Review: Rockstar Zero Carb Energy Drink

Well, you may have noticed I haven't been keeping up on the blog as of late. School has been an absolute killer lately and I've had almost no free time. I finally have a bit today and figured I'd toss a new review up while I can. With my hectic schedule, and being in college in general, I often find myself exhausted and sleep deprived. Being that I'm not a fan of coffee, Ive become somewhat of an energy drink junkie. In particular I tend to opt for the sugar free or diet versions. They taste great, have almost no calories, and still give me a good boost. I ran into this particular product a few weeks ago at walmart and after cracking open my first can, I was hooked. I had previously been a Monster lo-carb and absolutely zero junkie, but this may become my new go-to.                                                                               

Its pink!!!!

Unlike most other energy drinks, which are usually some variant of a citrus flavor, this one is actually berry flavored. As expected it doesn't have that classic radioactive green color, but instead it's pink! The taste is delicious. It doesn't have much, if any of the chemical taste some artificial sweeteners impart which is always a plus and the flavor itself is awesome. very crisp and refreshing with a nice berry-ish flavor. It reminds me of Seagrams raspberry ginger-ale but with a way more intense flavor.

                                                            

The supp. facts and "energy blend" are the real kicker for this drink. Zero carbs (as the name suggest) and only 10 cals per serving (there are 2 servings per can remember). I still don't know where the calories are coming from since there are no carbs. perhaps they are counting the cals from the amino acids? who knows, but regardless its only 20 cals for the can so its pretty much nothing. It seems to have all the usual suspects present in the "energy blend" like a slew of vitamin B variants, Yerba mate, Taurine, and of course, the most effective, Caffeine. a whopping 240mg's per can is considerably more than any other energy drink ive personally tried and you can feel it. After slamming my first can I felt some jitters and a total rush of energy. I had it before a workout and I had myself a great session. I was instantly sold. All in all this is a great drink and I would highly recommend it if you already drink energy supplements (don't start...its an addiction!). Its a great change of pace from the other energy drinks offered and its "energy blend" packs quite a wallop. 

Rating: 9/10

Review: Post Good Morening Waffle Crunch

While perusing the cereal aisle in my local Wal-Mart I noticed a few unfamiliar offerings. It looks like Post has come out with a new bargain sub-brand called "good morening" that may possibly be exclusive to the big W. I have not been able to find much info on the internet about these, so if you have any more info please feel free to let me know in the comment section...anyways, the boxes are very generic, devoid of any mascots and are extremely large. All of these new products are also competitively priced at around $2.75. Being a huge fan of all waffle/maple/french toast flavored cereals this was a no brainer to pick it up. The fact that it was made by the same company that fathered the now extinct waffle crunch gave me hope that they have reincarnated it under a different name.

I immediately ripped open the box when I got home and poured myself a bowl...OH. MY. GOD! It's waffle crisp! Sure, the box  doesn't have the wacky smiling waffle on the front, and the packaging is a little drab, but other than that these are identical. The shape, the texture, the taste. SPOT ON! Best of all, since post went the "generic" route on these they are extremely cheap. This may have just jumped to the top of my list of favorite cereals. It has a buttery maple syrupy flavor and a great crunch. They also stayed nice and crisp in milk for the duration of my indulgence, another plus. Then just as you think you are done, the left over milk takes on the delicious maple flavor and is a highlight in itself.

Like all "kiddie cereals" the nutrition facts are standard. low fat, moderate carbs(with a decent chunk of sugar and little fiber), and then a meager 2 grams of trace protein. Oh well, Its not like I picked up something called "waffle crunch" to get my micronutrients in, I got them as a delicious treat, and that they are. I reiterate the fact that if you even somewhat enjoyed french toast crunch or waffle crisp, or are a fan of anything maple, then you must pick these up. The fact that these are so cheap is just another plus. The only con I can think of is that they may be exclusive to Walmart (some people wont have access to them). If you see these pick them up immediately. Better yet get a few boxes and stockpile them or ship one to me.

Rating: 9.5/10

Review: Ben & Jerry's Cake Batter

I was approaching the one month mark off the sauce. I thought I had finally beaten my Ben & Jerry's addiction....but I relapsed today. The 85 degree sunny day coupled with a sale on BnJs made the urge impossible to resist. As noted many times by now, I'm a fiend for anything cake flavored. I had tried this offering once before, but it had been too long to recall my thoughts on it, so I scooped it up. Described as "yellow cake batter ice cream with a chocolate frosting swirl." Simple enough. Knowing this brands' quality, I had high expectations.

After digging in you can see a a distinct frosting pocket tucked within the cake flavored ice cream. The cake base itself is quite authentic. You really get that batter taste of uncooked flour/sugar (eggs?), not the overly artificial "birthday flavor" some ice creams use. The chocolate frosting ribbon is generously distributed through the pint, and is just that, real frosting. Not some frosting flavored ice cream like other brands. Nice touch. It retained its distinct texture within the super dense ice cream which is a feat in itself. It tastes almost identical to the canned frosting you can buy in the supermarket (and subsequently sneak a spoonful of) and seems as if half of a container was injected into the ice cream. The combo makes for a really authentic cake batter flavor, but the lack of real mix ins really left me wanting. Cake pieces and sprinkles would have complimented this flavor beautifully, but without them this flavor left me bored.

Like all Ben & Jerry's offerings, the nutrition facts are quite unfriendly. High fat and sugar, and a whopping 260 calories for the minuscule 1/2 cup serving. This is a rare indulgence for me, but tonight I threw caution to the wind and killed the entire pint (the best way to eat BnJs in my opinion). Overall this satisfied my sweet tooth and curbed my ice cream craving for the time being, but it certainly isn't their best offering by a long shot. If there were more substantial mix ins, I think this could be one of my favorite flavors, but since it is devoid of them, I have to give this a mediocre grade. If you are a cake batter junkie, or on the quest to try all their flavors go ahead and pick this up. If not, its probably not worth your time.

Rating: 6.8/10 

Review: Yoplait Light Red Velvet Cake

Well as I noted in the last post, yogurt has since become my current addiction. you may also recall I'm a junkie for anything cake or cake batter flavored, so this seemed like a perfect match. I picked up a ton of these yoplait cups(in various flavors, expect more reviews soon) since they were on sale for 50 cents a piece and they make a nice light/portable snack. 

It had been quite a while since I had regular yogurt, as I have been on a greek yogurt kick ever since trying it. Upon peeling back the lid, I quickly remembered why I made the switch. This stuff is quite a bit thinner and almost watery. A plus was that it required no stirring though and was quite well mixed, something you don't often encounter in the greek variety. The color was a bit off-putting, and reminded me of pepto bismol. No bother, some of the most delicious things I've tried looked gross, and down the hatch this went. At first bit I tried to savor the flavor and detect the "red velvet cake" flavor...nothing. just an unplaceable sweetness. It was not bad, but certainly didn't remind me of any sort of cake. I glumly finished the 6oz cup and was somewhat disappointed.

The nutritional panel on this (and all the yoplait lights) are quite friendly with no fat, only 90 calories, and 5g protein. It certainly doesn't pack the same protein punch greek yogurt does, but this stuff is also quite a bit cheaper. If you are a die hard red velvet fan, stay away from this. there is nothing reminiscent about real RVC and will just let you down. If you just want to switch from the classic vanilla or strawberry though, you may want to check it out. I don't think it will blow anybodies socks off, but it also isn't the worst flavored yogurt I've tried.

Rating: 6/10

Review: Fage Total Greek Yogurt

Sorry for the hiatus everyone (anyone still reading? comment if you are!) I just moved into a new apartment and school just started back up. I've been extremely busy, so that means food I can take on the go or eat in a hurry has become a staple. Various yogurts have fit the bill perfectly so expect a slew of yogurt reviews in the near future...

Anyway onto the review. The first time I tried Greek yogurt last year, I was immediately hooked. I started off with the fat free pre flavored cups, but gradually worked my way into the unflavored offerings. I have tried most all brands (both flavored and unflavored) that are offered near me and in my opinion Fage is unmatched. Their 2% plain has become my go-to staple and has the perfect balance of tang and creaminess. I tend to mix in fruit, jam and/or pudding mix, and then eat as is, or top with cereal/granola (totally delicious BTW, give it a shot). I had long been on the lookout for the full fat offering however, to see if it was as decadent as I had imagined.

One dreary afternoon I decided to check out a local "health food" store, and low and behold there was Fage total in all its glory in the small fridge in the corner. I quickly scooped up the single serve cup despite the ridiculous price tag ($2.50) and rushed home to give it a shot. I had planned to mix in some strawberry jam, but luckily I decided to test it plain first. OH. MY. GOD. did I just crack into a thing of cream cheese? That is almost exactly what this reminded me of but a hair thinner, and a bit more creamy. This could be an awesome replacement in any dish calling for cream/whole milk/cream cheese etc. I immediately thought it could make a bomb mac and cheese or some kind of lasagna/baked ziti. It is certainly a unique flavor though and if you haven't become a greek yogurt aficionado you may very well be repulsed. For me, however, it was pure bliss and I quickly gobbled it up without mixing anything in (a first for me).

The downside of this delectable treat is that is is fairly high in fat and calories. It still packs a ton of protein, but not as much as the 2% or fat free, and has a whopping 10g fat in the small cup. For this reason (and the the price/ rare availability) This won't be a staple in my fridge, but rather a rare indulgence. If you come across this, however, I highly recommend giving it a shot, especially if you are already a fan of other greek yogurt offerings. For now, 2% Fage will remain my go-to yogurt, but again, if you want a treat or need yogurt to cook with, this is the yogurt to get.

Rating: 8.8/10

Review: Lovin' Scoopful Cha Cha Churro

I bought this partially on a whim and also because it was on sale. I had high hopes for this flavor and thought it might somehow be a lower calorie replacement to Ben and Jerrys cinnamon buns ice cream.

Their descriptions are quite similar. In fact, they are almost identical. Cinnamon ice cream, a pastry mix in, and a cinnamon sugar swirl. So far so good. It seems like I may have just struck gold. That is, until I dug in.

 The first thing that you notice with this "ice cream" is that it doesn't seem to really freeze. Initially I thought it was soft because I had just come home from the store, but days later it hadn't hardened one bit. Frozen cool whip honestly becomes harder and more frozen than this. I went ahead and scooped a few servings anyway and figured it still might hold an amazing flavor. WRONG. All I really taste is sweet, with a hit of cinnamon. I detected little to no caramel flavor in the base. The churro pieces were plentiful but were bland and just offered a change of texture and little else. The brown sugar swirl was also quite prominent, but it just added to the already overwhelming sweetness. On top of all that, this ice cream is extremely "gummy". I had seen other reviewers use this term before and never really knew what they meant, but now I know and its not pretty. This stuff is clearly loaded with various gums that attempt to thicken this ice cream impostor and it is not pleasant. Its stretchy and reminds me of silly putty or something. I just seems fake. 

The nutrition facts are pretty standard for a light ice cream and quite diet friendly. The serving size was quite small though, especially compared to other light ice creams which at least appear to have a lot of volume. This stuff, however, was surprisingly heavy and 2 servings yielded quite a small dish of ice cream. Not the least bit satisfying. Now I'm sitting here writing this mediocre review craving some real ice cream. I would not recommend this flavor at all and don't think I will try any of this brands other flavors. Their descriptions all seem great, but after this lackluster experience I think they are all talk and no substance. In the end, this wasn't repulsive, but all I could taste was bland sweetness. It was a total waste of calories and I'm even debating chucking the rest of the container (an act i've never done before). This is a total bastardization of BnJs Cinnamon Buns and I'm embarrassed to have thought it could even come close.

Rating: 4/10

Review: Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Buns

Ahh, yet another ice cream review. I didn't intend for this blog to become predominately about reviewing ice cream, but lately I've really been on a frozen treat kick. Couple that with the fact there have been weekly ice cream sales and my will power to pass up this gem was nonexistent. This flavor is described as  "caramel ice cream with cinnamon bun dough & a cinnamon streusel swirl." Believe it or not, I was not sold by the description initially and had passed this up many times, opting for "safer" flavors like Chocololate Chip Cookie Dough and Milk & Cookies. After reading countless stellar reviews on this flavor, however, I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and picked up a pint.

Halfway down, AKA the point of no return

I rushed straight home and threw this bad boy in the freezer to harden up. The rest of the day I was anxiously awaiting my dessert and I almost caved to the temptation multiple times....My will held strong though and I was able to make it until after dinner. The pint was nice and frozen and as hard as a rock. That is the beauty of super premium ice creams like BnJ's. Due to their extreme density and milk fat content they freeze solid and remain frozen for the duration of your indulgence. None of that melting in 5 minutes, like some other brands...Anyway onto the review! The base flavor, caramel, is exquisite and immediately became my favorite base ice cream of all time. The cinnamon bun dough chunks are extremely prevalent and perfectly compliment the caramel ice cream. Their texture is perfect. they are somewhat doughy and despite being frozen in the depths of the super premium ice cream, remain soft and chewy. The cinnamon streusel swirl ties it all together with its sugary, cinnamon-y, gritty (in the best possible way) goodness. It is a snaking vein throughout the entire pint and you can be guaranteed to get all 3 elements of this flavor in every spoonful.

The nutrition facts on this flavor, however, are not the most friendly. Due to its high fat content and premium nature, the calories are obviously quite high. The mix-ins used also contribute to a large amount of carbs (most of which are sugar). The fact this is quite possibly the best/most addicting ice cream in existence won't help your cause if you are watching your calories. Good luck putting this away after a mere serving. More than likely you will end up killing at least half, and possibly the entire pint, in one sitting. For this reason, use extreme caution when eating ; )
Again, I can't say enough good things about this flavor. Since first trying it, I knew I had struck gold. I have probably killed 15+ pints of this by now, and almost always have one tucked away in my freezer for a "rainy day" (or any day for that matter). The texture, mouthfeel, flavor, and prevalent mix ins make this the seemingly perfect ice cream. I have yet to find something that dethrones it and I base all my ice cream reviews on this flavor. Pick this up ASAP.


Rating: 9.9/10


Fellow bloggers takes on it: 
Ice Cream Informant
Crazy Food Dude
On Second Scoop