Top 10 Worst Things to Give Trick-or-Treaters

I miss trick-or-treating. Don”t tell me you don”t. If so, then you hate all things good in the world. You hide in your house with the lights off as kids fashion their prized costumes anxiously awaiting a sweet treat. You people suck, and probably have no perspective on the meaning of “It”s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” You”re a Halloween scrooge. Poo poo on you.

For the rest of us, the Holiday is upon is. Get ready to scare the bajesis out of the kiddo”s, hoping to make one of them pee or crap their pants. Then, you win them back with a sweet treat and you”re suddenly known around the block for it. I”m hoping to scare some kids, and I”ll be honest—I”ve eyed up the candies that are anxiously awaiting Halloween in the house, and I”m psyched for left-overs.

Last year we brought you a list of the top 10 trick or treat candy fails, but the truth is, it actually gets a lot worse than Tootsie Rolls and Mounds (shudder!) Here are your top ten tricks that you shouldn”t be handing out this Halloween:

10. Pretzels

Yeah, I like my fair share of salty goodies—but not on Halloween. Just because the pretzels are shaped like bats and pumpkins doesn”t mean they are meant for Halloween. Especially not to give out. At a party? Sure. To give out at your doorstep? Hellz no.

(Photo: walmart.com)

9. Chips

Chips…Cheez-Its…doesn”t matter. Are they sweet? No. Do they leave a residue on your teeth that requires extra-long tooth brushing? No. So what”s the point? If kids want chips then they can go to the closet of their house. I”m willing to bet there isn”t a wide variety of candy to choose from. Only chips and cereal.

(Photo: alwaysdirect.com)

8. Peanuts

Yes, this actually happened to me. Need I say more?

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Top 10 New Foods at the 2012 State Fairs

Well, in regards to ridiculous overloads of novelty foods, it’s all downhill from here—state fair season is over for the year. We’ll have to wait for months before a stream of deep-fried, chocolate-covered, bacon-wrapped indulgences can once again make their appearance in our diets. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of the most shocking new creations that made their debut onto the state fair food scene in 2012. Steel your arteries…

10. BIG Beef Rib – California State Fair

You’d think that a normal beef rib would contain enough animal flesh, but you would be wrong, and the California State Fair is here to prove it. They’ve jammed a giant 24-oz. steak ONTO a 17-inch beef rib bone. Why?! Because they can. (Photo: Cavegrrl.com)

9. Deep Fried Cotton Candy – Texas State Fair

We saw deep fried Kool-Aid and deep fried salsa at last year’s state fairs, so we should have known that cotton candy couldn’t be that far off. Pretty crazy, because it seems like the spun sugar would melt in the deep fryer. Life is full of mysteries. Not enough sweets for you? Don’t worry, this treat is served by a frozen yogurt purveyor, so feel free to use these giant balls of fried sugar as a topping on your froyo. (Photo: Cassie’s Frozen Yogurt)

8. Outlaw Stacker – Eastern Idaho State Fair

We all know that french fries are a great base for all kinds of toppings, and the Eastern Idaho State Fair really took that idea and ran with it. The Outlaw Stacker is a huge pile of fries smothered in gravy, bacon, and a fried egg. The name rings true—health and nutrition are truly outlawed in this dish. And we’re okay with that. (Photo: Eastern Idaho State Fair)

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Pumpkin Gone Wild! Top 10 Ways to Use Pumpkin

Do you hear those crisp leaves crunching underneath your feet as you walk to your car in the morning, holding your favorite brand of pumpkin coffee in your hand? Are apples the only fruit that you pack in your lunch for the next month, yet you know you won’t get sick of them? Then you love fall, too. But before we go too far into fall, let’s focus on the hallmark food of the season: pumpkin.

Pumpkin pie and bread are great…but it’s time to mix it up a bit. Enjoy…

10. Pumpkin Pie Martini

Don’t tell me you didn’t think we’d have some form of booze on here. I know, some of your are cringing thinking of “ruining” a glycerin-induced regular martini with the sweet taste of pumpkin. Well then you go ahead and drink your regular martini. The rest of us will enjoy the pumpkin…and not feeling like we have to call poison control.

Recipe: Life’s Ambrosia

9. Pumpkin Pie Dip

There is a dip that neighbors make every year for fruit. It has cream cheese, sugar, and peanut butter in it. I’m not complaining, but I think they could also mix it up and try this pumpkin dip. I’ve had this before, and in addition to fruits and graham crackers – pretzels are a great instrument in carrying the dip. Plus – sweet and salty.

Recipe: The Girl Who Ate Everything

8. Pumpkin Tagliatelle

There’s a restaurant in Philly that makes the best pumpkin pasta I’ve ever had. And I’m dead-set on returning this fall. However, for those of you that can’t enjoy it at the restaurant: this tagliatelle looks awesome. Used the right way, pumpkin adds a buttery, nutty flavor to the pasta. Yum.

Recipe: The Little Things

7. Pumpkin-Caramel Mousse Cakes

Pumpkin. Caramel. Mousse. I’m sold.

Recipe: Bakers Royale

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Apple Cider Gone Wild! Top 10 Cider Recipes

I had my first real fall moment of the year this morning: drinking apple cider. The crisp, cool, thirst-quenching drink is the perfect inauguration for autumn.  You can have it with any meal, for a snack, or warm it up and froth it if you want to go frou-frou. But did you know it can be enjoyed in more than just a glass?

10. Apple Cider Gravy

Though a bold choice for Thanksgiving, a little sweetness may go a long way with your savory turkey. Not convinced? Have you ever put apples or cranberries in your stuffing? Or enjoy spreading some sweet cranberry sauce on your turkey sandwich? Well now your gravy can do you a personal, sweet, favor.

Recipe: Nourish Network

9. Apple Cider Upside-Down Cake

Summer is over. Pineapple is no longer the seasonal fruit, and apples are in. So what do you do with that huge bag of apples sitting in your garage? Make cake…apple cider upside-down cake.

Recipe: Mid-Century Menu

8. Apple Cider Caramel Cake

More cake. This time, adding some creamy icing and caramel will make this a true dessert. Think of it as an alternative to carrot cake. No chunks of orange…just smooth, sweet and creamy cake. Does it feel like fall for you yet?

Recipe: Simply Fine Living

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Coconut Mocha Syrup

100 Ways to Cook with Coconut

A lot of people think of coconut as a warm-weather flavor, but we’re here to tell you that it is delicious year-round, in both savory and sweet dishes. So while it’s almost September (still technically summer, though, dudes!) we encourage you to think outside the box and embrace the wonders of coconut for your year-round cooking needs. Shredded coconut, coconut milk, coconut flour, coconut oil, coconut everything! We’ve scoured our favorite food blogs for some of those taste-the-tropics style recipes we all know and love, but we’ve also rounded up curries, soups, meats, pizzas, seafood and more, all celebrating one of our favorite—and surprisingly versatile—fruits.

Click on the photos for full recipes.

Coconut Lentil Soup Apple Cinnamon Cocomeal Whole Wheat Coconut Waffles Prestigio Cheesecake
Cauliflower Mappas Mango Coconut Popsicles French Coconut Pie Spicy Coconut Kale Quinoa
Grilled Coconut Sweet Potato Kebabs Coconut Limoncello Cupcakes 5 Ingredient Coconut Curry Coconut Milk Cornbread
Turkey Coconut Curry Soup Carrot Cake Granola Buttermilk Pancakes with Coconut Syrup Baked Coconut Shrimp
Creamy Coconut Vodka Sauce Sesame Coconut Bok Choy Mango Coconut Mojito Tropical Breakfast Pizza
Roasted Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk Samoas Bark Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Bars
Spicy Coconut Peanut Prawn Noodles Coconut Peanut Curry Dip Mango Milkshake with Coconut Sorbet Chocolate Almond Coconut Gobs
Kale Coconut Salad Pacific Rim Burger Coconut Cilantro Jasmine Rice Coconut Strawberry Sandwich
Chocolate Chunk Biscotti Thai Pot Pie Curried Green Beans Peanut Butter Coconut Cups
Mini Coconut Poptarts Coconut Flax Pancakes Blueberry Coconut Bread Pudding Coconut Curry Tempeh Wrap
Chinese Coconut Buns Pina Colada Donuts Thai Chicken Soup Pina Colada Cupcakes
Strawberry Coconut Buttercream Layer Cake Coconut Corn Chowder Chocolate Rumballs Coconut Curry Shrimp with Peanut Noodles
Sweet Potato Coconut Ravioli Red Curried Vegetable Tomato Soup Coconut Creme Fried Pie Fresh Corn Saute with Coconut Milk and Sriracha
Coconut Cereal Cookies Thai Ginger Peanut Dressing Coconut Pound Cake Coconut Bacon
Spicy Coconut Noodles Beef Rendang Creamy Bacon Rosemary Polenta Red Velvet Coconut Donuts
Coconut Peanut Sauce Beef Pistachio Coconut Rice Pudding Pineapple Coconut Tarts Coconut Cream Pudding Cookies
Grilled Tofu with Spicy Coconut Milk Sweet Potato Pecan Coconut Cake Coconut Lime Chicken Strips Tropical Kale Salad
Pineapple Tofu Curry Cowgirl Cookies Mango Coconut Tartlets Caramelized Banana Oatmeal
Coconut Lime Granola Coconut Green Curry Lentils Coconut Protein Bars Chocolate Crunch Quesadillas
Garlic Chili Coconut Mussels Coconut Date Bonbons Corn Squash Coconut Stew Banh Mi with Coconut Lime Dressing
Coconut Butterscotch Chow Mein Cookies Coconut Quinoa Hot Cereal Coconut Salted Caramel Pie
Coconut Hot Chocolate Creme Brulee Coconut Rice Pudding Coconut Jam Cookies Salmon Coconut Pizza
Mango Coconut Salsa Banana Coffee Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting Pumpkin in Coconut Milk with Crispy Tofu Coconut Mocha Syrup
Island Carrot Cake Coconut Buckwheat Breakfast Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Coconut Rice Krispy Treats Creamy Lemon Thai Inspired Noodles
Coconut Baked Pork Coconut Creme Brulee Vietnamese Clam Curry Indian-Style Chickpeas

 

All 100 Ways — 1,600 recipes and counting! — found here.


Freaks and Philosophers

I’ve recently discovered that alcohol brings out the philosopher in some, the freak in others. After a long night of tasting and comparing the virtues of different single-barrel bourbons with a small group of friends, the discussion turned to favorite erotic movie scenes, and then onto which past or present celebrity we’d like to spend an active evening with. After we debated each individual’s choice, one of my freaks…err, friends came up with the following philosophical question: If you could go all American Pie on one dessert, what would it be?

Yeah, that was a show stopper for sure, but after we all acted out our best “Oh, that’s disgusting!” response, the bourbon kicked in and a heated round table discussion ensued. The women, it should be noted, requested to use produce instead of dessert items, but we made them adhere to the dessert protocol.

The following is a list of our top five desserts for both the men and women in my twisted little group. I’ve added my own highly researched opinion of the type of person or personality that would be likely to choose each selection.

For the men:

#1. Warm cherry pie (High school virgin)
#2. Two, deep-dish fruit pies (A pie threesome? Bragger/Porn star wannabe)
#3. Cream-filled sponge cake (I’m assuming the cake was filled with cream prior to the act, so I’ll say someone who has been in a long-term relationship)
#4. A large Jell-O mould (Possible necrophiliac)
#5. Freshly baked tunnel-of-fudge cake (I’m not even going to comment on THIS one)

For the women:

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Cookies Gone Wild! Top 10 Ways to Eat an Oreo

If you haven’t noticed, next to beer, I favor sweets.  I’d go so far as to say if it was an ideal world, I’d subscribe to Elf’s main food groups. Maybe not that far…but pretty close. Oreos are one of those foods that integrate sweet creaminess and crunchy chocolate to a different level. I’m sure there are Oreo purists out there who will only eat it one way—but for the adventurers among us, here are ten more ways to eat the number 1 sandwich cookie in America:

10. Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookie-on-cookie action! Some cookies you need to eat warm or wait until they get crispy. It seems like this one is enjoyable no matter when you chomp down on it. I’d still go for right out of the oven. Really—what’s better than the warm insides of a cookie?

Recipe: veryculinary.com

9. Individual Oreo Cheesecake

Some people feel overwhelmed by a large piece of cheesecake. At least this gives you the perception that you are controlling your portions. Until you have another…and another..and…

Recipe: deglazing.com

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