Just When You Thought The Magic Was Over….

  

The rainy weather has moved in once again, and the wind has really picked up as well. It’s just the beginning of the rainy season for Washingtonians, so we’re in for a long ride. With no sign of the stormy weather letting up today, I decided to stick with my nearest fro-yo option today. As much as I would have enjoyed an encore performance at Menchie’s Tacoma Mall, sometimes Mother Nature dictates otherwise. As the rain continued to pour, I dug out my galoshes and canoed my way to Menchie’s at Hawks Prairie.

Guess how many people were there today? Two; me and the manager. It’s not that surprising since there was a monsoon outside, so I have a feeling the shop will be very slow today. That’s okay because I prefer to have it all to myself, plus it gives me a chance to visit with the manager. As we caught up on the latest happenings, I took a peek at today’s lineup in the hopes that they would still have Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. I knew the odds were in my favor because this location is notorious for not having the new promotional flavors on their scheduled release dates, and true to fashion Spiced Gingerbread Cookie is still available and the newest release (Southern Pecan Pie) has yet to make an appearance. That’s good enough for me! Both are tasty, but out of the two I’d rather have Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. As I looked at the rest of the lineup, I had a taste for two in particular: Dreamy Dulce de Leche and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. I quickly sampled each, but I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was a little on the icy side and didn’t pass the quality test. That was too bad, but at least Dreamy Dulce de Leche was creamy and wonderful. I gazed at the rest of the lineup for a third possibility, but the only potential candidate was Live From New York Cheesecake. The rain continued to pour, but I was quite content with what I was about to encounter. As I made my way to the cups, there was an exciting surprise waiting. This location recently found two cases of last year’s color-changing cups, so customers currently have a choice between having the new collectible Alvin & The Chipmunks cup or a magical color-changing Halloween cup. As much as I love Alvin & The Chipmunks, it’s been over a year since I had the chance to use a color-changing cup and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers. Time to let the magic begin!

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was the first to arrive on the scene, followed by Live From New York Cheesecake and Dreamy Dulce de Leche in a ratio of 50-20-30% respectively. The trio was off to a great start, but there were still a few sweet additions that were needed. Dreamy Dulce de Leche was given a small chunk of chocolate while Live From New York Cheesecake was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I had a special topping in mind for Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, so I planned ahead and brought a special stash of Cinnabon Morsels which would get added at the table. A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, right? There was one other order of business before hitting the scale, though; cookie dough bites and whipped cream made their way throughout the cup and then it was time to pay. After today’s discount, my total was only $0.67; not bad if I do say so myself. It seemed only appropriate that since I had a color-changing cup I should pick a color-changing spoon as opposed to a red Alvin the Chipmunk spoon. I grabbed my favorite table, added my secret stash of Cinnabon Morsels, and then it was time to take the first bite.

As expected, this was scrumptious and definitely worth getting soaked for. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory with a wonderful spice-induced flavor, and it was elevated even more with the special Cinnabon topping. Nothing like some gingerbread to get into the holiday season! Live From New York Cheesecake was mild but still had that special something, probably because of its PB topping. Zelda love love loves her Peanut Butter, and one way or another there will be PB in the cup whether it’s fro-yo or a topping. Dreamy Dulce de Leche was smooth and indulgent, satisfying all of my sweet caramel craving dreams. Chocolate and caramel? Ooh that’s a sinfully sweet combination that I can’t pass up. Bite after bite of pure decadent bliss, Zelda’s taste buds were over the moon and there was no looking back.

Surprisingly, there ended up being a few other customers who came in while I was eating. That was quite unexpected for both myself and the manager since this is the kind of weather that usually keeps customers away, but the fro-yo cravings don’t stop just because the weather is less than desirable. Whether you choose to answer them or not, that’s a different story. I’ve driven through snow storms and icy roads all in the name of Peanut Butter, so a little bit of rain and wind is nothing. I don’t know about you, but I’m not prepared to suffer the wrath of ignoring my sweet tooth!

Until we eat again….

Z-

 

Move Over Pumpkin Pie, It’s Pecan Time

   

   

   

It’s Monday once again, and no one usually looks forward to the start of the week. The only time Mondays are appealing is when there’s a holiday or a new fro-yo flavor. Just my luck, there happens to be a new flavor at Menchie’s as of yesterday! I know better than to pin all of my fro-yo hopes on a new flavor, so there has to be a backup plan that involves Peanut Butter. My strongest PB option at the moment is Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall, plus they have another one of my favorites. Sold! The weather may have been cold and windy, but it wasn’t going to keep me from a special dessert. Back to the mall for a noteworthy adventure!

There were two other customers when I arrived, so evidently the damp day didn’t keep everyone away. The team member welcomed me in as I grabbed my favorite table, and then I was anxious to see what yummy things awaited me. The holiday promotion began two weeks ago and has launched three flavors so far, one of which has already departed. Chocolate Mint Creme made with Andes is one of the lucky ones that will be in all month, but Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was only in the store for two weeks and departed to make way for today’s arrival of Southern Pecan Pie. It’s too bad because I really like Spiced Gingerbread Cookie whereas I’m not a fan of mint flavored fro-yo. That’s the breaks, though! Luckily for me Southern Pecan Pie is yummy, although I have to say that I didn’t get much of a nutty flavor. It’s very sweet and it almost reminded me of a maple flavor more so than pecan. It’s been years since I’ve had pecan pie, but this didn’t really taste like pecan pie to me. If I didn’t know what the flavor was, I probably wouldn’t be able to identify it in a blind taste test. It was still yummy and a definite contender, so that’s what really matters. I already knew what my two main flavors would be, so a quick quality check ensured their place in the cup and then it was time to create.

Creamy Peanut Butter was joined by Southern Pecan Pie and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll to make a sweet and scrumptious delight. A powerful trio this was, and all it needed was a few tasty trinkets. Creamy Peanut Butter was accented with Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips, Southern Pecan Pie received a light dusting of graham cracker crumbs, and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was in its own sweet bliss because it was drizzled with cream cheese icing. It also had another topping that would be arriving once I sat down at the table, but that’s something I’ll get to in a moment. For the entire cup, cookie dough bites and whipped cream were added before redeeming a 50% discount through the Pirq smartphone app. Awesome! I grabbed my spoon and headed to the table, and that’s when the highly coveted Cinnabon Morsels made their appearance. The promotional topping ran out a few weeks ago, but I took home a cup for future Cinnabon encounters and I always bring it with me. After they made their appearance, I was ready to indulge.

I was in heaven from the first bite! Creamy Peanut Butter had such decadence that dazzled me through and through. I can never get enough of this amazing flavor, and it’s an encounter like this that made me fall in love with it in the first place. Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was the second favorite of the day, enrobed in its specially themed toppings. Every bite was tantalizing, and I was quickly in a state of fro-yo euphoria. Southern Pecan Pie was succulent and had a sugary sweetness, blending well with both of its neighbors. It was the smallest portion of the three, but it held its own very nicely. Graham cracker crumbs were a perfect accent considering this was a “pie” flavor even though it didn’t make me think of pecan pie per se. I tried to make the cup last as long as possible, but all good things eventually come to an end. I guess it’s a good thing for me that there’s always another adventure waiting in the wings, so let’s hope it’s every bit as amazing as Monday’s was!

Until we eat again….

Z-

It’s Back In All Its Cinnabon Glory!

   

Another rainy Saturday, but that didn’t stop Zelda from tracking down her beloved PB. Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall still has Creamy Peanut Butter for the time being, plus they brought back another one of Zelda’s favorites. They were definitely the most promising of options, so as the rain continued to fall I found myself searching for a parking spot at a rather crowded Tacoma Mall in hopes of something scrumptious. Persistence paid off, but would the reward?

The shop was empty compared to all of the stores inside the mall, but it wasn’t exactly the kind of day that would make someone crave a frozen treat (unless you’re Zelda). The team member welcomed me in and was wondering if she’d see me today since I’ve been in the last few Saturdays. I am quite the creature of habit after all, and when there is Peanut Butter that’s even more assurance that I’ll stop by. It probably won’t be around much longer, but at least it’s here today. To make things even better, the shop brought back one of my favorites yesterday: Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. It was one of last month’s featured flavors and has been disappearing and reappearing at a few locations lately; I’ve been tracking it down like a mad woman! This shop is also the only location that still has the cream cheese icing that was released with it, so that’s a major bonus. And if that’s not enough, I’m also a big fan of Spiced Gingerbread Cookie which debuted two weeks ago. Today’s the last day to have it at Tacoma Mall because the next featured flavor arrives tomorrow, so I have to enjoy it while I can. With three heavy hitters, there was no need to look any further. I still checked the rest of the lineup to make sure I didn’t overlook anything, but these were the only three that called out. After a quick quality check, my Alvin & The Chipmunks cup was ready to be filled.

Creamy Peanut Butter the first flavor to arrive, and it was joined by Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie respectively. Creamy Peanut Butter had the luxury of being joined by crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as well as Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by graham cracker crumbs as well as cream cheese icing, and then I moved on to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. When the flavor was released, there were two promotional toppings that coincided with it: Cinnabon Morsels and cream cheese icing. The Cinnabon Morsels ran out a few weeks ago, but I brought home a cup of them for my own personal stash, so they make an appearance at any and all Cinnabon encounters. Since they usually get added after I pay, I drizzled a little bit of cream cheese icing to Cinnabon before adding my final two accents of cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout the cup. After redeeming a discount through the Pirq smartphone app, I received a 50% discount on my order. Awesome! Time to grab a spoon and add the coveted morsels to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. Perfecto! You know what comes next…..indulgence.

Wow, what a home run! Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll had an amazing savory comfort, and every bite made my tongue dance with excitment. Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was the highlight of the two, but Spiced Gingerbread Cookie wasn’t too shabby in the least. Creamy Peanut Butter seemed to melt in my mouth and awakened every sense imaginable. My sweet tooth was in heaven! It’s a bit different compared to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, so it’s hard to say which of the two was my favorite today. I enjoyed both in their own special way, holding on to every bite as long as possible. Eventually I got to the last bite which was a mixure of Creamy Peanut Butter and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, and then I was staring at the few remaining droplets and wondering where it had all gone. If there were a dreamy Saturday encounter to be had, this was definitely it. It’s going to take a lot to top this with Sunday’s adventure, so I’m already looking at my possibilities. Will it be a visit to the land of yogurt or a possible refreshment in Seattle? Or perhaps a return to Menchie’s to welcome in the next flavor? What will the taste buds ask for?

Until we eat again….

Z-

13 Rules The Day

   

   

It’s Fro-Yo Friday the 13th! I’m not much into superstition, and I actually find the number 13 to be quite lucky. There are plenty of people out there who avoid black cats and walking under ladders, though. For my Fro-Yo Friday the 13th adventure, I decided to pay a visit to the crew at Menchie’s in Hawks Prairie since I hadn’t been there yet this week. They’ve always got a few flavors I crave, and they’re the most convenient option. Considering that it was raining cats and dogs outside, a short drive was much appreciated. As the afternoon arrived, a Menchie’s encounter was upon me.

I was the first customer of the day, and the manager greeted me with a big smile. It’s been a while since I’ve been in during her shift, and she has definitely noticed. We had plenty to catch up on, and it was perfect timing since the weather was so lousy. Not too many people think about fro-yo on a cold and rainy day, but the weather never stops me. As we chatted, I took a look to see what had changed since last week’s visit and noticed one big difference…..Creamy Peanut Butter has left the building! I knew it was coming, so it wasn’t a surprise and I had prepared myself for it. In its place was one of the featured flavors for the month, Chocolate Mint Creme (made with Andes). I’m not much of a mint fro-yo fan, so I didn’t give it a second thought and kept looking. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie is another featured flavor that I find rather appealing, so it was my strongest contender. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was my second leading option, and the sample found it to be just the way I like it (not too chocolatey). I also considered Dreamy Dulce de Leche, but caramel wasn’t calling me today like it usually does. Since I already had two dominant flavors, I looked at possible divider flavors and decided on Live From New York Cheesecake. Time to grab a cup and get to it!

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by Live From New York Cheesecake and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. As I pondered the toppings, I knew there had to be something special and I started with chocolate. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was given crushed KitKat and chocolate chunks while Live From New York Cheesecake was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I planned in advance for Spiced Gingerbread Cookie because there are only a couple of toppings I really like to use, and neither are available at this location. Both of the two in question are promotional toppings from last month’s Cinnabon flavor, and Zelda just so happens to have some of the last remaining Cinnabon Morsels in her possession. Since they make their appearance at the table, I added my usual go-to toppings of cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout the cup and after today’s discount the cup was only  whopping $0.13. How’s that for a coincidence? Fro-Yo Friday the 13th for $0.13! The shop still has some of the color changing spoons as well as the new Alvin the Chipmunk spoon, so I grabbed one of each and claimed my favorite table. A girl has to have her choice of spoons, right? The last order of business was to add the super secret Cinnabon Morsels to Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, and then it was ready for tasting.

I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was the first flavor to leave the cup; it was rich and well balanced, satisfying my chocolate cravings. Live From New York Cheesecake was mild yet sweet, and its PB topping really gave it pizzazz. Zelda loves her PB, and if I can’t have Peanut Butter fro-yo then you can be certain that there will be a PB topping. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory and scrumptious, and the Cinnabon Morsels were a perfect accompaniment. Had the cream cheese icing still been available, I would have gone with that as well. It ran out within the last week, so it’s becoming a little more scarce and Tacoma Mall is the only location that still has it (as of Wednesday). Before I knew it, I was taking the last few bites and licking the spoon clean. What a way to spend a rainy afternoon!

The shop only had two other customers while I was there, and it was rather funny because one of them reciognized me as soon as she walked in. She was a lady who had been at the Capital Mall location on Tuesday and we were casually talking about flavors etc. Dreamy Dulce de Leche came up in conversation and the fact that Capital Mall hasn’t had it lately, so I mentioned that Hawks Prairie keeps it as a permanent flavor. Well, wouldn’t you know it? She took my advice and came in today just so she could have it. It was ironic that we were both here at the same time, so we both got a kick out of that. Great minds think alike, right?

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Special Veteran’s Treat

It’s Wednesday, but it feels like a weekend because it’s Veteran’s Day. A mid-week holiday is always a good thing! In honor of the holiday, I invited my favorite veteran to join me on my adventure today and it just so happened that Menchie’s is offering a free yogurt to veterans as well as active duty and family members. If there’s free fro-yo, you can bet I’ll be there! The Tacoma Mall location has a great lineup at the moment to include my beloved PB, so after a fun morning of shopping holiday sales and enjoying a complimentary lunch it was dessert time at Menchie’s.

The shop was bustling with military families when I arrived, and I think this is probably one of the busiest days I’ve seen at this store. I was surprised that my favorite table was open, so I grabbed it before anyone else had a chance to. My friend was working today, so she welcomed me in amidst all of the hubbub and we chatted in between customers. We always enjoy our visits, and I try to drop by when I know she’s working. Once the shop quieted down, I ventured over toward the sample cups to see what looked tempting. So many choices! I didn’t see anything different since my visit on Saturday, so that made the choice a simple one. Three flavors called out to me, and they all passed their quality check even though Creamy Peanut Butter was not so creamy and was a little firmer than it should have been. The other two were ideal, but this one was slightly less than perfect. I guess PB might have the minority of the cup for a change.

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie and (not so) Creamy Peanut Butter. Whenever I have bold flavors in the cup, it’s nice to separate them with a milder divider flavor and Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was perfect for the task. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie had the pleasure of being adorned with Cinnamon Toast Crunch (from Zelda’s personal stash) as well as cream cheese icing, Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Creamy Peanut Butter was given a chocolate accompaniment in the form of Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. For the finale cookie dough bites and whipped cream were generously distributed throughout the cup to make it complete, and the cup was free thanks to the generous Veteran’s Day offer. With a collectible Alvin the Chipmunk spoon in hand, I was ready to savor the reward.

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie were today’s highlights, and every bite was a dream. I love the savory presence of Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, and it always goes so well with cream cheese icing. The icing is a former promotional topping that was brought in for Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, so it’s only here for a short time and the shop is almost out. I don’t know how I’ll survive after it’s gone, but I’m sure I’ll manage. It really adds a nice touch to some of the autumn flavors, so it will really be missed. Creamy Peanut Butter may not have lived up to its name today, but it’s hard to say anything bad about my favorite flavor. Since it wasn’t a perfect 10, it was the first flavor to exit so that I could focus on the two creamier offering. Talk about saving the best for last! It wasn’t long before the cup was empty and staring back at me, and my sweet tooth was once again satisfied. With the holiday coming to a close, there are just two short days until another weekend rolls around. And something tells me that tomorrow will find Zelda in the Emerald City! Who’s up for a refreshment?

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Triple Play In MOre ways than one

Sunday’s adventure took a little bit of a different turn than originally expected, but it was a yummy one nonetheless. Typically I enjoy lunch at my favorite Tukwila restaurant followed by a visit to Yogurtland in Kent, but I decided to switch it up a bit and ended up having lunch in Federal Way. I was still planning to visit the land of yogurt, but my favorite fro-yo companion was with me and had not been to Menchie’s since the new flavors arrived. It actually worked out quite well because Yogurtland’s new promotion starts tomorrow, so there’s a likely chance that I’ll be going. Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall has a really amazing lineup right now anyway, so it didn’t take much convincing for me to change my plans. After a fantastic meal, it was back to Tacoma Mall for another Menchie’s indulgence.

The shop was bustling with several families when I arrived, and I can’t even remember the last time I saw so many people here. My favorite table was still available, so I quickly grabbed it and then said hello to the team member. The first thing I noticed was that one of the machines was turned around to be serviced, and unfortunately for me it was the machine with Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. Oh no! Evidently the team member was having trouble with a few of the parts and was having trouble putting the machine back together. She had been trying for a while and had no luck, but then the shop got busy and she hadn’t been able to work on it any more. Instead of waiting for the next team member to come in, my favorite fro-yo companion offered to help and wouldn’t you know it….they had the magic touch and within a couple of minutes the machine was successfully put back together. Hooray! After a short time of waiting for the yogurt to freeze, we got the thumbs up that Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was back in business. i already knew which flavors I wanted and nothing had changed since yesterday, so my sampling was brief. Time to build a masterpiece!

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie and Creamy Peanut Butter to make a perfect trio of goodness. A sweet and savory combination like this deserves a few special accompaniments, so I started with Spiced Gingerbread Cookie which was given graham cracker crumbs and cream cheese icing. Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Creamy Peanut Butter was adorned with Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. Cookie dough bites and whipped cream are two of my must-have toppings, so both were added to all three flavors to make it complete. After redeeming a deal through the Pirq smartphone app, I received a 50% savings which is always a bonus. Time to dig in!

What a hit! This trio had it all….sweet, savory, not to mention the CHOCOLATE! Zelda loves her chocolate toppings, especially when it comes to dark chocolate. Creamy Peanut Butter was rich and had wonderful flavor making it the highlight of the cup once again although Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was a very close second. There’s something about that savory goodness that combines so nicely with the cream cheese icing; it’s a match made in heaven! I’m really going to miss having the cream cheese icing once it’s gone, but Spiced Gingerbread Cookie will only be here for a short time anyway. Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie aka Pan’s Pixie Dusted Sugar Cookie was sweet and sugary, and its texture was much better than yesterday. It still wasn’t perfectly creamy, but it was well on its way. The entire cup had my taste buds in overdrive, and it was such a euphoric feeling. Another great finish to the weekend! Typically no one likes to see the weekend wrap up, but Monday will bring something new in the land of yogurt. It looks like Zelda might be taking a road trip to Kent!

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Sugar Cookie Without Pixie Dust

  

   

Another rainy Saturday found Zelda making the drive back to Tacoma. In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m quite the creature of habit. I have certain places I like to go on the weekend, so I often spend my Saturdays in Tacoma which opens up a few extra options for fro-yo. After such a delicious encounter yesterday at Menchie’s, I didn’t think twice about returning to Tacoma Mall for an encore. Peanut Butter, here I come!

The shop wasn’t very busy today, but that’s not a surprise since the weather was kind of yucky. The mall itself was busy with lots of shoppers trying to get a jump on the upcoming holiday season, but not too many people were looking for a frozen snack. Both of the team members welcomed me in and we chatted for a while, and then I took a look at today’s offerings. Although I was just here yesterday, there was an exciting flavor change. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream had been replaced by a new but very familiar flavor. At first I thought it to be something I hadn’t seen before, but then I realized it was a former promotional flavor in disguise. In September, Menchie’s debuted Pan’s Pixie Dusted Sugar Cookie during their promotion for the “Pan” theatrical release. It was only in stores for the month and quietly exited as September came to an end. Evidently the flavor was such a hit that it has become part of the regular rotation at Menchie’s under its permanent name, Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie. This was definitely great news, and I immediately grabbed a sample cup. The texture was a little bit firmer than what it should have been, but it wasn’t to the point where I wouldn’t get it in my cup. My other two top contenders were Creamy Peanut Butter and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, so after a quick quality check I was ready to start mixing.

Creamy Peanut Butter was the first flavor to arrive at the party, followed by Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. Creamy Peanut Butter had the majority of the cup at 50% while Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was a modest divider flavor at 20%, leaving Spiced Gingerbread Cookie to make up the remaining 30%. My eyes lit up at the sight of this sweet and savory combo, but it wasn’t complete without a few special trinkets. Creamy Peanut Butter was paired with Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips, Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was adorned with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie had the pleasure of graham cracker crumbs and cream cheese icing. For the finale, cookie dough bites and whipped cream were added throughout just to liven it up even more. I even utilized another deal through the Pirq smartphone app and got a 50% discount, so let’s hear it for savings! With another collectible Alvin the Chipmunk spoon in hand, I grabbed my favorite table and indulged.

Creamy Peanut Butter was today’s highlight once again with its smooth and satisfying decadence. There’s nothing like having fresh PB, and this was definitely a 10 on Zelda’s scale of PB perfection. From the first bite I was completely mesmerized and knew I’d be feeling the effects of a PB coma very shortly. Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was sweet and pleased my taste buds nicely, but its texture was very firm and borderline icy. I’ve noticed that to often be the case when there are flavor changes at this location. It has something to do with the steps they take in cleaning the machine, so coming in on the first day that the flavor is offered is not always a good thing. By the second day the texture is usually creamy and back to the way it should be, but the first day usually leaves something to be desired. The texture may not have been the greatest, but the taste was good. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory and inviting, and I am really enjoying having it with the cream cheese icing that was brought in for last month’s Cinnabon flavor. I know it’s just a temporary thing, so I’m trying not to get too attached. I think it’s a little late for that, though! Once the cream cheese icing is gone, they probably won’t be able to order it again since it was only available as a promotional topping. I have to make the most of it while I can, and believe me I will. I relished every bite of this succulent creation and before I knew it I was holding an empty spoon. Where did it all go? Is it me or does anyone else have this problem of having their dessert disappear too quickly? It’s madness! At least I have another cute spoon to show for it, though!

Until we eat again….

Z-

A New Match For Cream Cheese Icing? Ooh, Yum!

   

  

It’s Fro-Yo Friday once again, so let the weekend begin! An event like this calls for something special, and Zelda had just the place in mind. I had gotten word that Creamy Peanut Butter was back in stock at Menchie’s (Tacoma Mall), and that’s always great news for me. I knew my friend would be working today as well, so no one had to twist my arm. After spending the morning in Tacoma, my afternoon adventure sent me to the mall for a sweet treat.

My friend welcomed me in with open arms, and she was super excited when she saw I came bearing a treat for her. Who doesn’t enjoy a special surprise? It’s always nice to brighten someone’s day, and that’s exactly what I did. The shop had a few customers who were taking advantage of today’s $5 Fill-Up Friday promotion, but it wasn’t too busy to where we couldn’t chat for a while. After a little bit of girl talk, I decided it was time for dessert and made my way toward the sample cups. Creamy Peanut Butter arrived yesterday and took the place of Toasty Marshmallow, and that was the only noticeable change since I was here on Monday. The “Holiday Sweet Shop” promotion began on Sunday and launched two new flavors: Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and Chocolate Mint Creme (made with Andes). I’m not a fan of chocolate mint fro-yo, so I wasn’t too impressed with the Andes flavor. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie is rather tasty, so it was a definite contender for today’s creation. The shop still has I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream, so after a quick taste test it became another of the chosen few. Nothing else stood out, so after three positive samples it was time to pick up a collectible Alvin & The Chipmunks cup and start the delicious process.

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie kicked things off, followed by I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream and Creamy Peanut Butter. There was no majority today, so all flavors received 1/3 of the cup. Fortunately for me, the shop still has cream cheese icing which is one of the promotional toppings from last month’s Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll flavor. This was a perfect choice for Spiced Gingerbread Cookie! I also added a few graham cracker crumbs and then I moved on to I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream which was adorned with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, while Creamy Peanut Butter was the happy recipient of Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. For the finale, I always add cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout to make it complete. After utilizing a deal through the Pirq smartphone app, I even received a 50% discount for today’s purchase which is always a bonus. With a red Alvin the Chipmunk spoon in hand, I grabbed my favorite table and prepared to have my sweet tooth dazzled.

What a way to spend an afternoon! My taste buds were on overload and there was no stopping them. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was quite flavorful, and the cream cheese icing brought a nice level of sweetness to it. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was smooth and well-balanced with a light chocolatey taste, and having a PB topping is always a great match. Creamy Peanut Butter was the flavor I enjoyed the most with its intoxicatingly bold flavor. Whenever there’s PB and chocolate, you know it’s bound to be heavenly. Before I knew it, there were only a couple of bites left and then the cup was empty. How did it go so fast? You know what they say, good things never last for very long. Good thing for me there’s another adventure waiting in the wings….now it’s just a matter of choosing where to go!

Until we eat again….

Z-

BYOM (Bring Your Own Morsels)?

    

    

Tuesday’s adventure found Zelda spending the morning in Thurston County, and that left me with two yummy nearby options. Typically I look for the shops that have Peanut Butter, and right now it’s Menchie’s at Hawks Prairie. The location at Capital Mall doesn’t currently have PB, but they have both of the new promotional flavors whereas Hawks Prairie doesn’t have either of them yet. There’s also another favorite of mine in stock, so I knew I’d have something crave worthy to enjoy. I rarely sacrifice my PB, but today was one of those days simply because I wanted the opportunity to have the featured flavors as well as the limited edition cups and spoons. You know how Zelda is with her special spoons! I’m not sure what the status is at Hawks Prairie as far as the cups and spoons are concerned, but I didn’t want to take the chance on missing out since I know they don’t have the promotional flavors yet. As the afternoon approached, Zelda made her way to the mall for a delicious encounter.

The manager was quite surprised when he saw me walk in because I usually only show up when they have Peanut Butter. I think I’ve only been a couple of times when they didn’t have it, so it doesn’t happen very often. The first thing I noticed was the special cups, but oddly the collectible spoons were missing. I immediately inquired about them and the manager went into the back and brought out a case of spoons. Zelda got the first Alvin spoon at this location! I’m not sure why they weren’t already stocked since the promotion began two days ago, but somehow they were overlooked. After catching up with the manager for a while, I was ready to pick up a few sample cups and satisfy my sweet tooth. The holiday promotion just began and features six flavors throughout November and December. The first two arrived on Sunday; Chocolate Mint Creme made with Andes and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. I’m not crazy about Chocolate Mint Creme, but Spiced Gingerbread Cookie is rather tasty. It’s not as overpowering as I thought it would be, so I was pleasantly surprised. The other big draw for me was Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll which was one of last month’s featured flavors. Most of the shops have already run out, but this location and Hawks Prairie still have it for the time being. I scanned the rest of today’s offerings for a third potential candidate, and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was the leader of the pack. Time to pick up another collectible Alvin & The Chipmunks cup and make some magic.

Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was the first flavor on the scene, and it was joined by Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. Time to pick out a few toppings! Unfortunately this location did not get the special toppings for Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll because the owner is not a fan, but that’s an entirely different rant for another time. Since I knew in advance there wouldn’t be any Cinnabon toppings, I had an extra cup of them that I picked up over the weekend at the Tacoma Mall location and brought them with me today. No one is going to keep Zelda from her Cinnabon Morsels! They would make their appearance once I got to the table, so I moved on to Spiced Gingerbread Cookie which was given Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was given crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips before adding my two basic requirements of cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout the cup. After redeeming some of my Menchie’s Money, I am excited to say that today’s delight was free! I picked up another collectible Alvin spoon and grabbed my favorite table. Time to add the Cinnabon Morsels and enjoy!

What a delight for the taste buds! I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was sweet and decadent with a perfectly smooth balance of cocoa and cream. Since it was a bit different from my other two choices, this was the flavor that I finished first. Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll has been a favorite since it first debuted last November, so it’s one I always look forward to. Having the Cinnabon Morsels made it that much more inviting and added another layer of sweetness. Unfortunately I didn’t have any of the cream cheese icing since it wasn’t available, and it was definitely missed. At least I had the morsels, though! Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory and delicious, and it went well with its Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping. It’s hard to pick a favorite of the three since they were all so scrumptious in their own special way. It was just a matter of time before the cup was empty once again and Zelda’s sweet tooth was on cloud nine. Another successful adventure! I never like having to sacrifice Peanut Butter, but the experience today was so good that I really didn’t mind. There’s always tomorrow, right? It just might have to be a PB day!

Until we eat again….

Z-

Christmas In November

  

   

Zelda’s week is off to a fantastic start! Typically Monday is no one’s favorite day of the week, but mine was rather exciting. At the beginning of each month, Menchie’s releases new promotional flavors that will remain in the store all month. The latest offerings arrived yesterday, and Zelda was a little torn between going to Menchie’s for her Sunday dessert or Yogurtland. I never like to miss the first day, but since I won’t have a chance to go to Yogurtland until the weekend I decided to postpone Menchie’s until today and spent my Sunday in the land of yogurt. I can hold out for a day, but not much longer than that. Monday was destined to be a Menchie’s Monday! I know better than to pin all of my hopes on a new flavor, though, so I checked a few locations to see what else was available. Out of the two Tacoma locations and Federal Way, Tacoma Mall seemed the most promising and was my shop of choice.

The shop was a little busier than most days because there was a small group of college students having an afternoon treat, but it wasn’t too chaotic. I snagged my favorite table as I said hello to the team member, and then I took a look around to absorb all of the new decorations. The “Holiday Dessert Fair” promotion is officially underway and will run through the end of December featuring a total of six flavors; three for each month. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and Chocolate Mint Creme (made with Andes) are the first two that arrived yesterday, and the third flavor will arrive mid-month. I was looking forward to Spiced Gingerbread Cookie more than the Andes flavor, simply because I’m not really into mint fro-yo. I’ll still get a sample, but it’s not likely to end up in the cup. Last December’s featured flavor was Cocoa-Minty Holiday Cookie which reminded me of an Andes chocolate mint the few times I sampled it, so I expected this flavor to be very similar. Chocolate Mint Creme is much stronger and seemed to linger more than I would have liked, so it definitely isn’t for me. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was more my preference and wasn’t as overpowering as I thought it might be. I’ve had a gingerbread flavor from Menchie’s in the past when they were using Yo-Cream products, and I wasn’t too crazy about it. This one was a little tamer and seemed to fit in with the flavors I usually go for. It didn’t give me the wow factor that I was hoping for, but it was still good enough to make it into the cup and I can see myself getting it on future visits. As for the other 12 flavors, there were only two that peaked my interest; Toasty Marshmallow and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. I took a sample of each, and both passed Zelda’s quality check. My lineup was established, and I was ready to grab a cup. Speaking of cups….Menchie’s has partnered with FOX studios to promote the upcoming “Alvin & The Chipmunks” theatrical release which hits theaters on December 23. Along with a specially themed cup, there’s even an Alvin spoon! This day just keeps getting better and better! Zelda loves having a new spoon to admire, but first things first. I had to fill the cup before I could use the spoon, right?

I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was the first flavor to arrive, followed by Toasty Marshmallow and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. For my toppings, I always tend to gravitate toward chocolate before I choose anything else. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was given crushed KitKat as well as Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips, Toasty Marshmallow was given crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was the happy recipient of graham cracker crumbs. All of my creations have two must-have additions of cookie dough bites and whipped cream thoughout the cup, and then it’s complete. After utilizing a deal through the Pirq smartphone app, I even got a 50% discount on today’s delight. I love a tasty deal like that! Now for the moment I had been anticipating….a new red spoon featuring Alvin the Chipmunk in a santa hat. Time to let him sing a few carols!

From the first bite I was feeling the holiday cheer! Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory and inviting, pairing well with its graham cracker topping. It also blended nicely with Toasty Marshmallow which added a nice level of sweetness to the more wholesome aspect of Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. Toasty Marshmallow is one of my favorite divider flavors from Menchie’s and I prefer it over Takes The Cake Batter any day. It was also the perfect excuse for me to have a PB topping since there wasn’t any Peanut Butter fro-yo on tap. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was smooth and luscious, and there was a nice balance of both flavor elements. I’ve had it in the past where it’s been very chocolatey, and I don’t enjoy it as much when that’s the case. It couldn’t have been any better today, and it was quite mouth watering. It was only a matter of time before Alvin was singing his last tune, and suddenly I had an empty Chipmunks cup staring back at me. Not my favorite sight but definitely a sign of a delicious encounter. I have a feeling there will be quite a few Alvin spoons added to my collection in the coming weeks!

Until we eat again….

Z-