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Friday, November 1, 2024

Café Escapes Chai Latte Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods Reviewed

When my brother visited for a few weeks recently, I purchased 2 boxes of his favorite tea, Café Escapes Chai Latte. I was rather surprised by his choice since I have never known of him to be a tea drinker. He has always enjoyed a good cup of coffee, but not tea.

When he shared his new favorite hot drink, I was immediately reminded of Wednesday Elf's review a few weeks ago of Chai tea where she shared how much she enjoys the blend of spices in Chai tea.

Because they both recommended it, I decided to try one of my brother's Chai Latte k-cups. Clearly, the "latte" in the k-cups title informs us that milk is added. That is something else I have never done. I have never added milk to tea.

In spite of my misgivings, I was pleasantly surprised!

The aroma is the first thing I noticed. I could smell the blend of "savory spices" that Wednesday Elf described. With the first sip, I understood why my brother loves the taste. Thanks to them, I have discovered a new favorite black tea. I quickly added the k-cups to my k-cup drawer of preferred coffee and tea.

Café Escapes Chai Latte Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods

Café Escapes Chai Latte Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods, 24 Count

This Chai Latte has quite a unique flavor, one I find I cannot easily describe. It reminds me a little of hot chocolate or cocoa, which I love, but with additional tasty spices.

Chai tea touts several benefits including improved digestion, boosts immune system, reduces inflammation, improves heart health and more. That is an impressive list of health benefits which would be a lovely side-effect for me since I love the taste of the Café Escapes Chai Latte and the convenience of k-cups.

The Gray Wolf Mug

The mug used in the introduction photo above, is available on Zazzle.com. It is one of my own personal photos that I offer in the House of Sylvestermouse Zazzle Store on a variety of products. The Gray Wolf mug does seem totally appropriate for warm hot Chai Latte on a cold day.

Gray Wolf Mug

Monday, August 26, 2024

Lily's Toaster Grills Review

Admittedly I was skeptical. Lily's Toaster Grills removed my skepticism that a grilled cheese sandwich could be frozen successfully!

Taste

The Toaster Grill tasted very very close to the old school type of grilled cheese we find in area Deli's or Coney Islands. American Cheese and white bread where the cheese is melted (but not too much), the bread is toasted (but not too much) and the consistency is just perfect to dip into a cup of tomato soup.

This is not, repeat not, the gourmet grilled cheese on Artisan bread with three types of cheeses. Those are indeed wonderful as well, but the Toaster Grill is not in that lane nor does it advertise to be.

Convenient Comfort Food

So convenient and so incredibly easy to make. Simply put the Toaster Grill in the microwave for 30 seconds then into the toaster for one round of toasting. I understand the worry that the sandwich may leak cheese in the toaster; but I have not found that to happen.

But wait, how hard it is to cook a grilled cheese? That can be subjective indeed. The Toaster Grill is very convenient which is one of its' best features and in about one minute a consistent grilled cheese is delivered.

Where To Purchase?

The American Cheese Toaster Grills are available in my urban area at brand name grocery stores and Costco. The Costco packaging is in bulk and less costly than the grocery store.

Recommendation

I have not met a grilled cheese fan yet who does not agree the Toaster Grills are the closest frozen equivalent to a fresh grilled cheese sandwich.

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Saturday, August 3, 2024

Croissant Toast - A Food Review

Anyone who knows me knows that bread is my favorite food of all. I could live on that old food punishment of only ‘bread and water’... as long as I could choose the kind of bread.

You see, along with my love of breads, I am also somewhat a ‘bread snob’. I have certain breads I prefer, and know where I can get them. For instance, the very best French Bread is found in only three places - San Francisco, New Orleans, and, believe it or not, Houston. No other French Bread tastes as good.

Bakery breads are my very favorite and fresh baked breads are next in line. I no longer get store-bought bread, but go to the bakery section instead. I also keep frozen bread loaves in my freezer for stormy winter days when it is not easy to get out to the stores and bakeries.

Recently, my son asked me if I liked Croissants. I assured him that I did and he told me about a new bread he had just discovered that was delicious. He brought me a loaf to try. It’s called Croissant Toast. The loaf he brought is made by La Boulangerie, a San Francisco bakery begun by a Frenchman, but I have since discovered that there are several other brands out there.

Croissant Toast

Croissants are a French Pastry made from puff pastry usually in a crescent shape - a buttery layered treat often served for breakfast in Europe.

Croissant Toast is a super flaky bread made with real butter in the style of croissants. It is a loaf-style bread made from yeasted pastry that has the taste and smell of a croissant but slices like bread. The flaky crust and the soft buttery interior is unbelievably delicious. It combines a favorite pastry into a loaf style bread

As toast for breakfast, it melts in your mouth.

It is absolutely fantastic when fixed as French Toast ~ fluffy and thick, and very tasty.

Summary

Croissant Toast breads are available in several different brands and found in many stores, including online at Amazon. To date, I have only tried the Croissant Toast by La Boulangerie, which was delicious, and which I highly recommend to fans of breads and croissants. But, if you try this tasty product from other companies, come back and give me your opinion. Toast has never tasted better!

Happy Eating!

Croissant La Boulangere Pains Au Chocolat, Chocolate Croissants, Individually Wrapped, Non GMO, Free From Artificial Flavors & Colors, Kosher d, 1.59 oz

Thomas' Croissant Bread, 13.5 oz

LA BOULANGERIE Croissant Toast, 15 OZ

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*Croissant Toast Food Review written by Wednesday Elf

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Friday, March 22, 2024

Vegan Chocolate Bunny

Vegan chocolate bunny success!

I wanted to review the "No Whey! Foods" chocolate bunny for vegans while there is still time for you to place an order and receive it by Easter.

Both my daughter and her husband are vegans. Finding good chocolate items for them is quite difficult since they don't use any milk or dairy products.

I wanted to send them a special Easter treat this year, so I went in search of a vegan chocolate bunny, which was my daughter's favorite Easter basket item when she was a child. After checking several stores, I finally found one that had a lot of positive feedback. I sent two chocolate bunnies to them.

My daughter said these chocolate bunnies were fantastic, better than any she had ever had. She promptly sent her dad a picture of the ears bitten off the bunny. Biting the ears off their chocolate bunnies together was a father-daughter Easter tradition when she was a child.

I was so glad to find an Easter chocolate bunny made especially for vegans. The chocolate bunny maker, No Whey Foods, has other vegan products too. Now that we have discovered them, perhaps we will find more treats in their product line.

No Whey Foods Chocolate Bunny

I was searching for a chocolate bunny for vegans, but this product would appeal to others as well.

Vegan, Gluten Free "Jake" The Milkless Chocolate Easter Bunny | Allergy Friendly | Dairy Free, Nut Free, Peanut Free, Soy Free, Sesame Free

Vegan Friendly
Kosher Friendly
Dairy Free
Tree Nut Free
Peanut Free
Gluten Free
Soy Free

Ingredients

Vegan Cane Sugar
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Mass (the whole cocoa bean ground into a liquid)
Rice Syrup Powder (sweetener that improves chewiness)
Sunflower Lecithin (an emulsifier - prevents ingredient separation)
Salt
Vanilla
Natural Flavor

Based on my daughter's opinion, I would highly recommend the No Whey! Foods chocolate bunny.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

A Review of Hawaiian Kona Coffee

Hawaiian Kona Coffee ~ the best coffee I ever tasted!

History of Kona Coffee

Coffee Plantation
Pixabay Image

Coffee was not an original crop in Hawaii. It was brought to the islands in 1828 from Brazil and planted in the Hilo area. Later, some of those coffee tree seedlings were planted on the westward volcanic slopes of the Kona region of the Big Island of Hawaii. Thus, the name Kona Coffee.

The coffee grown in Kona, Hawaii ~ today considered it's own variety called Kona Typica ~ is probably the most expensive coffee you can buy. And it is well worth it. The taste is outstanding and has become my absolute favorite. The climate in Hawaii's Kona region combined with the mineral-rich volcanic soils of Mauna Loa's steep slopes, gives exceptional conditions for growing some of the world's best coffee.

I was first introduced to Kona Coffee on a visit the Hubs & I made to Hawaii in 1989. We went to visit former California neighbors who had moved to Oahu. During our 10-day visit, we daily went to a nearby coffee house and it was there I had my first (of many, many hundreds since) cup of Kona Coffee.

Personal Coffee Story

Image Source: Pixabay

When I was leaving for collage, I told my dad (a big coffee drinker) I planned to learn to drink coffee once I got to school. To me, it was a very 'grown-up' thing to do. Dad told me I should learn to drink it black because there would be times in life when cream and/or sugar might not be handy. (I believe his thinking went back to his remembered years of World War II when things such as sugar were severely rationed). Nonetheless, his advice made sense to me.

My first dinner in the freshman dorm I ordered coffee, black. It was terrible! The next night I tried it with sugar (nope), then with cream, then with cream & sugar. I didn't like coffee in any form! But, I persevered, realizing that coffee is an acquired taste.

Today, coffee is a absolute necessity to me first thing in the morning! And I always drink it black. :)

Summary

Royal Kona 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee, Ground, Private Reserve Medium Roast - 7 Ounce Bag

Since 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee is so expensive (due to labor costs, limited supply, high demand and transportation costs), it is a treat obtained only occasionally. (Unless, of course, if you live in Hawaii). But the exceptional taste and quality are too good to pass up. Therefore, I have discovered a tasty compromise of the 10% Kona Coffee Blend for my daily intake of cups of Kona coffee.

My latest 'treat' was given to me this past Christmas by my kids – probably the most expensive 100% Kona Coffee of all – the Royal Kona Coffee for Royalty. It is a private reserve medium roast whose unique flavor and aroma caused it to become the favorite coffee of the Hawaiian Royals. (This non-Royal grandma is enjoying it very much!).

Image by Wednesday Elf

Other brands of 100% Kona Coffee are less expensive and 10% Kona Blend coffee is very affordable.

So, if you are a coffee connoisseur (or just enjoy a good cup of coffee), try either the 100% Kona Coffee or the 10% Kona Blend Coffee for a delicious cup of coffee!

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*Kona Coffee Review written by Wednesday Elf

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024

The Best Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Bombs — An Outstanding Low-Carb Treat

We're in the thick of winter snowstorms here in New England. Since I have a bad back, my husband does the snow shoveling. I always greet him upon his return with a steaming cup of hot cocoa to warm him up and show my appreciation.

Since we both stopped eating sugar a few years ago (and feel so much better as a result), now I make sugar-free hot chocolate. If it's the weekend, I usually prepare my Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate recipe, which is rich and decadent and has pretty much spoiled commercial hot cocoa mixes for us, but takes a bit more time and effort than using an instant hot cocoa mix.

However, when sugar-free ChocZero Hot Cocoa Bombs launched a few months ago, I was anxious to try them. Fortunately, they did not disappoint!

Now, if I want to make delicious hot cocoa with mini marshmallows quickly and easily, I just heat some almond or macadamia milk, drop in a ChocZero hot cocoa bomb, and stir until dissolved. Here's my product review of this outstanding low-carb treat.

Image created using Canva generative AI

I have talked about ChocZero sugar-free chocolate and other sweet treats sweetened with natural monk fruit here on Review This Reviews, including ChocZero's mini marshmallows in my High-Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream recipe (still one of my favorites!); their regular sugar-free marshmallows in my Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats recipe; my review of the best sugar-free chocolate hazelnut spreads; ChocZero's fabulous truffles, chocolate keto bark, butter cookies, chewy caramels, jams, cookie spread, honey, and Rhea chocolate peanut nougat candy bars in my review of An Awesome Low Carb Gourmet Gift Basket Everyone Will Love; ChocZero's coffee syrups in my Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda recipe; their sugar-free strawberry jam in my Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes recipe; and more.

So, even though I have been somewhat disappointed in the low-carb, sugar-free hot cocoa mixes I have tried, I knew ChocZero's sugar-free hot cocoa bombs would be worth a try.

What I Love About ChocZero Hot Cocoa Bombs

Awesome Packaging

ChocZero Keto Hot Cocoa Bombs - Premium Zero Sugar Added Milk Chocolate Melting Bomb Gift Set - Filled with Sugar-Free Marshmallows (4 Count)

The first thing you notice when you receive your order of ChocZero Hot Cocoa Bombs is the fabulous packaging.

The clear plastic box is printed with the ChocZero brand, product name, product image, and other pertinent information.

Because the outer box is clear, you can see through to the inside, where each hot cocoa bomb is snugly wrapped in festive bright gold foil that makes it look extra special.

There are four hot cocoa bombs per box. Inside the outer box, there is a protective molded plastic shell with four spherical depressions that cradle the foil-wrapped chocolate spheres and prevent them from being broken or otherwise harmed during transit.

The first two boxes I ordered were a gift for my husband since he loves hot chocolate so much.

Convenience

My husband and I really love my Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate recipe and if I have all the ingredients on hand, it's a special treat.

However, the ChocZero Hot Cocoa Bombs are the first low-carb, sugar-free hot cocoa "mix" we've tried that we really enjoy.

They are also quicker and easier to prepare than my from-scratch recipe when we're looking for instant gratification.

And unwrapping each gold foil-wrapped ball really does add something special to the experience of making hot cocoa!

Rich Chocolate Taste and Luscious Mouthfeel

Like my ultimate keto hot chocolate recipe, the ChocZero Hot Cocoa Bombs include both cocoa powder and chocolate.

The chocolate shell creates a richer chocolate taste and a more luscious mouthfeel than the hot cocoa mix inside alone.

The chocolate shell also contains not only the sugar-free hot cocoa mix but also sugar-free mini marshmallows, which my husband and I both love in our hot cocoa.

Unlike most sugar-free hot cocoa mixes we've tried, we don't need to add anything to make this taste better, although we often enjoy adding a splash of one of ChocZero's flavoring syrups.

How I Use ChocZero Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Bombs

We start by unwrapping each hot cocoa bomb and placing it in a large mug.

Next, we heat the milk. Although you can use any kind of milk you prefer, we prefer to use either unsweetened vanilla almond milk or unsweetened vanilla macadamia milk to make our hot cocoa, since they are lower in natural sugar and carbs than dairy milk. We sometimes add a splash of heavy cream for added richness.

It's important to heat the milk very hot before pouring it over the hot cocoa bomb, and it takes a bit of stirring to completely melt the outer milk chocolate shell and dissolve the cocoa mix.

ChocZero Sugar Free Peppermint Syrup for Coffee - Keto Flavoring Syrups - Low Calorie Simple Syrup for Flavored Drinks (26.5 ounce bottle/750ml)

My husband and I love the flavor combination of chocolate and peppermint, so we usually add a splash of the awesome ChocZero Sugar-Free Peppermint Syrup into our prepared hot cocoa.

We also enjoy our cocoa with a splash of other ChocZero flavoring syrups, especially caramel or hazelnut. They're fabulous and don't have the unpleasant aftertaste or questionable sweeteners used in other brands of sugar-free syrups.

This flavored hot cocoa makes such a satisfying, sweet, low-carb treat that we often enjoy it for dessert.

What's Next?

I noticed the packaging includes the descriptor "Milk," so I'm hoping that ChocZero will be adding dark chocolate hot cocoa bombs in the future.

One of the things I love about this brand is that they are always improving their products and adding new ones based on customer feedback.

So, ChocZero, if you're reading this, I hope you'll consider making dark chocolate hot cocoa bombs next! 💓🍫

The Best Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Bombs — An Outstanding Low-Carb Treat by Margaret Schindel

Saturday, January 13, 2024

National Bagel Day Review

For Bagel lovers (of which I am one), having a special day to celebrate the tasty bagel is delightful.

National Bagel Day is celebrated yearly on January 15.

History of Bagels

Bagels have a long history extending back nearly 500 years to the Jewish families of Poland in the 1600s. They were brought to America by the large Polish-Jewish immigration in the 1800s and thrived in New York City where many of the immigrants settled.

Bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes and red onions

The 'bagel brunch' we still enjoy today began in the early 1900s. It's nearly the same as it was then, consisting of the popular lox, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes and red onions. Other flavors and toppings have evolved over time. It began as a plain bread roll made from yeasted wheat dough that is shaped by hand into a ring, briefly boiled in water, then baked, resulting in a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned exterior. Today the basic plain bagel also comes in a variety of flavors, including poppy seed, sesame seed, cinnamon raisin, bagels with berries, and the Everything Bagel.

A Few Fun Bagel Facts

The first bagel began in the 1300s as a Polish obwarzanek, which was a thin, boiled, then baked ring of dough.
In 1610, The first written records about bagels was traced to Krakow, Poland, stating that bagels should be gifted to women soon after childbirth. (A new baby, a new bagel).
By the early 1900s, bagels became wildly popular in the Jewish-immigrant communities of New York City.
By the 1950s, Bagels became an American Staple. Today Bagels are sold in supermarkets everywhere and surpass the donut as an essential breakfast item.

Summary

The original bagel today is still most popular acquired fresh from a bakery the day you wish to eat them. But it is also handy to buy store-bought packages to have available anytime a bagel is desired.

Since bagels have their own special day, be sure to have some bagels on hand for January 15th to celebrate the official 'Bagel Day'.

Order your Bagels here on Amazon

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*Bagel Day Holiday Review is written by Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, December 30, 2023

What is Chantilly Cake? A Food Review

Admittedly, I am not much of a cake eater, preferring pies & puddings to any cake-like dessert. With one exception – the whipped cream cakes that a Rochester, New York department store my dad worked for used to feature in their bakery. They also made an eclair filled with real whipped cream that was to die for! But I digress!

Chantilly Cake

After dozens of years, I have finally found a cake every bit as good as that department store's whipped cream cake. It's called a Chantilly Cake and is exclusively found in the Whole Foods Markets throughout the countries of the United States, Canada, and the U.K.

The reason Whole Foods features this Chantilly cake is it was created for Whole Foods by Chaya Conrad when she was working in one of their New Orleans stores in 2005. Chaya now runs the popular Bywater Bakery in New Orleans.

Chantilly Cake ~ sometimes called Berry Chantilly Cake ~ is composed of white sponge layers with berries and sweetened whipped cream. The cake's name comes from Chantilly cream, which is a French term for sweetened whipped cream flavored with vanilla or liqueur. For the frosting, a combination of whipped mascarpone and cream cheese is used, with berries such as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries folded in and placed on top.

Chantilly Cake Recipe to Make Your Own Homemade Delight

There are several recipes online for making Chantilly Cake from scratch. My favorite is on the Preppy Kitchen website (PreppyKitchen.com), a blog filled with kitchen creations by John Kanell. John describes himself as a husband, dad to twin boys and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious. John lives in Los Angeles.

Personal Reflections of Chantilly Cake

My first introduction to Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods was a year and a half ago at a birthday celebration for one of my grandsons. Since it is my son's favorite cake, it is frequently served at most of the family celebrations, as you can see below.

Chantilly cake for grandson's birthday party

Summary

Once you have tasted a Chantilly Cake, you will wish to have it often. There is nothing like a whipped cream cake, especially one filled with fresh berries. The sweetness of the whipped cream/cream cheese/mascarpone frosting, combined with the tartness of the fresh berries, is an unbelievably delicious taste treat. Why not give Chantilly Cake a try for your New Year's Eve celebration?