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.

Blog Replies

Lawrence
http://haruchikafuji.blogspot.com/2009/03/perfect-food.html

Stacey
http://lsmilel.blogspot.com/2009/04/siopao.html

Carissa
http://carissa61590.blogspot.com/2009/04/icce.html

The RECESSION MEAL

Because of the current recession, many restaurants have invented their own versions of the “recession meal.” While sitting at home, watching television, I noticed a lot of restaurant commercials advertising their own recession deals. Also, while skimming through one of my favorite blog sites, I noticed they have posted a lot of the recession meals they have eaten.
The bigger and more well-known restaurants have come up with commercials advertising their great deals. Pizza Hut, for example, advertized the “Pizza Penny Deal.” Which states, “Get a medium one-topping pizza for only a penny.” In the subtext it hides, “When you purchase a large pizza at menu price.” Although only valid with the purchase of a larger pizza, it still results into a great deal. Another restaurant advertising their deals is Cici’s buffet. Basically, they have strategically placed pennies with special stickers on the back in their parking lot. Finding one of those special pennies would ultimately result in a free buffet. These great deals are perfect for parties, and perfect for the individuals who always pick up the change left on the floor.
Even the smaller restaurants have created their versions of the recession deals. Pastagina, a small restaurant located in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, have a special meal called the “Recession meal.” I believe it was only $4.99 and included everything. It had a bowl of pasta with shrimp, bread, cheese on the side, and a drink. This recession meal is not the best but it will fill up any individual who loves pasta.
The recession has brought deals that everyone could enjoy. Because we now have to spend wisely, the cost of these meals only reassure our decision to buy them. With the many pizza, buffet, and pasta deals, one cannot complain of the effect on food presented by the recession. Also, many restaurants have incorporated the value menu. Restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Del Taco just to name a few. So the next time you are low on cash, but need to feed a lot of people or just yourself, think of the recession meals.

The ICE CREAM TRUCK is here!!

Yet another afternoon stuck at home with nothing to do, nothing to eat, and nowhere to go. So what do I do? Sleep. Suddenly a very familiar sound wakes me up. A sound I have not heard in almost a year now because I have been attending school in Long Beach. It was the music from the ice cream truck. I am sure everyone has felt the joy of hearing the music of the truck or at least have seen it in the movies. The first thing that came to my mind was, where is my money? The second was, what do I buy? My usual was either the Neapolitan ice cream sandwich or hot cheetos covered in warm nacho cheese. With my money in my hand and the sweet sound in my ear, I stand in the line and get the nacho cheese covered cheetos. With the warm bag in one hand and spoon in the other, I eat it within a few minutes and almost immediately have the craving for more.
There are ice cream trucks everywhere in Los Angeles. Every block has its own truck. Our block in particular has, from what I recall, three different trucks. Almost anything can be bought from the truck: chips, nachos, toys, and of course, ice cream. The ice cream sundaes are surprisingly good, and the toys are not the best thing to play with as a child but could entertain them for days. Toys like toy guns, laser pointers, and playing cards are just some of what I used to get as an elementary student.
While attending Cal State Long Beach, I have not seen one ice cream truck there. It would be nice to have a cone of ice cream between classes or after finishing some homework. I guess that is why Foster’s Freeze is in school and Ralphs is only a few blocks from our apartment. Although it is a good substitute, it lacks the variety of flavors and the cheap price. Plus, it lacks my personal favorites, the Neapolitan ice cream sandwich and the nacho cheese covered cheetos.

Hot Sauce

After arriving home for spring break I open the refrigerator and, as always, there is no food to be found except for a bottle of tapatio. Tapatio is a type of hot sauce and I personally believe it is the best in the world. So I call my mom and let her know I was back and ask when she would arrive home. Then I ask, “Can you buy food before coming home?” She replies, “What do you want?” I think, “What can I eat with what we already have here?” Then it hits me, pizza! I always eat pizza with either peppers or hot sauce, and the tapatio is the perfect condiment. Tabasco is another type of hot sauce which I am not a fan of. Because of its overwhelming flavor and intense heat, it does not compliment the food. Instead of providing an extra flavor, it overwhelms the taste of the actual dish. The perfect hot sauce provides the spice and flavor without overwhelming the essence of the dish.
Hot sauce is the perfect combination with any type of food. It adds a special “kick” to Asian food, adds a great taste to Hispanic food, and adds a spice to American food. Together with the hoisin sauce, it completes the Vietnamese dish called pho. With salsa, it becomes a necessity when eating tacos, burritos, pupusas, and tamales. When it comes to American food, it is just a great addition for the spice many seek. In my opinion, the best dish to combine with the hot sauce is microwaveable noodles. Cup of Noodles way sometimes taste bland, but with the addition of tapatio, it becomes a great dish. This combination helped me survive senior year and kept me full for all six periods.
Any spicy food enthusiast would agree that hot sauce gives a great “kick” and even greater flavor to any type of food imaginable. Even those who do not enjoy the spice can add a small serving and appreciate the flavor offered by the sauce. After all, tapatio’s slogan is “Es una salsa… Muy salsa,” which roughly translates to “It is sauce that is… very saucy.”