Eating Disney Magic At Home: Mickey Bars

I don't think I'm alone when it comes to missing the Disney parks.

There's a lot of unknowns to when the U.S. parks will open and what they will look like in terms of operation, until then there's a little Disney magic that can be eaten at home.  Chocolate covered Mickey Mouse bars with vanilla ice-cream.  They are so tasty.  Honestly, the ice-cream is really creamy.

I just realized something... bear with me.  When the lock-downs began last March my Mom managed to buy a box.  It said that it was a 90th Anniversary, limited edition.  I didn't even know Mickey Bars were available for home purchase (so, honestly, I haven't a clue how long they've been in grocery stores).  The above pictured box is from WinCo, the bottom from Walmart, both of which don't mention 90th anniversary or limited edition. [Edit: I was wrong, looking at this blog post again.  The WinCo box clearly has the 90th anniversary on it, whereas Walmart does not, so maybe they will stick around?  Limited Edition isn't printed on the Walmart box.]  Are these going to be a regularly available item?  I sure hope so.  Honestly don't know.

Individually the bars are $2.50 for a single and $6.48 for a box of 6.

If you're missing the Disney parks and love Mickey Bars it's worth checking out the freezer section of your grocery store to see if they have them.  Everything's been a little crazy due to so many things, so hopefully they're available, and hopefully they stick around.  These are my new favorite ice-cream snack.

(Apparently these have been out for over a year!!  I'm so late to the party!  Better late than never, right? :P )

Trying Out Brooker's Founding Flavors in Vinyard Utah.

Only found out about Brooker's Founding Flavors in Vineyard Utah last week, though they've been around for about four months.

They have a fun patriotic vibe, and all the ice cream flavors are clever as they're based on different founding fathers/historic individuals.

There's a lot of good information on their website if you want to check them out.

Sometimes the Best Gifts Are the Ones You Forget and then Find Again: Cold Stone

Last year I was going through some papers doing a little organizing.  Then, out of no where, I found a Cold Stone gift card with the top plastic still attached.  I was baffled.  Amazed.  Clueless.  Where did it come from?  When did I get it?  Was it still good?

Then, after questioning my family, I found out Robbie and Lindsay gave it to me.  (And then I felt bad having to admit that I forgot they gave it to me!)

But it was a surprise gift of goodness.  And today I finished it off after a few visits. 

Heh, and in case you think I'm gone off the New Year Resolution band wagon, I'm still doing okay.  I've only walked 51.74 miles, a little short of my goal, but still on track to walk 1,000 miles this year.  And I haven't had any soda at all.  But I do indulge in sweets now and then, to maintain my sanity.  Sanity is important.

Chocolaty goodness is important, too, and I enjoyed every bite. :0)

Trying My First Frozen Banana on Balboa Island

 When my Mom was a kid her family would take trips to Balboa Island, and one of her favorite memories was going to the frozen banana place to get ice cream.  It seems to be one of her more enduring memories, as she's talked about it often, a core memory my 5 year old niece would say, and so my Mom wanted to pay a visit to Balboa island after our Disneyland trip.  It meant a lot to her for many reasons to make this visit happen, but I think one main reason was to share this place with her granddaughters.  I visited Balboa island once over a decade ago, but just to walk around a get something to eat.  No frozen anything.

When we made it to Balboa she wasn't sure if it was Sugar 'n Spice or Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop.  Both have giant banana signs claiming to be the first frozen banana.  Both claiming to be the original.  One with a 1940's date; another with a 1960's.  The Los Angeles Times has an article about it titled: "This Treat's a Rivalry on a Stick."  Smithsonian.com has an article entitled: "The History of the Frozen Banana Stand."

Who's to say who's right and who's wrong?

In the end what was important was to visit the place my Mom remembered, and that was Sugar 'n Spice.  She remembered the counter the door.

She got an ice cream cookie sandwich.  The nieces got small ice cream cones dipped in sprinkles.  I got a frozen banana because it seemed a shame not to, and I had always wanted to try one.  Growing up I remember frozen banana's being sold at Disneyland and being curious about them, but never actually getting one.  At least, I remember them being sold there.  Maybe it was Magic Mountain?  No, I think it was Disneyland.  That's the problem with memories, they blur.

 So I got the Frozen Banana, and there was a choice of two toppings or a little of everything.  I couldn't decide so I got a little of everything, and it was pretty good.  Next time I want to get a Balboa Bar: Vanilla Ice Cream dipped in chocolate and covered in nuts.  It's a good thing I don't live near here.

 Visiting Balboa was fun.  It was a quick visit, one that involved driving around trying to get parking space (we parked off the island and shopped at Rite Aid before walking over), Chinese food, walking around seeing nostalgia, and buying postcards.

I'm very glad we went.

Attack of the Cookie Monster Brownie

"Cookie Monster Brownie: These brownies are studiously put together WITHOUT EGGS so that they can be handled without refrigeration.  These brownies are EXTREMELY RICH and have a tendency to cause cookie monster syndrome.  (WARNING: these brownies are so delicious that some people grow blue fir and begin saying "OMNOMNOM" whenever they eat them.)

This is my giggle for the week.

I found these at the BYU Creamery on 9th, on a trip with my Grandma to get yummy ice cream.  (Seriously the best.)  What's even more funny is that I haven't been to the BYU campus in well over a year, so I used Google Maps to help me find the store.  The program steered me wrong!  I kept getting lost.  It led me to a dead end.  At one point I suddenly found myself at the Provo temple.  They've built up the campus quite a bit, and Google Maps is currently out of the loop with these changes.

My Grandma kept laughing . . . at me!

But we found the Creamery, and I shall never get lost trying to find the store again.

 I'm sure Snoopy would approve of these Cookie Monster Brownies.

I didn't get one, instead opting for yummy chocolate brownies and a scoop of chocolate nut brownie ice-cream.  Super OMNOMNOM worthy.

Of course too much indulgence will lead to this:

But a little treat now and then isn't just warranted, but necessary :0)

(Images from the Hallmark book "Have Another Cookie (It'll Make You Feel Better".)