foodie flashback

I was wasting my time on checking out YouTube when I came across this video clip from Buy Me That! an old 1980s special that taught kids the tricks in advertising. In this particular clip a "makeup artist for food" — these days they would be known as a food stylist — teaches everyone how to make burgers look tasty and delicious. The key is to cook them for only 20 seconds on each side, and to mark them with skewers. Oh and if it's too tiny, just rip it and spread it out, no one will know. To check out the video and see if you know all the tricks, just read more

BellaSugar recently rented a cute Smart Fortwo car — be sure to check out her adventures. Hearing about the car's tiny size made me think of the scene in that old Mentos commercial. You know, the one where the girl's teeny tiny car gets wedged into a parking spot and she needs four burly dudes to come help her out? Well it's been running through my brain all week, and I think the only way to remove it is to share it with all of you. After all "fresh goes better" with friends, no?

If you're ready for this Foodie Flashback, then just read more

I know, it's hard to believe, but we love cookies here at the Sugar HQ. We talked about them for so long on Friday, that I ended up doing a YouTube search to find old cookie commercials. I was sorting through the odds and ends — strangely there are a ton of homemade cookie commercials on YouTube — when I came across this one from Mother's Cookies. It's about Mother's Cookies — you know you love those Circus Animals — joining forces with ice cream, and it features Friends' Matt LeBlanc. If you don't believe me, watch the commercial yourself, just read more

The annual International Home and Housewares Show begins next week in Chicago. Each year there are always a lot of interesting gadgets and gizmos — I'm sure we'll be hearing about a lot of items for our What Is This game — as it seems that everyone has something innovative up their sleeves.

Every time I think about innovative new kitchen gizmos, I always end up thinking of those vintage 1960s Kitchen of Tomorrow type of videos. So I decided to find a good one on YouTube when I came across this video for "Dream Kitchen" by Frazier Chorus. The song samples old kitchen commercials and the video is made up entirely of 1960s futuristic kitchen clips. It's a lot of fun, and answers the age-old question of "What is a kitchen anyway?"

To check out the video for yourself, read more

I was trolling around YouTube looking for a fun foodie flashback, when I struck gold. In a before he was famous moment, Brad Pitt is seen here hawking Pringles potato chips. The commercial itself is actually a bit weird. Three surfer dudes are cruising around in a convertible, run out of Pringles, which makes their car break down. Luckily three bikini babes arrive armed with a sackful of Pringles, they all hang out, eat the chips and then when the Pringles are gone, the dudes hop in their car and drive away. If you're interested to see this 1980's food spectacle for yourself, read more

The only thing better than vintage recipes and cookbooks are vintage-cooking videos. While looking for Thanksgiving ideas, I came across this vintage commercial for a turkey made with real butter. You pat lots of butter all over, cover it with cheesecloth dipped in melted butter, and bake it slowly, basting with butter. Sounds like a recipe Paula Deen could really get behind. If you're interested in how to butterbake a turkey, or are just looking for a bit of Thanksgiving circa 1959, then check out the commercial, just read more

As a child, one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving — besides the turkey, pie, and Macy's parade — was the annual viewing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I love the way that Snoopy and the gang had their own Thanksgiving without adults. Even though Peppermint Patty freaks out over the lack of turkey and pumpkin pie, I always thought it looked like a lot of fun. What child wouldn't want a a smorgasbord of treats — two pieces of buttered toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn, and jelly beans — while sitting around ping-pong table? Looking back on it now, I see part of the message is that it doesn't matter what you're eating, as long as it was made with love. So despite how your feast turns out — be it fantastic or forgettable — remember to take a deep breath and enjoy the day.

To see a clip of Snoopy and the gang prepping for their Thanksgiving feast, read more

The other day, when I was looking for vintage Pillsbury Doughboy commercials, I came across one for Pillsbury Microwave Side Dishes. The novelty of the slogan "lovin' from the oven" referring to a microwave is sort of fun, however it's the wee Kirsten Dunst loving her microwaved scalloped potatoes that makes me giggle. The video is a wonderful slice of the 80s and you won't be able to get this Beep! Beep! jingle out of your head. To check it out, just read more

At the age of 42, the Pillsbury Doughboy — aka Poppin' Fresh — is looking good for his age. He hasn't needed any Botox and looks just as good as he did when he first debuted on Nov. 7, 1965. Although his outside appearance has stayed the same — he's computer generated now, but was originally a plaster and foam-rubber puppet — his interests have changed. Over the years he's appeared as an opera singer, a painter, a sky diver, a skateboarder, an accordion player, and more.

If you're wondering what he was like when he started, check out an early commercial below. When you're done, jump to the next page for a few more.

The other day we mentioned that General Mills brought back Boo and Franken Berry just in time for Halloween. So, to celebrate the occasion further I thought I'd dig up a few of these old Count Chocula commercials. Besides, it's a perfect way to celebrate Halloween. Check out the commercial for all three cereals below and then check out a few more after the jump!

To check out a few more classic Count Chocula commercials, read more