Aug 12 2012

The “Real Best” Lemonade

Posted on August 12, 2012 by thepoli3

The contenders:

The nitty-gritty:

Each lemonade was scored on a scale of 1-10 (where 1= that’s food? and 10= the best lemonade that has ever entered my mouth) for overall score, the boyfriend/husband test, and the leftover test. We also provide other comments.

Old Fashioned Lemonade from Betty Crocker

Overall score: 8.5

The boyfriend/husband test: 8

The leftover test: 8.5

Comments: This was really easy to make: Just water, lemons, and sugar! It tasted very good and fresh. This recipe is made to be adaptable to different tastes, so next time I would add more sugar to make it sweeter.

Allrecipes Brazilian Lemonade

Overall score: 2

The boyfriend/husband test: 1

The leftover test: 1

Comments: Sadly, this was horrible. It did not nearly live up to its expectations. The flavors at first glance seemingly would go really well together but they just didn’t. Unfortunately this recipe is sooo sweet it tastes like liquid candy. I like the idea behind it though and will try to adapt it so I can enjoy it for once in the future.

Raspberry Lemonade from Betty Crocker

Overall score: 9.5

The boyfriend/husband test: 8

The leftover test: 9.5

Comments: My husband doesn’t really drink lemonade, which is why his score is a little low. I really liked this! It was very easy to make. I thought it was a nice change from a typical lemonade and I would definitely make this again!

The winner:

Raspberry Lemonade from Betty Crocker!

Special Diets:

While we can’t guarantee the results, here are some ideas you can use to customize the winning lemonade to your dietary needs:

Vegetarian: It already is!
Vegan: It already is!
Lower fat: It is already low in fat.
Lower sugar/calories: You could cut the sugar down a bit but it may change the taste. Just be mindful! Also consider substituting some of the sugar for a sugar substitute such as Splenda® (see conversion info here), Stevia (see conversion info here), or xylitol (measures 1:1 for sugar). Some people do not like how these taste, though, so proceed with caution!

Jul 31 2012

The “Real Best” Red Velvet Cupcakes

Posted on July 31, 2012 by thepoli3

Who doesn’t love a delicious red velvet cake? Whats more, who doesn’t love any cake turned cupcake? They’re cute, handy, and perfectly portioned! We’ve tested the three “best” red velvet cupcake recipes out there and come up with a winner to set you up with red velvet cupcake baking success! These are perfect for any occasion! Enjoy!

The contenders:

The nitty-gritty:

Each cupcake was scored on a scale of 1-10 (where 1= that’s food? and 10= the best red velvet cupcake that has ever entered my mouth) for overall score, the boyfriend/husband test, and the leftover test. We also provide other comments.

Allrecipes Red Velvet Cupcakes

Overall score: 7.5

The boyfriend/husband test: 5

The leftover test: 6.5

Comments: I definitely agree with the Allrecipes commenter who said these were somewhat bland and dry. One plus is that they weren’t overly sweet like many other red velvet cupcakes I’ve had. However, I’ll probably continue my search for a good red velvet recipe. The frosting was pretty good, though!

*NOTE: I used much less food coloring than recommended (about .13 oz instead of 1oz).

Paula Deen’s Red Velvet Cupcakes

Overall score: 9

The boyfriend/husband test: 8

The leftover test: 9

Comments: These I have a mixed opinion on. The cake was AWESOME. The frosting was just ok. In true Paula Deen style, the frosting was very buttery. I could literally taste the butter in each bite of the frosting. However, the cake was delicious, perfectly moist and full of flavor. If I were to make red velvet cupcakes again I would definitely use this recipe for the cake part with a plain old can of pre-made cream cheese frosting. Thanks Paula!!!

Brown Eyed Baker’s Red Velvet Cupcakes

Overall score: 8

The boyfriend/husband test: 8

The leftover test: 8

Comments: This was really moist but didnt have much flavor. The cream cheese frosting was just okay. Sadly, I wouldn’t make these again.

The winner:

Paula Deen’s Red Velvet Cupcakes

Special Diets:

While we can’t guarantee the results, here are some ideas you can use to customize the winning cupcakes to your dietary needs:

Gluten-free: Use a gluten free flour in place of the all purpose flour.
Vegetarian: They already are!
Vegan: You can switch out the butter, buttermilk, egg, and cream cheese with vegan substitutes.
Lower fat: Skip making the frosting. These are really good on their own anyway. In any case, find a low fat cream cheese frosting recipe to substitute or purchase a pre-made low fat version at the store!
Lower sugar/calories: Same as the lower fat recommendation. Find a pre-made frosting that is also low sugar. There are many varieties out there!

Jul 22 2012

The “Real Best” Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Posted on July 22, 2012 by thepoli3

We’re back with another simple, yet classic menu item: The Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Who doesn’t love a gooey, warm, grilled cheese on a rainy summer day? Pair it with some tomato soup and you have yourself a bonafide meal! We tested the three top Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipes out there and came up with a winner for your next grilled cheese night!

P.S.- We’re leaving out the leftover score on this one… who in their right mind eats a grilled cheese sandwich the day after it was cooked?

The contenders:

The nitty-gritty:

Each grilled cheese sandwich was scored on a scale of 1-10 (where 1= that’s food? and 10= the best grilled cheese that has ever entered my mouth) for overall score, the boyfriend/husband test, and the leftover test. We also provide other comments.

Tyler Florence’s Grilled Cheese

Overall score: 9

The boyfriend/husband test: 9

The leftover test: N/A

Comments: YUM! This was delicious. It was gooey, salty, and the apple provided a slight tart flavor that, although, we couldn’t specifically taste it, it emphasized the flavors of the cheese and bacon. This was seriously delicious! I was very skeptical about it at first… I mean, an apple on a grilled cheese sandwich? Who knew? Even hubby loved it! Definitely slice your apple thin so it doesn’t overpower the rest of the sandwich. I will definitely be making this again and I have a good feeling it will be because hubby asks me to make it! You must try this one!

Closet Cooking’s Spinach Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Overall score: 8

The boyfriend/husband test: 9.5

The leftover test: N/A

Comments: This was so good! My boyfriend LOVED it. It doesn’t taste a lot like traditional grilled cheese. There was a strong taste of pesto with a slight lemon-ey kick. However, this sandwich was expensive because of the Gruyere cheese and all the fresh herbs that are used to make the pesto (I used dill, mint, and parsley, as recommended).

Allrecipes: Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Overall score: 10

The boyfriend/husband test: 10

The leftover test: N/A

Comments: This is your classic grilled cheese sandwich. What can go wrong? Nothing! I had to cook the first side for about 5 mins and the flip side for only about 2 mins. This turned out perfect. Yum! And very kid friendly. NOTE: I used honey wheat bread instead of white.

The winner: It looks like all our sandwiches scored very high this time! But, there can only be one winner, and that is:

Allrecipes Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

Special Diets:

While we can’t guarantee the results, here are some ideas you can use to customize the winning grilled cheese sandwich to your dietary needs:

Gluten-free: Use gluten-free bread and make sure the rest of your ingredients are also gluten-free.
Vegetarian: It already is!
Lower fat: Use low fat butter and reduced fat cheese.