Bite of the Week - Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Bar

Mom and I like a good routine. However, on Saturday evening, we decided to throw caution to the wind and go to a Stop & Shop Supermarket out of town. I know what you're thinking - those broads like to live on the edge. We drove all the way to the Dartmouth store because of their large section of natural food items. Since we were in the mood for some healthier snacks, Mom and I perused the aisles until something caught my eye - animal faces on large bars of chocolate. Now I've seen these before, but I don't remember ever trying one. However, with 10 percent of the net profits being used to help save endangered animals, how could I resist? I grabbed a bar with a tiger face on it ($2.50) - which happened to be dark chocolate with espresso beans - and put it in our shopping cart.

THE VERDICT: Sweet! Actually, considering that the cocoa content is 70 percent, I'm surprised that the chocolate wasn't bitter. Made with shade-grown coffee and chocolate, the minced espresso beans added a nice taste and crunchy texture to each piece. Inside the wrapper, there was a little blurb about the tiger and how there are several species of the animal already extinct. How sad! Also inside the wrapper was a $.25 cent off coupon for another bar. I really enjoyed this candy and would like to try the other flavors, and I'm very glad to know that - by eating chocolate - I did my part to protect the animals.

Bite of the Week - The Skinny Cow Low Fat Ice Cream Sandwich

It's no secret that Mom and I have been trying to cut down on junk food. Now that my sister - the junk food queen - is moving into her first apartment, we're trying to rid the house of any kind of crap food that she enjoyed eating. After all, if it's in the house, there is a chance that our willpower will vanish and we'll end up sitting there with a can of Coke and a Lunchable - and who wants that? Last night, Mom spotted The Skinny Cow ice cream treats (complete with a skinny cow on the label) in the freezer section of the market. Since it is supposedly "better" for you than other frozen novelties, we decided to purchase a box of chocolate peanut butter ice cream sandwiches ($3.99). This afternoon, we each tried one.

THE VERDICT: It actually tasted like real ice cream! In other words, it was a lot better than we thought. Even my sister really enjoyed it - and she hates anything with the word "low fat" on the label. With only 150 calories and 97% fat free (or three Weight Watcher points), each sandwich was thick, creamy, and flavorful. Mom and I have been disappointed in the past when we've tried "diet" ice creams, but this was definitely something that we would get again. We look forward to trying other Skinny Cow products. Although they are a bit expensive, I think these treats are a good choice for ice cream addicts (like us) who want to have something a little healthier.

Bite of the Week - Nabisco Newtons Fruit Crisps

Mom and I love trying new things, so when we were at Wal*Mart this Saturday and spotted the new Newtons Fruit Crisps, we just had to buy them. At first we didn't know what they were all about. Was it like a Fig Newton? Was it crispy? Did it taste like crap? After finally deciding that this would be our Bite of the Week, we grabbed a package out of the box and tried it for ourselves.

THE VERDICT: Fruitastic! We purchased the apple cinnamon flavor, and were both happy with the delicious apple filling that was inside each crisp (there were two in the package). Each crispy wafer was lightly dusted with sugar and cinnamon, and together both crisps were only 100 calories. These fruit crisps are definitely something that I look forward to having on my break at work, or as a snack when I'm looking for something low-cal and tasty. Mom said that it had a very light, clean flavor, and was glad that they are quite nutritious. We look forward to trying to the other flavor that we saw - mixed berry. It's not a cracker; it's not a cookie; but whatever it is, I'm sure you'll enjoy this fruity snack. We did.

Bite of the (Mid) Week - Stop & Shop Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Half

Who leaves the house at almost 10 p.m. at night to go to the supermarket and get a pie half? New England Bites - that's who! Bored at home this evening, I was looking for something to peak my interest. Since trying new foods always works, and I was craving something sweet, I decided to steal some money off of Mom and try something I'd never had before - strawberry rhubarb pie. Luckily for me, Stop & Shop usually keeps this particular pie half in stock at all times. It must be popular. Also, if it tasted like crap in a crust, I would have only purchased half a pie, so there wouldn't be too much to get rid of. So, with smeared eyeliner and a ratty ponytail, I trudged out to Stop & Shop to get me some pie. I blended quite well with the nighttime shoppers, and was pleased when I noticed that there were plenty of pie halves available ($2.99 each). When I returned home, Mom - not wanting to stray from her diet (a.k.a., she doesn't like strawberries or rhubarb) - declined when I offered her a piece. I cut the pie half in two and offered the other slice to Dad, who was in bed and just about to go to sleep. Apparently in this house, being under the covers with your eyes half shut does not exclude you from participating in Bite of the Week.

THE VERDICT: Delicious! I found it to be sweet because of the strawberries, but Dad - complete with sleep crusties in his eyes - found it to be tart because of the rhubarb. He's eaten raw rhubarb before and said that it was very bitter and overpowering - so much so that he had to stick it in sugar before eating! Although I found the filling a bit on the liquidy side, it was probably because it was made with fresh fruit and not a jelly/jam spread (thank God). I was very pleased with my impromptu choice, and so was Dad. Now that Dad has finally gone to sleep, I can cross eating strawberry rhubarb pie off of my "1000 Things to Do Before I Die" list. Only 999 more things to go!

Bite of the Week - Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Since we've been featuring some pretty nasty junk food lately, New England Bites has decided to feature a food that has been making headlines - and is actually good for you! Greek yogurt, which has been around for centuries, is suddenly all the rage because of its active cultures (including probiotics), abundance of healthy protein (36%), and lack of fat and synthetic hormones. After trying two popular brands called Fage and Siggi's (which is actually an Icelandic brand with similar components), Mom and I felt that we now knew what we were looking for in a Greek yogurt. We wanted something that was cool, creamy, and that had a lot of flavor. Mom spotted Chobani at Stop & Shop a few weeks ago ($1.25 on sale) and decided to try one. Since she enjoyed the taste, she suggested that I get one this week and let the world know how it tasted.

THE VERDICT: Pretty good, although Mom liked Fage better. Although she loved the mouth feel of Chobani, which had a very similar whipped cream consistency to Fage, she said that the bitterness of the yogurt tang was a little off putting. However, she feels that it would make a great smoothie if you mixed the yogurt with some fruit and skim milk. Although I agreed with Mom, and am looking forward to trying the other flavors (blueberry and strawberry), I found it to be a bit drying. The back of my tongue felt like sandpaper, but that was nothing compared to the ER visit I almost had after eating Siggi's. I thought my mouth would never salivate again. It was horrid! I don't know why this type of yogurt dries out my mouth, but it does. Would I get it again? Yes, but I'll definitely make sure to have a glass of water standing nearby.


Thanks, John! xo

Bite of the Week - Oscar Mayer Lunchables

Oscar Mayer Lunchables are aimed toward children, but I don't think that these meals-to-go are a healthy choice for them. According to this article on Wikipedia, it seems that the main company - Kraft - has come under fire for making these meals extremely unhealthy. Loaded with fat, sugar, and sodium, it seems that more and more parents are taking the easy way out and putting these ticking time bombs in their children's lunchboxes. Why do we buy them, you ask? For the fans!!

THE VERDICT: A little gross, although I've been known to eat one when there is nothing else is in the house. Lunchables usually contain a meat, a cheese, crackers, and a dessert. Bigger Lunchables include a drink and maybe even a second dessert. The Lunchable that we usually buy is the "Turkey & American Cracker Stackers" - my sister's favorite. Although she enjoys them, I find the meat extremely salty and chewy, and the entire meal never leaves me wanting more. It just reminds me that I shouldn't really be eating these. This particular Lunchable has 380 calories. It also has 40% saturated fat, 36% sodium, and 18 grams of sugar. However, it does have 22% protein (an "excellent amount" according to the box), but is it really worth it with all the artificial ingredients? My advice - make your kid a peanut butter sandwich on wheat with a side of grapes and leave the Lunchables to the lazy adults ... and my sister.

Thanks John ... I think.

Bite of the Week - Entenmann's Little Bites Carrot Creme Snack Cakes

Mom spotted these adorable snack cakes in the Entenmann's case at the end of the aisle in the supermarket. Since we love trying new things, and this box had the word "new" at the top in bright, bold colors, we threw it in our cart. After all, Entenmann products are awesome, and so is carrot cake. The marriage of these two great thing plus being only 100 calories per cake had a perfect ring to it. We couldn't wait to try them.

THE VERDICT: Delicious! Both Mom and I were very pleased at how tasty they were. The base had a nice carrot cake taste, and the cream cheese filling inside was light and not overly sweet like frosting can be. Although they're super tiny, what do you expect for 100 calories? I'm sure that the entire box of eight still doesn't equal the amount of calories in an actual piece of carrot cake. These Little Bites are definitely worth the price - around $3 a box.

Thanks, John!

Bite of the Week - The Feast Edition: Portuguese Malasadas

If there is one thing that Fall River loves, it's a Portuguese feast. Since this city is made up of mostly Portuguese residents, and we live in the center of town, Mom and I get to see a lot of feasts right in our own back yard. The bad parts about all this local activity are a) we have trouble finding a parking space, and b) the over-the-top renditions of Bon Jovi's "Runaway" at 11 p.m. are a little much. However, there is a good part - the food. There is nothing better that getting a hot bag of homemade malasadas (a.k.a., fried dough or doughboy) to take home to the family, and that's exactly what I did earlier tonight. Since Fall River was holding the Feast of St. Anne very nearby, I decided to take a walk over to the tents to get a bag of sugary goodness.

THE VERDICT: Good, although they would have been better if there was more to them. Because the cooking equipment the women at the feast were using was not meant to make a lot of malasadas at once, they were really rushing to get them out quickly. Covered in sugar, the middles of the malasadas were a bit on the thin side. I purchased eight of them ($1 each) and each one was very similar in size. We will definitely be getting malasadas again, but this time we'll wait for the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost in August. With over 300,000 attendees, they're bound to have enough equipment to crank out an A+ piece of fried dough.

Thanks, John!

Bite of the Week - Perdue Oven Ready Roaster

My mom likes to cook, but sometimes she prefers to use a shortcut. Last night at the grocery store, she picked up a Perdue Oven Ready Roaster ($8.99), which is a complete six pound chicken in a bag that cooks for 90 minutes. There is no prep work needed, and all the giblets and neck have been removed. She spotted it in the store flyer during the week and couldn't wait to try it. Well, tonight was the night.

THE VERDICT: Excellent! Besides being extremely easy, we found the chicken to be very moist, well cooked, and nicely seasoned. Not having to clean or pre-season it was a great help, and the cooking time was right on target - it really did take just 90 minutes to make. Even my dad, who usually doesn't like chicken, thought this one was great and scarfed it down. We were surprised at how much meat came off the bird. Mom would definitely buy this again.

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Going in the oven.

Coming out. Mmm ... mmm ... good!

Great job, John!

Bite of the Week - Mailhot's Best Cretons Pork Spread

I know what you're thinking. Pork spread? Where does New England Bites find this stuff? The truth is, we've been eating pork spread for years. Normally seen in the supermarkets around here as "gorton," this spread is a French delicacy. Since we're French, I've been eating the stuff since birth and so has Mom. My memere (grandmother) used to make it for her all the time, and my aunt still makes it from scratch. The downside to loving gorton is that it is only spotted in the grocery store during the winter months. Well not anymore! Thankfully, a Canadian brand company called Mailhot's Best has decided to supply us with pork spread all year long! Although they changed the name from "gorton" to "cretons," the taste is still the same.

THE VERDICT: DELICIOUS!! It really is, even if it sounds gross. Made with pork, water, dehydrated onions, salt, and spices, it's really nothing to cringe over. We usually eat it cold and spread it over toast or English muffins. If you've ever had pork stuffing at Thanksgiving (which we Frenchies do all the time), it tastes almost exactly like that. It's got a real comfort food kind of feel to it, and it's full of protein for those people who need an extra boost of energy. It's also full of fat, but the dancing pig in a tutu on the label should have already tipped you off. I think everyone should try Cretons at least once. It may be a one time thing, or this yummy pork spread just may become a part of your family. It's always been a part of mine!

Hysterical!

Bite of the Week - Kraft Cool Whip in Spray Can

Mom and I love trying new things, so when we heard that Kraft was coming out with a line of Cool Whip that came in aerosol spray cans, we just had to try it. After all, taking the plastic lid off the top of the old containers was getting to be too much work. Plus, you have a get a spoon, dig it out of the tub, put it on your dessert ... phew! I'm tired just thinking about it. On a recent shopping trip, we decided to pick up a can of the regular topping. The Cool Whip was on sale (two for $5), and with a $1 off coupon, the spray can soon found its way out of the freezer and into our home. Today, we finally decided to have some.

THE VERDICT: Great! This creamy topping tastes a little different than the regular Cool Whip. Perhaps it was because the consistency was a little thicker than the one in the tub. It wasn't as light and airy as Reddi Wip, but maybe that's because Reddi Wip is real cream, and Cool Whip is not. Fake cream = yum. With it's easy push button nozzle, I was able to squirt some right onto my pudding without tiring myself out looking for a spoon. Thanks, Cool Whip!

Kraft Cool Whip in a can - for when you're too lazy to open that tub.

Here's our latest commercial:

Bite of the Week - Farmer's Popcorn Cob

On a trip to the Christmas Tree Shop in Middletown, RI, I spotted something that both Mom and I have seen before - a popping cob. Since we hadn't yet decided what we wanted to feature for our "Bite of the Week," I grabbed a cob ($1.99) and threw it in our cart. Tonight, after dinner, I decided to pop the cob. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I cannot cook. Luckily, the cob instructions were printed right on the bag.

STEP ONE:
After breaking seal on vacuum pack, place cob in lengthwise position in center of popping sack.

STEP TWO:
Tightly fold opened end of popping sack three times on fold lines.

STEP THREE:
Place popping sack in center of microwave on high setting or 100%. Set timer for two minutes (no longer) and listen carefully. When popping slows to two-three seconds apart, stop microwave.

STEP FOUR:
Carefully handle hot popping sack (I forgot this part - ouch). Popping creates steam, so open away from face. Season popcorn to taste and enjoy!


THE VERDICT: Dry. Because the popcorn is popped right off the cob, there is no butter or salt flavor. However, the popcorn popped beautifully and the entire process was extremely easy. Although I burned my hand on the cob when I tried to pull it out of the bag (I'm an idiot), I think that making a bag of Farmer's Kansas Grown Popcorn would be a great thing to do with kids. Just make sure to supply the butter, salt, and any other seasonings you want to add.

Bite of the Week - Kraft Bagel-fuls

Just when you thought that laziness came in the form of ready-made, uncrusted PB&J sandwiches, New England Bites has taken it up a notch - bagels with the cream cheese already on it! When we first saw Kraft Bagel-fuls, which come in a variety of flavors, I honestly thought they were going fall flat. However, when Mom decided to buy them (a.k.a., she had a coupon), I oohed and ahhed over the ease at the actual cooking process. Even I could do this!

THE VERDICT: Great taste with no effort = fantastic! After taking the log-shaped Bagel-ful out of its little plastic wrap, place it in the microwave for 10 seconds and you're done! It tastes like an untoasted bagel with cream cheese - which is exactly what it is. However, I do have a word of advice for other lazies like myself: WAIT UNTIL IT COOLS BEFORE EATING! Do you know how HOT the cream cheese will get if you dig in right away? Or maybe you've left it in for more than 10 seconds (oops) and couldn't wait to take a bite. Please do not do this, but definitely try Kraft Bagel-fuls. It's like making breakfast without actually making it. Enjoy!

Another John classic:

Bite of the Week - Smucker's Uncrustables

I've never minded the crust that runs along the edges of a slice of bread, but apparently eating crust or even seeing it attached to a sandwich causes much distress for some people. For fussy eaters like that, Smucker's has created a line of sandwiches without crust called - you guessed it - Uncrustables. Uncrustables ($2.99 at Stop & Shop) have always been a favorite at our house, and not because we despise crust. We're just too lazy to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Not only do the sandwiches come with grape or strawberry jam, there is also a grilled cheese Uncrustable that you can warm up in the microwave.

THE VERDICT: Yum! Because they're kept in the freezer until you're ready to eat, the Uncrustable bread is always soft, while the peanut butter and jelly inside is fresh and full of flavor. Mom thinks they're great, but she thinks some might find them to be a waste of money since you can just make a peanut butter sandwich at home for half the cost. Also, if you are planning to eat one right away, putting it in the refrigerator to thaw is a good idea. However, do not store them there. We've done that and they became quite dried out.

Thanks, John! xo

Bite of the Week - Steak-umm Burgers

I've never had a Steak-umms burger before, but Mom has made them in the past for herself and Dad and has really enjoyed them. This week at Stop & Shop they were on sale for $6.99, so Mom decided to buy them again. I'm looking forward to the day that she throws them on the griddle because she had nothing but good things to say about the taste.

THE VERDICT: Although Mom doesn't usually like frozen hamburg patties, she found the Steak-umms brand to be surprisingly tasteful. They were just the right thickness to make a good sized burger, and cooked up nicely without too much shrinkage (which can sometimes happen with frozen burgers). All in all, Mom said that they are great for when you're in a hurry to make dinner for your hungry family (that must mean me!).

Thanks again, John! xo

Bite of the Week - Hillside Self-Heating Beverages

Mom and I have been seeing these Hillside self-heating coffees and cocoas at Wal*Mart for a few months now. Originally the price was $2 each, but Mom didn't want to spend $4 on two drinks that we weren't sure were any good. So, we left them there. Yesterday, we saw them on sale for $1 each. "Can we get them now," I asked, impatiently. "Grab two," said Mom. I chose the cocoa with marshmallows while she chose the mocha latte coffee. The other flavors we saw were French vanilla latte and cocoa without marshmallows. We had no idea how the beverages were to heat themselves, and were anxious to find out what they tasted like.

THE VERDICT: Delicious! Mom's coffee was thick, rich, and had a strong mocha flavor. You could see the marshmallows floating around in my cocoa, which was creamy and chocolaty. Both Mom and I were fascinated by how the whole thing worked. We still don't understand how the cup heated itself. Maybe we need Mr. Wizard for this one. When you first open the bottom, you have to press a button which releases green water into the cup. Green water? "What kind of poison is this," said Mom. After releasing the green water, we turned our cups over and were told to wait 5-8 minutes, or until a pink dot on the label turned white. Odd. When it turned white, we had to turn the top of the cup (which my father is convinced has been locked down so that the cup doesn't explode) until we're able to see the top of the can. Pop the top, and enjoy! We certainly did.

Check out another John video:

Bite of the Week - Java Pop

While browsing the shelves at Stop & Shop last night, Mom and I spotted something we'd never seen before - coffee flavored soda. We both knew that it existed, we had just never come across any. "Get a vanilla one," said Mom with excitement in her voice. She just loves trying new things. Besides, what could be bad about something that marries coffee with soda? I grabbed a bottle of the Java Pop ($1.49) and decided to crack it open today - MOTHER'S DAY. How did Mom feel about it?

THE VERDICT: Java POOP. The only pop that existed was the sound of the bottle going into the recycle bin. It was horrible!! Not only did it smell exactly like butterscotch syrup, it tasted like crap. Not soda, not coffee - just crap. It was so sweet that I thought the enamel on my teeth was going to come off. Mom took one sip and said, "I'm done," and handed me her half to throw away. I decided to give it one more shot, but my half quickly followed hers down the drain and probably into the Taunton River. If you see any fish or swans dry heaving in the water today, it's probably because they had a swig of this disgusting beverage. Hey, at least I get a nickel back for the bottle deposit.

Thanks for almost ruining Mother's Day, Java Pop. TWO THUMBS DOWN (one thumb pictured above).

Check out another John video:

Bite of the Week - Bolthouse Farms Perfectly Protein Drinks

Mom and I are on a diet. Please don't panic. This does not mean that we are going to stop eating out on Saturdays. It only means that we are going to be following a strict plan during the other six days of the week. Mom saw a diet in a magazine that showcased the benefits of adding soy and whey to your diet (20 grams each per day). Since neither Mom nor I have ever had soy or whey before, we decided to follow this plan. It seemed easy, and the woman who followed it lost over 400 lbs. Wow!!

Shopping for soy and whey seemed to be a bit of a challenge. However, I spotted the Bolthouse Farms display in the produce section of Whole Foods and noticed that they have soy and whey drinks already made (from their Perfectly Protein line). The down side is that they cost $4 each (for the liter bottles). Hell bent on following this plan, Mom and I grabbed a handful of bottles and a couple of snacks and headed for home. We started this plan on Tuesday, April 22. As of Saturday, April 26, Mom has lost eight pounds and I have lost seven.

THE VERDICT: The shakes are ... GOOD!!! Thank GOD! If they sucked, we would have found it really hard to continue this plan for a second week. Although the magazine did not suggest using Bolthouse, we are more than happy to keep buying these delicious drinks. The vanilla chai soy and the mocha cappuccino whey shakes are cool, refreshing, and available in your local supermarket. They also have a second whey shake that is hazelnut latte flavored - can't wait to try that one! Since the diet calls for 20g of soy and whey each, we purchase the liter bottles - which contains 42g of protein - and split them in half. Honestly, you would not be able to tell that this drink is good for you. After mixing it with fruit, it tastes like a milkshake. However, on its own (and I've had a few straight before), it's just as good.

For all you nosey people out there, here is the plan that Mom and I are currently following. Now remember, this is not a lifestyle. We are only doing this to take some weight off, so please save your "you can't live like that forever" comments. We get it.

7 a.m. breakfast: Bolthouse Farms soy shake with 20g of protein mixed with 1/2 cup of fruit.
*10 a.m. snack
1 p.m. lunch: Bolthouse Farms whey shake with 20g of protein mixed with 1/2 cup of fruit.
*4 p.m. snack
7 p.m. dinner: Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, or Healthy Choice meal with 20g of protein and less than 300 calories.

*The snacks that we've been having are: 60 baby Goldfish crackers; an apple with two teaspoons of peanut butter; a half cup of carrots, three ounces of cottage cheese, and three wheat crackers; and a piece of fruit with 10 almonds (or cashews).

Check out this video that John, our fan, made for us:

Bite of the Week - Haagen-Dazs Green Tea Ice Cream

I was excited to try this new Haagen-Dazs flavor of ice cream. I had never seen it at Stop & Shop before, and was curious as to how the ice cream was actually going to taste like tea. I was hoping that I was not about to pay $3.50 (the sale price) for a pint of crap. When I got it home, I excitedly took out a spoon and dug into the pea green ice cream. I could not taste the tea flavor at all. Actually, I couldn't taste anything. I gave Mom a spoon and she sampled it as well. She could very faintly taste the tea flavor, but I still couldn't. I retreated to my bedroom with the pint and really started to chow.

THE VERDICT: I still don't know! I liked it, but I don't know why. It didn't have a flavor to me. At one point I did taste the green tea, but it was only for a moment. It didn't really have a distinct taste. This could be because, as my friend Scott pointed out, green tea really doesn't have a strong flavor. Would I buy this ice cream again? Yes, but perhaps I would wait and let it get a little warmer before I start to eat it. I heard that when ice cream is a little soft, the flavor really pops. We'll see!

Bite of the Week - Junior's Lemon Coconut Cheesecake

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A little over a year ago, Mom received a catalog in the mail for Junior's Cheesecake. Inside were pictures of some of the most delicious cheesecakes we had ever seen outside of the ones made at Roxy's Delicatessen in New York City. We decided that we must have one. Since I had just been laid off from my job, Mom and I vowed to order the most delicious-looking one - the lemon coconut - as soon as I found a job. Who knew that we would be waiting a whole year? Now that I've been employed at my job for almost two months, we decided that it was time. After verifying with Junior's customer service line that the prices were correct (after all, the catalog was a year old), I mailed the check for $48.95 ($37.95 for the cake; $11 for shipping) on Friday, March 4. We were very pleased when the cake arrived packed in an air tight cooler on Thursday, March 10. We didn't even have to wait a week! Thank God!

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THE VERDICT: Oh. My. God. It was like heaven topped with coconut. I know that you're probably saying, "Wow, that's a little much to spend on a cheesecake." However, considering the one we ordered over 10 years ago from Roxy's was about $80, I think that $48.95 was a steal. We love the way that it was layered: the bottom crust was topped with a layer of creamy cheesecake which in turn was topped with a layer of lemon filling, a layer of white cake, and a layer of white frosting covered with coconut. It was as beautiful to look at as it was to eat. It was an 8" round, which doesn't seem large, but it was very thick and dense. A little piece went a long way. We also appreciated the way Junior's handled the order. They have a customer service line, kept us up to date with our order via e-mail and a UPS tracking number, and packaged it beautifully. We would definitely order from Junior's again. The hardest part will be deciding what to get!