Starbucks + Pinkberry = Sorbetto

[BarTopDancer]

Aka weird drinks.

Link here (http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2008/07/15/starbucks-debuts-pinkberry-inspired-drink-today-in-oc/)

I tasted the mango one yesterday, and it is basically Pinkberry plain yogurt with a mango juice/syrup concoction poured on top. It wasn't terrible, but if I was in the mood for frozen yogurt I'd go to Golden Spoon or if I wanted a smoothie I'd hit a smoothie store.

[Chernabog]

Or if I wanted a pinkberry, I'd go to pinkberry ;)

I'll probably try a Starbucks one anyway; I'm a sucker for new drinks.

[Lauragar]

I tried the banana and chocolate one with an add shot, and it was bad. I think Starbucks should stay to coffee. Hubby tried the fruit one, mango something, he said it was just ok, nothing special. I will stick to the coffee drinks for the house payment price.

[3894]

My daughter has a summer job at Dairy Queen and did you know how many calories are in a large Blizzard????? (http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/52932.html)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Yes, I did, thanks to hungrygirl.com - which is why I do not eat them (or, except for rare occasion, shakes. I love shakes. It kills me how many calories are hiding in that ten-minute indulgence!) I do love a good dipped cone though, which has about 1/4 of the calories of the blizzard.

[Chernabog]

My daughter has a summer job at Dairy Queen and did you know how many calories are in a large Blizzard????? (http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/52932.html)

Holy dear geebus! What the hell is a chocolate-dipped strawberry blizzard -- I think an ENTIRE HALF GALLON of Thrifty's Rainbow Sherbet has 1400 calories.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

The Jack in the Box vanilla shake has only 200 calories fewer than a blizzard. But then, this is what happens when you put three cups of whole-fat ice cream in a blender with liquid sugar and a candy bar.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm so glad ice cream and I don't get along that well.

If I eat something like that, I get the kids size whenever possible and only eat about half. I just had a kids shake from Ruby's and I'm hating life right now.

[lashbear]

Yes, I did, thanks to hungrygirl.com.
WOW! I love that website. I'm making this for dinner tonight:

Bloomin' Blossom

http://users.tpg.com.au/adslgroh/pics/Bloomin Bloosom.bmp

This swap for those notorious Awesome Blossom fried onion appetizers is slightly more complicated than our other recipes -- but it is SO, SO, SOOOO worth it!

Ingredients:

For Onion:
1 jumbo sweet onion, not peeled
1 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original), ground to a breadcrumb-like
consistency in a blender or food processor
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Original Egg Beaters)
1/4 tsp. seasoned salt (like the one by Lawry's)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. black pepper

For Sauce:
3 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise
2 tsp. ketchup
1/8 tsp. seasoned salt
dash chili powder

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine ground cereal with the seasoned salt,
garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well and set aside.

Cut the top half-inch of the onion off (from the pointy side, not the flat one).
Leaving the root (bottom) intact, carefully peel the outside layer off.

Next, starting from the top, carefully cut the onion down and across the
middle, stopping about a half-inch from the root. Repeat to make a criss-
cross, cutting the onion down the middle again and stopping a half-inch from
the bottom. You should now have 4 sections still attached at the bottom. Cut
each of those sections down the middle (from the top), again stopping before
you get to the root.

Place the onion, cut side up, in a large bowl, and cover completely with ice
water. Allow to sit for 5 - 10 minutes, or until "petals" open up. (You can use
your hands to gently help pry them open once they've been soaking for
several minutes.) Remove the onion, and dry both the onion and the bowl.

Once both are dry, place the onion back in the bowl, with the petals up. Pour
the egg substitute evenly over it, making sure to get in between all the petals
(use your hands to separate them). Swirl egg substitute around so the
bottom and sides of the onion get coated. Then flip the onion over to drain
excess egg substitute. The entire surface of the onion should be covered
lightly with egg substitute. Transfer onion to a separate, dry bowl. (You'll
likely have about half the egg substitute left in the first bowl.)

Slowly sprinkle ground cereal mixture evenly over the onion, making sure to
thoroughly coat each petal -- again, use your hands to separate them --
flipping the onion upside-down once you're almost done coating, so that the
entire surface gets coated in crumbs. (If needed, spread a little more egg
substitute on any dry spots to get the crumbs to stick.) Spray a baking dish
with nonstick spray, and place the onion in it with the petals facing up.

Place dish in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes (until outside is crispy
and inside is soft). Meanwhile, combine sauce ingredients. When onion is
done, allow it to cool slightly. If you like, carefully cut out the center of the onion (so petals are easy to remove). Serve with sauce and enjoy! MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Serving Size: half of recipe (including half of the sauce)
Calories: 192
Fat: 1.75g
Sodium: 700mg
Carbs: 54g
Fiber: 17g
Sugars: 13g
Protein: 7g

POINTS® value 3*

[Stan4dSteph]

Doesn't it make more sense to introduce this product in a place where it won't be competing with something similar? Or maybe this is a national rollout. I am very out of the loop at the moment...

[3894]

Or maybe this is a national rollout. I am very out of the loop at the moment...

It's national. As you know, Starbucks is closing a number of outlets, refocussing on more consistent product via better training, introducing these new drinks and some food items in the fall.

[Stan4dSteph]

I looked at the website after I posted that and see that there is some sort of banana choco drink that is not too bad on calories and fat. Awesome! Since I don't have any Jamba Juice-type places where I live in NY, I look forward to trying one of those.

Two of the closures will be in the Albany area. I hope your Starbucks isn't closing, 3894!

[3894]

I hope your Starbucks isn't closing, 3894!

It's safe, thank God! We now have a Target and a Starbucks. Now, if only a dim sum joint would go in one of the empty storefronts on Main Street, my day-to-day needs would be pretty much met.

[Chernabog]

It's safe, thank God! We now have a Target and a Starbucks. Now, if only a dim sum joint would go in one of the empty storefronts on Main Street, my day-to-day needs would be pretty much met.

Substitute "Thai restaurant" for "dim sum joint" and "Gamestop" for "Target" and you'd pretty much have my life down too.

Well, except for that whole Disneyland thing. ;)

[belleh5]

Today I tried the Orange Mango smoothie at Starbucks. It was gross!!

There are 2 Starbucks closing in San Jose (I think).