Ice Cream Coupon Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to our Ice Cream Coupon Giveaway Winners! Our first place winner was Amy (who also happened to be the first applicant) with this entry:

Frozen ecstasy
On a sultry summer’s day
Instant gratification

Our second place winner was Brad with his ode to cookie dough ice cream:

Cookie dough ice cream
Even tastier than baked
…Need a carton… NOW!

And finally, our third place winner was Stephanie:

My four year old hates
what my husband and I love
How do we teach her?

Our two random winners were Elizabeth and John. So, congratulations everyone!

Top 10 Places to Find Free Snacks

Snacks: we eat them all the time… sometimes until no room remains for actual meals. But the term “snack” means different things to different people. While most of us agree that a snack is smaller and less filling than a meal, some would consider a Starbucks Frappuccino a snack, while others might opt for a pack of edamame or a half-order of buffalo wings. No matter what brings us individual snacking pleasure, there’s one other thing most people tend to agree on: snacks are even tastier when they’re free.

As a former poor college student, and a cheapskate in general, I’ve become somewhat of an expert in finding free food. Some of what I’ve found over the years has been atrocious, but I’ve found a fair amount of four-and-five star snacking destinations also. Below, I’ve compiled a list of my top ten places to find free snacks. My rankings are based on several factors including free snack variety, quality, and ubiquity of locations. May your taste buds be satisfied, and your stomach - and wallet - never empty!

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Snack Review: Mochi Ice Cream

The typical Japanese sweet mochi treat is a chewy, sticky little ball with red bean paste in the center. While I love Japanese food passionately, I have never been able to develop a taste for red bean paste. I don’t like beans in my dinner and I like them even less in my dessert. The taste isn’t bad, actually, but the texture… eeeeuw. Maybe there really are some things you just have to grow up with.

But ice cream – who can argue with that? What’s more, the mochi coating on these isn’t as sticky or chewy as traditional mochi, so it’s probably more acceptable to an American audience.

Or so I would have thought. Personally, I am crazy about these. But when a friend served them to her family, she says that they all basically ate the ice cream out of the inside, and said that the mochi was a nice coating to keep the ice cream off your hands. And these were Californians, who in general have plenty of chances to be exposed to Asian cuisine.

But, Trader Joe’s has faith, apparently – they’ve started carrying the Mikawaya brand. So I was planning to tell you to run right out and get these wonderful things, right at your Trader Joe’s, even if you aren’t near an Asian market.

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Snack Review: Klondike Caramel Pretzel Bars (and the Wide World of Grocery Store Ice Cream in General)

Slightly under a week ago, our editor Caitlin committed a deed which was simultaneously wonderful and dastardly. She sent each of Snackerrific’s staff writers several coupons for free ice cream products. “But wait,” you might wonder. “That’s downright nice! Wherever does this ‘dastardly’ nonsense come into play?”

You should take into account, dear snackers, that I’m a woman. A not-so-pleasingly plump one at that; all-natural in the midst of L.A. - AKA Silicone Valley. As such, I’ve developed a bit of an unhealthy (so my boyfriend claims) inferiority complex.

I’m attempting to get into slightly better shape, with near-daily gym workouts, but - here’s the rub - I love to eat. More specifically, I enjoy feasting on loads of high-calorie, fatty snacks to the exclusion of “normal” food. So, while the weight appears to be sloooowly releasing itself from my ample curvaceous parts, I doubt I’ll attain a “Hollywood-perfect” body without drastically revamping my eating habits.

As regular Snackerrific readers know, I can’t resist a bargain any more than I can resist a rich ‘n’ sinful delight (my last name is Roth; you do the math). By default, when I see free food, I have to indulge (assuming it’s not chocolate-covered broccoli)! Naturally, coupons for free ice cream treats meant my diet for the next few days would consist of ice cream. Temptation and free review opportunities outweighing visions of a more beautiful body, I headed to the local Ralph’s.

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Snack Review: Breyer’s Overload Fried Ice Cream

Okay, snackers: what’s your favorite carnival food? Are you drawn to the fleeting, airy sweetness of cotton candy? Does the gums-binding goodness of saltwater taffy call your name? Maybe you flip over funnel cakes.

I’m personally quite a fan of churros. Eggy and rich at their centers, with a perfectly warm, crisp shell rolled in sugar, cinnamon and honey, the long Mexican pastries manage to satisfy several of my cravings at once. They’re probably laden with about 700 calories apiece, but somehow I manage to forgive myself for occasional consumption. After all, they’re doused in cinnamon, and everyone knows that counteracts the negative effects of the sugar, or… something like that.

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