Taste Test: Starbucks Refreshers

A drink that's confusing to me: it contains green coffee extract. It doesn't taste like coffee. It has caffeine, but not as much as coffee. It's fizzy and slightly sweet. I understand it's supposed to compete with "energy drinks," however, I've never tasted an energy drink before. Bottom line: I like it, but not right out of the can. It has to be over ice. $1.99 for the size shown.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

"Almost" homemade. The chicken pieces were already breaded, so they were simply baked. The sauce is ketchup, white vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, red pepper flakes and sliced onions. Measure these things to taste. Bring to a simmer to thicken. Serve with jasmine rice.

Spiral-cut Dog

I was among the millions who saw that viral video about spiral-cutting a hot dog. It makes it easier to stuff in the extras. Plus, even kids who don't want anything on their hot dogs think it's cool. [directions: skewer the dog and use a knife to cut to the center and twirl the dog around for spiral-cut]

Corn Guacamole

Kernels scraped from leftover corn-on-the-cob, chopped grape tomatoes, minced onion, minced garlic, diced avocados and salt. Corona on the side. Cheers.

Alaskan Raspberry Wheat Taste Test

I'm taste-testing fruit beers for the next few weeks. This is my second raspberry beer: Alaskan Raspberry Wheat. When I poured it, I smelled sweet raspberries, but I didn't ever really taste any raspberries. There was a slight fruitiness of some sort, but mostly I thought I tasted hops. Although this is a darker-colored brew, it feels light. Because I couldn't taste any raspberries, I added a few from my garden. [probably violated some kind of beer etiquette, right?] I'm judging beers on their fruit-flavors, so this one is behind Purple Haze on the fruity scale.

Raspberry Beer: Patio Pig-Approved

I've never been a big beer fan, and used to joke when I was younger that I would like a cherry or raspberry beer, whenever anyone asked me what kind of beer I wanted. Well, I recently discovered that there now are several raspberry, and even cherry, beers available. The one pictured is Abita Purple Haze. And I liked it! I purchased two other raspberry beers for taste-testing and will post when they're fully tested.