January 21, 2010

Batter Blaster

I love preparing food that is quick and easy. Who wants to spend more time making something than it takes to eat it? And while it’s not hard to make pancake or waffle batter, you have to clean the bowl, clean the measuring cup, clean the mixing spoon, etc. Batter Blaster is the epitome of simple. Just hold the bottle over the griddle (or waffle iron), press the nozzle, and start cooking. It took a couple of tries for me to figure out how to make a nicely round pancake. In my case, the secret was to dispense the batter with a swirling motion. The pancakes only took a couple minutes to cook. They turned out to be on the thin side, whereas I usually prefer a thicker, fluffier pancake. But the flavor was very good. I could tell that Batter Blaster is made with quality ingredients, because the pancakes had a great flavor and a subtle sweetness. I was really hard to believe that I was eating pancakes that came from a pressurized can! If you’re the health-conscious type (but then again, why would you be reading this blog?), you’ll be glad to know that Batter Blaster is certified organic. Batter Blaster pancakes are so quick, easy, and tasty that I don’t know if I’ll ever bother using Bisquick again.

Phoood rating:

January 15, 2010

Chef Boyardee Cheesy Burger Macaroni

One of the quickest meals you can eat is to dump a can of Chef Boyardee in a bowl, microwave for a minute, and eat. If you’re in a hurry or are just lazy, you can eat it cold out of the can. Too sophisticated to eat straight out of the can? Not me. Anyway, I spotted Chef Boyardee Cheesy Burger Macaroni on the grocery store shelf recently and picked up a can on sale for a buck. I figured that it would make a good, quick, and inexpensive lunch. I think they were going for the flavor of a cheeseburger here, but it really falls short. There’s hardly any meat in it, and not much cheese flavor. The sauce tasted really familiar – similar to SpaghettiOs (oh yeah, another of my favorites). And the macaroni was, um … well, how good can canned, inexpensive, mass-produced macaroni be? For a buck, I wasn’t too disappointed but I’m not sure if I’ll buy it again. Overall, Cheesy Burger Macaroni tastes okay, but just don’t think that it’s going to be like eating a cheeseburger.

Phoood rating:

December 29, 2009

Bays English Muffins

You’ve never heard of Bays English Muffins? I’m not surprised, as they are found in the refrigerated dairy section of the grocery store rather than the bread aisle with all the other English muffins. They are very easy to overlook. I’ve always figured that they are sold in the refrigerated section because they are special in some way and different than their competition. I read all about Bays and their English muffins on their web site, but I’m still not exactly sure why they are sold in the refrigerated section. However, I did learn that Bays English Muffins have a long history and were used by McDonalds for the original Egg McMuffin in the early 1970s. Bays should be commended for making English muffins since 1933, and I really wish I could recommend their muffins over their competitors. But, I can’t. The truth is that the Bays muffins that I ate recently tasted pretty much like other English muffins I’ve had. They had the “nooks and crannies,” crispy texture, and flavor that you expect from an English muffin. They were very tasty, like English muffins are, but they didn’t stand out in any way. I was kind of disappointed, not because they didn’t taste good, but because they tasted so ordinary. I didn’t have any other English muffins to compare the Bays to, and maybe I should have. I’ll consider having a Phoood Fight between Bays and Thomas’ English muffins in the future. But for now, Bays English Muffins are deserving of a Good rating.

Phoood rating:

October 17, 2008

Pizza Crepe Taco Pancake Chili Bag

You may have already seen this. If not, enjoy!

Phoood rating:

June 17, 2007

The Philly Taco

I saw a post on Slashfood (via Cho-Tabetai) about the Philly Taco. Just take a look at the picture – a Philly cheesesteak sandwich wrapped in a slice of pizza. An odd combination, perhaps, but I think it sounds delicious and if I’m ever in Philadelphia, I’m going to try one. I could probably put one together here in Sacramento, but then it would be a Sacramento Taco and that just doesn’t have the same appeal. The only thing I disagree with is the assertion that one would have to be intoxicated to make a Philly Taco. Not me, that's for sure.

Phoood rating:

May 3, 2007

Phoood is Back!

Beginning today, postings will resume here at Phoood. Thanks to all the readers who have remained loyal during the hiatus.

August 26, 2006

Phoood on a Carl's Jr. Cup!

As you may have noticed, Phoood has been on hiatus since November 2005. I'm still not sure if the posts will continue. It's a lot of work to eat that much food, and I'm already trying to watch my weight. Also, my attempts at finding contributors to write reviews was unsuccessful. Drop me an e-mail if you have an opinion.

I want to thank Carl's Jr. for acknowledging Phoood.com on the side of their drink cups. I had not known about this until recently, when Phoood fan Steven e-mailed me. They have used a quote from my June 2004 review of their Double Six Dollar Burger: "Carl's Jr.'s new burger ... ranks up there among the best." Of course, I immediately went to my local Carl's Jr. to get the two cups (medium paper cup and extra-large plastic cup) to save for posterity. I'm honored that they think my opinion is relevant.

UPDATE - 9/15/06
I just found out that they have also put the quote on their bags.

October 23, 2005

Grey Poupon Mild & Creamy Dijon Mustard

Phoood has never reviewed a condiment, and may not ever again. But I like Grey Poupon Mild & Creamy Dijon Mustard so much that I just had to let the Phoood readers know about it. I bought it for the first time recently, and am very impressed by it. It is just how the name says: mild and creamy. The dijon flavor is pleasantly mild, especially when compared to a deli-style dijon mustard. And, it has a very nice, creamy consistency that makes me think that it is mixed with mayonnaise – but it’s not. I made a pastrami sandwich, put a bunch of this mustard on it, and I was in heaven. Those of you who don’t like dijon mustard should really try Grey Poupon Mild & Creamy. You may just like it.

Phoood rating: