Fine Bacon Chocolates

My family is so crafty, yo!

My birthday is so close to Thanksgiving that I usually wait to celebrate it with my family when I go home for the holiday.

Ahhh yes.  Turkey, cake and ice cream...

... And chocolate with bacon in it?

Since my niece is DA BOMB, I went to see her immediately to get a good dose of some cutie pie cuddles and sweet adoring kisses.

When I got there, my brother and his family presented me with birthday presents (which I never really expect, but they are always nice to get).  Of my presents, I was surprised to receive an elite box of bacon chocolates.

I had never seen chocolates like this before.

Were they from Paris, France?  Venice, Italy?  Madrid, Spain?

No.  I was surprised to see they came from Fresno, CA.

Well spank my ass and make me say "mama"!

The cocoa beans were imported from Spain, but other than that, the yumscious chocolate treats were made in good ol' Fresno.  (Color me surprised.)

Forever to live on my hips and thighs.

Being a fan of chocolate, bacon, and... well... chocolate AND bacon, I unwrapped the box and dove right in.

Opening the box was reminiscent of the scene from Pulp Fiction whenever anyone opened up the infamous suitcase.  A brilliant heavenly glow shined upon my face, warming my soul and almost bringing a tear to my eye.

I think I even heard a chorus of angels singing the chocolates praises.

Inside I found delectable cubes and hearts of pure love wrapped in tissue papers that were (no doubt) hand-crafted and flown in from Brazil, each paper carefully selected to hug the pure decadent gluttony of each scrumptious morsel.

At present, I am trying to use restraint and not devour them all in one sitting.  (And trust me, I can do it.  Consider it one of my super powers.)

• Serving size: the whole frakkin box
• Calories per serving: delicious
• Calories from fat: even more deliciousness
• Allergy advisory: if you're allergic to yummy things, don't eat this
• Warning: May contain joy and later produce ridiculously silly grins followed by various sighs of contentment.  Also may be addictive.  Proceed with caution.

Would I ever try this again?  HELLS YEAH!!!  People, come on now!  It's CHOCOLATE and BACON!!!  If my brother and niece make these tasty treats for me again, who the frak am I to say no? 

Exclusively distributed by:
My brother and my niece (with love)

Manufactured by:
My brother and my niece (with love)  

everyone says GOOD GOOD EAT - GGE BBQ cube

Why are you pouting, little girl on package?

Last week Friday my friend Lailani had a Harajuku-themed birthday party to ring in her 32 years on this planet.

In keeping with the theme (which is Asian - specifically Japanese), there were tons of Asian nom-noms to nosh on.  There was sushi, fried calamari, rice, katsu chicken... as well as some other crispy snacks like wasabi peas and some Oriental trail mix type stuff.

There were also several bags of Japanese ramen noodle wheat crackers that looked interesting.

The brand: everyone says GOOD GOOD EAT.

Yeah.  You read that right.  Just look to the pic to the left.

Oh you kooky Japanese and your weird names for stuff.

Anyway - there were leftovers so the birthday girl doled out food stuffs to people in true Filipino mama fashion.  (You should see the piece of cake I was sent home.  I think it was responsible for sinking the Titanic.)  One of the snacks I took home was a "good good eat" bag of BBQ ramen crackers.

Ahhh, ramen.  You versatile food you.  Aside from your soupy goodness, I've also had you in salads.  Quite tasty.

Now the bag *I* took home looked different than the pic I found whilst Google'ing.  (Don't worry.  I wore protection.  *wink*)  On my bag, there was a word bubble near the girl's head which had her saying, "GGE BBQ cube".

visual cube example, yo!

I have no idea WTFrak "GGE" stands for (and maybe I don't want to), but let us forget that for the moment and discuss the whole "cube" thing, shall we?  I mean, we all know what a cube is: a solid bounded by six equal squares, the angle between any two adjacent faces being a right angle.

Thanks dictionary.com.

So when I reached into the bag I expected to find a bunch of square pieces of ramen crunchy goodness.  Things similar to the size of a bouillon or sugar cube.

Did I find that?  No.

What did I find?  (see below)

Do these look like cubes to you?

Look.  Go ahead.  Look.  Tell me what you see.

Wanna know what I see?

I see round mini pucks of dried noodles.

During the party while chilling near the snack tables, a group of us tried the various ramen crackers, and at least once we drew a cracker from the bag and held it like Hamlet with Yorick's skull and posed the question with a quirked eyebrow, "These are cubes?"

nerd cube reference just for me

Regardless of it's lack of cube shapeyness, the crackers themselves were rather tasty.  Depending on your heat tolerance, the spices that make up the BBQ flavor can be a bit strong for the weaksauce people or bland for those that love the burn.  In either case, the snack is still salty but yummy and kind of addicting if you like that sort of thing.  (Which I do!)

I was surprised to see the list of ingredients was so short: wheat flour, potato starch, soy sauce (soybean, salt), yeast powder, palm oil, garlic, white pepper, black pepper, chili powder. 

And let's not forget the allergy information while we're at it: contains wheat, soybean.

The front of the bag claims "no preservatives" and "no artificial flavors" as well as being a product of Taiwan.  The nutrition facts on the back state the serving size is 1.05 oz (30 g).  With the bag being 4.5 oz (115 g), that leaves the snacker with a little over four servings.  Since the bag was part of the leftovers, I'm guessing I ate about two which at the rate of 160 calories per serving, I ate over 300.

Whoo-doggie!  Don't I feel piggish!  LOL!

Would I ever try this again?  Sure I would.  I'm all about salty snacks.  This also makes for good PMS food.  Curious as to how many other flavors there are as well.

Exclusively distributed by:
NISHIMOTO TRADING CO., LTF
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670-6336

Manufactured by:
WEI LIH FOOD INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
No. 465, Yuanji Road, Sec. 3, Tienchung, Changua, Taiwan 

Dr. Pepper TEN

same 23 authentic flavors... whatever they are

On the way home from my friend's house Thursday night, I stopped off to get gas so I wouldn't have to worry about it in the morning.  I also thought it'd be a good idea to stop inside the mini-mart and grab a granola bar and possibly a Rockstar or something for the morning (just in case).  Checking out the coolers, I saw they stocked the new Dr. Pepper TEN.

Being a "Pepper", I bought one to enjoy at work the next day.

I had seen a clip of a commercial for Dr. Pepper's new soda that boasts 10 BOLD TASTING CALORIES which through the magical misdirection of advertising, you don't notice the fine print right away.

Sitting at my desk after retrieving the bottle from the fridge, the first thing I noticed was the big number "10"... with a smaller (yet bolded) number "20" off to the right.  The "20" was in reference to the "20 calories per bottle"  Then I looked back at the "10 BOLD TASTING CALORIES" and saw (in less emphasized text below) "per 8 fl oz".

I was drinking a 20 fl oz bottle... and thus the math is done.

Before I get into what I think of this beverage, I am going to take a moment to give you a mini-rant.

Shit like this annoys me.  Some days more than others due to levels of stress and other drama but overall this is a small level of irritated humming in the back of my mind when reminded that advertising mostly lies.  I mean, when's the last time you got a bottle or container or anything without hidden truths or information?  But no, they gotta make the label all nice and eye-catching so Joe-Shmoe Consumer can look at it and fall into its false promises.

Now I will be the first to admit that things like this catch my eye, but I know to look for the things they don't blatantly place in your obvious mind's eye.  But still, I like trying new stuff and am also a Dr. Pepper fan.  So...

• Am I going to try it?  Yes.
• Am I going to read the label?  Usually do.
• Am I going to truly believe this shit is "good" for me?  No.
• Will I care?  Probably not.

Moving on from my random babble "probably makes no sense" rant...

Being somewhat of a soda afficionado since I was little, I can tell when my sodie pop has been altered somehow.  I don't think you need to be an expert since the sweet flavor is, in my opinion, apparent, but it always boggles my mind when diet soda drinkers always swear that diet tastes just like the original.

It doesn't.  (At least not to me.)

Yes, it's still sweet, but it's a different kind of sweet.  It reminds me of the aftertaste you get from an energy drink.  When I drink regular soda, I pour it down my gullet, swallow, sigh with contentment on occasion... and repeat until my tasty beverage reserves have been depleted.  When I drink a diet soda, I pour it down my gullet, swallow, possibly sigh with contentment until I register the sweet (with a tinge of bitter, maybe?) taste at the back of my throat and tongue.

I used to hate diet soda.  (Diet Shasta was the WORST!!!)  But over the years I have embraced diet beverages into the fold of drinks I will consume.  They're supposed to be better for you since they have less calories and sugar, right?  But then you hear about all this unhealthy crap from too much fake sugar as well as reading the label and wondering what the hell all those words are that you can't pronounce without the aid of a translator and some ibuprofen followed by a tequila chaser.

When I was little, I would drink only a couple different sodas.  I grew up with RC Cola and later became a Coke child.  (Remember the Coke/Pepsi wars?)  Pepsi is WAY sweeter than Coke, but hell... they both go well with rum.  *grin*

Now, save a few sodas (I'm looking at you Pibb), my soda tastes have are indiscriminate for the most part though if given a choice, I'll pick Dr. Pepper over Coke or Pepsi.

Do they even make RC Cola anymore?

But back to the soda at hand.

It definitely has that Dr. Pepper taste, but it's an in-between taste.  To me, it's like the middle child between Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper.  It's more than diet soda but less than a regular one.

I like it.
It's not bad.
Would taste snazzy with some rum.  *grin*

Would I ever try this again? Sure.  Why not?  It would have had to to thoroughly offended my taste buds for me to put this beverage in the "Awww, HELL NO!" category, and it didn't so it stays in the "yeah, I'd drink that" column.  Still not sure why they bothered making this "20" calorie beverage when most diet sodas are (supposedly) zero calories these days.  (Right?)  Meh.  I don't claim to understand these people or why they do what they do.  I do know that even though I don't take much stock in diet anything really, sodas enveloping you in the gentle hugging promise of 20 calories as opposed to some larger number makes me feel better on those random "moo-cow" days when I feel like I should be left out in a pasture to graze with my other udder sisters.  (Hey, it's always the little things, right?)

Dr, Pepper Company
5301 Legacy Drive

Plano, TX 75024

http://www.drpepper.com/products/#drpepperten
http://www.drpepper.com/

Consumer Comments?
1-888-DRPEPPER

MiO Liquid Water Enhancer - Peach Tea

Any other enhancements to speak of?

So I had seen these commercials advertising these little bottles of flavored goo for you to stick in your water to make it taste like something other than just water.

Admittedly I had been a powder packet girl.  I started off with Propel (the gateway drug as it were) and while at the store browsing Propel flavor choices, I saw all other kinds of options such as Hwaiian Punch, Ocean Spray as well as (my eventual go-to) Crystal Light.  So when I saw the little squirty bottle of water flavoring, I was curious.

It reminds me of chocolate syrup versus powder: you can always tell the difference.  Sometimes powder doesn't mix well.  The worst is when you can taste when it hasn't all dissolved.  (Yeah, not a fan of that, I'm not.) 

But which one tastes better?

Depending on the mixing, both are pretty good.  Finding a good flavor is also a plus.  But I have to say, I like me the MiO. 

The 1.62 fl oz little squeezy bottle of "water enhancement" claims to make 24 servings.  The last box of powder packets I got from the store came in a quantity of ten.

Per the powder directions, you were to add one packet to 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) of water.  The MiO, however, in its convenient packaging makes it easy to add as much or as little as you want.  (I'm usually one that likes a lot of flavor, but - like the bottle says - a little MiO goes a long way.)

The last box of packets claimed 5 calories per serving.  (MiO claims no calories.)

Neither require refrigeration (which I think is a no-brainer, but I typed it anyway).

What I found a little humorous on the bottle on the back above the nutritional facts was the statement "contains 0% juice".  Really?  Seriously?  You mean after all your promises of health and... oh wait, no.  You never proclaimed such things, did you little squirty bottle of MiO?  Sure, the front of your bottle says "natural flavor with other natural flavors", but really?  No juice?  (No worries.  I didn't think you contained any juice to begin with.  But you sure make my water taste yumscious!)

Overall, it's a nice little change up to all the powders I've used and/or have seen in recent years (and I'm a Kool-Aid Queen, born and raised!!!)


Would I ever try this again?  Seeing as I had pretty much positive things to say about it, I believe it's pretty easy to assume the answer is YES.  Peach originally was the only flavor I could find.  Now I see all their other flavors and am eager to try them all.  (There's a Pokemon joke in there somewhere, I know it!  I'm just too tired to care.)

http://www.kraftbrands.com/mio/

Kraft Foods Global, Inc.
Northfield, IL 60093-2753
USA
(800) 431-1002

Argan Magic - Nourishing Hair Cream

Hello there my lovelies.  (Miss me?)

I'm taking a break from working on a story right now (aka distancing myself from what some may call writer's block) and distracting myself with a review.

And look!  It's not about food, either.  (Bazinga!)

Now, I love me some food, don't get me wrong, but I just haven't had anything too... new and/or interesting to write about.

Instead, being as frolicious as I am, I am constantly in search of products to use on my hair.  Not many people know the curse of the curls.  Sure they're sexy and awesome and are only adorned by delicious individuals such as myself, but I digress.  (LOL!)

Seriously, I would love to find a product that I could use in my hair that would feel like I have nothing in it at all, that wasn't damaging to my locks, looked and smelled good, and (most importantly) didn't cost me an arm, a leg, my first born, and a kidney for something the size of a bottle of aspirin.

Seriously!!!

But as my luck with all sorts of things - toiletries, clothes, medications, etc. - once I find something that works for me, it either gets really difficult to find or (as most often is the case) gets discontinued.

Now admittedly despite popular belief, I'm really not that girly.  I'm more of a tomboy with occasional feminine leanings in the ways of clothes and such when the mood strikes me.  But ever since I was little, my hair has always been a chore.

Post-parental-splittage, my mother cut my once down-to-my-ass-length of hair to hella short.  I believe she did this in an attempt to make shortcuts due to being a newly single parent.  Unfortunately however snickers and jokes from others (mostly children) accompanied with the random pointing and laughing caused me to hate my then hairstyle, and I forbade my mother to ever come at my curls with anything resembling a blade or scissors.

So "The Beast" (as I ever so endearingly refer to my hair) began to grow out and at the rate it grew, snails and turtles were whizzing by me at mach-bajillion, cackling as they spied my hair.

Eventually it grew out and is presently (on an average day) a little over my shoulders.  (I say this since it is its own creature and dries differently each day looking longer one day and shorter the next.)

Welcome to my world...

Conditioner (not that two-in-one shit - I mean in its own separate bottle) is a close personal friend of mine.  Without it, I could not pass a grooming implement of any kind through my nappy waves of wonder.  After a while, it just wasn't enough.  I would use a brush or comb to work through the tangles quickly before it dried (which it does quickly) and would either put it in a bun or braid or something non-poofy.  Then I'd spritz down any fly-aways with some hairspray and voila!

Over the years, I have embraced my curls and don't mind showing them off, but I just can't the poofy crap.  I really can't.  Most of the people who have ever played with my hair always want to fluff it out.  (They're dead now due to my insatiable need to kill anyone who fucks with my hair.... and by fuck, I mean do shit that pisses me off like FLUFF IT OUT!)

What makes you think I want to look like the Bride of Frankenstein?

Ya feel me, dawg?!  (<=== don't ask)

So like Arthur and his knights, I myself have always sought after the Holy Grail of a simple yet aesthetically pleasing way to make my hair not look like a dandelion on crack.

One attempt was made while at the CVS/Pharmacy one day perusing the hair care aisle.  Two go-to products of mine did not seem to be carried by the store, and I didn't feel like trekking across town, over hill and dale, meadow and glen... in search of what I affectionately call "hair goo".  Instead I investigated what they had and came up with this... stuff.

The front of the bottle looked promising with its statements of "hydrates and conditions" and "eliminates frizz" as well as "provides soft, flexible hold".

Now the consistency of the cream is a little thicker than I'd like, but I felt it was something I could work with.  It smelled nice though... wasn't overpowering or nasally offensive.  At times it made my hair feel a little dreadlocky before it dried (and my hair takes FOREVER to dry naturally). Word!

Something I really didn't like about this product was that it didn't blend too well in my hair.  After combing the tangles out, I would put a little nourishing hair cream in my hand, rub my hands together, and then start at the ends since they have the tendency to dry first and stay irritatingly dry if not properly moisturized.

A little more product, repeat to the middle section of my hair.

A little more product... top of my head.

A little more product... flip my head over, hair down, exposing the hair against my neck... and apply.

With my go-to "I know this shit works" stuff, I have never experienced any kind of build up, but alas, this Moroccan Beauty Secret has the tendency to do that on my noggin.

At first I thought "Oh, maybe I'm using too much," but then I would use much less with the same result.

This morning in fact, I used some of the bottle I had recently bought (there's not so much in there anymore) and did not notice until on my way to work that I had white streaks in my hair.  Kind of like when you find you haven't wiped your mouth properly after brushing your teeth, and the people at work think you look rabid.  I took a tissue and tried to blend it in.  It was never a lot, but enough to bother me.

Wait... white stuff in my hair... anyone else thinking about Something About Mary?

Anyway, the only reason I'm using it now is that I haven't had the chance to buy anything else, and as it is, I have various "spells and potions" on my dresser that I'm slowly killing off with the promise of never using them again.

Waste not, want not.  (I don't like throwing stuff out unless I absolutely have to.) 

Would I ever try this again?  Um, no.  Yeah, it smelled nice, and didn't break the bank too bad being around ten bucks for the 8 fl oz bottle, but it just felt too sticky and cakey, and I love my curls a little more than that.

http://arganmagicbeauty.com/shop/index.php/shop/nourishing-hair-cream.html
http://arganmagicbeauty.com/

Distributed by: Jocott Brands
Los Angeles, CA 91406
(Made in the USA)

Curry Donut

Yummy picture courtesy of a Google search.

What?  That can't be!  Since April?  Two months without a new thing?  Oh frak me.

Let me fix that right now, shall I?

Okay, so here's the story...

A short while ago (let's say a month at the most?) my friend Jess wanted to have a "ladies who lunch" day.  She and her man Wes live near this area of Mountain View which is nothing but restaurants, shops, etc.  So she sent out the invite to me, her best girl Dawn, and our other friend Diana... who brought her boyfriend Kevin (my Asian brutha from another mutha) along.

So it was Ladies Who Lunch... and Kevin.  LOL!

We walked from their condo to the street of goodness and while on our way looking for a place to actually lunch, we passed the Hong Kong Bakery and Jess said she promised Wes (who was back at home sleeping since he had to work that night) that she'd get him a pork bun.

That's when I noticed the sign by the door that said they now had CURRY DONUTS!

We hit the bakery toward the end of our day's excursion.  They were a cash only establishment, and I just had my card on me, so I vowed that I'd just come back and get my currylicious donutty extravaganza at a later date.

That later date was today, my lovelies!

This morning I freshened up, hit the bank, then later the DMV.  After the store to get some toiletries (shampoo, Q-tips and the like), I treated myself to lunch and then donated blood.  (I know, I'm awesome, but please... praise me after you're done reading this blog post.)  LOL!

On the way home, I was driving toward/past the area of town in which the donut of choice was located so I thought "Why not?"

I walked into the bakery having a visual orgy with all the pastries I grew up with (most of which I love).  But I arrived with a purpose.  So while basking in the lovely caress of their air-conditioning, I perused the case for my treats.  Eventually I had to ask, and she pointed them out to me.  Along with a couple extra treats, I got what I came for.

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: CURRY DONUT ACQUIRED!!!

And there was much rejoicing.  (insert happy dancing here)

Now per the picture I found via my wonderful pal Google, I must say the picture doesn't really do it justice but looks closest to what I got.

When I pulled the tasty treat out of the bag, it made me think of the Krispy Kreme Cheeseburgers (of which there are variants on them).

I saw on the Food Network one day.  Yes, they are exactly what they sound like they are... and yes, I am curious to try one (minus the cheese, but hells yeah to the bacon!)

They also reminded me of bierocks which are essentially the same thing more or less.

Okay, the donut.  The outside is this sweet, fluffy, kind of glazed bread and is about the size of a jelly-filled donut: round and plump.  And then I took a bite.

What did I think?

Holy Oh My Gawd with a obscenely gargantuan side order of Amaze-o-sauce!!!

When the woman had pulled the donut from the case, the sign said "vegetarian only" so when I got a mouthful of veggies, I wasn't surprised.  The curry sauce, however, did surprise me since I was expecting something spicier.  My experience with curry since I don't do HOT food really well is me asking about the spicy factor and then asking them to make mine mild.  This donut's filling was flavorful and pleasantly not spicy.

For a filling treat, I spent a buck and some change and really wish I had bought more.  So yumsciously tasty! 

Would I ever try this again?  Did you not see the word "Amaze-o-sauce"?  In case you need me to translate that, it means HELLS YEAH!!!
 
Hong Kong Bakery 

210 Castro St
Mountain View, CA 94041(650) 969-3153

Rockstar: Recovery (Orange)

So this morning on the way to work I had to fuel up Libby (my lovely little Liberty), and while there, I figured I'd go inside and check out what they had to nosh and sup on.

I got a couple Special K cereal bars (peanut butter = aka "crack for women"). 

Peanut butter is either a good late night snack or an appetite suppressant food.  I can't remember which.  All's I know is it's hecka good y'all!

Anyway, staring blindly at the cold cases, I saw the one with all the energy drinks in it, and even though I felt awake for the day, I thought "Why not?" 

Now granted, I have found that these beverages don't really help me stay awake or revive me in regular doses (meaning just one can), but I get them anyway in hopes that... oh I dunno... some miracle will happen and my chemical/drug tolerancy will shift causing a cup of coffee to do it's stereotypical job and wake my Flip-booty up when I need it to.  Instead, if anything, I get a reaction MUCH LATER in the day.

Why drink them if they don't do what I need them to?  The answer: (for some of them anyway) I kinda like how they taste.

So lately when I stop off in the mini-marts of gas stations (especially the AM/PM's of the world), they always seem to be having a 2 for "something a helluva lot cheaper than if you bought them separately so you best get 2, son!" type of sale... so I end up succumbing to the propaganda and get two.

I also bought it in grape in case I needed it later.

Now I've had both these flavors before but didn't have time to write about them since when you eat/drink things throughout the day, these consumptions have the tendency to wash out the old and bring in the new, and these drinks have the tendency not to linger.

Unless you drink a lot of AMP in which case it makes your pee turn neon green.  (Just sayin'.)

Speaking of glowing urine...

A couple weeks ago, I had tweeted "Is it wrong that I'm thinking of getting a Red Bull?" to which a guy replied with "The fact that it's made of bull balls! (research it! made with TAURINE)." 

So I Google'd, and came up with the wiki page for "Taurine".  Immediately I hit CTRL+F and did a search for "bull".  Under the "history" portion of the page, I saw this:

"Taurine is named after the Latin taurus (a cognate of the Greek ταύρος) which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.In the strict sense, it is not an amino acid, as it lacks a carboxyl group, but it is often called one, even in scientific literature. It does contain a sulfonate group and may be called an amino sulfonic acid. Small polypeptides have been identified which contain taurine, but to date no aminoacyl tRNA synthetase has been identified as specifically recognizing taurine and capable of incorporating it into a tRNA^."

Nowhere did I find anything related to testicles, balls or anything else dealing with a bull's or ox's junk

Me: Well, would ya look at that? You learn something new everyday! LOL!
Him: yea, it's gross. (to me anyway...I guess somewhere in the world, bull testicles are a delicacy)
Me: Makes me think of when a friend told me there was urea in a body spray I had. Ew! But it smelled nice. Damn you science!!!

It's true!

I'm a body spray person more than a perfume person, and one day when one of my male friends was over, he had to use the restroom.  While in there, he had no reading material so he started perusing through the things on my counter.  Low and behold he found a bottle of body spray and proceeded to read the frak out of it.  Eventually when he erupted from the bathroom, he made the comment that there was pee in my body spray.  When I questioned him, he explained about the urea bit, so I looked it up, and sure enough (according the wiki page), "Urea serves an important role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds by animals and is the main nitrogen-containing substance in the urine of mammals."

Yeah, so now when I browse body sprays, I have the tendency to read the "ingredients" closely. 
 
When I finally did purchase a small can of sugar-free Red Bull from the vending machine, I tweeted, "Time to consume some bull ball juice. (slurp) Mmmm... tasty!!! #RedBullFTW"



What does it taste like?  (I immediately want to say "bull's balls" after what I just wrote, but seeing as I don't know the flavor sensation of a male cow's privates, I will simply say... well, it tastes good. 

(INSIDE VOICES PEOPLE!!!)

Most energy drinks I've had (and I have tried many) have that nasty "tastes like ass" caffeine after taste.  I know NO ONE that likes this taste, and truly... no one ever comments on it unless they're making that face which already states for them "yeah, that tastes like ass".  I have, not ONCE, heard someone say, "Yummy!  Can I have some more that, please?" 

It's just a flavor fail we all deal with and don't talk about... like that one relative at group gatherings.  (You know the one.  Don't play stupid.)

Anyway, the orange flavor tastes... well... orange.  And since it's not carbonated, it tastes like a flat orange soda... but yummy versus that "what did I just stick in my mouth" flavor.

Don't go there.  I already went there as I was writing it.  We don't all need to go there.  Well... okay... you can go there.  Just use your inside voice, okay?

On the front of the can it boasts "made with real juice" but then you turn the can around, and you see the back says proudly in all caps (a slightly larger font than the supplemental facts section) "CONTAINS 3% JUICE".

So that's 97% of non-juicy chemical goodness you're shoving down your gullet.

Hey, I'm not preaching.  I pour this stuff down my pie-hole, too.

There's also a little bold, all caps note below the ingredients that says "SHAKE GENTLY".  Or else what?  It'll explode?  A little kitten randomly somewhere in the world will die?  Or perhaps a unicorn will mate with a gryphon and start the master race that will one day extinguish humans as we know it?

Don't ask.  I'm not even sure.

There's a tiny American flag below the 'shake gently' warning and below that it says (you guessed it) AMERICAN MADE.  Now for some reason, that makes me giggle.  I don't know why.

The serving size is 8 fl oz/240mL (which of course makes you feel like a pig if you're sensitive about these things since the can I consumed was 16 fl oz).  It's like "What?!?!  I just consumed two servings?  Holy crap?  Someone get me a trough STAT!  I feel quite porsine!"  Calories per serving is 10... which means I swallowed (remember - INSIDE VOICES) 20 calories.

Like I need something else to feel fat about.  LOL!

Oh lookee here.  What's this?  A mission statement of some kind...

ROCKSTAR RECOVERY is designed for those who need a strong energy boost when it counts - plus maximum recovery and hydration, B-vitamins, caffeine, electrolytes, and ROCKSTAR's potent herbal blend are formulated to deliver that extra kick.  Fully refreshing orange flavor made with real juice, RECOVERY is smooth, powerful and easy to drink.

And then in much smaller print...

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

Again, my apologies, but the above tiny-print statement makes me laugh - perhaps in part to it being in tiny print but mainly for what it says (in tiny print).  Ha ha ha...!!!

I imagine a doctor saying, "I'm sorry Mister Smith, but you're liver is quite infected with a bacteria that is rapidly eating it away as well as your entire internal structure until you are nothing but a pile of dust and a memory.  But if you drink this ROCKSTAR, you shall live!!!"

Or something equally as "mental patienty" as that.  (Yeah, I'm broken.)

Would I ever try this again? Well, seeing as this is the second or third time I've had it... I would say that's an affirmative!  (Though I like the grape flavor a lot more.)

http://www.rockstarenergyshop.com/new-rockstar-recovery-grape-563.html (for orange, even though the address says "grape")

http://www.rockstarenergyshop.com/new-rockstar-recovery-grape.html (for grape... I don't know either)
http://www.rockstar69.com/

 

ROCKSTAR, INC.

Las Vegas, NV 89109 USA

Prometheus Springs - Pomegranate Black Pepper

In my quest of trying new things, while at the beloved store known as Whole Foods, I was buying snacks for a movie marathon my friends and I were having. 

(Back to the Future Trilogy = awesome sauce!)

While cruising the aisles (I had decided upon a chip and dip sort of contribution), I picked up some beverages for myself... one of which being this bottle that at a side glance looks like Snapple, but alas it was something new.

While the bottle shape is the same, the contents are definitely not.

I think I've previously stated my affinity toward all things pomegranate. If there's pomegranate in it, I'll usually try it.  Plus it's everywhere nowadays due it's anti-oxidant value.  But for me, I just like it because it's yummy.

And this drink was no exception.  

Of the three flavors available (the other two being Lemon Ginger and Lychee Wasabi), Pomegranate Black Pepper seemed to be the obvious (safest) choice to start out with.

I had taken it with me the next day to work, and whipped it out in lieu of my morning cup of coffee.  At first I took a tentative sip (seeing as black pepper has a way of creeping up on you, causing you to hack worse than a first time smoker), and immediately I tasted the sweetness of the pomegranate with an interesting aftertaste of black pepper.  It wasn't to strong yet if you weren't prepared for it, it could take you by surprise.

Translation: Do not do shots of this drink.

This drink lasted me a long time since the pepper (at least for me) prevents it from being a "gulping" type of beverage.  I was sipping it more like a tea, and I must say the oddest thing happened - I stayed awake.  Now I'm still not clear as to if it was the drink or perhaps I happened to get more sleep that night than other nights, but I feel like it made a difference.

Per the bottle, the drink is advertised as a "Capsaicin Spiced Elixir".  Now being someone trying to learn to eat spicier foods, my brain sees capsaicin and thinks hot-mutha-frakker.

Taken from the label:

Capsaicin (cap-say-sin): Nature's Spicy Superfood

Extracted from chilli peppers, this spicy antioxidant is colorless, odourless and delightfully painful.  Its kick as the curious ability to trigger the unique sensation of a happy, natural high.

And I must say, it did just that.

I had picked the Black Pepper flavor seeing as it's a much nicer "spice" to me other than Ginger or Wasabi.  When drinking it, however, I could see how it could bowl someone sensitive or inexperienced with any sort of heat-spice within their food or drink.  I was pleasantly content at the fact that not only was it not too powerfully spicy for me, but that I liked it.

Examining the label further, I saw that it also said the drink was Naturally Sweetened, Gluten Free, and Preservative Free.

Words like that cause doubt to stir a bit in my head and lead me to check out the ingredients.

Ingredients: filtered water, organic evaporated cain juice, organic lemon juice concentrate, natural pomegranate black pepper flavour, sea salt, capsaicin extract

So this drink that I was consuming that possibly was help keeping me awake during the day at work was not only tasty but was comprised of organic and natural ingredients?  

I was drinking healthy.

Stop the presses.  I think we have a winner here.

 

I'm still going to test some things out, but to have something that is slightly healthier for you than coffee (though it does nothing for keeping me awake but is still rather tasty and will continue to be consumed by yours truly) or energy drinks - that just makes me happy.

Hmmm, thinking things sound too good to be true, it was on to nutritional facts.

Like with the energy drink I posted about previously, the bottle I was drinking was 16 fl oz, and of course a serving size is 8 fl oz.  (Portions like that make me wonder why they don't make things in "serving sizes".)  So through the course of the day, I drank two helpings of my lovely capsaicin elixir, each serving costing me 80 calories (160 total).

Sounds reasonable to me.

Additional directions on the label were Refrigerate after opening (that's a given), Do not microwave or heat bottle (that's a bit of a no-brainer, too), and my personal favorite Please remember to recycle this bottle.

I think my favorite part on the label was the "Ways to enjoy":

• Serve neat for maximum spice
• Serve warm and get well soon
• Serve chilled for a refreshing kick
• Mix with spirits and libations
• Serve on the rocks to tame the spice
• Spice up meals with gourmet pairings

Admittedly, the mixing option intrigues me, but I think I'll save that for when I'm with friends.

I went back to the store yesterday to grab some dinner as well as some more drink.  Not feeling to keen on the ginger just yet, I bought another bottle of  Pomegranate Black Pepper as well as a bottle of Lychee Wasabi.

*contented sigh* Wasabi makes me think of sushi which is yummy.

Yeah, it's about lunch time.  LOL!

I plan on trying a little warmed up just to see what it's like.  Also, I'm feeling a little under the weather, so the "get well soon" part of the suggestion leaves me feeling hopeful.

Would I ever try this again?  Did you not just read that I bought two more bottles?  *grin*  So I think the answer to that question is an affirmative "HELLS" to the "YEAH!!!".  (They also seem to be coming out with other flavors.  I can't wait to see what they are and try them out.)


And really, who would not want to try a drink that advertises like this (they're called mood shots, but still... and pomegranate is still my favorite):

Lychee and Wasabi

Lemon and Ginger

Pomegranate and Black Pepper
Capsaicin Elixir of the Underworld, baby!

http://www.prometheussprings.com/flavors/pomegranateblackpepper/

www.prometheussprings,com

Share your experience

spicy@prometheussprings.com

toll free 1-877-60-SPICY

facebook.com/drinkpromtheus

Discovering the Power of Spice

We at Prometheus Springs encourage you to research and explore the wonders of capsaicin and the rich history that surrounds it.  Search online and uncover the many health benefits attributed to a life rich in spice.

Made in the USA for Prometheus Springs, LLC.

Certified organic.

Jones Soda Co. Energy - Extra Strength Energy Drink

So while gassing up the car last night on my way to my friends place to listen to our friends' show Dusty's World, I checked out the mini-mart for anything that caught my eye.  I was feeling adventurous (well, as adventurous as one can get in a gas station mini-mart the size of a walk-in closet).

Most of the racks had the staples of any gas station food supply: chips, gum, candy.  More of a selection than I would have guessed but really nothing popped out at me as needing to purchased, taken away and devoured.

See, even though I like trying new things, I am also for 2011 (Holla!) am trying to eat better in an attempt to lose weight and get rid of my mid-section since it makes me never want to look at myself in mirror naked (and sometimes, sadly, that is unavoidable).  In any case, my hate of most reflective surfaces aside, I made my round to the register seeing even if I didn't find anything snackage, I would at least PAY for my gas. 

On an impulse, I bought a bag of Trolli gummy watermelon rings with the yogurt-type coating on one side.  (I have a weakness for gummy candies... though I'm particular about which ones.)  On my way to the register, I looked in the cooler and saw the various sodas and teas and energy drinks (which dominated the top shelves of the coolers as if to say "I shit on you juice and soda for I am King!")

Yeah, don't ask where that came from.  I have no idea.

In the cooler closest to the register was a tall orange can with black flames coming up from the bottom.  Out of mild curiosity, I took a closer look and saw that it was a "Jones Soda Co." product (and me likes Jones Soda).  I opened the cooler, grabbed the can (which was sitting next to the little bottle of ZipFizz that I also purchased) and brought both beverages and bag o' gummy candy to the register, paid for them and my fuel, and eventually left the gas station.

The Trolli bag was empty within seconds (let's hear it for the chunky Flip sista!), but I left both energy drinks in the car since I would be taking them with me today and my car was as good a fridge as any seeing as it's been cold at night lately.

Not having a satisfactory amount of sleep before having to arise from my peaceful slumber (hmmm, what was it... four hours or less?... I'm thinking less), I took both drinks with me and began to suckle the Jones drink like I was a newborn babe hungering for her mother's...

I really should stop talking sometimes.

In perusing the can of energy, I found this little statement on the side:

"The last thing the world needs is another energy drink, so here's one more.  We've jacked up a full on energy drink just the way you asked.  If you like it, buy more.  If you love it, pass it on.  Thanks for your support and please recycle the can."

I thought it was funny since yeah, we are TOTALLY saturated with energy drinks (none of which truly help me... I just drink them with the hopes that they might one day... and also some of them I like the flavor).  I also like the little nod to recycle.  Yay!

Then there was this part below it:

Caution

Consume responsibly.  Limit 2 Cans Per Day.  Not recommended for children, pregnant women or persons sensitive to caffeine.

I cracked open a can and the sound brought me back to my childhood when my father and his compatriots (made of his friends and family) would pull the tabs back on cans of Budweiser.  It's a much different hiss than when you pop the top off a bottle or unscrew a cap.  Beer is my natural 'go-to' memory when I hear a can being crack-a-dacked open.

Anyway, like with most energy drinks these days, there was no flavor listed but usually by assumption since the can is orange, the beverage within will be orange-tasting in nature.  (And it was.)

Energy drinks (like with revenge) are best served cold.  A warm energy drink tastes like ass.  (Trust me.  Even though I haven't actually dropped someone's trow and got all up in their derriere business, I'm sure no one's back end tastes like rainbows else the phrase "tastes like ass" would be used in a much better connotation.)

Moving on...

So in the office this morning, I sampled the juice of said canned goodness, its orangey flavour not tasting like ass at all.  I didn't even experience the usual caffeine/energy drink aftertaste you get when sucking down one of these beverages.

Let me share some other interesting bits about this drink with you.

First of all, it's a tall can so it's 4.73mL (or 16 fl oz).  That's all well and good until I get to the nutritional information where it states that the serving size is 8 fl oz.  Immediately my head does the math and realizes one serving is half the can.  Knowing quite well I will be finishing the can of all its liquid assets, I think "Woo hoo!  I'm drinking for two... or simply just two servings.  LOL!" 

I momentarily felt piggish but hey, I was raised to finish my plate (or in this case, can?).

Anyway, further nutritional information says that there are 120 calories per serving (which my automatic math deduces that I have consumed 240).

Oink-frakkin'-oink, bitches!

Leaving my ability to consume mass quantities aside, I surfed the net for other information to add to this post (website, etc), and while doing an image search of the can, I found a differently designed can (all black with red and silver designs).   

My image search also came up with images of WhoopAss (as in "don't make me open a can of-").  I actually had one a while back.  From what I remember, it was tart and yellow with a little Asian dude on the red and white can.  Also... I didn't get to it in time so it was a little on the warm side when I downed it.  Thank gawd it was a small can.  (Ick!)

When I found the Jones Soda Co. site, I searched for the energy drinks.  They were promoting WhoopAss still (in a new can that made me think of American Choppers), and just below it, I saw the drink that I had just consumed under the heading of "retired".

WTFrak?!?!?!

Oh well, it tasted good (as long as the can lasted, anyway).

Would I ever try this again? Sure... if it wasn't "retired", and I could actually find a can.  It would be on the list of the energy drinks that I wouldn't mind imbibing (which is a much shorter list than the ones I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot-pole.)

http://www.jonessoda.com/files_4/products-energy.php
www.jonessoda.com

Sahale Snacks Southwest Cashews with chili & cheddar

So the other day while out with a friend, we stopped by Starbucks to get a coffee for our favorite sushi chef in the world.  While in line, I looked down at some snacks and some cashews caught my eye.  (Aside from macadamias, cashews are my favorite nut!)  So along with coffee, nuts were purchased and away we went.

That was Saturday.

Before heading to a friend's house tonight to watch some True Blood, I snacked on the aforementioned package of nuts, and let me say they were YUMTASTICLE!

The nuts come from the Sahale Snacks group.  I've had their stuff before once or twice, but these cashews really impressed.  When I saw that they were cashews, I was immediately interested, but then I saw that they were cashews with chili and cheddar.  After that, I was truly sold.

The bag screams "all-natural" and "no trans fat", but in all honesty, I didn't care.  It wasn't until later that I saw these things - inlcuding the words "snack better" which I admit is a good idea.  I love most things that are fried, starchy or have to do with pork.  If there was a way I could have all those things in a better, healthier way without giving up the flavor, I would be SO on that like white on rice.

The tiny 1 oz bag of goodness is 140 calories.  A serving size is the whole bag (which is good since I ate the whole bag).

Warnings on the back state (for allergy purposes) that the product contains cashews, milk and soy.  It also warns that the snack was made in a facility that processes peanuts and therefore may contain traces of said peanuts and/or the occasional traces of nut shells.

Now I'm sure that the crafty person can get in touch with their inner Martha Stewart and make something like this themselves, but for those of us who wish to admire the work and talent of others (or are just plain lazy) can go buy some of these lovely yummies and snack away.

This treat makes me think of party snack food as well as something to munch on while watching movies. 

I wonder if they come in a larger bag...?

Would I ever try this again? Of course... or did my drool while talking about the snack confuse you?


http://sahalesnacks.com/southwestcashews.aspx
http://sahalesnacks.com/index.aspx

Sahale Snacks
Seattle, WA 98168
PRODUCT OF USA