Twinkie alternative - "dreamies"

When Hostess went bankrupt and Twinkies flew off the shelves, people freaked out and Twinkies started becoming a rare commodity. Yeah, what a first-world problem - we no longer had these sugar and carb-filled treats to contribute to our obesity epidemic any more. However, the latest rumor is that the Twinkie might make a return to store shelves in September of 2013, at the earliest.

On my latest trip to the Save-a-lot in Roslindale (near Boston, MA), I noticed a box of treats that looked pretty close to the Twinkie: the dreamie. In case you really can't wait, look for these dreamies instead. They cost $1.99 for a box of 6 individually-wrapped treats and they're basically imitation Twinkies that taste pretty darn close to the real thing. Having said that, I'm not an expert on Twinkies because my dad never let me eat this crap when I was growing up. So, all I'm suggesting is that you spend less than $2 to try them yourself. If you don't like them, then wait until later this year.

In case you're into other types of packaged pastries too, Mrs. Freshley's also makes chocolate cupcakes with the white cream in the middle, which look very similar to the ones Hostess (or some other company) used to make. I actually like those.

If you eat this crap on a regular basis, I'm pretty sure you're not on a diet. However, in case you're wondering, one dreamie is 140 calories. You're welcome...
;)

Save-a-lot - American Legion Highway, Roslindale

One of the places that I wasn't able to reach easily before I had a scooter was the Save-a-lot on American Legion Highway in Roslindale. There's a strip mall there and if you're in the mood for Popeye's Chicken after getting your groceries, you're in luck! Popeye's is usually busy and I've never seen it completely empty. The staff there are very friendly too.

Anyway, the point of this post is the Save-a-lot. It's not the best supermarket in the area but I bet it's the cheapest. They have everything you need but not necessarily brands you'd see at Roche Bros or Stop & Shop. However, they also have some cool things you might not find easily elsewhere too. For example, they sell plantains and plantain chips. They also always seem to have habanero peppers there, if you can handle that level of heat. If you want to try goat meat but don't want to trek down to haymarket, Save-a-lot also carries goat chunks (ready for stewing) sometimes. I've never had any problems with the meat there. They have all the standard stuff you'd find elsewhere but don't have fancy things like filet mignon or stuff like that. I've gotten a pork loin there and it was great.

Frankly, I go there mainly for the produce and meat. If I remember, I'll get some plantain chips. The frozen foods there are also good deals and there's plenty of cheap bread too. If you're a poor student, this is a good supermarket to load up on basic pantry items. If you need mac & cheese, they carry a brand called "O'day's" for about 50 cents a box or less, depending if it's on sale or not.

Last note: remember to bring your own plastic bags because they will charge you 11 cents for one.

Here's a video that show you how to get there from Forest Hills:

Update: (July 2012) They have repaired Walk Hill St. and it's a nice ride now.