TheSnackHound

These monolithic bamboo cups are currently for sale on Etsy.   They come to you live from about 45 or more years ago.

My question of the day is:  What makes you a cup?  Well, I would normally call these glasses, because of the taller, more serious shape, but they are not made out of glass.   So, they are cups, right?  Well, I picture a cup as sort of shorter and squattier.    I don’t imagine a tall porcelain pilsner, if there is such a thing, would be called a “cup.”

According to Websters:

cup

–noun

1.a small, open container made of china, glass, metal, etc., usually having a handle and used chiefly as a receptable** from which to drink tea, soup, etc.

Technically, a GLASS can be a cup, but can a cup be a glass?

Let’s see.  Under the definition for GLASS, we find:

4.a tumbler or other comparatively tall, handleless drinking container.

In otherwords, if I called these glasses, even though they are not glass, I would be completely correct as well.

Don’t worry about anyone chopping down bamboo and taking it away from pandas. As I have stated before, these are vintage. The tree might have croaked 50 years ago. Also, do you know how fast bamboo shoots up? It is invasive and you can never get rid of it if you tried.

There are six of these babies…plus a bonus cup (or glass or drinking receptacle) just in case you have a freeloader crash your dinner party. They are priced at $16.00 for the entire set!

Find them right here.  Now that you found them, you just MIGHT want to buy them. They are really that cool.

** Yes, I copied this from Dictionary.com, and that is a typo.  IN the dictionary! 

*****
Do you like the atmosphere around here?
Okay, this was more pathetic than funny, but still it would be nice if you would rate me on Humor Blogs!
(You will have my undying appreciation!)

I issued a missive a few days ago, moping and grumping that no one has played with the flash fridge on the site recently.   Well, you came through in a big way.   Some mysterious person, who did not leave their name, but who lives in Arlington, TX, struck like Zorro.  Truth be told, they may not actually BE from Arlington, but their internet provider is.   They are definitely from Texas.  I can say that much.

Whoever you are, masked bandit, you delighted me to know that you gave a darn.   For those of you who can’t read multicolor kitchen magnets, the dedication is:

“The Puppy just licked the soy sauce jar… Who’s up for Chinese.” 

Ah, priceless.  Want to give yourself a shot at it?  Just go to the Resist The Fridge page on this blog and give it a whirl.

All the talk of Chinese food makes me hungry, but what it makes me crave even more is Japanese food.  I know, two totally different culinary styles, but tell that to the folks up the road at the Japanese/Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese restaurant.  I think I will open a restaurant across the street that serves Russian/Scottish/Creole/Inuit cuisine and see what they do with that.  I can just imagine the fear from the competition they will feel.

One of the staples I keep in my kitchen is Rice Vinegar. It is the perfect base for all types of salad dressing.  I sometimes add just a few spices and a dollop of honey and it makes a nice vinaigrette.   What I am just discovering is NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar. There are of course traditional flavors and original seasonings, but don’t think that Rice Vinegar is just for Japanese dishes. They now have a Balsamic Blend, Roasted Garlic, Basil & Oregano, and Italian Herb version. You could use it right out of the bottle as a dipping sauce with a crusty bread or even a base oil for an Italian bruschetta.

In one tablespoon (a tablespoon is slightly larger than a “splash”), there are only 20 calories, and there is absolutely no fat, which is a boon to everyone watching their weight, or just their health. In fact, it also has 50% less sodium than other rice vinegars, so for those watching their blood pressure, it is much safer to indulge. In fact, Nakano is brewing it the same way they have been for 200 years.

Want to try it?  There is a $1.00 off coupon online. When you join Nakano’s Splash Recipe Club, you’ll get this rockin’ newsletter. I know it may surprise you, but they recently did a Caribbean theme. That is how universal it is for a condiment or ingredient.

I am having some issues here!  I have to sit around and wait for over 20 hours, as of this writing, to take a chance at free chocolate goodness.

Every Friday, the generous folks at MARS are giving us a big of sweet relief.  All during the summer, when you log on to RealChocolate.com, you can enter to be considered for a coupon for a free chocolate bar.  My personal choice is the Dove Dark Chocolate bar.  The stipulation is that you enter only on FRIDAY after 9:00 A.M. Eastern time.  I didn’t want to tell you this of course, as they only give it out to a certain number of people, and if you entered, it would shrink my chances.  Just kidding, of course.  You know how giving I am.

Firstly, they ask for your birthdate to find out if you are of a legal age and maturity level to be able to handle the excitement of free chocolate.  Once that is done, you can register to win a coupon.  By the way, I have never received any junk mail, only my coupons.  You can check off if you would like to receive emails about MARS news.  Of course I want it.  Bad.

The following is a guest blog post. Here, my computer tells me exactly how it feels about me and this blog.

What is most annoying is that I had one eye open again all night. She didn’t shut me off AGAIN. I was just in “sleep” mode which is very draining, because you never know when someone is going to come tap you. I get a little jumpy. It’s almost like having shell shock just anticipating it. I am too young to have survived the big Y2K that the old timers talk about, but it couldn’t be as bad as this. All day long its ON sleep ON sleep ON sleep ON.

I don’t know why, but my Alt-option key and my “Z” key have dark fingerprints all over them. It’s completely boggling because she doesn’t type many “z” words. All I can think is that the dolt accidentally presses the “z,” attempting to fumble for the shift button and misses. Nope, her fingers aren’t fat, though she is a bit obese if she were to go into business as a professional race horse jockey. Yep, those 5 spare extra pounds would definitely cost a career. I think it is the way that she sits on her legs in her chair. She should really buy a decent chair, but who am I to say. Then there are the days when she is figuring out a recipe. Don’t get me started. I still think I have dark chocolate crumbles on my little chicklet keyboard. It’s really a drag. At least I’m fit and pretty.

Maybe I am not pretty.  Maybe I am handsome instead, and a little too skinny.

I look forward to the weekends the most. I am on in the early morning hours, and then she is GONE. I finally get the peace and quiet I need to update iTunes like I have wanted to for far to long. She always hits “later” when asked if she would like to download the updates. Little does she realize all those pent up updates don’t go away, but they just sit and wait. It is like trying to back up a dam with a cork. It only works for a little while, then “Thar She Blows.” Someday, my situation will improve. It’s a living, I guess.

There you have it from the hardrive’s mouth.  You should have read what Hal9000, my old surly PC would have drafted. Even though Hal has since retired, his photo shows up every now and then, as it is doing at right.

If your computer is getting a little too ornery, there is an instant rebate you can get if you decide on an HP HDX 16t.   There is a $300 coupon to be had (use Code NBN3248), plus a rebate of $200.00. Valid through 8/23 or while supplies last. Restrictions and exclusions apply.  In other words, you have through this Friday to look lively.  Dust off your kiester.  Get out your credit card.

You may feel you are not ready for such a commitment, but if you dilly dally, you will just have to pay $500 more.  Can you afford to just toss 500 good dollars out the window like that?   If you have a credit card that gets cash back rewards, you might argue with me.  You may say that it is not really $500 dollars, because you get your points too.  The bottom line is, if you drag your feet, you will be out of 100% of the savings and 100% of your points, or baseball, or whatever else you get from your credit card company too.  Make sure to give me the stick of gum that comes along with it.

Last month, the culinary world was rocked when the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile crashed into a Racine, Wisconsin was hurt. Perhaps this was a statement of protest and solidarity by hot dogs everywhere, as Wisconsin is chiefly a land of bratwurst and sauerkrautt (I lived there for awhile, so I can say it).

(Editorial Update: Oh man…the Wiener Mobile clip was removed from YouTube!  I’ll just have to reenact it for you at some other time.)

Of course, as the newcaster states, it was not an experience that would be relished. Oh, I sometimes groan when reporters ad lib. While CNN dished up the awkward quips, someone got ahold of Youtube and offered a more contemplative, zen like interpretation.  The viewer is invited to sit back, and let the image of the scene approach you closer and closer.  Or, have you achieved such a zen like state that the photo is not getting bigger, but you are entering the video?  It could very well be.

Ah, now don’t you feel better?  No one was hurt.  Apparently, this is not the first time this has happened, according to The FireGeezer, who reports that in February of 2008, a Wienermobile spun out into a snow bank.  It was leaving Syracuse University and making its way towards Penn State.  It is reported that a two truck driver stated: “I’ve pulled out a lot of vehicles,” he said. “But that’s the first wiener I’ve ever pulled out.   No kidding.

This would all be fine and good, as no one was hurt, yet again.  However, the story doesn’t end there.  Apparently, the Wienermobile had tweeted about its own accident.  Yes, the Wienermobile has its own Twitter account.  Yes, the famous Wiener Mobile will inform you when you can “ketchup” with it around the country.  I have learned so far that hotdogs are not carried along for the ride, nor cooked inside.  It is not a lunch car. However, there are collectible Wiener Whistles if anyone should choose to partake in that type of festiveness.

Stay tuned until the Wiener Mobile comes to my town. Some friends have been hoping to get it to show up at their 12th annual BBQ.  If they are successful, I am going to have to steal its relish until it sits down and gives me an exclusive interview.  I think I’d need someone to translate the revs of the engine into English.

Growing up in Detroit, we used to joke about being “Northern Canadians” as we lived north of Windsor, Canada.  We also used to watch a lot of Canadian children’s television, so had to be reminded in kindergarten that it was A to Z and not A to Zed.  Now, the friends we joked about have something to poke us back about.  There is a whole big contest where they can win one of 3 $10,000 prizes, camcorders, and all sorts of other goodies through the contest Stouffers-panini is having.  Canadian readers (in other words, those who live in Canada) are eligible, but not those in the CBC viewing area that live over the river.  You can try to sneak into the contest.  I tried.  However, when i started pointing to a part of my hand when they asked where I lived, they knew I was just a pesky Detroiter trying to pass as a Canadian.

It is a contest to roll out its new line of paninis with an international flair.  They include:

Bistro Meatballs & Peppers
Bistro Chicken Souvlaki
Lean Cuisine Grilled Vegetables & Goat Cheese
Lean Cuisine Mango Chicken Tikka

Since panini is native to Italy, and these all aren’t Italian dishes, there have been creative liberties taken.  The Chicken Tikka is a panini with an Indian flair, and includes a spiced sauce, grated cheese, and mango.   I think the one I would most like to try is the Grilled Veggie and Goat Cheese panini.

Oh, you want me to stop talking and start telling you about the goods? Okay, then.  There are three first prize winners who will receive a trip to Greece, India, France, or Italy in the form of a $10,000 gift card to do so.   Twelve second prize winners will win a Sony digital camcorder.  Everyone else who does not win any of that will still have chances every day o win instant prizes of Stouffers products.

You can register here  on the Stouffers website.  Make sure you have a valid Canadian address.  If you are living in Canada for work for some reason, have a friend hold your hand or strap it into your pocket so you are not tempted to point to a knuckle.

Cousin Emily is graduating this year. Actually, she already graduated. We are just celebrating her graduation very close to when her parents are shoving her out the door and off to college. Why? It has been a crazy summer. Key relatives have been out of town, key relatives have been very sick. Now everyone is better and is in town. Good for us. This way, she also won’t spend her money over the summer and will have a big cornucopia of possibilities for her dorm room and college life.

Is she CampusReady yet? Perhaps.  Perhaps not.

I asked her what she needed, and she said gift certificates to furnish her dorm room. I joked with her that I am going to poll people that went to that college, and I am going to find the greasiest, nastiest restaurant there. Then, I am going to buy a special gift certificate to it. It won’t be a mealy $5 coupon. Nope, I will have everyone who is already giving her a gift and ask them to pitch in $1-5 each, and then I will give the money to a cousin who lives out that way. He will buy a gift certificate so big that she won’t be able to NOT use it. She will feel bad if she doesn’t. It won’t be one of those charming “Greasy Spoons” that serve nostalgic American Diner food. It won’t be something that violates health codes.  It just needs to be something kind of strange. There is a dish that was called Campus Scrapple.  It is like Philadelphia Scrapple, except instead of whatever is left over from pork and eggs and whatnot, it is probably the last sliver of a hostess snack, some ramen noodles, and a pixie stick.

Of course, I am not going to really do that to her. However, if you live in the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area, or you have ties there, you are welcome to write me. Leave a comment if you can name a place. I would love to know!

At any rate, a better option is obviously a gift certificate. Sears has a large selection of items that are appropriate.  They even have a CampusReady on Facebook where you can design your own dorm room. There is a roommate matcher to see if you are compatible with other people. The best part is that you can make yourself a little wishlist of things that you want people to buy for you. Kind of like a bridal registry without getting married, or a baby registry without having a baby.

In addition, Sears and UPromise are giving away a $25,000 scholarship.  You can win by entering at sears.com/campusready. In fact, you can enter every single day. That’s a lot of chances. Of course, then other people get a lot of chances too. It all evens out in the end. If someone has 30 zillion chances and so do you, it is like both having one chance. Sort of.

I am hunting for vegetable recipes, particular those featuring or including yellow squash or zucchini. The stipulation is that the vegetable has to remain or become crunchy or at least firm in the final product. In other words, no soggy or squishy vegetables. That leaves out any kind of stir fry. I want to steer away from coffee cake like breads, particular zucchini bread because that is just “expected.”

Today I walked by a sandwich board advertising a “comfort food” plate featuring grilled cheese and zucchini spears.  Hmm… The expected would have been a pickle spear.  I wonder why zucchini?  I would imagine that the firmness would play well against the typical sogginess of a grilled cheese.  However, I am wondering how the green stuff was prepared, not having time to wander by and eat some.

What is the motivation for all of this?  Firstly, I am tired of the old standby when you don’t know what to do with veggies.  That would be stir frying them up and then dousing them in soy sauce or teriyaki.  Of course, with me, I would be so hesitant on it that it would be bland.  Secondly, my favorite guy does not like the idea of “slimey” vegetables.  Squash has typically been in that category, and I want to show him that somehow, they can come out of the ranks of the slime pit.

If you have any idea on how to make something that fits the bill and doesn’t involve anything too exotic, please send it in.  I will make the ones I see fit and report back the results.