Dolcissimo Cupcakes

The cupcake craze continues...

I thought that all these Southern Cali cupcake shops would be located in the big cities and their fancy suburbs - you know, Los Angeles...Orange County... I had forgotten about San Bernardino. Yes, there is a cupcake shop...in Chino Hills. That's where I stumbled across Dolcissimo.

It's such a cute shop - bigger than Sprinkles or Dots, and probably about the size of Yummy Cupcakes in Burbank - with a display similar to Sprinkles. And they sell cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, mini pies, cookies, and cannolis. Talk about a comprehensive sugar fix!

I tried their Cloud 9 - a blue vanilla frosting on a vanilla cupcake - and was reminded of Magnolia's cupcakes in New York! So if you're in the area, give them a try. Just be careful when you get their banana cupcake. Make sure that you take it out of the box to store, or all your cupcakes might absorb the banana essence.

Vio from Coca-Cola

I don't drink soda, but new products always catch my attention. Coca-Cola is releasing a new drink that should help you drink more milk - Vio. It's skim milk, carbonated water, and flavorings.

Sound weird to you? It does to me. If you taste it, let me know how that goes!

Favorite Punctuation Mark

Mine is the interrobang. I actually didn't even know it existed until about a week ago.

What is it, you ask?! It's a combination of the exclamation point and question mark. With all of the shocking news that we see these days, it should be everyone's favorite punctuation mark, right?!

Anyhow, even though it exists, it's nearly impossible to use since almost NO keyboards have it. Don't feel bad for me though, as I am completely satisfied using the two components separately as I have for years. :)

Chewing Ice is Bad!

You already knew that, right? I did, and it didn't stop me. I've been eating snowcones and I ALWAYS chew the ice. Guess what happened? I found out from my dentist on Monday morning that I had cracked and lost a filling without even knowing it. Now I have to get the filling replaced. :(

Of course, this could have been completely avoided...by not chewing ice!!! I hope you learn a lesson from my mistake.

BOGO Jamba Coupon

(08/25/09 update: Sorry - this offer has expired)

If you love your Jamba Juice, there's a coupon to buy one and get one free...and it's right here! Try to take advantage of it soon, since it's only good through this Sunday, August 9.

Yoplait Whips! Frozen!

By now you have probably seen a Yoplait Whips! commercial that shows you can have their product as yogurt mousse or as frozen yogurt. It's true! I've tried it and I'm hooked. It's a healthier alternative to ice cream, and it's really good!

Now my search is on for the Chocolate Raspberry flavor. I think that's going to be really good!

Consider Your Childhood Ancient History

...and it wasn't that long ago!!

They've come up with a list of things that are obsolete (or almost at that point). See how many things you can check off and laugh about. That's right...laugh about it, because this will take you on a fun trip down memory lane!

Romaine Lettuce Recall

This has got to be the worst timing ever. I just came back from lunch at Souplantation, and what news story catches my eye? Romaine lettuce is voluntarily recalled here in California.

Did I eat romaine during lunch? Yes. Oh great.

Ritz Crackerfuls

I'm pretty sure you're familiar with Ritz Bits sandwiches. But have you ever wished that Ritz made bigger cracker sandwiches? You're in luck. Now they have Ritz Crackerfuls - long rectangle Ritz crackers (whole wheat Ritz) filled with either cheddar or four cheese!

Village Pizzeria

I just came from a trip to San Diego with the family, and while I love my NY pizza, I think I found a West Coast fix! Yay for me!

For a while, my brother has been telling me about a pizzeria in San Diego (more specifically, on Coronado) that ships NY bottled water to make their NY pizza crust! One of the girls from work also raved about the same place, so I had to try it. The name? Village Pizzeria.

We ordered: Pizza, their caprese sandwich, fried zucchini, mud pie, and zeppoli. Yummm....

As we drove over the bridge to leave Coronado, I was already planning my trip back.
Luckily I have a conference there in October!

Coconut M&Ms

Yes, they do exist. I have some sitting on my desk right now. Unfortunately, the bag has not yet been opened, so I am unable to tell you if they're delicious or not.

I will update soon though.

Pillsbury Simply...

Pillsbury has a new refrigerated cookie dough - Pillsbury Simply...

What's the difference between these and their other cookie doughs? Pillsbury Simply... uses the same ingredients that you would use in homemade cookies.

Should be delicious - I'll try them when I find them!

Carmela Ice Cream

I read about this place that makes ice cream sandwiches - Carmela Ice Cream. Lucky for me, they make their rounds through local farmer's markets in LA. I'll be visiting them for dessert this weekend...

I hope it's good. At least it will be relatively close to home. :)

Crumbles Cookies - Corona, CA

When we went to Sweet Harts, one of the girls mentioned Crumbles bakery. I'm not sure if I got the right store, but I found a bakery called Crumbles in Corona, CA and tried it out anyway.

The cookies are really good! They have a different selection everyday - their everyday cookies and daily specials. I liked their Raspberry Tea Cake - it was a cross between a snowball (sans powdered sugar) and a linzer tart. I think I'll be going back for more! I want to try their chocolate chip cookie. Check them here.

The Kitchen

There a little place in Los Angeles called The Kitchen. When I heard about it, I thought it was a restaurant, but it's a catering company that has a take-out counter.

I've been there several times in the past couple weeks, and I'm only in LA on the weekends, so that should tell you something. I've bought A LOT of dessert - bars, cookies, cookie sandwiches, brownies, cupcakes - and tried some of their food. It's all really good! Their box lunches are so cute too. I think that I'll be using them the next time I cater something.

Hawaiian Pancakes @ IHOP

IHOP (International House of Pancakes) now has Hawaiian Pancakes! Banana Macadamia, Pineapple Upside Down, and Strawberry Passionfruit. Sounds delicious huh?

Repelling Cats

I've been traumatized by a recent experience with cats. Plus I'm really allergic to them. Anyhow, does anyone have suggestions for repelling cats? Too many stray cats are meandering in the neighborhood, and I need to find a way to repel them...without buying a dog.

I've heard that people spray a mixture of cayenne pepper and water anywhere they don't want cats. I've also read that people put motion-sensor toys to freak them out - I'm not a big fan of this idea, cuz it might scare me too! :)

Any suggestions would help. Thanks!!!

Cinnamon Basil Pesto

One of my friends gave me a bunch of cinnamon basil from her garden. I didn't even know that cinnamon basil existed! Imagine basil with a subtle hint of cinnamon mixed in. Actually, when I smelled a big bunch of it, it smelled like Big Red gum.

Anyhow, she gave me a big bunch, and I decided to try my hand at making pesto. So simple - basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper - so delicious. You don't even really need to do anything except toss it in the food processor! Oh, and while it smells like cinnamon, it doesn't taste like it, so don't worry if you want to try it in place of regular basil.

She gave me tomatoes from her garden too. Homemade pesto and garden fresh tomato on a toasted French roll with some melted mozzarella...and a dash of good balsamic vinegar. Mmmmmm....

Kashi TLC Granola Bars

In an effort to be a little healthier, I've tried a couple of things. But I'll only talk about one of those things here. I've tried to eat breakfast...in one form or another. Lately, it's been a granola bar, and I do love Quaker granola bars.

Then I figured that I should try eating a healthier granola bar. What did I choose? Kashi TLC Dark Chocolate Cherry granola bars. Wow, no granola bar can make you feel like an adult like this one can.

If you're looking for a "healthy" treat that tastes like a candy bar, this is not the choice for you. Stick with the kiddie granola bars and get your good ol' sugar rush!

Sprinkles Cupcake Truck

As if cupcakes weren't easy enough to get in Los Angeles...they're now coming to you!!

Yes, soon Los Angeles will have a cupcake truck joining its fleet of moving street food. It will be very similar to the ice cream trucks of our childhood (and my present-hood, since it comes down my street every Saturday afternoon at 3:00ish). The only difference is that it will be selling delicious Sprinkles cupcakes (individually boxed) for $4 a pop.

And if you're going to have a party and would like to cater these cupcakes, the truck can be reserved for private parties. Can you imagine a party that has an In-n-Out truck, a Hot Dog on a Stick truck, a Carls Jr. truck (the only one that serves french fries), AND a Sprinkles truck? Oh, you can throw in any one of the numerous taco trucks in the mix as well. Wow, something for everyone...and all you have to do is pay!

No-Go for Jell-O (ice cream)

I tried the Jell-O ice cream at Coldstone Creamery yesterday, and I thought I liked it and got a 'Like It' size of the two flavors (chocolate and butterscotch) side by side.

Oh boy, was I wrong. After a few bites, it was hard work to get that stuff down. It's pretty thick...like eating frozen custard, or pudding (duh). I ended up not finishing it.

My recommendation - you should try it, but don't have any expectations. It would be better to stick with the new Jell-O Pudding Pops.

Now if they would bring back the Tootsie Roll popsicles and Fruit Corners Fruit Bars, I'd be in 80s snack heaven!!

Jello Pudding Ice Cream

You may be too young to remember the original Jell-O Pudding Pops, but luckily, the Pops have been resurrected and distributed by the Pop-sicle brand!

And now Coldstone Creamery has Jell-O Pudding ice cream - in chocolate and butterscotch - for your enjoyment. I'll be trying some soon, and I'll update you as soon as I do!

Beefy Chicken - KFC Grilled Chicken

The El Pollo Loco commercial is right. KFC Grilled Chicken is marinated in beef powder and rendered beef fat. KFC lists it on their ingredient list. Wow. Guess the people who don't eat beef will have to trek over to El Pollo Loco huh?

Why would you have to marinate chicken in beef? Do people want their chicken to taste like beef? Isn't it enough that McDonald's french fries are beef-flavored? Why aren't people happy with potatoes tasting like potatoes...or chicken tasting like chicken?

So confused...

Jack in the Box - Mini Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich

Yes, the Mini Sirloin Burgers commercial was awesome. It still is. But the brilliant minds of the Jack in the Box marketing team have done it again. I saw their commercial for the Mini Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwiches, and it is quite awesome as well!

You can watch it - in English AND in Spanish - right here! I can only imagine that everyone will be doing it in a couple days time...

Whale in Marina del Rey

There was so much interesting new yesterday, and I thought I would share some of it with you.

In Marina del Rey, there is a gray whale that has been chillin' off the shore. All of the scientists that have been observing the whale say that she's on her migration route and is just taking her sweet time.

Oh, the best part? They named her Baby Nicole. :)

Sweet Harts - Sherman Oaks

Melissa Joan Hart opened a "sweets shop" (for lack of a better term), and I need to find some time to visit this weekend. It's called Sweet Harts in Sherman Oaks. They have frozen yogurt, gelato, candy, and other desserts. Check it out here...

Got the Cooking Bug...

I've been cooking a lot lately - lots of new things. Here are a couple highlights:

My first attempt at risotto...
This involved lots of stirring, my goodness. Surprisingly, it came out looking nice and creamy, like they show it on T.V. Taste? It was okay. Maybe it was the recipe I followed? Or maybe it's because it really shouldn't be eaten by itself. Yeah, I forgot to make something to go with it. You know, all the stirring was a little distracting. Oh well. At least I can say that I've made it once.

Peanut sauce - without peanuts...
My brothers have been telling me that I'm missing out because I can't eat satay. (I'm allergic to peanuts, so I can't have the peanut sauce.) My siblings and one of my cousins have been telling me for years (literally) to find a recipe and make it with almond butter instead of peanut butter. Problem was (I told myself), I wouldn't know if it was a good recipe because I've never had peanut sauce before. Well, I finally saw this recipe that looked good on T.V. and decided to try it. What I didn't do was write the recipe down. So a couple days after I saw the show, I went out, bought the ingredients (What ingredients, you ask? The ones on the list I had in my head...), and made the sauce. Turned out really good! But when I looked up the recipe, it was waaaay off. So essentially, I created a sauce that I liked. Mixed it up with some noodles and veggies, and found myself a new favorite recipe! Now to apply this sauce to other recipes...

Conclusion: I'm making satay tonight! Whooohooo!! No Laker game, so I've got the time to experiment! We'll see how the chicken turns out. :)

Giant Cheetos

I love Cheetos. And now they have GIANT Cheetos! I got a bag to try them out. The little kids loved them because it's the snack that never ends! My nephew ate them like we would eat apples. :)

They're giant cheese balls, and I do suggest you try them. BUT I will warn you that the bottom of the bag could be really oily. Kinda gross, really. But if you avoid that, you'll be all good! You can try them in their original cheese as well as their crazy hot flavor (flamin' something...).

Lollipops minus the stick

Have you ever eaten a lollipop and then had nowhere to throw away the stick? (Litterbugs - it is NOT okay to throw your sticks on the ground!)

Well, if you like Tootsie Pops and Blow Pops, consider your problem solved! Tootsie Pop Drops and Blow Pop Drops are your solution.

For those of you who like Jolly Rancher lollipops, you'll have to revert back to the old school Jolly Ranchers. I know they're not new, but they'll solve your problem.

Pedialyte

Poor kids who have to drink Pedialyte. It's like downing salty Dimetapp! At least the grape one. Boo.

I understand the need to balance your electrolytes - believe me, I've been sick this week, and this stuff actually did help me - so I can't slam it completely. But next time, I think I'll take the first step and work my way from Gatorade up to Pedialyte.

Prison Break Finale

In case you didn't already think of it, there will be spoilers for those of you who wish to watch it but have not yet gotten around to it. Consider yourself warned. But I know there are others who don't care about Prison Break and don't even know why they're reading this entry. For your sake, this will be short, because most of the discussions about this finale are long and must be done in person. Too much emotion and vocal inflection would be necessary in such a conversation. This is just a vent of the few thoughts that I needed to put out there...

1) Stupid Verizon commercial that they stuck in the middle of the first half that showed us exactly what was going to be happening in the second half... What effective marketing. I remembered the company that ruined my night. It so happened to be the company that I left for poor customer service. Those dummies...

2) That dumb operation that they did on Michael to save his life didn't actually save his life?! What a waste...

3) Oh, I forgot to watch Private Practice to see if Paul Adelstein had taken time off from there to come back to Prison Break.

4) What's the deal with Gretchen? She was going to stay out of trouble because she was afraid of what the General would do to her, but he's dead, so what's keeping her out of trouble now?

ARGH. Guess I have to buy that Season 4 release on June 2.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

If you're looking for info about the movie, sorry. I don't have any exclusive information, except for the fact that it opens on June 24, and I have all intentions of dragging lots of people out to see it with me...either on June 24 or whenever the first advanced screening is.

Oh, and yes, the food release that has accompanied the promos for this film...
Remember that Mars released Mint Crisp M&Ms for the Indiana Jones movie last year? (I still haven't seen the movie...) Well, they've released a new flavor to promote the Transformers sequel - Strawberried Peanut Butter. Now, I'm allergic to peanut butter, but based on my observations of the world, it seemed to be a common combination with peanut butter. I guess my observations were wrong. I got instant feedback saying that it was normal for a sandwich, but it would probably be weird in candy. OH well. No harm done to me though! :)

I'd post a picture, but it's one that I took on my phone and I haven't transferred it over, so you'll just have to go to your local Rite Aid or other fun candy place and check it out for yourselves.

Now I just have to wait for the movie...

Blast from the Past: Pinwheel

So my sissy and I used to watch this ALLLLL the time when we were little...
I don't think very many other people have heard of it, and if they have it takes them a while to remember it.

Back at Work

Yesterday was my first day back at work after a month of being on medical leave. Oh man…the first half of yesterday nearly did it for me. I was so tired. Luckily they have something called the “lunch break” – this is a foreign concept to me. Apparently people take off in the middle of the day to take a break from work and eat a meal?!

Well, I'm back for day number 2. We will see how this goes! :)

Pepperidge Farm goes Petite

Pepperidge Farms now has little tins that can satisfy your sweet tooth.

Petite Pirouettes - rolled wafer cookies filled with either Chocolate Creme or Chocolate Hazelnut filling.

Petite Twists - little puff pastry twists in Cinnamon or Raspberry.

My brother bought some for me last night, so the cookies are on the dining room table patiently awaiting their taste test.

Free Chicken Week

Next week will be filled with free chicken! Both KFC and El Pollo Loco are giving away free chicken.

On Monday (April 27), KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) will be giving away a free piece of their new grilled chicken to every customer. (Info here)

On Tuesday (April 28), El Pollo Loco is giving away 2 pieces of chicken, tortillas, and salsa to every customer until 8 p.m. (Info here)

Islands!!

I know that Islands makes spectacular veggie patties that you can have in any of their burgers, but now you can substitute a turkey patty too! So many choices.

Yay!

I've been craving a turkey burger for a while now...well, I was...
But I don't have an appetite for much anymore. Oh well. I'll work on it.

Man vs. Wild and Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell and Bear Grylls together. Yay!

The two spent two days in Sweden's mountains, and Will did everything that Bear normally does. This might turn out to be my favorite episode of Man vs. Wild ever! Story here, but if you're lazy, it's scheduled to air in June.

Free Food on Tax Day

These types of promotions caused some controversy last year, but they're popping up again this year. If you're inclined to stand in line for some free food tomorrow (Tax Day - April 15), you may want to try Cinnabon - they're giving free Cinnabites from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Other deals are easy to find online. Cinnabon was just the one that sounded most delicious.

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

And your second annual reminder...Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day is upon us as well!

This year it will be on Tuesday, April 21 from noon until 8:00 p.m. It's your opportunity to try out their new flavors for 2009: Chocolate Macadamia, Mission to Marzipan, Orange & Cream, and Peanut Butter Cookie Dough.

Here are your details!

31 Cent Scoop Night - Baskin Robbins

Here it is - your annual announcement of the Baskin-Robbins 31-cent scoop night. This year, it will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 5 to 10 p.m.

So drive on over, buy a scoop for 31 cents (you can always donate more to your local firefighters), and enjoy for a good cause!

More details here...

New Chocolate

I love imported chocolate...so much that I will wait (hanging on to the craving) and make trips to specialty stores to get my candy fix instead of getting the U.S.-produced version. Example? Cadbury - especially the Fruit & Nut. Yum.

Well, now Toblerone makes Toblerone Fruit & Nut! Whoohoo! Had it today. For dinner. HA!
How's that for a fat kid?

I Want To Be A Producer...

And it can happen with as little as $1!

With the 1-second film, you can be listed in the 90 minutes (yes, that is an hour and a half of credits) as an Associate Producer, a Producer, or even an Executive Producer. Of course, this all depends on how much you donate. Lots of celebrities have joined - many of them have just given $1, so you can easily out-do them! :)

If you're interested, check it out here.

Hannah Montana Movie

This is not a review, nor an effort to encourage you to watch this movie. I won't be watching it...at least I don't think I'll be watching it...unless my nephews for some reason ask to watch it. It's likely that I will watch Monsters vs. Aliens a few (dozen) times before seeing any Hannah Montana.

This is merely an announcement that my brother is going to watch it tonight. Not of his own will, but because one of our nieces turned 12, and this is her wish. So, out came the LED belt buckle with the message "HANNAH MONTANA I <3 U" scrolling on it. Luckily he had the good sense to change it to a happy birthday message for Syd before the public saw him.

Kogi BBQ Update

So the waiting paid off - instead of me having to seek out the Kogi BBQ truck, it came to me. :)

We got there early, and they got there late, but at least we got to try them. We got to meet some cool people - like our local oceanographer and natural disaster reporter from JPL! - and about half of the employees from the City of Glendale stepped into line in front of us, but hey, I guess that's what friends are for. We still got to try it, and got to share it with some of the fam.

I'll withhold my review for the sake of those who have not yet tried it and wish to without having read someone else's opinion about them...just wanted to update you on the taco truck following status.

Simpsons Stamps Part Deux

USPS is now previewing the stamps, which go on sale on my sissy's birthday! (BTW, that's May 7)

New link here!

Happy National Grilled Cheese Month!

Yes, April is National Grilled Cheese Month. I'll be squeezing the fun of a whole month of grilled cheese sandwiches into the remaining 3 weeks. Oh the combinations...this will be delicious!

Anesthesia Brain

My 5-year-old nephew had to help me solve today's crossword puzzle. The clue was: Houston's ____ Ming. I thought and thought and thought, and the name just wouldn't pop into my brain! I asked Aaron, my nephew, "What's that guy's name - he plays for Houston, the tall Chinese guy?"
Aaron looked at me and said, "Oh yeah, I have his game." Thought for a second and said, "His name is Yao! Did I help you solve your puzzle? Let me see!"

I'm blaming this on the anesthesia that is loitering in my system. But it very well be because my nephew is smarter than me.

Oreo FunStix

Honestly? I much prefer Piroulines over these. Actually, nothing has beat them (for me) as of yet - and it's been at least 15 years of trying to match the Pirouline quality.
But now I have 5 more 2-packs, so if you want to try, they're here in our pantry.

Jamba Juice Secret Menu

So I knew that I would be relying on Jamba Juice to help me feel better after surgery, and my brother introduced me to the Jamba Juice secret menu! I tried a couple, but I guess there's quite a long list of secret smoothies. The ones I tried were White Gummi (bear) - which is my favorite so far - and Pink Star (supposed to taste like Pink Starburst, but kinda tastes like Strawberry Runts).

Apparently there are Red Gummi Bear, Green Gummi Bear, Skittles, Push Pop, Fruity Pebbles, Sour Patch Kid, Chocolate Gummi, PB+J, and a ton more.

This recovery is going to be delicious! :)

Simpsons Stamps

The Siiiiimpsonnnnnnssss....

Check it out, there will be a preview of the Simpsons stamps on April 9. Story here, USPS.gov here. They'll also announce when these awesome stamps will be going on sale.

Back from Surgery

And so much to blog about!

First things first - my brother offered up his room so I'd be able to recuperate from surgery, so he's slept outside on the living room couch. The strangest thing has happened though. He's had this urge to clean the house. He got up, made his bed, cleaned the dining room table (Windex and all), swept the floor, and shook out the rug outside...and who knows if this is where it will end!?!

And this is not my imagination or an effect of the meds. I promise!

Anyway...more to come...

Jamba Juice Breakfast

Of course post number 300 would need to be about food, and what makes it better is that it's about cheap food!

Jamba Juice has breakfast for you now - in the form of oatmeal and fruit - and you can try it for a dollar! Coupon here...

Mario Unleashed

I just thought I'd post one of my favorite videos. Yes, I know it's not a new video, and many of you have seen it over and over, but I think it's awesome (I don't know you guys, but good job), so on the blog it goes. It makes me miss playing percussion. And anyone who's played mallets before knows that it takes skill to play it on your own, and even more if you're playing with someone else! Anyway, here it is...for your enjoyment...and also so I know I can find it later :)

Funnel Cake Fries

Don't they sound delicious? I mean, it makes sense that they would make these...but I've got to say that I was a little disappointed. When you buy them at a fast food restaurant (they have them at Hot Dog on a Stick and Farmer Boys), an order is 8 fries, each probably about the size of your pinky. Might as well save the money and buy a normal funnel cake at a farmer's market or amusement park.

Or you can buy a big pack (from your favorite warehouse store) and make them for yourself at home! That would probably be worth it...

Favorite News Anchor - Brian Williams

I've said it before - I'm a nerd because I have a favorite astrophysicist. But I'm thinking that it might be an understatement because I also have a favorite news anchor - Brian Williams.

Not only is he informative, but he's a funny guy too! He's awesome on the NBC Nightly News, but he's even better when he's on The Daily Show. The man can throw the comedic jabs just as easily as Jon Stewart...and not everyone can do that!

Just thought I'd share...

Cindy's Cinnamon Rolls

Before the days of Cinnabon, Cindy's ruled the cinnamon roll world. And guess what, I found them, and you can order them online! We used to buy these by the dozen - and it didn't matter what kind you got, they were always delicious! :)

So if you're needing a break from Cinnabon, you may want to try these. If you're a reminiscing foodie and were lucky enough to partake of these when they were in CA, you may want to get some delivered...mmmm.....

Oh, here's the link...

I'm a Vinegar Freak

I just realized that I have 8 bottles of vinegar in my kitchen.

White - the regular distilled stuff
Balsamic - used to be two bottles, one expensive and one for everyday use, but now we're down to just the good stuff...
White Balsamic - the family's favorite condiment on my chicken sandwiches
Sherry - strong stuff and in a big bottle, don't know how long it will take for me to finish this
Red Wine - for pretty much everything
Pear - sounds a little gourmet, huh?
Red Raspberry - this too...gourmet...will definitely be used in a salad dressing...
Apple Cider - another everything vinegar, but this one is raw, organic, unfiltered, and unpasteurized...to treat acid reflux?

Didn't realize that I loved vinegar so much...

I've Gone Ice Cream Crazy!

Since Haagen-Dazs announced that they would be changing their packaging from 1 pint to 14 oz., I've been kinda bummed. I mean, I can understand that everyone's trying to keep in the black, and sometimes the product has to change in order for companies to do that, but STILL! Kinda hurt my feelings. But Ben & Jerry's quickly cheered me up with their announcement that they plan to stay with their 1 pint packages.

So what did I do to deal with this little ice cream drama? Bought 7 pints. After I had just bought 1 quart of Haagen-Dazs chocolate. Here is the shopping list:

2 pints of Caramel Cone (Haagen-Dazs) - got'em! BEFORE they moved it to 14 oz.
1 pint of Gingersnap (New Ben & Jerry's) - hoping it's great! It's a limited edition...
1 pint of Mint Chocolate Cookie (Ben & Jerry's) - my sissy's ultimate favorite
1 pint of Half-Baked (Ben & Jerry's) - one of the sissy's faves
1 pint of Chunky Monkey (Ben & Jerry's) - classic, right?
1 pint of Blackberry Cabernet (Ciao Bella) - oh man, hope it's like the gelato from Spitz...then I can mix it with my Haagen-Dazs chocolate
And a single cup of Cherry Garcia (Ben & Jerry's) to complete the classic duo.

If you don't believe it, you just don't know!! Check it out:Now the question is...how much of this am I going to share? :)

Toy Story Overload

I'm a big fan of the Toy Story movies - can't decide which of the two is better at the moment, but I can argue on each side. So I'm so excited that they're preparing to release them in 3-D (I guess I should start recruiting the sibs, cousins, nieces, and nephews to form an entourage to see these). But I'm more excited that Toy Story 3 is almost here!

So many movies for me to watch...

G.I. Joe
Transformers 2
Voltron
Toy Story 3
Harry Potter

And those are only the kiddie movies that I want to see! My goodness...guess I better stock up on those movie tickets from Costco!

Pink Lemonade Anyone?

I have discovered where pink lemonade comes from...

Pink Lemons!

I'm so serious. I found them at the Farmer's Market, and the guy was laughing because I asked if I could buy just one (they were a quarter each). Then he just gave me one for free :)

Pictures are on my sissy's camera, so I'll post when she sends them to me.
Their appearance is reminiscent of grapefruits, and are apparently more lemon-y. Unfortunately, they disappeared before I got to try them.

Dole Whip

I can't go to Disneyland without getting my Dole Whip fix. I think I've done it once or twice, and suddenly the "Happiest Place on Earth" was not so happy.

Good thing I got Dole Whip today! :) My brother recorded a video of our nephews eating Dole Whip and arguing about who would have to share with their mom - oh, and as they were arguing, they were turned to the sides of their strollers to protect their Dole Whip. Funny boys!

Hopefully I'll be able to post it soon...

Haagen-Dazs News

Or shall I say New Haagen-Dazs? They have a new line called "Five" - and as you can probably guess, it's their ultra premium ice cream made with only five ingredients.

Since the ingredient list is limited, the flavor list couldn't be too incredibly long either. But here are the flavors so far: Mint, Ginger, Coffee, Vanilla Bean, Brown Sugar, Passionfruit, and Milk Chocolate.

So keep your eyes peeled - and if you find it, please let me know where I can buy it!

White Socks

So I tried wearing regular white socks with dress shoes.

Can't do it. Don't know how some people can. Can someone share some insight?
Maybe I'll buy you a pair of black dress socks to use with your dress shoes :)

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

Wow - talk about lack of advertising. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li is finally coming to theaters. I finally saw a commercial last night, and it confirmed that the movie was coming out on February 27. Whoohoo! My movie card is quickly getting filled...

Lamingtons

Okay, so my exposure to anything Australian is extremely limited. But luckily, my co-worker's husband is Australian, so she shares Australian treats with me every now and then. Today's treat were Lamingtons - cubes of yellow cake filled with jam, then rolled in chocolate icing and shredded coconut. So good! Talk about a proper sugar rush - this totally provided the rush and the satisfaction!

If I can find a decent recipe, I'll be sharing these soon :)

KOGI Korean BBQ Taco Truck

So - my food plans are set for this weekend, as I am going to be following the Korean BBQ Taco Truck around! :)

Should be delicious...

For All Potato Lovers

Souplantation has dedicated the month of February to potatoes!

From February 1 through 13 -
Broccoli Cheese Baked Potato Topper - Irish Potato Leek Soup - Sweet Potato Corn Chowder - Loaded Baked Potato Soup - Roasted Potato Focaccia - Bistro Potato Salad - German Potato Salad Sweet Potatoes (with Pineapple Marshmallow Whip)

From February 14 through 28 -
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes - Cream of Rosemary Potato Soup - Golden Yam Bisque - Potato Tomato & Spinach Soup - Roasted Potato Focaccia - Picnic Potato Salad - Provencal Green Bean & Potato Salad - Sweet Potatoes (with Maple Cream)

Enjoy - maybe this hungry monkey will see you there :)

I'm Such a Nerd...

I have a favorite astrophysicist. Seriously. His name is Neil DeGrasse Tyson. And even though one of his campaigns hurts my feelings - he's the one who "proved" that Pluto was not a planet - he's still my favorite. So much so that I will be purchasing his book (The Pluto Files) sometime in the near future.

You should check him out...he makes his rounds on the talk show circuits...you should be able to find clips online. Maybe you'll find that you're a nerd too! :) Or...if you are holding on to your childhood education, your feelings may be a little hurt. If you fall into that category and you have a Facebook page (BTW, I'm still trying to figure out what this whole Facebook thing is all about), you may want to add "When I Was A Kid, Pluto Was A Planet."

Thank You Denny's!

It was a wonderful gesture to offer America a free Grand Slam. Unfortunately, the line was too long and lunchtime was limited. It's so sad. I even had my choices all picked out. Pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and an English muffin to complete the deal. No meat for me.

Oh well, so sorry I missed it. Maybe next time. But not for free. :(

The Peanut Butter Saga

As someone who is allergic to peanuts, this crazy situation has not affected me. But for those of you who have an affinity towards peanut butter, my sympathies. I understand that peanut butter is awesome and necessary, and it's terrible that you now have to question whether or not your peanut butter products are suitable for eating.



I hope that you're coping well, and if you need support services, I'm sure that there are a ton of people out there (um, yeah, try your friends...that would be a good start) who could empathize with you. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide that service.



In the meantime, there are several non-peanut-butter snacks that might help you cope with cravings (notice that I did not say satisfy). And if you make any, be sure to let me know. :)

Fling Candy Bar

I love trying new candy bars...the only problem is that so many of them have peanuts, peanut butter, hazelnuts, coffee, etc. (Category? Things that I'm allergic or have severe reactions to.)

This is not the case with the Fling Candy Bar, distributed by the Mars company. I guess they had to make up for taking away the Mars bar from me. (Yes, I know that they make Snickers Almond Bars now and that should be a good enough substitute for me...but I don't really want to test how closely these bars were made to their regular Snickers bars.)

Anyhow, back to Fling. Upon first glance, it resembles a Twix bar. But don't be fooled, it's totally a girlie candy bar - sort of like chocolate truffle filling on top of a meringue bar, covered with a chocolate that shimmers and has embossing on the bottom. So pretty!

That shouldn't stop you boys from trying it though. Show the world that you're secure in your manhood and try it!

Pictures to follow...

Biggest Fan of Short-Lived Shows

It's so sad, but I think that I'm the biggest fan of short-lived shows. Examples?

Really short lives...

LAX

Kitchen Confidential

Cashmere Mafia

Back to You

Not so short...but short, nonetheless...

Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place

Prison Break

I hope this short-lived thing isn't contagious...and that it doesn't affect the other shows that I like...

Prison Break - Cancelled

Yes, you read that correctly. So says Entertainment Weekly. And Yahoo News.

They'll come back as promised to finish out the season, but they haven't decided how many episodes there will be...or if it will be a TV movie?!

Plans for a goodbye party are in the works.

Boo.

:(

Four Square

Okay, so this may date me, but I'm going to write it anyway...

On New Year's Day, the family (big family - small and big kids) got together to play some games and get some exercise. There was a 2 hour game of kickball, a warm-up for a game of Ultimate Frisbee, some biking, some basketball, and other random things (boys seeing who could kick the ball the farthest). Then everyone packed up to leave...except four people. Two of my cousins, my brother, and I decided to play a friendly game of Four Square. Do you remember how to play that? Anyway, the two boys decided that they would make the rules - only bubbles and high wires. I only understood half of that. So we start playing. It was 10 minutes into the game - probably 5 minutes were spent chasing the ball around - when I got my first demonstration of 'bubbles.' Silly boys. That's not a real rule. Well, I guess it was invented after I played it - or I never played the cheater way!

But I also was in the D square most of the game. Better learn how to use "bubbles" huh? Or just stick to Dodgeball...

Here's a new way to play four square - on a ping pong table!

Do-It-Yourself Oreos

What a concept. Looks like a party huh? Make everyone happy with a kit like this - people who don't want any creme filling, and those who like lots of it!

Happy New Year!

Krispy Kreme Minis

When's the last time you indulged in a Krispy Kreme doughnut? Did you feel guilty after? Well, Krispy Kreme is making their treats less of a guilty pleasure. They've introduced Minis - smaller versions of their most popular varieties... Check here to see if your local store is participating...

Support Your Holiday

Whatever holiday you celebrate, don't support the Happy Holidays generic. Make the companies work for your business! If you celebrate Christmas, buy the wrapping paper that says Merry Christmas. If you celebrate Hanukkah, buy the gift wrap that says Happy Hanukkah. You get my drift?

Don't let them get away with products that will work for everyone...they should have to work harder to receive your hard earned money!

Or you can go totally green and just don't buy any new wrapping paper. Tell those companies "too bad, so sad" and be a little creative on your own. Wrap your gifts in blankets, towels, or even newspaper...something that the recipient can reuse or recycle!

Man vs. Food

The holidays are in full swing. If you haven't already recovered from your Thanksgiving dinner, you don't have much time left before Christmas hits! My Christmas celebrations start next week. Ahhh, the holiday food challenge. With so much food at the different parties, how does one tackle it all? Sorry - no answers here...I haven't figured it out for myself! Besides, that's not what this post is about.

Have you ever been in a restaurant that issues food challenges to their patrons? For example, those restaurants that have huge burgers/sandwiches/pizzas and will pay for your food if you can finish it? The closest that I've gotten to trying one of these is buying a Vermonster from Ben & Jerry's for my sister and her friends and helping them eat it.

ANYWAY, there's this guy - Adam Richman - who has made it his mission in life to complete as many of these challenges as possible. His reward? The Travel Channel gave him his own show, Man vs. Food, which puts his never-ending appetite on TV for your viewing pleasure!

I wonder if he'll ever come to Los Angeles...

Happy eating!

Christmas is for Sharing

Christmas is the time for sharing. Right? Right.


This made me think about how I share. Have you ever been eating a box/bag of candy that's mixed flavors, and you eat all the ones that you like less to save your favorite flavors for the very end...then you decide to share with someone and they take all of your favorite flavors? Does that make the sharing even more noble?

This didn't actually happen to me, and I think I'm actually a pretty good sharer (is that a word?). Anyway, this is your one chance this year to wax philosophical... :)

Christmas Music Video - the Premiere

You might recognize some of the people in the video...
View...enjoy...get into the Christmas Spirit!



Music: "O Holy Night" by Clay Aiken

Survived Black Friday!

Black Friday is usually the time when people start buying gifts for those on their Christmas lists. This year, my Black Friday was completely self-serving. The highlight? I bought myself a vacuum. Think that's a weird highlight? Obviously, you don't know me very well. Those who know me know about me obsession with cleaning and cleaning products. I think I've vacuumed every night since I've opened it up and put it together!


Even with all of the vacuuming, I've made time to shop...so it's allllllllll good! :)

Christmas Gift for Someone Who Has Everything

Why not give them a Lamborghini Laptop? Of course that would require you to have $3300 (plus applicable taxes) to spend on this lucky someone.

And hey, if they already have the laptop, you can always try to help them accessorize! :)

Getting Ready for Christmas

I know Costco's been selling Christmas goods since October, and Target is all holiday-ed out as well. But there's some good news! The Christmas season can officially begin on Sunday, November 23. That's when Dr. Stephen Colbert's Christmas special airs on Comedy Central.

Yippee! Enjoy - 'cuz I know I will! :)

Soon to be Taking Applications

I'm looking for a friend replacement! If I've seen you recently, you have nothing to worry about because you're not on my list. If you haven't seen me recently, your friend status could be in jeopardy. That doesn't mean that you can't apply. (Yes, you can apply to replace yourself.) However, you should keep in mind that you might be asked to make some improvements before your application will be considered.

Sounds a little like a school or job application, right? Well, if it doesn't, it should. I do take into consideration the fact that at least one of the two applications has been completed and led to successful acceptance by a REAL institution. :)

Am I losing my mind? Perhaps...
It it lunchtime, after all...

Oreo Idiosyncrasy

I scrape out the cream before eating Oreos. Is that weird?

Tim Tams SLAM the U.S.

Not only have they made their way into production in the United States, but they're available to everyone in Target! Pepperidge Farm is the smart company that jumped onto this bandwagon.

They're really there at Target...I just got back from buying some. And I wouldn't have known if my mom hadn't pointed them out in the Target mailer.
I'm not sure how they're going to stack up to Arnott's Tim Tams, but I'll find out soon. Testing commences this week! :)

Stephen Colbert and Halloween (he's always right)

Dr. Colbert correctly identified "trick-or-treating" as teaching children how to panhandle. But now the kids are getting picky! Here we were...giving free candy to strange looking children...when they started making requests!!! My sister was smart and engaged the first kid in conversation:

Kid (looking into the candy basket): "Can I have some Oreos?"
Sissy: "What are you going to give me back?"
Kid: "Anything you want..."

The last five kids that came by ALL asked for Oreos. I'm thinking that next year we should buy no candy and all cookies.

Stylish Baby - Courtesy of Gucci

Gucci realizes that sometimes some moms have awesome purses and they don't get to carry them when they are carrying a baby, so they've made a way to make it a little easier for both mom and baby to be stylin'...in the form of the Gucci Baby Carrier!


If you have friends that will be in need of something like this, plan ahead. You can only buy 3 within a 3 month period. :)

Warcraft the Movie

My first thought: Oh no. WoW the movie. Please-please-goodness-gracious-they-cannot-possibly-be-serious.

For all of you who jumped on the World of Warcraft bandwagon, denied your addiction (and still deny the addiction), (thankfully) got bored, and finally stopped playing, the WoW movie will bring you on a trip down Nostalgia Lane. For those of you still playing, this must've been awesome news.

Well......we'll see how this all develops. Who knows - I may be the first one in line to watch it. :)

Favorite Chefs

Someone asked me who my favorite chefs were, and for some reason, the answer didn't flow out as I thought it would. Anyway, I did some thinking, and this is the thoughtful answer...

For sure I love Ina Garten. I've been using her recipes since before Food Network was created. Why? Because I know that if I try a recipe, I know that it will come out like the picture/demonstration every time. It gives me hope that I will actually make something delicious, okay?! :)

Anthony Bourdain is awesome. I'll sit down and watch hours and hours of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. And now (as a part of the No Reservations series) he dines and talks with other chefs on At the Table with Anthony Bourdain. They trade stories, theories, ideas, etc. I'd be so intimidated to be a chef or even a server at that meal!

I have added links for these guys, and I'm sure I'll add more as I continue to mull over this question.

Sarah Palin on SNL - WEAK

If you haven't seen it yet, don't waste your time...at least not if you are watching it to see Sarah Palin do something funny. Or do anything at all. Let me sum it up for you...

Tina Fey comes on as Palin, then they cut to Palin talking to Lorne Michaels. Palin opens the show ("Live from New York - it's Saturday Night!). Later, on Weekend Update, she sits there pseudo-dancing while Amy Poehler does her work for her. Then Palin steals Tina Fey's line ("Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow").

If you're going to watch it for anything, save yourself the disappointment of expecting anything from Palin and just watch it for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

In-n-Out Anniversary

You might have heard that the good people at In-n-Out are celebrating their 60th anniversary on October 22. You may also have heard that they're taking their prices down - waaaay down. Like burger for 25 cents. Sad to say, this is a rumor. :( At least that's what their website says.

I was all excited about it, so I checked their site to see if they sent out a press release. When I got to their site, there was a nice button labeled "October 22 Rumor." Rumor?! So sad. Here's the announcement for your viewing displeasure.

Ben & Jerry's - Free Ice Cream for Voters

That's right! Utilize your right to vote on November 4, 2008, and Ben & Jerry will reward you with a free scoop of ice cream! Don't believe me? Check it out!

Happy Voting!

Starbucks Splash Sticks

I went to Starbucks this weekend to order from their new Signature Hot Chocolate line. When I picked up my drink, I saw something new sitting next to the cup sleeves...Splash Sticks!

You know how people make money off of the simplest ideas - so simple that maybe you could have thought of it? Or you did think of it but failed to move on it? This is one of those. Simple idea. Simply genius.

LA Valley Mini Food Tour

I was in the mood for a food tour, so we headed to Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks - the Valley, as it's known in Los Angeles. Destinations? Nata's Portuguese Bakery and Fab's Italian Kitchen.

Nata's Portuguese Bakery

They introduced themselves as the only Portuguese bakery in Los Angeles. It's a cute little bakery with a dessert counter that is about as big as the cupcake shops (think Sprinkles in Beverly Hills or Dots in Pasadena), with a few tables out front for those customers who want to soak in that good ol' California sun...or that wonderful LA smog...

If you try their malasadas, remember that they're not Hawaiian malasadas (from Leonard's Bakery - made for you as you wait and served hot). Their baker makes them in the morning, and they serve them cooled until they run out.

The desserts are not too sweet, so you won't come away with a crazy sugar high.

Fab's Italian Kitchen

When I worked out in Brentwood, we would ALWAYS order from this place (and occasionally got ourselves down there to actually eat in the restaurant). We had the Italian chopped salad - delicious, as always. Tried their chicken piccata for the first time. Pretty good, but even so I think next time I'll stick to my old favorites - the parmagianas....

Brownie Butts - from Butter's Brownies

You may be asking, "What the heck are brownie butts?!"
Well, let me enlighten you. Brownie butts are the edges of brownies - which I LOVE!!!
And there is a bakery in Texas that actually sells these! Don't believe me? Check it here...

Oh, and for those of you who don't care for the edges, they sell regular (no-edge) brownies too...in 12 flavors.

The Dreaded Mayo Post

Ivan and I had a heart-to-heart discussion a couple weeks ago...about mayonnaise.

Let me start by saying that I do not order mayo on anything. Sandwiches and burgers - my order is always, "Mustard, no mayo, please." And if they forget, I'll take the time to scrape the mayo off as best as I can. The only time I'll use mayo is when it is mixed with something else to mask the flavor of the mayo (e.g. in making spinach artichoke dip).

Ivan told me about his affinity for mayo, and how he used to eat it on toast when he was younger (and maybe still does it?). He would just toast some bread and spread it with mayo instead of butter. I thought he was joking, but the look on his face showed me how much he seriously loved this snack. But his devotion to the condiment was nothing when compared to his friends+mayo. One of his friends used to scoop mayonnaise out into a bowl and eat it like ice cream.

I gagged so much that I almost threw up.

He laughed.

Eating Cactus

I ate cactus. Yep - that's right. I tried a cactus salad the other day, and it turned out to be really good! I knew that cactus was edible, and I had tried prickly pear before, but that's fruit from cactus, right? (I don't know...or is it considered cactus) Who knew that those prickly little/big desert ornaments were delicious?

Now I just have to remember what was in that salad so I can try to recreate it... If you have any ideas (good ideas! hahah) or recipes, let me know!

New Snack Alert - Chex Mix Bars

Hey all...so this is just a heads-up for all you snackers (but especially for those of you who like Chex Mix)!! Now Chex Mix comes in a snack bar form:

Watch for it in your local snack aisle - hey, you might even see me there buying some! It comes in two varieties - Chocolate Chunk and Turtle.

Turtle - Wheat/Corn Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels, chocolate and caramel

Chocolate Chunk - chocolate chunks, Wheat/Corn Chex and pretzels

I have coupons if you're interested. Just leave a comment.