YumSugar

Woman Finds Mouse Head in Frozen Green Beans

YumSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:00:13 -0700

How's this for a Halloween fright? A woman in Auckland, New Zealand, was opening a package of Heinz-Watties "choice cut" frozen green beans when she came across a strange-looking foreign object. The unidentified frozen object in question was a shrunken mouse's head.

"I thought it was a little husk or something so I took it out of the microwave and pulled it out. It had eyes looking back at me," said Jacquie Lewis, the surprised recipient. If she hadn't stopped to take a closer look at the one-centimeter-wide object, she could have eaten it. She described the experience as "incredibly nauseating. I thought, 'If this is your head, where exactly is the rest of you?'"

Heinz-Watties explained that wildlife can get into its food products from time to time, but the thought of this happening to someone still makes me shudder. Have you ever found something in your store-bought products that shouldn't have been there?

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Yucky Link: Serendipity 3 Closes Down Due to Rodents

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:27:33 -0800

If you were planning on saving up for the $25,000 Frrrozen Haute Chocolate, you may want to reconsider. The popular New York eatery Serendipity 3 has closed down due to rodents, fruit flies, and cockroaches. - Yahoo News

Calcium = The Sixth Taste?

partysugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:00:46 -0700

Scientists in Philadelphia have discovered that mice can taste calcium. Since humans and rodents share many of the same genes, the human tongue should taste calcium as well. For centuries the four basic tastes were sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. However when umami, the fifth "savory" taste, was recognized 100 years ago, the door opened to research other tastes. According to Michael Tordoff, a geneticist who participated in the mice study, a human's palate can detect the mineral. It tastes:

Calcium tastes calcium-y, there isn't a better word for it. It is bitter, perhaps even a little sour. But it's much more because there are actual receptors for calcium, not just bitter or sour compounds.

Tordoff claims that the bitterness of certain vegetables, like bok choy or dark greens, is due to high levels of calcium. Although milk is full of calcium, the fats prevent us from tasting it.

Since I've always thought it was crazy that only four basic tastes exist, the discovery is incredibly interesting, and I think that maybe I've tasted calcium. What do you make of the findings? Have you ever tasted calcium?

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Would You Eat a Rat?

YumSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:29:15 -0800

Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat. Although most Westerners would never dream of eating rat, it is actually a delicacy in many places, and surprisingly rat consumption is on the rise, especially in places where the bird flu was rampant and another source of protein was needed. Personally, I'd give the little rodents a try; call me crazy but the recipe for rat steamed with lemon leaves actually sounds appetizing and that picture above doesn't look too shabby either. Rat-atouille anyone?

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Mouse and Swiss Cheese Set: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:18:37 -0800

I found this Mouse Cheese Knife and Swiss Cheese Spreader Set ($15.95) to be absolutely adorable, yet I know a lot of folks freak out over the concept of rodents in their kitchen. So you tell me, would you use these in your house?

Would You Eat At Kitchen Nightmares' Purnima?

partysugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:05:18 -0700

After watching last night's episode of Kitchen Nightmares, I started to wonder just how many functioning restaurant's kitchens are filled with rodents, bugs, and rotting food. How on earth did Dillions/Purnima pass the health inspection? No wonder the case against Ramsay was dropped, Martin the manager was a total hag. Even after the changes I'm still not sure if I would want to dine there. How about you? What did you think of last night's episode? Would you eat at Purnima?

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College Cooking 101

partysugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:17:07 -0700

If you've just left the comforting confines of your parents' house for college life, or life beyond college, you may be wondering what on earth you are going to eat. Don't panic, I've put together a bunch of tips that will ease you into the wonderful world of dorm style cooking. As most dormitories ban ovens of any sort, the George Foreman Grill and the microwave will be your most coveted companions followed closely by the mini fridge. Depending on the dorm's regulations you may also acquire a blender, rice cooker, or hot plate. To see my helpful hints on creating edible meals with these gadgets, read more

Get creative! When opened fully, many of the George Foreman grills can work as a griddle for frying eggs and other tasty proteins.
Learn how to correctly use the microwave and stick to it. Use microwave-safe dishes and don't overcook ingredients. Hot dogs and eggs can turn into a messy mistake if left in the microwave for too long.

When dealing with pre-made meals, follow the microwave directions found on the box.
Don't overcrowd your dorm room with pointless gadgets and little used ingredients. Keep things simple with salt and pepper shakers, bottle opener, can opener, knives, utensils and a set of plates, bowls, and glasses.
Don't like food from a can? Check out your local supermarket aisles. Safeway makes an excellent selection of Signature soups that stay up to three weeks in the fridge.
Be respectful of your roommates. NEVER make anything with an extreme smell like fish or broccoli.

Maintain a high level of cleanliness. Wash utensils and serveware after using and take out the garbage often. You don't want to attract bugs, rodents, or animals.
Know where the fire extinguisher is located in case of an emergency.
Keep dishes simple, the fewer ingredients you use, the easier they will be to put together. Check out Chow's collection of dorm room recipes for more ideas and inspirations.

Did you cook in your college dorm room? Share your secrets, successes, and blunders with us below!

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Would You Eat Guinea Pig?

partysugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:47:19 -0700

I consider myself an adventuresome eater. This means I'll try anything once and don't get squeamish by the sight of pig legs, fish heads, octopus tentacles, or stomach linings. Still, it's happened to the best of us: sometimes the things people eat are just plain gross. The smell is overpowering and inevitably you lose your appetite.

My sister recently traveled to the mountains of Ecuador where guinea pig is a delicacy. A girl after my own heart, she ordered and sampled the rodent stating that there was not a lot of meat and it was mostly crispy skin with a taste similar to chicken skin. How about you? Would you eat guinea pig, or is reading this making you sick?

National Peanut Butter Day

partysugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:38:12 -0800

Woo-Hoo! I know you've all been waiting for it anxiously and finally it's here! Today is National Peanut Butter Day! Maybe I'm being a bit too enthusiastic about the whole thing, but I mean come on, who doesn't love a little peanut butter every now and again? Did you know that peanut butter was originally created to perform the same function as toothpaste way back in 1880? Or that peanut butter and jelly was a result of World War II? Apparently soldiers were given peanut butter instead of meat due to enforced rationing. The soldiers added jelly to make it taste better and viola the all American sandwich was born. To celebrate National Peanut Butter Day, I've rounded up a bunch of fun facts about peanut butter so read more

Following the regulations stated by the U.S Food and Drug Administration, 2 rodent hairs are allowed in every 100 grams of peanut butter. (Ewww, isn't that gross?!)
In Denmark peanut butter is called pindakass which translates to peanut cheese. The Dutch government protects the word butter so the peanut butter makers had to improvise and substitute cheese for butter.

Apparently there is a sandwich called the fluffernutter (what a funny name! I should tell GiggleSugar, she would have a field day) that pairs peanut butter with marshmallow creme (if anyone has tried this please tell me about it below).
You probably already know this, but one of Elvis' favorite foods was a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich (has anyone ever tried this?).
I would love to know the scientific explanation behind this one: creamy peanut butter can be used to remove gum from hair and clothing.

Boscul Peanut Butter glasses - which were originally glass jars of peanut butter from the 50s - are a sought after collectors item.
Peanut butter has been banned in many schools all across America because of the severe allergic reaction that may occur to those who can not eat peanuts.
For peanut butter to be real it must consist of at least 90% peanuts.
While Americans prefer peanut butter, Europeans favor nutella.

Know a crazy fun fact about peanut butter that I failed to list here? Tell me about it por favor! I love busting out with these meaningless pieces of trivia at a dull dinner party.