Things That Aren’t Around Anymore: Food Edition Part 2

This edition of “Things That Aren’t Around Anymore: Food Edition” is filled with all new temporary food items that we miss and a bonus section that features “Foods That Don’t Exist Anymore…Except When You Request Them”, which is a list of fast food items that are only available on request. In the age of technology, we have venues like Facebook to protest for foods to return. This gives customers a forum to be heard. We are ultimately what drives companies to succeed and we now have control (somewhat) over the foods companies put on the market. Enjoy the second installment of this wonderful series.

Crispy M&M’s (1998-2005)

Photo Credit: packagingpedia.wikia.com

In the crazy blue package, Crispy M&M’s were a hit when they first appeared in 1998. Tasting like the Kit Kat bar in pellet form, they were fun to snack on in fistfulls. Still available in Australia, the Southeast Asia and Europe, fans in the United States are petitioning for their return on Facebook.

Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup (2000-2006)

Photo Credit: businessinsider.com

Ketchup is red. Always will be, always should be. To prove this point, Heinz wanted to cater to the kid demographic and introduced color ketchup’s such as Blastin’ Green, Funky Purple, Stellar Blue and, “Mystery Color.” While the initial reception was positive, the consumers soon turned their backs on the color ketchup and after a few years it was gone.

Seven Up Bar (1970′s)

Photo Credit: candyaddict.com

The Seven Up milk chocolate bar featured assorted flavor nougat inside a delicious milk and dark chocolate coating. With cherry, coconut, caramel, fudge, jelly, maple, and Brazil nut centers, it was as if you had a box of chocolates in one handy bar. Technically, the Seven Up bar is still around in the form of the Skybar by Necco.

Planters Cheez Balls (Around 1930-2006)

Photo Credit: filgifts.com

With the blue cardboard container and the bright orange spheres, no one can deny that Planters Cheez Balls were addictive. Planters were known for their nut products, remember Mr. Peanut and his monocle? Cheez Balls did two things: left your tongue dry and coated your fingers in orange flakey goodness. You can purchase knockoff cheese balls, but it won’t be the same.

Foods That Don’t Exist Anymore…Except When You Request Them

McDonald’s Mc10:35

Photo Credit: mcdonaldssecretmenu.com

When an advertisement says “For a limited time”, this burger is for a limited time. From 10:35 until 10:45, you can order the Mc10:35, a combination of egg, canadian bacon, and beef patty. Most people have never heard of this sandwich, so if you order it, be warned, you may get a blank look from the order taker.

Burger King’s Suicide Burger

Photo Credit: ranker.com

The name says it all. If you order this burger, it may be the last one you ever order. With four beef patties, four slices of cheese, piles of bacon, and BK’s special sauce. This burger can only be special ordered and has never been on the regular menu.

In and Out Burger Animal Fries

Photo Credit: Qfl247 (talk) via Wikipedia

Start with a steaming pile of hot, salty fries. Add melted cheese all over the top of them. Continue the layers with some grilled onions and finish it all off with a ladle of thousand Island Dressing. These fries will probably make you sick, but how good will it taste going down your gullet? Animal fries indeed.

Check out part 1 of Things That Aren’t Around Anymore: Food Edition

Have you ever bought something at the grocery store, ate it, and went back to get more, only to find that they don’t sell it anymore? Some foods on come out during certain times of the year or as limited editions, so you only have a short amount of time to get it. With limited shelf space, many products don’t make the cut. Other times, the product is just a bad idea but is liked by consumers only to be removed without notice. Here are some foods that arrived in stores, were well received, and then taken away with fans wondering where to find them or trying to duplicate the food at home.

Libby’s Fruit Float (1970′s)

Photo Credit: inthe70s.com

With flavors such as Strawberry, Mandarin Orange, Raspberry, Pineapple, and Peach, Libby’s Fruit Float was a thick syrup of fruit that milk was combined with to produce a yogurt like dessert in minutes. The tag line was to say “Fruit Float” three times fast. It was said to be nutritious, so you can eat it often.

Pillsbury Funny-Face Drinks (1964)

Pillsbury stepped up and challenged Kool-Aid and Flavor Aid in the powdered drink market in 1964. With their plain white packaging and flavors such as Goofy Grape, Chinese Cherry then Choo Choo Cherry, Injun Orange then Jolly Olly Orange and Lefty-Lemon Lime, Rootin’-Tootin’ Raspberry, Loud Mouth Lime, and Freckle Face Strawberry. Some of the packages would be considered racist now, but at the time were acceptable. Chinese Cherry depicted a buck-toothed, slant eyed character and the Injun Orange showed a orange skinned, war painted, feather wearing orange. By most accounts, Pillsbury Funny-Face Drinks tasted like Kool Aid, but there was only room for two and Pillsbury decided to stick with baking.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pudding Pies (1991)

Photo Credit: sivispacemparabellum81.wordpress.com

Three words: Green outer shell. Yep. Green as toxic slime on the outer shell of this pudding pie! First of all, the packaging was so awesome, you could keep it and pin it to your bedroom wall. As an added bonus, you get one of five “Secret of the Ooze” trading cards inside the package. Finally, the vanilla filling is probably the best tasting filling that you ever eaten. Do you think that some of these pies survived and may still be lingering in some dusty warehouse unseen by the gruffy warehouseman who would just toss them out without thinking of the value of these treasures?

Jell-O (1845)

The geletin based low calorie food was invented in 1845 by Peter Cooper who obtained a patent for powdered gelatin. Forty years later, the formula was sold to cough syrup manufacturer Pearle B. Wait. Wait and his wife May added flavoring such as strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon. This was the start of the Jell-O as we know it. Many flavors exist on the store shelves currently, but what about the defunct flavors? Flavors that you will never see again on the store shelves include:

Photo Credit: inthe80s.com

*Bubble Gum

*Chocolate

*Coffee

*Cola

*Italian Salad

* Root Beer

*Mixed Vegetable

*Maple Syrup

*Plain

*Seasoned Tomato

*Triple Chocolate

McDonald’s Pizza (Mid-1990′s)

blogington.com

Who knew? McDonald’s selling pizza was like Pizza Hut selling fish sandwiches. You wouldn’t think it would be very good, and it wasn’t. The pizza was bland and sad. No one associated McDonald’s with authentic italian food and they could get real good pizza elsewhere. McDonald’s lost tons of money on pizza ovens and the huge drive through windows that were not needed after the pizza flopped. McDonald’s should stick with the burgers and fries.

Check out more foods not around anymore.

The holiday season brings no shortage of friends, long family events, large credit card bills piling up and of course the added stress of completing the perfect holiday meal for everyone who comes over to your house on the big day.

No wonder we all could use a drink.

However, if you’re tired of the same ol’ can of beer or the usual glass of the usual wine, you may want to try something new this season of Festivus. If so, you’re in luck because we’ve run across a great list of 16 drinks recipes that will be a great addition to the ol’ bar book.

Even if you don’t try all of them yourself, it never hurts to have some new items on hand so that you can offer them to your guests. Plus, these will be easy to make, since you more than likely have everything you’ll need for them already in your bar or kitchen. There are also some selections for those who prefer non-alcoholic choices.

Click here to be well on your way to enjoying delicious and festive drinks that will impress anyone this holiday season.

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Long gone are the days when apples were a favorite Halloween treat; now it is all about the candy. And, not just any old candy will do as today’s kids can be pretty picky about their candy. So, if you don’t want eggs thrown at your house or your pumpkins smashed by candy deprived trick or treaters you may want to choose one of the following for your candy bowl this year:

English: Candy corn, specifically Brach’s candy corn. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Number five on the list was brought to us way back in 1898 by the Goelitz Confectionery Company and is considered the oldest of the Halloween icons; this of course is Candy Corn. While there have been some different flavors (Chocolate, Caramel, etc.) added through the years the original remains a Halloween favorite.Coming in fourth on the Halloween favorites list are Nerds. If you are not familiar with this treat they are small sugar crystals (similar to rock candy) that are coated with a flavored and colored candy coating. They come in several different flavors from very sour to very sweet, but any flavor is okay with the kids.

Number three on the list was brought to us by Nestle in 1937 and was given the slogan “For the kid in you”. This, of course, is the Nestle Crunch bar; a big hit when it came out it is still a favorite with trick or treaters.

This brings us to the second most popular Halloween candy, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. In 1893 Milton Hershey began refining the art of making chocolate candy. By 1900 he had perfected his craft and the first Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar was introduced. It was an instant hit and remains a favorite to this day.

So, what is the most popular Halloween candy? The Tootsie Roll of course and we can thank Leo Hirshfield, an Austrian that invented this treat in 1899 and named it after his daughter. You can’t miss with this sweet treat.

While distributing any of these on Halloween will not actually prevent pranks and tricks it may reduce the chance of having them pulled on you.

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How to Make a Perfect Grilled Chicken
by: Angelica Florin
View The Original Article Here

Grilling can be a fun, family activity during weekends. Spend your lazy afternoons in your backyard, and take out those grillers for a grilled chicken for your dinner.

Learning how to grill is not as hard as you would see on television. All you need is the proper temperature for your griller especially if you are using an electric grill. Nevertheless, if you have the conventional griller, try to find some dried wood or charcoal. Ignite the coals or wood by placing crumpled papers below each coal and then set the papers on fire. Do not pour gasoline on the coals or dried wood. The smoke coming from the coals will give a gasoline-like aroma to your grilled meat. These are your best weapons in grilling.

Choose the best part of the chicken. I usually use chicken thighs and legs since they are the fattiest parts of the chicken. These parts will yield a juicy, barbecued chicken. Although these may sound unhealthy, the taste is incredibly delicious. Some would still prefer grilling chicken breasts with the skins on.

We grilled chicken thighs, corn on the cob, and made a garden grown salad for dinner (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before you start grilling your chicken, do not forget to marinate them at least overnight. Yes, overnight. This is because the longer you marinade your meat, the better absorption of flavors happens. I prefer to use store-bought marinades as these save much preparation time in the kitchen. The downside of most ready-made marinades is their high sodium content. But if you have time, you can make your own marinade from scratch. In the recipe below, the marinade and the chicken were simmered together to speed up the process of grilling and also to let the flavors marry together. I like Asian-style marinades such as this:

For every pound of chicken:

½ cup light soy sauce (available in the Asian section of grocery stores)
2-3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 medium stalk of lemon grass (pounded)
3 cloves crushed garlic
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

Combine all the above ingredients in a heavy skillet and let it boil for two minutes. Add in the chicken and simmer for another five minutes. Drain the chicken in a colander and reserve the marinade for basting during grilling. Basting is necessary so that the chicken won’t dry out. The marinade can also be made as a sauce by making a basic roux. This is simply done by placing a tablespoon of butter on a non-stick pan and let it cook for minutes. Pour over the marinade and whisk until the sauce thickens. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings accordingly.

You can also opt to make a dry, rub marinade. This dry rub is comprised of herbs and spices and a little oil. For chicken, dried or fresh tarragon and rosemary blends together very well. If you want a spicier, grilled chicken, add a pinch of chili powder and cayenne pepper. There are limitless marinades for grilled chicken. A little imagination and creativity are the keys. Make sure that when grilling the chicken, never let the flame flare up. This will result in burnt chicken. This does not appeal both to the eyes and to the palate. If this occurs, sprinkle a little water over the flame. Some also like their grill to be covered during the grilling process.

Personally, I liked mine uncovered. There is just something about the smoke which is, for me, the essence of grilling. Grilled foods are best served warm, right off the grill with some salads or other vegetables of your choice.

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Image by walknboston via Flickr

It’s true. Women think they have us figured out. It’s soooo easy, apparently. They even think they can analyze a man’s personality based on the drink that he orders. Exhibit A: the slideshow that Julie Fishman of Glo put together of a few examples of drinks men order, with the analysis courtesy of Manhattan bartend Dara Mahler and bartendner/blogger/author Jordan Catapano.  Check out their analysis and see if they’ve got you pegged…or if the ladies need to head back to the field for some more “research”.

Jack and Coke – “A weeknight drink for men who wear suits.” A whiskey and soda guy often appears as if he could drink for eight hours straight—even while making business deals—without slurring a word. While he can be overly macho, we’d like to think that this guy isn’t into playing games.

Wine – A guy who asks to see the wine list usually has an interest in art, culture and travel. But if he orders the house varietal without thinking, he might need some more grooming.

Light Beer – Mahler believes that light beer drinkers are most often partiers after quantity not quality, though there’s also the occasional fitness fanatic who doesn’t want to ruin his six-pack. The quantity guy may seem affable and fun-loving, but his heavy drinking could be a sign of trouble, whereas a calorie counter may be judgmental and unable to let loose.

Craft Beer – Catapano finds that “a man who drinks craft beer appreciates the finer things in life.” This type typically isn’t looking for a quick buzz, but rather seems to enjoy savoring the moment. And we like to believe that a man who sips high-quality beer will value a high-quality woman, as well.

Gin & Tonic – These men are generally polite and reserved—until they perhaps enjoy a few too many cocktails and morph into their more rambunctious alter egos. “These are often the guys who get thrown out of the bar then appear a few weeks later as if nothing ever happened,” adds Mahler, citing her experience.

Scotch – Characteristically patient and wise with a strong work ethic, a man who drinks fine-aged scotch is “accomplished but rarely boasts,” says Catapano. This kind of man is often serious and contemplative, so chances are he’s looking for more than a casual fling.

Vodka & Redbull – Either right out of college or still holding on to those glory days, this guy is—more often than not—a “hard partier who doesn’t mind waking up without a clue as to what happened the night prior,” says Mahler.

Dirty Martini – A martini man “likely has money and wants you to recognize it,” says Mahler. If he knows exactly what he wants in a drink (Grey Goose, straight up, with two olives), then he probably also has specific criteria for a mate. He can be difficult to please, as he looks for faults in everything, says Mahler.

Tropical Cocktail – Pastel-colored drinks festooned with umbrellas may look feminine, but don’t be fooled—a man who drinks them can be both strong and quick-witted. Most often comfortable in his own skin, “he likes what he likes, and the viewpoints of others are irrelevant,” says Catapano.

Tom Collins – Since this drink requires fresh ingredients and a perfect balance of flavors, this guy “understands that when you want something done right, you need to put some TLC into it,” says Catapano. We imagine that this man has a passion for details and would love planning fantastic date nights for the two of you.

White Russian – If he loves this hipster drink of the moment, then this guy probably regularly quotes The Big Lebowski. Likely a liberal into indie rock and anything retro, he may come off as trying too hard, but he is often well read and well spoken, ensuring conversations will never be dull.

“Whatever she’s having” – If a man doesn’t have a set drink and tends to just piggyback on your order, then he’s certainly easygoing, but he may also be complacent. A man who’s agreeable will probably treat you well, but his “whatever you want” routine could become frustrating over time.

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Don’t you hate going to the store and having to buy coke after coke over again. A solution to your problem can only be a 5 gallons away with this clever invention. You might have to visit the dentist more often, but you do get to drink your coke on a daily basis without a worry.

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Products that Promise But Don’t Deliver

Hair in a can, the Flowbee and ExtenZe.  How do they all fit together?  I’ll save you a bit of head scratching:  They’re products that offer incredible results, but generally fall flat on their faces in the delivery department… not that I’ve ever tried any of them.  Ever.  Ahem, moving right along.

As men with disposable income, we’re subjected to a near constant barrage of crap that will do anything from grow muscles, grow a “muscle” or cure us of some menial chore that only seems to be difficult for actors on infomercials.  Generally, it’s pretty easy to weed out the chaff and move on with our day.  However, what happens when you come across something that is cause for a bit more attention?  Something like one of the candies from a company called Snap Infusion?

The Anti-Hangover Candy

Let’s say you were out one night until an irresponsible hour (I know, such a thing would never happen), and let’s say that during your nocturnal sojourn you imbibed more than your fair share of scotch.  The following morning when you wake up to go help rebuild the orphanage and rescue kittens from trees you may be suffering from a hangover.  Standard cure?  Pop two aspirin, pound back some coffee, take a shower and get yourself some bacon and eggs.  Maybe a hash-brown if you’re feeling frisky.  Some prefer a certain sport beverage hocked by their athletic idols, but really… you’re a grown man of refined taste, surely you can do better.  Which is when you reach for the jelly beans you keep on the nightstand.

How True is Snap Infusion’s True Calling?

Snap Infusion is selling itself as a bit of a candy-miracle-cure-all.  Here are a few quotes from the product’s website, and no, I’m not making these up:

“You could climb an entire mountain while chewing our Gum and have enough energy left to blow a celebratory bubble at the summit.”

“…its true calling is to help you run, jump, play, shoot and shred with an advanced degree of awesome.”

Personally, I’ve only got a B.A. in Awesome and could use the more advanced degree.  Are these the words of a modern day snake-oil saleman?  Each of Snap Infusion’s candies use “super science to squeeze massive flavor into a small space”.  I have no idea what that means.  That said, here’s some of what they boast:  all-natural ingredients, no HFCS, B-vitamins, electrolytes and antioxidants.  I dig it and maybe this isn’t just a passing fad.  Instead of popping an actual handful of jelly beans or gnawing our way through some caramel we can have a “candy” that gives a little back.

I don’t think that chewing on a piece of gum is going to cure a hangover, but neither will the shower, the bacon and eggs (regardless of quantity) or massive cup of coffee.  Time cures hangover.  What Snap Infusion is offering is a little bit of a boost to help you along the way.  Certainly something to consider before your next night out.

Love can be crispy, brown and packed with tons of salt. yum!

I decided to make this for breakfast today and it was real easy to make. I just added some salsa to the top of it and a tad of salt. I recommend it if you’re looking for another method to cook eggs if you’re tired of scrabbled, over easy or your other favorite method.