outstanding. I bought these products several times over the years.
Then, one day, I wanted to buy a box of Betty Crocker Sour Cream Chocolate Cake mix, and they were all gone. I couldn't believe it! Betty Crocker got rid of the very best cake mix they ever had!
I did find a copycat recipe for this outstanding cake mix, but I haven't tried it yet. I haven't tried this one either. Even Betty Crocker has a recipe for sour cream chocolate cupcakes.
Someday, when I have time, I'll try these three recipes--just not on the same day.
Apple Slice
There used to be several flavors of Slice soft drinks. They all contained real fruit juice. It wasn't much--only 10 percent--but it was more than any other fizzy soft drinks had. I liked the mandarin orange, but my favorite flavor was apple. That's probably why it didn't last long.
Apple Slice was available briefly in the 1980s (late '80s, if I remember correctly). It was discontinued before the rest of the product line went away. It might have even been the first to go.
I haven't tried any other apple-flavored carbonated drinks. There are apparently a few still around, but I haven't seen them. If I ever do, I'll probably have to give them a try. Then again, maybe not. It just wouldn't be the same.
