RICE

Rice

STUFFED CABBAGE BOWL - While out pounding the pavement my mind wandered towards the dilemma of what to do with the leftover Saurkraut and this seemed an interesting idea, in preparation of actually executing it a day later not so much so and here I sit with my first sample.

Certainly could use Salt and this I preambled. 

First impression is that it can actually use more Cabbage.

And more Cabbage was added, does not taste so much like a Stuffed Cabbage as it does the separate amalgamation of its parts but then again I haven't had Stuffed Cabbage proper in probably about 40 years !!! Growing up I frowned (and this is being overly polite) upon friends of mine occasionally Eating Rice with Ketchup (a distinctly abhorrent concept) but the Tomatoness of it all is barely perceptible on the taste buds, in this case it is Tomato/Spaghetti Sauce so not nearly as Salty or Vinegary.

This one is Ground Beef, Fried Onions, White Rice, Tomato Sauce (canned) and Saurkraut with Salt to Taste.

Does not work, Rice is close enough to Pasta being a Carb to be coupled with Tomato Sauce so I was thinking this is akin to Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with Saurkraut which I would never do so why do this, well I tried.

CHOP MEAT & RICE - I can really call this a Bowl as that is what it is served in but screw trendy fashionable labels.

This is Chop Meat and Rice that my mom raised me on.

Of course the Rice is not as good as moms nor is anything else but this is a queer psychological paradox that we all face as human beings, nothing is as tasty as your memory recalls and also your mom had more practice at it and it was usually the first time you tried many things in being prepared by his or her hands.

This is the classic (to me) Chop Meat (Ground Beef), Fried Onions and White Rice.

Thats it,... maybe a little Salt but definitely some Soy Sauce.

The String Beans are present here as they were leftovers to be had, a healthy addition and also added some color to the photo.

MILON BANGLADESHI RESTAURANT (PANNA ll) TWO, GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK

At this juncture I have written about Indian Food to the point that there is nothing to add, this being Milon Restaurant which I have enjoyed for years and also trying nothing new for my palate, well Cristina did order her "mild" version of Chicken Vindaloo which they recommended as Chicken Balti so that was new to me.

Everything was great and service was adequate even though the waiter could not identify the photo on the walls details (Cristina wanted to know if that was Cardi B. in the photo) and they assumed my sixty bucks for the price of a fifty two dollar Meal included an eight dollar gratuity (which it did) never returning my change. It is nice to offer though.

Mulligatawny Soup.

Shrimp Poori.

Decorative atmosphere in its display case adorned the hanging garden of Christmas lights walls. In this case unremoved seasonal tree lights.

The aforementioned Chicken Balti.

Mild and Buttery and served in a tin cup.

Chicken Tikka Masala.

Garlic Nan.

Portion of the Delectable aftermath.

Mango Ice Cream was offered on the house and myself being in an Ice Cream mood lately allowed me to find room in my overly satiated appetite for.

INVASION OF THE NACHO CHEESE FRIES

Yes, they had a 7-Layer Burrito and I bought one too but always a fan of new Menu items to try I was drawn to the plastic backlit advertisement placard on display boasting Nacho Fries Supreme.

Being a fan of The Bells Nachos Supreme and it being a mainstay of most visits when I can find a local Taco Bell which facilitates the need for a visit in the first place I figured how bad could it be, replace Tortilla Chips with French Fries,... so I placed an order.

Yes, it was the middle of my work day as I was bouncing around the five boroughs but approaching 5th avenue a small miniature bull terrier appeared before me blocking my path and uttered the phrase "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" reminding me a local Bell establishment was just around the bend.

Yes, I was also quite Hungry at this point in my day (spelled starving) but this only played a small part in the Tastiness of these Fries. This being a stand alone Taco Bell they were not borrowing KFC or Arby's French Fries so I guess these were Taco Bell Fries and nothing special about them, the average straight cut Fried Spud stick but powdered lightly with Nacho Cheese dust. Why don't they sell this magic dust on its own in the Spice aisle in the supermarket ? well High Sodium Risk might be a reason but it certainly worked and set the Fry apart in this manner.

Not exactly correct on the "Supreme" level as my order was topped with Beef, Beans, Sour Cream, Cheese Sauce and Diced Tomato omitting the Scallion bits.

I would like to see the device utilized to Dice the Tomatoes. 

They do appear uniform in shape and rather small in size making extra work for the human hand to achieve such a feat or maybe they just grow them Diced.

All in all as can be expected from such a Snack and my plastic dish was completed in about two minutes time. Lets hope they keep it on the Menu.

And for only two and a half dollars, a fair bargain rate for 14th street in Manhattan.

Facade Approachment.

7/11 - THEY DO DONUTS RIGHT

Sean has told me of the wonderments contained within (and without) the 7/11 Nutter Butter Donut (actually a Crueller in shape and a Long John in the fact that it has filling which I suppose differentiates it as such) and after another conversation about this I kept it tucked away in my mind to check a local establishment. 

Being at work in an unknown neighborhood in Queens I joked that I would not run into a location. On my way back to the train I spied across an eight lane highway the familiar green and red banded logo of a 7/11 and I knew what I had to do.

Entering the store I quickly spotted the Donut kiosk and went to it with a purposeful stride.

There it was, the hopper in which the Nutter Butter Donuts were on offer and it was empty. Disappointed I glanced around at the other cakes on display and decided not to purchase one but taking a farewell second glance noticed one (1) Peanut Buttery concoction left in the back of its shelf and happily purchased for just under two bucks.

Amongst the greatest Donuts ever it was. 

7/11 produces a Krispy Kreme quality Donut so the Dough was not Sugar Sweet but had the right amount of "pull" (to borrow a Sean term), barely discernible chocolate Glaze but this was for a reason and a Tasty one, the Peanut Butter filling was just right, not too sweet, not too Peanut Buttery and best of all Not Paltry in its capacity and filled from end to end. The best bite to me was right near the halfway point just under the Cookie Top where most of the Cream had migrated to and speaking of the Cookie Top, yes it is the industry standard Nutter Butter Cookie but its being in close proximity of the Donut and Icing and being stored in the moist vacuum of the Donut display interior was slightly softened and minimized massive Crumbage. A Superior Donut and as I plan on further trips to grab one in my travels it will be difficult to try other varieties on offer.

And here is a variety that pales in comparison next to the Nutter Butter Donut.

The classic Boston Cream.

There is actually nothing making the 7/11 version inferior to any other, it is just not superior. Boston Cream only in a few Bites of the Donut but that is usually the case always with any brand. As usual the Cake is nice and Doughy and you actually have to Chew it a bit which is certainly a good thing.

Peanut Butter Things

While speaking to Sean (texting) I was sent a photo of a 7-11 Nutter Butter Donut and became very interested towards hunting one down and also relayed a few of my Peanut Butter Snacks that I have on hand at the moment back to him.

Being a fan of All Things Peanut Butter and also trying new Peanut Butter items it was decided this needs a current entry.

Pictured above are variations of the Peanut Butter Cookie.

Nutter Butter is a long standby and I have loved them since I can recall. Oreo Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie is a variation on Oreo Peanut Butter and a favorite, hope they keep making them and the package is not labelled "Limited Edition" so my wish might be fulfilled so long as sales are good.

Oreo Peanut Butter Pie is a Graham Cracker based Cookie with half Chocolate/half Peanut Butter Creme in the center.

Peanut Butter Twinkies and Ding Dongs respectively.

An example of the fact that if you put the word Peanut Butter in the title and ingredients I am more than willing to give it a try.

The 7/11 Nutter Butter Long John. 

Hard to beat in the entire World of Donuts.

An odd concoction but is just right on the Flavor scale.

Meaning "it tastes just like it says on the label".

The CVS brand of Peanut Butter Cookie.

If you did not tell me it was a Peanut Butter Cookie I would pin it out as just a Chocolate Chip Cookie.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

PANSTEAK CAKE-UMM'S LAST STAND

Friday Night 3 a.m.

Sometime in the latter half of the decade we shall call the 1980s.

There was almost certainly Bread in the basement kitchen to be had (and I do stress Almost) but his Munchie addled mind had brighter ideas and decided to substitute Frozen Toaster Pancakes as opposed to Slices of white Bread.

This seemed a brilliant idea at the time.

It Was Not.

For decades when odd Food creations have been brought up in conversation I would chime in with my recollection of once having Steak-Umm with Cheese on Toaster Pancakes which were wistfully followed by fond yet slightly insane Culinary memories so decades later I decided to recreate this spirited concoction.

My memories did not serve me well. Yes, it was edible but clumsy on the Palate would be too kind of an observation. Well, at least I tried (again).

Photographed clearly on a paper plate to enhance the classiness of the dish. 

I am quite averse to paper plates having plenty of dishes in the house but my hand is forced to utilize the "picnic" mentality and Eat at a Barbecue in my own home for most of the time.

Expectations were so high for the Steak-Umm Pancake thingy that I began preparing a second one before Eating the first.

The Ingredients were put away and had the Pancakes proper for the second round.

Welcome To FANTA-see Island

Used to be Sunkist was the Orange Soda on the block and I have vague memories of Nehi brand as well as White Rock and the Supermarket brand varieties, not sure if Nehi was only available as a Fountain Soda though and of course there was the non carbonated brands like Kool-Aid and Funny Face, Tang is an Orange Drink unto itself and in a different category as is Tengo the Alcoholic Vodka and Oreangeade pre mixed in the bottle and then a tad later to my recollection comes Fanta. Fanta Orange Soda may have been around prior to Sunkist but I am going from my memories this time round and not running to Wikipedia.

As a FOOD Fanta Soda tastes accordingly to the label. 

Grape tastes like Grape, Orange tastes like Orange and so on and so forth.

I have often said to various people that "Orange Soda Is Evil" which would be greeted with a puzzling stare and of course this statement would be explained. Orange Soda is inherently Sweet, so much so that after finishing a bottle I find you are instantly craving for more, this is easily explained. Orange Soda is high in Sugar content, although I have never until just tonight read the Nutrition Facts label this was just a given and I was proven right.

Every so often I will choose a 16 ounce Fanta Orange at the corner bodega to quench my thirst but also do realize what I am in for, as soon as the bottle is done there it is I want another.

Tonight between jobs a bottle of Pineapple Fanta was chosen and this had the same Sugar craving aftertaste that was expected, after purchasing a Fanta Orange and Lipton Citrus Iced Tea for the train ride home I was amazed and proven right seeing that Fanta Orange contains sixty two Grams of Sugar then was taken aback that Fanta Pineapple has eighty Grams, thats even more !!!

Coca Cola has sixty seven Grams so I guess its all a moot point.

Sailing the Seas Of Sugar with a Fanta Orange.

Typical of myself the gears started moving in my tinderbox upstairs so off the train and into the Candy store to see what I could see.

Fanta Strawberry is running neck and neck with Pineapple containing seventy four Grams of Sugar

Also on the shelf is what is referred to as Mexican Soda (as it is a Product Of Mexico) which is preferred due to its use of Sugar as opposed to High Fructose Corn Syrup and also comes in a glass bottle for the purists who are swayed by the notion that soda tastes better from glass than plastic and they do have a point there.

Also the Mexican Fanta has forty two grams of Sugar as opposed to sixty two but is also four ounces smaller than the twenty ounce serving and as I am horrible in mathematics I just am not going to figure this one out.

Fanta de naranja una botella de vidrio, hecha con azucar.

Well this has become a posting mainly concerning Nutritional Value in a Sugary sense which these entries are not known for but to date it looks like the Pineapple Fanta takes the Sugar cube with 80 Grams content. Apple Fanta shown above is one of the more unique Flavors as there are not many Apple Sodas on offer to me, only one other comes to mind (Sidral Mundet).

The Berry Fanta is Berry Berry Good but as I have said Be aware what you are getting yourself into when about to enjoy a Fanta. A sweet tasting Soda indeed even when its Sugar content ranks pretty much equivalent alongside all the other pops on the market.

I am just plain scared of the Pineapple variety but will I indulge in the future,...

Yes I Will.