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.

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.

LAYS POTATO CHIPS - DO US A FLAVOR ll

I am highly interested in "new" Chip flavors but this plethora of wonderment began when Cristina entered solo into the neighborhood convenience store/pharmacy which for argument's sake we shall call Rite-Aid.

Pepperylicious, this was my first opinion and after awaking to a blind taste test from Cristina, I guessed correctly from the four Chips of choice in the arsenal.

Lay's has got the Tikka Masala down, some other flavors like this one is harder to corner, still the team of Flavor specialists and Chef's have greatly improved since 2015 and perfection is growing closer.

Exceptional job on this one.

Tikka Masala is still the one Lay's mastered but this was a great effort.

I am Seriously Impressed.

Indian Food in a bag.

A Fantastic Embodiment and Effing Awesome.

This is a Great Tasting quality Chip but if hard pressed I would not be able to answer what Flavor it was trying to emulate. Guess its really hard to get Beef Flavor in a bag.

LAY'S POTATO CHIP POST ONE.

BUTTERFINGER PEANUT BUTTER CUP EGGS - "Another box of BUTTAH PINGAH !!!"

The Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Egg garners a post on here just for the mere fact that I have probably purchased 8 packages thus far and the 2016 run looks to be over.

6 one ounce Eggs per package.

Spotted while Food shopping at La Bella Marketplace on the 2 FOR $6.00 Leftover Easter Candy shelf I bought 2 packages, then another 2 and so on as the weeks passed by. They have in that time been further marked down (but not advertised to my chagrin) to a stunning 99 cents per pack and I just a few days ago acquired what looked to be the last 2 bundles.

So thats about 48 Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Eggs in all.
as of this update (7/27/16) 11 Eggs remain yet the expiration date is still - months in advance being in November.

Since all health minded people scarf down Candy this is a helpful reminder of the calories within (sarcasm abounds).

Its what it says it is and is mouth waveringly scrumptious when in the mood for sweets. 

Peanut Butter on top, Butterfinger Crunch on bottom yet still commingled enrobed in Milk Chocolate.

a cross section view.

18th AVENUE/LYDIA'S BAKERY - Brooklyn, New York

For my entire life (since the teenage years) this has been the place. Did I purchase often ? the answer is no.

Were they always there and seen as a stronghold of the neighborhood, YES.

Eighteenth avenue Bakery's reputation has grown over and over again exponentially just from word of mouth spouted amongst my loved ones with a repeated ensconcement of appreciation.

Cannoli - I cannot first hand review the Cannoli as I did not have a taste but I hear that the Cake itself was lacking in Flavor and Character. This is reported to be four star and not five, Not Too Shabby.

You can't win them all, can you.

Napoleon - How very interesting this was as I have been on a Napoleon Hunt as of late.

Filled with Boston Cream as opposed to "Cake" Cream (Whippy Cream for those in the know) made this a surprising and welcome Tart to be reckoned with.

Thus far this is an anomaly and one that shall be revisited on my next sojourn.

Seven Layer Pastry - I was so looking forward to this.

 An oversized 7 Layer Cookie in a Pastry form.

Bit of a let down as it was lacking the Amaretto Overtones expected but still a great purchase and Yummy too.

Apple Coffee Cake - And a HUGE piece was sold to me. I didn't ask and she didn't question.

This may have been the crowning achievement of all these Pastries and will I get it again, Hells YEAH.

Nothing bad to say, Just Delicious.

The "Soft Loaf".

I ate this mother all by myself in one sitting.

Cristina had a sample but I ate it all. Delicious and Soft. Marone.

5/16 - Semolina Loaf -

9/1 - An Assortment of...

Cristina was running some errands on 18th avenue so we made a trip to Lydia's for goodies. Cristina got a half pound of 7 layer Cookies and Butter Cookies along with a Chocolate Cannoli, she gifted me a Brownie and Chocolate Eclair.

Chocolate Cannoli - Good dipped Chocolate but not enough Cream is Cristina's review. 

Chocolate Eclair - I chose an Eclair in great part because of the sign in the entryway espousing the greatness of their Eclairs which was absolutely true. Thick Rich Chocolate, Fresh Whipping Cream, Dense Vanilla moist in a pastry style Cake with REAL Boston Creme filling, I am not a Huge Eclair fan but give me a dozen of these and I will surely become one.

Brownie - Just a Quality Bakery Brownie, very dense with proper Chocolate Icing. The Cherry on the Cannoli in the photo was originally from the Brownie but Cristina wanted it.

Cream Puff (Cannoli Cream) - One of the Elder Cakes in the Bakery canon, I know of Cream Puffs from the Shirley Temple/Laurel & Hardy/Little Rascals idiom and I might be wrong on all counts of any mention from the accused on film or recording but yet I had never tried one myself.

Thanks to Cristina's mom for the leftovers but these were quite simple yet gracious of a pastry. Cut an airy Biscuit of Cake in half, Fill with Cream, in the case photo here it is Cannoli Cream, Regular Cream is also available.

M & M VOTE 2016

CoffeeNut - The Taste of Coffee Milk Chocolate with a Mocha undertone or maybe even an overtone.

Christina (C) says - "Like Birthday Cake, very,very,very mild"

ChiliNut - Mildly Spicy aftertaste and my favorite of the bunch.

C - "Nuthin',... WTF Uh Oh. Back of my throats burning, mild burning sensation"

HoneyNut - BORING spelled M.O.C.H.A.

C - "Tastes more like a Maple"

This round

C - Honey (first place), Coffee (second place), Chili (third place).

me - Chili (first place), Coffee (second place), Honey (third place).

M & M's ONLINE

PIMENTO CHEESE & ITS BRETHREN - The Caviar Of The South.

2/25/16 - Well, it looks like a jar of Pimentos is not easily found, at least tonight it is not but on the morrow the chase restarts.

So, I made Hot Cherry Pepper Cheese instead replacing the Peppers for Pimento's. Anyhow it is good to experiment with a new Recipe first before inundating onto unsuspecting friends who may become otherwise after the fact.

(Sharp Cheddar, Mayo, Cherry Peppers, Black Pepper).

OK, first try, I may have blown it but lets see.
Going to have it on a RITZ because everything sits better on a RITZ.

This definitely works, my only mild complaint is about the not so mild.
The Hot Cherry Peppers are a bit Robust, with Pickles, Olives, or even a smaller amount of Jalapenoes this will work really well, the possibilities are endless.

Thank You Mike Ehremtraut.

No, this Spread may never actually be photogenic so I will spare the eye candy at least for now.

3/22/16 - Pimento Cheese - After some mild supermarket searching I found Pimento's both Slices and Diced, I chose the Diced to cut down on preparation time.

And it came to be that the CLASSIC Pimento Cheese was quite mild in flavor 

OK a little less Briney but this is how you learn. 

The Process of Elimination (in this case cut down on the Brine and the Mayo).

4/11/16 - Hot Cherry Pepper Pimento Cheese - 

5/16 - Bread & Butter Pickle Pepper (Hot Cherry Pepper) Cheese - This was a good idea on paper but did not truly work, mind you completely Edible and frankly how could it not be but I am leaning closer and closer to Hot Cherry Pepper Cheese (jalapeno's basically being a replica) in the top spot as the experiments continue to roll on.

6/16 - Wasabi Soy Sauce Pepper (Hot Cherry Pepper) Cheese - For real its just Hot Cherry Pepper Cheese with a handsome dash of Wasabi Soy Sauce (of my own making) thrown in and of course it works.

PIMENTO CHEESE ON WIKIPEDIA

LESKE'S BAKERY - Brooklyn, New York

What happened was in the midst of my Napoleon Complex I was in the Park Slope end of town and wisely Googled Leske's ll in that neck of the woods only to find that location was permanently closed yet the Bay Ridge flagship remained open for business so I had my bandmate drop me off prior to rehearsal to "pop in" and grab some goodies.

Napoleon - Chewy and Flaky with Cream Filling and Icing of a wondrous nature.

Brownie - Moist, Thickerer and Brownieish.

No qualms here.

Chocolate Croissant - Purchased for my bandmate Thomas as he is fond of the Chocolate Croissant but I did not get to sample any. Word on the street was in the affirmative.

LESKE'S l LINK

LESKE'S BAKERY ONLINE

HOLY FLUFFERNUTTER BATMAN ITS THE JABBERWOCK.

Is there really anything like a Fluffernutter, I dare say NOT.

My personal Fluffernutter story I must share and I have said it before that this page shy from personal trajectory but then every single entry is based on my "personal" opinion so go figure.

My first Fluffernutter was experienced when I was about 9 or 6 years old (give or take) due to I am sure the television ad campaign or maybe I read it on the back of a box. My fragile eggshell mind was so proud and impressed with the taste of this treasure after my parents purchased a jar of Fluff and I had ingested my Sandwich that I danced around gleefully and so much so that I upset my stomach.

I proceeded to "throw up"

My beloved mom Inchu threw out the cask of Fluff and even at that tender age I saw the folly in her ways, it was not the Fluff's fault, it was the whirling dervish of my delightful dancing.

Fluffernutter 2016. All Revved Up.

Even Christina who is an eater of exactingly fastidious choice likes and liked her first Fluffernutter and here is a photo of it.

MSG was on hand only to be teased by the beast.

FLUFFERNUTTER ON WIKIPEDIA

LET ME ROLL WITH IT -

To wrap things in Dough, the simplest concept in cooking so far as Bread is an ancient food (as of this writing) and the Sandwich is an excepted and glorious addition to Menu's worldwide.

The forethought began on a more dubious level with Pizza Dough in mind but was thwarted by my bandmate's accrual of "pig in the blanket" on the eve of Superbowl 50 causing me to seek out a 10 pack of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls ($3.59) only to be further tempted by a 40 pack of Pillsbury Biscuits ($3.59) of which I purchased. Pizza Dough is on the horizon but for now it is Blankets all the way.

Pictured above is the Broccoli Rabe & Sausage in the Blanket that was just as expected, Delicious.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

REELING IN THE YEARS - Philly Steak-Umm Cheesteak Pancake Sammich - Does He Dare Do It Again ?

Well,... does he dare do it again ?.

Roundabout Thirty Years ago this monstrosity was created in a 3 a.m. debauchery of Munchiness and truth be told within a haze of a light hallucinogenecc induced waft of insanity, it was good then but shall it withstand now.

The good doctor is Newly Robed and still wears a Ramones t-shirt (thanks to Mr. Pasta and Jennie).

One Cooking hint is only one Slice of Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product seems to be enough
(in forethought) as this is a dense product (comments forthcoming) The Cheese that is. Let the Cheese sit for a few minutes to achieve room temperature before letting the Heated Chopped, Shaped and Thinly Sliced 100 % All Beef Sandwich Steaks to aggrandize the melting process inherent to the Curd

The Philly Steak-Umm Cheeseteak Sammich in all its Glory.

One Slice is enough.

MOZZARELLA STICKS

1/5/16 - Checkers - Hardly a way to begin a comparison of Mozzarella Sticks (4/$1.99) but this began my quest. My friend Claudia had mentioned on numerous occasions her fondness for Checker's Mozz Sticks so I had to try them, no offense to my friend but these left much to be desired and were slightly overpriced what with the going "street" rate of five for a dollar in place.

One may ask "what exactly do you expect from Fast Food" and one would be correct in asking. Only about the size of 2 or 3 Fries this hardly deserves to bear the title "Monsterella" but was heated through fairly enough. Served with a room temperature cup of Marinara Dipping Sauce of the jar brand nature.

Having mellowed in my maturing years I did in fact proudly order these at the take out window by the corporate moniker MONSTERELLA