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Archive for Milkshakes

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake at Jack in the Box

By Dessert Darling · October 29th, 2012

Ok, first of all, I do NOT condone fast food, that said.. Lordy Lord, Jack ‘n the Box makes a Killer milkshake. Truly, it brings all the boys to the yard.

While most of the country may be wrapped in winter coats, it’s been pretty warm in LA, and the poster for Pumpkin Pie Milkshake lured me in to the unlikely dessert stop.

~(Heavenly Sigh)~ This tasty shake hints flavors of vanilla, egg, pumpkin spice, butter, and even scotch (a la butterscotch), blended seamlessly into a smooth creamy cup of indulgent joy.

While I normally have a deep fear and suspicion of fast food joints, I’d venture back into the fried food frenzy just to treat myself to this delicious milkshake.

XOXO

Mint Chocolate Milkshake from Cafe Gratitude

By Dessert Darling · July 5th, 2012

What does a Dessert Darling eat the day before her wedding? Why, a healthy milkshake, of course! Thankfully there was a Cafe Gratitude in the adorable town of Healdsburg where I could take all of my bridesmaids for a special, pre-wedding lunch. While the girls ordered fabulous, savory dishes, I happily settled for this Chocolate Mint Milkshake that I could justify thanks to the Vitamineral Green that they sneak in there. The shake was incredibly yummy and I think I’ve officially become obsessed with Cafe Gratitude!

To learn more about Cafe Gratitude, a California organic, vegan restaurant chain that features amazing Raw desserts, click here.

Thank you Autumn Reeser for snapping this photo!

XOXO

Favorite Ice Creams I’ll Never Eat Again & Why: Baskin-Robbins, Haagen Dazs, Breyers and Dreyers with rBGH

By Dessert Darling · May 10th, 2012

There are many articles, like this fabulous one in the HuffingtonPost, about Bovine Growth Hormones, or rBGH. But I’ll break it down into simple language for you here this Thinny Thursday.

Monsanto, the chemical company that’s determined to run the world’s food supply (and thus, the world), created genetically engineered growth hormones to make cows produce more milk. The cows utters get extremely large, tender, and soar.

This swelling and pain makes the cows get infections, which makes them need antibiotics. Furthermore, the infections lead to blood and puss being released into the milk.

So now, dairy from cows injected with rBGH have:

Genetically Engineered Hormones
Antibiotics
Puss and Blood

“Food is information,” per this article by Dr. Franklipman. What we eat directly interacts with our genes and can make us healthy and happy, or diseased and sick. Wonder why some kids are hitting puberty as early as six years old?! Consuming milk from affected cows with artificial hormones and antibiotics directly and adversely affects our own bodies.

Sadly, my ALL TIME FAVORITE ice cream brands: Baskin-Robbins, Haagen Dazs, Breyers, and Dreyers, all use dairy from cows injected with rBGH. Seriously guys, this is like the Day the Music Died for me. People often ask what my favorite dessert is, and it’s ice cream. I’m so bummed that my childhood staples are so careless with the quality of their ingredients. Furthermore, some have the audacity to outright lie with labels like “All Natural”- UGH!!! Good news though..

Ben and Jerry’s has always taken a firm stance against using rBGH dairy, long before I even knew what the labels meant. All Organic ice creams are safe as well, like Stonyfield, Alden’s, Julie’s, and pretty much any brand that you’d find in a health food store.

Hopefully, if enough of us demand quality ingredients with our shopping dollars, Baskin-Robbins, Haagen Dazs, Bryers, and Dryers will catch on and make the shift to natural milk products. Hey, it worked for Starbucks! Who, I’m happy to share, also refuses to use dairy with rBGH.

Milkshakes at Swingers Diner

By Dessert Darling · April 10th, 2012

I find nothing more soothing and delightful than a fantastic vanilla milkshake. I don’t drink them often (since they sit like a 10 lb bowling ball in my stomach for hours later), but when I do, I want them to whisk me away to a heavenly place.

The other day my guy and I strolled up to Swingers Diner on Beverly Blvd for a lovely weekend brunch. Before I even had a chance to see the breakfast menu though, Tyler insisted that I get a milkshake. Since he doesn’t have a sweet-tooth, I found this suggestion oddly intriguing, and really, who am I to say No to encouragement like that?!

What Tyler knew, that I didn’t, was that Swingers makes the best milkshakes! I first ordered the Peanut Butter Banana shake and realized a few sips in that I was actually craving Vanilla. The PB-Banana shake was a bit strong on the Peanut Butter for me, but was still a solid 4 cherry sipper nonetheless.

But the Vanilla- ohmygoodess it was Delicious! Not too thick, not too thin, and clearly made by humans mixing fresh ingredients (versus a fast-food machine). If I could have this shake every week, I would.

To see my thoughts on Swinger’s Cupcakes, click here, or for more info on Swingers Diner, click here. :-9

Brentwood Farmer’s Market Diet Devastation

By Dessert Darling · March 12th, 2012

You know the day that you swear you’re not going to eat ANY sugar as you take a hiatus from indulging? ..that day where you wake up early to go to yoga and then the Brentwood Farmer’s Market for some fresh kale and fish? Apparently, that’s also the day where the Farmer’s Market is chock full of delicious desserts and you’re starving from your yoga class! Arg. I’m never going to lose these three post-wedding pounds, am I? Alas.. the culprits to my downfall are as follow.

It first started innocently enough with these Macarons at the Grace and I stand.

These were hearty macarons with a large cookie to filling ratio (thicker cookie than most macs). This larger size made for a chewy experience that gave my mouth a work out. Then I stumbled across these delightful cupcakes by Temptations Cupcakes.

Naturally I had to buy them for the cocktail party that I was attending that night. The cream cheese frosting was pleasantly mild and absolutely wonderful, but we did have a complaint about nuts in the banana cake. I agree- no nuts in cupcakes. If you want to throw nuts in there, call it a muffin.

Then I came across these Gluten Free Russian Tea Cakes by Livia’s Kitchen and I mean, come on, they’re Gluten Free! I had to try those. And yea, for future reference, Gluten free does not mean sugar free, butter free, fat free, or diet friendly. Alas, it’s my sworn duty to find the best desserts out there for all consumers, so I mean, I had to buy these cookies for the party too. Sweet, buttery balls of glory~

Finally, after a wrong turn coming home from the party, I found myself explicably entering the Jack in the Box drive through. At that point, I figured that diets start on Mondays. So I bought two milkshakes to squeeze into the last remaining hours of Sunday night. Thankfully, I only needed a few sips of the Strawberry shake to determine that it tasted too artificial for me. The Oreo shake, however, didn’t have a prayer. I drank the whole thing… and was Reallllly satisfied.

Today though… I’m moping.

And that is the story of my Farmer’s Market Diet Devastation. The End.

Apple Tart and Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Float at Churchill on 3rd St.

By Dessert Darling · January 15th, 2012

I get giddy when a new establishment opens its doors on 3rd Street in my Beverly- Grove neighborhood. The other night I had dinner at Churchill, a rustic, two-story gastropub with a cozy and masculine vibe. Despite the hip environment though, the service and desserts were so disappointing, I wonder if I’ll ever return. When my order finally did arrive, I was greeted with this average, lemony Apple Tart enveloped in a bland blanket of thick crust. To improve upon this item they need to calm down on the lemon, add more apple filling, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on the crust, and drizzle more of that caramel sauce on top.

Far more interesting, though not that much more palatable, was the Chocolate Stout Float. Don’t let the word “Chocolate” fool you. The stout was a hoppy beer with hints of caramel flavor and the saving grace of the operation was the vanilla ice cream. I attacked the ice cream spoon first, letting most of the beer spill off to the sides for just a hint of flavor and soupy texture. Otherwise, creamy beer? Not my thing.

((Sigh)).. I really wanted to love this place, but Churchill needs to revamp its dessert menu, hiring, and staff training to lure me back.

For more info on Churchill, click here.

Morning Shake to Shake it up: Blueberry Avocado Smoothie

By Dessert Darling · July 14th, 2011

I recently found myself feeling sluggish & light-headed and knew I had to make a change to re-boot my system. I discovered the book Revive by Frank Lipman, M.D. and I already feel so amazing! One thing that the author swears and lives by are morning “green” shakes. Quote: “I am so convinced of a smoothie’s healing potential for those who are Spent that if changing your diet to eat a smoothie every morning were the only thing that you took away from this book and integrated into your life, I would be satisfied.” How can I argue with the good Dr. over a smoothie? Step aside Oatmeal, I’ve got a new morning ritual.~

To buy the book Revive and see all his yummy smoothie recipes, click here.

Blueberry Avocado Smoothie

1 cup frozen organic blueberries
1/4 avocado
1 cup coconut water
juice of half a lime
1 tablespoon agave syrup (optional, if you ask me)
1 serving or 3-4 tablespoons vanilla or plain whey protein powder
1 serving or 2 teaspoons greens powder
4 ice cubes

Quite Literally THE WORST Milkshake to exist in the U.S. of A

By Dessert Darling · March 4th, 2011

UUUGHH!

Honestly. HONESTLY. This was THE. WORST Milkshake I have EVER, EVER had in all my many lifetimes put together. I kinda freaked out when I saw the lady fill up half my plastic cups with a clear syrup. Ummmm, is that for me?? I ordered a milkshake.

Then she filled the other half of the cups with a thicker white substance (one would hope.. Milk???) and attempted to blend the two fluids together. Not very well, as you can see from the “chocolate” shake I have here on the right. Anyway, I tried to put the whole process aside and open my mind to tastiness anyway. I literally spit the shakes out upon first sip. Both had aweful, bitter, artificial tastes that would make cough syrup look dreamy in comparison.

Is Wendy’s for real??? Seriously, Jack needs to show Wendy’s a thing or two.. as shown in this post here!

Thinny Thursday: Desserts that FIGHT Fat!!!

By Dessert Darling · February 24th, 2011

My friend from Awake and Living sent me this wonderful little article by David Zinczenko about 7 Desserts That Fight Fat. Now that’s my kinda guy! He basically states that sugar aside, ice-cream boasts calcium, an element that can actually block the absorption of fatty acids in the digestive track. Go Calcium! Furthermore, each half-cup has choline, which could aid in diminishing your risk of heart disease or stroke by lowering an amino acid called homocysteine. Wow- all I know is that ice-cream always makes me feel more calm and happier. The author goes on to list America’s 7 best desserts that offer nutritional substance. The treat that I’m most excited to try from his list is Wendy’s Jr. Original Chocolate Frosty!

To read the full article, click here. Thanks for sharing with me Awake and Living!

xoox

A Forbidden Affair- An Open Letter to Jack (…in the Box)

By Dessert Darling · February 22nd, 2011

Dear Jack,

Twice, Twice in the last month I have visited you late night. You've lived down the street from me for four years now and I've never even looked your way. What is this new affair?? I'm not this kind of girl!!! Ok, I admit it, I gave your Pumpkin milkshake 5-cherries last Halloween… but that's a seasonal treat.. an anomaly. However, you did it again with your Mint Oreo Cookie milkshake last night! Ugh! A perfect balance of flavors, an admirable consistency, thick but not impenetrable, and most tantalizing yet–those Oreo cookie chunks! My fiance even declared it GOLDEN CHERRY worthy!!! From a fast food joint?? Out of a machine?? It's OBSCENE. And let's not even Talk about your Sourdough Grilled Chicken Club with bacon, for that was clearly laced with all sorts of crack-like addicting tastiness. Ugh!

JACK- this relationship cannot be. It was great while it lasted and I know I'll never forget it, but quite simply, I'm not a fast food girl. Really- I'm not! My mama raised me better than that. Maybe for the holidays, I'll stop by.. you know, for an Eggnog special… but this late night shenanigans? You'll have to find someone else who'll fall for your charms. Sorry Jack, but we're Over.

Truly,

The incriminating evidence!