Foodie Friday: Fazing over Fazoli’s

My latest dessert obsession:

*Nutella* Cheesecake from Fazoli’s

Don’t let the solid chocolate look fool ya … This bad boy’s full of flavor!

Combines 2 of my faves:

• Chocolate hazelnut
• My favorite fast food joint
  

  The darker the chocolate :: The sweeter the flavor!

There’s never been anything that I didn’t like from Fazoli’s ~ Italian, I’m in Heaven ~ including from this most recent visit.

Giving Grape Italian Lemon Ice ~ a drink with a contributory cause!

Penne Romano ~ steaming HOT!!!

Yummy Post-Church Meal complete with blessings!

I’ve lucked out with this eatery (which opened in my hometown, thanks to my h.s. buddy’s dad ~ a contractor who liked it when he visited his son in college and decided to build it by their family home) because it’s always been quick, inexpensive and most of all: delicious!

Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I’ve rung in the New Year with Fazoli’s!

My former workout partner (who now lives overseas for the military) and I used to grab Italian Lemon Ice at Fazoli’s after we’d have a fun run at the park around the corner ~ we’d burn calories then reward ourselves with something sweet, refreshing and healthy!

Classic Strawberry Italian Ice ~ nothing classic about it! #BoldAndFresh

Alfredo & Marinara + Meatballs = YOLO Italiano!

F is for … Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I’ve even feasted on Fazoli’s while watching Fast & Furious movies at the drive-in!

Plus, now that I typically fly solo, I’ve done my work or homework there after hitting the track myself and have tried almost ALL of the seasonal desserts (except for the Red Velvet Cheesecake around ♥Valentine’s♥ Day ~ because it was out when I visited)!

Watching my ☼truck☼ while sipping on this Strawberry Italian Ice Float!

My fave Fazoli’s dessert before the Nutella Cheesecake came along … This Ghirardelli Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake!

How do you eat an elephant? Savoring every single bite!

Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I took 3 hours to work on this meal while writing my dissertation concept proposal!

Foodie Friday: Banana Ice Cream

♪This sh** is bananas ~ B-A-N-A-N-A-S!♫

~ Gwen Stefani‘s ♫Hollaback♪ (2005)

Throwback from my first Myspace song …

… Which is the inspiration behind my most frequent ☼summer☼ dessert lately:

Banana Ice Cream!!!

Here are a few different from-fresh-to-frozen banana batches from this past week:

Banana Honey Walnut

Chunky Monkey: Banana + Jif Mocha Cappuccino Hazelnut Spread & Chocolate Cookies

Butter Pecan: Banana + Cocoa Cookie Butter & Butterscotch Morsels & Pecan Chips

More music inspiration from Jack Johnson …

• ♫Banana Pancakes♪
• ♫Better Together♪ 

Happy *4th of July* mañana!!!

Foodie Friday: Battle of the Butters ~ What Does Your Favorite Spread Say About You?

Chocolate + Nuts = Buttered Bliss!

Don’t Mess with these Butters!

I’ve been a Nutella nut for several years (including since Kobe Bryant endorsed it before his infamous scandal that led Ferrero ~ yes, the same brand of the famous hazelnut truffle candy ~ to drop him), but do the other cocoa-based spreads out there also live up to the hype? I’ve taste-tested some of them to compare…

Stars of the Show

Ferrero Nutella Hazelnut Spread® with Skim Milk & Cocoa

Nutella: The Original Hazelnut Spread ®

Jif Mocha Cappuccino Flavored Hazelnut Spread

Jif Mocha Cappuccino Hazelnut Spread

Barefoot & Chocolate ♡ Almond Coconut

Barefoot & Chocolate™ Almond Coconut Chocolate Spread

Honorable Mentions

Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter

As my trainer has said about food, “It’s like Christmas!”

Organic Almond Butter *featured on my Pretty Fit WIMK segment*

Uh-oh, the Original Hazelnut Spread® strikes again!

Any of these spreadable edibles work to top off toast, and the sky’s the limit on how to add them to main courses, desserts or snacks, such as Crepes, brownies and croissants.

Superlatives
Nutella: thickest consistency
Jif Mocha Cappuccino: sweetest flavor
B&C Almond Coconut: thinnest consistency

Other Butters
Cookie Butter: gritty nut alternative
Almond Butter: bland, crunchy

What do these super spreads say about your personality?

If your pick is…
Nutella: You’re conservative and conventional. You tend to stick with traditions and resist change.

Jif MC: You’re over-the-top and prefer to go all out, from the way you dress to how you plan.

B&C AC: You’re chill and mellow, meaning you go with the flow and play if by ear.

Cookie Butter: You’re unique and one-of-a-kind, as Jamie Foxx has sung “Unpredictable.”

Almond Butter: You’re nutty and quirky, but that’s all in the beauty and charm!

Food for thought, for your information:

Nutrition Facts

Spread (2tbs)	Total Calories	Total Fat (g)	Total Carbs (g)	Total Protein (g)	Pros or Cons
Nutella	200	12	21	2	Con: 15mg Sodium; Pros: 4% Calcium, Iron
Jif MC HS	230	14	21	2	Cons: <5g Cholesterol, 40g Sodium; Pro: 6% Calcium, Iron
B&C AC HS	200	13	16	3	Con: 10mg Sodium; Pros: 6% Calcium, 15% Iron
TJ’s Spec CB	180	12	16	<1	The recommended serving size is 1tbs, so I doubled the units, and they’re still less than the rest!
Almond Butter	180	16	7	5	Pros: 8% Calcium, 6% Iron, 4% Folate

I’ve concluded that I can’t compare apples to oranges. While each of these have similarities since they’re all spreads, tastes and textures vary.

Enjoy your weekend, and please comment with links to your photos or recipes of chocolicious or cookielicious or nutritious concoctions!

Happy Eating … But what’s better is adding more company to the mix!

Happy Eating + Meeting & Greeting!

🙂