Amazing Discoveries: Alouette - Italian Herbs

I recently loaded up on some spreadable cheeses at Harris Teeter during a snack attack.  And I came upon a cheese discovery that will be in permanent rotation from here on out:

These is the most flavorful little packet of cheese that isn't that expensive!  It only has 40 calories, is easily spreadable, and provides enough shmear for at least 5-8 crackers.  I like that ratio!

Simply Fresh Milk and Cream...and Herbs.  What more could you want from a decadent cheese and cracker snack!?  You'll feel like you're at a fancy party.  But with the added bonus of not having to make small talk with strangers.

 

They are particularly awesome when paired with these most amazing crackers of all time:

 

Thank you Milton's for making the most texture-rich, fresh and crispy little cracker on the market.  I am already excited to get home for afternoon snack time with friends family myself!

 

These probably aren't presentable enough to serve at a party.  I mean, who wants to unwrap a bunch of packets of cheese and serve them to guests?  But thy are more than presentable enough for a party of 1.  Perhaps with a crisp glass of white wine!?

 

Product Shout Out

I have got to give a shout out today to this product:

Source

If you don't already have Mario in your speed dial, add him today!  It's basically a magical drying lotion that zaps any zit dry overnight.  I had one a'brewin last night that I thought might actually put me out of commish for the weekend it was so big.  

I dabbed a little dot of this drying lotion on it and it was completely gone this morning!  The key to this product is to apply it after your husband or lover has already gone to bed, lest you scare the ever living $h*t out of them by suddenly looking like your face is being taken over by pox.  Trust me on that part.

It isn't cheap but it lasts forever and IT WORKS!  You can't put a price on that!

I can also recommend, after a few months of use, this product:

Source

It's great for those of us who are lucky enough to be ageing AND still suffering from adult acne.  What a great feeling to be wrapped into both of those categories and to have to pay for it.  Nonetheless, it's good stuff.

Hummus Recommendation

I just discovered a new Hummus that I can't get enough of! 

Garden Fresh Gourmet Greek-Style Hummus

Yummy Hummy!

This hummus tastes just like the homemade dressing from my favorite restaurant - Pita Delite.  It has a delectable mixture of herbs in it that really set it apart from the usual hummus. 

 

I've been eating it with carrots to be a good girl, but I bet it would be to die for with pita chips! 

Soup for You!

After getting way too excited to see an advertisement for this in a magazine recently, I finally remembered to actually buy it at the grocery store yesterday. 

 Campbell's Chunky Kickin' Buffalo-Style Chicken Soup.

 

Hooray for lunchtime!

Yum!  It's so good and it even has a creamy color to it...yet there's no cream.  It's really amazing what they can do with food dyes these days.

 

The nutritional stats aren't that great (lots of sodium and only 10 grams of protein per container) but the whole thing only has 260 calories in it.  That's the beauty of soups if you find the right ones - So many spoonfuls, so little calories.

 

I wouldn't eat it everyday because it already feels like I've been chewing on a salt lick after having it today, but I bought two so I might as well have it tomorrow too!  Maybe it's OK some days to have 66% of your sodium before 1pm. 

 

When it tastes this good, why not?!

Snack Attack!

I just found a new snack.  And it is delicious!

It's extremely low in calories for the ample serving size, it comes with a full bag (Baked Lays, I'm talking to you!), and it puts Pirate's Booty to shame - in that it actually tastes like something and doesn't leave little corn nodules in your teeth.

The best part about it is that it's resealable.  It's like a chastity belt for over-eaters.  If I seal it, doesn't that mean I won't go back for seconds??  At least it's a good idea in theory.

I believe I found this in my cracker aisle, not the chip aisle, but I can't be sure.  It's in one of the two aisles and it is a must try!

Wine Time

Not that anyone has ever asked me for my opinion on wine (or anything for that matter), but I decided to give my take on the best cheap wines out there.

By cheap I mean less than $10.

By out there I mean at Harris Teeter.

My recent favorites are the 3 wines listed below.

First we have the Fish Eye brand Shiraz. Currently available for $5.99 at HT, this wine is so very smooth. I really don't like red wines that are so dry they taste hot. This wine is so not like that that it almost taste a little below room temperature, which is what I like in a wine.

And it means I don't have to add ice cubes to my glass and look like a redneck.

I know it's totally random, but I think Shiraz is my favorite overall wine. It's refreshing, smooth, good for summer or winter, and this brand has a screw-cap so it's perfect for emergency situations.

On the Cabernet Sauvignon front, we have Earthwise. This wine is also available right now for $5.99 at HT.

Cabernets are so mild and delicious. I don't know wine words like "talons" "notes" or "body", but I can assure you that this one tastes good and has your standard 13% alcohol in it. And they are made from sustainably farmed vineyards. SOLD.

Now for a white, which is what I'm typically known for. Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is so hot right now.
It's all the rage with my bitches here on the East Coast.

So crisp. So refreshing. And so mostly under $10. It's usually on special for $8.99 at Harris Teeter and $7.99 at Costco. Sometimes I think it might be $10.99 at stupid places. Avoid those places whenever possible.

I don't think I've ever spent more than $10 on a bottle of wine outside of a restaurant. And with wines like this available why would I ever want to!?

Well, I did spend $13 on a bottle of Cupcake Red Velvet when I was in Aspen recently. But that doesn't count because Aspen is where the beer flows like wine. And the wine costs at least $5 more than it would in any other part of the country.

Now, who's ready for an afterwork glass of vino!?

P.F. Chang's Home Menu Meals - How Do you Say Yes in Chinese?

Y'all - This stuff is GOOD! P.F. Chang's Home Menu Meals

And easier than you could possibly believe. And if you split it with your roommate/life partner, it's only about 380 calories per serving. That's about 1/8 of the amount you'd consume if you ate at an actual P.F. Chang's. Not an option for me since there isn't one in Wilmington. And that's A-OK with my ever expanding rear.

Last night I tried the Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles. It was so rich and was ready in 12 minutes! In fact, it was so fast that I hadn't even finished making my starter ginger-dressing salad before the entree was ready. AWKWARD!

Last week they were $1.50 off at Harris Teeter. Go check it out sometime soon and see if you can catch a deal in the freezer aisle!

Pumpkin Squares of Goodness

If you find one of these anytime soon next to a cash register in the impulse-buy bin on the counter, buy one. Heck, buy a dozen. I'm assuming these are seasonal and once you taste one, you are definitely going to want more before they go off the shelves/.40 cent chocolate bins.

Grant brought me home one of these from the hospital last week and we ooohed and aaahed over this little square, savoring each cenimeter of gooey perfectly pumpkin spiced filling.

It is basically like winter/fall encapsulated. I tasked him to buy the rest at the hospital, but they were already out! I guess I'll have to wait until next winter to start my stockpile.

Moral of the story: If you see it, buy it!

Trader Joe's Horseradish Hummus

Yum! This stuff is awesome! If you like that spicy tang of horseradish you must buy this hummus!

Want to make your Tuesday sandwich taste like a fancy prime rib buffett? Dress up your roast beef sandwich with TJ's horseradish hummus, without the fat of mayonaisse or a sourcream-horseradish combo.



Protein? Check! Low-cal? Check! YUM? Double check!

Product Review - Arctic Zone Frozen Dessert

Usually my product reviews are either about a new product I love, or one that I loathe.

Today finds us somewhere in between.


Meet my new frenemy Arctic Zone "Frozen Dessert".


The funny thing about this "Frozen Dessert" isn't that it's Gluten Free (whatever that means). It's that the entire pint has only 150 calories. That's right. Instead of the 800+ of a Ben and Jerry's pint, this has only 150. (The picture above is not of a flavor that I sampled, I just can't find a big one of Cookies and Cream = the YUM).


I am pretty sure it also has zero grams of fat, very few carbs, and a significant amount of protein. But don't quote me on those last facts b/c I sadly don't have the carton in front of me.


That's the good news.


Obviously there is a reason it is only 150 calories. And that reason is...well I just can't put my finger on it.


I first tried the Chocolate and Peanut Butter flavor. I was going to tell you guys that it wasn't too awful, but was basically just a bowl-filling means to some better toppings.


Then I tried the Cookies and Cream. And it's pretty good! Don't get this expecting big chunks of cookies, b/c they ain't in there. In fact, don't get this at all if you are an ice cream snob.


But do soooo get this if you just want a sweet treat sometimes and you don't have a lot of self control about how many servings you limit yourself to.


It's basically a mediocre ice cream-like treat for girls with food issues. Enter: Mamacita.


I purchased mine both times at Whole Foods. I don't really see this concoction going mainstream, so I'd check there if you want to try it!


Tell them Mamacita sent you. You won't get a discount but they will look at you like you cray cray!!

Product Review - Ghirardelli Sea Salt Soiree

It's been a while since I've done a product review, which obviously means I haven't been out there spending enough money! ;)

Today's (freaking awesome) product is Ghirardelli's Intense Dark Sea Salt Soiree.


If you like things that are sweet, but not too sweet, with the perfect amount of crunch and a dramatically perfect amount of salty bite...and things that are awesome...than you HAVE to buy this chocolate.


I dare say this is the best chocolate "piece" (i.e., not a cake, cookie, brownie type thing) that I've ever had.


I'm not typically in the habit of buying chocolate bars, but I had a few cents left on a Target gift card that was burning a whole in my pocket and it sounded so delicious. Basically it was fate.


Diva Bonus: Dark chocolate contains antioxidants! And even though I have no idea what that does or means, it sounds fancy and therefore justifies eating chocolate! Yay!

Product Review - Humbles

Well smack my ass and call me Lucy.

I have made a wonderful discovery today.

Ever heard of Humbles? They are baked hummus chips and BOY are they delish!

I was feeling a little snackish after lunch, on account of the bucket of wine I drank last night, so I marched on down to the Student Stores with the unenviable task of finding something that tastes dank, but isn't 400 calories.

Enter: Humbles!

Only 90 freaking calories for the whole bag. They were also a bargain at just $1.19. I purchased the Olive Oil, Lemon, & Feta flavor. But mark my words, I'll be back to try Sesame Garlic and Roasted Red Pepper sometime soon!

Move over stupid old not-that-awesome Pop Chips! There's a new sheriff in town.

Go try a bag today! YUMMY IN MY TUMMY! :)

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice - Product Review

Today's product review is the delicious, spice-a-licious Pumpkin Spice coffee cup from Keurig.

These little guys are DELISH, and really embody the spirit of Fall. With the perfect burst of pumpkin spice at the end of every sip, you'll feel taken away to the pumpkin patches of yore.

I don't know where you buy these little gems, but I know a guy, who knows a lady, who may or may not be my mom, who can buy them for me.

Hit up your online Keurig supplier or local awesome mom for a box today!

What better way to start your day then with a warm or iced cup of the spirit of the season!

Top of the mornin' to ya :)

Product Review: Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale

Today's product review is...Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale.

Final verdict: NOT a bad beer, but does NOT taste at all like Pumpkin.


If you're looking for a distinct pumpkin taste like I was, do not buy.


If you're looking for a nice fall sipping beer that isn't too bitter, give it a try. At least the bottle colors are pretty and in season!


P.S. Do any of you know of any really pumpkiny beers? I'm def going to keep sipping until I find one, but I'd love a recommendation!

Not So Funny, or Tasty

Not that anyone ever asked, but I am going to start doing some product reviews to save future divas from buying inferior products and to encourage them to spend all of their money on awesome ones.

I can proudly say that I am one of the elite few who have tried all of the new Laughing Cow cheeses, including Light Blue Cheese, Light Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomato, & Basil, and Light Queso Fresco and Chipotle.

Verdict = Stick with the originals because the new flavors taste like nothing. Except for the blue cheese, which tastes like blue cheese, which tastes like poo if you ask me.

I had high hopes for these little 35 calorie dreamboats when I purchased them, with visions of creamy crackers smeared in the Light Mozzarella, etc. flavor, and latin american dreams of a chipotle inspired sandwich situation.

Alas, I got nothing. The Light Chipotle only has a taste about 30 seconds after you eat it. And call me high maintenance, but I actually like to taste things when I eat them.

The Mozzarella is just a waste of packaging. If anything it just masked the delicious taste of my cracker with its blandness.

So, ladies and gents, I highly suggest you stick with the creamy Light Swiss, the decadent Light French Onion, and the flavor packed Light Garlic and Herb.

Because like songs, boobs, and books turned into movies, the original is always better.

Product Reviews - Buy This, Not That

I typically feel very strongly about the products I take the time to "review".

Here are my scathing and praising reviews below.

* Ben and Jerry's - Half Baked Ice Cream

* Ben and Jerry's - Karamel Sutra Ice Cream

* Ben and Jerry's - Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream

* Ben and Jerry's - Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream

* Ben and Jerry's - Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

* Trader Joe's Horseradish Hummus

* Sex and the City 2 - The (worst) movie

* Arctic Zone Frozen Dessert (ice cream for hippies)

* Laughing Cow 3 new flavors

* Pumpkin Spice Coffee from Green Mountain

* Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale

* Ghirardelli Sea Salt Soiree Chocolate

* Humbles Baked Hummus Chips - Get in mah belly!

* Stupid books about abortion

* Handheld Yhatzee

* Naturally Fresh Ginger Dressing

* Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's

* Ken's Healthy Options Ceasar Dressing

* Digiorno Buffalo Style Chicken Pizza - Die

* WishBone Salad Spritzer - Worst thing ever?