Guacamole + Everything Bagel

Rating: 9.5/10

Been offline awhile, but back with a vengeance now! And wouldn't think of starting the summer without some avocado in my belly. Anyway, totally my new obsession this awesome guac dip. Wholly Guacamole, indeed. It's got all of what I love about guacamole (avocado, garlic) and none of what I hate (cilantro, lime). And of course, why go for chips when you got everything bagels lying around. As much as I despise sesame seeds on anything, if they're the price I have to pay to get caraway seeds, poppy seeds, and garlic all on one bagel then so be it, everything bagel it is. So when you put perfect guacamole with near perfect bagel: voila mouth happy amounts of flavor, chew, and easy on-the-go chow. Just break, dip, bite, and smile.

Nutrition:

• Wholly Guacamole (6 spoonfuls) = 180 Calories, 6g fiber, 330mg Sodium, 540mg Potassium
• Einstein Bros. Everything Bagel = 270 Calories, 2g fiber, 620mg Sodium, 20% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 470
Decent amount of fiber and Sodium for sure. Decent breakfast material.
 

Tofu Cream Cheese + Pumpkin Butter + Multigrain Bread

Rating: 8/10

I have to say it was a bit of a turn off when I first saw the word "vegan" in reference to cream cheese. But a dear friend was raving about it, so I thought why not? It's actually pretty decent. Not great, mind you, but decent. But I love this awesome multigrain bread by Eli Zabar. Rocks my morning when toasted.

Nutrition:

• Eli Zabar Hearth Baked Bread = 130 Calories, 190mg Sodium, 120mg Potassium, 6g fiber
• Trader Joe's Vegan Cream Cheese (2 spoonfuls) = 90 Calories, 120mg Sodium
• Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter (2 spoonfuls) = 80 Calories, 18g sugar, 20% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 300
Wee bit vitamins and minerals, but otherwise insignificant all around.

Oreo + Onion Dip

Rating: 9/10

Oreo cookies dipped in caramelized onion dip. I'm generally not a huge fan of plain Oreos (but love them as ice cream or fried), so when I was given a whole bag of them I was chomping at the bit to taste smash them with something more interesting. And I just got this new onion dip I wanted to try out, so two birds one stone. Somehow the crunchy, sugary, chocolatey Oreo just fits with the creamy, chunky, oniony dip. Way more delectable than I could've expected. Win!

Nutrition:

• 3 Oreo Cookies = 160 Calories, 14g sugar, 1g fiber, 10% of daily Iron
• Trader Joe's Caramelized Onion Dip (2 spoonfuls) = 70 Calories, 230mg Sodium

Total Calories = 230
Fairly insignificant in terms of nutritional pros and cons, so why not?

Cocoa Cookie Butter + Crumpet + Fried Egg

Rating: 8.5/10

Chocolate plus cookie butter in a spread! This needs to be on everything. Why not add it to a traditional English breakfast of crumpets and eggs? Kind of turns it into a chocolate chip cookie version of Eggs Benedict minus the bacon. Just spread the awesomeness on top a toasted crumpet and slap on a fried egg sunny side up seasoned with salt and pepper. Hearty and delicious for those with a sweet tooth.

Nutrition:

• Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie & Cocoa Swirl (2 spoonfuls) = 180 Calories, 12g sugar
• Trader Joe's British Style Crumpet = 110 Calories, 170mg Sodium, 2g fiber
• fried egg = 95 Calories, 15% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 385
Not much caloric value, but got in some Iron and sugar for energy.

Giant Pizza + Pirate's Booty

Rating: 6.5/10

Giant pizza topped with Pirate's Booty cheese puffs. What's an afternoon of TV and games with friends without a giant pizza and junk food? Because I can't stand plain-ness of any kind, I must impose toppings on plain pizza even of the giant variety. And what's at hand? A bag of Pirate's Booty. Not bad as toppings go. The crispy, airy, cheesy puffs add some bite to the chewy, salty, saucy pizza. Plain-ness gone! Mission accomplished.

Nutrition:

• slice of giant plain pizza = 720 Calories, 1319mg Sodium, 6g fiber, 70% of daily Calcium, 40% of daily Vitamin A, 30% of daily Iron, 20% of daily Vitamin C
• Pirate's Booty Aged White Cheddar Corn Puff (handful) = 130 Calories, 140mg Sodium

Total Calories = 850
Not the worst thing you can eat when it comes to junk/fast food. More than half the Sodium you need in a day, but decent supply of Calcium, Iron, and vitamins.

Cookie Dough Blizzard + Club Sandwich

Rating: 7/10

Nothing like Dairy Queen to finish off a road trip. And can't stop at DQ without getting a ice cream Blizzard, cookie dough all the way. The crispy hot sandwich with all its melted chewy savoriness gives stark contract to the cold, creamy, sweet Blizzard. Really brings out the best in each other. Although the cookie dough of the Blizzard became a bit overpowering and tiring after awhile. So really half a Blizzard plus a whole club sandwich would be the perfect portion.

Nutrition:

• Dairy Queen Small Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard = 710 Calories, 75g sugar, 1g fiber, 35% of daily Calcium, 25% of daily Vitamin A, 15% of daily Iron
• Dairy Queen Iron Grilled Classic Club Sandwich = 560 Calories, 1790mg Sodium, 2g fiber, 15% of daily Calcium, 15% of daily Vitamin A, 15% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 1270
Typical fast food. Chock-full of Calories, sugar and Sodium. Still, got in some vitamin and minerals along with all the junk. That's something.

Pierogies + Soup Noodles

Rating: 8/10

Instant noodles and pierogies in a bowl. Addicted to pierogies I am and eating it in any form imaginable. Was in need of a quick noodles and soup fix, so thought I'd combine the three and savor the possibility. Turned out rather delectable, abeit not the most interesting in flavor sensation. Spicy, salty, chewy noodles with chewy, soft, potatoey pierogies.

Nutrition:

• 6 Peter & Pat's Pierogies Potato & Onion = 390 Calories, 450mg Sodium, 1.5g fiber, 15% of daily Iron
• Six Fortune Instant Broad Noodles = 500 Calories, 2000mg Sodium, 2g fiber

Total Calories = 890
Wow that's a shitload of Sodium, and really not much else of nutritional value.

Crumpet + Nutella + Macadamia

Rating: 8.5/10

Toasted crumpets spread with Nutella and topped with macadamia nuts. Quick and delicious alternative to pancakes or waffles in the morning. Love the soft, spongy, crispy texture of crumpets toasted combined with the creamy, sweet, chocolatey Nutella melted on plus the crunchy, smooth macadamia on top. Takes my delight over chocolate-covered macadamia to a new level.

Nutrition:

• Trader Joe's British Style Crumpet = 110 Calories, 170mg Sodium, 2g fiber
• Ferrero Nutella (3 spoonfuls) = 300 Calories, 1.5g fiber, 32g sugar
• Savanna Orchards Gourmet Dry Roasted Macadamias (1/4 cup) = 210 Calories, 2g fiber, 115mg Sodium

Total Calories = 620
That's like a fifth of a day's fiber and just a splash of Sodium.

Potato Chips + Fennel Arugula Salad

Rating: 8/10

Tried this new cheesy garlic bread flavored chips, a bit overwhelming on its own and needed companion foods to balance out the taste. People put cheese on salads, so why not cheesy potato chips? Viola, awesome pairing and balance of flavors.

Nutrition:

• Lay's Cheesy Garlic Bread Potato Chips = 290 Calories, 250mg Sodium, 610mg Potassium, 2g fiber, 15% of daily Vitamin C
• bowl of fennel arugula salad = 140 Calories, 4g fiber, 23% of daily Vitamin C, 12% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 430
Got in some fiber and vitamins.

Pumpkin Seeds + Pasta

 Rating: 8.5/10

Tomato-based rotini pasta topped with roasted pumpkin seeds in shell. The pasta was kind of boring to eat by itself, and the seeds were right nearby, so I decided to sprinkle them all over like Parmesan.  The combo gave just the right amount of tough, salty bite from the seeds and soft, saucy chewiness from the pasta. And always eat pumpkin seeds with shells, adds extra flavor and texture.

Nutrition:

• bowl of rotini pasta with tomato sauce = 450 Calories, 5g fiber, 10% of daily Iron, 10% of daily Vitamin A, 10% of daily Vitamin C
• handful of Trader Joe's In Shell Pumpkin Seeds Dry Roasted and Lightly Salted = 180 Calories, 2g fiber, 10% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 630
Rough estimates here but decent amount of Iron and fiber in this meal.

Mango + Scallion Pancake

Rating: 9/10

Fried scallion pancake eaten with fresh mango. I have like a whole box of mango I need to finish \]before it goes bad, so trying to eat it with everything these days. Amazing how many things go well with mango. It's been at least two weeks and I'm still not sick of it. Here, the sweet, sour, smooth mango is a fun counterpoint to the salty, savory, chewy, crispy pancake. Each adding what the other lacks and never even thought to find. Personifying my food a bit but whatever I'm sleepy.

Nutrition:

• Ataulfo mango = 107 Calories, 3g fiber, 76% of daily Vitamin C, 25% of daily Vitamin A
• whole Chinese scallion pancake = 840 Calories, 4g fiber, 1240mg Sodium, 60% of daily Iron, 32% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 947
Yeah heavy on the Calories that scallion pancake, but got in some fiber, vitamins, and minerals from it too. Plus, the mango is all about vitamins and fiber.

Pizza Crust + Babaganush + Cello Radish

Rating: 8/10

Pizza crust dipped in babaganush and eaten with fresh whole cello radishes also dipped in babaganush. I am not a crust person and generally am of the opinion that crust should always be cut off everything because it's hard, tasteless, and possibly carcinogenic. But dipping it in the babaganush has given it newfound purpose. Besides, this crust is rather fluffy and not dry or burnt. As for the cello radish, it's like my new obsession. Random but it's just so tiny and adorable and crunchy I can't help myself. Looking for any and all reasons and ways to eat it. And when in doubt, dip it in babaganush. All together, we have a great mouthful of chewy, doughy, salty pizza crust, plus the crunchy, lightly spicy radish, topped with creamy, garlicky amazing babaganush.

Nutrition:

• 2 Pizza Hut Supreme Pizza crusts = 100 Calories, 246mg Sodium, 10% of daily Vitamin A
• Golden Taste Eggplant Babaganush Dip (4 tablespoons) = 160 Calories, 280mg Sodium, 2g fiber 
• 2 cello radishes = 5 Calories

Total Calories = 265
That radish is pretty devoid of both Calories and nutrients. Eh.

Pizza + Peach

Rating: 7/10

Slice of cold supreme pizza eaten with a fresh white peach. Trying to make a meal out of leftovers from earlier in the day. Normally pizza's like a 5/10 for me, so I'm always looking for something to make it a better eating experience. Well, adding the lightly sweet, juicy, crunchy peach to the chewy umami of the pizza did the job. My taste buds are satisfied. Odd since I'm not a fan of pineapple on pizza and generally don't like fruits mixed with meals. But I guess peach isn't as strong a flavor as pineapples and it just worked. The peach also sort of quenched my thirst that usually follow eating pizza while I was still eating, so two birds one stone.

Nutrition:

• slice of Pizza Hut Supreme Pizza = 280 Calories, 2g fiber, 650mg Sodium
• peach = 59 Calories, 2.2g fiber, 285mg Potassium, 16% of daily Vitamin C

Total Calories = 339

Pigs-in-a-Blanket + Salsa

Rating: 7/10

Fresh baked pigs-in-a-blanket dipped in spicy salsa. Ideal companion to a night of beer pong. The spicy, sour, salty, juicy salsa added the perfect kick to the flaky, buttery, chewy, savory, hot mini dogs wrapped in croissant. Me likey, and not even a wee bit drunk 'cause me playz to winz.

Nutrition:

• Tostitos Hot Salsa (4 tbsp) = 20 Calories, 2g fiber, 500mg Sodium, 20% of daily Vitamin C, 15% of daily Vitamin A
• 4 pigs-in-a-blanket = 280 Calories, 1g fiber, 430mg Sodium, 10% of daily Vitamin A, 10% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 300
Not bad, some fiber and vitamins, go figure.

Lobster Guacamole + Yucca Fries

Rating: 6.5/10

Yucca fries dipped in lobster guacamole. You know just to change up the typical chips in guac and fries in ketchup triteness. A promising combo in theory but reality falls short. They're both so mild tasting that it's just bland when together. I mean it's not terrible but there are better combos out there for both of them with more of a punch in flavor. The creamy, chunky guac and starchy yucca just don't cut it in a match. But I tried. Empanadas would probably work better with the guacamole.
(eaten @ La Cerveceria, NYC)

Nutrition:

• lobster guacamole (1/4 cup) = 116 Calories, 342mg Potassium, 3.8g fiber, 10% of daily Vitamin C
• 5 yucca fries = 242 Calories, 3g fiber, 20mg Sodium, 420mg Potassium, 51% of daily Vitamin C

Total Calories = 358
Got in a bunch of fiber, Potassium, and Vitamin C

Babaganush + Multigrain Flats + Cherry Tomatoes

Rating: 9/10

Oven toasted multigrain flatbread dipped in babaganush and eaten with yellow cherry tomatoes. After I ran out of naan, I went on a semi-mad search for a suitable partner for the magically delicious babaganush. Seriously like nothing can beat this dip, it goes with everything and makes them better. But the toasted outside chewy inside multigrain flats top it. So much texture in this flatbread with actual "you can feel it, taste it, and see it" grains and seeds all over. Then add in the sweet, sour, and juicy cherry tomatoes. Wham-o! Killer combo, so simple yet so complexly rich in flavor. Not to mention, quick and easy breakfast for someone on the go.

Nutrition:

• Golden Taste Eggplant Babaganush Dip (4 tablespoons) = 160 Calories, 280mg Sodium, 2g fiber
• OneBun Multigrain Folded Flats = 130 Calories, 2g fiber, 80mg Potassium, 230mg Sodium, 10% of daily Calcium, 6% of daily Riboflavin, 6% of daily Folate
• NatureSweet Sunbursts Sweet Golden Snacking Tomatoes (1/2 cup) = 45 Calories, 3g fiber, 250mg Potassium, 35% of daily Vitamin C, 15% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 335
Pretty light and packed with a bunch of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Honey Greek Yogurt + Hobo Bread

Rating: 8.5/10

Hobo bread dipped in honey Greek yogurt. Such an awesome combo of sweet, sour, creamy, and chewy goodness. Both good on their own but killer when they join forces, without losing what made them so great on their own. I'm so obsessed with the texture of Greek yogurt and the taste of molasses in hobo bread. Ah, mouth happy!

Nutrition:

• Trader Joe's Greek Style Honey Yogurt = 290 Calories, 24g sugar, 290mg Potassium, 25% of daily Calcium, 15% of daily Vitamin A
• slice of Trader Joe's Hobo Bread = 170 Calories, 1g fiber, 23g sugar, 230mg Sodium

Total Calories = 460
Been trying to keep track of my Potassium intake, could be the cause of some muscle cramps lately if my body is low on it. Getting some from the yogurt yay.

Pesto + Steamed Buns

Rating: 9.5/10

Sliced Chinese steamed bun slathered with pesto and pan fried. Like garlic bread but awesomer! I'm so in love with this creation and myself for coming up with the notion of uniting this unlikely duo. It's rare when I'm this self-satisfied about food, I'm going to savor this moment. Ah... Okay so the oily, savory, fragrant punch of pesto plus the fluffy, light bun over fire and pan equals crispy, flavorful fried goodness surrounding a soft, warm, chewy core. Words don't do this thing justice.

Nutrition:

• Trader Joe's Genova Pesto (1/2 cup) = 520 Calories, 2g fiber, 270mg Sodium, 40% of daily Vitamin A, 20% of daily Calcium, 16% of daily Vitamin C
• Chinese steamed bun = 160 Calories, 5g fiber

Total Calories = 680
Basically a meal's worth but worth it.

Soft Boiled Eggs + Potato Chips

Rating: 7.5/10

Mashed soft-boiled eggs with black pepper and potato chips. Nothing beats a nice hearty egg breakfast (and I'll take soft-boiled if I can't have poached). Part of the way to start a long, sweatt day of mountain hiking. The crispy, crunchy, salty chips gave the gooey, chewy, peppery eggs some added texture and kick. Hey, just brought two otherwise unremarkable foods together into a scintillating combo. What more can you ask for? 

Nutrition:

• 2 soft boiled eggs with pepper = 140 Calories, 24% of daily Vitamin A, 14% of daily Iron, 10% of daily Calcium
• handful of Lays Classic Potato Chips = 75 Calories, 1g fiber,

Total Calories = 215

Chocolate Fortune Cookie + Red Bean Icecream

Rating: 8/10

Crushed chocolate fortune cookie sprinkled on red bean ice cream. Why not combine the two most Asian desserts? They're kind of lonely always on their own. Besides, they do a lot more for the taste buds when they join forces. The crunchy, lightly sweet chocolate cookie takes nothing away from the cold, sweet, chunky-smooth ice cream. This is like the healthiest junk food ever here.

Nutrition:

• King's Chocolate Fortune Cookie = 30 Calories, 3g sugar
• 1/2 cup of Maeda-en Red Beans Azuki Flavored Ice Cream = 140 Calories, 14g sugar, 1g fiber

Total Calories = 170
Light and delightful snack.