Bachelor on the Cheap

WHAT:

On National Taco Day – Monday, October 4 – Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will offer select $1.50 tacos all day*. Head to your favorite Fuzzy’s and celebrate with a breakfast taco or Baja taco (or both)!

Enjoy your tacos on a Fuzzy’s patio with a FuzzyRita or an ice-cold schooner of beer. Special National Taco Day pricing is valid when you dine in, and will be available for takeout and online orders** placed through the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop website and app at select locations.  

Fuzzy Taco Shop’s signature Baja tacos are served on the guests’ choice of tortilla, and are made with choice of protein including shredded chicken, seasoned ground beef, shredded brisket, spicy pork, grilled veggies, and the new fried avocado, and their signature garlic sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, cilantro and feta. Fuzzy’s breakfast tacos feature the guest’s choice of eggs, cheese, bacon, chorizo, and potatoes.

Follow Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Instagram and Facebook for your daily dose of tacos. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has nearly 140 corporate- and franchise-owned locations in 18 states. For a full list of locations please visit www.FuzzysTacoShop.com. 

*Promotion excludes fajita, shrimp, or Mahi, including California Heat, Citrus Heat Mahi, and Queso Shrimpico.

**Online ordering, where available, will be limited to a 10-taco maximum; quantity limits may apply for dine-in and takeout orders. Not valid on third-party delivery orders or with any other discounts.

WHEN:

Monday, October 4, 2021

WHERE:

Find your neighborhood Fuzzy’s Taco Shop here.

ABOUT:

Founded in 2003 near the Texas Christian University campus in Fort Worth, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® is a fast casual restaurant serving Mexican favorites with a splash of Baja. The laid-back atmosphere pairs perfectly with signature Baja-style tacos, famous chips and queso and icy-cold beverages always served at a chill price. With nearly 140 franchise- and corporate-owned locations in 18 states, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was recently awarded “Top Food” and “Best Franchise Culture” by Franchise Business Review’s 2021 Franchise Satisfaction Awards. Additionally, Fuzzy’s was recognized in Entrepreneur’s 2021 Franchise 500 Ranking, Nation’s Restaurant News’ #10 “Fastest Growing Chains” of 2018, and was included on Franchise Business Review’s “Top Franchises” list in 2017. For franchising information, visit www.MyFuzzys.com. 

By Mike Thayer

Blended and flavored whiskeys continue to be red hot in popularity, consumer demand for brown spirits continues to rise with American Whiskey in particular seeing some phenomenal sales growth.

Regular readers know that I am a fan of flavored whiskey, I've always got a bottle of something in my freezer for a chilled shot or flavored specialty in the liquor cabinet to enjoy on the rocks.  My favorite in all this tasting fun so far, has been Skrewball.

Today's tasting:  Jim Beam Orange Whiskey

I've sampled Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Red Stag, Jim Beam Honey,  Jim Beam Maple, and Jim Beam Peach.  Of the Jim Beam lot, my favorite so far has been the apple, with the others not really being repeat buys.

The description from the bottle:   Jim Beam Orange contains all the pride of the Beam family's 220-year history with a refreshing take on family tradition.  Our distillers have infused bright, flavorful Orange Liqueur with fine Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.  The perfect mix of orange and bourbon with hints of vanilla and oak.  Enjoy straight, or mix with soda water or enjoy straight. 

So how good is it you ask?

As usual, I served this up in a straight shot and on the rocks. I have to say based on my reviews of the other Jim Beam flavors, I wasn't expecting much, but the orange is pretty good.  You get a pleasant hint of orange in the nose, it hits you in the swallow but it's not overpowering, with the notes of vanilla and oak on the back end followed nicely by the warmth of the classic Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finish.  I can see this being the main pour in making an Old Fashioned and I'm looking forward to trying that.  I did try a chilled shot with a squeeze of lime, which I recommend - very nice!  

Jim Beam Peach Whiskey gets 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  It's an good flavored whiskey.  Priced at about $17 for a 750ml bottle, Jim Beam Orange is a repeat buy.   

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

By Mike Thayer

While out and about running some errands yesterday, I decided to pull into a Chick-fil-A and get a peach shake.  I've never had a peach shake before and I've heard about how good the Chick-fil-A shakes are, so it was time to find out just how good.

Here's the description from the Chick-fil-A website: Hand-spun the old-fashioned way, this refreshing milkshake features Chick-fil-A® Icedream® dessert and peaches, topped with whipped cream and a cherry (except when served via delivery). Available seasonally for a limited time.

Suffering through the Chick-fil-A drive through, have you ever been in their drive through when their tablets go down?  It was hurry up and wait.....  But the wait was worth it!

The shake was quite tasty!  A perfect blend of ice cream, milk and oh my that peach!  The shake was LOADED with chunks of peach, Chick-fil-A doesn't hold back on this seasonal treat.  Topped with the whipped cream and cherry, the frothy goodness really hits the spot! 

Costing me $4.25, it is a bit pricey compared to other fast food shake offerings, but it is a very good shake.  I'm giving the Chick-fil-A Peach Milkshake 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  The price holds it back from being a 5 star shake and it's worthy of being a repeat buy but perhaps not as often as I'd like while it's available.

Peach shake minus the cherry which was inhaled pre-pic

By Mike Thayer

Some people are coffee drinkers.  Some people are tea drinkers.  Some people are both.  I fall into the latter category.  I'll have two cups of hazelnut coffee to get me jump started in the morning before work.  Then come mid-morning, I make the switch to tea.

I've been a coffee drinker for years, I only started to get into a daily tea regimen - and just green tea mind you - about six months ago or so.  I started doing the green tea thing for the many health benefits, to include but is not limited to reduced blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, it lowers blood sugar, stabilizes cholesterol and reduces body weight.  Just look at all those benefits, I'd be drinking the stuff even if it tasted bad, but that's not a problem!  Bigelow makes some GOOD tea.   

There are A LOT of great green tea flavors out there and I've tried several, but my go-to is Bigelow's Green Tea with Pomegranate.  From the box:  Delicate green tea with the added touch of sweet pomegranate.  True statement!  I really do enjoy this tea, especially with a splash of Italian Sweet Cream (Kudos to Vicki S. for introducing me to that!).  So although the health benefits is why I initially started drinking green tea, it flat out tastes good!

I'm drinking 3 - 4 cups of tea a day and I'm experiencing the health benefits.  Combined with a better diet and exercise, I've lost weight, my cholesterol levels are doctor 'thumbs up' approved, my blood pressure is under control and my blood sugar is in check.  I honestly believe green tea has played a role in a healthier me.

A 20 count box of Bigelow Green Tea with Pomegranate costs me $3.49 at my local grocery store.  That's about 17.5 cents per bag and SO much better for you than that soda and it costs far less too!  I'm giving Bigelow Green Tea 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars and it continues to be a repeat buy!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

By Mike Thayer

Looking for some quick meals I can pop in the microwave when I don't feel like cooking, I came across a box of Grande Ricotta Cheese Cannelloni made by Realgood Italian while making my last shopping trip to Costco.

I love Italian food, I mean who doesn't, right!?  But what made me reach for the box was the protein and carb stats big and bold on the front.  Those are good numbers, 17 grams of protein and just 5 net carbs!  How Realgood Italian gets there is by making the 'pasta' out of chicken and Parmesan cheese instead of flour, they call it a 'shell', but it's much like a cheese wrap.

Prepared in the microwave

I fixed that first tray in the microwave per the box instructions and they came out perfectly heated up, no microwave adjustments required.  In taking that first bite 'as is', these things didn't disappoint.  The Ricotta cheese filling was creamy and seasoned nicely, providing that nice 'tangy-sweet' cheese flavor that sheep's milk delivers.  The 'shell' was also quite tasty, you definitely pick up the chicken and Parmesan notes, but the 'shells' as prepared in the microwave were a bit too al dente, not quite having a pasta texture to it.  The marinara sauce was good, not all that thick but surprisingly rich in flavor with little chunks of tomato like a good marinara should have.

In a second meal I prepared the cannelloni per the oven directions on the box.  Like most all foods, this product comes out better looking and tastes better done in the oven.  The sauce thickened up a bit in the oven heat and the shells were much more like a pasta.  Although I bought the cannelloni with the intent of nuking these for quick lunches, the oven preparation is convenient too.  It's low maintenance, just take the film off the tray and place on a sheet pan in the oven.  In 35 minutes, you've got a tasty meal that requires very little effort, I added a bit of Mozzarella per the serving suggestion on the box.

The third meal I had was the best, I doctored the cannelloni up a bit, placing them on a bed of sausage and a little onion, topping it all with Mozzarella cheese and a bit of parsley.  It was another dose of YUM!

Costing me $12.49 at Costco, that's $2.08 per cannelloni, or $4.16 per meal (2 cannelloni) making it Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly.  It's filling, it's satisfying, it's good prepared in the microwave, it's delicious prepared in the oven.  I'm giving Realgood Italian Grande Ricotta Cheese Cannelloni with Marinara Sauce 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars and it's definitely worthy of a repeat buy.  Bonus points - It's low carb!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

By Mike Thayer

A few groceries purchased at Sam's, how much will the same things cost at Costco?

My Costco membership is up for renewal and I like Costco, it's conveniently close to where I live and I've saved a lot of money buying there vs. a typical grocery store or retail outlet.  Another benefit to a wholesale club membership is the HUGE savings in the purchase of gas through the course of the year.  Savings at the pump alone makes the membership worthwhile, you don't even have to step inside and buy groceries, clothes or printer cartridges to realize the benefit of a membership! Costco and Sam's are typically FAR below local area gas prices, usually about 25 cents per gallon if not more cheaper.

But is Costco THE best wholesale membership club to belong to?

A club membership is a very good thing to have, you really can save A LOT of money buying in bulk and both Sam's Club and Costco offer a lot of advantages/benefits to having a membership vs. shopping at the mainstream grocery store or chain retail store.  

I also have a Sam's Club membership, I recently got one because there was THAT much savings in purchasing a kayak there.  In getting a Sam's Club membership so I could get the savings on a kayak purchase - even after paying the membership fees - I STILL saved huge on the kayak purchase price at Sam's vs. buying that same kayak at places like Academy Sports or Dick's Sporting Goods!  Thank you Cindy!  

But I don't need two wholesale club discount memberships......

So is one club better than the other?

I say yes.

Last Tuesday, I purchased a few groceries from Sam's Club and again, I got a nice assist from Cindy.  Sam's has 'Scan & Go', you can scan items as you put them in the cart!  On Saturday I visited Costco for a price comparison on those same items.  I can see a downside to that already, Cindy won't be "Checking me out".....   See what I did there?.....

UPDATE:  Shopping at Costco on 07/31

Just LOOK at the price differences below, Sam's Club wipes the floor with Costco!  Costco may be cheaper than the mainstream grocery stores like Kroger, but there's no doubt they're more expensive than Sam's Club!

So even though I'll be losing the convenience of location - Costco is just a hop, skip and a jump from where I live - I will NOT be renewing my membership with Costco.  The cheaper prices at Sam's clearly show I'll save more money there.  They have a larger variety of product offerings, they don't push (a.k.a. limit you to) the organic crap and the discounted price of gas is virtually the same for each wholesaler.  Thank you Cindy for showing me the value!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

By Mike Thayer

So I'm in the market for a riding lawn mower for my property at beautiful Lake Viking.  The property is 1.5 acres and so a push mower just isn't going to get the job done and why push a mower when I can ride in luxury, right?  I purchased the land back in 2018 and I've used a lawn service up to this point to keep my property looking good.  But now that I have a shed lined up to be constructed on property to house a riding mower and my fishing kayak, it's time to shop for a mower I can have some fun with!

I'll be looking at classic lawn tractors as well as zero turn mowers.  My budget is $2,000 - $4,000.   Each mower type has its own uses and characteristics, so I need to pick the one that works best for my lawn.  All the major brands will be considered, including but not limited to John Deere, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, etc.

Today's post is about lawn tractors vs. zero turn mowers and the 'pluses' and 'minuses' of each.  Lawn tractors tend to have more horsepower and the ability to put on a number of attachments.  In contrast, zero turn mowers are faster which cuts down the mowing time, but they are limited when it comes to attachments.  You can't put a blade on a zero turn for snow plowing for example.  While the speed of the zero turn is a big plus, the inability of the zero turn to multi-task is a minus.  Deck size is also a factor in cutting time.  It would take 12 passes for a 40 inch deck to cut a 1/2 acre of lawn.  A 46 inch deck would take about 8 passes to do that 1/2 acre.  I don't really need a 50+ inch mowing deck - those are set up for lawns 3 acres or more area.  So for my 1.5 acres, I'll need a deck in the 40 - 46 inch range.  

Here's some quick stats for mowers in my price range:

• Lawn Tractor Speed:  6 - 8 mph
• Zero Turn Speed:  10 mph
• Lawn Tractor Deck Sizes:  30 - 40"
• Zero Turn Deck Sizes: 40 - 46"

So a zero turn mower offers advantages in speed and fewer passes in cutting grass, as well as better maneuverability around any obstacles in the yard.  The lawn tractor however, offers a critical advantage over the zero turn and that's the ability to accessorize with attachments.  It would be nice to put on a blade and plow snow or put on a bucket to move some soil around when landscaping/gardening with the same machine.

Stay tuned as I continue to do my homework on mowers, checking on prices, horsepower, blade deck width, the tractor vs. zero turn comparisons and more, combining all those factors in to determine the best mower for my yard.  I'm looking forward to cutting grass again!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

Related:  Shopping for a kayak

Related:  Shopping for a shed

By Mike Thayer

A few groceries purchased at Sam's, how much will the same things cost at Costco?

My Costco membership is up for renewal and I like Costco, it's conveniently close to where I live and I've saved a lot of money buying there vs. a typical grocery store or retail outlet.  Heck, for the cost of the membership alone, you'll receive HUGE savings in the purchase of gas at a Sam's or Costco through the course of the year.  Gas savings alone makes the membership worthwhile, you don't even have to step inside and buy groceries, clothes or printer cartridges to realize the benefit of a membership! Costco and Sam's are typically FAR below local area gas prices, usually about 25 cents per gallon if not more cheaper.

But is Costco THE best wholesale membership club to belong to?

A club membership is a very good thing to have, you really can save A LOT of money buying in bulk and both Sam's Club and Costco offer a lot of advantages/benefits to having a membership vs. shopping at the mainstream grocery store or chain retail store.  

I also have a Sam's Club membership, I recently got one because there was THAT much savings in purchasing a kayak there.  In getting a Sam's Club membership so I could get the savings on a kayak purchase - even after paying the membership fees - I STILL saved huge on the kayak purchase price at Sam's vs. buying that same kayak at places like Academy Sports or Dick's Sporting Goods!  Thank you Cindy!  

But I don't need two wholesale club discount memberships......

So is one club better than the other?

I say yes.

Today I purchased a few groceries from Sam's Club and again, I got a nice assist from Cindy.  Sam's has 'Scan & Go', no app required, you can scan items as you put them in the cart!  Next week, I'll be purchasing those same items at Costco for a price comparison.  I can see a downside to that already, Cindy won't be "Checking me out".....   See what I did there?.....

Stay tuned for the comparison!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

By Mike Thayer

So I'm in the market for a riding lawn mower for my property at beautiful Lake Viking.  The property is 1.5 acres and so a push mower just isn't going to get the job done and why push a mower when I can ride in luxury, right?  I purchased the land back in 2018 and I've used a lawn service up to this point to keep my property looking good.  But now that I have a shed lined up to be constructed on property to house a riding mower and my fishing kayak, it's time to shop for a mower I can have some fun with!

I'll be looking at classic lawn tractors as well as zero turn mowers.  My budget is $2,000 - $4,000.   Each mower type has its own uses and characteristics, so I need to pick the one that works best for my lawn.  All the major brands will be considered, including but not limited to John Deere, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, etc.

Stay tuned as I do my homework on mowers, checking on prices, horsepower, blade deck width, the tractor vs. zero turn comparisons and more.  I'm looking forward to cutting grass again!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

Related:  Shopping for a kayak

Related:  Shopping for a shed

How do they compare to traditional flour tortillas?

By Mike Thayer

I've been on a gluten free kick as of late, trying to keep my intake of wheat down.  It's not that I'm gluten intolerant, but I do seem to feel better when I'm not eating so much regular bread, pasta or crackers.

Today I'm reviewing Mission brand gluten free tortillas.  I love tortillas, if you ask me they're better than sliced bread.  There are SO versatile and are a great alternative to any food item requiring sliced bread or a bun in the prep.

Mission Gluten Free Tortillas aren't bad, but they just aren't as good as regular flour tortillas, there's an obvious difference in both the taste and texture.  They're also not as pliable, especially straight out of the package in having soft tacos or a sandwich wrap.  These tortillas tend to break apart and have a bit of a chewy factor to them.  To make them more tolerable, they either need to be warmed up in the oven or microwave, or slightly browned in a skillet and even better yet, pressed.  I enjoyed these tortillas best in making breakfast burritos and browning them.

Breakfast burrito deliciousness

Costing me about $5.57 for a package of 6 tortillas, I'm giving Mission Gluten Free Tortillas 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  They are over-priced (gluten free foods usually are) and NOT worthy of a repeat buy.  I'll continue to look for other gluten free tortilla options.

$pend Wisely My Friends.....