Skittles Strawberry Vodka

Melting strawberry Skittles in Vodka is a waste of time. I strained this concoction and it still had all kinds of bits in it and it failed to block out the flavor of the vodka. I would never do this to my vodka.

Trader Joe's Bay Blend Ultra Dark Roast Coffee

Trader Joe's Bay Blend Ultra Dark Roast Coffee is dark as death but smooth. It isn't bitter or acid heavy at all. I rarely buy this because it's not fair trade, but when I do it's a coffee to remember.

I have to say, if you like dark coffee and you don't try this you're cheating yourself. This goes on my buy list.  

Ray's Tepeyac Stake and Eggs

Coming with beans and rice so you can pretend that this is Mexican  Ray's Tepeyac 'Stake and Eggs' is the most American breakfast one can have without adding bacon or Jesus.

You're going to want to add some stake sauce to this because it's basic, but scooping up the beans and rice with the chips that come with your meal is not to be missed.

Ray's Tepeyac Mini Tacos

Ray's Tepeyac 'Mini Tacos' are tacos mostly in name. If you wanted Tacos you get taquitos for the most part. That said these a great taquitos with a more authentic feel than those one would get at the store. 

I will also point out that all the cheese will leave shreds on the plate than can be scooped up with the free chips that come with every meal so remember not to eat so many of those chips before your food comes because You'll want them later. 

More accurately, try not to fill up too soon on chips and salsa. Ray's Tepeyac will fill you up with a good amount of food. You come away from Ray's needing a nap. 

Trader Joe's Organic Black Bean Rotini

Trader Joe's Organic 'Black Bean Rotini' is another attempt to make a better noodle and again they simply fall short of the normal or whole wheat noodle.

Flavor wise they have a distinct taste that is stronger than normal noodles, lends itself to the savory, and reminds of black bean soup. Don't expect to put leftovers of this in the refrigerator and have them be the same the next day. Further it needs to be noted that these noodles will disintegrate in the water if cooked too long so to eat them you need to be the kind of person who keeps and eye on there food.

Now, if you look at the nutritional facts you will find that these noodles are loaded with protein and fiber. They are great for those looking to gain muscle mass or lose weight. I can't say I fell in love with these noodles but my brother can't get enough of them.

You have to ask yourself if the extra effort is worth the health benefits? These are better for you but harder to cook with. 

Carl's Jr. Coffee

Carl's Jr. is very proud of their Colombian Blend Coffee, but if I'm not mistaken Colombia needs to grow food and not coffee as the people are starving. As coffee goes this is fine but I can't get passed the human rights issues.

Carl's Jr. Hash Brown Nuggets

Carl's Jr. Hash Brown Nuggets are a sad attempt to take breakfast away from the clown. I'm going to grant you that you get a lot more hash with these browns but it just falls flat by comparison to the original fast food hash brown we all know and love.

If I were you I'd skip these because they are just dead Calories without any real flavor. 

Carl's Jr. Monster Biscuit

Carl's Jr. Monster Biscuit is an 800 Calorie sandwich with very little in the 'monster' department. With bacon, sausage, eggs, and cheese it sounds like a lot of food but just doesn't feel that big.

I will say that it was about as good as any sausage biscuit you get but that doesn't say much.

First Street Black-eyed Peas

It turns out that First Street Black-eyed Peas should probably be called First Street California Black-eyed Peas because commercially available Black-eyed Peas are almost always the California Black-eyed Pea.

Now as a legume these are quick to make and filling with little taste to them to make them take on what you put with them. Jalapeno's and Ham are my brother's preferred flavorings.

Now what I like to do with black-eyed peas is boil them until the water goes cloudy then change the water and boil again. I keep it up until the peas stop clouding the water and so get rid of that woody flavor these things can have.

These are a great source of protein and fiber, and I eat them all the time.

Valley Produce Company Tuscan Herb Crackerthins

Valley Produce Company 'Tuscan Herb Crackerthins' are exactly what they sound like: thin crackers that brake when you eat them. I'm going to put out that they pack a good deal of flavor in those thins but they are useless for dipping.

If you're setting out crackers for a party, and not using spread, or you're trying to teacher people to eat crackers daintily these are great. If you have trouble with crumbly food not so much. 

Trader Joe's Giant Greek Green Olives

I found Trader Joe's Giant Greek Green Olives in the new item section some time ago and left them in my cabinet. I never saw them again in stores. I can see why.

These things still have there pits! Why would you buy olives like this? I mean, we moved past that age of savagery. 

In any case, if you can find these and you wanted to relive the days before indoor plumbing or your just like the barbaric idea of spiting bits of you food out these are your jam. They are salty and, well, salty. 

Kirkland Signature Maple Syrup

As you can see Kirkland Signature Maple Syrup is thin by comparison to the fake crap you buy that calls itself 'syrup'. It stand superior in terms of flavor on all counts. 

Now, I tend to thicken it by dropping it in the blender with berries.

I can't say this is good for you but it is natural and more satisfying.

Four Paws Magic Coat Flea Comb Extra Fine

Four Paws Magic Coat makes this all mettle Flea Comb and I've gone and got no less than three of the extra fine combs over the years. I have all three, but I love these so much that I wanted three, and I use them all the time.

The stiff steel makes for better pickup of crud from my cats' fur and you can put these in the dishwasher to clean them if you need to. They get the stuff out much better than those plastic combs. I even use them on my own head to check for dandruff.

These kick flea butt! 

Carl's Jr. The Midnight Moonshine Burger

Carl's Jr.'s 'The Midnight Moonshine Burger' is another in a long line of high end burgers from Carl's Jr. made with moonshine sauce and, well, sweet. This burger is sure sweet.

With gobs of bacon and crispy onion things I will say that this was a good burger. The only issue I have with it is that the burger looks much bigger in the picture on the menu.

Carl's Jr. Bacon Cheese Fries

Carl's Jr. Bacon Cheese Fries are a disappointing take on a great concept. The fries were fine, the bacon was fine, but the cheese was goop. It was the kind of cheese that you get to dip your chips in giving it none of the qualities of good cheese. 

This whole thing would have been better without the cheese at all and I wouldn't get it again.

Carl's Jr. Iced Coffee

Carl's Jr. Iced Coffee is more milk than coffee but given that you only get one fill and that fill is 130 calories it is a step up from soda health wise. 

These things will never give a real coffee shop a run for their money but they are good. I'd hat to see the ingredients but it tastes like cream, coffee, and sugar mixed and you can see they keep it in a refrigerator. 

Being the kind of coffee geek that I am I would rather make my own than buy iced coffee, so I wouldn't get this again. If you're the kind of person who can't chill coffee in the refrigerator then go for this because it will do.

Prego Fresh Mushroom

Prego 'Fresh Mushroom' has mushroom in it or so the label tells me. I couldn't taste the mushroom myself but it is the third ingredient. Normally I like to have smooth sauce, but in this case the smoothness only means that there are fewer mushrooms then would make this good.

Not that I think it's bad. I only think it could use more mushrooms. If I were making this with sausage it would work out just fine. 

Snow Leopard Trust Creature Cat Toy 'Snake'

Being a fellow who loves all the furry creatures of the earth I got myself a Snow Leopard Trust Creature Cat Toy. Well, I got two, two snakes to be clear. There are fish and birds, but I got the snakes.

These handmade wool things look almost nothing like real snakes but my cats couldn't care less. They found this one in my work room and started playing with it on their own. I had to wait until they were finished to take the picture. As you can see, little Bob Denver has fallen asleep with his toy. I love these things, but they are expensive for cat toys, ten dollars each, and still worth it because they help to conserve the snow leopard. How much is it worth to you to keep this lovely animal on our sick and ailing planet? 

Dominoes Parmesan Bread Bites

Dominoes Parmesan Bread Bites are a great addition to every meal particularly if you want to cleanse your palette of sweet after a marble brownie to have  you're vodka and orange soda.

The dipping sauces add color to the meal but these can be had as they come. I really dug these bread bites but then it could be the vodka talking.

Domino's Blue Cheese Dressing

Domino's Blue Cheese Dressing is kind of like blue cheese dressing only without the blue cheese. That would make it mayonnaise. Now I've never liked mayonnaise but as mayonnaise goes this is very good mayonnaise.

I would have to point out that this really fails to add much to what you put it on so I would give it a pass. 

Domino's Pizza with Pepperoni and Mushrooms

Of the many whelming things I've had in my life Domino's Pizza is one. It is not bad, nor is it good, but it is simply okay pizza. This is pizza in such a form that it will not make you want to eat it every day but rather will be a happy moment in your life, forgettable, and not worth mentioning.

I would have to say that this pizza could have been cooked a bit hotter to give it a crunch and could have had more cheese to fill it out. I would not buy this over Costco pizza, but I would not turn it down if offered some.

Domino's Marbled Cookie Brownie

Domino's Marbled Cookie Brownie looks like a brownie with some cookies pressed into the top. As these things go this was good. It wasn't a 'wow' experience and I'm having trouble finding the nutritional facts online, but it was a passable food.

The fact that it is separated into nine parts is something to think about. If I were giving this to kids I would only give them one each and put the rest away for some other time. Then I don't have kids so what am I talking about?

Maine Root Pumpkin Pie Soda

Maine Root 'Pumpkin Pie Soda' was an offering I found at my local BevMo. It's a Fair Trade Certified offering which is one of the reasons for it's price which is more than some micro-brew beers.

That said it was a new experience for me and so stood out among other sodas. I would say, buy this if you intend to mix soda with fine whisky and it will make for a good evening.

The flavor is not strong or overpowering but mild and pleasant. 

Broccoflower

Broccoflower or green cauliflower is very similar to white cauliflower only its green. I find this to be sweeter than the white stuff. This plant is noted to have more fiber, sugar, protein, vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron and Calcium than it's white brother, but have fewer B Vitamins.

All in all, it makes a great addition to the table if you are in need of vitamin C. However, if you need B Vitamins this becomes an issue.  Then it is only a small change.

From a taste standpoint the green is far superior to any other color I have tasted. Enjoy liberally. 

Skittles Vodka Lemon

I read something on Skittles Vodka on the internet and had to try this for myself. It's made by dissolving Skittles in Vodka. Well, this is the lemon version, and I do say that it stinks.

You need really good vodka to make this work and if you have really good vodka why are you wasting it with skittles? This is just a novelty and not one you should try.

Fireman's Brew Brunette Beer

Fireman's Brew Brunette Beer is a pleasant dark drink with a moderate head. I can't say that it was out of this world but it was a delightful drink and at vary least they say that they help out the families of fallen fire fighters. That makes this a brew with heart.  

This is a solid beer sure to bring a smile to any that drink it and like rich, dark brew. It runs about a dollar fifty a bottle, and I would buy this again.

MTN DEW Kickstart Midnight Grape

Tasting of watered down grape soda MTN Dew Kickstart 'Midnight Grape' isn't much of an energy drink. My brother and I drank one each and fell right to sleep afterwards. It could be that we were both getting up early in the morning but I think it could have been the Dew. 

Anyway, this flavor is something of a meh. If you have a big thing for grape, or rather chemical grape which tastes nothing like the real thing, you may like this stuff. Me, I'm not getting this again. 

El Taco Loco Tacos

El Taco Loco's Tacos don't look like much because you're supposed to go to the salsa bar and stuff them yourself. Funny thing is that even as these are more work than normal tacos I think they are much better. 

I will point out that these are not high quality tacos and they are not supposed to be. The meat has a bit of gristle that I felt added to the charm and these were cheap. So cheap that two people had a meal for the same as what you would pay at some high end fast food restaurants.

Vicia Faba Bean

I picked up Vicia Faba Beans at my local farmer's market, and I have to admit I'm not impressed. These things are supposed to be a mild hallucinogen with a derivative that can be made from them being illegal in Florida. 

Apparently if you eat these every day they can be dangerous like, you know, chocolate, or beer. I will admit that my dreams were more lucid after eating them but it can be a coincidence. 

after that these have little distinction and are a lot of work because they have to be husked. I'm glad I tried them but they're nothing special.

Tanimura & Antle Fiestaflower Orange Cauliflower

'Fiestaflower' is a trademark Orange Cauliflower of Tanimura & Antle. Like all Orange Cauliflower it boasts of 25 percent more vitamin A than white varieties. Vitamin A, or Beta-Carotene in this case is responsible for the orange color.

This cauliflower is mild for you raw enthusiasts and keeps its color when cooked to add a splash of brightness to any meal. It's still cauliflower and tastes like almost nothing but it's a great almost nothing.

In case anyone wants to know that's turkey meatloaf with kale and dried tomatoes in the picture. What? I'm not that great of a cook!

Golden Beet

The 'Golden Beet' differs from the red beet both in color and leaf shape but the leaves of the golden beet wilt faster than the greens of red beets so if you are buying these make sure to eat them quickly. 

I found these to have a roughly carrot like flavor and a reasonable crunch. They didn't need to be pealed and dressed up my salad rather well.

I will have to point out that the leaves are noted to be better than the root and have more nutrients so eat them if you can. I failed to get that done in time and composted the leaves. Silly me.