Editor's note: On Thursdays, Andrea Lynn, associate editor of Chile Pepper magazine, drops by to drop some serious heat. Even the biggest food snobs among us love ketchup. When I was in culinary school, a chef/instructor scoffed at the need for a ketchup recipe in our homework binder. "How can you improve on Heinz?" he asked. Well, we've discovered one way--add the power of chiles. While Heinz makes their own spicy ketchup spiked with Tabasco, we prefer these chile-ketchup concoctions, all highlighted in the March issue of Chile Pepper. Scott S. Clinton Dixie Delight reigns as a thick, robust ketchup-flavored hot sauce that will bring a little love to meatloaf. Melinda's offers a whole lot of ketchup craziness these days:... More

Photograph by David Lebovitz If you think these macarons are raspberry flavored, don't bite into them just yet; they're filled with ketchup and cornichon-flavored filling. Pastry chef David Lebovitz makes Pierre Hermé's ketchup macarons with pretty good results. "The taste wasn't bad and I could imagine these as a savory-sweet hors d'œuvre, rather than for dessert—which I think is what they're intended for," says Lebovitz. He shares the recipe in his post, but you can find this recipe and more in Hermé's French book, Macaron. Related The Best Pastry Class Ever, Taught by Pierre Hermé Mitzy's Macarons From New Jersey: The Best Macarons Outside of Paris Macaron Week Round-Up... More

Glenny's, maker of Soy Crisps, also makes American Fries, snacks that "have the great potato taste of French Fries but are baked and have 70% less fat than potato chips!" Available in ketchup, yellow cheddar, and sea salt flavors, they're "krinkle cut for crispy flavor." I'm not entirely sure what makes these snacks "American"—is it the ketchup flavor? The cheddar? Or were they just afraid to call them "French" fries and wise enough to not call them "Freedom" fries? It's clever marketing, using the Old Glory in the background to rouse up patriotic sentiments of a nation. Somehow, America = fries + ketchup! Or, worse: America = dry, starchy, baked potato matter that stinks of ketchup. The unmistakable ketchup odor... More

In response to the rising cost of corn, Heinz researchers are trying to breed a sweeter tomato in order to cut back on the amount of corn syrup in its famous ketchup.... More

Aha! It was Colonel Mustard with the revolver in the kitchen. We all saw it coming. Ketchup has long been the all-American condiment poster child, as the default french fries dipping sauce and popular accessory to breakfast eggs and hash browns. One night, enough was enough and mustard couldn't take it anymore. The crime scene is the artistic brainchild of two bloggers, Skull-A-Day and Bent Objects. Relish was apparently too nervous to get involved.... More

For those who find standard Heinz ketchup too lowly for their sophisticated palates, try Heinz's Special Blend gourmet ketchup, a new product released in the UK. Ingredients include a dozen tomatoes, spices, sea salt, Demerara sugar, cayenne pepper and lemon juice.... More