REVIEW: Edy's/Dreyer's Slow Churned Cinnamon Bun Fun! Ice Cream

You know what sounds nice during this last stretch of winter? Some warm pastries, hot from the oven... Donuts, muffins, danishes... Maybe a cinnamon bun! Oh yeah, totally a cinnamon bun! Warm, gooey, yummy, cinnamon-y, bun-y... They're great. Who wouldn't want a warm cinnamon bun during this everlasting Wisconsin cold!?

Well, apparently me, since I'm eating cold, icy, shivery, cinnamon bun ice cream. So yay. But heyyyy, it won't be so bad. It's Cinnamon Bun FUN! Ice Cream. Funnnnnn.

But in all honesty, this is a flavor I've been meaning to try out as soon as I heard about it. It's one of the three seasonal Bakery Treats flavors Edy's/Dreyer's have just released not too long ago- the other two being Luscious Red Velvet Cake and Coffee & Cookies Delight. They all sound good, really. And I wanted to buy both the Cinnamon Bun and the Red Velvet Cake flavors at the same time, but my dad didn't want to get the Red Velvet Cake since there was only a marginal difference between its appearance and the appearance of Edy's Strawberry. Maybe Dad didn't know Red Velvet is completely different from strawberry or something, I dunno. Either way, I'll make do with what I can and test-out this delicious, pastry-esque ice cream! (Or is it delicious? I suppose we'll find out!)

A 1.5 qt. container costs around $3.39.

REVIEW: Atkins Endulge Peanut Caramel Cluster Bar

Today's another day for an Atkins review! The subject we'll be focusing on today is this Endulge Peanut Caramel Cluster Bar. From its name and appearance, we can deduce that its a healthy, low carb alternative to a PayDay. But, you know, it just occurred to me- why does there have to be a healthy alternative to a PayDay? Why can't all PayDays be only 130 calories, have only 2g net carbs, and only contain 1g of sugar. Why do we have to be paying high prices for healthy candy alternatives, when all candy could be healthy? I mean, this system is an outrage! I DECLARE HERESY! (Or should I say HERSHEY? Nyuk nyuk nyuk!)   I mean, you might say that it's impossible for candy to be healthy! That's right! I'm starting a candy revolution! Viva La ResisTONCE! Let them eat healthy, reasonably-priced candy!

And you may say it's impossible for companies to make healthy candy and still make it in the food market, but I disagree. Atkins has proved that healthy candy can sell, as evidenced by this product right here! And there are other examples too! Maybe someday our shelves will be stocked with average price, healthy candy, but till' then, looks like we'll have to turn to the diet aisle for relief. I'm not scolding Atkins or the guys who make PayDays, just suggesting some forward-thinking is all. 

Anyway, a 6 oz. box with five 1.2 oz bars costs around $4.88.

REVIEW: Girl Scouts Savannah Smiles Cookies

I've been reviewing all the new cookies that Girl Scouts has just released this Cookie Season: first I went for the Citrus Cranberry Crisps, then I tried the Chocolate Chip Shortbreads. And now that I've got those two out of the way, there aren't any more new Girl Scouts cookies to review! Oh noooooooo! So now... I guess I move on to some slightly older Girl Scouts cookies- em, not old as in stale, but old as in "not the stars of this year's cookie trend." If that makes any sense. So anyway, I don't see a problem with reviewing some has-been cookies, do you? Me neither! So let's be on our way! Today's victim on the cookie dissection block will be Girl Scouts' Savannah Smiles.

One 6 oz. box of costs around $3.75

REVIEW: Girl Scouts Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Out of the two new cookies Girl Scouts unveiled this Cookie Season- the Cranberry Citrus Crisps and the Chocolate Chip Shortbreads -I was definitely more excited for the Chocolate Chips. I mean, don't me wrong, I totally LOVE it when my cookies taste like oranges, but something about chocolate chips is so alluring. Plus, Girl Scouts' Shortbread cookies are pretty much amazing, so adding chocolate chips to the mix is like making a perfect snack even more perfect...er. So I just knew that I had to pick up these cookies AS. SOON. AS. POSSIBLE.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for me to spot a table of Girl Scouts when I was out grocery shopping. The little girls were all wearing these ponchos with a design of each cookie in the center with the cookies' names encircling each design. It was all kinda silly, especially the Peanut Butter Patties poncho- it looked like there was a big, brown, flat circle right in the middle of the fabric, nothing more.

But kooky advertising tricks aside, I went up to the table and looked for the Chocolate Chip Shortbreads. And then, I found them! ...Kind of. See, they were in this plastic bags- kind of like the ones granola or pistachios come in -and they were labeled as "gluten free." Plus, they were, like, a dollar more than the normal Girl Scouts cookies. I figured this was only because they were gluten free, so I kindly asked one of the ladies that the table if there were UNgluten free Chocolate Chip Shortbreads, and she said no.

Well then- nobody told me that these new cookies were gluten free! Now what? I wasn't gluten-intolerant, so why would I settle for gluten free cookies? 

Right after, I saw a grocery store employee come up and ask the same lady if they had the gluten free chocolate chip cookies. I asked the employee if she knew if they were any good or not. She said no- she hadn't tried them yet. Well, if SHE was willing to try them...

I put my money down, picked up a bag of the gluten free cookies, and went home, wondering how they would turn out.

A 5 oz. bag costs around $5.00.

REVIEW: Girl Scouts Cranberry Citrus Crisps

Guess what season it is!!! Winter? No!!! Valentine's? No!!!Feburary? No!!! IT CAN ONLY BE GIRL SCOUTS COOKIE SEASON... The season where you can buy overpriced cookies from your cute niece, or daughter, or neighbor, or whatever. Seriously, most of people's February expenses HAS to come from Girl Scouts Cookies (Honestly guys- we ALL know you're just gonna get Some Dumb Little Thing from CVS for your gal on Valentine's, so that don't got the cost of Girl Scouts Cookies beat).

So, in lieu of the Girl Scout Cookie Season, we'll be reviewing one of the latest flavors to appear on their order forms: these Cranberry Citrus Crisps. I think they're Girl Scouts' latest attempt at trying to make a "healthy" cookie flavor, as they're not selling their godawful Mango Cremes that were available last year, which were the previous "healthy" cookie.

One 6.3 oz. box costs around $4.00.

REVIEW: Kemps Mint Cow Tracks Ice Cream

Okay, so you know how I said in my last mint ice cream review that I wasn't a big fan of the flavor? Yeah, well, apparently SOMEbody in my family is because we keep buying it up for whatever reason. That somebody would be my father. But for some odd reason, I think he's buying all this mint ice cream for ME. When he bought this latest flavor of mint, he said to me, "Bought some ice cream. Got mint flavor in there." Sounds to me like a case of misunderstanding! But for now, I guess I'll just have to make do with what I got. Hey, ice cream is ice cream! I should be lucky as child to even have some.

So, the lastest mint ice cream to be welcomed up to our family's freezer is this Mint Cow Tracks Ice Cream from Kemps. It's a minty ice cream swirled with a thick fudge and dotted with chocolate-mint mini cows. Hey! This is Wisconsin; we ain't got no time for turtle tracks. Feh! Cow tracks all the way, baby!

A 1.5 qt. of ice cream costs around $3.99.

REVIEW: Kemps Throwback Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

You know what food gimmick I consider silly? Huh? A promotion that I think should just be dropped altogether? One that should be sent to the bottom of a pit, never to return? Huh? Huh? You guessed it- throwback flavors. They're just so darn useless. A mere definition of the word "gimmick." Like, for instance, I remember a few years ago how my dad was so jazzed up for some old-fashioned Mountain Dew that was being released as a throwback item, and I was just like, "Why?" He said it was made with real sugar, but isn't all Mountain Dew? What's the big deal? You can't just slap "Throwback" onto any old food product you see and live a good and decent-

.............

Uh huh. Uh huh... I see...

Well, alright, so a correspondent of mine just informed me that no, not all Mountain Dews are made with real sugar- in fact, most of the flavors are made with high fructose corn syrup.

Well. Alright then. I guess... I was wrong...

Well now, Mr. Correspondent! Do you see what you've done now?! A perfectly good rant ruined! Waaaaah!

...I guess now all I can do is introduce my next reviewing material like it is. Today I'll be trying this Throwback Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, brought to you by Kemps. I think this ice cream is labeled as "Throwback" NOT because it is a variation on Kemps' current Chocolate Chip, but because it is a flavor that the company has made since 1914. Pro deduction skills there.

Anyway, a 1.5 qt. container will cost around $3.89.

REVIEW; Edy's/Dreyer's Slow Churned Mint Cookie Crunch Ice Cream

Well, it's the middle of winter everyone, and you know what that means... ICE CREAM! Yes, ice cream! Freezing cold ice cream for allllllll! I like to eat mine outside in the middle of the night, while the snow is coming down in plumes and I'm in nothing but my pajamas. Just pure fun. Super. But it's even BETTER when you have an icy slushie to accompany you instead. Oh well. I guess this Slow Churned Mint Cookie Crunch ice cream from Edy's/Dreyer's will have to do.

A 1.5 qt.  container of ice cream costs around $3.89.

RECIPE: Eggnog-Spiced Banana Bread

Have leftover eggnog you need to use up from the holiday season? And hopefully some over-ripened bananas as well? Then does Sweet and SavoRi have the recipe for you! Today I'll be showing you how to bake a sweet loaf of banana bread infused with eggnog flavor. You'll love it, whether it's the holidays or not!

REVIEW: Fiber One 90 Calorie Chocolate Fudge Brownie

Happy 2014, everyone! How many of you are looking to lose weight as your New Years' resolution? Well, let me be one of the first to say, "You can do it!" Don't listen to those berating statistics that say most people give up on their weight loss resolutions by the end of the first couple weeks or whatever. MY New Years' resolution a couple years ago was to lose weight, and I got down twenty-five pounds. It just takes a little determination not to be deterred by others. What you eat is YOUR choice, not anybody elses, no matter how it seems. Just remember that, and you'll do fine.

Anyway, one easy way to kick start that weight loss is to replace your calorie-laden sweets with something healthier and more portion-controlled. Lo and behold, Fiber One has created a variety of 90 calorie treats so you can indulge without breaking the caloric bank. I've already tried their 90 Calorie Lemon Bar, and today I'll be taste-testing their Chocolate Fudge Brownie flavor. A 5.34 oz. box containing six small 0.89 oz. brownies costs around $2.98.

RECIPE: S'morver the Moon Banana Bread

Merry Christmas everyone! So, need a delicious, warm-baked bread for the holidays, but want to jazz up the same old traditional options at the dessert table? Then make this s'mores-infused banana bread straight from the mind of Sweet & SavoRi! All the summer-reminiscent-good-times feel of s'mores, only in a wintry warm bread! The best of both worlds! This is also super-easy to make, so maybe it's not too late to serve it up at one of your Christmas get-togethers.

REVIEW: Nabisco Oreo Creme Filled Brownies

So, in my recent Chips Ahoy! Brownie Filled Cookie review, I mentioned how my mom received a whole bunch of food freebies from her work. I didn't think the snacks she brought home were related at all- Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, BelVita, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter... Then I did a little digging and found out ALL of these foods are produced by Nabisco. Did you know that? I sure didn't. It's amazing how many smaller, seemingly unrelated brands are all actually owned by bigger, major corporations. Anyway, today I'm reviewing another freebie Mum received: Oreo Creme Filled Brownies from Nabisco. I thought these sounded really unique and were some experimental, unreleased product that I would get to try before anyone else, but they've actually been out for awhile. Tears...

A 15 oz. box with ten 1.5 oz brownies costs around $4.99.

REVIEW: Nabisco Chewy Chips Ahoy! Brownie Filled Soft Cookies

And now a review for a product to buy during those times when your head says, "I want a cookie," but your heart says, "I want a brownie": Nabisco's Brownie Filled Chewy Chips Ahoy! Cookies. My mom got a package of these hybrid cookies as a freebie from her company, and the only thing I could think of when taking these out of the plastic bag full of free food was, "Uh, WOW. Damnnnnn. These sound mind-blowingly delicious." I mean, as if Chips Ahoy! cookies weren't good enough on their own. Now they are simply the mere SHELL to a fudgy, sweet chocolate brownie. Sounds soooo good! A 9.5 oz. package of cookies costs around $2.39.

RECIPE: Cream Cheese Sweet Potato Mash

Well, did everyone have a good Thanksgiving? Get enough food to eat? Enjoy seeing the family? Did you host the celebrations, or did somebody else? Did you make any homemade recipes? Here's one I made- my first time attempting it too. And it turned out really good! 

It might've made more sense to post this recipe before Thanksgiving, but I only created it the night before, so that would've been a little too tight a time-frame for most people, I'd imagine. And besides, I had to make sure everyone at our family's party actually liked this recipe before I sent it out to the whole world to try! Like I'd want angry letters from readers saying how they made this recipe and everybody started gagging on it or something (Don't worry- that didn't happen). But this recipe's base is mashed sweet potatoes, so if you have some leftovers, then you could make this, I bet. But then again, maybe not, unless you made your sweet potatoes plain. Either way, you could always attempt this recipe for next year's Thanksgiving, or anytime really. Like you need me to tell you when it's okay to make a sweet potato casserole. Christmas is coming up too, so you could make this mash even then.

Slim Cream Puff Recipe

And now, for a delicious, low-sugar, low-calorie, healthy cream puff recipe I adapted from Better Homes & Garden's Family Favorites Made Lighter. These little buggers may not live up to the grandeur of the famous Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puffs, but they'll satiate your sweet tooth without being overly sugary. This recipe is only for the actual cream puff pastry; You can fill the shells with sugar-free puddings, Cool Whip Free, or a homemade Slim Chocolate Pudding. I tried filling these puffy puffs with all three, since I had them all on hand, but I bet you could use Fat Free Reddi Whip for a more State-Fair like filling as well! This recipe isn't difficult and doesn't require a lot of experience- It's fun to prepare on a lazy summer day, like I did!