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A generous portion of toppings, but how is the GF crust?

I recently completed a 30-day gluten-free challenge, eliminating wheat products from the daily menu. It was a very successful challenge, I lost some weight and more importantly, I feel better as a result, with no bloating, gas, or other digestive problems from eating too much gluten. I've maintained the GF diet regimen post-challenge and on a Saturday night for dinner, I met up with a buddy of mine from my military days, Ben, and his wife Kelly.

We decided on BJ's Brewhouse for the evening meal, a place we're all familiar with and enjoy.  BJ's started off as a pizza joint before it became a full-service restaurant and brewhouse.  They may be known for their pizza, but they also crank out some stellar appetizers, tasty burgers, specialty entrees, and mouth-watering pasta dishes.  If you still have room, there's a decadent dessert called Plzookie, with a variety of flavor options to choose from.

When it came time to order and with that pizza joint background in mind, I ordered BJ's Classic Combo Pizza on a gluten-free crust, the toppings being pepperoni, mushrooms, Italian sausage, seasoned tomatoes, and BJ's signature five-cheese blend.  I was anxious to sample the gluten-free crust, served up thin and crispy style.  Ben decided on a Hickory Brisket & Bacon Burger with fries, and Kelly opted for Burger Sliders with roasted vegetables.

It took a while for our meals to arrive, and by the time our food came, the crowd had already started to thin out.  The time passing by was no big deal, we were busy with some great conversation, and our server did come out to update us on the status at one point, but when our order did finally arrive, I was given the wrong pizza by another member of the staff.  As I was noting out loud the toppings didn't look right, our server swooped in with the correct pie.

The crust had a nice bake on it, but it was chewy.

In taking that first bite, the robust flavor of the seasoned tomatoes hit me first, followed by the subtle spice of the pepperoni and the juiciness of the plump morsels of Italian sausage.  The cheese had a nice pull, the sauce provided those zesty notes you look for, and the mushrooms were a great compliment, but the crust - the foundation of a pizza pie - was a bit of a disappointment.  A good thin and crispy crust should deliver a nice, savory, cracker-like, slightly crunchy bite on the exterior, yet have a tender, flaky texture on the interior.  Instead of thin and crispy, I got thin and chewy.  Pulling off a good pizza crust with gluten-free dough is a challenge, what I got on this occasion didn't rise to the challenge...  (see what I did there...  "rise" to the challenge...).  The toppings and sauce saved this pizza, the portions were generous and the flavor was there, but the texture of the crust was less-than-stellar.

With the pizza and some lemonade costing a little over $20, I'm going to pass on the gluten-free pizza options next time I visit BJ's Brewhouse, in my humble foodie opinion, it's not worthy of a repeat buy.

Scoring:  The pizza scored 48 out of a possible 63 points, earning a 3-star rating.  Just one more point would have earned 4 stars.  What was otherwise a pretty good pie, was done in by the chewy texture of the crust. 

$pend Wisely My Friends...

~ Mike

Good toppings, good sauce, the crust, not so much...

Located at 7960 E Kellogg Dr N, Wichita, KS 67207, in the Towne East Mall parking lot, this dining experience was not as good as what Ben, Kelly, and I are accustomed to at BJ's Brewhouse.  Our server, while polite, wasn't all that attentive.  She performed most of the obligatory functions, but the follow-ups just weren't there, the little things such as a timely drink refill, and the clearing of dinner plates before dessert arrives.

Related:  Best in Wichita Metro Burger Challenge 2022: How does BJ's Brewhouse rate?

BachelorontheCheap.com

I recently completed a 30-day gluten-free challenge, eliminating wheat products from the daily menu. It was a very successful challenge, I lost some weight and more importantly, I feel better as a result, with no bloating, gas, or other digestive problems from eating too much gluten. I've maintained the GF diet regimen post-challenge and as a lover of pizza, well it got me wondering what restaurant cranks out the best gluten-free pizza in town.

Gluten-free is a big deal, it's in demand as more people become aware of the benefits of going gluten-free.  The number of restaurants putting GF items on their menu is ever-growing and you're seeing a lot more GF products in the grocery stores.

I did a Best Pizza in the Wichita Metro Challenge a few years back, but it wasn't gluten-free.  So using those same judging criteria and updating my Best Pizza in the Wichita Metro List (sadly, some of the restaurants noted in that Challenge have since gone out of business), here's the latest Bachelor on the Cheap Challenge:  Who makes the best gluten-free pizza in the Wichita Metro?

Without question, pizza is my favorite food.  Burgers, steaks, lasagna, anything grilled and an assortment of other dishes are high on the list of favorites, but there's nothing quite like a good slice of pizza pie...  That slice of pie has the tasty complement of toppings, the subtle spices of pepperoni and sausage, and assorted veggies that are tender-crisp like onion and bell pepper.  The sauce, it's got to be a zesty sauce, providing those notes of garlic and oregano with each bite.  And bringing everything together is a generous portion of melted cheeses, mozzarella, Parmesan, and perhaps some cheddar or provolone that bubbles up in the oven to golden, brown, deliciousness!  Most important, especially in this Challenge, is the crust!  Cranking out a good GF pizza crust isn't easy.  And finding out who makes the best one around is THE focus of this challenge.

As I sample and review, I will consider customer service, time to order, price, appearance, and toppings, but the most scoring weight will be on the crust.   And unlike the previous pizza challenge, I will be evaluating national chains and their gluten-free crusts in addition to the local and regional restaurants.

I look forward to finding the BEST GF PIE!

$pend Wisely My Friends...

~ Mike

A nice blend of nuts and fruit

BachelorontheCheap.com

While I still occasionally enjoy a potato chip snack, more often than not these days I choose a healthier snack alternative.  Instead of Nacho Cheese Doritos for example, you're more likely to find me snacking on nuts, fruit, or perhaps some carrots and Ranch dressing.

Today, I'm sampling some Southern Grove Serenity Trail Mix.

Southern Grove is an Aldi private label brand, offering a variety of nuts, nut mixes, fruit & nut combinations, and trail mixes.  I've sampled a few of their products before and enjoyed them, so I'm trying another one as a repeat customer.

The "Serenity" Trail Mix (I'm not sure which ingredients make this mix calm, peaceful, or untroubled...  but I digress) is a mix of almonds, walnuts, raisins, dried cranberries, hazelnuts, and pecans.

Southern Grove is now 3 for 3 in providing a tasty, nutritious, quality snack product.

It's a nicely balanced mix, you get the savory of the nuts, and the sweetness of the fruit.  The ingredients are of good quality, whole nuts, not pieces, everything in the mix contributes to a very tasty, snack bite.

Quality ingredients

Stats:  170 calories per serving, 4 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbs, ZERO sodium! 

Costing me $4.39 for a one-pound bag at Aldi, I'm giving Southern Grove Serenity Trail Mix 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap Stars.  It's very reasonably priced, healthier than a traditional style potato chip snack (loaded with sodium), and here's the important thing, it's tasty.  This is definitely another Southern Grove brand repeat buy and I look forward to trying the other trail mix flavor options. Compare that price to a similar size and ingredient trail mix at the mainstream grocery store for around $5.50.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

~ Mike

Related:  Food Review: Southern Grove Cranberry Medley Trail Mix

Related:  Food Review: Southern Grove Mixed Nuts

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Manufacturer's marketing pic on Amazon

I've got a great front porch on my house.  It's a good size, there's a roof overhead providing shade as well as protection from the rain, and I've been busy planting in the beds around the porch and in containers, but up until now, no outdoor furniture to speak of to relax and enjoy sitting outside.

Today I remedied that issue with the purchase of a bistro table and chairs.

I considered a small bench for the porch, but I hate working with a laptop computer literally in my lap, and there wouldn't be a place to set a beverage.  So I opted for a bistro set, a perfect furniture pairing for the space.

Shopping on Amazon, I purchased the following:  Best Choice Products 3-Piece Bistro Set, Aluminum Outdoor Dining Furniture Set for Patio, Porch, Backyard w/Umbrella Hole, 2 Chairs, 2 Cushions, Polyester Fabric - Black/Red.

Delivered in just a couple of days, the set was easy to put together with minimal effort.  All the parts were packaged well and the instructions were easy to follow.  The cast aluminum is sturdy and the cushions for the chairs are quite comfortable.  The table can accommodate an umbrella, but I won't be needing that with the porch roof overhead.  The tabletop is plenty big enough to handle a laptop, a couple of coffee cups, and more.

Now that's an enjoyable "office space"

I'm very pleased with this purchase, it's a good fit for my porch and comfortable to sit at.  I can see myself spending quite a bit of time now on the porch, relaxing, working, and enjoying sunrises, and sunsets.

Purchased on Amazon Prime for about $162 (including tax and free shipping), I'm giving the Best Choice Products 3-Piece Bistro Set 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap Stars.  It's quality material, easy to put together, looks good, and it's comfortable.

Cost Comparison:  If you want to bypass the shipping, similar Bistro sets are available at Lowe's and Home Depot starting at $150, but you are limited to what they have in stock.  I found a very similar set at Lowe's, but their price was $189, before tax.  A similar set on Wayfair starts at $185.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

~ Mike

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved RiVive, 3 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription use for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. This is the second nonprescription naloxone product the agency has approved, helping increase consumer access to naloxone without a prescription. The timeline for availability and the price of this nonprescription product will be determined by the manufacturer.

Drug overdose persists as a major public health issue in the United States. In the 12-month period ending in February 2023, more than 105,000 reported fatal overdoses occurred which were primarily driven by synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose and is the standard treatment for opioid overdose.

“We know naloxone is a powerful tool to help quickly reverse the effects of opioids during an overdose. Ensuring naloxone is widely available, especially as an approved OTC product, makes a critical tool available to help protect public health,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “The agency has long prioritized access to naloxone products, and we welcome manufacturers of other naloxone products to discuss potential nonprescription development programs with the FDA.” 

The approval of RiVive nasal spray for nonprescription use was supported by data from a study submitted by the manufacturer that showed similar levels of RiVive reach the bloodstream as an approved prescription naloxone product. The drug has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for use as directed in its labeling. The manufacturer also provided data that showed consumers can understand how to use the drug safely and effectively without the supervision of a healthcare professional. 

The use of RiVive nasal spray in individuals who are dependent on opioids may result in severe opioid withdrawal characterized by body aches, diarrhea, increased heart rate (tachycardia), fever, runny nose, sneezing, goose bumps, sweating, yawning, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, shivering or trembling, abdominal cramps, weakness and increased blood pressure.

The FDA has taken a series of steps to help facilitate access to opioid overdose reversal products and to decrease unnecessary exposure to opioids and prevent new cases of addiction. The agency approved the first nonprescription naloxone nasal spray product in March 2023, the first generic nonprescription naloxone nasal spray product in July 2023 and over the last year has undertaken new efforts to expand opioid disposal options in an effort to reduce opportunities for nonmedical use, accidental exposure and overdose. 

Through the FDA Overdose Prevention Framework, the agency remains focused on responding to all facets of substance use, misuse, substance use disorders, overdose and death in the U.S. The framework’s priorities include supporting primary prevention by eliminating unnecessary initial prescription drug exposure and inappropriate prolonged prescribing; encouraging harm reduction through innovation and education; advancing development of evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders; and protecting the public from unapproved, diverted or counterfeit drugs presenting overdose risks.

The FDA granted the nonprescription approval of RiVive to Harm Reduction Therapeutics.

Related Information

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BachelorontheCheap.com

I recently reviewed two flavor varieties of Clancy's potato chips, Bratwurst flavored and Beer flavored.   I'm always up for trying novelty flavors when it comes to chips.  I found the Bratwurst flavor to be worthy of a repeat buy, the Beer flavor, not so much.  You can read the reviews of those chips using the links below.

Exclusive to Aldi, Clancy's makes a full line of snack foods, with over 40 varieties to choose from.  The brand is kind of hit-and-miss though, as evidenced in the Bratwurst and Beer chip reviews. In another example, while their regular classic potato chips are good and in my book a smarter buy than over-priced classic Lay's, I've found their stackable chips, a.k.a., "crisps" to be greasy and not a good alternative to Pringles.

Today I'm reviewing their Bacon & Cheddar Flavored potato chips.

Crunchy, good sized, sturdy for dipping

A wavy chip, it's got a sturdy crunch, excellent for dipping.  After that initial crunch, you get the cheddar cheese note, followed by the bacon flavor, which comes off as a bit artificial (think Baco's rather than real bacon), but it's still a nice one-two punch nonetheless.  These are good-sized chips too, there was minimal breakage in the bag and this flavor embraces regular sour cream quite nicely.

Costing me $2.19 at Aldi for a 9.5-ounce bag, I'm giving Clancy's Bacon & Cheddar Flavored Chips 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap Stars.  It's a nice change-of-pace flavored chip that pairs well with sour cream (think loaded baked potato) and is worthy of a repeat buy.

Cost Comparison:  In a review of the Lay's website, I didn't see a Bacon & Cheddar flavor, but similar flavored chip varieties such as Cheddar & Sour Cream, or Wavy Ranch will cost you around $3.99 for a 7.75-ounce bag at the mainstream grocery store.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

~ Mike

Related: Food Review: Clancy's Bratwurst Flavored Potato Chips

Related:  Chip Review: Clancy's Beer Flavored Potato Chips

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new steps to help facilitate innovation in devices intended to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The draft guidance, to help sponsors design clinical studies to evaluate these devices, furthers the FDA’s Overdose Prevention Framework goal of advancing evidence-based treatment for those with substance use disorders. 

“The FDA continues to seek new ways to advance science to address the public health challenges that families and communities across the country face,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “We are committed to helping industry develop solutions that are proven to be effective to address the devastation caused by the overdose crisis. This draft guidance for device studies should prompt industry to collect more comprehensive, timely and diverse data to support device submissions that may help improve the lives of those with opioid use disorder. These and similar efforts will continue to advance within the agency, with the input from industry, stakeholders and, most importantly, those managing opioid use disorder.”

The draft guidance, Clinical Considerations for Studies of Devices Intended to Treat Opioid Use Disorder, outlines key considerations intended to aid sponsors in designing clinical studies for devices intended to treat OUD that address some of the complex challenges associated with these studies, including inaccurate participant reports of drug use, high rates of missing data, the confounding effects of concomitant drug treatments and the need to demonstrate the durability of the treatment effect of the device, which can necessitate prolonged observation. In particular, the draft guidance recommends that pivotal OUD device studies to support marketing submissions should have a well-defined study population, appropriately monitor drug use, control for bias and include an appropriate follow-up period, study participant retention plans and data analysis plans. By addressing these challenges early in the development of their clinical studies, sponsors should be well-positioned to obtain the most useful data to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness for a device intended to treat OUD.  

The draft guidance provides industry critical recommendations toward efforts to bring safe and effective devices intended to treat OUD to market and provide more tools to reduce the harms that opioid use disorder causes patients, families and communities. It also provides recommendations that may be applicable to other types of studies intended to generate valid scientific evidence that may be used in providing a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. Stakeholders can share feedback on the draft guidance, which the FDA will review before it is finalized. 

Certain products are outside the scope of the draft guidance, including diagnostic tests for the detection of opioid use, devices intended to diagnose or to help determine the risk of developing OUD, devices intended to treat pain and combination products. 

“Promoting device innovation to assist in the treatment of individuals with opioid use disorder is vital to our ongoing public health response,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “This guidance supports innovative approaches for evaluating medical devices that can help combat this national crisis and give patients new tools to treat opioid use disorder, with the assurance that the solutions we need will be driven by robust data.” 

In August 2022, the FDA introduced the Overdose Prevention Framework, a comprehensive, agency-wide approach to address the overdose crisis and sustain long-term recovery outcomes. The framework details the agency’s priorities, including supporting primary prevention by eliminating unnecessary initial prescription drug exposure and inappropriate prolonged prescribing, encouraging harm reduction through innovation and education, advancing the development of evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and protecting the public from unapproved, diverted or counterfeit drugs presenting overdose risks. 

The agency will continue to work across its centers, with sponsors, the public and stakeholders to respond to all facets of substance use, misuse, substance use disorders, overdose and death in the U.S., relying on evidence-based treatments, to develop new options for OUD and other substance use disorders. 

Related Information

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BachelorontheCheap.com

Today, July 27, 2023 is National Chili Dog Day.  Celebrated annually on the last Thursday in July, hot dog lovers across the country will be topping their 'dawgs' with chili, perhaps some cheese, mustard, and onion.

Here's a short list of where to celebrate the day in Wichita:

Bionic Burger

Dog-N-Shake

Sonic Drive-In

Southeast Carryout

TJ's Burger House

Wheat Street Dogs

Enjoy!

$pend Wisely My Friends...

~ Mike