I was popping a tray of cheesy toast (that’s simply bread toasted under the broiler, topped with cheese and then broiled again until the cheese is bubbly and brown in bits) under the broiler and was thinking how everyone has weird food loves that you wouldn’t serve to anyone but yourself and any family who shares your odd culinary bent. This also got me to thinking about the vast quantities of junk food I’ve consumed over the years. I spent some time mulling it over and wondered if I could get other people to divulge their weird food loves. Let’s be honest. We foodies might not really want to admit to liking some of these things for fear of being laughed at by the foodie community at large. I, personally, have zero problem making a fool of myself as it is something I have put a great deal of effort into doing over the years. So I’ll kick it off…
I have a strange love for anything involving cheese or (gasp) cheese products; cheesy toast, soft OR hard pretzels with either real cheese or cheese whiz, refried bean and pasteurized cheese dip, toasted cheese rounds on top of my dinner salads, etc… There were more times than I could count in high school and college that I made a meal out of salsa con queso and Snyder’s Sourdough Pretzels.
Some of my other non-refined food loves? Andy Capp’s Hot Fries, deep fried mozzarella sticks, deep fried mushrooms, well- anything non-offal or reproductive organ that’s deep fried, Funyons, Snickers bars, Dr. Pepper (Why, oh why did you have to put HFCS in, good Dr.? You’re just not the same anymore), Vernor’s Ginger Ale (my Dad might argue that Vernor’s IS refined), Snyder Kettle Cooked Jalapeno Potato Chips, and Chili Cheese Fritos, just to name a few.
I wouldn’t normally shout it from the rooftops that I’m fond of pasteurized cheese product and everything deep fried (is there ANY nutritional value in that stuff???) any more than I’d normally announce that I’m crazy about American Idol **mostly for the sake of following along on ‘Vote For the Worst’, but what’s a little pride for amusement’s sake?
So, just between you and me, what are some of your non-foodie food loves? I won’t judge (out loud.)
Reader's Thoughts...
c4bl3fl4m3 says
Oh, man. Take a bun, put some mayo or miracle whip on it, then some really GOOD extra sharp cheddar cheese & stick it in your toaster oven. So bad for you, but so good.
Also, pickle tuna melts on English muffins. (It’s 2 different recipes put together from the Help… My Apartment Has a Kitchen! Cookbook.) (Put the dill sandwich pickle on top of the tuna underneath the cheese.)
Oh! And take some bread, put pimento cheese spread on it & put it in the toaster oven until it’s all melty and gooey. Heaven.
Yes, anything that involves cheese or some semblance of cheese. Like my dad’s Velveeta fondue. I also love Grandma Utz’s Potato Chips… thick cut & fried in lard. And Cheez-Its (has to be brand name), plain, hot & spicy, or the smoked cheddar from the Duos box.
admin says
Melissa- Just so long as you like the jalapeno chips we can still be friends. 🙂
Little Sis- I think the hot fries may be a family trait. And Mmmmmmmm, tomato rabbit. I need some of that now. I think the kielbasa thing is from Dad. (Dad- you reading this? While eating American cheese? Thanks for teaching the kids ‘how to eat it’. Thwack.) And Miss Khemasanine… how ’bout that malted milk powder in homemade ice cream? Ta die for! Let’s see the complete list. I don’t want to be the only sib with these junk food cravings… (I do have to wonder at the butter and vegemite thing. Sandii- are you behind this?) And if your new roomie doesn’t have food skeletons he’s not worthy. That’s right- marrow bone and pate lovin’ foodies can still eat a bunch of velveeta. Right?
the little sister says
Yay hot fries!!! And I thought I was the only one. I have been known to do amazing things with ramen. Let’s see….I’ve actually picked up a strange habit of eating tins of lightly smoked sardines, and sometimes even smoked oysters (yikes) on crackers. I don’t think I would ever serve those to guests. The oysters are a bit pungent. I LOVE cheese puffs. And cheddar and sour cream chips. And tomato rabbit (cheese melted into campbell’s tomato soup and poured over toast). And vegemite. I’m not kidding. Butter and vegemite on toast is kind of like a yeasty, salt-laden heaven for me. And now that i’m living with a new housemate, I’m feeling a bit self-conscious about my previously single snacking habits. He has, however, let me know that he’s ecstatic that there’s a new Sonic’s (do they have those in WNY?)in town. Perhaps he has some snacking skeleton’s in his cupboard as well. Oooh, and chocolate malted milk powder. And kielbasa, cold, chunks cut off with a knife whilst standing halfway in the refrigerator and scanning the shelves for other yummies. Wow, this is long. And not even complete, for that matter!
melissa says
To be totally honest, I cannot think of anything for myself aside from those jalapeno chips you mentioned. On the other hand, I am ashamed to say that I buy Steve lemonade that is so not fresh (and yes, has HFCS in it) and multipacks of Lays chips for snacking. He also still likes Hamburger Helper. God love him.