Foodie Friday--Orange Leaf

Because of our crazy schedules (work, school, grad school, church and soccer) I don't get to cook as often as I would like.  I really do like to cook--promise!  We eat out quite a bit.  I am always looking to find great deals for eating out that feed my family happily and that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.  

I thought I might share some of my finds with you and our experiences at different places every Friday in a a new column, "Foodie Friday."  Please don't come here and expect to read about the latest and greatest four star restaurant, but more about fast food and economical places!  

Let's talk about what seems to be the newest fad in dessert places!  

This is not just a dessert but also entertaining!  The atmosphere is alive.  The colors are vibrant and the music is always upbeat.  I have never been to Orange Leaf and not been warmly greeted by the staff upon entering the store.  

There is a wall of self-serve frozen yogurt machines with a huge selection of flavors.  Part of the fun is trying all of the different flavors.  We often joke that if you were to sample every single one of them you wouldn't even need to buy anything.  This is also a great place to come if you have dietary issues.  There are many lactose free and gluten free selections.  To get more information visit, www.orangeleafyogurt.com

My favorite combination is Fudge Brownie and Cheesecake

Don't get in a hurry!  This is fun for everyone.  Take your time and enjoy the experience. 

After deciding what you flavor or flavors you want.  You will need to decide upon toppings.  If you have trouble making decisions, this is going to be a little difficult.  They have thought of everything!

My favorites are the brownie chunk, bananas, cherries and chocolate syrup

Once you have completed your frozen yogurt masterpiece.  You will need to proceed to the checkout.  Here is my word of caution about Orange Leaf:  You pay by the ounce!  So, if you have kiddos in two, you might want to keep a very close eye on how much they are putting into their little buckets.  My youngest is notorious for filling her bowl as full as possible and then eating only a fraction of it.  

An outing at Orange Leaf for our family four usually costs us about $20.  Its not the cheapest in town but we love it!  Here are some pictures of us enjoying our Orange Leaf on our latest trip:

Abby and Kendra (Aaron's sister) 

 

Anna and Aaron

Cynthia (Aaron's mom) and I