Smoothies Aren't Just For Health Nuts

If you are like me, you probably hear the word "smoothie" and you think, "Blah... healthy!"  I am here to tell you, that does not have to be true!  Yes, my friends, it is possible to make a smoothie that is totally unhealthy. 

I have a new blender and I have become inspired to make delicious and fairly unhealthy smoothies.  Most smoothies typically have milk or coconut water.  You can add healthy items like yogurt or a banana or kale.  But just because you add those healthy items, doesn't mean you can add some equally unhealthy items.  If you want that smoothie to taste great, you'd better count on adding some stuff that is not that healthy.

Some totally unhealthy stuff you can add to a banana smoothie are:

Chocolate syrup
Caramel syrup
Vanilla extract
Coffee creamer - any flavor!
Whipped cream
Ice cream
Sherbet
Flavored instant coffee
Alcohol
Sugar
Peanut  butter
Crumbled pieces of cake or cookies
And much, much more!

If you can put it in a blender, you can add it to a smoothie.  I would not recommend adding all these items at the exact same time, but you can add a few at a time.  Don't stop until you have made the most delicious smoothie ever.  Just don't bother counting the calories... I assure you it will be too depressing.  Have fun!

Want some fresh breath?  Check out How to Eat a Tic Tac the Right Way

An Endless Cycle of Food

Sometimes I think about how many commercials are on TV promoting food.  Well, really I tend to give this serious thought when I am on a diet, and since that is the case now, I've been noticing all the commercials for food.

If you think about it, this contributes to society's weight issues.  There will be 2 commercials about food in a row, and then the next commercial is about diet or exercise.  It can be anything from a new weight loss pill to a Weight Watchers commercial.  Isn't it a little ironic that the networks run Burger King commercials and Jenny Craig commercials back-to-back?  One commercial shows the cause and the other shows the solution. 

It is really an endless consumer cycle.  There is money to be made by making us overweight and then there is money to be made trying to make us lose that weight.  Very few of us have enough self control to stick to diet and exercise plans, and then the vicious cycle of gaining the weight back begins again.  Most of all, all it means for companies is more profit. 

I don't know, maybe I am overthinking this entire situation.  It is more likely I am just tired of eating salad when I have to sit through those KFC commercials though.  Sigh.

You Should Be Eating Frozen Yogurt

There was a time when I had doubts that frozen yogurt could be as good as ice cream.  However,  I was wrong!  Frozen yogurt is better for you since it has live and active cultures in it. Also, it can be simply delicious.

A new frozen yogurt restaurant, Yolavie, opened up at my mall recently.  Not only is the frozen yogurt wonderful, there are so many flavors to choose from.  You can get peach, coconut, chocolate, cookies and cream, cake batter, red velvet, and more.  Also, everything is self service, so you decide how much you want.  Then you get to add the toppings you like to it.  You can pick from strawberries, brownie bites, cheesecake bites, sprinkles, chocolate chip, gummy worms, syrup, etc.  When you are done, you weigh it and pay for it.

I absolutely love the self service aspect of it.  I am picky about my food and I can make sure it is made just the way I want it.  If I want to add just one gummy worm with 30 chocolate chips, that is my right to do it!

I know I rarely encourage people to actually get off their couches, but it is well worth it to get this frozen yogurt.  You won't even realize it isn't actually ice cream!

Cookie Butter from Trader Joe's

Are you ready to kick back and eat something so wrong, yet so right?  Well, you'd better brace yourself!  Trader Joe's has a new product called Cookie Butter.  No, I am not kidding!  Cookie Butter!

Cookie Butter looks just like peanut butter, yet it tastes like something you've never had before.  Basically, it tastes like gingerbread squeezed into a jar.  It is smooth like butter though.  OK, it is kind of a mystery spread.  It is quite sweet with a ginger snap flair to it.  Nutella better look out! 

What will you do with the Cookie Butter once you have it?  Trader Joe's suggests using it on pancakes or waffles. You can also use it as a peanut butter substitute.  You might want to serve it on ice cream or dip pretzels in it.  I suggest simply taking a spoon and digging in.  Have you ever eaten peanut butter straight from the jar?  It works just as well for this product, too.

If you are looking for a new mystery treat, you should visit Trader Joe's and buy some of this stuff.  It is delicious, yet so weird I can't describe it.  With a review like that, how can you resist?

Adventures in Baking

Today just goes to show that sometimes it is not worth getting out of bed (or off the couch, for that matter).  My entire day has been a bit of a disaster.  Work has been crappy, but for some reason, I agreed to bake a cake for tomorrow's work party.  Good idea?  Wrong. 

I suppose this picture does not quite show how lopsided the cake really appears to be.  Also, the frosting is too runny.  Once the premade store frosting was not working out for me, I attempted to make homemade frosting.  That was also a disaster and went down the garbage disposal.  This just goes to show, sometimes, it is better to stay in bed.  Sigh.

So now, my lopsided cake with runny frosting will go to work tomorrow.  Perhaps people will consider this a good analogy for how my entire week at work has been.  Well, I must look on the bright side... at least I can eat cake.

Green Bean Fries at Home!

While going through the Walmart paper today, I made an amazing discovery - you can now buy TGIF's Fried Green Bean Fries in the frozen food section.  You can actually bring these home and have a dinner from Friday's everyday without actually having to go there.  What a great discovery!

Of course, I was aware of a number of TGIF treats being sold in the frozen food section.  I've been known to get carried away with their dip.  But now, the greatest appetizer of all time will be available any time I want from the freezer.  Awesome.  Just awesome.

Just how long has this wonderful food been available at Walmart?  Where are my friends when I need them?  This is important.  At least I now know about it and I can act on it.  Guess who's going to Walmart tomorrow?

Hot Pocket!

What kind of couch potato blog would this be without a Hot Pocket discussion?  Hot Pockets are an amazing food.... ummm... option?  Hot Pockets is basically a pot pie with some food in the center.  You can find Hot Pockets with anything from meatballs to cheese and broccoli in the middle.  They've even stepped it up and added "chef inspired" Hot Pockets.  Sorry to say this, but I can't imagine that anything inside a Hot Pocket is really chef inspired, but what do I know?

What makes the Hot Pocket so appealing is how easy it is to cook one.  You just take the Hot Pocket, insert it in the cardboard cooking sleeve, and pop it into the microwave for 2 minutes.  It is perfect for people on the go.  It is also wonderful for work.  You can by a box of Hot Pockets and keep them in the freezer at work in case you don't have anything else to eat and run out of money.  You can even buy Lean Pockets if you want a "healthier" option.  Also, they are really affordable, too.

I am not trying to trash talk the Hot Pocket.  I know people do enjoy them and they don't just keep them for desperate times.  One just has to be in a certain mood for the Hot Pocket.  If you want one, I do highly recommend the cheese, chicken, and broccoli.  Yum!

Jim Gaffigan's opinion on Hot Pockets:

The Microwave Oven - A Couch Potato's BFF

Who wants to talk about food?  Bah.  Whatever.  I want to talk about food.  Whenever I am watching non-stop programs on TV, I feel the need to eat snacks.  Of course, there is no time to cook.  That would take away from my TV time.  I want to take some time to talk about everyone's friend: the microwave oven.

The microwave oven has been around for a few decades, so some people just do not appreciate it anymore.  I remember as a kid, not having a microwave oven.  That makes me sound old, doesn't it?  Never mind that sentence.  At any rate, you can put just about anything in the microwave and heat it up.  Sure, baking food or broiling food is never going to work in the microwave, but it takes like 1 minute to cook a meal, so there is no need to be picky about what the microwave can't do. 

You can also watched things melt quickly or, if you don't mind a mess, you can even see an explosion.  What fun is that?  So I say, stop taking the microwave oven for granted.  It is wonderful!

For more on our friend, the microwave: http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Operate-the-Microwave-Oven

Easter Candy is Making Me Fat

I love Easter candy.  It is the best candy.  I am not just saying it is the best of all the holiday candy.  Oh no.  It is the best candy of all candy.  I love it all: Cadbury Eggs, Marshmallow Peeps, Maple Eggs, and on and on...

Sadly, I have gained a few pounds.  I can't stop eating!  It is just so delicious!  Who can say no to something so wonderful?  No one!  I guess I will be going back on the diet in May, but for now, Easter candy here I come!

To read more about me and my love of Easter candy, you can visit http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Best-Candy-is-Easter-Candy

First Blog Ever!

I have never really blogged before, so if you are reading this, thanks.  Your bravery is much appreciated.  Apparently, I know a lot about crappy television.  I am not talking about the TV people watch when they want to increase their knowledge or expand their mind.  I am talking about the TV that no one admits to watching.  That is my area of expertise. 

Don't get me wrong.  I am not the type that follows every little piece of celebrity gossip.  I love Twilight, but I totally do not care what Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart did last weekend.  I do, however, care if the cast of Jersey Shore is going to Italy.  

Also, I care about food.  As a couch potato, I have to eat something while I am watching horrible television programs.  I obsess over food.  I love food.  I especially love junk food, but I am trying to cut back.  I will tell you something - a salad sure doesn't taste as great as chips when I am watching episodes of Teen Mom.