product review
Product reviews and how-to's of cookbooks, recipes, popular kitchen items, and more.
Try Zipfizz Energy as an Alternative to Your Usual Canned Drink
I remember having one of these Zipfizz tubes being passed to me by a family member. I was complaining about being tired and not getting enough sleep. We had to attend to a serious matter. I went to a corner store gas station, but they didn't have my usual choice of energy drink there. My cousin tells me, "Oh! why didn't you say anything? I have one of these with me. It's cool, take one. Just mix it with water."
By Jeffrey Fontanos6 years ago in Feast
Sap! Review. Top Story - September 2019.
What do you know about sap? Before trying these drinks, I knew little to nothing about it. In my head, I always confused it with maple syrup. I’m aware that these two things are in fact, different, but I never had a reason to seek out any answers. I guess it was just one of those things I was comfortable in my confusion of. I knew it was sticky and came from trees. That’s as far as my knowledge went. So when I saw the Sap! variety pack of maple seltzer, maple soda and sparkling birch, I thought I could use this as a learning experience.
By Alyson Lewis6 years ago in Feast
Kin Euphorics Pear-Cinnamon Tea
Recently, I was thinking about alcohol. I don’t drink, and the main purpose of my beverage blog is to introduce products and recipes that are not alcohol-focused. I don’t enjoy drinking, because I don’t like the feeling of being hungover, and I don’t enjoy the post-drinking haze that sets into my brain. I feel foggy, uncoordinated and like every motion I make through the day is going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Alcohol effects different people in different ways, but I actively choose not to have it as part of my life. What other people do is none of my business, and I have no opinion on what other people choose to do with their bodies. That being said, I’ve noticed an influx of drinks lately that tout having relaxing effects. I’ve tried a couple of them (reviews to come later), and my overall experience with them is that they simply make me sleepy. Tired and relaxed are different feelings for me, and I like to keep them separate. I’d yet to discover a drink that made me feel effectively calm without loopy side effects where I felt too tired to even walk across the room in a straight line. I think those beverages have a time and place, but that feeling isn’t “relaxation” for me. If I wanted to feel like that, I could just take two melatonin and watch cartoons until I rolled over and passed out face-down in bed. I wanted to explore something different.
By Alyson Lewis6 years ago in Feast
Mountain Dew VooDew Review
There are two conspiracy theories I hold to be true: the first one is that Jimi Hendrix was murdered. The second is that there are few “new” Mountain Dew flavors. While I personally have no evidence of either, I’m strong in my convictions. I first started believing the Mountain Dew theory when they came out with their line of Kickstart beverages—a more caffeinated diversion from their staple flavors. While they were indeed heavier on the caffeine content and rivaled other energy drink brands in their own way, there was truly nothing remarkably different about them. In a blind taste test, I could possibly pinpoint Code Red and Baja Blast, but otherwise, could I identify the other flavors? Not really. They are unmistakably Mountain Dew, that much is clear. But with the overwhelming citrus blend base used for every single flavor, we have to wonder what the difference truly is. This isn’t a call to action against Mountain Dew, I have nothing to gain from that. I’m just making an observation. When I brought this theory up to a friend, he likened it to the Taco Bell method of rolling out new items. He explained that while, yes, technically they do have “new” menu items that are given a wow factor of being available for a limited time, few items are truly new. They tend to have the same elements to them (meat, beans, cheese, potatoes) in various combinations. In a way, it’s comforting, because I feel confident that any time I go to Taco Bell for something new, I will end up liking it. I enjoy meat, cheese, beans and potatoes all in their various forms of glory, so why WOULDN’T I like this?
By Alyson Lewis6 years ago in Feast
Gatorade Bolt 24 Review
Bolt 24 is Gatorade’s newest addition to their lineup. Honest to God, every time they come out with a new anything I’m like... hmm... I wonder how much longer they’re going to keep doing this. How many times can they try to reinvent the hydration wheel??
By Alyson Lewis7 years ago in Feast
Banana Milkis Review
Banana is a pretty polarizing flavor. I know that. Unfortunately, I have a wide range of flavors I like, including artificial banana. I know it’s odd but I won’t stop liking it. I always loved when my mom bought the variety pack of Laffy Taffys to pass out for Halloween, because while my brother and I rifled through the package to save a few for ourselves, I knew my little banana babies would be safe. No one else wanted them. Honestly, of all artificial candy flavors, banana might be my favorite. It is consistent if nothing else. I always know what I’m getting myself into. I can’t always say the same for other flavors. Banana flavor is mellow and creamy. I’d heard of the Milkis sodas before, but never tried them. The idea of carbonation and milk is enough to send me over the edge. I don’t care for cream soda, really, but I do enjoy the very occasional ice cream float, so I’m at a crossroads I guess. I believe in my heart that creamy and carbonated can be a combination done correctly, if restraint and precision are exercised.
By Alyson Lewis7 years ago in Feast
8 Reasons to Make Your Popcornopolis Popcorn
Apart from being highly delicious, eating popcorn offers various health benefits. This American popular snack has more iron compared to eggs and spinach. Additionally, this crunchy snack has low calories, fat-free, and sugar-free when on a diet. It is no wonder that people eat popcorn at breakfast, when watching a movie, or when out in the park. Below are reasons why not to just eat any popcorn but Popcornopolis.
By Ashly Williams7 years ago in Feast
Bang Energy: Thank You for Being a Friend
There was a huge display for Bang energy drink at my local supermarket, so I grabbed a couple of them. They always looked intimidating to me because of the labels stating that people sensitive to caffeine should be careful. There’s also a warning on the back that says it’s meant to be consumed by “healthy” people. I’m not sure whether or not I’m “healthy.” I have good blood pressure and I work out regularly, but I don’t know if those are the kind of parameters they’re looking for. I smoke cigarettes too, and I eat processed food on occasion. I don’t fucking know what healthy is. I don’t even know if that’s an attainable thing, let alone a requirement for consuming a drink. But whatever! I grabbed Blue Razz and Sour Heads. My favorite flavor is sour/tart, so I was hoping these would be lip puckering sour with carbonation and, of course, caffeine.
By Alyson Lewis7 years ago in Feast
Monster Energy Hydro Water Review
I have a lot of questions about serving sizes. I’ve always had them, but I started thinking about them again when I bought the Monster Hydro Water Energy Drink (Blue Ice flavor). The flavor is GOOD, tastes like a blue raspberry, not super sweet. It isn’t carbonated, which has its pros and cons. On the positive side, it’s nice to just drink something smooth without harsh energy drink carbonation. On the negative side, it’s not carbonated, so there’s not much to keep me, you, or anyone from drinking the bottle quickly.
By Alyson Lewis7 years ago in Feast
Every Cook Should Own a Cast-Iron Skillet
Every good cook knows how important it is to have good cookware. There is a list of reasons a cast-iron skillet should be in every kitchen. No other cookware comes close to the durability, functionality, and versatility of a cast-iron skillet like the one our mothers and grandmothers used to do their cooking.
By Margaret Minnicks7 years ago in Feast
I Finally Found a Brand of Tea I Like
Almost everybody loves and drinks tea. Since there are so many different brands available, the selection is quite challenging. People might spend a considerable amount of time in the tea aisle in the grocery store trying to decide which one to purchase.
By Margaret Minnicks7 years ago in Feast
