Yummy Link: Ruby Eggs

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:28:56 -0700

Why dye the outside of Easter eggs, when you can dye the insides? Check out this recipe for beet-dyed ruby eggs. - A Veggie Venture

Easy Spring Centerpiece: Wheatgrass

partysugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:01:31 -0800

With Spring around the corner, there are lots of cheaper alternatives to fresh cut flowers. You could use petals, or you could skip the flowers all together. How simply elegant is this vibrant wheatgrass and lemon centerpiece?

I came across it last weekend while at a crab-feed fund raiser for the 49ers. Instantly hundreds of varieties come to mind: place limes in the middle for a St. Patrick's Day party or scatter dyed eggs in the grass for an Easter brunch. At only $11.00 a tray, fresh wheatgrass is affordable and fabulous.

13 Freaky Foods for Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:09:19 -0700

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have Triskaidekaphobia (the fear of 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know that there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Anthony Bourdain eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, tell us in the comments!

#13 - Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff, however I've known quite a few folks that are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people that are freaked out by tapioca in general...

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#12 - Pimento Loaf
Processed meats are a bit freaky to begin with, but Pimento Loaf really creeps me out. Finely chopped pork and beef supplemented with pickles and pimentos? No thanks.

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#11 - Harry Potter Bertie Bott's Jelly Beans
I know these are just meant as a novelty item, but seriously Vomit flavored Jelly Beans that actually taste like vomit? No thanks...

#10 - Squid Ink Pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink. However some folks find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky...

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#9 - Edible Bugs
I've had a few of these, and while some of them are actually interesting to try, I just can't seem to get past the idea that they're still creepy, crawly bugs.

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#8 - Scrapple
I've actually never had (or even heard of) scrapple, however quite a few folks were quick to add it to their freaky food list. Based on the definition, I can see why it makes the list. What's not freaky about a loaf of savory mush from cornmeal, flour and pork scraps?

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#7 - Chou dofu - aka Stinky Tofu
This super popular Asian snack is one of the worst things I have ever smelled. Stinky Tofu is a fermented tofu dish that is very... um, fragrant. Some folks say it smells like stinky feet, baby poo or worse (use your imagination). Personally I don't get it (my mom has forced it on us several times a year), it's not tasty enough to get past the smell.

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For the rest of our freaky food list, read more

#6 - Sweetbread
I'm actually a fan of sweetbreads, but many folks can't wrap their heads around the fact that they're eating innards. My biggest problem is actually the name.

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#5 - Pickled Pigs Feet
The little piggy feet are salted and smoked like bacon and ham, but then are placed in a jar of hot brine and preserved for months. I don't know about you, but I just have a problem with eating feet.

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#4- Chicken Feet
As I mentioned above, I have a problem with feet. This time it's a delicacy that is usually served in dim sum. Chicken feet are usually deep fried then boiled and marinated in a black bean sauce. However there are a ton of little bones. It's gross to look at and quite frankly, just not worth the effort.

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#3 - Sea Urchin - aka Uni
When I asked the folks in the Sugar HQ to name a freaky food, 5 of them said Sea Urchin. Uni is served in many sushi restaurants and is actually the gonads of the sea urchin. It has a creamy texture and a yellow/orange hue. It's a bit like a firm custard, but I sort of think that it's like biting down on a squishy tongue.

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#2 - Black Pudding aka Blood Pudding/Sausage
Anything with the word "blood" in it deserves to be on the freaky list. Blood pudding - which actually has very little to do with pudding and a lot to do with blood - is a sausage made by cooking animal blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal.

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#1 - Balut

I love poultry and I love eggs, so I should love balut, right? I live by the "try anything once" motto, but even I might have a hard time chowing down on a boiled almost whole baby duck stuck inside of an egg.

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