Chameleon Cold-Brew with Organic Oat Milk [Dark Chocolate]

I make my own cold brew. It's pretty easy - coffee grounds, cold water, leave to steep overnight and voila! Coffee!!!

I didn't use to be a coffee drinker. I grew up a Kool-Aid Queen consuming mass quantities of oversugared Tropical Fruit Punch (thanks Mom), and staining my upper lip with a Kool-Aid mustache (which really only looked like evil vaudevillians since the red usually curled at the corners of my mouth.

Or perhaps maybe a little Joker-like?

Cadbury Creme Egg Cookies (Limited Edition)

When I was little, I was a bit obsessed with the Cadbury Egg.

I blame the commercials.

They usually played around Easter every year. I'd see a big fluffy bunny rabbit twitching its little nose, and clucking like a chicken laying an egg. But this bunny was different - this bunny laid Cadbury eggs.

In the commercial, someone would unwrap an egg, tear it in two, and show off the ooey-gooey insides (which were the color of an actual egg - yellow center with white around it).

I was fascinated. Plus - the bunny was adorable, and the fact it "bok-bok'd" like a chicken made me laugh.

I can't remember how long it was after seeing those commercials that I actually had one of the eggs - but I do remember my reaction though, and it was a little less than favorable. I was super excited to try one, but when I did, the inside wasn't 100% appealing. The flavor and consistency of the creme were not what I expected. But for some reason every time I saw a Cadbury Egg, I had to get one and try it out. (Now, I feel the need to say here that they were a rather popular item so actually acquiring one when I wanted one wasn't always a success so I didn't have TONS of them.)

Fast forward to now! At the store, minding my own business, checking out the candy section (like I do - don't judge!) and what do I see? Cadbury Cookies!

And they're Limited Edition - so I just had to have them.

Visually, they remind me of Thin Mints all covered in chocolate, and when you bite into them, they have crispy crunchy cookies, but in the middle of those cookies is the infamous creme that - as a child - I did not enjoy or remember fondly. But a lot of my tastes and flavors changed since I was little so I bought them and tried them at home.

And I like them!

I don't know. Maybe it's a different creme-filling (I get more caramel notes than I did before), but they are quite yummy. They are also very sweet. I highly suggest only one or two as well as a glass of milk or water as a palate cleanser.

The 4.9 oz package housed 8 cookies.

A serving is 2 cookies which leave 4 servings per package - and each serving is 170 calories.

I hope "Limited Edition" means they were just testing them out to see if people liked them... and they bring them back. It also makes me want to try Cadbury Eggs again.

https://www.cadburyusa.com/en_us/home.html
https://www.mondelezinternational.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Garoto Chocolate Bon Bon Assortment

I like to go to Cost Plus World Market. They have lots of neat things. I've gotten some gifts for friends and family there.

For me?

I usually go home with a number of items from the food and drink area. And I usually leave with more than I really should.

I live alone for frak sakes. Me? In an apartment full of snacks and booze? Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

One of the things that caught my eye was a little box of chocolates, and just like Forrest Gump's Mama always said - you never know what you're gonna get.

To be fair, I've rarely met a chocolate I didn't like or at least was okay enough to chew and not spit out - so this assortment had that going for them at least. I do remember thinking the coloring of the box made me think of Charleston Chew - but when I eventually opened the box up, I then thought this would be candy I'd have grabbed from a cracked open pinata. (And yes, I've been to many a party with many a pinata so I'm speaking from experience.

Without further ado - the chocolates!

In order of how they appear on the back of the box.

Baton Extra Milk (Extra Milk)

The packaging of this chocolate reminds me of a small pack of Smarties or Rolaids, but when I unwrapped it, it was a solid tiny rolling pin of chocolate. When I bit into it, the insides look like there was some white chocolate in there.

It looked and smelled like sweet milk chocolate.

Baton AO Leite (Milk)

Wrapped the same as the previous "baton" but when I bit into this one, it was all chocolate though a darker milk chocolate than the first one.

Opereta Creme (Cashew Nut)

This one was wrapped like a Hershey Nugget. It looked and smelled like white chocolate. It tasted fine, but I didn't really taste any cashew nut... which was disappointing since I love cashews.

Pacoca (Peanut Butter)

This candy was packed like a pull/twist hard candy... or Tootsie Roll. The chocolate itself looked like a mini-Butterfinger. The bite was soft and definitely tasted like peanut butter and also had a strong peanut butter scent. 

Caribe (Banana)

This was the same twist-type packaging and look like the previous candy. The smell was faintly of banana, but the taste was VERY banana. It also had the color of over-ripe bananas and was chewy like molasses.

Talente Duo Caramelo Salgado (50% Cocoa & Salted Caramel)

This one was packaged like a Ghiradelli chocolate square but a little smaller. It smelled sweet like chocolate, and I could taste the cocoa and caramel. It also had a bit of crunch to it.

It Coco (Coconut)

This was another twist candy that unwrapped looked like a mini Butterfinger. Ohhh, I could smell the coconut - which made me happy - but it was denser in texture than an Almond Joy or Mounds bar. Tasty!

AO Leite (28% cocoa)

This was another Hershey nugget size candy. It definitely smelled like chocolate - a little deeper than milk chocolate but softer than a dark chocolate. The initial bite is a bit hard, but after a while, it gets chewy as you chew it. 

Crocante (Peanut Crunch)

Another Tootsie roll wrap-type. Also mini Butterfinger size. This one had the crunch consistency in the ballpark of an actual Butterfinger though it leaned a little toward a peanut brittle consistency - like if a Butterfinger and peanut brittle had a baby

Talento Duo Maracuja (50% Cocoa & Passion Fruit)

This last one is packaged like a smaller Ghiradelli square, but the top layer smelled lovely and quite "passion-fruity." I could smell more chocolate than fruit, and the fruity top half looked more like milk chocolate with black dots in it (most likely the passionfruit seeds). The fruit flavor wasn't bitter but significantly different from the other chocolates.

1 box is 10.5oz, and the infamous "they" say a serving is 2 pieces (which results in 11 servings per box).

Overall, not a bad box of chocolate. My favorites would be (in order they were reviewed): Pacoca (Peanut Butter), Caribe (Banana), Talente Duo Caramelo Salgado (50% Cocoa & Salted Caramel), It Coco (Coconut), and Crocante (Peanut Crunch),

The rest can tie for second place.

I think I'd much prefer a bulk bin I can grab my preferred flavors from as opposed to getting a box and only eating perhaps half the chocolates in said box. But overall - not a disappointing box of chocolates.

https://www.worldmarket.com/product/garoto+chocolate+bon+bon+assortment.do?sortby=ourPicks

https://www.garoto.com.br/#1

https://www.garoto.com.br/produtos/lista/caixas#1

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

ZAZUBEAN - Pomegranate & Hazelnut with Coconut Sugar

One day after work on my way to my friend's house for a weekly friend get together, I stopped by a store for some wine (like you do), and as an impulse buy, I got a chocolate bar that looked promising. (To be fair and totally honest, the pomegranate caught my eye first... and then there was the coconut aspect. It being chocolate was just a bonus at that point.)

The front label also says that it's chocolate with coconut milk which sounds extra yummy and promising.

Opening the bar makes me think of when Charlie opened his Wonka bar and found his Golden Ticket... but I wasn't expecting anything but chocolate in this case.

Removing the bar from the foil wrapper, the chocolate is sectioned in small rectangles like a Hershey bar. Right away, I can smell the fruit mixed with the chocolate which is happy-making on its own. Breaking off a section, I can see the hazelnuts mixed into the chocolate, and as I chew it, everything blends well together. I get a little bit of everything - nothing overpowers the taste. I can't taste any of the coconut, but that's most likely because it wasn't an ingredient per se - the sugar and milk mixed together with everything else results in a great final chocolate bar. I think the only obvious way I could taste the coconut would be if there were shredded bits in it, but I feel the milk at least helped with the smooth and creamy texture.taste.

Tasty tasty chocolate of the Underworld!

The bar is 3oz and 55% cacao. One serving is half a bar (or 1.5oz) and is 240 calories.

In checking out the website, they have other chocolate bars with fun-sounding names that I'm curious to try. But first, I need to finish this bar.

https://www.zazubean.com/coconut-sugar-chocolate
https://www.zazubean.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi

I was that random kid that liked her vegetables.

Granted I wasn't open to ALL veggies and fruits - that was more my brother - but I liked most.

But when I think back on my childhood, I had been presented with the basics: apples, pears, bananas, oranges, lettuce, carrots, etc. There were more exotic types of things when I was older - such as mango and rhubarb - but there were so many more fruits and vegetables that I didn't know of (or try) until I was older... or had dinner at a friends house.

I think cauliflower was always on my radar. I've always been a curious person, and I'd see a lot of things during my many trips to the grocery store with my mother - most we never bought since my mother usually stuck to staple vegetables like carrots, onions, etc. I remember seeing cauliflower which I thought looked rather similar to broccoli.

It wasn't until I was older that I had cauliflower - mostly as a side vegetable dish or mixed in with other vegetables. By now, I've tried cauliflower rice, cauliflower crust for pizza... I've even made veggie tacos with seasoned and roasted cauliflower florets. Cauliflower is like tofu where it alone doesn't have a lot of flavor, but you can mix it with other things, and it'll soak up the flavor of the dish.

So as mentioned in my Kale Gnocchi post, I first found out about Cauliflower Gnocchi via YouTube. The gnocchi looked like white tater tots and was good on its own, but I added seasonings and cheese to mine... so it was extra yummy.

It's quite a versatile item. I have since bought more from Trader Joe's and have plans for different ways to prep it. Thinking about it now though - I'm leaning toward cheese... maybe an alfredo sauce or something... or some cut up chicken or sausage.

The bag is 12oz and contains 2.5 servings - each serving being about a cup and 140 calories. (Again, my math reminds me that a cup is 8oz, right? I'm assuming they mean the cooked result is more?)

https://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/cauliflower-gnocchi

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Cupcakes & Co. - Ube Coconut Macaroons

My love of ube didn't start until I got older... like at least after I graduated high school. And I came across it all on my own.

Being Filipino (my mom), I would have thought (knowing as many Filipinos as I do), ube would have been something I would've been introduced to when I was younger, but nope. Not sure why. It's delicious.

To be totally honest, I don't care for ALL ube treats, but I do love ube in general.

Something else I like - well, love - is coconut. I had A LOT of that growing up. Tasty, tasty goodness! And when I found macaroons? I mean, it's a ball of coconut. What's not to love?

So one day while perusing a Filipino market, I found UBE COCONUT MACAROONS!!!

As you can tell by the ALL CAPS, I was very excited.

They only came in a pack of six but lasted a long time since they were so yummy yet so sweet, I could only really eat one at a time (and by "at a time" - I mean that I was usually good for at least a few days).

They look like mini ice cream scoops and by looking at them, you'd think you could fit a whole one in your mouth - which you might, but to be fair, you wouldn't be able to talk... or chew... or breathe, probably. The macaroons are quite dense and need to be eaten (and savored) in smaller bites.

Ohhh, I just had a thought. They'd go really good with ice cream.

In one 6oz pack of six, a serving size is two and calories per serving are 130 calories. (One is really enough for me since they're so sweet and dense, but that's okay. That just means the six-pack will last me longer.)

https://cupcakesnco.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Bumbles Dark Chocolate Honey Comb

Years ago I became aware of a candy called "seafoam" courtesy of my friend Novim who loved the stuff, and the only place I could find it was from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - which at their stores (of which I haven't been to any of their locations in quite a while) they only offered white, milk chocolate or dark chocolate covered seafoam (though per their website - it looks like they have other flavors now).

Seafoam... how to explain it. It has a Butterfinger-sponge-like texture? Man, I suck at this.

Basically, it's delicious.

I found a different brand at Trader Joe's but now I can't seem to find it there anymore. (And also, it goes by a variety of names. Why Rocky Mountain calls is seafoam is beyond me. (When doing a Google search, you can't just type in "seafoam" else you'll get anything BUT candy.)

While perusing Cost Plus one day, I came across a bag called "Bumbles - Dark Candy Honeycomb."

Yeah, I got excited.

It was really good. It's sweet and crispy, and the pieces are decent bite-sized squares. And dark chocolate? Hells yeah!

Now, in full transparency, I rarely stick to the "serving size" bullshit on food packages since if I did, I'd eat maybe two M&M's a day, and no one does that. That's just crazy! But with the honeycomb? It's an extremely rich treat so it was easier to just have one... maybe two. And I was a good girl and didn't reach for them every day - though at times it was tempting.

I recently finished the bag I had... which only means I need to get more. It's a good treat for myself when I've accomplished some serious adulting. (YAY ME!!!)

The bag is 11oz and claims a serving size is two pieces which are 120 calories per serving and leaves about twelve servings per bag.

https://robernmenz.com.au/product/view/127?cat=26
https://robernmenz.com.au/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Not Your Mother's - Curl Talk - Curl Activating Mousse

I have curly hair.

It's a pain in the ass - as anyone that has curly hair can probably attest to.

Since I didn't really have anyone with my hair type (I have 3b/3c curls - depending on their mood) or any sort of knowledge of curly hair when I was growing up, I had to figure things out on my own.

Early on, the only things I had available to me were things my mother could by me at the store. So I had basic shampoo and conditioner (2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner does NOT work for my hair - that I learned early on).

When it came to styling products, I had tried a variety of gels and mousses which had different effects on my hair, and neither of them I really liked.

Now as an adult, I can try more things since I'm able to get them myself, but A LOT of things for my hair type cost A LOT of money. I'm fine getting said pricey-ish things, but they have to actually work. (Love me some samples.)

In my recent research and hair experimentation, I have come across the brand NOT YOUR MOTHER'S which I have seen before, but they have come out with a Curl Talk line of products that intrigued me. Also in embracing the "silicone/sulfate/paraben-free" curl way of life, this product line fits right into that as well as my pocketbook.

Recently I found Bianca Renee on YouTube, and she mentioned the Curl Talk line and how she loves the mousse and gel. Having not so happy times with mousse in the past, I was hesitant to try it out, but I've liked (and have been interested in) the brand from afar, and her hair always looks good (I still have not been able to embrace "big hair"), so I thought - Why not?!

I bought the mousse from Target and used it the next time I washed my hair (which is usually twice a week). First off, the mousse smells good and doesn't go everywhere like other mousses I have tried (which could be partly the formula as well as the nozzle on the bottle). Also, it doesn't keep coming out of the bottle like an alien trying to escape the small container. I find I don't have to use a lot, and even after I diffuse, there is a little crunch, but it's not like previous mousse experiences where it's so crunchy you can hear it or when you touch it, it feels like it can cut you. And one can lasts a long time.

The bottle says "Lasting shine and definition. Humidity protection for frizz-free curls." The weather is starting to transition to warmer temperatures so we shall truly test that humidity claim sure enough. But it has been helping with frizz. Also, the bottle says "soft-touchable hold for all curl types" and that hold is a 2 out of 5 on the scale listed - which is just fine by me.

I really like this product. It works on my hair and is affordable (about $7-$8). I will definitely be repurchasing this when the bottle I have finally runs out. I'm also interested in getting other items in the same line.

https://nymbrands.com/product/curl-talk-mousse/
https://nymbrands.com/

Available at Target
Available at Ulta

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream - Honeycomb

Whenever I get a hankering for ice cream - unless it's an extremely specific hankering - I look for something new that I've never had before.

In this case, I had never tried the brand Van Leeuwen so I thought I'd check it out. Of the flavors in the cold case, the only one that stood out to me was "honeycomb." So I snatched that one up and took it home.

When I cracked open the pint, I was hit the ever-so-familiar cold ice cream smell. (I know you know it, so don't look at me like I'm weird... well, I am weird, but you know what I mean.)

It looked like vanilla with maybe a tinge of yellow in color - I'm assuming that was due to the honeycomb.

OMFG! It's SO good! Each bite is this perfect taste of honey which was sweet but not TOO sweet. (I had to calm myself so I didn't finish the pint all in one sitting... and I mean if I had no self-control, and I could fit the whole container in my mouth, I would.) Also in reading the side of the container, there is no honey in the ice cream whatsoever. It's just honeycomb they make in-house, break into bits and fold into the ice cream.

Ohhh, this would make an AWESOME milkshake... or ice cream sandwich. OMFG! To use this in an affogato? Dear gawd, that'd be fabulous!

Needless to say, I think you get the gist that I love this ice cream.

The info on the carton says it's 14oz, and 1 serving is 1/2 cup (yielding 3.5oz per container). And each serving is 240 calories.

The ingredients are simple, and the end result is yumscious and happymaking. And they make dairy-free options - so I'm curious to give them a try.

https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/pint/honeycomb/
https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Ruby Jewel Handmade Ice Cream Sandwich - Lemon & Honey Lavender

Was browsing the ice cream aisle at a nearby market. Was wanting either mochi or a flavor/type of ice cream I hadn't tried before.

Enter "Ruby Jewel."

To be honest, I didn't realize this was a regular ice cream sandwich. My brain was set to macaron ice cream sandwiches (and I've seen them in large-ish packaging before) so the main part that caught my eye was the flavor profile - lemon and honey lavender.

When opening the bag, you're greeted to that cool "ice cream that's been in the freezer" scent with just a touch of sweet... which I assume comes from the lemon cookies.

Taking the ice cream sandwich out of the package, the cookies are soft and slightly crumbly in your hands (that kind of soft that you may have cookie crumb residue stuck to your fingers... which I just had to lick off... so no biggie).

The first thing I did was take a nice big bite and was immediately in my happy place. The flavors were so well balanced and melted together seamlessly, and it was just SOOOO GOOOOOD!!! The cookies on their own were sweet and lemony. The ice cream I could eat solo as well. Ugh!!! (I just thought if there was a bag of tiny versions of this ice cream sandwich. Dear gawd! I'd eat them up like bonbons.)

There are other flavors I want to try (Brown Sugar and Oregon Strawberry piques my interest the most, followed closely by Double Chocolate and Peanut Butter), but they'll have to wait... for now.

And the packaging... so cute. On the front, there's a "seal of approval" kind of mark that says "CERTIFIABLY 1000% AWESOME" - the back says "Best if eaten by you / today" as well as "Keep frozen. Stay Cool. For maximum enjoyment, let soften for approximately 3 minutes and 47 seconds at 72 F (22.2 C) before eating." At the top of the front of the bag, it says "All natural. All good."

Per the back of the package, this item is 5oz (5.25oz per the front of the package) and is 400 calories a serving - but thankfully the package is one serving. Woot! I don't feel like a cow anymore? - though I will keep how quickly I polished that sucker off to myself.

[tiniest of moos]

http://www.rubyjewel.com/ice-cream-sandwich-flavors/lemon-cookie-with-honey-lavender/
http://www.rubyjewel.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Sinbad Baklava Chocolat

I can't remember the first time I had baklava. I may have been out of high school. Maybe during college?

Regardless of when I had it, I love it and get it whenever I can.

It's quite a dense treat and also rather sticky (due to the honey), so it's something I occasionally partake in and usually only one piece (since really one piece is enough).

While at a smaller market with yummy treats in their bakery section (and me with one of my random sweet cravings), I spotted some baklava, but this was special baklava because it was CHOCOLATE!!!

In all the times I have ever had baklava, it's either cut into squares or triangles, with or without decoration of chopped nuts on top (depending on what nut was used to make the type you're eating),  and almost always with a slight drizzle of honey.

But I've never seen CHOCOLATE baklava! It looks like the pastry sheets were made or mixed with chocolate - which is AMAZING!

In any case, the four-pack was fine with me. They were all chocolate - two of which had white chocolate drizzle on top, and they were divine. Opening the container, you're immediately hit with the chocolate sweetness. The smell is undeniable. The pieces are still sticky and crumbly as with the regular kind, and the size of each piece can fit comfortably in my palm.

They're crumbly and sweet and crunchy and gooey... and just happy-making.

One container is 7oz - stating there are four servings in each container (which makes sense really given the richness of the treat), and that each serving is 200 calories.

And I had two in one sitting.

Moo? LOL!

I wonder if there are other flavors of baklava. Like how there are different flavors of madeleines. Ohhh, that would be so awesome!!!

https://sinbadfoods.com/products/baklava-chocolate/
https://sinbadspecialtyfoods.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae

Trader Joe's Creamy Polenta (with Spinach & Carrots)

The first time I had polenta was at Chevy's. They had them as a side with their plates. The polenta was this corn mash that still had corn kernels in it. And it was lightly sweet.

[That random factoid about how corn doesn't break down in your stomach just came to mind. Does that apply to the mashed stuff, too? Or is it just kernels?]

Okay - back to the creamy polenta.

When I went to Trader Joe's to get something else, I found this as well, and since I like polenta (and haven't had much luck with a couple other kinds/brands), I thought I'd give this one a try.

The bag gives you the option to cook the contents either in a microwave or saucepan. (I chose saucepan.)

The bag itself feels relatively light, and when I poured the contents into the pan, the carrots looked like carrots and the spinach looked like spinach, but the polenta... looked like meringue cookies. They were like little dollops of whipped cream with stiff peaks. (Yeah, I watch a lot of cooking shows.)

I cooked the polenta as the package said to - for about five to seven minutes - and after a few minutes, the little "meringue-like" polenta pieces started to soften, and then everything started mixing together. This time I only ate about half of the polenta and save the rest for later. The first taste was just perfect - I think however they seasoned it was just fine since all I added was a bit of was salt and pepper. It's light and tasty and pleasantly filling. Later I had the leftovers with a couple fried eggs on top. Not bad at all.

I liked it so much, I went back to the store to get more.

The bag is 16oz. It says that a serving size is one cup, and there are about three servings in this bag. (Isn't one cup equal to eight ounces?)

I can't find this polenta on the Trader Joe's website so it's either being discontinued or their site person hasn't put it up... so I just added the store's website to this post.

https://www.traderjoes.com/

Later my lovelies.

Have Goodness!
Rae