POPSUGAR Food

7 Things You Never Knew About Red Lobster, Straight From an Employee

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:40:05 -0700

If Red Lobster is your seafood restaurant of choice, you'll love these surprising facts straight from an insider employee. POPSUGAR spoke to a Red Lobster spokesperson who let us in on little-known facts about the restaurant's history, the truth about how many Cheddar Bay Biscuits people eat every day (spoiler: a lot), and how you can save money on your next meal. Read ahead for all the intel, and if your Red Lobster cravings must be satisfied immediately try making your own Cheddar Bay Biscuits at home.

Red Lobster has been around since the '60s.

"Red Lobster first opened in landlocked Lakeland, Florida, in 1968, creating an entirely new restaurant category at a time when non-coastal communities did not have access to seafood. Since then, Red Lobster has given many people their first tastes of lobster, snow crab, jumbo shrimp, tilapia, calamari, and other seafood."

Hushpuppies used to be served instead of Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

Can you imagine a Red Lobster meal without those cheesy biscuits? Up until the '90s, Red Lobster served hushpuppies at the start of every meal. Cheddar Bay Biscuits were introduced in 1992 under the name "freshly baked, hot cheese garlic bread," and the current name was coined in 1997.

And now, Red Lobster serves a TON of the famous biscuits every day.

If you could easily eat three Cheddar Bay Biscuits before your dinner, you're not alone. "The number of Cheddar Bay Biscuits served in one day equals about 13 times the weight of an average elephant," the spokesperson said. That's over 958,000 a day! All Cheddar Bay Biscuits are mixed by hand in each restaurant, and they're baked approximately every 15 minutes. Fun fact: "If you stacked the number of Cheddar Bay Biscuits served in one day it would be 203 times the height of the Eiffel tower, 137 times the height of the Empire State Building, and six times the height of Mount Everest."

There's also a sneaky Cheddar Bay Biscuits policy.

According to a Red Lobster employee on Reddit, there's a reason that your table will have an odd number of biscuits for an even number of people. "We bring one biscuit for every person at the table, plus an additional biscuit for the table. Corporate policy."

The lobsters are cooked live.

If you order a lobster dish from Red Lobster, know that your lobster will be cooked live - to order.

There's an easy way to save money.

You can totally score a freebie before your next Red Lobster outing. "Guests can join the Fresh Catch Club for deals, news, and insider invites. When you sign up, you will receive a free appetizer or dessert, special savings, a surprise birthday offer, and special occasion reminders."

The 1 thing you have to try if it's your first time is . . .

"The Ultimate Feast: Maine tail, steamed wild-caught North American snow crab legs, garlic shrimp, and Walt's Favorite Shrimp. It lets guests try a bit of everything all on one plate."

The Best New Trader Joe's Products From 2017 - So Far

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:20:03 -0700

One of the best things about Trader Joe's is that it's constantly releasing new products for customers to try, and we're not just talking about the free samples. Shopping at Trader Joe's is never boring thanks to the never-before-seen foods available every month, and 2017 is already off to a fantastic start. We're keeping up with every single new offering from Trader Joe's to let you know which items are worth the purchase and which ones you should skip. Ahead, read up on all the best new Trader Joe's products of the year so far, and add your favorites to your shopping list the next time you head to TJ's.

- Additional reporting by Jamie Mieuli

The 16 Cheeses You HAVE to Get From Trader Joe's

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:15:03 -0700

Trader Joe's cheese section is a magical place where some of the toughest decision-making happens. If your idea of a good time involves a cheese plate and a glass of wine, you've probably spent time mentally debating which cheese deserves a spot in your shopping cart. We've been there too, so we're featuring our editors' 16 favorite cheeses from Trader Joe's so you know what you absolutely have to pick up the next time you're in the market for a new cheese. See which Trader Joe's cheeses you've already tried and discover potential new favorites, ahead.

Shop These 11 Hilarious Food-Inspired Costumes . . . Because Being a Sexy Taco Is Necessary

Krista Jones — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:00:08 -0700

If you're a food-obsessed girl who loves repping your favorite snacks, we found some fun Halloween costumes for you. Whether you want to be sexy or comfortable, there are plenty of hilarious choices. From a skintight Sriracha dress to a giant strawberry doughnut, we found some of the best foodie-inspired costumes that you need to try this year. Check out these unique picks that are bound to be Instagram hits.

The 7 Best Indian Foods You Can Get From Trader Joe's

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:35:04 -0700

Trader Joe's frozen food section is truly a wonderful place. One frozen cuisine in particular that you shouldn't overlook is Trader Joe's Indian food - some of it is legitimately as delicious as takeout. We tapped our editors, who are just as enthusiastic about Trader Joe's as they are about Indian food, to find out which items from TJ's stack up to their expectations and are worthy enough for a space in your shopping cart. The next time you have an insatiable craving for Indian food but would rather avoid the restaurant prices, opt for the following best frozen Indian foods you can get at Trader Joe's, plus a couple you won't find in the frozen aisle.

Giada De Laurentiis's 20 Most Popular Pasta Recipes You Need in Your Life

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:00:05 -0700

Fact: Giada De Laurentiis is queen of pasta. If you need proof, look no further than her 20 most popular pasta recipes on Food Network, from classic lasagna to lemon spaghetti. If your idea of a good meal involves plenty of carbs and cheese, these are the trusted recipes you'll want to bookmark. As impossible as it seems to narrow down Giada's best recipes, these are hands down the 20 most popular, according to Food Network viewers.

This Cooking Hack Will Forever Change the Way You Make Spaghetti

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:55:04 -0700

If you're anything like me, cooking spaghetti involves completely guessing the proper amount for a serving. I'll stand at the pot of boiling water and grab a handful (. . . plus a little more for good measure) and think to myself, "That looks right; we'll find out!" But now that I've discovered this ingenious hack, I'll never go back to my uncertain ways.

The easiest way to measure out a perfect single serving of spaghetti is to use the hole in the center of your spaghetti spoon. Just take a handful of spaghetti and see if it fits, filling in the extra space as needed, until the bundle fits tightly in the space. And voilà, you've got a perfect amount just for you. Of course, if you're cooking more than one serving, just repeat the process as needed.

Who knew that hollow center served such a purpose?! Since you'll probably already be using that spoon to grab your spaghetti noodles, it's even more convenient that you can measure with it, too. Making a solo spaghetti dinner has never been easier.

This Is How All Your Favorite Chefs Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:55:03 -0700

Chocolate chip cookies are one of those staples that are simple yet complicated to make. If you've ever screwed up a whole batch, you already know that following the recipe to a T makes all the difference, and that small changes can have a big impact. For example, using bread flour instead of all-purpose flour creates a cake-like texture, adding more brown sugar than white leads to more chewiness, and incorporating secret ingredients (like instant coffee) alters the flavor in the best way. When seeking cookie advice, who better to turn to than some of the best celebrity cooks? Here's what Alton Brown, Mario Batali, and more experts recommend.

Alton Brown: With Bread Flour

Alton Brown's "The Chewy" chocolate chip cookie recipe has a five-star rating out of more than 1,100 reviews, so you know he's doing something right. To ensure chewiness, he uses bread flour instead of all-purpose flour ("Bread flour can absorb much more liquid than all-purpose flour," he explains), one whole egg plus one yolk ("Egg whites dry out baked goods"), and a whole cup of brown sugar ("The darker the sugar you use, the chewier the cookies are going to be"). His recipe takes a little more time than average (you have to chill the dough for one hour), but if you'd rather have melt-in-your-mouth chewy cookies than firmer cookies, it's worth it.

Giada De Laurentiis: Add Hazelnuts and Toffee

Giada always takes a classic recipe and puts a slight twist on it, making us say, "Why didn't we think of that?" Her hazelnut chocolate chip cookie recipe requires toasting the hazelnuts before chopoping them, which brings out their flavor even more. With a combination of semisweet chocolate chips, supersweet toffee candy, and crunchy hazelnuts, there's a more complex variety of flavors and textures than the average chocolate chip cookie.

Ina Garten: Chocolate Chunks Instead of Chips

Ina Garten's chocolate chip cookie recipe is pretty standard, except she opts for chunks instead of chips (and extralarge scoops of dough on the pan) for maximum meltiness throughout the cookie.

The Pioneer Woman: 3 Different Ways

The Pioneer Woman has a chocolate chip cookie recipe for every mood (and every preferred level of chocolate). Her basic chocolate chip cookie recipe is "my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe when I need 'em in 30 minutes or less. It's like the Domino's Pizza of all my chocolate chip cookie recipes," she says. It's actually not so basic, though, because she sneaks in two secret ingredients: instant coffee granules and flaxseeds. Things get even more interesting with her browned butter chocolate chunk cookies, and her third recipe is on the next next level: triple chocolate cookies.

Mario Batali: 100 Percent Italian

Are you ready for the list of unexpected ingredients in Mario Batali's chocolate chip cookies? Heavy cream, olive oil, ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa powder. Batali's recipe is for traditional mostaccioli cookies, an Italian chocolate cookie popular during the holidays. As if the chocolate cookies aren't rich enough, they're topped with a smooth chocolate glaze. Needless to say, Mario's recipe is for chocolate-addicts only.

Bobby Flay: All About the Brown Sugar

Bobby Flay's chocolate chip cookies get a darker color and chewier consistency thanks to two different kinds of brown sugar (light and dark muscovado sugar). He also uses an ice cream scoop to dollop heaping spoonfuls of dough on the pan - with plenty of space in between each one - to ensure there's enough space for the cookies to spread.

Emeril: Supersized

"Why make a bunch of small cookies when you could make a giant cookie cake?" Emeril must have thought when he developed his popular giant chocolate chip cookie cake recipe. As long as you have a pizza pan, you won't have to make much more of an effort than you would with a regular recipe, and you'll have a homemade cookie cake that's infinitely better than store-bought.

The 1 Thing I Learned in Italy That Changed the Way I Cook

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:33:06 -0700

I thought I knew how to cook Italian food . . . until I went to Italy. I got the amazing opportunity to travel to Tuscany to stay at Casa Buitoni, home of Buitoni, the fresh-pasta brand you've likely seen in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. I was in good company with chefs who develop authentic recipes for the nearly 200-year-old brand (it was founded by the Buitoni family in 1827), so I think they know a thing or two about Italian food. After a week of making pasta from scratch, visiting wineries and restaurants among the rolling hills of Tuscany, and eating too many incredible meals to count made by chefs born and raised in Italy, I learned an invaluable lesson that really stuck with me and will change the way I cook for myself from now on.

Simplicity is key, and less is more.

The mentality that surrounds food in Italy is unlike everything typical about food in the US. Italians eat slowly. They savor every single bite and every single moment at the table - "family style" means more than just passing around a plate of food for everyone to try. A young woman who grew up in Italy told me her family never served a meal without setting the table, complete with a white tablecloth. And yes, of course I realize that setting up a gorgeous tablescape with a movie-worthy view is not something most people have the privilege of re-creating at home, but what we can (and should) copy is the overall idea. Eating is a time to unplug from the rest of the world and to connect with the food and the people right in front of you.

And most importantly, authentic Italian cooks let the ingredients shine. If you start with the best quality ingredients you can find, you only need a few to make an amazing dish. I'll be the first to admit that using restraint in the kitchen is not my strong suit. My favorite pasta recipes often involve a long list of ingredients (spaghetti with garlic, white wine, thyme, lemon, and more, for example), but now I realize that there is such a thing as too much, and you don't always need 20 ingredients to make the most flavorful dish.

The best thing you can do is start out with really, really good olive oil. Spend the money on that fancier bottle - it's 100 percent worth it. Because, as I learned, olive oil is just as much an ingredient as pasta or parmesan cheese. When you simply use olive oil to sauté vegetables or throw in a tablespoon to prevent your pasta from sticking before adding other ingredients, the pure flavor gets lost in translation. The rich flavor of homemade olive oil is unlike anything else, and it's truly at the heart of Italian cooking - let it be the star.

Use good salt and fresh garlic. Invest in the freshest seasonal vegetables when you can. And, most importantly, take the time to savor every single bite. I thought this pizza topped with merely tomato sauce and a thin slice of roasted garlic would be boring, but I could not have been more wrong. After one bite, I realized it embodied everything Italian food is about: freshness, simplicity, and flavor. And that's what I'm going to aim to re-create in my own home.

Nicole Kidman "Politely" Tells Giada Her Food Sucks

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:20:03 -0700

Giada De Laurentiis appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to teach her and Nicole Kidman how to cook vegan artichoke arancini and focaccia with clementine and fennel, but it went horribly wrong. Despite the Italian chef's best efforts, Ellen and Nicole could not contain their laughter and inability to follow Giada's cooking instructions. The set producer even had to tell the trio to wrap it up!

You will giggle throughout the clip, especially when it comes to the grand taste test. Ellen and Nicole did not hide their thoughts about the cold food that has probably been left out for "like five hours." On a more positive note for Giada fans, the Food Network star told Ellen that she is planning to open up a new restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and possibly something on the East Coast.

All Food From Chinese Restaurants Contains MSG, and More Secrets Revealed by an Employee

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:05:03 -0700

If you've always wanted to know what really goes on inside a Chinese restaurant, you're in luck. A restaurant employee recently did a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) entitled Your Typical Chinese Restaurant Employee, and he answered a lot of users' questions that touched on everything except the exact recipes (some things have to remain a secret!). He wrote, "I am Chinese. Parents are Chinese. Parents own a typical take out Chinese food restaurant. I have worked there almost all my life and I know almost all the ins and outs." Curious about his insider secrets? Read on for some of the standout questions and answers, and then catch up on the whole AMA here.

1. The secret to authentic Chinese food is the sauce.

Someone mentioned that they try to make Chinese food at home but it's never nearly as good - not even "as good as the worst Chinese takeout." Turns out, the major difference is the sauce.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

2. Using a wok makes a difference.

Another reason your homemade stir fries and lo mein might not taste authentic is that using a wok is far superior to a regular skillet. "The ability to flash cook in a wok makes a big difference believe it or not."

3. North American Chinese food is cheaper.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

4. The secret to the chicken in dishes like General Tso's is the breading.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

5. Yes, many restaurants really do use the same images for the menu.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

6. Don't believe a restaurant if it says it doesn't have MSG . . . it's already in soy sauce and many other sauces.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

7. The best thing to order is anything Mongolian style. At least, that's this guy's personal favorite.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

8. The one thing you should NEVER order is . . . fries.

Comment from discussion IamA Your typical takeout Chinese food restaurant worker AMA!.

Halloween Desserts Don't Get Much Easier to Make Than These Oreo Eyeballs

Nicole Perry — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:55:47 -0700

Just because you're time-strapped doesn't mean you have to miss out on making a fun and festive Halloween dessert. Unlike most cookies, cupcakes, and other treats, there's no baking involved; rather, it's more of an assembly job.

All you need are Oreos, Lifesaver Gummies, chocolate chips, and candy melts (these are stocked at many supermarkets and are also available online), a smidgen of hand-eye coordination, and about 20-30 minutes of your time. Thanks to its ease, this is a great recipe to make with kids; older children can pipe on the candy melt blood vessels, younger children can add the gummies and chocolate chips.

The results are pretty darn cute, with just enough creepiness to make them appropriate for the ghoulish holiday.

Oreo Eyeballs

Adapted from Mom Foodie

Notes

I couldn't find red candy melts, so I tinted white candy melts with gel food coloring (liquid food coloring isn't strongly pigmented enough). You may need a few more Oreos than 12, as they may not all twist apart cleanly.

Ingredients

12 Oreos
1/4 cup red candy melts
12 Lifesaver Gummies
12 chocolate chips

Directions

Carefully twist off the tops of the Oreos, reserving the frostingless tops for another use.
Melt the candy melts according to the directions on the package. Transfer the melted candy melts to a piping bag fit with a narrow piping tip; alternatively, snip a very small hole in the piping bag.
Pipe 5-6 squiggly lines on each Oreo half to represent blood vessels. Add a gummy to each Oreo half to represent the iris, nestling an upside-down chocolate chip in each gummy to represent the pupil.
Refrigerate for 10 minutes, or until the candy melts harden.

Information

Category: Desserts, Cookies
Yield: 12 cookies

Starbucks Released TWO Vampire Frappuccinos For You to Sink Your Fangs Into

Perri Konecky — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:35:04 -0700

Take a seat, Pumpkin Spice Latte, because the Vampire Frappuccino is coming out to play. The seasonal barista gods at Starbucks have released not one but two Vampire Frappuccinos for Halloween, and they're filled with all the bloody possibilities strawberry puree has to offer. From now until Oct. 31, Starbucks locations in the UK, Singapore, Norway, and Sweden have added the fang-friendly drinks to the menu.

According to Starbucks Singapore, the Vampire Frappuccino is made with a layer of mocha sauce and a bit of whipped cream at the bottom. The "Mr. Vampire Frappuccino" adds chocolate cream, while the "Mrs. Vampire" is made with vanilla cream. "Both drinks are then finished with blood red strawberry purée oozing from the rim and are topped with whipped cream. Pairs well with everything but prolonged daylight."

As for us in the US, we'll be waiting patiently hoping to see the Vampire Frappuccino and the rumored Zombie Frappuccino come to suck our blood. Fingers crossed! Read on to see bloody photos of the Vampire Frappuccinos.

Chick-fil-A Has Guacamole, and 6 Other Things You Never Knew You Could Get

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:35:03 -0700

You're probably used to ordering an Original Chicken Sandwich and waffle fries from Chick-fil-A, but there are plenty of menu items you never knew existed. We got the scoop from a Chick-fil-A representative who let us in on the fact that Chick-fil-A offers a variety of unexpected menu items across the country that a handful of locations are lucky enough to offer, like guacamole. I know - who knew?! Suddenly our side of kale salad is sounding a little less exciting. Ahead, see a list of all the things you may or may not have known that Chick-fil-A offers, plus where you can find them.

Mac and cheese and baked beans: Chick-fil-A recently rolled out family-style meals in select cities, and two side options include macaroni and cheese and baked beans. The items are being tested in Greensboro, NC; Phoenix, AZ; and San Antonio, TX, through Nov. 18, and based on customer feedback, Chick-fil-A might consider adding them to menus nationwide.
Guacamole: Who knew that some Chick-fil-A restaurants in California - 27, to be exact - offer guacamole? Here's a full list of the locations, including North Orange and Carmel Mountain.
Cheese sauce: Plenty of lucky Midwesterners can get cheese as 194 restaurants in the Northeast and Midwest offer cheese sauce as a condiment. The Chick-fil-A spokesperson said this is an optional condiment for restaurants to offer where there is demand for it.
Chicken gravy: Only nine Chick-fil-A restaurants in the US offer chicken gravy in Arizona, Iowa, and Arkansas.
Jalapeños: There are 129 restaurants in Texas and New Mexico that serve jalapeño peppers.
Spicy Biscuit: Not all restaurants offer the Spicy Biscuit for breakfast, but customers can still order it in select cities.

What Kind of Milk Is Really the Standard at Starbucks?

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:25:03 -0700

Unless you specify otherwise, your Starbucks latte will be made with 2 percent milk . . . but that wasn't always the case. When Starbucks first opened in 1971, all lattes and milk-based drinks were made with whole milk because former CEO Howard Schultz wanted use the milk that Italians drink with their coffee. "Originally, Schultz only allowed whole milk in stores," because he strove to serve only "Italian-style espresso drinks," NPR reported.

While whole milk was the standard for more than 30 years, customers began to voice their opinions and demand a change, so Starbucks "eliminated all artificial trans fat and made 2 percent milk the new standard for espresso beverages" in 2007. What's interesting is that year was the first time that Starbucks actually started carrying 2 percent. If you asked for it before then, what you really got was a blend of whole milk and skim milk made by the barista. According to the Seattle Times, "each reduced-fat latte at Starbucks was its own unique blend. Baristas poured a little from the whole-milk jug and a little from the skim-milk bottle until one-of-a-kind fat reduction was achieved."

Now, it seems crazy to think there used to be limited options for the type of milk you wanted to order in your latte. Today, Starbucks's milks include whole, nonfat, 2 percent, soy, coconut, and, most recently, almond milk - Starbucks even uses separate milk steamers for dairy and nondairy beverages. Did you know that little piece of Starbucks history?

8 Things You Never Knew About Target Food, Straight From an Insider Employee

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:50:03 -0700

Since you spend so much time shopping at Target, you want to know as many secrets as possible, right? You're in luck, because we reached out to a Target representative for the official inside scoop on all things food shopping, from the return policy to the best money-saving tips. Keep these insider secrets in mind the next time you take a quick - or not so quick, probably - trip to Target.

You can return anything.

If you buy any item (including food) and decide you don't want it, you can return it for a full refund or exchange. "Guests can return anything, including grocery items. Most unopened items in new condition, returned within 90 days, will receive a refund or exchange." If it's a Target-owned brand item, you can return it within a whole year.

You can offer feedback and request items you'd like to see in the store.

Target really does listen to customers' concerns. "Because we are always eager to hear about our guests' experiences, Target.com encourages guests to create product reviews, add photos and videos, and interact with other guests." You never know if your idea might inspire the next snack in Target's aisles. "We have a test kitchen at our headquarters filled with expert chefs and trend watchers that create recipes and Target-owned innovations."

You can save a lot of money using Target's Cartwheel app.

Seriously, if you don't have Cartwheel by Target on your phone yet, download it now. It's an incredibly user-friendly app that makes your shopping experience even better. Cartwheel offers daily deals on items all over the store, from food to cleaning products. If you're feeling lazy, you don't even have to search the app - just scan the bar code of your product in the app and Cartwheel will tell you if it's on sale (pro tip: Archer Farms and Up & Up products usually are). "Since launching the app three years ago, more than 25 million guests have signed up for Cartwheel and saved more than $500 million on their Target purchases," the Target rep said.

You should take advantage of the price-match guarantee.

If you find something at a lower price within 14 days of your purchase, Target will match the price. "We'll match the price if you buy a qualifying item at Target then find the identical item for less at Target.com."

Some of the top-selling groceries are . . .

Archer Farms Monster Trail Mix, Simply Balanced Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, and Simply Balanced Vanilla Nut Clusters. Those are just a few of the bestselling snacks from Target.

Kids get free cookies at SuperTarget bakeries.

Kids who are 12 and younger can get a free cookie at SuperTarget store bakeries. The company recently added the option of getting a free piece of fruit instead.

You can get Archer Farms coffee beans ground at any in-store Starbucks for free.

Since most Targets have a Starbucks inside, this perk is incredibly convenient and desirable for coffee-lovers. While you're ordering your coffee for the day, you can also get a bag of whole beans ground to take home for the week. Archer Farms's coffee selections include French Roast, Cinnamon Vanilla Nut, and Café Mosaica.

You get a free "smash cake" when you purchase your child's first birthday cake from a Target baker.

While the rest of the party enjoys a separate, intact birthday cake, your baby can dive into a (free) smash cake.

- Additional reporting by Anna Monette Roberts

The Truth Behind Boxed Delivery Meal Kits: Are They Worth It?

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:20:33 -0700

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim

Have you ever wondered if the boxed delivery meal kits you've been ordering are actually worth it? Well, Dr. Oz investigated Blue Apron, Plated, and more to determine if the cost, cooking time, level of difficulty, nutrition, and taste actually outweigh simply grocery shopping and meal prepping the old-school way. Here's the quick recap.

Cost

It actually costs more to grocery shop than to invest in meal kits. Jenna Wolfe, a reporter for Dr. Oz, discovered grocery shopping for the same ingredients found in a meal kit recipe costs $34 (for a couple) versus $20 in a meal kit. The reason? At the store, you're forced to buy ingredients in bulk rather than in the exact amount you need for a recipe (a whole bunch of parsley or a giant glass spice container of mustard seed). Many of us can attest that extra bunch of herbs is likely to be wasted and thrown out before being used up in other meals, and as for those spices? They often go to spice shelf purgatory, never to be used and never to be thrown out. When you buy a meal kit, you get the 2 tablespoons of herbs and 1 teaspoon of spices, for instance. And you only pay for that small amount.

Time and Level of Difficulty

You will save time (about 20 minutes) with meal kits. When grocery shopping, you must factor in the amount of time you spend at the store navigating aisles to find the exact ingredients. This took reporter Jenna Wolfe 35 minutes, versus no time picking up a package from your front door. As for the actual cooking time, the recipe cards in meal kits come with step-by-step photos and explicit instructions, assuming the cook is a beginner and needs thorough explanation. Though Jenna found these recipes to take about 20 minutes more time than the card states, it's still faster than cooking from a recipe with no images and limited cooking instruction.

Nutrition and Taste

Jenna found the nutrition to be the same, but the taste won out in the delivery kit, mostly due to the higher quality of the protein! Having tried almost all the delivery meal kits in the market, I can attest that the quality of the meat and seafood is good and they seem to last longer than store-bought meat.

Meal Kit Drawbacks

Dealing with the boxes, styrofoam, and freezer pack waste is overwhelming and a drawback. Some delivery services like Terra's Kitchen do make use of reusable boxes and have a return policy for them so you don't have to deal with all the packaging! Another thing to remember is that meal kits don't really provide enough food for leftovers.

All in all, Dr. Oz and his reporter Jenna Wolfe think delivery meal kits win out, but what do you say? Take a look at the full video down below:

Video Source: ZoCo Productions LLC

Starbucks's Secret Pumpkin Caramel Macchiato Is About to Be Your New Favorite Fall Drink

Victoria Messina — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:05:43 -0700

In case you missed it, Starbucks's pumpkin-spice-flavored syrup is capable of a WHOLE lot more than just your basic PSL. Thanks to a handful of crafty coffee addicts out there, we have a wealth of secret menu drinks revolving around the Fall-approved flavor, and it's time we publicly profess our love for one in particular: the Caramel Pumpkin Macchiato. Just seeing those three words in succession has us drooling with anticipation.

Though this drink, which we'll just go ahead and refer to as the CPM, isn't on the official Starbucks menu, we have the exact directions you need for your barista to make it. When you ask for a caramel macchiato (either hot or iced), simply request that it's made with pumpkin-spice syrup instead of the vanilla syrup it's usually mixed with. And don't forget to ask for the pumpkin-spice topping (which consists of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove). Just like that, the coziest flavor combination ever can be yours.

Get a (virtual) taste of this Fall-approved concoction by scoping out the photos ahead. And if this doesn't quite satisfy your desire for pumpkin-filled secret menu items, the Pumpkin Cheesecake Frappuccino is sure to make your taste buds do a happy dance.

Starbucks's New Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte Is Perfect For Tea-Lovers

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:05:02 -0700

We're still celebrating the fact that it's officially acceptable to order a PSL every day because it's finally back, and now there's a brand-new pumpkin drink offering up some competition! Starbucks knows its customers love pumpkin spice beverages so much that it introduced the Teavana Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte, a tea-based beverage that consists of lightly sweet chai and a dash of pumpkin spice. You can order it hot or iced, depending on what kind of mood you're in. Available in the US and Canada now for $4 per Tall cup, the spiced chai latte is the perfect drink to cozy up with on a chilly Fall day when you want a pumpkin pick-me-up. 'Tis the season for pumpkin lattes galore, so add this to your list of must-try menu items.

100 Appetizers Perfect For Any Occasion

Nicole Perry — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:40:11 -0700

Whether you're hosting a casual game-day viewing party, a glam cocktail party, or something in between, we have an appetizer to match. Keep reading for our favorite party bites, including three-cheese macaroni and cheese bites, banh mi lettuce wraps, spinach-artichoke dip, and pizza croquetas.

These Adorable Halloween Lunchables Will Have You Feeling Like a Kid Again

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:25:22 -0700

A post shared by The Junk Food Aisle (@thejunkfoodaisle) on Oct 11, 2017 at 8:56am PDT

As excited as we are about all the new Halloween candy to try this year, we're highly considering swapping candy for Lunchables on Halloween night. Hear us out - we're not talking about pizza Lunchables, although that wouldn't be a bad idea either. We're talking about the Halloween-themed dunkable dessert snack packs! Our hearts are currently exploding at the sheer cuteness and nostalgia-inducing feelings we have for these Lunchables Snack Combinations, which appear to be limited-edition, spooky versions of older Lunhables products like Cookie Dunks.

The childhood flashbacks are hitting us real hard as we think about simpler times when snack time involved Lunchables and Dunkaroos - and aren't these basically a combination of the two? The good news about being an adult is that you can have whatever you want for a snack or dinner, Lunchable snack packs included, thank you very much.

Available in stores now, these adorable snacks come in flavors like S'mores Dippers, Dirt Cake, and Cookie Dunks, and each one features a spooky packaging upgrade with Halloween themes like vampires, mummies, and Frankenstein's monster. While the Halloween Lunchables are not new this year, it seems not everyone was aware of the glorious junk-food option, and this serves as your important PSA to go find them ASAP!

Hershey's Ditches the Chocolate For Its New Peanuts and Pretzels Gold Bar

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:16:01 -0700

A post shared by The Junk Food Aisle (@thejunkfoodaisle) on Sep 26, 2017 at 3:43pm PDT

If your favorite candy involves sweet, salty, and crunchy, you're going to need to pick up the new Hershey's Gold Peanuts & Pretzels. This exciting new discovery from the candy department was reported by Instagram user thejunkfoodaisle, who claims the Hershey's bar is coming soon. The golden-colored bar features "caramelized creme" instead of chocolate, which is an intriguing new twist on a classic Hershey's bar. We're swooning just thinking about sinking our teeth into one of these, and the comments on the Instagram photo are giving us plenty of ideas. "Omg imagine s'mores with these," one person wrote, while another predicted, "Low key thinking it's going to taste like a Snickers." If we're being honest, we think this might taste even better than a Snickers! We aren't sure when exactly this Hershey's product will hit shelves, but the rumor is December, so stay tuned for updates.

23 Chicken Recipes Made in a Slow Cooker

Nicole Perry — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:05:11 -0700

Some weeks work, social obligations, and household tasks pile up, making the idea of cooking a meal seem fanciful, even unachievable. When that happens, let your slow cooker be your savior. Armed with this piece of equipment, dinner can practically cook itself. Here, we rounded up more than 20 recipes made with a crowd-pleasing, affordable ingredient: chicken.

This Goth Halloween Cocktail at Disneyland Comes With an Eyeball Inside

Brinton Parker — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:25:18 -0700

Of all the delightfully spooky treats we've seen from Disneyland this Halloween season - and there are many - the seasonal cocktail from California Adventure's Cove Bar is our favorite, for more than just its flavor. First, because there's alcohol. A day at a theme park is even better when you can unwind with a drink and watch the World of Color show! And second, because of the drink's aesthetic: a dark purple hue with a glowing ice cube and a lychee fruit "eyeball" floating inside.

The restaurant menu describes the drink as a $14 vodka and Chambord concoction vaguely named "The Halloween Specialty Cocktail." (It's not the only spooky item on the menu for Halloween, either; Cove Bar also has spicy "Ghost-ly Pepper Nachos" all season.) Park-goers have gone absolutely bonkers over the gorgeously goth drink, describing it as "spooky sweet" with a lychee and maraschino cherry garnish that has the consistency of an eyeball.

Drop a glow cube inside, and the dark drink glows vivid purple while you enjoy it on a crisp Fall night. Sounds like Halloween perfection, no? If the description doesn't convince you that this cocktail should be first on your edible Halloween bucket list, just check out these creepy pictures!

Watch Alton Brown Hilariously Insult Kitchen Gadgets You Probably Own

Erin Cullum — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:05:29 -0700

Spiralizers, strawberry cutters, and meat shredders: kitchen gadgets you might own but will definitely think about tossing after you watch Alton Brown completely destroy them in this hilarious video by the Daily Dot. Alton, aka Thyme Lord and beloved Food Network chef, doesn't have time for cluttering his kitchen with unitaskers, - you know, tools that are useful for one task only - and he wants you to know you shouldn't either. By reading Amazon reviews of some popular and not-so-popular cooking items (beware of the oddly sexual Rollie), the Good Eats and Cutthroat Kitchen host displays his expertise in the sharp-yet-playful tone only he could offer. Watch the video above, and try not to laugh out loud (or cringe in embarrassment if you're the proud owner of any of these).