Happy St. Patt's!

What a great day! Not only was it fabulously beautiful outside, but it was loads of fun inside! Even my most curmudgeonly co-workers were in unusually high spirits. Maybe it was the green-loving holiday, maybe it was the beautiful weather, but whatever it was...this girl ain't complainin'!

At lunch, we were all in the bests of moods, and when the subject of Starbucks came up (which it almost always does), we decided that Starbucks should top all the drinks with green whipped cream in celebration of St. Patrick's day. Amber's brilliant interpretation:

Green Cool Whip!!

Speaking of Cool Whip, I didn't eat it for all of my childhood because my granddad always referred to it as calf's slobber. Thank the Lord I didn't grow up on a cattle farm!

Only bad thing about the green cool whip... we ended up with green teeth! Maybe it didn't look so professional, but it was oh, so tasty... and even more fun.

Yes, I'm wearing orange not green since, afterall, I am protestant, not Catholic. My eyes count as green to avoid pinching, right?! ;)

I got home on time for once, and when other plans fell through I decided the day was just too beautiful, and I was just too young to stay home on St. Pat's. So, I got in my car and headed to RiRa's in Clarendon to meet up with the crew from work for some Irish fun. ;)

Needless to say, I wasn't saying "Top of the Mornin' to ya" this morning!

What day is it?!

National Potato Chip Day!

Yup! You heard me right. A day to honor the nation's #1 selling snack food. Here's a little history on the potato chip:

"It is hard to believe that the world's most famous snack food began as a joke. Potato Chips were first made in 1853 while Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt was on vacation in New York. At one restaurant, he kept sending his fried potatoes back to the kitchen because he said they were "too thick". The chef, George Crum, decided that he would cut them into paper-thin slices, boil them in oil, fry them, and salt them as a joke to the Commodore. It backfired. They became an instant success and the restaurant was well known for them."

 - www.bmchips.com

Oddly enough though, for the most American snack food, my favorite potato chip remains in Canada. In 2002, I took my second trip to Canada, and discovered a potato chip with which no other chip can compare, at least in my mind: the Ketchup Chip. Unfortunately, it is hardly available in the US do to the lack of popularity. And trust me, I've looked in every grocery store I've been in since 2002... that's almost 8 years of searching. I found out why I can't find them today.

Apparently in Canada, ketchup is wildly popular and paired with just about everything. Yes, we Americans put ketchup on french fries, but how many of us dip our chips in them, or pour it on your omelets, or in your chicken soup. Some genius in Canada had the great idea of using ketchup's spices and ingredients to coat a tasty chip in a rich, dark red dusting that is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. You may think that sounds and looks like a BBQ chip, but I assure you that with one crunch of the potato chip you will find a whole new, enticing flavor. 

So, ketchup is my favorite flavor, and I realize it's a little bizarre, but you should see the type of chips I found in my research this morning. Let me give you this sample of flavors that were chosen top 5 for "Walkers" new flavor in the UK in a "Do us a flavour" promotion. Crispy Duck & Hoisin, Builders Breakfast, Fish & Chips, Onion Bhaji, Chili and Chocolate, and Cajun Squirrel. Others I found: Calbee Seaweed and Salt, Wasabi, Cajun Crawtaters, Old Bay, Lobster, Ramen, Mayonnaise, and the list goes on and on.

That made me consider... if I could create a potato chip flavor, what would it be? Mine is the Formula 45 Potato Chip, with the perfect selection of Thousand Island seasonings with an extra dash of dill. 

Tell me your flavor and I'll send you a bag of ketchup chips. No joke. I'm about to place my order, so let's hear some responses!!

Eating healthy ain't cheap!

 

 Most of you know I believe in eating healthy. I love fresh fruit and veggies, and I am a strong believer in trying to stay away from processed foods. I follow the "grocery store perimeter" method of eating well, but unfortunately... it isn't cheap! And, coupons aren't usually available for fruits and veggies or basic dairy. I came home from the grocery store and told Michelle, "I think it'd be cheaper if we were fat, Michelle!" I mean think about it, fat free foods... cost more, fresh veggies... cost more than canned, organic dairy... costs more, gym membership ($$$$). It all adds up fast.

  

 I promise this isn't a blog post about a recipe. I just wanted to show you these tasty muffins I made tonight for the crew at work. (They disappeared so quickly last week I thought I'd treat everyone this week too!) I'm also working on my food photo abilities. I thought this one was pretty good... can you guess the two main ingredients?

I ate mine rather quickly! :)

  

And I was a little sad I only allowed myself one. :(

  

I scarfed mine down while watching Undercover Boss on CBS. If you haven't watched it yet... you should (well, not next week, I don't really care about the CEO of Churchill Downs). The premise is CEO's or Presidents go under cover in their nationwide franchises to learn what it's like to be a peon in their company, and where the flaws are in their company. So far I've seen Hooters, White Castle, and 7Eleven. Everytime I spend the last 10 minutes holding back tears when the CEO reveals himself to the people he worked with and helps them get further with their life or gives them a much needed promotion or vacation. Of course they always pick folks with stories that pull at your heart-strings. Check it out after you watch my old playmate Caite Upton on Amazing Race... she's actually doing pretty well!!