YumSugar

Twinkies, Deconstructed

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:01:38 -0700

If you're the kind of person who likes to snack on a Twinkie every now and again, I'm sorry to say you may want to rethink that snack. Steve Ettlinger, the author of Twinkie, Deconstructed states that there are 39 ingredients in a Twinkie, and all but one are processed. The list, which includes cellulose gum, calcium sulfate and polysorbate 60 are used in sheetrock, shampoo, laundry detergent and even rocket fuel.

It took Ettlinger over five years to track down the source of every ingredient found in a Twinkie. Along the way he discovered that the vitamins, artificial flavors and colorings come from petroleum and sorbic acid is made from natural gas.

When asked about the findings, the folks at Hostess said:

"Deconstructing the Twinkie is like trying to deconstruct the universe. We think the millions of people would agree that Twinkies just taste great."

Oh and one other thing that blew my mind - although really I should've realized this - the creamy middle? According to Ettlinger, that's mostly Crisco shortening.

And while all of this sounds terrible, I'd like to add that these ingredients aren't just found in Twinkies. Many other processed foods contain the same ingredients. Makes you think twice about what you eat, no?

Thanks to GiggleSugar for sending this info on to me!

Want Fries With That Hot Dog Cake?

YumSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:01:38 -0700

When I found out that today is Hot Dog Day, I knew I had to share this fun creation. It really takes "semi-homemade" and pushes it to the next level, everything can be bought, but the end result is completely unique. The Hot Dog and Fries Cake is a completely edible, ridiculously sweet cake shaped to look like a hot dog in a bun and french fries. All you need is a loaf cake, a few Twinkies, red frosting, yellow icing, red icing and some green fruit. If you'd rather not use Twinkies, substitute with different kind of cake in the center. Either way, your little ones - and big ones too - are going to love this treat.

To see how to assemble one for yourself, read more

Hot Dog and Fries Cake
From Family Fun

1 baked loaf cake
2 Twinkies
1 cup hot-dog red frosting (red and brown mixed)
Yellow icing in a tube
Red icing in a tube
Green fruit slices or gumdrops, diced (optional)

To make the hot dog bun, cut the lengthwise sides of the loaf off (as shown), saving the extra cake for the French fries. Remove the cake center and place the two Twinkies in the "bun."
Frost them hot-dog red. Add a squirt of mustard (yellow icing) ketchup (red icing), or relish (diced gumdrops or fruit slices).

Print recipe with images | without images

Will You Eat Banana Creme Twinkies?

YumSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:57:31 -0700

As a kid I was crazy for processed treats like Twinkies and Ho-Hos. However, once I got to college, I made a vow to eat as few as I possibly could. So tell me, why am I so intrigued by the new Banana flavored Twinkies? Does it have something to do with banana being the original Twinkie flavor and how it's the first time since WWII that Hostess has featured it as a "regular" flavor? I'm not really sure, but I strangely want to try them. How about you, will you hunt down Banana Twinkies?

Note: It has actually been a limited edition flavor several times since WWII, most recently for the release of the King Kong DVD.

Source: PR Newswire

Hostess Wedding Cakes

YumSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:27:19 -0700

So you've decided that you don't really want a traditional wedding cake, but you're not so sure about cupcake wedding cakes either. Well how about one made from Hostess creations? That's right, I'm talking about a cake made from Twinkies, Ding-Dongs, Ho Hos, Suzy Q's, Sno Balls and more. Last year, Readymade magazine's editor Shosana Berger featured a ding dong cake at her wedding.

However, chef Phil Delaplane took his to the next level and incorporated a ton of different
Hostess creations into his wedding cake.

If that one is too over the top for you, then be sure to check out these surprisingly elegant wedding cakes and favors made from Twinkies. You have to admit, those bride and groom Twinkie favors are pretty damn cute.

If you're interested in making them for your wedding, Hostess even has instructions on how to achieve the look.

What Processed Dessert Do You Eat?

partysugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:51:42 -0700

geeksugar pointed me to a very interesting article that I had to share with all of you. I've never been a fan of processed foods, I have an occasional Cheez-it or Oreo every few months, but in general I avoid those aisles at the supermarkets. Thank goodness, because the article discussed a few fun facts about Twinkies.

Ingredients include boiled down human urine and limestone.
Both Twinkie cream and rocket fuel derive their slippery sheen from a fun substance called cotton celluse.
Despite urban legend after a nuclear war Twinkies will last only 24 days.

I guess I didn't need to know these facts to not eat these "desserts," I knew it all along. Perhaps after reading this you will never again eat a Twinkie or other processed desserts, but up until this moment, what processed desserts did you eat?

Source: Twinkie Deconstructed