Recently in Dessert Category

The 49th Annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire and Artisans Market returned its rein over the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area in Irwindale last weekend and will continue its pillage Saturdays and Sundays through May 22.

From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., faire-goers, many dressed in period costumes, are transported to the magically recreated Royal shipyard city of Port Deptford during the reign of Elizabeth I and immersed into the music, language, culture and entertainment of the time.

This is one of my favorite times of the year to let the imagination roam free while taking in some history, even centuries later.

Take in one of the many wonderful shows in the various stages throughout the shire, barter with the vendors for one of their handcrafted treasures, practice your knife throwing or canon ball launch, or just chat up a conversation with the hundreds of performers and characters including Her Majesty herself, pirate Sir Francis Drake and playwright William Shakespeare.

Along with the many adult-rated entertainment, the young ones can also take in the games, rides, crafts, story time and more in the Kid's Kingdom.

If you really want to get delved in the era but didn't come fully prepared, don't fuss as costume rental and purchase opportunities abound in the Faire's Marketplace, as well as more than 100 artisans offering Renaissance and contemporary jewelry, home décor and original artwork.

Or be a glutton like me and just come for the food and libations. Food vendors offer something for everyone, whether you have a small or large appetite or crave something sweet. A novelty food item is the roasted turkey leg. This iconic meat is huge for first-timers, but beware, if you don't have a big appetite for turkey or at least someone to share with, this monster leg will end up eating you.

After my share of Faire visits, I have some favorite stops. The first bar is popular for those needing their favorite ale, Port or my favorite, mead or honey wine, with a haste. But those prepared know to just keep walking to the next bar stop and the wait is almost half as long.

Once you're appetite is worked up, I like to take on a "Steak-on-a-Stake", which is pretty much grilled beef chunks on a wooden skewer. Simple but tasty. I'm almost certain curly cheese fries were not common in the Renaissance era but in my circle, this is a must side when dining at the faire - cheese devours these warm and crispy ringlets of potatoes.

My new favorite must-have at faire is the tri-tip sandwich with chili. Now don't be fooled like many, this is not chili like at Wienerschnitzel or spicy chili, this is a hearty serving of simmered kidney beans, tomatoes, onions and spices, all to complement the generous offering of tri-tip beef slices on a roll. A fork is accompanied with this dish because trying to eat this sandwich without making a mess is an impossible mission, even with two hands.

As I said, there is something for everyone. Vegetarian entrees and desserts are available.
My teen cousin was a little wary of the fish and chips and quail offerings so opted for a slice of Renaissance pepperoni pizza instead. Kids!

And on those warm spring days, cool down at the shire with a fruit ice. Flavored shaved ice is frozen into its shell - mango, pineapple, coconut - just a few flavors offered. I treated myself to a coconut ice during my visit and love the fresh flavor with coconut pieces.

For a fun tour, adults can purchase $25 tickets to an exclusive and riotous Pub Crawl offered each day of the faire. The crawl features cold spirits, lusty wenches, bawdy songs, drinking games and a guided tour of the shire. The ticket includes one beverage of your choice at each of the five pubs visited in the shire.

Tickets for faire are $25 for adults and $15 for children aged 5-12. Children under age 5 are free. Adult season passes for $130 and a child's season pass for $65 are available. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at www.renfair.com.
The Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area is at 15501 Arrow Highway in Irwindale. A vehicle entry fee of $10 is charged by Los Angeles County. For more information, visit www.renfair.com.

To celebrate 40 years of taking over every other corner of the world, starting in Seattle, Starbucks has a couple ways to celebrate this year. (I kind of joke about the every other corner part, you know what I mean.)
Not being a coffee drinker since I was probably 12 years old, it took me a lot longer than most to jump on the Starbucks grande latte, no foam, skim milk, coffee craze. (I don't even know if that's a real drink.)
It wasn't until I was introduced to the Frappuccino - frozen cappuccino - less than 10 years ago that I was sucked in. Though it's not a daily ritual, I admit I like to treat myself to an occasional caramel frapp - being caffeine sensitive, a little of that goes a long way for me.

First, in celebration of this milestone, Starbucks will offer one free Starbucks Petite to each customer purchasing any beverage on Customer Tribute Day, from 2 to 5 p.m. today, March 10, through March 12 at participating stores in U.S. and Canada.

Starbucks Petites are eight petite sweets, perfectly sized for an afternoon treat, that are made with only premium ingredients and all under 200 calories. The treats range from whoopie pies to mini cupcakes and more.

I took advantage of this deal today and cooled down with a sweetened iced green tea. I decided to try the red velvet whoopie pie. The size was definitely perfect. If I was a giant, it would be a crumb but trying to be lady-like, I took a few bites to devour this little goodness that was filled with a sweet cream cheese filling and topped with a red little glaze. Careful, there was a lot of red dye in the glaze which left me with pink fingers. This was actually my first whoopie pie and the cake was moist and delicious.

At $1.50 each, it would have to be a special occasion or a bad-day pick-me-up to grab one of these small desserts. I picked up a latte for a co-worker and she tried the birthday cake flavored cake pop with light pink frosting. She said the cake was moist and sweet. She had tried other cake pops before that were crumbly but was surprised how well this one held up.

Starbucks is also launching its Starbucks Tribute Blend that pays tribute to "customers, partners (employees) and the accomplishments of coffee farmers and roasters over the past 40 years." The new coffee is a blend of four coffees, from three coffee growing regions using three different coffee processing methods such as Aged Sumatra, that is semi-washed and aged; Sun-dried Ethiopian coffee that is naturally processed; Washed coffee from Papua New Guinea; and Washed coffee from Colombia.
The Starbucks Tribute Blend will also be available as Starbucks VIA Ready Brew.

WHAT'S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE AT STARBUCKS?

HERE ARE TWO EVENTS THIS WEEKEND, NO FOODIE WOULD WANT TO MISS:

L.A. STREET FOOD FEST

Of course, I would have to be out of town when one of the largest foodie events in L.A.is set to take place. Good for them because I would actually wait overnight to be the first to hit up each truck and I would be all over seconds and thirds at each truck like Winnie the Pooh to honey.

But if you'll be in town and looking to splurge on that summer diet and workout routine, make some rounds at the second L.A Street Food Fest taking place this Saturday, July 24, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (1001 Rose Bowl Drive, off North Arroyo Blvd.)

More than 60 mobile food truck vendors from eateries, restaurants, celeb chefs and classic carts will park it outside the bowl while vendor booths sit under tents inside.
What will be offered? The question is really, what won't be offered.

Everything from breakfast at Monsieur Egg to dessert from Cool Haus and Sweet Lucie's. There will also be open bars and beer gardens for tequila and mezcal tastings, and specialty juices and cocktails.

Presale tickets are limited and only available online. No at-door sales. Tickets are $45 per person and is all inclusive, as much as you can handle. The last food fest included long lines for some foodie favorites so be sure to get there early if you want to make a couple rounds at your favorite truck or vendor..

For more information and tickets, visit www.lastreetfoodfest.com.

Read about how some vendors are preparing in Staff Writer Brian Charles' story.

 

YOGA FOR FOODIES

David Romanelli (aka Yeah Dave) is bringing his Yoga for Foodies to Los Angeles. Yoga for Foodies is a national tour  where at each stop, David collaborates with local chefs to create an unforgettable foodie experience.

On July 25, Dave will be pairing up with Akasha Richmond, chef founder of the critically acclaimed Culver City-based Akasha Restaurant, Bar, Bakery.

During the event, the morning will begin with David's flowing yoga class whose message and music will emphasize a more sustainable pace.

Following yoga while participants are relaxed and in the moment, Akasha will lead a guided tasting inspired by her years of cooking for and studying with Yogi Bhajan, and how his teachings influenced her style of cooking. Akasha began her professional career at Yogi Bhajan's Golden Temple Conscious Cookery, a now defunct but once popular vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles.

Menu highlights include: giner-mint lemonade and organic mango lassi; local farm egg and goat cheese frittata with spinach and caramelized onions; cumin and coriander spiced lamb sausage; grilled tandoori vegetable salad with coleman farms greens, white corn, zucchini, red peppers, and chutney dressing; punjabi focaccia with holy basil pesto, heirloom tomatoes, grilled eggplant, fresh paneer; fresh baked blackberry coffee cake, peach scones, and housemade preserves.

Yoga for Foodies will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $54. Reservations are required.
Akasha Restaurant, Bar, Bakery is at 9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City. For more information, call (310) 845-1700.

Scoop Night is back! Head to any participating Baskin-Robbins to get ice cream for 31 cents from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28.

If you saw me when I was about 10 years old, you might ask the same thing my mom asked, "Where does it all go?"

I've always been the smallest, shorter one of the bunch, but I could still keep up with my brothers at the dinner table.

I always had a love for good food, (of which I gladly blame on my parents), so it is no surprise that when it comes to family gatherings involving food, Thanksgiving has been my absolute favorite since I was about 10.

Before then, my Mexican family didn't make a big deal about this day in November mainly because it isn't much acknowledged in Mexico. It was always around my older brother's birthday so just a regular meal and birthday cake did the trick.

Although I love my mom's cooking, she wasn't too familiar with turkey, stuffing or any of those Thanksgiving staples.

After my parents divorced, the best thing I got from the deal were my step-aunts and their cooking. The first Thanksgiving with my step-family really opened my eyes to all the goodness (and food) of the holiday.

And being a growing child, I took it all in - literally.

Sure I loved running around the yard and playing with my siblings and cousins but before anyone was even called to the table, I knew and was the first one sitting down preparing for the feast.

I am also a slow eater, painful to many, but I love to savor every bite and morsel so I was also always the last one at the table, especially after having seconds, sometimes thirds.

My step-aunts and family had all the essentials down - turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, potato salad, green bean casserole, beets, yams, watergate salad, pumpkin pie with cool whipped topping, and more - and they made it all look so easy for a kid like me.

Once I moved back in with my mom and didn't have those Thanksgiving lunches with my step-family anymore, I still craved the ham, the potatoes and oh the watercress salad.

So we eventually convinced my mom to start having a Thanksgiving meal.

We invited neighbors and family friends and they brought something to the gathering. My mom made the ham. Sure, she used a canned ham, canned pineapple and canned cherries, but she made such a juicy, sweet ham, it was like she'd been doing it for years.

The brown sugar was her secret I think. It's still my all-time favorite ham.

Every year after then, we added something more or just got more creative with the stuffing or pies, adding different ingredients or techniques.

Then once my brothers moved out, one by one, to get married and start their own family, there were more options of where to celebrate the holiday, which gave my mom some relief from being the main chef.

I still beg her to make her ham though, even if it's not Thanksgiving. There's always Christmas, Ma.

Since I am more of a baker, I now love to try something new to share at the Thanksgiving table. Sometimes it's a variation of a pumpkin dessert or something for the non-pumpkin lovers, but it's always tasty. I wouldn't have it any other way.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY? FAVORITE THANKSGIVING DISH?

SHARE YOUR THANKSGIVING FEAST STORIES BELOW and...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

By Stacey Wang

I've had bagels on the brains every Friday for the last two weeks due to the downtime "bagels or donuts?" discussion in the office.

As if Casual Friday didn't already make my day, I finally decided to satisfy my craving for those complex carbs.

In San Dimas lies Cafe Bagelry, a family-owned shop that has an extensive menu to satisfy bagel eaters of all kinds.

From cream cheese bagels to bagel sandwiches, the cafe has menu items ranging from $0.85 to $5.69, before tax.

I ordered a Californian - a cafe-proclaimed favorite tuna sandwich with Swiss cheese, avocado, tomatoes and sprouts on a toasted wheat bagel.

The generous portions of the sandwich alone were enough to fill me up, but the cafe offers a meal deal every Friday. Customers can order any bagel menu item, chips and a fountain drink for $6.

On any other day, my meal would have cost $7.79. It's not a huge savings, but I don't mind taking what I can get - especially if it's as gratifying as it was.

I also ordered a cafe specialty known as a Peaches 'N Cream bagel for $3.02 purely because it glimmered from its glass encasing with visual appeal.

The pastry was a bagel bread with a light spread of cream cheese. It was topped with peach slices fanned out like a pinwheel and sprinkled with cinnamon, which added a light fruity sweetness to it.

I didn't attempt to finish all of my food in one sitting - I would have cursed bagels until the new year had I tried.

The shop also offers alternatives to bagel items - including muffins, omelettes, wraps, croissants and more - while supplies last.

Some other items include an Early Bird Egg Wrap with egg, herb cream cheese and cheddar cheese at $3.13 and cookies at $0.75, which the menu proclaims is "the best" the cafe has ever tasted.

But don't expect to eat there at night. The place is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Cafe Bagelry is at 969 W. Arrow Hwy., San Dimas. Call the shop at (909) 394-9592 for more information.

By Amanda Newfield

We all know that there is no way to dine on a budget at the L.A. County Fair, but the experience and variety are worth paying for.

Deciding what to eat can take all day. And with the usual cotton candy, corn dogs and funnel cakes, the fair offers an overwhelming amount of choices. It's the perfect place to ditch the diet and pig out.

Fish 'n' chips booths are scattered throughout the fairgrounds and the smell of the freshly fried seafood and veggies is alluring.  

On my recent visit, I went for the fish, fries and zucchini plate for $10.50.

The batter was light and not at all overwhelming, while the veggies were fresh and tasty. What surprised me was the large portion I was served. I was able to share the meal and still feel that sense of satisfaction. Those 10 bucks went a long way. 

Another place that offers the fried selections the Fair is famous for is Chicken Charlie's Broasted Chicken.

Also, try the "Totally Fried Veggies," featuring zucchini curls, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and onion strings, for $7.75. The appetizing chicken kabob is $9.75. If you want fries with it, the cost is $12.75.  

But those are just the usual menu items.

Last year, Charlie Boghosian, known as "Chicken Charlie," debuted his Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich.

His creation this year is the "Meat Lover's Ice Cream," featuring soft serve ice cream with chocolate-covered bacon bits.

Also new additions this year are the deep-fried frog legs and the deep-fried peanut butter, honey and banana sandwiches. 

Which dessert to try at the Fair is also a difficult decision to make, especially since Colossal Gelato, a gelato ice cream in a 16-inch waffle cone, is new to the Fair this year.

I decided on the $3.75 Fried Twinkie with strawberry syrup drizzled on top from Chicken Charlie.  

This selection was definitely one for those who have a strong sweet tooth. I enjoyed the crispy texture on the outside with the warm, creamy filling on the inside.

No one can miss Juicy's BBQ, which offers whole turkey legs, giant western sausage, burgers and chicken.

The Fair also has fun, reasonably priced meals for kids, and some come with a toy in a Fair collector's box.

For those looking for an elegant air-conditioned dining venue, the Top of The Park restaurant located atop the horse racing grandstand offers a more upscale dining experience.

Enjoy your meal with a view of the Fair; indoor or outdoor seating is available. Top of The Park is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To view the menu or make a reservation call (909) 865-4120.

Any food selection made at the Fair will be a good one. But don't get distracted or overwhelmed, and try as many different foods as possible.

For more information about food at the Fair, visit the Web site at www.lacountyfair.com/2009/attractionscompetitions/fairfood.

Enjoying the first full day of fall in triple-digit weather was not cool (pun intended).

Last week, I sought refuge from the heat with a tropical lunch at La Tropicana Fruits & Juices in West Covina.

Aside from the various fruit smoothies, waters, tropical ices and other cool treats, they also serve sandwiches, salads and tortas.

The sandwiches start at $4.45 with options of chicken, pastrami, ham, turkey, tuna, avocado and a BLT. 

Each sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, bell pepper and jalapenos. Avocado, extra cheese and bacon cost an extra 50 cents each.

I went with the ham sandwich on a telera bread, a thinner Mexican bread.   

I love these type of sandwiches because they taste homemade, like the ones my mom make. 

I liked that the ham was thinly sliced and everything else on the sandwich tasted fresh. There was a little more mayonnaise than I prefer and the bread wasn't toasted the way I like.

Warning: If you can't stand the heat of the jalapenos, order without or be sure to ask for only a few. In my sandwich, there was one in every bite.

It felt good having something light, but next time I'll try a torta or salad and see if they have more flavor.

I also ordered an extra-large serving of freshly squeezed "agua de mamey," or water-based juice of a tropical fruit that has a slight nutty taste to it.

The mamey really hit the spot - all fresh and cooled down with ice.

The prices for the "aguas frescas," or fresh juices, are $1.95 for a medium, $2.45 for a large and only 50 cents more for an extra-large.

Tortas start at $5.45, green salads start at $2.45 and fruit salads start at $2.75. Fruit party trays are also available.

If this hot weather keeps up, I might have to return for a raspado (snow cone) or chamango (slushed ice mixed with small pieces of mango, chamoy, a sweet and spicy syrup, chili powder and lemon), all enjoyed with a spoon.

La Tropicana Fruits & Juices is at 1324 W. Francisquito Ave., Unit C5, at Sunset Ave. in West Covina. For more information, call (626) 919-1920.

By Evelyn Barge

There's an erudite Greek term for people like me: turophile, or one who fancies cheese.

No strange epicurean trend has thrilled me more than the growing prevalence of cheese cake - that's not the dessert cheesecake, mind you - towers as an alternative to a traditional wedding cake. If I ever tie the knot, you can bet I'll say "I do" to that option.

So, knowing that about me, it's no wonder that my first dining experience at Valerie's Crepes in Arcadia was such a disappointment.

I stepped up to the free-standing crepe kiosk in the food court of Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Center tempted by the promise of great things. The staff was busy preparing several orders ahead of mine, and the crepe batter was being skillfully poured and thinly spread on the griddle.

Jars of Nutella stacked high behind the glass counter gave me a visual cue to go for a sweet selection, the apple brie crepe ($6.29), which is billed to include apple slices, brie, walnuts and raspberry preserves.

The crepe that I was handed, and for which my receipt shows I was clearly billed, did contain a bunch of fresh apple slices - but that's about it.     

In lieu of the handful of unaccounted-for elements, the preparer had sprinkled on some cinnamon. A healthy dollop of ice cream plopped on top of the folded crepe did very little to combat the overwhelming affect of a dry, powdery mixture.

When planning to eat dinner at any mall, there are few things I expect less than a peaceful mealtime. Obviously, the folks at Valerie's can do little to alter their surroundings - mine involved being sandwiched by a giggling clique of teenage girls and a family with clunky stroller in tow.

But Valerie's staff could at least make an effort to counteract the enveloping chaos by living up to their promise of a "gourmet menu" with "mouthwatering ingredients." (Hint: Ingredients can't cause your mouth to water if they don't exist.)

After slogging through five bites of my apple "brie" crepe, a brilliant solution came to mind. I plucked up and asked for a to-go container and made my escape from the shopping complex.

From there, I proceeded to drive home to my apartment, open up the refrigerator and retrieve the sole thing that could rescue this remainder of crepe from further humiliation: brie, obviously.

Hey, Valerie's, ever heard of it?

Valerie's Crepes is located in the Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Center, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., in Arcadia. Hours are Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, call (626) 821-6504 or visit www.valeriescrepes.com.

By Claudia S. Palma

I've passed by Tortas Sinaloa plenty of times as I drive through Baldwin Park and it always catches my eye, mainly because of the name.

My mom and many of my family are from Sinaloa, Mexico. Even though I lived there for a few years when I was younger, I don't recall much about the city, especially its food.

I visited Los Mochis, Sinaloa, for a few days a few years ago but mainly ate at my uncle's house and at the neighbors'. It was neat to see how many households set up little shops selling various types of small food plates - such as tacos, rice and beans, tortas and more - right from their front door. No license or grading from any governing body needed.

But tortas as I thought I knew them were not the same in Sinaloa.

It all depends on the ingredients. Tortas are usually made using a telera bread, which is thinner and wider than a bolillo, another Mexican bread. 

In Los Mochis, my aunt would make me a sandwich using a telera and fill it with beans and maybe sprinkle some queso fresco, a crumbly, mild, unaged white cheese. This sandwich was called huaraches or sandals. Before that visit, I would have just thought it was a torta with beans and cheese.

I was very curious to see what served as tortas at Tortas Sinaloa.

The restaurant, situated in a little strip of shops in the Home Depot lot right off the 10 Freeway, had a simple yet roomy interior.

The tabletops are embelisshed with a colorful fruit design and the walls are decorated with beautiful murals.

The counter to the right was lined with a row of large plastic containers filled with agua fresca, freshly made water-based fruit beverages.

The tortas menu had several choices, from the simple ones with meat and avocado or meat and cheese to combos and specialties, each with its own special name.

The Cancun torta ($4.99) was a chicken milanesa (thinly sliced and breaded) with ham, cheese, avocado and a slice of tomato. The Hawaii ($3.99) comes with ham, pineapple, cheese, avocado, tomato, onion and lettuce.

I decided to go all out and try the Sinaloa Especial ($5.99), which came with ham, milanesa, salchicha (sliced and grilled hot dog wiener), shredded chicken, cheese, avocado and tomato.

The soft, grilled telera bread was thin enough not to take over the sandwich and thick enough to hold everything in. 

I loved the combination of meats inside, though the grilled greasy taste of the milanesa and the salchicha overpowered the chicken and the ham.

Next time I think I will try one of the more simpler tortas like the pastor con aguacate, which is marinated pork meat and avocado with lettuce, tomato and onion for $4.75.

I also had to try one of the aguas frescas, sitting there all nice and cold. I had a choice of lemon, horchata, watermelon, a fruit blend, melon, jamaica and tamarind. I went with the refreshing melon or cantaloupe melon. Kid's size is 99 cents, medium $1.99 and large for $2.35. It totally hit the spot on a hot day.

Tortas Sinaloa also offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and other side offerings like the molletes I ordered for $2.99.  

Why they are called molletes I don't know, but they are half slices of telera bread grilled and topped with beans, chorizo or sausage and cheese.

There is also sweet molletes, which my brothers and I used to make as kids even though we didn't know what they were called at the time. We would just get some teleras or bolillos, slice them, grill them, smear some butter and sprinkle sugar on top - delish and cheap!

They also offer smoothies, mixed juice drinks and other desserts like flan and banana split.

Tortas Sinaloa has two locations in Corona, another in Fontana and one in Tijuana, Mexico, if you ever travel that way. 

I don't know when I'll make it to Los Mochis again but now I have another point of reference for tortas.

Tortas Sinaloa is at 14510 Towne Center Dr., S-C, in Baldwin Park. For information and to-go orders, call (626) 338-9555.

Yes, I was one of the many crazies who went out of town this holiday weekend. High gas prices, traffic and all.

Me and about 40+ friends and family headed up north to Yosemite for some good old-fashioned camping.

I love camping and I was so excited to go back to Yosemite, which I've only visited once, when I was about 13. I was also excited to take my 13-year-old sister for her first sleeping bag and tent camping trip.

She's stayed at a cabin in Big Bear with my brother before, but it was a full-furnished cabin and I don't think they saw any bears.

That was great and all, because it was still family, and my nephews were too young to be outdoors in a tent.

But she's old enough to handle the great outdoors now. (Maybe I should have made her watch some John Candy movies in preparation.)

And she's never roasted marshmallows out on a real fire!

What kind of kid would you be, if you've never had the chance to roast marshmallows to black melty-death on a piece of stick or twig you picked up off the floor?!

 

Yup. I'm talking about good old gooey-marshmallow-chocolatey-graham-cracker goodness. S'mores.

When I think back on the many camping trips I've taken, I think - Man, all we do is eat!

Hot dogs, hamburgers, pork and beans, sandwiches, scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage, granola bars, cheez-its, chips, s'mores of course, and if we had the money, some good carne asada and tortillas. 

But it's a great challenge to try to cook and eat in the outdoors, especially with bugs flying all around. I always feel vindicated when I'm able to finish my meal before the bugs can even touch it. Take that bug!

So while some of you are enjoying your weekend in the bug-free, AC, comfy-couch/chair/bed, home indoors, I'll be roughing it on a rock, with some bears, swatting the flies off my s'mores.

And loving every minute of it. 

 

Sometimes, it's all about compromise.

Some people like fruit pies -- apple, cherry, strawberry. And other people prefer cream pies -- banana cream, coconut cream, custard.

This pie is a great compromise. I'll start from the bottom layer:
- Graham cracker crust. (The pie I bought used a darker graham cracker crust, which was crunchy and not super sweet
- Thin layer of vanilla cream. (This is the same type of cream used in the banana cream pies)
- Thicker layer of strawberry cream. (Small bits of chopped strawberry).
- Top layer of sliced strawberries and whipped cream.

If you like Marie Callender's fresh strawberry pie, you'll probably like this one too. However, I found the slices of strawberries weren't as satisfying as whole strawberries in the fresh pie.

For those of you who like cream pies, there's plenty of cream here to satisfy.

Even better. Marie Callender's is having a sale on the Strawberries 'n Cream Pie. $10.99. Compare that to the 13.99 fresh strawberry pie.

We're in nebulous period between winter and summer. It can get very cold and very hot within a couple of days or hours. Still, it's not too early to start thinking about ice cold summer treats. With some input from around the newsroom, here's a pros and cons list for ice cream, soft serve and Pinkberry-like frozen yogurt.

Ice Cream Pros
Super rich and creamy
Ubiquitous
Satisfying
Sundaes, Banana splits, shakes, floats
Ice cream sandwiches
More than 31 flavors
Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice cream from Baskin Robbins
Coldstone

Ice Cream Cons
Really fattening
Brain freeze
Guilt
More fat, sugar and calories
Cavities
Freezer burn
Feeling so full you don't want to get up

Soft Serve Pros
Creamy
Easy access (McDonald's)
Good ice cream substitute
Goes well with chocolate syrup
Great with toppings
Served in baseball helmets
It swirls!

Soft Serve Cons
Somewhat fattening
Fewer flavors
Imitation
Can't "mix-in" toppings
Melts easily
Bland

Pinkberry Pros (or similar frozen yogurts)
Refreshing
Hip
Won't weigh you down
Nontraditional toppings -- Cocoa Puffs, Mochi, Specialty fruits
Fewer flavors
Healthy bacteria (better BM?)
Trendy, therefore cool
Cute name

Pinkberry Cons (or similar frozen yogurts)
Sour
Fewer locations, not sold in stores
Not like ice cream
Can get expensive
Not usually served in a cone
Long lines
Trendy, therefore for followers
There are no pink berries in Pinkberry
Sounds too much like Blackberry