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From Serious Eats

Burger King's Little Brat Digs Apple Fries. Do You?

Erinlovestoeat figured out the apple fries - cutting them into "fries" takes an object like an apple, which anyone can buy several of for $1.50, and turns it into a "branded" product, that people will pay $1.50 for. (Same with potatoes, by the way, we're just a lot more used to them).

Think about the potato - how hard is it to cut a bunch up and fry them at home? Not very - but no company is going to make money off of a potato, because the production and transportation costs are just barely covered by the selling price (this is why you never see coupons for produce! There's not enough of a margin). So Ore-Ida comes along, and gets a few Urshel cutting machines and a deep fryer, and they take those potatoes and cut them up, slap a brand on them, and suddenly they can sell $1 worth of potatoes for $5, and make a much bigger profit than they would selling plain potatoes.

Unfortunately, natural products don't last in that cut up, branded state, so they have to add all sorts of chemicals to make them "shelf stable" - and we eat those chemicals every single day.

Of course it's healthier and cheaper to eat whole, real foods (like apples and potatoes) but we've been convinced over the last 25 or 30 years that cooking is for experts (like the chefs on Food Network), that it's too hard and it's a chore, so we pay a premium price to have other people and machines do the work for us, at the expense of our health and our budgets.

There's nothing inherently wrong with apple fries, or french fries, as long as one realizes that they're a convenience food, and not a Real Food, and eats them only in moderation. I hope no one would choose apple fries for $1.50 over an apple for $0.30, if there were a side by side choice. But there are no apples in the Drive-Thru... So it's not a side by side choice.

Fortunately grocery stores are trying to jump on the convenience bandwagon, but they're doing it with healthier, fresher food (because they have it available in a way that BK does not). So, at many stores, you can get cut up fresh fruit in the produce section that's ready to eat, or bagged salads with dressing and everything, or even soups and salad bars. One grocery store in my small town has a chicken wing buffet (?!?!?). I haven't quite figured that one out.

Hopefully, as grocery stores get more and more into convenience health foods, we'll start getting out of the drive thru and into the stores. Maybe the next step is to add a drive thru to the grocery store!

But apple fries is simply a way of taking a commodity, like an apple, and turning it into a Product, with a trademark and everything. It has nothing to do with "tricking" kids into eating fruit, and everything to do with "tricking" parents into being parted from their money.

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I used to be a cashier at the local 7-eleven (because it was next door to the pizza place where all the cute guys worked!!) and this advice is wrongity wrong wrong wrong.

You want to stop pouring when the Slurpee liquid reaches the level of the cup, because it will expand (especially in certain weather) to fill the dome. You can always top it off, but it's a complete mess when you overfill.

Back in the day (a pack of cigarettes was $1.30) when I worked there, the Slurpee machine was behind the counter. I've pulled me a lot of Slurpees.

Damn, I'm old.

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

From Serious Eats

Eating for Two: Raspberry Leaf Tea

I used it before both of my kids' births. I started drinking it around the 7 month mark, and gradually increased my consumption to the maximum recommended on the box (which, IIRC, was three cups a day).

My first child was born in 3 hours and 45 minutes. I knew I was going to have to be induced with my second, so I got Raspberry Leaf extract - a really concentrated liquid that you can find at the health food store, and took as much of that as I could stand to try to induce labor. I still had to be induced, but at 36 weeks I was 3 cm dilated, they used Cytotec and 4 hours of un-labor later (if you say, "was that a contraction?" and look at the monitor when you don't have any pain meds, it doesn't count), they broke my water. After that everything went FAST and she was born one hour and nine minute later.

When I would drink it, I could feel the Braxton Hicks contractions get more focused and intense, so I know it was doing something.

It may not work for everyone, but I'd say it worked for me! I definitely plan to use it in future pregnancies.

My uterus is the only toned muscle on my entire body.

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

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From Serious Eats

Burger King's Little Brat Digs Apple Fries. Do You?

Erinlovestoeat figured out the apple fries - cutting them into "fries" takes an object like an apple, which anyone can buy several of for $1.50, and turns it into a "branded" product, that people will pay $1.50 for. (Same with potatoes, by the way, we're just a lot more used to them).

Think about the potato - how hard is it to cut a bunch up and fry them at home? Not very - but no company is going to make money off of a potato, because the production and transportation costs are just barely covered by the selling price (this is why you never see coupons for produce! There's not enough of a margin). So Ore-Ida comes along, and gets a few Urshel cutting machines and a deep fryer, and they take those potatoes and cut them up, slap a brand on them, and suddenly they can sell $1 worth of potatoes for $5, and make a much bigger profit than they would selling plain potatoes.

Unfortunately, natural products don't last in that cut up, branded state, so they have to add all sorts of chemicals to make them "shelf stable" - and we eat those chemicals every single day.

Of course it's healthier and cheaper to eat whole, real foods (like apples and potatoes) but we've been convinced over the last 25 or 30 years that cooking is for experts (like the chefs on Food Network), that it's too hard and it's a chore, so we pay a premium price to have other people and machines do the work for us, at the expense of our health and our budgets.

There's nothing inherently wrong with apple fries, or french fries, as long as one realizes that they're a convenience food, and not a Real Food, and eats them only in moderation. I hope no one would choose apple fries for $1.50 over an apple for $0.30, if there were a side by side choice. But there are no apples in the Drive-Thru... So it's not a side by side choice.

Fortunately grocery stores are trying to jump on the convenience bandwagon, but they're doing it with healthier, fresher food (because they have it available in a way that BK does not). So, at many stores, you can get cut up fresh fruit in the produce section that's ready to eat, or bagged salads with dressing and everything, or even soups and salad bars. One grocery store in my small town has a chicken wing buffet (?!?!?). I haven't quite figured that one out.

Hopefully, as grocery stores get more and more into convenience health foods, we'll start getting out of the drive thru and into the stores. Maybe the next step is to add a drive thru to the grocery store!

But apple fries is simply a way of taking a commodity, like an apple, and turning it into a Product, with a trademark and everything. It has nothing to do with "tricking" kids into eating fruit, and everything to do with "tricking" parents into being parted from their money.

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I used to be a cashier at the local 7-eleven (because it was next door to the pizza place where all the cute guys worked!!) and this advice is wrongity wrong wrong wrong.

You want to stop pouring when the Slurpee liquid reaches the level of the cup, because it will expand (especially in certain weather) to fill the dome. You can always top it off, but it's a complete mess when you overfill.

Back in the day (a pack of cigarettes was $1.30) when I worked there, the Slurpee machine was behind the counter. I've pulled me a lot of Slurpees.

Damn, I'm old.

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

From Serious Eats

Eating for Two: Raspberry Leaf Tea

I used it before both of my kids' births. I started drinking it around the 7 month mark, and gradually increased my consumption to the maximum recommended on the box (which, IIRC, was three cups a day).

My first child was born in 3 hours and 45 minutes. I knew I was going to have to be induced with my second, so I got Raspberry Leaf extract - a really concentrated liquid that you can find at the health food store, and took as much of that as I could stand to try to induce labor. I still had to be induced, but at 36 weeks I was 3 cm dilated, they used Cytotec and 4 hours of un-labor later (if you say, "was that a contraction?" and look at the monitor when you don't have any pain meds, it doesn't count), they broke my water. After that everything went FAST and she was born one hour and nine minute later.

When I would drink it, I could feel the Braxton Hicks contractions get more focused and intense, so I know it was doing something.

It may not work for everyone, but I'd say it worked for me! I definitely plan to use it in future pregnancies.

My uterus is the only toned muscle on my entire body.

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

From Recipes

Eating for Two: 'Laborade'

I don't think it's true that "most" women throw up. I had a HUGE dinner (1/2 pound hamburger, order of fries, strawberry smoothie) the night before I gave birth to my daughter. I went into labor at 2 something and she was born at 6:14, and I never threw up. I was induced with #2, and I had eaten lunch. They started the induction at 6 pm, and she was born at 11:09 pm, and again, no hurling.

Like so many things, I think that there are a lot of self-fulfilling prophecies that come into play with labor and delivery.

@Dmarina - I would've LOVED to have a home birth, but my husband just couldn't get on board. Since he had to go through it, too, in a different but still difficult way, I compromised. Drug free, hospital births with an OB present, but I went home early both times.

From Recipes

Eating for Two: 'Laborade'

That's just going to make you hurl (lots of women hurl during labor, but it's best to try to avoid it). Gatorade is basically just sugar and salt and water, so if you want electrolytes, you can eat a couple of salted crackers or pretzels, and drink some juice, and there you go. No strange concoctions required.

Good luck! Have a good baby!

Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

From A Hamburger Today

Burger Book Giveaway: 'Hamburger America'

_The_Cowboy_Burger_

Bacon, cheddar, ranch
A symphony of trans fats
Thank God summer's here.

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: The Sweet Melissa Baking Book

Chocolate ice cream with a peanut butter swirl and chopped up peanut butter cups.

Or brownies.

Or cheesecake.

Basically, I've never met a dessert I didn't like.

From Serious Eats

Photo of the Day: Kids Playing with Giant Zucchini

So, she planted a cucumber seed and got a giant zucchini? How does that work?

From Serious Eats

Photo of the Day: Kids Playing with Giant Zucchini

Check out this PDF file for the Alaska State Fair's giant vegetable record- these sound amazing!
www.alaskastatefair.org/exhibits/2007%20Large%20Veggies.pdf

From Serious Eats

Photo of the Day: Kids Playing with Giant Zucchini

Er, that should read, " first one", not "first once".
(SE needs an edit function.)

From Serious Eats

Photo of the Day: Kids Playing with Giant Zucchini

I heard some gardeners on NPR talking about how, if you don't pick them early, summer squash like zucchini can get insanely big insanely fast.

Guess they weren't kidding! Apparently, the bigger, the tougher, so it's better to pick them early for several reasons...

From Serious Eats

Photo of the Day: Kids Playing with Giant Zucchini

That's not even all that big for a California zucchini. I've seen much larger. They just get away from the daily harvest sometimes.

From Serious Eats

Burger King's Little Brat Digs Apple Fries. Do You?

Oh wow...that IS pretty sad that we need to design apples to look like fries. The only justification for this I see is masking a "healthy" meal for kids to look like something from Burger King. I suppose I'll applaud the effort.

Hillary
Chew on That

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Being pregnant with Twins I just couldn't get enough Slurpee's and wouldn't you know it-they were born on 7-11-05. Free Slurpee's on their B-day for life!

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I was cheerfully upgraded to a 12 oz. Slurpee on Friday, simply because I innocently asked, "Aren't there any tops for this size? I have to drive!" And the flavor was Monster Black Ice. I like that! My colleagues at work pointed and laughed at my black teeth, tongue and lips, but I had the last laugh...

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Hey cool! I never knew that!
I SHOULD, considering I'm from the "Slurpee Capital" of the world for the fifth year in a row! We Maniobans love the suga-rush!

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

@foodinmouth -- that's only the smallest size (usually for the wee kidlets). They get to Big Gulp and higher sizes, too.

And this brought back sweet memories of working at the 7-11 down the street from my house in college -- the owners were a sweet, older couple; my friends in the 'hood visited often; and I did homework when it was slow.

As far as the method goes, ease up on the handle just after you hit the dome, 'cause like other posters said, it does "blow up" a little and the dome fills REALLY quickly. And mixing is good -- I actually liked Sprite and cherry together; tasted just like cherry 7-Up.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I still get the frozen Coke and cherry mixed. Layer Coke on the bottom, then cherry, then Coke, cherry, and top with Coke up into the dome lid. A treat not to be missed!

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

didn't slurpees not always have those dome lids? what did they have?

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Yeah, I second the counter-tap. You gotta get the air bubbles out for more icy deliciousness

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I liked coke & cherry too!

Moosie - ok so did you go to FHHS? FLHS? Maybe St. Francis Prep? Just curious... I don't know of many 7-11s in Queens :P oh, and one more in Howard Beach, but it's not THAT close to the HSs there, I don't think.

And I do indeed know how to pull me a slurpee, despite growing up in Queens and Manhattan.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I was a coke and cherry girl, too ... that just looks wrong.
Get a slurpee today, Robyn! Like others said, it's like a very sweet, drinkable granita. It's drinkable until the loose ice bits start to fuse together. Just like a snow cone, toward the end, you're left with some packed ice at the bottom of your cup after you've sucked (or tried to suck) all of the flavor ice. Then, you wait for it to melt and take a sip every few minutes (at which point you have to turn your spoon straw around ... We may need a companion video on how to drink/eat a slurpee.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Count me in with Robyn. Never had one. And they multiplied like rabbits until WaWa came along. Might have to finally try one.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I use to work at 7-11! (Can we say 'health insurance?' Yes, we can.) Switching out the syrup containers was awful. It was sticky, and the boxes were heavy, but it was worth it when I could get blue raspberry-grape going in the same chamber, life was good. Coke and cherry was pretty good too.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

I grew up drinking Slurpees...week after week, I would go get myself a Slurpee after school in Queens.

Thankfully, I'm not one of the people who need to watch the video =) Long Live free Slurpees on 7/11!!

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

@jonathankavner: Perhaps I should have been more precise with my language: People in New York City don't know how to pull Slurpees. There are not that many in the city, but yes, there are a lot all over Long Island and New Jersey and outside the city.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

@Amy - you are absolutely right. Pull hard till the cup line, but then ease off the gas to take into consideration the expansion, otherwise you'll blow the Slurpee right out the fill hole.

But what do I know; I'm only a New Yorker who's been pulling Slurpees at all the 7-11's we don't have all over Long Island (they're just about everywhere here).

Otherwise, the precup instructions and speed of the initial pour are right on.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Great work on the video Adam. :)

Hey, was that the Black Ice in the first cup? How was it?

And seriously, somebody please bring Robyn to 7-Eleven today! The poor girl, I can't believe she's lived her whole life without having a Slurpee.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Adam, you forgot the essential counter-smack to make sure that all the air bubbles are out and the slurpee is settled. I used to squeeze at least an extra inch this way. They're not charging by weight, after all.

From Serious Eats: New York

Sugar Rush: Slurpees and How to Pour Them

Or the SE crew can just take Robin around to 7-11s tomorrow and she'll learn first hand. Picture...thousand words...

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