My New Favorite Sandwich!

My new favorite thing to eat... Peanut Butter / Biscoff sandwiches!

I first tried this with a product called Speculoos Cookie Butter. My wife bought a jar of it at Trader Joe's.  Since she hadn't been back, I've been doing without... until I found the original at Wal-Mart!  It is called Lotus Biscoff Spread.  I am sure it is not all that healthy.  It is made from cookies, but it has no nuts in it (for those with allergies).

If you check out the official website, you will see it's history and they will also point out that it is Vegan.  :)

I've gotta try this!

Saw this over at Abraham Piper's blog.  He wants someone to try this and let him know how it goes.  I think I am going to have to be the one.  Especially now that I am "dieting"...

Top 10 New Foods at the 2010 State Fairs

Sent to you by Mr. Harmless via Google Reader:

Top 10 New Foods at the 2010 State Fairs

via Endless Simmer by BS on 9/21/10

With all due respect to George Washington Carver, America's greatest food inventions have all originated in one place — the state fair. From cotton candy to corn dogs to deep-fried Coke, the enterprising folks at America's state and county fairs top themselves year after year. Some observers thought state fair cooks had hit their peak last year, when the Texas State Fair debuted Deep Fried Butter. But in 2010, they outdid themselves once again, proving that if it's edible, it's even better battered and fried. From coast to coast (but mostly in the middle) here are our top ten favorite finds:

10. Hash Brown Hot Dog  – San Diego County Fair

Hot dogs with french fries is a pretty fantastic lunch, but boy it takes a lot of effort to transport all those individual fries from the plate to your mouth. If only we could get the hot dog and the potato to be one cohesive unit, preferably arranged on a stick. Thank you, San Diego. Thank you. (Photo: It's Holly)

9. Deep-Fried Cheddar-Bacon Mashed Potatoes…On a Stick  – Minnesota State Fair

Sorry, San Diego — did you really think you could best the Midwest at spuds-on-a-stick? Here, Minnesota achieves the state fair trifecta — potatoes, pork and cheese — all deep fried, all on a stick. For more of Minnestoa's many, many state fair foods, check out Baking Junkie's heart-stopping food crawl through the MN State Fair. (Photo: Baking Junkie)

8. Garbage Burger – Indiana State Fair

It's the great state fair dilemma. Should pork be the basis of your dish — or a topping? In Indiana, this is not a problem. Behold the garbage burger — a deep-fried pork patty topped with a healthy serving of pulled pork. Why settle for one pig when you can have two? See more at The Hot Cookie. (Photo: Sarah Richcreek)

7.  Deep-Fried Frito Pie – Texas State Fair

No other state takes this season as seriously as Texas, the good people who started the deep-fried everything movement with their corn dog in 1942 and haven't looked back since. Earlier this week, ES told you about frito pies — those delicious piles of chili-topped corn chips. One guess what Texas has gone and done to 'em. (Photo: Texas Fried Frito Pie)

6. Deep Fried Klondike Bar – San Diego State Fair

California continues its surprisingly strong showing by having the cojones to throw a chocolate-covered ice cream bar in the deep fryer. This one's more concept than execution, because not so surprisingly, it's a total disaster to eat. My Burning Kitchen has more. (Photo: My Burning Kitchen)

5.  Chocolate Tornado Potato – Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota strikes again on the potato front. Fair-goers thought they'd never see an improvement on last year's Tornado Potato — a whole potato, spiral-cut, placed on a stick and deep fried. But this year they've dipped the whole thing in chocolate. Amazing. The Heavy Table has even more on Minnesota-fried goodness. (Photo: Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table)

4. Deep-Fried Cheesesteak on a Stick – Wisconsin State Fair

Sorry, Pennsylvania. Your iconic sandwich is great and all, but it took a state like Wisconsin to bring it to a whole 'nother level. By now you should know that level is what happens when you place something on a stick, batter it and fry it. (Photo: Cousins)

3. Sweet Potato Dog – San Diego County Fair

Because there's got to be at least one foodie at the fair who says, "don't you have another option besides just plain potatoes?" Why yes, we also batter that bad boy with sweet potatoes, thank you very much. This one doesn't look like it holds up in the oil quite as well as the hash brown dog, but they get points for trying. (Photo: It's Holly)

2. Corn Dog Pizza – Minnesota State Fair

I don't believe anything needs to be said about this item. (Photo: Northfielder)

1. Fried Beer – Texas State Fair

Yes, it's true. America has finally taken our two greatest loves and made them one. A ravioli-like pocket of pretzel-y dough is filled with good old fashioned beer. We don't know how it works, or whether it kills you immediately or just in the long term, but boy are we glad it exists. Try it this week at the official close of the fair season – the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. (Photo: Fried Beer)
Previously on ES:
Grease, Goats and Girth: The 2010 Iowa State Fair
Top 10 Food Finds at the 2009 Iowa State Fair
The 2009 Minnesota State Fair
Chicken-Fried Bacon

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Taco Bell Folk Song

IT is making me hungry for Taco Bell!



[HT: the school news today]

Losing Again

I joined the "Biggest Loser" competition at our school. I am not sure how many people are competing, but there are a few moms, a dad, and some of the other teachers. Along with the dad, I am the only other male competitor.

I had been dieting before Christmas Break, but I fell dove off that boat during the holiday. It is really hard to diet on Christmas Break!

Well, now I am back on.

Our first weigh-in was Friday, January 16th. I weighed in heavier than I have ever weighed. I was at 201.4 lbs.!! Last week I weighed in at 196.2 lbs. That means in the first week I lost 5.2 lbs.! And I think that I was the biggest loser of the week! I am feeling pretty good about that.

But, can I keep it up for 13 weeks?

The most difficult thing for me is that I just genuinely love food. Eating is one of my most favorite things to do. So, this is really, really hard. Choosing to eat less and to eat the right kinds of things is a real practice of self-discipline.

Well, I will try to keep you posted on my progress.

Diet - Day 2

I made it through the second day of my diet.  Other than being hungry all of the time, I'm alright.  Breakfast was eggs and turkey bacon.  Lunch was a salad again.  Dinner was chili!  The chili tasted really good tonight, even though I didn't have any crackers.

Should I start posting weight loss?

Sure.  Since I forgot to weigh myself on Sunday, I will do a weigh-in tonight, and then do a follow up later this week.

diet - day 1

We just started a no (low) carb diet, so I thought that I would journal my way through it.  The last time I went on this diet, I lost 10 lbs in the first week.  And that is what I am shooting for.  I just want a jumpstart on my weight.  

Today was the first day, and it wasn't so bad.  Omlette for breakfast, salad for lunch, and leftover fajita meat for supper.  I love breads, so I am missing that, but barely.  Here is a picture of my lunch, just because of what my wife wrote on the plastic bag.  I thought that was hilarious.

The biggest challenge come for me at night.  Supper is over.  The kids are in bed.  I am winding down.  Then it hits:  the stomach starts calling me.  My nighttime savior is coffee.  Just a little cream and a packet of splenda curbs the appetite but I don't consume any carbs!

Eating Healthy

We have really been trying to eat healthy around our house, so my wife went to a friend's house last night to pick up a few healthy eating tips. One of the things that she came back with is this salad.

I don't know if the picture does it justice or not, but it was quite a salad. I felt really, really healthy while I was eating it. It was like a big glob of raw vegetables.

It had a great dressing mixed in with it, but I really felt like what it was missing was a big bowl of tortilla chips.

Does it look appetizing?

What Is Eaten In One Week Around The World

I stole this from Paul

Sent to you by mattharmless via Google Reader:

What Is Eaten In One Week Around The World

via approaching North by Paul Fuller on 2/25/08

Update since original post:
Some friends have asked me where I got these pictures. A good friend of mine, Cory Rintala, emailed them to me. When I was queried about their origins, a little googling unearthed this info: The photos are from a book called "Hungry Planet" by Pete Menzel. You can find out more about his photo essays on his website and through this article from NPR's Michele Norris.

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

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United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
(note the nutritional content on this table!)
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

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Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

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Mexico : The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

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Poland : The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

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Egypt : The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

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Ecuador : The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

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Bhutan : The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

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Chad : The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

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a new favorite

I have a new favorite lunch food.

It might look like your ordinary peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but don't be fooled by its appearance. That might be peanut butter, but it isn't jelly that is in that sandwich. It is a wonderful substance called nutella©. The label describes it as "The original, creamy, chocolaty spread."

Basically, if you make a peanut butter and nutella sandwich, it tastes like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup©. I wasn't for sure about the chocolate on the bread at first, but it is wonderful.

In my house I call it the Peanut Butter Cup Sandwich.

I don't know why I am sharing this with you, but hey... its a blog and people have shared much more pointless information than this!