Great Pinkberry (TWO ingredient) substitution!
I was in California the last summer, and got sucked into the Pinkberry craze (although I only had it once). And while Houston is starting to get a few of its fro-yo chains too, they're still kinda pricey - $5 for a tiny cup with one topping.
I started looking online to see if I could make my own - and I found some foodie blog posts:
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/a-frozen -yogurt-recipe-to-rival-pinkberrys-recipe.htm l
http://vegsf.blogspot.com/2008/03/pinkberry-c omes-to-me.html
As soon as I opened up a container of Fage 2%, I knew the smell - it was the smell of Pinkberry! I did some simple substitutions - used Fage 2% and a mix of sugar and aspartame. Even before I froze it (no ice cream maker), I tasted it, and it tasted exactly the same! I'm not so sure that this would work with Fage 0%, as I've tried that before, and I'm sure when I whiffed it upon opening the container, it was not the same.
One entire serving cup of Fage 2%, plus ~1.5 tbsp of real sugar calculated out to about 200 cals for me. Next time, I'll try more sweetener instead.
Enjoy :)
Pinkberry is a trendy frozen yogurt franchise that I believe started either in New York or Los Angeles. It became a really big hit a while back (2 years ago, I think?), especially since several celebrities were caught eating Pinkberry on tabloids, and a lot of copy-cat ones sprung up recently. You basically get some frozen yogurt that looks like soft serve ice cream, but with a different, tangy flavor and slightly icier texture. You can then add fresh fruit, granola, or mochi, all for additional cost. It's relatively low calorie, about 100 for a small. I personally really like the flavor of Pinkberry, but I guess it can be a hit or miss, and a lot of people don't like the price. Pinkberry was also featured in one of the Mastercard advertisements on television. They also got tangled up in something concerning whether they had live cultures in their yogurt or not.
Fage is a Greek yogurt brand that is super creamy and super versatile, and one I only discovered recently when I joined CC. A large serving cup of Fage 0% is only 80 calories, and I use it instead of sour cream, and sometimes mayonnaise. I think it comes in Total, 2%, and 0%.
Check out:
LA Times: The taste that launched 1000 parking tickets
Oh m-m-m-y goodness- pinkberry!! I eat it anytime I'm in NYC. They have so many toppings to choose from like my favorite mango. Also pomegranate seeds, coconut, any berries... They have a regular yogurt and a green tea (which tastes sort of funky in my opinion) and supposedly are getting another as well... I personally find the price fitting for such a delicious treat. I don't think I paid 5 bucks though...
I've seen that 101 Cookbooks recipe before- I love her blog. David Lebovitz has a lot of similar recipes as well (ice cream too). You should totally check out his blog. He has a cookbook (The Perfect Scoop) if you're really interested- not that it'd be helpful for dieting.
And this recipe from Vegan Visitor similarly sounds delicious.
http://veganvisitor.wordpress.com/2007/07/08/ ginger-rose-sorbet/
A couple months ago I actually put some Fage in the ice cream maker as an experiment. It didn't really turn into frozen yogurt consistency (I think because the ice cream maker doesn't turn vigorously enough to whip much air into it) but it was tasty. I ate it with drizzled with some honey and walnuts.
I like PinkBerry but I'm not nuts for it. I think it has a slightly odd, chemically aftertaste. I am planning on trying the competitor Red Mango, which claims to be the original from Korea.
Fage has a website
I like their products and use the 0% instead of other brands of plain yogurt or sour cream. It's much creamier than regular plain yogurt.
Yum, that sounds so good. I like Pinkberry but prefer Red Mango or Penguins!
I'm in houston too! I've tried swirl and berripop, but yeah, they're expensive. I've put yogurt in the freezer before but then have to sort of defrost it before I can eat it. Next time i go visit my parents I think i'm going to try throwing some yogurt in their ice cream maker.
have you tried the place closer to the galleria with the topping bar? I forget what it's called...but it sounds exciting!
