Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Claeys Root Beer Hard Candy

Sometimes the cheapest candy tastes the best, the exception being chocolate, the rule being licorice and hard candy. One of our taste testers found this bag of Claeys Root Beer candy at Dollar General and it's my new favorite root beer candy. Although now I'm thinking about root beer fudge.


If I look pathetic enough maybe she'll share

Claeys hard candy selections include five from my hard candy hit list: black licorice, anise, wild cherry, cinnamon and lemon drops. They also have fudge if you need to chomp into your candy without breaking off a tooth.



They're shaped like lemon drops


The Claeys drops are refreshing and tantalizing like the perfect soda fountain phosphate. They pack a root beer punch without being too sweet and have a soft crunchable coating that may turn into chewable left over slivers. Mmm, bag bottom bonus.



Well I smell something

Handsome Bob highly recommends them by smell alone. At least I think that's what he's smelling. The flavor stays with you leaving a pleasant, light taste on your tongue. It reminds me of a good soda and hints at fizz without being fizzy. Bobby Boy says it reminds him of Oliver's butt.



Why do you insist on taking photos of things I can't have?

They have 13g of sugar and 50 calories for three pieces and cost a dollar. Each piece is the size of an average lemon drop. A quick online search shows single 6 oz bags at Rau's Country Store for $1.39  and at Old Time Candy  for $2.19. Amazon is selling the same 6 oz bags for $4.65 as Ad-on items (really, Amazon?). 

Friday, August 05, 2016

Keep Your Ick On a Stick Just Give Me Charlie's Sausage Infer What You Will

 The Wisconsin State Fair started yesterday and it's time to gear up by looking at some of my fav photos from the Ghost of State Fair past.


From Charlie's Under the Sky Glider


The whipped jewel in the pastry crown, State Fair Cream Puffs


Thought the Rot on the roof was funny but caught this better choice for a smooch hunk senario




Having own affair with massive turkey leg. Very Roman



Yes, please



Note: Crazy Grazin' Day is this Tuesday, August 9. I promise if you follow the link, the first two items will be disturbing.





Thursday, July 21, 2016

Blueberry Pancakes

And this is how I like my berries, inside the pancake with a side of snout. Thank you Pine Cone truck stop and bakery full mammoth pastries and pancakes.



They asked if I wanted 2 or 3. Does that come with a new stomach?



We don't need no stinkin' compote




Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Cream Puff Season

Nobody puts a Wisconsin State Fair cream puff in the corner



                                                     Meanwhile...
The Wisconsin State Fair begins on August 4 and so does talk of Bacon popcorn balls, Banana Split Cheesecake Squares and PBR Beercicles (my Aunt Agnes is licking her lips wherever she is).




Have a Pine Cone cream puff if you dare

It took three of us to dare. Could have been more, I dropped the monstrosity off elsewhere.



Don't forget me, you're pal the eclair


Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Norske Nook

The DeForest Norske Nook, is one of those places that makes you want everything you see.
Reason enough to order, share, photograph and dish. I've been wanting to go there and review it for the Dish for. ever. I wrote them years ago at either Rice Lake or Osseo, but never heard back. Since they've got a new restaurant a handful of miles away, I finally gave them a trial run yesterday.
We're having a birthday dinner there tomorrow so more photos and menu items will be posted soon.

Austin
First up, chilled strawberry pie, classified as a Fresh Berry Pie along with blackberry and raspberry on the vast Norske Nook Pie Menu.
The Good: Huge fresh strawberries, flaky, tender crust.
The Iffy: The gelatin filling although tangy, is still too bland and too plentiful. I'm not a fan of this kind of filling and will forever chase the strawberry pie we ate at a sixties Country Kitchen on the south side of Madison.
The Bad: Not real whipped cream. C'mon! WT actual F?

Fresh Berry Strawberry Pie, a distant third place in yesterday's Candy Dish rankings.


The Norske Nook has five locations, 
Root beer float is the kind of novelty pie you want to try once just to say you had... is something you'd think from the title.
Uh uh. SupercalifragiYUM. Incredible. I love root beer floats, the Dish Taste Testers love root beer floats, three of us tasted this frozen summer pie and all three of us LOVED it.
The Northwoods Root Beer Float pie is one of four frozen pies offered by the sugary Norwegian restaurant and bakery. I wasn't too tempted by the Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Mousse, or Orange Dreamsicle, all which seemed too rich or like that time I got properly over served and colorfully sick on Orange Dreamsicle cocktails during a round robin (going from dorm room to dorm room) in the seventies.
The Good: It tastes like a root beer float. Although so thick the young waiter broke a knife slicing off a piece to go (we needed to use plastic wrap on the top of the box because the pie was too big for it), it tastes light and refreshing. Not too sweet, decent crust I think but honestly didn't notice, a heft hunk of pie that goes down easy.
The Iffy: Get bigger to-go boxes.
The Bad: Again, not real whipped cream, but it didn't matter as much with this pie and I wonder if the "whipped topping" lends itself more efficiently to freezing.


The Winner from Dinner, The Northwoods Root Beer Pie Float

I had to include their Wisconsin Reuben because the corned beef brisket was tender, flavorful, not too rich or sliced too thick or thin and blended seamlessly with the perfect amount of kraut and Swiss cheese. It was lovingly nested between two pieces of awesome cranberry wild rice bread.  I'll see if they sell it in their bakery tomorrow when we go for my mother's birthday.


Wisconsin Reuben, Runner Up to the Root Beer Float Pie


The Norwegian Restaurant and bakery has five locations, the DeForest Norske Nook is open from 6 am - 9 pm Monday through Saturday and 8 am - 8 pm on Sunday. Telephone: 842-3378. The dish is that this location is not doing well, so if you're in the Madison or DeForest area stop by downtown DeForest at Main and Holum.
Remember, Wednesday is Pie Day. Pie Day Wednesday offers a different pie choice weekly, the prices just rose from $2.99 for pie and coffee to $3.50.
Pie of the Month: Dutch Apple.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Couch Pawtatoes

Things have been crazy and lazy


Walkie Overload


Not getting off the couch any time soon


Baby Roscoe on My Shoes


Sassy the Dodgers fan. Roscoe (int eh background) is an old guy now


Roscoe The Canine King


I've been eating less sugar with some exceptions which I'll post here. I've made up for it in dogs and walkies.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of an end of days turkey, mmm, apocalypse turkey. They are EVERYwhere . Maybe it's a city-wide promo, maybe they're positioning themselves as our supreme overlords. There are five of them who have "packed up" as my dad liked to say, and roam the mean streets of the eastside. I haven't run into them yet, but fully expect to see them wearing Purgolder team jackets if I do.




This little b*stard is one of the many, MANY arboretum turkeys that saunter about the place. [Insert why did the turkey cross the road joke here.]

If you're sick of reading this nonsense, please READ THE CHED CURTAIN, same attitude, less sugar.