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We've always picked an alternate date to have Thanksgiving dinner as a family (this year it was yesterday) because we have family members who work in retail and they have to be at work super early for BLACK FRIDAY and usually end up having to work crazy hours all weekend during that time of year. Also it seems nicer to have it on a relaxed weekend when we can actually enjoy fall weather, as too often "real" Thanksgiving seems to be when the weather gets cold and snowy....at least that's the case in my neck of the woods.

A more interesting variation on this taste test would be to compare colas that use authentic cola flavoring vs those (like Coke and Pepsi) who use a mix of natural and synthetic flavors that imitate the kola nut flavor.

I tend to prefer sodas that use sugar instead of HFCS because I seem to think the corn syrup tastes too sweet overpowering the other flavorings, although I'll admit based on this test, it may be all in my head. However when I tried the mountain dew throwback, I was shocked at how different it tasted to me. Regular MTDW tastes like carbonated syrup to me, while the throwback like a lemon/limey soda

@knitter, now I'm on a quest to find out what "Black catsup" is, which will likely, slowly drive me insane

@Aya Kristen ; wheat gluten sounds intriguing so does pre baking if making a large batch for future use, which is not usually how I look at the spontaneous nature of grilling....

Hot Dogs, those much maligned members of the sausage kingdom, are part of what makes Summer, Summer for me. The best quality hot dog may pale in comparison to the humblest cut of pork at the butcher, but the cheap packs of tube shaped meat product that goes on sale at the supermarket for 99 cents......never never never!

I thought he came across as the kind of guy who's not all that comfortable in front of the camera and doesn't have a lot of experience doing interviews, esp the kind of interview-skits Colbert enjoys .

I've been on a (sadly unsuccessful) campaign to get my library system to order a copy of the set. I figured it's the kind of book many people would be interested in (esp with all the recent media hype) but few could justify spending the money on...the perfect type of thing for a library to acquire.

Here in Western New York the fever for "Pączki Day" has eclipsed the Fasnacht, and they are a bit harder to find these days. But I remember with fondness my Oma and Opa taking us out to get them during this time of year, always the first glimmer of hope for Spring

Echoing many others, my brand loyalty seems to be evident most often in the condiment category. Heinz ketchup, Franks Hot Sauce, Weber's horseradish mustard, Miller's horseradish, Bragg's cider vinegar, Helmann's mayonnaise. Swiss Chalet dipping sauce and Habitant split pea soup are Canadian products that are sometimes available where I live in Western New York, but are worth the trip over the border to acquire, because there is no substitute for them in my mind.
If I were ever to leave my hometown, I wouldn't think twice about paying the shipping costs for Sahlen's hot dogs, and Aunt Rosie's loganberry drink.

Kasseler Rippchen at Oma and Opa's house

Special kids menu selections that stipulate a maximum age, if I want a smaller portion or a plain grilled cheese I should be able to order it.

Frozen whitefish fillets crusted in tortilla/potato/captain crunch referred to seafood and or healthy. If you can't get a hold of fresh fish, don't serve fish.

about 5 bottles of millers prepared horseradish. Every time we make roast beef, we pull them all out to find the hot one, and yet we never throw the other ones out so by the time dinner is over I've put them all back forgetting which one was the fresh one

I have a 22oz bottle of Southern Tiers Pumpking beer, that I'm saving for an emergency when I'm craving pumpkin beer and it's not available at the store

A bottle of aloe vera gel, for sunburns when applicable (not this rainy miserable summer!) and for making hand santitizer.

Mayo and Baconaisse

Pure cane sorghum which I have no idea what to use for after the failed recipe I tried that called for it.

And the regular 5 types of mustard, 10 types of hot sauce (including the restaurant sized bottle of franks)

I've never encountered this with a birthday party before, but in most places I've worked this is standard protocol for a retirement/farewell party, so I'm finding it hard to see the overt tackiness in this, esp if the partygoers are a mix of friends/family/acquaintances. Just like with a retirement party, easy enough to opt out of or just do your own thing separately. If you are being overly pressured/guilted to participate however, that is B.S.

The thing I really find offensive is the birthday restaurant get together where the bill is split evenly between all assembled (minus the birthday person) where you may have ordered modestly and others extravagantly and you end up covering disproportionately . If this was a wedding reception or shower invitation I know this would be a huge breach of etiquette, I'm not sure about a birthday....if it makes you uncomfortable you should stick to recognizing the event in the way that makes the most sense to you.

Much Depends on Dinner by Margaret Visser, tells the history behind an ordinary American Dinner of corn on the cob with butter and salt, roast chicken with rice, salad dressed in lemon juice and olive oil, and ice cream. I found this book very engrossing, lots of drama ,politics and scandal!!

The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory by Carol J Adams. My views don't line up with hers, but I found the parallels she makes between how we objectify animals into meat and how society views women fascinating albeit imho, extreme.

Candy and Me: A Girl's Tale of Life, Love, and Sugar by Hilary Liftin. A cute book with vignettes of the authors life with different candies ( bottlecaps, circus peanuts etc) playing a supporting character in each chapter.