I developed an affinity for Krispy Kreme doughnuts at an early age. My dad grew up in South Carolina. Every year when I was little we would go down to visit his side of the family. Each trip included a visit to the local Krispy Kreme store where I would pick out a fresh selection of assorted doughnuts. I could barely contain myself if we were lucky enough to pull up when the “Hot Light” was on. There is almost nothing better than plucking an original glazed doughnut fresh out of the oven.

Before Krispy Kreme returned to the area I would diligently research their locations nationwide whenever I had to travel. A trip to New York City usually brings me through Penn Station where there used to be a small satellite store. A vacation to the Catskills included a trip through Scranton, PA to get my fix. Any time I head to Florida I map out the closest convenience store that carries these delectable delights. Big thanks to the local RaceTrac in Port Charlotte, FL for always having them in stock. Each time I would visit a satellite store or convenience store I would try to take a pic to capture the joyful moment.

RaceTrac, Port Charlotte, FL

RaceTrac, Port Charlotte, FL

Scranton, PA

I recently made a trip to the new store located in Northeast Philly. Technically, according to Google Maps, it should have been a little over an hour round trip. Almost three hours later I returned home with a plentiful stash of my favorite sweet treats. Turns out I made the drive around the same time that all the local schools were letting out. That meant a lot of stop and go buses which led to a lot of stop and go traffic. Was it worth it? Absolutely!

I arrived at the store at the same time all the local school kids headed to get their fix. It’s clear that the store is doing pretty well. Inside the lines were long but well managed by diligent employees working fast and furious to fill eager customers orders.

I decided to pick up an assortment of doughnuts which included Original Glazed; Chocolate Iced Glazed; Chocolate Iced Kreme Filled; Chocolate Iced Custard Filled; Glazed Raspberry Filled; Glazed Chocolate Cake; Glazed Blueberry and Glazed Pumpkin. Each doughnut was scrumptious. My two favorites are the Original Glazed and the Chocolate Iced Glazed. They are melt in your mouth awesome!

Krispy Kreme is now offering a “Baked Creations” line which includes bagels, muffins, and cinnamon rolls as well as organic oatmeal with specialty toppings, yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit. I was solely focused on the doughnuts but I do intend to sample their new creations on my next visit. I’m sure they are just as scrumptious as their doughnuts.

Eating a Krispy Kreme doughnut is one of those things I would put on someone’s bucket list if they have not tried one yet. It’s a must have. If you have not tried one yet put it on your to-do list and do it a.s.a.p.

At least once a week I bake a pound or two of boneless chicken breasts in a lemon juice, paprika and black pepper marinade. I freeze the cooked chicken in batches of 3-4 breasts and defrost as needed. The pre-cooked chicken tastes great in salads and wraps.

There are two wraps that I make quite often which are easy, healthy and delicious. I’ve listed the basic ingredients for each wrap. You can mix it up according to whatever you prefer. The Wegman’s Fajita marinade is a must have for the Chicken Fajita Wrap. It tastes a lot like the sauce used by Taco Bell. You get the benefit of a great tasting marinade without the guilt of eating at Taco Bell.

I’m not sure at what age I started drinking tea. I think it was my early teen years. I was not yet drinking coffee. If I need a good buzz of caffeine I will always choose coffee. Tea has become more of an experience for me. Something to be sipped and savored like a fine glass of wine.

At some point regular flavored tea just wasn’t cutting it for me. I turned to flavored teas. On a recent trip to Ireland I wanted to learn more about their tea. Our trip was jam packed. No time to sit for formal afternoon tea so I squeezed a cup or two in where I could and bought enough to hold me over when I returned home. Barry’s and Lyon’s are the two most popular brands in Ireland. I asked many people over there what they prefer and it seemed like a 50/50 split between Barry’s or Lyon’s. Turns out you can get both brands in the U.S. but in looking at the website for distribution here it does not appear that there are as many caffeine free flavors to choose from. My favorites were Barry’s Cranberry & Orange and Very Berry.

The tea bags were convenient but my favorite way to enjoy tea is to drink loose leaf tea. For me it just tastes better. While in Kilkenny I stopped in a quaint tea shop called Gurman’s. Walking into a tea shop is so intoxicating. Lots of scents to stimulate the senses. I immediately gravitated towards the berry teas. I love the burst of flavor you get when drinking a berry tea. Almost satiates my sugar fix. Almost.

I bought their Wild Berry tea. The label notes the ingredients as “carcade and rose petals, black currant pieces, elder and blueberries, elder berries, blackberries, desiccated grapes and aroma.” Doesn’t that sound divine? I can assure you it tastes as heavenly as it sounds. A burst of flavor without a bitter aftertaste that you cannot find in tea bags.

As you can see from the picture above I have quite a collection going. I think it would take me months to drink all the tea I have on hand. It’s like an addiction. I can’t stop myself from trying new brands and new flavors.

*Featured image courtesy of Food Recipe World.

I am addicted to so many Tastefully Simple products. Their dips and beer bread are always a fixture at every gathering in my home. Combine the beer bread with any one of their dips and you have a tasty appetizer.

Check out all the tasty products Tastefully Simple has to offer and reach out to Maria for more information.

Entry rules:

• Post a comment below and tell me what some of your favorite desserts are. If you have a recipe feel free to add a link too!
• Enter as many times as you like – but you must post a different story or comment each time. Links and pingbacks while appreciated, don’t count.
• For an additional entry follow me on Twitter HERE then post the giveaway on your twitter page. Ex:  @laphemmephoodie is giving away a Tastefully Simple Dreaming of Desserts gift tin. Check it out http://laphemmephoodie.com/category/contests (Leave a separate comment for this.)
• For an additional entry become a fan of La Phemme Phoodie on Facebook HERE.  (Leave a separate comment for this.)
• Sorry folks. Open to US residents only.
• You must leave a valid email address (it will not be made public) so that I can contact you if you are a winner.
• Deadline for entries is March 30, 2010, 11:59 pm EST. Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately – if it goes to moderation (because, for example, you’re new here), I will approve it and post it but please keep all comments family friendly.
• I will pick a winner through random.org and announce the winner on Friday, April 2, 2010. Good luck!

Did you read it and say “What in the world is a Butter Bell Crock?” I ordered my crock from Amazon. Here’s their explanation:

A practical and beautiful solution for storing and serving butter, the Butter Bell Crock keeps butter soft, delicious, and spreadable for up to 30 days without refrigeration. Modeled after the original French design, the butter crock is made from durable glazed stoneware or dolomite clays. Available in a wide array of colors, the crock can match existing dinnerware or stand on its own to add a touch of color to the table. It goes from the kitchen to the tabletop with no fuss. Butter’s delicate flavor and freshness are protected by an airtight seal of water at the base of the crock, safely keeping butter fresh and spreadable without refrigeration, odors, or spoilage. It also keeps butter at the perfect “spreading” consistency by reflecting outside heat while insulating and cooling the butter. To use, firmly pack one stick of softened butter into the bell-shaped lid, pour cold water into the base of the crock, and place the lid upside down back into the base of the crock. Store the crock away from heat or sunlight, and change the water in the base every two to three days. Cleaning is easy since the crock is dishwasher safe.

Here’s a pic from their site of how it actually works:

Ironically enough I had to start the process by leaving a 1/2 cup of butter (one stick) out for several hours to soften. When the butter has softened pour approximately 1/3 cup of cold water into the base of the crock. Pack one stick of butter firmly into the bell-shaped cup of the lid.

Replace the lid into the bottom of the crock. The water will create an airtight seal. Easy!

I’m still trying to figure out a permanent location for my crock. Directions indicate that you should not store it by a stove or other heated appliances or in direct sunlight.

I’m looking forward to having fresh, delicious spreadable butter.

Ask anyone that knows me and they will readily admit I have a serious affinity for tea. I grew up in a family where tea was more important than coffee. Crazy right? My aunt loves to tell a story about my grandmom and her obsession with tea. My aunt called my grandmom to tell her that she was in labor and asked my grandmom to get down to the hospital A.S.A.P. My grandmom’s response: “Wait, I have not had my tea and toast yet. You mean right now?” Classic. Don’t mess with tea time.

Over the years I have experimented with a variety of teas. I’m pretty sure I have tried every brand known to man. My all-time favorite is a line of loose leaf teas by Bar Harbor Tea Company. I discovered the Bar Harbor Tea Company a couple of years ago while on vacation in Bar Harbor.

They have a variety of flavored teas. I love their Bourbon Vanilla, Chamomile Garden Blend and Redberry Blend.  Don’t forget to try the Wild Blueberry if you love blueberries. All of the teas taste fresh without the bitter after taste you sometimes get when you use a bag.

Here’s a pic of the Parkside Restaurant and Bar Harbor Tea Company:

Photos above courtesy of Bar Harbor Tea Company and  Coastal Maine Views

Some additional pics I took of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park:

And one more pic of my current stash of tea at home. I have more flavors stashed in my office.

And here’s what the Bar Harbor Tea Company has to say about their awesome company:

Nestled at the foothills of Cadillac Mountain and the entrance to Acadia National Park lies Bar Harbor, a world-class destination to experience nature’s beauty. In our own experience, we found it nearly impossible to enjoy a cup of good tea while traveling and we feel strongly this can truly complement the adventure of a new place. Our passion to find the world’s best teas and our love of this area were a natural fit to create Bar Harbor Tea Company and bring this spectacular region of Maine world-class teas and teawares.

We carefully select our suppliers to ensure that the tea we offer our customers is of the finest quality. Whether buying tea for themselves or as a gift, our customers can trust our commitment to excellence and be certain that we stand behind our product. Our collection of 100 teas represents some of the finest teas from around the world and we are constantly adding to the collection based on trends and customer feedback.

Join us in one of life’s most simple pleasures. Come in and select your newest favorite amongst our wide selection of black, green, white, oolong, pu-erh, herbals, as well as single-estate and rare teas.

We are dedicated to bringing the freshest ideas in tea so check back with us frequently!

Bar Harbor Tea Company is a family business, locally owned and operated.

What more can I say? I love tea and I love Bar Harbor Tea Company. My ideal situation would be to enjoy a cup of their tea while nestled into a comfy nook somewhere in beautiful Bar Harbor but I will gladly settle for enjoying a cup of their tasty tea nestled at home on my couch instead.

In each instance I had trouble figuring out the dimensions of the dough I was working with. Of course when presented with a foodie dilemna I consult my foodie friends for a solution. Low and behold the Magic Dough Pastry Mat:

The mat has printed guides that take the guesswork out of rolling out the right size dough. It’s also plastic with a nonslip back which will help secure it to my kitchen counter. Now I have to find a recipe to test out my new mat. Any suggestions?