Might want to get your fill of ham this year, because "a world shortage of pork and bacon next year is now unavoidable," according to an industry trade group. Blame the drought conditions that blazed through the corn and soybean crop this year. Less feed led to herds declining across the European Union “at a significant rate,” ... and the trend “is being mirrored around the world,” according to a release

Bacon, pork shortage 'now unavoidable,' industry group says

Taco Bell will also introduce a new "A.M. Crunchwrap", which combines scrambled eggs, cheese, a hash brown and bacon or sausage in a single tortilla.

Calorie count: 680 with bacon, 730 with sausage. and the Mountain Dew A.M. has 160 calories.

Just 16 and recently released from a naval academy, Kenji Ekuan witnessed Hiroshima's devastation from the train taking him home. "Faced with that nothingness, I felt a great nostalgia for human culture ... I needed something to touch, to look at. Right then I decided to be a maker of things." One of the most enduring objects in his 60-year design career — which includes the Akita bullet train and Yamaha motorbikes — is the Kikkoman soy-sauce dispenser. Introduced in 1961, it has been in continuous production ever since. Traditional in its grace yet modern in its materials, the bottle's design drew on Ekuan's experiences at war's end.

Who Made That Soy-Sauce Dispenser?

A study, published this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that carnivorous mammals whose diets don't feature much in the way of sugar may lose the ability to taste it at all.

The Oreo Cookie turns 100 today.

Nello Ferrara, the inventor of spicy-hot Atomic FireBalls and lip-puckering Lemonheads, died Friday at his home in River Forest at age 93. He had a very interesting life.

Sam [Tollison], whose family loves cinnamon rolls, started it all with his attempt to get Colorado to designate a state pastry. The letter and petition that he sent to the governor didn't quite accomplish that, but last month Hickenlooper was moved to declare Cinnamon Roll Day, at least for one year.

Sunday is Colorado Cinnamon Roll Day.

Not much to post lately. Here's a picture of freshly roasted coffee beans.

Americans' meat-heavy diets may be partly to blame for skyrocketing rates of type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health studied the nutritional habits of more than 400,000 people and found that a daily serving of processed meat--one hot dog or two slices of bacon--increases the risk of developing diabetes by 51 percent. Unprocessed red meat, such as steak or hamburgers, is less damaging, but still causes a nearly 20 percent spike in diabetes risk.

"There's no question that consumption of red meat is too high," study author Frank Hu tells Scientific American. The average American eats more than 100 pounds of red meat per year, and more than 2.5 million adults have diabetes.

Researchers think that high levels of sodium and preservatives in processed products and a type of iron found in red meat may damage cells that help regulate blood sugar. The good news: By replacing a daily serving of meat with low-fat dairy or nuts, the study found, people can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes.

--quoted in "The Week" magazine

July is National Ice Cream Month.

Ice cream scene heats up with hot new flavors.

Today is National Pie Day.
This should not be confused with National Pi Day, which Is March 14th (3.14)

According to one pie expert, pie provides comfort, sharing, and sympathy.

Want to lose weight?
Interested in helping the planet?
Consider taking the PETA VegPledge for one month.

French chefs are giving subway commuters gourmet treats.

RED celery coming to a supermarket near you.

Nearly 35 million pounds of candy corn--about the weight of 90 jumbo jets--will be produced this year, according to Spry Living magazine.

Imagine Google wrapped in chocolate.

What the Internet giant is to its employees today — the extra benefits, the comfy workspace — Hershey was a hundred years ago.

A theme park, a theater, low-rent housing and cheap public transportation were all things Milton Hershey brought to the dairy region of Pennsylvania when he created Hershey, the chocolate center of America.

Now the original Hershey's factory is closing.

WSJ.com: Sun Chips Bag to Lose Its Crunch

It's World Vegetarian Day

Pumpkin lovers can relax: A nearly yearlong shortage of the canned stuff is over. That means an end to the hoarding, rationing and even pumpkin profiteering that have been going on since heavy rain ruined last year's harvest and caused a shortfall. But the country's top producer says this year's crop is healthy and cans are arriving in stores.

Pass the pie: Canned pumpkin shortage is over

Does "corn sugar" sound healthier than "high fructose corn syrup"?

According to the Environmental Working Group, these are the "Dirty Dozen" of foods most likely to contain pesticides:
1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell peppers
8. Spinach
9. Cherries
10. Kale/collard greens
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (imported)

Be sure to scrub these before eating OR buy organic.

"I don't have any dietary restrictions except that I hate bad food."
---comment from a Boulder foodie talking to a co-worker

What could be better than a frosty ginger ale to help cool off during these hot summer days? If ginger’s not your thing, how about a lemon-lime soda or an orange-ade? The combination is unlimited so long as your imagination is put to good use. The best part is it’s all homemade so you’re avoiding massive doses of sugar, artificial flavorings, and caffeine.

DIY Soda Pop

It's National Donut Day!

PETA wants to put an "injured chicken" statue on the 16th Street Mall to protest cruelty in processing the birds for food. They'd like it to be located in front of McDonald's.

Chocolate: a woman's secret weapon.

Frigid weather takes big bite of Florida tomato crop.
About 70% of this year's crop is lost, meaning prices for tomatoes will go way up, while quality will go down.

Food Rules a new book by Michael Pollan.

Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.

In spite of the name, French fries are practically an American birthright. They’re offered as the first choice side dish with nearly every fast-food and sit-down chain meal available. But here’s the catch: In a recent study of 7,318 New York City patrons leaving fast food chains during the lunch hour, researchers learned that combo meals—meaning meals with sides—averaged 1,100 calories each, which is over half a day’s allotment ... The authors of the best-selling weight-loss series Eat This, Not That! and Cook This, Not That! have rounded up three of the worst orders of fries available at chain restaurants across the country.

America's Worst French Fries (and What You Should Eat Instead!)

Ramen Noodle King dies.
Momofuku Ando was 96.

"Food insecurity" is the politically correct term for starvation, now widely used by agencies and governments.

Many Americans report no income except food stamps.

Rectangles vs. triangles: The Great Sandwich Debate

McDonald's is searching for a new potato for its French fries.

Grilling over a wood fire is as much a sport as an art — it's more instinctive than cooking with a gas grill, more nuanced than cooking with charcoal, and more athletic than both.

NY Times: Grilling Over Wood as a Sweaty, Smoky Sport

The Obama family picked peaches in Palisade, Colorado, and brought some back to share with people on Air Force One.

It's the birthday of food writer Julia Child, born Julia McWilliams in Pasadena, California (1912). She said,

"Life itself is the proper binge."

We all know, I think, that a tomato is a fruit not a vegetable. It’s the sort of amazing fact printed on cereal boxes to amuse and entertain children with very low standards. The distinction is, so I fuzzily recall, that fruit are part of reproduction, whereas a vegetable is any other botanical bit we eat ... The plot, however, thickened when I was cutting up strawberries ... and idly wondered what the hell they were, since the seeds were on the outside ... I was prepared for a shock, but not the magnitude of what I actually found.

Schrodinger's Kitten: The Fruit is a Lie

Some molds cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. And a few molds, in the right conditions, produce "mycotoxins," poisonous substances that can make people sick. When you see mold on food, is it safe to cut off the moldy part and use the rest? To find the answer to that question, delve beneath the surface of food to where molds take root.

USDA Fact Sheet: Molds On Food: Are They Dangerous? Be sure to check out the chart on what to do with food with mold on it. For most things? throw it out!

How To: Car-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

Spider Pizza?

Boulder Valley Schools considers a no-junk-food policy not only for school lunches but for holiday treats and school fund raisers.

This year's Cherry Blossom Festival features special "fox" fortune cookies.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowl Recipe.

The Denver Steak. Why isn't it sold in Colorado grocery stores?

I suggest eating moderately. Fasting may not be as easy as feasting, but after a while it is not too different. Both are extremes. It is not hard to go the extreme way, but what is really difficult is neither to fast nor to feast, but to be moderate in everything we do. This is what the Buddha called the Middle Path. It requires great artistry and vigilance.

Eknath Easwaran, "Words to Live By"

From 8:00 P M to midnight today you can get a free root beer float at any Sonic Drive-in. Here are some other freebies in the Denver area.

History of Forks | History of Spoons | Histgory of Chopsticks

Nation's largest King Soopers grocery store opens in Broomfield.

History of Navel Oranges

How to make Totoro Cream Puffs

Peeps Art

Homemade Choco Taco!

Sometime ago, as I emptied a big pot of pasta water into the sink and waited for the fog to lift from my glasses, a simple question occurred to me. Why boil so much more water than pasta actually absorbs, only to pour it down the drain? Couldn’t we cook pasta just as well with much less water and energy? Another question quickly followed: if we could, what would the defenders of Italian tradition say?

Japanese kitchen knives cost more than a camera, they can't be washed in a machine, are subject to rusting and boy, they are so sharp that if you slip you'll lose a finger or two before you can say banzai. There is no doubt that these are the best knives in the world. Nothing comes close to them in terms of sharpness. With one of these knives, you could slice fish so thin you could read a whole chapter of La Physiologie du Goût through the slices. Earlier this month, I had the chance to see how knives are made in Japan like they have been for the last 200 years, following Mr Bjorn Heiberg from Chroma, a company that sells these legendary knives.

"After 24 years, one of the most famous blunders in marketing history is quietly coming to end." Coca-Cola Deleting "Classic" From Coke Label

Don't "dis" the lunch ladies.

Honeycrisp Cider!

I finally figured it out-- I'm a flexitarian.

These so-called “flexitarians” — a term voted most useful word of 2003 by the American Dialect Society — are motivated less by animal rights than by a growing body of medical data that suggests health benefits from eating more vegetarian foods.

Does turkey really make you tired?

The average number of calories consumed in the Thanksgiving meal--7,100!!!

Health Management Resources

Free latte Fridays at McDonalds
In an effort to win over the Starbucks crowd, McDonalds is now offering "fancy " coffee. And you can get a sample for free. Also check out their coffee web site: unsnobbycoffee.com

Fall is apple season, and here is a list of some of the most popular varieties, showing a picture, telling how each was developed, and the best use for each type.

Raman noodle website grows more and more popular.

I saw a grocery store ad for "Peaches, Plums, and Pluots." That's a fruit I had never heard of before. Now I guess I'll have to try one.

Sorting Out Coffee's Contradictions

What was the original flavor of the cream filling in Twinkies sponge cakes?

Banana.
The filling was changed to vanilla during World War II when there was a banana shortage.

from "365 Amazing Trivia Facts" calendar

Additional fact: Twinkies do NOT last forever.

Eknath Easwaran, in his book "Words to Live By" proposes this eating plan:

I suggest eating moderately. Fasting may not be as easy as feasting, but after a while it is not too different. Both are extremes. It is not hard to go the extreme way, but what is really difficult is neither to fast nor to feast, but to be moderate in everything we do. This is what the Buddha called the Middle Path. It requires great artistry and vigilance. Instead of negating the body and senses, we train them to be valuable instruments.

I try to eat good, wholesome food in temperate quantities in order to strengthen the body. If my body is not strong, I cannot contribute to the welfare of society, and I cannot give the best account of myself in life. We harness our physical, mental, and intellectual capacities not to make money or achieve power or fame, but to use these faculties to make our contribution to life

The latest item to be rationed --rice. Costco and Sam's Club stores are now limiting the number of bags of rice customers can purchase due to a worldwide shortage of the grain. So far Colorado stores aren't affected.

Shooting Iron Chef America: Behind the scenes of the popular Food Network program.

February 23rd is National Pie Day.
Check out some Mercy Farms pie recipes HERE

I made my annual batch of gingerbread men/women cookies yesterday. They take a lot of time, but it's part of the holiday tradition AND they taste good!

Over 25,000 people (mostly children) die DAILY from hunger and hunger-related illnesses. Freerice.com gives you a chance to learn new words, play a fun game, and send food to starving nations all at the same time.

Beyond sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, we can actualy taste a fifth flavor--Umami--"ooo-mah-mee".

I have always liked apples, and autumn is the time for the best ones. McIntosh is my all time favorite, but a few years back Gala and Fuji varieties began appearing in stores, and they are really good, too. More recently I've seen Pink Lady, Cameo, and Jazz apples and have given each a try, but, while they were good, they were not exceptional. Last week I came across a new type, Honey Crisp. They are REALLY good, and even though they are expensive, I plan to get more!

There a bear on my Toblerone bar!

This evening we ate at Smash Burger, a Colorado burger chain (if two stores count as a chain). The meal cost more than I expected, but the food was excellent. The meat on the burger was juicy and flavorful, the toppings tasty, and the drinks refreshing (I had a chocolate malt). Cameo ordered a root beer float - made with IBC root beer - and it came in a frosty mug. (Even our local A&W no longer uses glass mugs.) All in all a Smash-tastic meal!

Peaches are a big deal in Colorado this time of year. At the Palisade Peach Festival they hold a Big Beauty Peach Contest each year. This year's winner measured 12 inches in diameter and weighed 1.16 pounds. Some peach!

BaconSalt: because everything should taste like bacon

The world's most expensive coffee ($600 per pound) comes from Indonesia. It is called Kopi Luwak and gets its unique flavor from the beans having passed through the digestive system of a civet cat.

In Hawaii, Spam is a very popular food item. In fact several Hawaiian fast food restaurants vie with one another in creating menu items like Spam and Eggs with Rice (McDonalds

History Magazine looks at the Evolution of Mealtimes

Today we don't always agree on the names and times of our meals. Some of us have dinner at eight, while others have supper at

Fast Food: Ads vs Reality.

Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good.

Alice May Brock, author (1941- )

ADDENDUM: And hig

As you sip your morning coffee, take time to consider where it came from.

Ben received a cookbook for Christmas, and the kids decided to make a pizza today while Cameo and I were out. They did a good job for a first attempt - there was some trouble with yeast and they forgot to add hamburger - but otherwise they did a good j

For the year "007", a look at James Bond's Vodka Martini

MI6 looks back at the literary roots of James Bond's world famous drink "the Vesper", better known as the vo

I am actually ahead of the curve with this. Yesterday I baked a big batch of gingerbread cookies. I used cutters to make gingerbread men, women, children, and teddy bears. The house sure smells good!

M&Ms have traditionally been chocolate - milk mostly, but sometimes dark or white - but this season brings eight new flavors of M&Ms packaged in a "premium collectible" tin. It's

As a dedicated tea drinker, it is frustrating to me to observe how little attention is paid to us and our drinking preferences. According to a recent NPR report, this may be changing. More and more people are developing a taste for tea, and the product

They fry everything at the Texas State Fair. Event Coke.

NPR: All About Miso. Mother-In-Law May makes very tasty Miso soup, with potatos, sea weed, and onion.

The Egg McMuffin is 35 years old today.

What's in a name? The Avocado Story. [via NPR]

My favorite sushi shop - Banzai Sushi - got a favorable review in the Denver Post yesterday.

Banzai is staffed with friendly, helpful people who ar

As Mom mentioned, Strove Tuesday is also National Pancake Day!

Why McDonald's Fries Taset So Good. It's all about the "natural flavor".

How to pick the perfect steak

Last night I made Pumpkin Empanadas. I was inspired by a comic strip I read awhile back and the desire to make a better "pie" than what McDonald's sells. They actually came out pre