Snack Time - - Page 7

by gansie

Avocado Oil is a Scam

I don’t give a shit. I fucking love chips. I could not live without potato chips. When I lived in Barcelona for a month I ate Ruffle brand chips and gelato for breakfast everyday on my way to Barceloneta, the closest beach. Everyday. I was in Spain. I could have eaten anything and I carried around a bag of Ruffles with me everywhere I went.

I still can’t eat a sandwich without a side of chips. Slices of apple won’t help. Maybe a pickle, but I’d rather eat a pickle and chips. Actually, I don’t even like sandwiches that much, but we can talk about that later.

When I’m hungover there’s no cure like chips and a Coke. I can only sub chips’ grease with fries, but if I’m at home without a fryer, chips are the only thing that truly makes me feel better. Yes, even over eggs.

My only problem — the chip addiction not being the problem — is I only like plain chips. I love ruffled/ridged chips, but that’s the only texture I can handle. I hate kettle. I hate pretty much all flavors. I hate BBQ and any other chip that would leave weird orangeness on my fingertips (and I hated this as a kid too). At parties I can snack on some other flavors, but only out of desperation. Salt and pepper is okay, as is sour cream and onion and shockingly, salt and vinegar. But that’s about it. It’s weird that I love chips so much, love so very much, but only in a very limited way.

in Rants & Raves 14 comments

by ML

What the FroYo?

Newsflash from ES: America is still eating shit.

I jumped on the froyo bandwagon several years too late. I don’t know why it was a bandwagon to begin with. The trend is just now hitting Philadelphia, I’d think mostly because everyone likes water (wuder) ice better, and we actually like things that taste good. If you type “frozen yogurt, Philadelphia” into Google, the first thing that comes up is “Philly Steak & Gyro.”

Enough said.

My first try was last year in Chicago at Yogenfruz, a lesser known Canadian chain. I was immediately in love. They only have chocolate and vanilla, in low-fat and non-fat varieties. I always go for the vanilla, low-fat (The BF always has non-fat, both are delicious). The bonus at Yogenfruz is that you can have your froyo blended with frozen fruit. Real fruit flavoring? Nom nom. The texture is perfect — ridiculously thick and creamy, and it doesn’t melt quickly.

Tasti-D-lite was my second try, this time because a friend in South Florida loves it. To be honest, it tasted kind of like…Dairy Queen? Fake ice cream? It was creamy, tasted milky, but melted very quickly. I kept hoping to taste flavors that just weren’t there. I ate it feeling empty and unsatisfied. Boo, not-so-Tasti-D-Lite.

Another review, after the jump.

by broadandpattison

Move Over Wings, Beer Found a New Friend

I have two words: Pretzel. Necklace.

A few weeks ago, I trekked out to Denver for the Great American Beer Festival. I actually recorded much of our travails, and even interviewed my brother about the organization, the taste, the vibe, and yes, even the drunk snacks being dished out from every vendor like it’s Halloween candy. Unfortunately, I mistakenly interviewed him at the end of the festival – and just in case he ever runs for public office – the video simply cannot surface.

Despite the plethora of convenient snack vendors (jerky, pulled pork in cups, hot dogs, sausage), we found a much more convenient way satisfy our drunken hunger: We made necklaces. Out of pretzels.

5 Steps to a Pretzel Necklace

in Drinks 4 comments

by BS

Feed Us Back: Comments of the Week

JoeHoya does some research into why we eat apples and honey on rosh hashanah:

Found two sources that seem to offer similar explanations for both the apples and the honey:

http://www.aish.com/h/hh/rh/48959531.html
(From aish.com. Slogan: Your Life. Your Judaism.)

http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1280
From Reform Judaism Magazine, the official voice of the Union for Reform Judaism).

Long story short: the apple was seen as a symbol of rare beauty (see the Song of Songs for a comparison to Israel) and affection by the Israelites at various points. The fruit is further praised and compared to Israel for its bold appearance before any protective leaves surround it (see aish.com for the reasoning).

Good to know. And happy Yom Kippur everyone (can you say happy Yom Kippur?) Anyway, let us know if it raises any further food questions.

– Jessica J shares her own ice cream micro-snack:

I do something similar. Spoonful of honey roasted PB, sprinkle a few chocolate chips over it, then dip the tip in Nutella. Lord have mercy.

And Erica has one as well:

I always thought a couple spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream in a cup of hot lipton tea was divine. then again, i’m kind of weird.

– Finally, thanks to everyone who has already sent in their photos for the smallest kitchens contest. Keep those entries coming — we’ll be posting the best next week.

(Photo: ForestForTrees)

in Contests / Desserts 1 comments

by BS

Artsy Photo of the Day

My new favorite “I’m not having dessert, I’m just having a bite” snack.

Step 1: Cover half a spoon with chunky peanut butter. Don’t bring me any of that natural shit. The junky kind – like Skippy – is necessary here.

Step 2: Cover the other half of the spoon with Häagen Dazs vanilla ice cream.

Step 3: Eat.

Step 4: Try not to repeat. It’s difficult.

And yes, I know I could buy peanut butter ice cream. And no, it’s not the same.

in Desserts / Photos 3 comments

by gansie

L’shanah Tovah

Okay, so we’re a day late. But L’Shana Tova!

That basically means have a good new year. This past weekend was the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. And while we may be tardy in directing you to dip apples in honey for a sweet new year, I do have a fall dish for you. Oh, and I’m not sure why exactly we dip apple slices into honey, (I’m guessing seasonality on this one because at this time of year one can buy both apples and honey at the farmers market) but I can tell you it’s a delicious treat. Actually, you can learn a lot from these two videos.

Here’s the song I was taught at Hebrew school back in the day:

And here’s a slightly updated version on the new year gig:

Post jump: Celebrating not just a new year, but a new season: apples!

in Desserts / Holiday / Recipe 7 comments

by gansie

Lists Are Decieving

I’m not entirely sure how these magazine “Top fill-in-the-blank” lists are generated. There clearly must be some genuine merit in the list making. But there may also be some pay-for-play going on. But, whatever, lists are fun. Clearly here on ES we’re a bit obsessed.

Fortune (in conjunction with CNN/Money—conglomerates are unclear) released the 2009 50 Most Powerful Women list. When I saw the link via Twitter I was totally pumped. I love girl power.

But as I scrolled, I couldn’t even make it past the top 3. They all worked for food-based companies. You’d think as a food writer I’d be totally pumped. But no, these women worked for huge companies that are contributing to our current obesity epidemic and the overall poor health of the nation and the environment.

I really do usually try to provide women-friendly commentary, but I have to say that I’m embarrassed that these women promote such unhealthy eating habits. Although it’s been proven that when a woman breaks through the glass ceiling it will help other women in that company attain promotions and pay equity, I’m just not so sure I want today’s working women to follow this path.