Category: Food & Drink

DoubleTree Released Their Famous Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

For the first time in the company’s history, DoubleTree by Hilton has lifted the veil on their world famous chocolate chip cookie recipe; and it’s exactly what we need to get through this quarantine. The cookies have become synonymous with a hotel stay at DoubleTree as all guest receive a fresh, warm cookie at check in.

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Senior Vice President and Global Head of DoubleTree Hilton explains, “We hope families enjoy the fun of baking together during their time at home, and we look forward to welcoming all our guests with a warm DoubleTree cookie when travel resumes.”

Check out the recipe to create these delicious chocolate chip cookies in the comfort of your own home:

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DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Double Tree Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 26 cookies

½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)
¾ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 ¼ cups flour
½ cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch cinnamon
2 ⅔ cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chips chocolate chips
1 ¾ cups chopped walnuts

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Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl.

With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix.

Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.

Cook’s note: You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

Limited Edition Tiramisu Oreos in Stores Now

Oreo lovers rejoice! The limited edition Tiramisu Oreo have begun to hit shelves across the US, making quarantine that much more interesting. I don’t know if any Oreo can live up to the Chocolate Marshmallow Oreos that were released last year, but I just had to give the Tiramisu cookies a try just in case.

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Limited Edition Tiramisu Oreos

Upon opening the package, I could smell a sweet aroma with hints of coffee. Now if you have never tried tiramisu, it’s a layered dessert comprised of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, a pudding-like mixture made with mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder. That’s a lot of flavor to live up to but somehow Oreo managed to capture them all in one cookie.

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The Tiramisu Oreos feature the same cookie that we all know and love with two layers of cream in between. The tan creme tastes brings out the coffee flavor of a quintessential tiramisu. In addition to the coffee flavor, the white creme resembles that of an Italian sweet cream.

Overall, I think the Tiramisu Oreos are a pleasant addition to the product portfolio. These cookies are quite sweet so I don’t see myself being able to eat that many in one sitting, which is probably for the best anyway. However, I think a Tiramisu Oreo with my morning latte is just the thing I need to get myself through these monotonous days in quarantine.

You can find the Tiramisu Oreo cookies in Target and Walmart stores nationwide. Be sure to check the product locator on each retailer’s website to make sure the item is in stock at your local store before you visit.

10 Restaurants Offering the Best Family Meal Deals During Quarantine

In the wake of the shelter-in-place orders and isolation, many businesses are finding new ways to serve their customers. Restaurants in particular play an important role in providing food for families and individuals that need it. In such unprecedented times, many establishments are promoting “family meal deals” that allow customers the opportunity to support restaurants and provide a delicious meal to enjoy at home. Here are the top 10 meal deals for a no-hassle dinner at home:

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1. Panda Express

Enjoy your favorite Panda Express dishes at home with the $20 family meal when you order online. This meal deal includes two large sides and three large entrees of your choice. Hurry in, this promo ends on April 17, 2020.

2. Olive Garden

Buy one entree and get another free at Olive Garden for only $12.99. This offer is geared toward individuals but you could easily stretch the meal for a couple. The meal comes with one hot and ready entree, soup or salad, breadsticks, and a second entree for free.

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3. Cracker Barrel

For a limited time, enjoy a homestyle family meal from Cracker Barrel and get free breakfast for the next morning. Choose from Meatloaf, Sunday Homestyle Chicken, or Chicken n’ Dumplings with your choice of two country sides. Order through April 30, 2020, and you will receive Four-Layer Breakfast Bowls for free.

4. Red Lobster

From shrimp scampi to cajun chicken linguini, Red Lobster offers all kinds of family meals to choose from. For $28-46, you can enjoy a family-sized entree of your choice with two sides and eight Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Order online and choose between touchless delivery or pickup.

5. Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut always manages to rope me in with good deals, and stuffed crust of course. My favorite meal deal happens to be the Big Dinner Box. For only $20 you can mix and match pizza, wings, pasta, and breadsticks. Need I say more?

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6. Chili’s

If you are missing the late-night trips to Chili’s, trust me you are not alone. Thankfully, Chili’s continues to offer the dishes we all know and love for curbside, pickup, and delivery. Get more food for less with the Chili’s 3 for $10 meal which includes a non-alcoholic beverage, appetizer, and entree of your choice.

7. KFC

Am I the only one that enjoys KFC chicken every now and then? If your family is in the mood for fried chicken, the KFC $20 Fill Up is the way to go. Choose from eight pieces of the original recipe chicken, 8 pieces of extra crispy chicken, or 12 pieces of crispy tenders. This Fill Up meal also comes with cole slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuits.

8. Buffalo Wild Wings

Don’t worry, I did not forget about all the chicken wing fanatics out there. For a limited time, Buffalo Wild Wings will provide a family bundle for pickup or delivery. This meal comes with 20 traditional wings and 20 boneless wings in the sauce or seasoning of your choice along with a side of french fries for $34.99.

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9. Einstein’s

I don’t know about you but I love a bagel and cream cheese with my morning coffee. Einstein’s created several family meals to make your own delicious bagels from home. Whether you are in the mood for brunch or want to make pizza bagels, Einstein’s has plenty of meal options for the whole family!

10. Subway

Looking for a healthier option? Order the family takeout special from Subway and you will get a free footlong when you buy two. Everyone can create a delicious sub and you can score free delivery through DoorDash, Postmates, and more. Win-win!

My Honest Thoughts on Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda

If you haven’t already heard, Dr. Pepper recently introduced a new version of this fan favorite soda called Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda. As Taste of Home reported, “The new drink initially debuted at the 2019 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual trade show,” along with Coca-Cola Energy. I passed on the hype about Coca-Cola Energy, but Dr. Pepper mixed with Cream Soda? That sounded like something to get excited about.

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I must say, the rollout of this drink seemed very smooth; however, I have to take into account that the stores I shop at are in close proximity to the Keurig Dr. Pepper corporate headquarters. Nevertheless, I have seen Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda in both cans and bottles at Target, Walmart, and Tom Thumb stores.

Generally, I drink Diet Dr. Pepper because I enjoy the taste a bit more than the regular version. I wish that Dr. Pepper Ten were more popular, but I rarely see it in stores near me anymore. I found the regular Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda in stores first, so of course I bought what I could.

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Did it taste good? Oh 100%! You still get a sense of the original Dr. Pepper taste, which is famous for combining 23 flavors. The added cream soda flavor makes this drink taste like a Dr. Pepper float without the physical ice cream. I can only imagine what it would taste like with a hefty scoop of Homemade Vanilla Blue Bell (It’s a Texas thing). Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda is honestly a match made in heaven. I hope that this drink becomes a mainstay in stores near me because I’m already hooked!

Since buying the regular version of Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda, I have also come across the diet version. Again, I prefer Diet Dr. Pepper over the original and this is no exception. The Diet Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda is just as delicious without all the calories and added sugars. Although I don’t actually drink a ton of soda, I like diet soda because it’s not as thick as regular soda. If I’m not mistaken, most soda is sweetened with cane sugar which makes the drink too sweet for me to consume on a regular basis. Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners that make it more enjoyable in my opinion.

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Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda makes me look forward to warm summer days where I can indulge in an ice cold soda. The cream soda perfectly accents the fan favorite taste of Dr. Pepper. Whether you enjoy regular or diet soda, Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda comes in both varieties. Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda is now available in nationwide.

REVIEW: Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Canned Drinks

Are you a fan of the Nitro Cold Brew at Starbucks? If the answer is yes you are in luck because Starbucks recently launched Nitro Cold Brew canned coffee drinks! The Nitro Cold Brew canned drinks come in three flavors: Black, Dark Caramel, and Vanilla Sweet Cream.

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I found all three flavors of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew cans in the refrigerated case at Target. Prior to seeing posts on Instagram about these drinks, I had no idea that Starbucks planned to release cans of Nitro Cold Brew. I know that Nitro is a popular drink choice at Starbucks but I was not expecting it in cans so soon.

According to Bustle, “Each 9.6-oz can is infused with nitrogen to give it the same velvety smooth taste that you get from Starbucks’ in-store Nitro Cold Brew.” Whenever I order Nitro in stores, I always get the flavored cold foam on top, so I was curious to find out how these coffee drinks tasted. I chose to buy the Dark Caramel and Vanilla Sweet Cream varieties since I do not drink black coffee.

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Overall, I was pleased with both the Dark Caramel and Vanilla Sweet Cream flavors. Nitro Cold Brew always seems much more smooth than regular espresso drinks. I used to purchase the Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Drinks if I needed a quick pick-me-up, but I may finally convert to the Nitro cans. These premium coffee drinks offer a balanced ratio of coffee to added flavor. Not to mention, the Nitro packs a punch of caffeine to give you an extra energy boost.

Coca-Cola Tic Tacs are a Bust

Let me be the first to say, I had really high hopes for these Tic Tacs. When the limited edition Coca-Cola Tic Tacs were announced, I could not wait to get my hands on some. I’m one of those people that actually enjoy those cola-flavored gummy candies, jelly beans, and Bottlecaps. For whatever reason, they provide me with some sort of nostalgia. Nevertheless, I hoped the Coca-Cola Tic Tacs would offer that same great taste.

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Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Before I get into the overall taste, I want to focus on the packaging and product. The Coca-Cola Tic Tacs are actually adorable. Tic Tac did a fantastic job of capturing the Coca-Cola brand on a tiny breath mint. Each white Tic Tac features the Coca-Cola brand stamped in red. I purchased the large container of Tic Tacs which contains 200 breath mints so I had plenty to share with family and friends.

The Coca-Cola Tic Tacs passed the appearance test, but can they pass the taste test? In my unpopular opinion, no. I am deeply saddened to report that I did not enjoy the taste of the Coca-Cola Tic Tacs. When the breath mints hit my tongue, I immediately experience a sour taste. Coca-Cola is quite acidic but the Tic Tacs took it to a new level. These mints are reminiscent of drinking a flat Coca-Cola but I do not believe they capture that signature taste like other candies have.

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In addition to the sour taste I experienced, these “breath mints” also have a horrible aftertaste. Honestly, I did not expect Coca-Cola to freshen my breath in the first place. I eat Orange Tic Tacs like they are candy and those aren’t the most effective mints either. Let’s be honest; the only Tic Tacs that can truly be considered mints are the original freshmints and wintergreen. All other Tic Tacs are basically candy.

I guess the joke is on me because now I have a huge container of Tic Tacs that I cannot bring myself to eat. I’ve tried countless times to pawn them off on my significant other to no avail. Although I enjoy the packaging and appearance of the Coca-Cola Tic Tacs, they lost me on taste. Have you tried these? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section!

KFC, Dunkin’, and Starbucks: This Week in Food News

KFC Debuts Donut Sandwich

This week, KFC’s new fried chicken and donuts launched in participating stores nationwide. The chicken and donuts come in a basket or as a sandwich if you prefer to eat on the go. From what I have heard, this is much different than KFC’s attempt at chicken and waffles. The warm, glazed donut accents the crispy chicken tenders. KFC reports that the chicken and donut combo is available for a limited time, so get yours before it’s too late!

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Matcha Lattes Now Available at Dunkin’

I will preface this by saying I’m not the biggest fan of matcha drinks. Something about the earthiness of the green tea just does not do it for me. However, matcha has become increasingly more popular at places like Starbucks and now Dunkin’ is trying to steal a portion of those profits. The new Matcha Latte at Dunkin’ is available hot, iced, or frozen. Try one today at a Dunkin’ near you.

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Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew in Cans

Bad news for my caffeine addiction; Starbucks launched their new Nitro Cold Brew coffee drinks. As @candyhunting reported, these coffee drinks come in three varieties: Vanilla Sweet Cream, Black, and Dark Caramel. If these drinks are anything like the Nitro Cold Brew at Starbucks, I am worried. Nitro makes me so jittery that I can only drink small amounts, but I’m more than willing to give these a try.

Supreme, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hidden Valley: This Week in Food News

Supreme Teams Up with Oreo

In the latest of brand partnerships, Supreme teamed up with Oreo to bring consumers a Supreme Oreo cookie. The Oreo cookie will now take on a red hue synonymous with the luxury brand. One pack of three Supreme Oreos will retail for a whopping $8 as reported by multiple sources. I’m not on the Supreme hype train so you can definitely count me out on this one. Excuse me while I go buy a full size pack of Oreos for $3.

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Dropping Soon.

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Dunkin’ Donuts in Chocolate Form

Dunkin’ Donuts plans to expand further into the candy arena with their new coffee bars. At 210 calories a pop, these creamy coffee treats combine chocolate and caffeine. It appears the coffee bars will be available in four flavors: Original, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, and Caramel. I am curious to try a candy bar that, “Looks like chocolate [and] Tastes like coffee.” For the amount of calories per bar, I may just opt for a regular latte instead.

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Bring on the Hidden Valley Ranch Secret Sauce

Hidden Valley Ranch is bringing out the big guns with the new secret sauce. There are three varieties including original, smokehouse, and spicy. I wonder if this will be like any other secret sauce which usually tastes like thousand island dressing. Nevertheless, I am here for it. These sauces will hit Walmart stores beginning April 2020.

REVIEW: Coffeemate Cinnamon Toast Crunch Creamer

If you haven’t already heard, Coffeemate recently introduced two new coffee creamers: Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Funfetti. When this news hit in December I could not wait to try the Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The sweet, cinnamon flavored cereal milk is always a delight after eating a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and now that is available in the form of coffee creamer.

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It tastes as good as it looks 🤤☕

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Coffeemate announced in December that the creamer would start appearing in store starting January 2020. With that knowledge I started my search for this gem. Every time I visited a grocery store, I searched high and low for the creamer without any luck. I finally found the Funfetti creamer at Walmart but I did not want to settle. After reaching out to Coffeemate on Instagram, they instructed me to look at my local Target or Kroger. So, I directed my search efforts to Target.

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Alas, I found it! On a routine Target run, I finally came across the Coffeemate Cinnamon Toast Creamer. Once at home, I popped open the seal on this bad boy and took in the sweet smell of cinnamon and cream. The creamer passed the smell test for sure. To my surprise, cinnamon did not overpower the creamer and there was a nice balance with the sweet cream.

Okay it smells good, so what? All we care about is the taste. I brewed a capsule of vanilla-flavored coffee in my Nespresso and added a healthy portion of the creamer. On a scale of black coffee to complete milk, I enjoy a balanced coffee to cream ratio. I took a sip and embarked on a flashback to my childhood when I would drink the leftover cinnamon sugar milk from my cereal bowl.

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The Coffeemate Cinnamon Toast Crunch creamer hits the nail on its head. I love that the cinnamon flavor does not overpower the entire coffee. You truly do experience more of a sweet, cinnamon milk experience. If you’ve ever tried horchata, that what I can closely compare this coffee creamer to. Nevertheless, if you want to Cinnamon Toast Crunch experience you should definitely give this creamer a try.

Dunkaroos, McDonald’s, Wendy’s: This Week in Food News

Dunkaroos Are Making a Comeback

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Dunkaroos are returning to the US this summer! These cookie and frosting snacks were first introduced in 1992. There were several varieties available, including Dunkaroos with chocolate frosting, peanut butter creme, or chocolate chip graham cookies. Dunkaroos also featured a kangaroo mascot. They were discontinued in the US in 2012, but remained in Canada through 2018. But now they're back! General Mills has only released images of one flavor: Vanilla cookies and vanilla frosting with rainbow sprinkles. Dunkaroos of the past had cinnamon graham cookies to pair with the sprinkle frosting, so hopefully these vanilla cookies measure up. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Any new and exciting flavors you would like to see as Dunkaroos? I think a speculoos version would be fun.

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It’s official; Dunkaroos are coming back. General Mills discontinued this cookie/frosting duo in the US back in 2012. Now, all Nineties kids can rejoice because this nostalgic snack will return this summer. Dunkaroos originally came in three varieties: Graham cookies with chocolate or peanut butter creme or chocolate chip graham cookies. The newest flavor consists of vanilla cookies, vanilla frosting, and sprinkles.

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Return of the Shamrock Shake

The wait is almost over. On February 19, the Shamrock Shake will return to McDonald’s locations nationwide. In addition to the return of this fan favorite, McDonald’s also announced that it will release the brand new OREO Shamrock McFlurry. This new menu item features mint soft serve ice cream mixed with crushed Oreos.

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Wendy’s Breakfast is Coming for McDonald’s

Wendy’s is coming full force with a new line of breakfast menu items including the Breakfast Baconator, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, and the Frosty-ccino. These new breakfast option will be available starting March 2. I am most intrigued by the Frosty-ccino which consists of cold brew coffee with cream from a melted vanilla or chocolate Frosty. Which new menu item do you want most?

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