This is Not a Drill, McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets Are Coming Back!

Back in September of 2020, I provided an in-depth review of McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets. I thought they were utterly delicious thanks to avoiding being too spicy, but still having some zip to them. They've been gone from the menu for some time as they were a temporary promotion, until now. Starting September 1st, McDonald's spicy nuggets will be available nationwide. This is for a limited time, just like six years ago. Therefore, if you have a hankering for spicy nuggets, you'd best make haste on the first! I've been eating a bit healthier and working on my weight, but I'll confirm I'm going to at least get a pack of ten with some sweet and sour sauce (the Mighty Hot Sauce is a bit too much for me) as soon as I can.

The, "Mad Dog Magic BBQ Spice," From Max Mix is Delicious

Longtime readers of the blog are aware that I generally am not a fan of sauces. I didn't enjoy ketchup until I was in my 20s, and was astonished when I enjoyed Freddy's Fry Sauce. That said, I have always loved a good spice mix/dry rub/etc. I often keep my eyes peeled for new ones, and when I was at Dierbergs the other day, my attention was immediately drawn to a display with an assortment of spices. I approached and saw they were a brand named, "Max Mix," after their founder, Max Crawford. From childhood to now being a young adult, Max was into spices and BBQ, which led to him launching Max Max in 2023. As his company's website discusses, "The dream is that Max Mix will provide independence for Max, provide employment and job training for others with special abilities, create awareness about the lack of meaningful and respectful employment in our special needs community, and all while helping people spice up their life with flavorful food." The Mad Dog Magic BBQ Spice that can be put on anything looked intriguing, so I figured a tasty-sounding spice from a company dedicated to helping others was something I wanted a bottle of!

So, how was the Mad Dog Magic? I assume you read my headline where I declare it was delicious, because that stuff is fantastic. The name is, "..a heartfelt tribute to a beloved friend, Mad Dog Maddox Truitt," and I adored the smoky and sweet flavor, as well as the slightly spicy kick it carried. I put it on some chicken I had, and it took it to a new level of flavorocity, and yes, I did make that word up just now. My point is, I loved the Mag Dog Magic BBQ Spice and plan to try other flavors of Max Mix in the near future. If you live somewhere Max's products are easy to acquire, I'd encourage you to grab some at the store, or you can always buy them online!

Disclaimer: As I always like to make clear with these kinds of posts, Max's Mix did not reach out to me or request an article be written about them. They are not even aware of my blog's existence, but I will be emailing them about my article so that they know how much I dig their Mad Dog Magic!

National Doughnut Day

Today is June 5th, and that is National Doughnut Day! I am a fan of doughnuts and generally enjoy a standard glazed one or maybe some chocolate icing on top. I have read other countries find it odd how America associates the doughnut with breakfast, as many other places think of it more as a straight-up dessert. No matter how you categorize doughnuts, they are delicious! Many stores, from big chains to shops that are local to you, will be running promotions, so go get yourself a doughnut if you'd like! Oh, and yes, it can be spelled Donut too; either is acceptable, I just do the fancier wording for fun.

Flashback Friday: Thinking About the Wild Colors of Heinz EZ Squirt

In the early 2000's, Heinz did a weird promotion to make ketchup more appealing to kids. Children and adults already generally love ketchup, so why mess with a good thing? Nobody knows what they were thinking, but the desire to make ketchup fun and colorful gave us Heinz EZ Squirt. If you've ever wished your ketchup could be an even brighter red or green, you're a little strange, but you were in luck. It gets weirder, however, with the blue and purple colors as well as the, "Mystery," option that might squirt out teal, pink, or orange.

Kids were (mostly) down with it (even though the novelty quickly wore off), parents were disgusted, and even advertising how it was fortified with healthy ingredients made it hard for some people to overlook the vibe off a dollop of blue paste-looking strangeness on a burger. Heinz EZ Squirt landed with a (colorful) splash, but quickly ran out of steam. It was discontinued in 2006 and remains a bizarre footnote in food history.

The “Refresher Wars,” Are Here

Do you want a tasty drink (often with caffeine) that isn’t coffee or a bubbly soda? Well, for some time, Starbucks was the go-to if you wanted a, “Refresher,” drink. When something is popular, however, others take note and also do whatever is getting press. After all, good artists copy, great artists steal. With that in mind, we’ve got a lot of great artists popping up, so to speak. Another popular coffee location, Dunkin’, has been going hard and heavy on its own version of refreshers. Panera has them. Beloved drive-in chain, Sonic, is at it too. Oh, and the biggest fast food brand around, McDonald’s, has plans to offer their own spin on refreshers plus handcrafted sodas (so watch your back, Swig). The question some have, however, is why do people love refreshers?

Millennials and GenZ are apparently big fans of these drinks as they lack the bitter or overly sweetened taste of iced coffee (for those weirdos who dislike coffee), can be colorful/fun, don’t have to be too caffeinated, and are simply nice and refreshing, as the name indicates. They’re getting lots of hype, so the corporations are eagerly hopping on the bandwagon of this latest trend. Once upon a time, everybody was trying to be Atkins diet-friendly. Then, lots of people were opposed to gluten even if they lacked celiac disease or such. During the COVID-era lockdowns, we were all creating, “Cloud coffee,” out of boredom. The list goes on, and as of right now, the latest metaphorical bullet point happens to be refresher drinks. Hop on the train or be like me and dodge out of its way because they’ll take my iced coffee from my equally cold, dead hands. Don’t worry either way, because before too long, the next popular trend will be here and you’ll love it…or find it annoying.

McDonald's Ramyeon McShaker Fries Are Shockingly Delicious

I enjoy McDonald's fries. When hot and fresh, it is a side item that hits the spot. I would've doubted there was much you could add to McD's fries but having sampled the promotional Ramyeon seasoning, I have to admit it is absurdly yummy. This seasoning is part of a cross-promotion with, "KPop Demon Hunters," which involves some new sauces for nuggets (they're okay), a berry McFlurry, a spicy sausage McMuffin at breakfast time, and the Ramyeon seasoning you are supposed to mix the fries with in a bag you shake. I, personally, just pour the seasoning out and dip my fries in it for optimal enjoyment. 

On McDonald's official site, the Ramyeon flavoring is described as, "savory soy, garlic, toasted sesame and spices all blended together—creating a max umami remix for the fries you know and love." I'd say it tastes like dipping your fries in a Ramen noodle flavor packet, but in a good way. Others have posted online about how much they enjoy the seasoning, and if anyone has advice on where to find a generic iteration for when this promotion ends. I was a bit surprised by how delicious the Ramyeon seasoning tasted, and I will be sure to find a good replacement for whenever McDonald's stops this promotion.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2026

It is Saint Patrick's Day! Wear green if you feel festive and remember that pinching people just because they didn't wear green is a good way to get in trouble (or get a date if you pinch them just right)! Have some corned beef and cabbage (if you're not allergic like me) and some Irish soda bread--which I do recommend as it is quite a tasty item. Just take it easy on the green beer if you're a drinker, as that will definitely look even stranger coming up than it did going down. Have a good one, ya'll!

There Are Two Uncle Bill's Locations Again

Uncle Bill's is a superb restaurant mini-chain. There is a location on a road known as Kingshighway and another on Manchester Road (which opened second). The original spot, in fact, closed for a bit, and was sold to a new owner (the Garcia Brothers), who is now engaged in a soft launch as of today with limited weekday hours. The intent is to keep the original vibe/style/feel for restaurant-goers. Both Uncle Bill's restaurants have been superb anytime I visit them, so I'm happy there will be two spots once more!

If You're a Fast Food Executive You Better Eat a Burger on Video, Now!

It all started innocently enough. McDonald’s CEO and chairman, Chris Kempczinski, was in a promotional video discussing the latest offering from the chain. Called the, "Big Arch," he took tiny bites and otherwise didn't seem that into the burger. It was awkward and kind of funny, with McDonald's itself poking fun at the incident. Fast Food is a vicious business, however, and the other companies smelled blood in the water.

Yesterday, March 4th, Burger King's official TikTok posted a slightly older video of the CEO taking a massive bite out of the Whopper before grinning and remarking with a sauce-covered face all he needed now was napkin. Shots fired. Oh, and you know Wendy's had a plan too as its, "US president, Pete Suerken, shared a [new] video online of himself eating a burger from his fast food chain. But in his video, not only does he take a big bite, he apparently eats the entire burger. He then tops it off with a fry dipped into a milkshake." As of today, A&W is getting into the trend with their advertising character, "Allen, the A&W Guy," wearing an outfit suspiciously like Kempczinski's on Instagram and enjoying their signature Teen Burger before concluding with an invite for, "Chris," to join him for lunch sometime. It is admittedly hilarious, but how did this become a thing?

I suppose, considering the current state of our Nation and the World, sometimes you just need something fun to happen that you can discuss with people. While this is a bit embarrassing for McDonald's, even them getting clowned on keeps the company in people's minds while allowing other companies to get some attention too. It's relatively good-natured and low-stakes joking around, and that is a refreshing change of pace from our current reality. Hell, I've seen people remark how they'll try the Big Arch burger just to see why it got so much press, so mission accomplished for McDonald's? We all get to tell some jokes and watch as random executives from fast food chains eat some burgers, it's nice and chill!

I, myself, can't eat burgers that contain beef due to my allergy. I love a good Bison burger (cooked on a separate grill) or even a veggie burger with real bacon on it--although restaurants do get confused by such an order. Seeing all this talk about food from various companies gives me a hankering for them, so in the end, everyone wins, even McDonald's, as the butt of the joke. Welcome to the Burger Wars. Unlike other current ones, this is thankfully all just in good fun.

Happy Ninth Birthday, Clarkson!

Our first child, Clarkson, is nine years old! He was born today, all those years ago, and has grown into quite the smart, curious, and sweet boy. Plus, it is astonishing how tall he seems compared to a few years ago! Lately, he has really been into books, often requesting to have stories about Pete the Cat or the David character from the, "No David!" books read to him. He still is pretty picky about food, preferring a steady diet of McDonald's, pizza, noodles, waffles, bacon, apples, and bananas, but has expanded his palate a bit lately, being willing to try the occasional vegetable, some ice cream, or licking on a lollipop! 

I love it when Clarkson and his little brother, Gibson, are sweet with each other and cuddle or tickle one another--it is definitely a great deal more fun to witness than when they argue over a toy! I also am so happy when he wants to give his mommy or me hugs and kisses--he can be quite affectionate! Clarkson has continued growing in his use of his talker device, and after we noticed he seemed to understand letters, it was confirmed by his school that he can tell every letter apart in uppercase and lowercase, along with being able to read a good deal of words! I am so proud of everything Clarkson has accomplished and continues to learn and grow into. He is a wonderful boy, and I'm excited to celebrate his turning nine!

The Cherry Float Coke Zero Flavor is Pleasant but Overly Familiar

I love Coca-Cola. I switched to the zero-sugar version to reduce my calories a bit, but thankfully, many of the specialty flavors are available in regular and diet/zero/etc. There is a new cherry float Coke Zero, and it is good! That said, it isn't that different from if you had mixed cherry Coke and vanilla Coke together--do they still do Vanilla Coke? There is the crispness of Coke and a dash of cherry and vanilla--it is nice, but has a vibe like, "Well, we've been here before." That isn't a bad thing, as sometimes Coke has tried some very esoteric flavors that were, simply put, bad. If you enjoy Coke, like its most popular flavor variations, and think mixing the two together sounds appealing...then the cherry float Coke/Coke Zero is for you! Just don't expect anything too exciting or different.

3 out of 5 Stars.

Scattered Super Bowl LX Thoughts the Day After

The Super Bowl happened yesterday, as you may have heard. I don't have a concrete article about it so much as a chunk of scattered thoughts. Observe:

From the tiny bit of opinions I'd heard before the game on the radio or television, Seattle's Seahawks were heavily favored to beat the New England Patriots. That is exactly what happened, with the Patriots pretty much never putting the Seahawks in danger of losing their lead. A fun game for Seatttle fans, a painful one for lovers of the Patriots, and a bit of a defense-heavy bore for everyone else watching.

Many advertisements this year were quite bland. Lots of AI promotion, some Cryptocurrency, and the occasional fun piece. The Liquid Death energy drink was cute with the missing heads and Dunkin riffed on 90's sitcoms in a star-packed piece, but little else stood out. Oh, that Ring camera, "Search Party," was creepy though. It basically bragged if you let them access the 10 million or so cameras in use they can find a grand total of 365 pets. How long until such a tech is used to identify, "Enemies of the State," on the run who spoke out against a government in a foreign country--or, Hell, America at this rate?

I have zero problem with sports gambling and voted for Missouri to allow it, but my God, did that permeate the broadcast today. Betting on sports used to be this taboo thing, and now it's integrated into the whole sports experience as if the idea of enjoying a game without betting a five-spot on who wins is impossible. I mean, knowing you could win ten bucks from Seattle demolishing the spread can be entertaining, but gambling on a sport shouldn't be the sole reason people tune in!

That Halftime show with Bad Bunny was fun! I am not going to pretend I understood most of what was said with my single semester of, "Spanish 101," in college, but there was a clear message of love and unity. Plus, it felt like it was a big and wild party. There was nothing anti-American or offensive to anyone's sensibilities. I mean, unless men and women dancing and eagerly shaking their butts to the beat made you clutch your pearls. Plus, there was a real wedding!

Lastly, there was a burger for sale at the game itself that cost $180 dollars. Even putting aside my allergy to beef, it honestly did not look at all appetizing. That said, those of us who stayed home and watched on television could enjoy our own more reasonably priced snacks. Between food and friends, not a bad way to spend a few hours--regardless of how dull the game itself was!

Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow American readers! I hope everyone who celebrates the holiday has a good time this year! I am thankful for my family, friends, and all of you who read this blog! I hope your Thanksgiving feast is delicious, and that any visiting family get along. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!

"Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health," is an Fun Read Full of Information

Dr. Joe Schwarcz writes early in, "Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health," how absolute certainty in science is rare as it is constnatly evolving. Health advice he notes in this book, full of fun mini-chapters, could shift. That said, some things we can be pretty sure of include that cutting back on sugar is a good idea, exercise helps our health, autism is not caused by vaccines, smoking is bad, crystals can't magically heal us, we are unable to bend spoons with our mind, and homeopathic remedies are as effective as a placebo. That mix of serious-and-funny facts makes up much of, "Better Not Burn Your Toast," as it goes in-depth on everything from controversies about preservatives to memory supplements, red dyes, the potentail and issues of weight-loss shots, to how effective chicken noodle soup is at helping us feel better from a cold, and much more. Oh, and yes, it covers pretty early why burning food isn't the best idea (carcinogens) but the hype about smoking food as dangerous might be overstating risks.

Dr. Schwarcz presents all the information he covers in a very straightforward manner that makes it easy for those of us who don't have a medical degree to follow along and understand--when I was studying for my MPH back in the day, and read various medical journals, I often found my eyes glazed over, and that thankfully does not happen here. He writes with a bit of whimsy and humor that helps even the driest and most serious subjects have a fun vibe to learn about. This latest book of his is published by ECW Press, and it just officially released today. I'd encourage you to request a copy at your local bookshop or library, as it is a stellar read!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Note:

An advance copy was provided by ECW Press for the purposes of review.

You Can Air Fry Grilled Cheese

I love our air fryer. It is quite handy when you don't want to use a big oven or deal with a pan. You toss something in, set it, cook it, and eat it. A new article by Pamela Vachon has the vaguely passive-aggressive title, "You're Still Using a Frying Pan for Grilled Cheese? That's Cute," but I won't get offended because the article's content is quite interesting. Vachon writes about how, with minimal effort, you can air fry yourself some delicious, perfectly cooked grilled cheese.

Whether it is a basic grilled cheese or a bit fancier with additional elements (I do enjoy bacon in there, too), you just need the bread, cheese, some butter (or mayo), and a functional air fryer. While it is recommended you flip the sandwich halfway through six or so minutes of cooking, that's it! You set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, cook it, and enjoy an apparently evenly cooked grilled cheese. No more worrying about burning one side or dirtying a pan. I had not tried this air fryer method yet, but I was intrigued, so I just did it today. The result is the picture at the top of this post! It tasted quite yummy!

McDonald's Monopoly is Back, but With a New Twist

Every once in awhile McDonald's does their Monopoly game promotion. It's been a bit (almost 10 years), what with the, "McMillions Scandal," that happened, but it is back, with a twist. You now use the McDonald's app to play the game with digital pieces as well as physical peel-off ones (that you have to scan in the app to know what you got--the app is basically mandatory to play). You can win money, a Jeep, vacations, or (most likely) some free food.

I don't plan to intentionally go to McDonald's for the purpose of playing this new Monopoly game, but considering it is Clarkson's favorite restaurant, I am sure we will be there often enough to get some food items with pieces I'll need to scan. If I can get some free fries or a burrito out of it, why not? Good luck to everyone who tries it out!

Coffee Report Card: Roesmary Coffee Co.

My friend, Emily AKA The Koze Pantry, and I went to another coffee shop recently in the region, and you know I'm going to share my thoughts! Known as Rosemary Coffee Co., it is located at 1316 Big Bend Road in Manchester, Missouri. The space looks small from the outside, but once you step in, the area actually winds around and is quite spacious while still feeling comfy! 

I had some regular black coffee, which hit the spot perfectly, and Emily had some various flavored drinks she loved. I also got a delicious ham and cheese roll-type thing and a cinnamon roll that was also yummy. 

Between the relaxed feeling, welcoming atmosphere, and the tasty food & drink, I loved Rosemary Coffee Co. for sure! I'd recommend checking it out anytime you're nearby!

5 out of 5 Stars.

Coffee Report Card: Six North Cafe is Lovely

Time for my second Coffee Report Card! I am doing these with my friend Emily, AKA The Koze Pantry, where we check out a coffee spot and review it! I've been to Six Noth Cafe a number of times and am a fan, but it was Emily's first visit.

I had a breakfast sandwich as well as a cherry Italian soda and some coffee. A breakfast item I used to get was no longer available (a big tasty bowl of eggs and bacon and such) so I got the sandwich and it was perfectly fine--I was just a bit bummed. That said, the Italian soda really hit the spot, and the coffee was solid as well. Emily had some waffles that she said were, "Okay," but not her favorite. She also wasn't vibing with the coffee as much as me.

The decor is chill, and the employees were really nice as always (Emily noted how nice everyone was as well). I've had lunch sandwiches at the Six North Cafe as well and quite often love them, but as it was breakfast time, we didn't have any of those this visit. The store was hopping with a steady stream of people in and out, but it never felt too busy or crowded. As I often visit the Six North Cafe, it is obvious I am a fan, but Emily said, despite the lovely employees, she wasn't too into her food or drink. Our reviews differ this time, it is evident, and that will happen sometimes with the Coffee Report Card! I, however, grade the Six Noth Cafe as 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

At Least Arizona Iced Tea is Holding Firm at 99 Cents

Tariffs and other economic uncertainty have resulted in lots of things that used to be a set price increasing in cost. The Dollar Tree is now more than a dollar before tax, generally about a buck and thirty cents plus tax. Five Below has a number of items that are five dollars or less, but added a bunch of, "New," stuff that costs more to kind of hide how a lot of items went up above five dollars, too. Arizona Iced Tea has always been 99 cents for a tall boy can since 1992; it is holding the line in the face of everything.

I don't love Arizona Iced Tea, but I do like it. When I want something other than a soda/seltzer, or coffee, I enjoy a tea. Arizona Beverages’ chairman and co-founder, Don Vultaggio, has said that as of right now, the cans will not cost more than 99 cents. The company is privately/family owned and can make those kinds of choices as there are no shareholders to influence things, and even with an increase in costs due to aluminum from Canada, the plan is to keep the price the same. Besides absorbing some costs, increasing volume and sales, as well as promoting tall boy plastic bottles by lowering their price to boost those sales.

Not every company can take measures to reduce costs and help consumers pay less, but if a business can and does so, that is admirable. I applaud Arizona Iced Tea for keeping the price as low as possible in a time when everything keeps costing more. Now, if you find any stores marking it up over the dollar, that's just greed.

Coffee Report Card: The Ground is a Great Spot!

My friend, Emily AKA The Koze Pantry, is going to be trying out new coffee shops for me, and we’re both going to make posts about them! She’ll be calling her posts The Koze Passport, and mine will be the Coffee Report Card! Will we always agree on what spots we enjoyed versus those we did not? Time will tell, but for now we both agree The Ground in Ballwin is a fantastic place!

The Ground opened a bit over a year ago and is both a coffee shop and a plant store. Yes, there are tons of cool plants and other interesting items for sale on the upper and lower level. I had some smooth house drip coffee and some zucchini bread—it was delicious. Emily had a muffin and tried a couple of coffees that she enjoyed. One was hot with a graham cracker flavor element, and another was an iced latte that featured lemon cold foam--she was especially fond of the lemon cold foam!

The Ground is a chill place with friendly employees, tasty coffee, yummy food, and the atmosphere is lovely thanks to all the plants. I’d recommend anyone in the Ballwin area stop there for a drink or snack, and I rate it…5 out of 5 Stars.