IttiBitz Waffle Cone Twist Ice Cream

[Discontinued before 2015] Yet again, I'm a day late and a dollar short. First I'm beaten to the scoop on the unpleasant mochi ice cream, and now I've been scooped while waiting to dig my spoon into IttiBitz, the Dippin' Dots knock off from Kemps. I guess the best news to start with is I picked this up for a buck at Walmart, but I believe they are also a buck (maybe a $1.25) at Shaws (TIB paid $1.49 "on sale", what a rip!)

Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself. Hopefully you've seen dippin' dots before, the flash frozen little tiny balls of ice cream. We use to have a dippin' dots machine at the mall, not sure if it's still there though. There appear to be at least 16 flavors of Itti Bitz, though usually I only see 4-6 flavors at the store. I've been meaning to try them for awhile, and finally an orange labeled container named Waffle Cone Twist was what won me over. I love waffle cone bits, I just can't get enough of them.

Looks intriguing doesn't it? No? Looks like you need to try it at least once? Yeah, that's more like it. Hmmm, If you can't tell, I'm kinda giving away the conclusion to the post already....

Limited Edition Ben & Jerry's Raspberry Peach Cobbler

Awhile back, I really wanted to like Willie Nelson's Peach Cobbler, but I just don't enjoy peach flavored things that much. It was well made, but it just wasn't for me ...I wish it was just a bit different, you something to break it up...

Well, what do I see but Ben & Jerry's Limited Edition Raspberry  Peach Cobbler. It's raspberry and peach ice creams with shortbread pieces & a raspberry swirl.

Friday Night Fight Snickers Ice Cream Bar vs Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar

Alright fight fans, boy do we have a doozy for you this week! The heavyweight Snickers ice cream bar takes on a featherweight challenger. Sure, you may not have faith in Weight Watchers, but after a few sparring matches earlier in the week, I knew this one would be a surprisingly worthy match up.

Ok, let's get it on!

In the brown corner, we have the oversized Snickers Ice Cream Bar, the kind you might find in a convenience store. While a regular ic bar clocks in around 50g, this heavyweight tries to really satisfy with a might 83 gram serving. I have been a fan of these since high school. It's just so hard to beat "creamy ice cream topped with chewy caramel and fresh roasted peanuts and then covered in rich delicious chocolate" (paraphased). Cost: $1.21.

In the white corner, we have a treat that I've walked by many times and finally decided to pick up. I don't know why I waited so long. It looks like a snickers (well, the box does) and it sounds like one too - "Peanut Butter low fat ice cream topped with caramel and peanuts covered in milk chocolate flavored coating". Well, it sure sounds like the low fat version anyway. WW only weights 44g, so that's just over half of what the Snickers weighs. A box of 6 costs $3.98, but since 2 of these equals 1 snickers, we're talking $1.36 for an equivalent serving.

Friday Night Fight The One Dollar Sundae Cup

Finally, I've managed to schedule the second friday night fright! woohoo! ....ok, technically the fight got scheduled because while putting off the Great Value review I wound up picking up the Friendly's sundae cup. One could also argue that this isn't a truly fair fight because while Walmart's Great Value sundae cups are $1.00 everyday, Friendly's Sundaes To-Go are only a dollar when they are on sale. Well, sometimes life isn't fair. If you're gonna sit on the shelf with the competition, then you have to be ready for a throw down.

Ok, let's get it on!

In the red corner, weighing in at 124 grams (6 fl oz), we have Friendly's Limited Edition Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae To-Go. He's known as the vanilla ice cream with cookie dough & chocolate chips, covered with fudge, whipped topping & chocolate chips.

In the white corner, weighing in at 113 grams (6 fl oz), we have Walmart's Great Value Peanut Butter Cups Sundae Cup. He's come for a fight with his Vanilla flavored ice cream topped with fudge and peanut butter filled chocolate cups. Wait, vanilla FLAVORED ice cream? that's a weird way to say it....

Round 1: Shelf Appeal

Friendly's has spared no expense on their very attractive red packaging. There are little cookie dough balls flying everywhere. If you are looking for a potentially tasty single serve sundae, this might be hard to pass by. My only complaint is that it's a drawing and not real ice cream.

Walmart has spared ....well, they seem to have spared some ink with a very bland and simple bright white container for their sundae cup. They do show a spoon scooping a tasty looking serving, but that's it.

Verdict: no question, Friendly's wins this round

Treat of the Week: Mochi Ice Cream - Strawberry

I have just had the strangest treat ever, courtesy of a little place called Trader Joes. It's funny because I've known about Trader Joe's for...well, forever now, yet I never actually went into one until today. We had found a nice assortment of all natural snacks at Whole Foods, some good, some not so good, but Whole Foods is just so far away. Trader Joe's on the other hand is a place I can hit at lunchtime, and if the assortment of snacks I bought is as tasty (and junk free) as it looks, then I will definitely be heading back soon enough.

Ok, so I'm making my way through the aisles to see if there is anything worthy of my attention. I really just want snacks, but I'm finding everything but snacks, which seemed silly considering the fact that the store really wasn't that big. The snacks you see, are hiding above the freezer section in this particular Trader Joes. Mmmmm, freezer section ...I wonder if they have .....OOOOOOO, nice! those ice cream cookie sandwiches look fantastic. Cool, all natural super premium ice cream too! Soy ice cream? yeah, I'm ok without that...but wait, what's that hiding behind the Soy Ice Cream? Mochi? What in the Sam Hill is Mochi Ice Cream??

This is Mochi Ice Cream actually, all natural Strawberry flavor in particular. My choices were chocolate, green tea, mango, and strawberry. The first thing I noticed was that only some flavors are all natural, some resort to artificial flavor. Wait, that's not true - the first thing I noticed was a box labeled ice cream that showed little ice cream balls on it. "The Original and The Best". The original what, I do not know, but how could I possibly walk out of the store without these little bad boys? I grabbed a bunch of snacks, a lumpy bumpy bar, some mochi ice cream, and headed for a cash register. (as a side note, instead of a cranky Whole Foods lady cashier, I was helped by a very well mannered gentlemen who thanked me for my business).

You know what's coming next right? Oh yeah, we're snacking on the way back to work!

Ben & Jerry's Mission to Marzipan Ice Cream Review

[New for 2009, now discontinued] As one of the best main stream brands of ice cream on the market, if not the best, I really need to get more Ben & Jerry's on the website. I apologize for the fact that they came out with -3- new regular flavors this year and I'm now just getting to the second one (the first being Chocolate Macadamia in April). Maybe I can start getting one B&J flavor a week (I already have a limited edition sample in the freezer for next week).

Today's sample is going to be Ben & Jerry's new Mission to Marzipan ice cream. Our curious little friend has the description of "Sweet Cream Ice Cream with Almond Cookies & a Marzipan Swirl". I'll be honest, I have absolutely no idea what Marzipan is. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever had almond cookies either.

Stone Ridge Creamery Blueberry Cobbler Ice Cream

You know what my problem with Stone Ridge Creamery is? Well, I don't have one actually. My problem is with Shaws: if you go to one of the older, smaller Shaws, you don't get half the SRC selection that you might find at a new larger Shaws. As with all things in life, the nicer Shaws are further from the house...

Thankfully, I went to one of the better Shaws grocery stores the other day. As I strolled through the freezer aisle, I decided it was time to just give in and try Blueberry Cobbler. Sure I have two other SR flavors in the deep freezer waiting for testing, but I've been wanting to try this flavor. I guess I'm just a sucker for anything in with pie crust bits in it.

 

Stone Ridge Creamy Real Ice Cream - Blueberry Cobbler - Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Pie Crust Crumbles and Ribbons of Blueberry. To be honest, I don't think this picture does the ice cream justice. Here, let's take a closer look.

Oreo BK Sundae Shake

If it's ok, I'd like to start with a rant first - I hate fast food, I really do. I don't care how healthy they make it seem, deep down, it's either deep fried junk or grade E beef waste. Exaggerating? I don't think so. I spent about 18 months flipping grade E burgers, deep frying nuggets, and doing other unamusing tasks for a few bucks an hour. Since then, I do still visit other fast food chains, but the one where I worked? well, let's say I have more fingers than there are times that I have eaten there (and it's been awhile). Anyway, awhile back I started eating better, and in general, I try to avoid fast food. Sure I'm still a sucker for an Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich, and I would occasionally partake in a double stack cheeseburger from Wendy's, but overall, I was doing good.

Well schedules have been busy and we've been eating more junk again these last few months, but you know what, after Sunday, no more, no FRAKKIN' more! stop trying to kill me you evil little man!!! I realize what you are doing and I say "NO MORE!!!" AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September Blizzard of the Month Oreo Cookie Jar Blizzard Treat

[New for 2009, Returned 2019]
Is it just me, or is DQ going all out this month with the new Oreo Cookie Jar Blizzard?

I mean, this thing even has it's own flash website for the ingredients so you can tell other people about this blizzard. That's some hard core treat love. I would guess that it's all part of a push to increase membership in the Blizzard Fan club. Flash is nice, but really, all I want to know is if this thing is as good as it sounds: Cookie dough, OREO cookie pieces and rich fudge blended with creamy vanilla soft serve. It's so tasty sounding that we've all agreed to try one this month. I look forward to it in general, I'm thinking my wife is excited by the thought of cookie dough, and my daughter was convinced when I showed her the picture labeled cookie jar blizzard.

As soon as you see this blizzard, you will be impressed. Usually the Oreo bits are blended into oblivion, but not here. Look at the closeup below, you will notice big chunks of Oreos as well as a wad of cookie dough bits stuck together with fudge. Mmmmm, you see it on the screen and wish it was real, don't you? I sure do!

Blue Bunny Limited Edition Alpine Strawberry Ice Cream

Since Blue Bunny has taken the time to put out some original novelty items this summer, I knew that it was time to give their regular ice cream another chance. As I walked down the freezer aisle every week, I would think to myself "hmmm, maybe this is the week I'll make the plunge". Well, this week was the week - my eye had been caught by those two little magic words: LIMITED EDITION.

Behold! Blue Bunny Limited Edition Premium Ice Cream: ALPINE Strawberry Bunny Tracks. Strawberry flavors rarely catch my eye, but Alpine Strawberry? What is this? Sounds intriguing, especially when you read the whole thing: Alpine Strawberry Ice Cream with Strawberry and Fudge Ribbons Loaded with Strawberry Filled White Chocolate Bunnies. Oh yeah, that definitely has my attention. With so much effort put into a strawberry flavor, how could I possibly pass it by?

Healthy Choice Creamery Dulce de Leche Low Fat Ice Cream Review

2013 Update: Not sure when these disappeared, but I doubt anyone will miss them. Funny how this line up changed. At one point, this "premium" low fat ice cream had catchy pint names like happy together, chocolate cherry mambo, in the beginning, brownie bliss, and double karma. There were half gallon offerings like rocky road, tin roof sundae, chocolate chocolate chunk, cappuccino chocolate chunk, coffee almond fudge (nsa), peanut butter cup, cookies 'n cream, praline & caramel, mint chocolate chip (nsa), and cherry vanilla. Eventually they moved on to the branding you see below with flavors like vanilla, belgian chocolate, and pomegranate blueberry.

I'll admit I was confused when I saw the simple green pint of Hea!thy Choice Ice Cream sitting there on the freezer shelf ...especially if you consider the fact I was in Walgreens - you know Walgreens, the pharmacy where they don't bother to label the doors "entrance" or "exit" so you always wind up walking into someone.
Funny, I've never seen Healthy Choice ice cream containers before. I definitely didn't see them at the other Walgreens, though the one I went to today is newer and larger than the other one I typically go to. I was thinking these were new since I don't see them on the Healthy Choice website, but I did some searching and they started making Healthy Choice ice cream waaaaaaay back in 2002 (the flavors I saw today do not line up with the flavors listed in that article though).