Isn’t America Fat ENOUGH?

Seriously.  Aren’t we fat enough?  Every where you turn there is some new story or article on how fat we, as a nation are, and continue to become.   Even our kids are fat.  Yet with all of the focus on healthful eating and exercise, companies are STILL finding ways to perpetuate the problem.  Case in point: Kentucky Fried Chicken’s new Double Down sandwich.

What in the hell is this thing?

This unappetizing hunk of fat meat is called the Double Down.   Eat it, and not only will you be getting double the meat, but you might as well double the fat…on your gut, hips, and thighs!  KFC is estimating it has 590 calories and 31 grams of fat.

It’s kind of ironic that they have been trying to re-brand themselves by changing their name and going with just the initials KFC.   They came out with their new grilled chicken but then follow it up with this colon clogger.  That sound you hear may be your arteries hardening just from looking at the picture.  In fact, the picture almost looks like a cross section of what your arteries may look like after eating one.

I mean I guess I sort of follow the logic that if you want to reduce your carbs, why not eliminate the bread and up your protein with another slab of chicken?   But if that is the case, why not make the sandwich with grilled chicken instead of fried?  Am I the only one that thinks the Double Down looks doubly disgusting?  You cannot tell me that KFC couldn’t come up with another way to appeal to the low carb-loving population.  Perhaps something with less fat?  I think KFC is totally missing the point here.

This video sums it up quite nicely.

But I’m curious…what do you think?

Disney’s Dole Whip Mix Is The BEST Recipe And It Delivers

I finally broke down and ordered a bag of Dole Whip mix (the delicious creamy pineapple dessert from Aloha Isle in Disney World).  You may have searched to find the perfect Dole Whip recipe and although some that I have found are a decent substitute, they are not the real thing.  So, once I discovered that you can order the Dole Whip mix directly from the same company that supplies Disney, I was stoked!  It took me a while to justify spending money on something I could make myself but again, the copycat recipes out there do not even compare to the real thing.  Besides, I had the perfect excuse.  We were having an end of school year party to celebrate my son’s graduation from kindergarten.  It was a field day theme and we planned to spend the entire day outside so what better way to end the day’s festivities in the sweltering hot sun than by cooling off with a delicious Dole Whip?   I can’t think of any.

I placed my order on a Monday and it was shipped Priority Mail so I received it on Friday - not bad considering it was shipped from Hawaii.  The 4.4 pound bag came with directions for a commercial grade ice cream maker and directions for a one quart home ice cream maker.  My Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker actually holds one and a half quarts but I followed the instructions for the one quart. I followed the directions for the personal ice cream maker, but I was getting nervous when it didn’t seem to be hardening.  I used straight water for the mix and used the full amount recommended.  They do mention that you can substitute some or all of the water with milk or pineapple juice instead and also decrease the amount of water/juice/milk to make it creamier.

In hindsight, perhaps the water I added was not cold enough, but I was starting to worry that my first attempt of making the Dole Whip was going to go to waste.  The only comfort would have been that I only used 11 ounces of the bag and if I would have ruined this batch, I still had enough for at least five more.  After what seemed like an eternity, the mix started to freeze and I started to get excited.  Would the Dole Whip mix really be as good as a Disney Dole Whip?  My mouth was watering at the thought of it.  It sure smelled like ones from Disney that I remembered- very pineapply.

When it was finally done, it did not  harden as much as I would have liked, and it wasn’t as creamy, but the taste was OH SO GOOD!  With the next batch, I am going to try less liquid and use milk and see if it makes it more creamy.  (UPDATE: I made another batch and used all milk instead of water. It was much creamer and even better than before. I recommend using milk instead of water when following the instructions). Either way, if you do buy a bag of pineapple Dole Whip mix, you won’t be disappointed because it IS that good!  This frozen delight was a huge hit at my house the day I made it.  EVERYONE  loved it - adults and kids alike.

I should warn you that Dole Whip mix is not cheap.  It cost $23.95 for the mix and $12.35 to ship (it is shipped by Priority Mail only) for a grand total of $36.30.  Pretty expensive for a darn frozen dessert now isn’t it?  At that price, it is not something you would be able to keep on hand all the time.  But…if you are looking for something different, something that will take you right back to the “Happiest Place on Earth” where you first discovered this frozen heaven, then I say “Go for it!”   Buy a bag and whip up a batch for special occasions or when you are in the mood for something different and want to give your taste buds a real treat.  It will be sure to be the best $36.30 you have ever spent!

Enjoy!

Barnie’s Santa’s White Christmas: Best Coffee Flavor

I love coffee.  It’s my one true vice and I have no intention of giving it up any time soon.  Every morning I brew a five cup pot of flavored coffee and as soon as it’s done, I make my special iced coffee that could give Starbucks a run for their money.  However, it is the coffee I use that makes my concoction one that no other iced coffee can compare to:  Barnie’s Coffee and Tea Company- Santa’s White Christmas.

I have tried a lot of flavored coffees and Santa’s White Christmas coffee is by far the best coffee I have ever had!  In fact, Barnie’s says it is the “star” of  their coffee lineup and their #1 seller.  According to the Barnie’s website, it is a combination of  Barnie’s Blend coffee with added flavors of coconut, nuts, sweet caramel and vanilla.  But trust me, this description does not even do the taste justice.  All you need to know is that there is no other flavored coffee like it.  It’s not just a great Christmas coffee flavor, it’s meant to be enjoyed all year long.  Obviously, or it wouldn ‘t be their number one seller!  Actually, many of Barnie’s flavored coffees are excellent.  And Barnie’s was around in almost every mall and doing just fine until Starbucks swooped in and took over.  Well damn you Starbucks!  Because of you and your burnt tasting coffee, I lost my Barnie’s at the mall!  Does the mall really need three Starbucks in it?   Seriously?  You can’t share the caffeine lovers out there with Barnie’s?  Well you suck and so does your coffee!

After I had to accept the fact that I could no longer enjoy a Barnie’s coffee cooler or take home a pound of fresh coffee beans after spending my husband’s hard earned money on a new pair of shoes, I was elated when I discovered that my local grocery store started carrying Barnie’s coffee.  Even better, the one pound bag was cheaper than it was at the Barnie’s in the mall and often times, it went on sale.  I was a happy camper!  I got to savor my Santa’s White Christmas coffee all year round and  at a discount no less.  Screw you Starbucks and your overpriced, overrated, burnt coffee!

Well…it was great while it lasted.  After a few short years of  indulging  myself with my very favorite coffee at my own convience, the grocery store chain I shopped at decided to stop carrying it to make room for some other loser brand that can’t even compare.

I was DEVASTATED!  Are you kidding me?  WTF?  No more Barnie’s?  Say it isn’t so!

Unfortunately, it was.  Gone.  No more. 

It was then that I realized that if coffee was an illegal drug, I would be an addict and going through serious withdrawals.  I really did feel like I was withdrawing.  Every morning when I would take that first glorious sip of my iced coffee concoction it may as well have been a morphine drip in my veins.  After those first few gulps I immediately started to feel alive, which never ceased to amaze me considering the horrible nights sleep I always had.  But no no no.  No more Barnie’s.  No more Santa’s White Christmas coffee.  No more coffee high.

I now know what a true coffee snob I am.   Since I haven’t been able to have my Barnie’s fix for several months, I have had to find a suitable substitution.  I’m STILL looking.  So far I have tried several different flavors and brands and no dice.  I’ve even tried every flavored liquid creamer to use in boring old regular coffee and still…not even close.   I have searched all over town for my beloved Barnie’s and it is nowhere to be found.  However, I have found it online so it does still exist thank goodness.  If I want to pay the $12.99 lb plus s & h I can order it directly from Barnie’s Coffee and Tea Company. 

Hmmmm.  I DO love my Barnie’s.  But in all honesty, in this economy, I can’t afford to be the coffee snob that I am.  So for now, I guess I’ll have to suffer and get my caffeine fix with those other inferior brands and put the good stuff on my Christmas wish list.  Oh yeah, and if any of you are lucky enough to live near a Barnie’s (there are a few stores still around), please feel free to hook a girl up!

Delicious Dessert: Disney’s Dole Whip

Disney World is one of my favorite places to take the kids but not for the reasons you may think.  Two Words:  DOLE WHIP.

OMG!

To DIE for!

Those of you who have had one, know what I’m talking about. Those of you who have not - you don’t know what you’re missing.

I could make the trip to Disney just for one of these bad boys!  There is nothing like the sweet, fresh taste of pineapple, pineapple juice and ice cream after a long, hot day of walking around in the park.  If  you like pineapple, this treat is a MUST have!   In fact, it is SO good, that I often crave one on a regular basis.    If you are at Disney or planning a trip there, be sure to put stopping by the Aloha Isle snack bar on your itinerary.  The specialty here is pineapple soft serves and Dole whip floats - this is the ONLY place in Disney World (I have not yet been to Disney Land so I can’t help you there) to get them.  However, I have heard that they can also be found outside the Magic Kingdom at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.  Aloha Isle is located in Adventure Land right across from the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

Apparently, I am not the only one who is a huge fan of this supremely scrumptious treat.  There are plenty of people out there who have tried to create their own version of the infamous Disney Dole Whip.  If you want to make your own Dole Whip, there are a few versions of the recipe floating around that will keep you satisfied until your next visit to see the Mouse .

Dole Whip Recipe:

2 cans (20 oz. each) DOLE Crushed Pineapple

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons lime juice

1/3 cup sugar

1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

Drain pineapple; reserve 2 tablespoons juice. Set aside.

Blend the pineapple, lemon and lime juice, sugar and reserved pineapple juice until it is smooth.

Freeze about 1-2 hours.

Stir the pineapple slush into the whipped cream and freeze. Serve when completely frozen.

If you have an ice cream maker there are two options below:

Another Dole Whip recipe

1 quart Dole pineapple juice

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 cups heavy whipping cream

3 cups sugar

Milk or water (varies by desired consistency)

Mix the pineapple juice and sugar, making sure that the sugar is dissolved, then add the cream and vanilla.

Pour the whole mixture into you ice cream maker.  For a thinner consistency add water to the fill line, or for a creamier consistency add milk.

Follow the instructions for your ice cream maker, which should generally just be to turn it on and let it do it’s work.

You can serve it as is or put it in the freezer to harden up a bit.

However, if you are serious about your Dole Whips and own an ice cream maker (like I do), you can now order the mix directly from the supplier here!  It comes with instructions for both home and commercial ice cream makers.  I will be ordering a bag soon and trying it out myself. (UPDATE 6/24/09 - Read my firsthand experience with Disney’s Dole Whip Mix.   Here I give you some tips to modify the mix recipe for the best possible Dole Whip!)

Here’s a video of the creation of this creamy delight with the Dole Whip mix you can order!