Otter Pops

Nothing beats an ice cold drink on a hot summer day except “Otter Pops.” Otter pops are a brand of frozen sugary liquid in a plastic tube. Many call it the Popsicle without the stick. This snack can be eaten frozen or can be drunk in its liquid form. On a hot summer day, the best way to eat this snack is to freeze it then consume it. The proper way of eating this frozen treat is to cut the top with scissors and start to eat from there. Most kids cannot wait to eat the treat so they rip the top off with their teeth and devour it in minutes.
Otter Pops were originally introduced in the 1970’s in the United States. In 1996, the company Jel Sert got a hold of the rights to Otter Pops and added more fruit juice into the mix. Otter Pops are generally healthier than other sweet snacks. Each ounce of the snack consists of only three grams of sugar and fifteen calories. Otter Pops originally only had six flavors, each named after one of their characters. The blue Otter Pops were flavored berry punch and corresponded to the character “Louie-Bloo Raspberry.” The red Otter Pops were flavored strawberry and corresponded to the character “Strawberry Short Kook.” The Green corresponded to the character “Sir Isaac Lime” and were flavored Lemon Lime. The pink originally corresponded to “Rip Van Lemon” but soon became “Poncho Punch” and was flavored tropical punch. The purple and orange Otter Pops were flavored grape and orange and corresponded to the characters “Alexander the Grape” and “Little Orphan Orange.” Jel Sert then added six new flavors and lighter colors and released them as the Tropical Otter Pops. These Tropical Otter Pops consisted of the colors light blue, red, pink, orange, light green, and yellow with flavors such as berry punch, watermelon, tropical punch, pineapple, citrus punch, and banana.
These great tasting snacks refresh our throats and are perfect for a hot day. They are also perfect for any time of the year when we have nothing to drink and need something to quench our thirsts.

Pickled Cucumbers

When individuals hear the word pickle, the first thing that comes to their minds are words like: burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, vinegar, tart, and of course sour. The reason for this is because most of these individuals have tasted their first pickles in burgers where it is usually tart or believe it is always sour and just don’t enjoy sour foods. The truth of the matter is that there are a variety of pickles to choose from and some of them are not sour at all. The term pickle comes from its actual name, “Pickled Cucumber.” Pickles start as regular cucumbers. They are then fermented in a type of brine, composed of salt, water, vinegar and many other spices depending on the type of pickle. The pickle is then fermented for a period of time. The longer the fermentation, the darker and more sour the cucumber will become. Again, depending on the pickle desired, the process may be different.
Most sour pickles are grouped into the category called Dill Pickles. Some of the pickles that fall into this category are Genuine Dill, Kosher Dill, German Dill, Overnight Dill, and Polish Dill. These are the pickles most individuals eat with their burgers, hotdogs, and sandwiches. But the most sour of them all is called the “Sour Pickle.” These pickles spend the longest time being fermented. These pickled cucumbers are fermented in a seasoned brine without vinegar and are refrigerated until it is time to ship them. There are also some that are not as sweet or as sour as the others. They are called the “Half-Sour Pickles. They go through the same process as the sour pickles but spend less time being fermented. The other types of pickles that most people are not aware of are the “Sweet Pickles.” Candied pickles and sweet gherkins are just a few that fall into this category. These pickled cucumbers are fermented in a sweet and syrupy brine consisting of vinegar, sugar and spices. Many know about these pickled cucumbers and enjoy it very much.
So if individuals don’t like the taste of the sour pickles, they should give the sweet pickles a try. It would change their whole perspective on the food and may enjoy it as a regular snack.

Oodles of Noodles

It is found in most pantries right next to the canned foods. The length of the cooking time is described as to be “instant” and has many more recipe possibilities as some of its competition. It is called Instant Noodles or more commonly known as Top Ramen and Cup of Noodles. Both consist of almost the same ingredients and the same steps to cook. Top Ramen comes in a little plastic package that includes noodles and a packet of seasoning. Cup of Noodles, on the other hand, consists of noodles with the seasoning already in a cup. Both require boiling hot water to cook the noodles but have different ways of cooking each. The cooking process of Top Ramen starts by boiling a pot of water. The noodles are then added and followed by the seasonings. I personally add an egg for extra texture and taste. Cup of Noodles have two common cooking processes. The first is boiling water in a kettle, pouring it into the cup, and waiting a few minutes for it to cook. The second is pouring warm water into the cup and microwaving the cup for a few minutes. For added taste, I add a few drops of hot sauce.
Everyone at one time or another has tasted these instant noodles. Parents run to this soup when their children are not feeling all that well. Even with the first sign of the sickness or even with the slightest increase in temperature, mothers instantly grab a pot and start to boil water. Teenagers always cook this after coming home from school. It is the easiest and quickest way to have something to eat while they wait for their parents to come home and cook dinner. Also, it is a necessity for all college students. When running late for class, college students could boil water while they shower, allow it to cook while they dress, and eat it on the way. It provides just enough energy to stay awake for the few hours in class.
Our obsession with this food is explained in its title, “Instant Noodles.” It is a quick and easy way to recover from a sickness, have a quick bite to eat, and still have enough energy to last for the few hours it is needed.