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.

Plaza Pizza II

544 Milford Road

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 673-2626

289 Winthrop St.

Rehoboth, MA 02769

(508) 252-4307

When I was working part-time at a store in the Swansea Mall a few years back, sometimes the girls and I would order in from Plaza Pizza II, located just across the street from the mall. Since most of the girls had fallen in love with their pizza - and the guys who delivered it - I got to taste a few different pies and topping combinations. I hadn't been to Plaza in years, so when Mom mentioned that she had read good things about their pizzas on the Internet, it was almost certain that we would be stopping by some time in the week. Well some time came today when Mom asked me to pick up an order after I got out of work. She called in the order - a large cheese, large chourico, and large veggie pizza - and they told her that it would be ready in about 20 minutes and the total would be $33.08. At 6 p.m., I pulled into the parking area.

When I arrived, I noticed a young lady bolting out the door with a stack of pizzas that smelled amazing. Once inside the restaurant, the intoxicating smell of the cooked food was overwhelming. I gave my name to one of several young men behind the counter, who then retrieved my three pizzas from the top of the pizza oven (placed there presumably to keep them warm). He quoted me the same total that Mom heard over the phone:

Large plain - $9

Large chourico - 10.25

Large 4 way combo (veggie) - 12.25

Subtotal - $31.50

Tax - 1.58

TOTAL = $33.08

Before leaving, I asked the older gentleman behind the counter if he had a menu. He very politely handed me their list of available foods while I received my change from the younger worker. I managed to snap a photo of the soda coolers and few scattered booths (no tables) that were empty at the moment. Although Plaza Pizza II does have seating, there really isn't much of it. I'm guessing that they have a large take-out and delivery business versus customers that stop by to eat inside. The interior isn't very glamorous - wood paneling and a few Greek-inspired posters - but the restaurant was very clean and the service was great, both on the phone and in person.

Although the highway exit is located just ahead of the restaurant, I decided to drive down Route 6 since I spotted a huge traffic jam on I195 on the way up. I was home in about 10 minutes and was glad to see that all three pizzas were still piping hot. I brought them upstairs and Mom opened all the boxes to reveal the gorgeous pies inside. They looked and smelled amazing, and we couldn't wait to dig in. Mom and I let my father and sister choose what they wanted first because we know how impatient they can get (a.k.a, they're pigs and can't wait their turn, ha, ha). When we finally got a chance to get near the boxes, Mom grabbed a slice of cheese and a slice of chourico, and I grabbed the same plus a slice of veggie.

cheese

veggie

chourico

The pizzas were so good! You can tell that they were homemade, and that only the freshest ingredients were used. In all our experience with pizza-eating, Mom and I have come to realize that Greek people make a mean pie. The cheese was perfect - not stringy and gooey - and the guys at Plaza were quite generous with the toppings. The crust had a nice crunch to it, and all in all we were happy with the amount of food we got for our money.

Plaza Pizza II has a lot to offer. From grinders ($4.50-6.75) such as grilled chicken, roast beef, and chourico and chip, to pizzas ($6.26-14.25) like eggplant, BLT, and steak, everything on the menu sounds fantastic. They even have a Chicago-style stuffed pizza ($12.75-16.25) with cheese, mushrooms, olives, pepperoni, sausage, and sauce. I'd love to try their spinach pies ($3) and I've heard good things about their grilled chicken salads ($6.25). They also feature Greek items like cold Syrian pockets and gyros ($5.50). Seafood is also available, but only on Fridays. Mom read great things about their fish and chip platter ($7) and cannot wait to try it.

Stuffed from eating all that pizza, Mom wrapped up the leftovers and put them in the fridge for us to have later on. I am pleased to say that everyone in my family enjoyed our dinner from Plaza Pizza II, and the only downside is that we fall outside of their delivery area. Damn that Braga Bridge!

Plaza Pizza II is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12-10 p.m. on Sunday.

Eskimo King

29 Market St.

Swansea, MA 02777

(508) 379-0202

www.eskimoking.com

UPDATE: Since Mom kept raving about her Only 8 ice cream that she had on Saturday, after her doctor appointment, I headed for Eskimo King around 8 p.m. so that I could try some as well. She got a small cup of coffee (what else is new) and I got a small cup of one of their new flavors - chai tea. The total came to $5.99 and our cups were served very quickly. Mom was right! This ice cream imposter tastes fantastic and almost exactly like the real thing. Both flavors were delicious, and we loved the fact that we were eating something that was good for us and it actually had flavor. Thank you, Eskimo King!

street view

(L) chai tea; (R) coffee

*********************
Date: 6/21/08

If you're a fan of New England Bites, you know by now that Mom and I love ice cream. It is our favorite dessert by far, and in the summer we always hit every local ice cream place to get a cup of creamy goodness. Since we hadn't visited Eskimo King since last year, we decided that today was the day. We pulled in to the always-busy parking area at just around 6:45 p.m.


Eskimo King is amazing. Where else can you get over 250 flavors of soft serve ice cream? They have everything from Fluffer Nutter and coconut cream cheesecake to cantaloupe and white chocolate apricot. Eskimo King also has a wide variety of hard and sugar free ice creams, non- and low-fat yogurts, sherbets, cakes, sorbets, cones, sundaes, Arctic Colattas (slush), smoothies, sodas, frappes, and many other ice cream novelties like banana splits and blizzards - complete with a long list of possible mix-ins. They even have a doggie dish available for your hungry pooch which is topped with a Milkbone. The prices are very reasonable - two ice creams are almost never over $7. Mom and I enjoy the look of Eskimo King. It looks as if the owner makes all of the signs herself, and they're always colorful and loaded with information. It also seems like Eskimo King is a nice place to work, because Mom and I have always had good service here - even when we've had to stand in line for quite some time. This is a very popular summertime hot spot. Mom even ordered an Eskimo King cake for my birthday one year just as they were about to close down for the season and it was superb.

On the drive to Eskimo King, Mom told me about one of the signs she had spotted on our last visit. It was something called Only 8, and it was supposed to be "America's Healthiest Frozen Yogurt." When we got out of the car and headed for the counter, I saw the sign describing the eight healthy rewards that Only 8 gives you:

1. No fat, no cholesterol.
2. Calcium fortified.
3. Low calories, low carbs.
4. All natural - no preservatives.
5. Sweetened with fructose.
6. Safe for most diabetics and lactose intolerants.
7. Four healthy yogurt cultures.
8. Great taste that won't go to your waist.

She was really anxious to try this yogurt, so when we placed our order she asked for a coffee flavored Only 8 milkshake. I went with a large wafer cone of pineapple nut cheesecake. The service was quick today because we had found a window on the side of the building that no one was standing at. Our total came to $7.19, and once we paid and got our ice creams, Mom and I headed back to my car.

Once inside, I made sure to take a picture of my cone because it was a little steamy outside and I didn't feel like wearing any of the ice cream. Like always, my cone was delicious. I could really taste the nut flavor, and it had the aftertaste of refreshing pineapple. Although sometimes you only get a hint of the actual flavor (they use a vanilla or chocolate base for all their ice creams), sometimes they hit the nail right on the head. Mom's experiment with the Only 8 frozen yogurt left her amazed! She said that she couldn't believe how much it tasted like real ice cream. It was very thick, creamy, and had a very strong coffee flavor - stronger than some of the real ice cream shakes. She was very impressed with it and would definitely get it again. She just hopes that it doesn't turn out to be like the "fat free" yogurt on that Seinfeld episode, ha, ha!


Happy and full of ice cream, Mom and I sped off into the sunset vowing to return to Eskimo King as soon as we can. Although it was our first trip of the year, it definitely won't be our last. From November to March, whenever we drive down Market Street and see that giant figure of a boy holding an ice cream cone, we just wish for the day when spring would arrive and that neon OPEN sign would turn on.

Eskimo King is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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.

New York Bagel Company

272 State Road

Dartmouth, MA 02747

(508) 990-3350

1572 President Ave.

Fall River, MA 02720

(508) 677-4767

www.newyorkbagel.com

My mother keeps reminding me that there are no Jewish delicatessens in the immediate area. Are we Jewish? Nope, but Mom insists that this city is in dire need for something new on the culinary scene. Since I've never really had any typical Jewish delicacies, I decided that one day I would take myself out to lunch at a local place that is known for carrying things like lox spreads and knishes - New York Bagel. Well, today was the day. I pulled into the parking lot of the Fall River store, which is located in a large plaza, at around 1 p.m.


Before I left the office, I placed a call to New York Bagel and asked a very friendly gal to prepare a lunch order so that I could just run in and pick up my food. With the online menu on my computer screen, I rehearsed what I was going to order with Mom, who was at home living vicariously through me because she was too chicken to try this on her own. I wanted to make sure that I ordered every Jewish thing on the menu, so I chose a rye bagel with plain cream cheese and lox slices, a side of whitefish salad, a Kosher dill, and a potato knish. Mom mentioned something about getting a Dr. Brown's soda, but I didn't see that on the online menu so I just assumed that New York Bagel didn't carry it. That was confirmed once I stepped inside and peeked inside the drink coolers. I stepped up to the register and gave my name to a girl behind the counter. My order was already prepared and bagged, so all she had to do was ring me out. After a few miscalculations, I received my total:

1 Lox slice - $7.79

1 Pickle - 1.09

1 Potato Knish - 1.75

1 Deli by LB - 1.99

Subtotal - $12.62

Tax - .53

TOTAL = $13.15

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A little expensive, but to me it's all about the experience. After paying, I headed back to the office where I laid everything out on my desk. I had to track down some silverware (they forgot to put some in the bag), but when you work in an office, there is always at least one file cabinet devoted strictly to ketchup packets, menus, and plastic ware. Once all the food was out in the open, I noticed a strong smell of smoked meat, which I assumed was coming from the lox. It wasn't a bad smell, but it was very potent. I decided to try the whitefish salad first. When I opened the plastic container, the salad inside reminded me of those weird cans of Underwood Deviled Ham or Chunky Chicken spreads - almost pasty. As I brought the fork up to my lips, I suddenly felt like I was Chef Anthony Bourdain on one of his many exotic excursions - only I wasn't about to eat monkey brains or seal eyeballs. The taste of the whitefish salad was OK, but I was completely overwhelmed by how salty it was. I kept having to take a bite of my Kosher dill between forkfuls just to clear my mouth of all the salt residue. Do Jewish people have high blood pressure? After eating this, I certainly did. I finished the entire container, but the salad did not impress me that much.


Next, I finished the rest of my pickle, which was cool, refreshing, and very cucumbery. Now, I've had a potato knish once before and it was quite good, so I was looking forward to this next part of my meal. However, the potato inside was very crumbly when I cut it in half. When I first called to place the order, the girl on the phone asked me if I wanted the knish heated. I doubt that heating it would have made the potato flake apart, but it still had a really good taste. It was basically a mashed potato pancake.

Finally, the time had come for me to try the lox slices on the rye bagel. I was scared to death. The smokey smell was making me a little nervous, but I stayed positive and took a bite. I did not have an immediate reaction, but once I had been chewing for a few seconds I felt the little piece of lox in my mouth. It had the consistency of sandwich meat and had a very fishy flavor. I asked Mom earlier why lox was orange, and she told me that it was salmon. I really had no idea. I've only really had salmon when it has been mixed in with other things. Straight salmon on a bagel was interesting, but not something I would probably eat again. The saltiness alone was really starting to get to me. I ate three quarters of my bagel before stopping. There was just no room left! I felt very full and extremely thirsty. I guarantee that my blood pressure was sky-high (like 200/200). I even started to feel lightheaded later on, as dramatic as that sounds. However, I drank lots of water, tea, and iced coffee and felt much better.

My family has been visiting New York Bagel for years because we think that these bagels are the best in the city. They have a large variety of different bagels such as spinach, Asiago cheese, chocolate chip, berry, poppy, and salt. Two big hits with my mom and sister are the rye and the cinnamon sugar. They also have a list of specialty cream cheeses like the walnut and raisin, scallion (low-fat available), sundried tomato, and blueberry. All bagels are made fresh on the premises, and cost under $3 depending on which spread you want (minus the lox slices). New York Bagel also makes fresh salads, sandwiches, and other breakfast pastries like muffins and croissants. They also have a list of beverages that includes everything from soda to French vanilla cappuccino. The pizza bagels ($1.40) seem to be very popular, so I'm going to have to try one of those very soon. My only complaint with the food is that they put too much cream cheese on your bagel! They put it on with an ice cream scoop, so be sure to ask them to go easy on the spread, unless you like that sort of thing. Also, sometimes the service isn't that spectacular. The workers seem like they are concentrating on everything but your order, which is a bit annoying, and often times we've seen the owner reprimand some of his waitstaff in front of customers - not really a fan of that. Mom and I have visited both New York Bagel locations and have always found the interior to be a little on the messy side, but perhaps that is because this restaurant always seems to draw a large crowd. Even the drive-thrus are always busy!

I love to eat different things, especially ethnic foods, so I was very glad that New York Bagel gave me a taste of something I'd never had before. I wish this yenta-in-training enjoyed her meal more, but I still appreciated the opportunity to try something new. I will definitely be visiting New York Bagel again, but to all our Jewish peeps, or anyone else who has this type of food on a daily basis, make sure to get that blood pressure checked! Oy vey!

Both New York Bagel locations are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Drive-thru hours are extended until 10 p.m. on weekdays.

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!

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.

Kane's Doughnut House

120 Lincoln Ave.

Saugus, MA 01906

( 781) 233-8499

Who spends an hour and 15 minutes in a hot car driving 62.15 miles for a donut? New England Bites - that's who! After busting out the new Tom Tom GPS system that my parents got me for graduation, Mom and I poured our melted bodies into my steamy ride and headed for Kane's Doughnut House in Saugus, MA. Are we insane? Maybe, but after reading so many wonderful things on the Internet about how good the donuts were, Mom and I were feeling jealous. With the Tom Tom right on target, we pulled up next to the building which had an old-fashioned neon sign that might have made Homer Simpson say, "Mmm ... donut." Peeling ourselves off the car seats, we headed into Kane's at just around 3 p.m.


Once inside we were automatically facing the large bakery counter. The rest of the small eatery was made into a diner which consisted of a large counter area and a few scattered tables and chairs. Hanging above me was a row of Kane's t-shirts, and on the back wall behind the counter was a donut clock with the Kane's logo for sale. So cute! I was trying to take it all in while Mom was pushing her way through the small crowd so that she could place her order with the friendly staff. She ordered a box of mixed donuts, a Bismark, and one of their famous coffee rolls. The total came to $20.19 which is a lot for pastry, but with the wonderful Internet reviews still fresh in our minds, we were certain that the money spent, and the drive, would be justified.



When we took the boxes back to my car, I took photos of the donuts in case the long ride home took its toll on their appearance. Before driving away for good, Mom and I ate the Bismark because a) it was made with real cream and would not have made it home, b) it came highly recommended, and c) we couldn't wait to try it. Once we took a bite - WOW! What a delicious pastry! Both Mom and I thought that we'd never find a real cream donut that rivaled Butler's in Westport. Who knew it was in Saugus the whole time? The Bismark is a long, flaky donut with a stripe of jam (we think blackberry) inside, covered with real whipped cream, topped with a dollop of jam, and sprinkled with powered sugar. Surprisingly, it is not overly sweet. It was cool, creamy, and delicious. You could actually serve one of these for a dessert. They're that good.


When we got home around 6 p.m., we still had more errands to run. Not wanting to leave the box of donuts and the coffee roll alone with my hungry father and sister, I grabbed a few ice mats, threw them into a cooler bag and placed the boxes inside. When we finally arrived home at 11 p.m. (yes, we had the donuts in the car for almost eight hours), Mom and I were nervous to see what shape our donuts were in. They were PERFECT. No bumps, bruises, melted icing, broken pieces, or lost filling. Kane's Doughnuts definitely traveled well ... but how did they taste? Dad was the first to try one of the donuts and he loved it. I was the second. I chose a chocolate glazed one from the box and took a bite - fantastic! It was so chocolaty and moist, not to mention humongous. It was almost like two Krispy Kreme donuts got together and formed a giant, tastier version. Mom had the honey glazed crueler which she found to be delicious. It was huge, had a slight crisp to the outside, and was very soft and cakey inside. She loved both the texture and the taste. Other donuts in the box included a coconut with raspberry filling, a powdered sugar blueberry filled, an old-fashioned, a cinnamon, a jelly, a powdered jelly, a chocolate frosted with sprinkles, and a few others. Not included were the vanilla cream and the lemon filled which we had read so much about. Oh well, maybe next time.


Now let me explain this coffee roll - the Big Foot of all coffee rolls. It is about the size of a personal pan pizza, and a mystery as to how Kane's gets it to stay so soft. It has just the right combination of cinnamon, cake, and icing. You can easily cut it up and feed about six people. Notice how tiny Mom's hand looks near the roll. Rumor has it that some men can eat a single one all on their own while washing it down with their morning coffee. Well, we may be pigs, but I don't think any of us could eat that by ourselves. I personally would be in a coma afterwards and would have to take a day off from work. However, the taste of the coffee roll was out of this world. We all cut a piece for ourselves and enjoyed the soft roll and its tasty icing.


The World Wide Web may be filled with pervs, identity thieves, and x-rated sites, but without the Internet, Mom and I would never have known about the deliciousness that is Kane's Doughnut House. Sure, we'd probably be about 100 lbs. thinner, but then what would we blog about? Exercise? Yeah, right! Mom hasn't bent down in six years! Kane's Doughnuts may just be the best donuts that we've ever had, and they were definitely worth the drive and the price. These huge donuts are a must have for any New England bakery connoisseur, and we know you will not be disappointed.

Kane's Doughnut House is open from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 3:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 3:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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!).