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Monday, February 28, 2011

1st post!

Hello everyone!  Welcome to my 1st post for those of you that don't know this blog was inspired by a radio show that I had last summer at 88.9 KUCI the radio station for UCI.  These first couple of posts will just be the material that I used in my show over the course of the summer It starts with the second show since the first show I hadn't actually prepared anything and just read random recipes I got from a cooking class and made cooking sounds to make it sound like I was cooking.  So without further delay...

Good afternoon everyone you’re listening to food for thought the crazy, random, and sometimes ridiculous show about food.  This is Greg here once again as you’re host.  If you weren’t tuned in last week basically this is a show that is about food, and I talk about a wide variety of topics that vary from week to week from recipes, to restaurant reviews to healthy eating tips.  Last week I read several recipes and I added some ridiculous sound effects.  For those of you that found last week’s show a little disappointing well don’t worry! I have something better planned for this week. First off the Irvine Greek festival was last weekend.  There was music, performances and of course Greek food.  Sorry I didn't mention it but I kind of found out after the show, I'll try and be a little bit more up to speed on it but bear with me.

Next we have: 
Supermarket Standoff: Ice Cream Sandwiches
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We have embarked on a taste test tour of your favorite supermarket foods. We nibble, we score, and we share the results with you to help you avoid the paralyzation that can come with Brand Choice Overload. Today's topic: ice cream sandwiches.

Last time around, we tested
bottled ranch dressings. Some of you were psyched--ranch is, after all, the most popular salad dressing offered in restaurants of North America. But some of you were put off by the idea of bottled salad dressings and their long, unpronounceable lists of ingredients.

Reader biankat, for example, commented: "Making my own [ranch dressing] with buttermilk, some mayo, greek yogurt, and fresh herbs is just as good."

Homemade food--prepared with fresh ingredients--is almost always better (and healthier) than store-bought items. (Especially if you use a Bon Appetit recipe, we like to think.) And we know our readers love to cook. But in a pinch, it's good to know how things stack up in the aisles of your local grocery store. 

To best satisfy our readers this time around, we posted the question on Facebook and Twitter: "What is your favorite store-bought ice cream sandwich?" We received an overwhelming response, and an enthusiasm for several store-bought brands. We then purchased the six most voted-for brands of classic vanilla ice cream, chocolate wafer sandwiches, and went to tasting town.

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Check out Shine's gorgeous ice cream recipes
Make ice cream at home without the fancy equipment
How to make refreshing Italian ice
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#1 Big Daddy
Nutrition: 1 serving = 270 calories; 10 g fat; 200 mg sodium; 38 g carbohydrates
Cost: $19.00 for a case of 24
Blind Tasting Notes: "Cookie retains crunch"; "Better cookie than the others"; "Soft serve-like ice cream"; "Tastes like a real chocolate cookie"
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#2 Julie's Organic
Nutrition: 1 serving = 200 calories; 11 g fat; 115 mg sodium; 23 g carbohydrates
Cost: $2.19 for one
Blind Tasting Notes: "Sticky cookie is a classic, but slightly funny taste to ice cream"; "Strong vanilla flavor"; "Ice cream tastes a little like Cool Whip"; "Nice balance of ice cream and chocolate"
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#3 Fat Boy
Nutrition: 1 serving = 220 calories; 9 g fat; 115 mg sodium; 32 g carbohydrates
Cost: About $4.49 for a box of 6
Blind Tasting Notes: "Better cookie texture but not enough ice cream", "Ratio off"; "The cookie has a nice chocolate flavor, but ice cream flavor tastes bland"
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#4 Dolly Madison
Nutrition: 1 serving = 160 calories; 6 g fat; 150 mg sodium; 24 g carbohydrates
Cost: $3.69 for a box of 6
Blind Tasting Notes: "Cookie tastes kind of strange"; "Artificial tasting"; "Has a weird tang to it"; "Reminds me of the ice cream sandwich I grew up with"; "Soft chocolate-y crust"
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#5 Skinny Cow
Nutrition: 1 serving = 140 calories; 1.5 g fat; 135 mg sodium; 30 g carbohydrates
Cost: $5.59 for a box of 6
Blind Tasting Notes: "Flavorless"; "A little cloying"; "Too sweet"; "Ice cream tastes artificial/chemically"; "No chocolate taste"; "Tastes like diet ice cream"
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#6 Tofutti Cuties
Nutrition: 1 serving = 130 calories; 6 g fat; 121 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrates
Cost: $4.99 for a box of 8
Blind Tasting Notes: "Yuck! Could barely take a bite of this. Also a super weird color"; "Bleh"; "Weird texture"; "Tastes like sweet Styrofoam"


And the winner is...IT's-IT brand Big Daddy
The "Other" Category

There are other goodies that fall under the category of ice cream sandwich, namely cookie ice cream sandwiches. We tasted a few brands of these, and, once again, IT's-IT came out on top. About the classic vanilla IT's-IT ($19.00 for a case of 24), our staffers said "Best overall flavor for me! A hint of spice!"; "Yes! Best best!"; "Nice crunch, lots of cinnamon." And the Chips IT ($19.00 for a case of 12): "Chunkier cookie is nice, but ice cream is a little weird" "Delicious--amazing vanilla"; "This cookie represents everything I love in the universe."
Next topic for today is:
The Best Potato Chips
Crunch time! Our testers dug into 233 bags of chips and found 21 worth their salt.
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Best Original
Lay’s Kettle Cooked Original
Thick-cut and extra crunchy, these picnic must-haves are basic but not boring.

To buy: $3.30 for 8.5 ounces.
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Best Crinkle-Cut
Ruffles Original
It’s no surprise that this iconic, dip-gripping favorite has been the life of the party since 1958.

To buy: $4 for 10 ounces.

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Best Barbecue
Lay’s Kettle Cooked Mesquite BBQ
Not too smoky, not too sweet, this winner comes alive with paprika, garlic, and sugar.

To buy: $3.30 for 8.5 ounces.


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Best Salt and Vinegar
Dirty Sea Salt & Vinegar
Pucker up: These intensely tangy snacks pack a powerful kick that lingers.

To buy: $2.50 for 5.5 ounces.

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Best Salt and Pepper
Dirty Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt
A crisp texture and a piquant flavor make these rounds a hit.

To buy: $2.50 for 5.5 ounces.

Related: The Best Salad Dressings


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Best Jalapeño
Deep River Zesty Jalapeño
Not for the faint of heart, this fiery winner demands to be paired with a frosty margarita.

To buy: $3 for 5 ounces
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Best Cheese Kettle New York Cheddar With Herbs
Cheddar, Romano, Parmesan, and butter all in one bold blend? Yes, please.

To buy: $2.90 for 5 ounces.

I also read a restaurant review from the OC weekly but I lost that and that was pretty much the show for that week.