December 2010 Archives

Let me start this post with a simple question:

"If you could only eat food that started with one letter, what letter would that be?"

It's an interesting question, especially since the food universe is so diverse in naming and the line between ingredients and food is often blurred. For example, how would you classify certain types of pie? Would apple pie fall under the letter A, or would it fall under the letter P?

Therefore, before I reveal the answer -- which actually has already been revealed by the title of this post -- here's the ground rules.

1. We're not getting into the nitty-gritty details, bread is bread, not rye bread or wheat bread, for this question all bread is the same. 
2. That being said, it must be pretty publicly accepted that the food would be considered in a category -- such as dinner rolls in the bread family -- therefore, baked potatoes, hash browns, potato skins, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, would fall under the label potato family.
3. Flavoring doesn't allow a food to transcend from one letter to another, the food must stay in one category and not jump from one letter to another willy-nilly. 

With the rules in place, we come to our answer -- the letter P. 


Whoever invented the candy cane is probably rolling over in his grave right now.

While eating a candy cane is an acceptable way to celebrate the holiday season, some people take it too far. Perfectly good food doesn't need an infusion of peppermint or mint flavoring when radio stations start playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving.

This wintertime mint obsession seems to span everything from coffee to desserts. Although most mint-flavored food makes me wince, there are a few exceptions.

In honor of the holidays, I've compiled a list of the worst mint flavored foods and a list of mint flavored foods and things that are okay to put past your lips, on occasion.

 

THE MINT MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN

The top five worst mint-flavored foods

 Peppermint, mint milkshakes: Who thought it would be a good idea to throw a candy cane, Listerine and ice cream into a blender? This also includes mint-flavored ice cream.

Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks: Grab a Caramel Brulee Latte instead.

Cool Mint Oreos: There's a much better holiday version with red cream filling that doesn't taste like toothpaste.

Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies: These are just okay right out of the freezer, otherwise grab some Peanut Butter Patties. Only 30 days until Girl Scout cookie season!

Peppermint hot chocolate: Marshmallows would kill mint in a cage match.

 

WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS?

Five somewhat tolerable mint-flavored foods and other things

Candy canes: It's always fun to celebrate, but the candy canes need to disappear with the lights long before Valentines Day.

York Peppermint Pattie: You can't hate a classic.

Butter mints: Nothing could do a better job at getting rid of the aftertaste of breadsticks from Campus Pollyeyes.

Peppermint Bark: Although I just tried this last week, I will defend it until the end.

Toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, gum: Please, at least twice a day or after every meal.