Yesterday, I reviewed a new candy bar that contained popping candy. That got me wondering about popping candy, especially the nostalgic favorite, Pop Rocks.
How do they work, exactly? Hard candy in any form is essentially a sugar-water mixture that's been cooled and hardened. In the case of Pop Rocks, an extra step is required: The sugar-water syrup mixes with pressurized carbon dioxide gas (roughly 600 pounds per square inch!), which forms tiny, pressurized bubbles in the candy. Once it cools, the pressure is released and the candy shatters, but pieces still contain pressurized bubbles. When consumed, these pieces melt in your mouth, releasing the bubbles with a loud snap. That's the sound of the pressurized air being released from the bubble.
Pop Rocks, first sold to the public in 1975, employed cutting-edge candy technology. In fact, the technology that's used to make that carbonated candy crackle is actually a patented process.
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In Cedar Rapids, IA, one woman got her Halloween trick several weeks early when she found a bat in her coffee.
The woman reported a bat in her house but wasn't too concerned about it. She then turned on her automatic coffeemaker before bedtime and enjoyed her coffee the next morning. When she cleaned out her coffee machine that night, she discovered the dead bat in the coffee filter. The bat was sent to a laboratory to be tested, where researchers determined its brain was too cooked by the hot water for them to determine whether it was rabid. The woman is currently undergoing treatment for possible rabies.
I've heard some food scenarios that are even more disgusting, but this one tops the list of strange occurrences! Does this remind you of any bizarre food experiences that you've had?
At a baby shower, it's incredibly important to have a nonalcholic specialty drink. That way the mother-to-be can join in the festivities. For Denise's baby shower brunch, I'll offer guests mimosas and spiced pomegranate sparklers.
The concoction is made with a cinnamon-spiced pomegranate juice and sparkling water. Do take the time to make the garnish — frozen whole cranberries — because it's a lovely addition to the drink.
Also have an assortment of juice, coffee, and tea on hand. To get the refreshing recipe to the sparkling mocktail, read more
After 94 years, cookie company Mother's Cookies has closed its doors.
The Michigan-based company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, told its workers last Friday that cookies would no longer be made as of Monday.
The reason cited was the economic climate. Chief Restructuring Officer Jeffrey Granger explained that the company has been "operating at a loss due largely to the significant increases in raw material costs and the record high fuel costs across the country."
I'm saddened by the collapse of another company and more job loss, but the hardest part is the sudden parting I have to make with iconic cookies such as circus animals and taffy sandwiches. And there will be no holiday frosted cookies for us this season, either.
Are you surprised to hear of this? What Mother's cookies will you miss?
In many cases, white rice is served alongside a saucy dish. When this happens, the rice is normally overlooked. However, white rice doesn't have to be boring, it can be delicious! Especially if you jazz it up with a simple stir-in of cilantro and lime juice. 
This recipe is incredibly easy — almost as uncomplicated as making white rice. Cilantro, garlic, and lime juice is blended with olive oil before being mixed into the cooked rice. If you don't like cilantro, get creative, white rice would be divine with a basil-lemon or parsley-orange oil folded in. To learn the technique, read more
Here in San Francisco, there have been some interesting developments on the restaurant front. City officials are just one step away from approving a ban that would limit new restaurant openings in a prominent neighborhood. 
The area in question is North Beach, a bustling neighborhood filled with coffee shops, bars, tourists, and Italian restaurants. According to those who proposed the law, North Beach residents are concerned about the number of restaurants and bars opening in the touristy neighborhood, while shops — hardware store, laundromats, and shoe-repairs — have closed.
I'm not sure how I feel about this bill, and can't help but think that it sets the precedent for other similar laws around the country. On the one hand, it's important to protect small commerce from being pushed out, especially family-owned shops that provide a service. But on the other hand, I wonder if this is a smart move on the part of the city. Would the bill really help to keep other commerce in business, or would this ban simply make matters worse in a time when the economy is already lagging? What do you think about the bill?
Baked potatoes are totally underrated, and for some reason they've got a bad rap. It's time we gave the stuffed potato some love. Instead of topping them with cheese and sour cream, these baked potatoes are filled with a spicy vegetable stew making them an entire delicious meal. The stew consists of black beans, carrots, zucchini, and squash, but feel free to stir in your favorite vegetables, or use the stew to top baked sweet potatoes.
To bring the baked potato back into your life, read more
Have you ever watched an episode of Gossip Girl and thought, "Ugh, I love Blair's headband, where'd she get it?!" Or "If only I knew what necklace Serena was wearing, I'd buy it in droves." If you've had these thoughts, then you're in luck. Not only have we introduced a new site, CelebStyle, that has the complete wardrobe notes on Gossip Girl and more, we're also launching a giveaway to get a bunch of the GG goodies for free.
From now until Sunday, Oct. 26, you can enter to win items from an assortment of accessories from the set of GG. We've got headbands from JoomiNYC and Jennifer Behr, necklaces from Margo Morrison, and bracelets from Ronni Simon, Rachel Leigh, and CC Skye. To enter, all you have to do is log into TeamSugar (if you're not a member, register now) and add a look of your own to any post on CelebStyle (see how after the jump). There will be 12 winners in total, and you'll be entered for every look you create so there are plenty of chances to win! Be creative and check out the official rules here.
To learn how to add a look, read more
