Food and Drink Reviews + Dining Out!
Photos By Gail
This week’s Pink Thing of the Day is a fantastic snack that was destined to disappear almost as quickly as I opened the bag: Trader Joe’s Pink Lady Apple Chips. These dehydrated apple slices are dusted with cinnamon sugar and have the kind of crisp crunch that makes them dangerously easy to keep eating by the handful.
Continue reading Pink Thing Of The Day: Trader Joe’s Pink Lady Apple Chips
All Photos By Gail
Every now and then, Trader Joe’s sneaks something onto the shelves that looks innocent enough—until you bring it home and realize you’ve developed a full emotional attachment to it. Their Dress Circle (meaning fancy!) Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies are exactly that kind of snack.
Sold in a generous one-pound tub (yes, a full pound), these tiny cookies somehow manage to feel both adorable and dangerously addictive. I didn’t stop to count them, but the container claims around 200 cookies, which feels accurate based on how often I keep reaching back in for “just one more.” The best part? They genuinely taste homemade—like the kind of perfectly crisp, buttery little cookies you wish you could bake yourself if only your patience extended to making cookies the size of quarters.
Continue reading Trader Joe’s Find: Dress Circle Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’ve ever stood in front of a cheese board wondering why there are so many oddly shaped knives, you’re not alone. Until you try slicing through a crumbly wedge of aged cheddar with a soft cheese spreader, this kitchen question may seem excessive.
Culinary professionals sometimes look for a cheese knife set for sale when upgrading kitchen tools. Do you actually need a whole set of dedicated cheese knives, or is it just clever marketing? Let’s cut through the confusion (pun fully intended) and find out what really makes a difference.
Continue reading Why You Need Different Knives for Different Cheeses
All Photos By Gail
Granola-based snacks have come a long way since I grew up eating them in — gasp — the 1970s. Back then, they were hard, brittle bars that posed a real threat to anyone with expensive dental work. These days, granola snacks have evolved into something softer and chewier by design, with far more interesting ingredients and textures. Of course, in the quest for better flavor and added kid-appeal, many “better-for-you” snacks drift into candy bar or cookie territory. And honestly? That’s not necessarily a bad thing —especially if a sweet snack can redeem itself with recognizable, natural ingredients. Because when it comes to snacking, isn’t it really all about the taste? You know it is.
Continue reading Product Review: Cooper Street Apple Cinnamon Granola Bakes
If someone asked you to name the most-used ingredient in your kitchen, water probably wouldn’t be the first thing that comes to mind — yet it should be. It shows up in nearly every meal, quietly doing the work while rarely getting any attention. Despite its constant presence, water is one of the most overlooked elements in cooking.
And it’s far more than just a neutral backdrop. Water is what you use to boil pasta, thin sauces, and cook vegetables, but it also plays an active role in shaping flavor. Because water isn’t truly tasteless, its mineral content and chemical makeup influence how foods develop, affecting everything from texture to the final taste on your plate.
Continue reading Does the Type of Water You Use in Cooking Make a Difference?