Favorite Foods: Vol 4

Candy Bars are not only bars.  They can be small, long, square, or circular chunks, but are in perfect snack sized packages.  They are usually chocolate based and mixed with one or two other ingredients.  Here is my list of favorites:

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
Reese's Pieces - I pronounce it 'Ree-sees Pee-sees'
M & M's - Plain, I sort them into colors before I eat
Snickers - Nugget, caramel and peanuts
Milky Way - Nugget and caramel
3 Musketeers - Just plain nugget
Hershey Bar - Plain, but great milk chocolate
Hershey Kisses - Same great chocolate in a cool form
Twix - Absolutely the worst nutrition-wise
PayDay, Nutrageous and Baby Ruth - All nutty! What is the difference between these?
Kit Kat - Break me off a piece
Butterfinger - Hey, don't you lay a finger...
Heath Bar and Skor - They are the same darn toffee thing!
Whatchamacallit - Crispy crunchies with a caramel and peanut butter
Krackel - Chocolate with crispy crunchies throughout, I wish they sold larger forms of this
Crunch - Nestlé’s larger version of Hershey's Krackel
Raisinets - Addicting
Zero - I always think this should be frozen at zero degrees
York Peppermint Patty - Mint is an acquired taste and can also make me sneeze!
Tootsie Roll - To the left, to the left...

Chocolate Company Winner: Hershey's
Second Place: Mars
Third Place: Nestle

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Ice Cream

The picture on the left is just about the perfect ice cream dessert for me.  It is found at Friendly's and includes:

1. Waffles
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
3. Reese's Pieces
4. Peanut Butter Sauce
5. Whipped Cream
6. Cherry
7. Two scoops of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream

Ice cream has become more and more a special treat for me especially with all of the new specialty items out there.  Just like in the fro-yo shops, there are many flavor choices and toppings to choose from. It's not just a simple vanilla and chocolate Dixie Cup.  I feel like I have more options, and with variety, I enjoy the experience more.  This is true about most food and is dangerous because I will eat more and don't get sick of it.

Any ice cream with peanut butter and/or chocolate involved is great for me, as long as the toppings are abundant. 

Here are some other flavors and goodies worth checking out:

Ben & Jerry's Karamel Sutra - Core of Soft Caramel Encircled by Chocolate and Caramel Ice Creams and Fudge Chips

Nestle Drumstick - A complicated ice cream cone that is more chocolaty goodness than ice cream.

Chipwich - Where-oh-where is the original found?  These were bought out by Nestle and now have their own Toll House cookie version.  The original is the best: two chocolate chip cookies sandwiching vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips around the edges of the ice cream. 

A Silent Car

On a Thursday night coming home from work and housesitting, I had car trouble.  I entered the highway and proceeded in the right lane going about 65mph.  Any other day I'd be like the speeders going 75mph in the left lane.  It was around 6:15pm, so it was still pretty heavy with work traffic, and I decided to just stay there in the right lane.  I had just dealt with exterminating some ants, and needed to relax for once on my ride home.  Going for about a mile on the highway, suddenly my car went quiet.

What? No, oh no, oh no.  All kinds of lights come up on my dashboard, and I realized there was no shoulder or exit any time soon.  I had just passed the service road entrance too.  I put my flashers on, and I started to drift slower and slower.  Was this really happening?  My gas pedal didn't work, and I didn't even want to try the brake.  Cars started flying around me.  I eventually came to a halt and tried to start it up.  A bunch of quiet air hissed at me as I turned the key.  I was a sitting duck!  I always wondered what would happen if my car just died in the middle of the highway. 

In a scattered mind, I took out my AAA card to get a tow truck to come.  I started dialing the number, but looked back and saw all of the impatient drivers swerving around me so fast. I quickly dialed 911 instead.  They would come quicker than AAA.  I told them the situation and said they were going to send someone. I called the boyfriend and left a voicemail.  I wasn't scared until I was hearing myself leave that message.  The longer I stayed there, the worse I felt.  I thought that I can't possibly push and steer the car by myself.  A minute or two later, a van driving on the service road stopped and backed up near me.  A guy got out and walked across to me.  He asked me what happened and checked my battery to see if it was loose.  It wasn't, but tried turning the ignition again - still air.

The guy ran up ahead to see if there was an exit or shoulder I could be pushed to.  There was an entrance ramp to the highway, but far up.  He pushed the car while I steered.  He had so much courage having rush hour drivers directly behind him cutting around to get into the left lane.  I was now scared for him too.  He took a few breaks, but we made it up to the area where cars were merging onto the highway.  We had to time it just right so that the car could be pushed over and then back into the service road and onto the shoulder without hitting cars coming onto the highway.  When it was clear, we proceeded.  As I was being pushed back, there were two eager beaver vehicles coming up fast on the service road.  I pressed the brakes, but the car didn't slow down because of no power brakes at this point.  I heard the nice guy pushing the car yelling to stop, and I pushed the brakes even further down until it finally stops.

After another clear opening, I was finally safe on the shoulder.  I had nothing to offer the nice guy who pushed my car.  His name was Zach (could be Zac or Zack too). I shook his hand and thanked him so many times.  Thanks Zach!  I won’t forget your kindness, and I will pay it forward!

As he walked back to his van, a cop car pulled up and talked to him.  Meanwhile I called AAA.  I talked to the cop, but there wasn’t much he could do at this point since I was now in a safe spot.  The boyfriend came to sit with me and take me home.  The tow truck guy got lost finding where I was, but finally found it and towed my car.

Because of an unfortunate delay with my mechanic, I finally got my car back after more than three weeks.  My car is smiling and good as new now :)  Thank you to all who helped me!

Favorite Foods - Vol 3

When I get the munchies, salty snacks are my weakness.  Here's a list of my favorite chips:

PopCorners: Somewhat new to the market and not found everywhere yet, these unique chips are the best snackable by far.  These are popcorn in the shape of a chip that comes in six flavors: butter, kettle, white cheddar, cheesy jalapeno, and caramel.  Kettle is my favorite and my ultimate, healthier go-to snack.

Eat Your Vegetables -  The unique texture and vegetable serving make these addicting and healthy.  I like the sour cream flavor, but don't mind the sea salt as well. I've only found these in Wegman's, so stock up there.

Utz Kettle Classics - Dark Russets: These are a close, second favorite snackable.  Though not as healthy as any popped, baked or veggie chip, these kettle cooked dark russet chips are so crunchy and salty with the right amount of flavor.  It's easy for me to pig out with a bag of these.

Frito-Lay Munchies - Totally Ranch: These made a comeback after a few years of being non-distributed.  I snagged a bag recently and reminisced about downing a whole bag of these as I crammed for exams in college.  The honey bbq Fritos are my favorite in the mix.

Grand Tortilla Chips - I just discovered these and are now my favorite tortilla chips.  They are yellow corn with not too much salt and the perfect crunch.  Dip in guacamole!

Sweet Potato Kettle Chips - I seem to be brand loyal with the above choices, but I can interchange with sweet potato chips.  After having the dark russets in comparison, I realized these aren't my top choice anymore.  They are good with an excellent amount of Vitamin A, but I'd prefer crispy sweet potato fries with maple syrup!

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Since I am thinking of sweet syrup now, on to the sugary snacks:

Bugles - Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter:  Either flavor can get you hooked.  I could eat a whole bag of caramel if there were no consequences.  Regular Bugles are salty and plain in flavor. 

Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters:  At only 4 Weight Watchers points a bag, it is a satisfying snack.  Caramel and chocolate explodes into your mouth with each bite-sized piece.  You can get either milk or dark chocolate.

Luna Bar:  I've tried many of the diet bars, but they substitute flavor for the nutrients. You get the best of both worlds in a Luna Bar.  It doesn't taste 'healthy,' and it curbs your hunger.  Nuts Over Chocolate and Smores are my favorite flavors.

Oreos - I love these dipped in milk, or in a coffee mix (limited time at Dunkin Donuts).  Get Fried Oreos at any fair nowadays.  Move over funnel cakes! 

Ice Cream Flavors and Candy Bars - These are whole new categories of sugary snacks.  Stay tuned for Favorite Foods: Vol 4!

The Fifty States: Florida

This is third in a series of states, where I highlight my time spent in a state.  These are my own recommendations of restaurants and things to do, and I hope to share my perspective. I hope to visit all 50 states in my lifetime to see the sights and learn about each area.

Florida - The Disney World State

Be wary of hurricane season if travelling down south to Florida, especially close to the coast.  The weather is cool in the morning, hot during the day, and cool again at night.  Also, there are frequent, but short sunshowers.

Walt Disney World - Going here when you are three, thirteen, or forty-five are totally different experiences.  You will only remember the emotional times when you are three years old, but it will be a magical place.  Your parents are in control, but wonderful sights are reveal to you.  The 'It's a Small World' song will be ingrained in your mind for the rest of your life. Those dinosaurs from the Epcot ride will forever move and look so lifelike in your mind.  Things that scare you then will be remembered in similar situations of your adult life.  The characters and tiki birds seem so real, even in memory.

By the time you are a teenager, you finally can appreciate that you are here and really enjoy it.  It's time to go on the thrilling rides and understand the story behind each theme ride.  Disney characters you loved growing up are still here, along with new ones.  You now know that the characters are only fictional and ride props are just that - props.  As you age and return to this magical place, you become nostalgic about the Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland.  It reminds you of your childhood or ancesters time.  It's a time to catch up on all of the rides and allow yourself to go on.  Classic rides are still there and spark excitement.

For adults, here is what I suggest:  All four parks are a must: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, but lines can get long, so you'll need at least a day at each.  Don't do too much in one day and take the slow moving ride in the Epcot ball!

Magic Kingdom's Mountain Rides (Space, Splash and Big Thunder) are popular.  Also, try not to miss: Carousel of Progress, It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Tiki Room, the Dumbo ride (if you've never been when younger), Buzz Lightyear ride (if a Toy Story fan), the Hall of Presidents and get a picture with Cinderella's Castle.

In Hollywood Studios park, see the Beauty and the Beast show, ride the Tower of Terror and the Great Movie Ride.  Hit one of the waterparks, like Blizzard Beach on a warm day.  There are restaurants and shops at Pleasure Island.  Sadly, they have closed the clubs and comedy shows that used to be there.  Take the monorail to travel from park to park, or even to your hotel.  The disney resort hotels are relatively inexpensive and themed in a fun way.  If you don't have a rental car and stay at an outside hotel, make sure you have a shuttle bus service that can take you to and from your destination.

Universal Studios - If you are in the Disney World vicinity, Universal Studios is a nearby attraction.  They have the Harry Potter World among other motion picture themed rides and attractions.

The Florida Keys - I've heard my friends had a great time in the Keys.  It seems like a lot of sun, beaches, and good food.