Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

10/31/07

The McRib is Back.

It`s baaaaaack. I am not a fan of McDonald`s crap in the first place but there are a few things there that are simply tasty. For Instance the McRib sandwich, I think that the way they market this tasty little treat is such a genius way of marketing. They only have it at certain times of the year so that when it is there it causes tons of excitement....Like me for instance blogging about it - LOL But think about the excitment that comes around when they bring monopoly back. Everyone is guilty of getting excited as they get that wet on the outside soft drink and see those 2 green stickers just waiting to be peeled off for the chance at ONE MILLLLLLION DOLLARS!! and if you failed to win there you still ave 2 more chances if you got a salty box of fries.... hahaha

Other than the taste though there is absolutely nothing good about the sandwich itself -
McRib Nutritional Info:
490 calories, 220 calories from fat, 25 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 1040 mg sodium, 44 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 24 g protein, 11 g sugars.

If that does not scare you away...http://www.foodfacts.info/mcrib/- That will. The pictures of the sandwich "deconstructed" are enough to make you want to vomit.

I still don`t car I think it`s a great sandwich. The only thing that is better than the mcRib is a sandwich with the same type structure from a little hole in the wall bbq place called Hog Wild. I think it`s in Midlothian, IL so if you are ever around there go get it. And their Oven Browns are to die for.

P.S. I generally would choose Burger King over McDonald's. - Just Preference. (They are both terrible) - McDonald's takes the market though by having 24 hours places for all those late nights of fun. ;) - Good ole Mcdoogals.

Http://www.juliomedina.com

CANDY	ALMOND'S CANDY-GIVER ANALYSIS	HISTORY	CALORIE COUNT	VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE
3 Musketeers	Does well in groups but is somewhat pompous. Prone to fancy costumes and arcane weapons. Wears hats in public that are ill-advised.	Created in 1932 by Mars, the candy bar got its name because it originally had three pieces in one packet: vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.	The Fun Size (15 grams) has 63 calories.	Vote for 3 Musketeers
Almond Joy	I'm going to put aside my aversion to coconut in praising these folks as happy-go-lucky.	Introduced in 1946 by the Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Co. in New Haven, Conn. It's a companion to the Mounds bar, which arrived in 1920.	The snack size (17 grams) has 80 calories.	Vote for Almond Joy
Bit-O-Honey	They have contradictory personalities, hoping to express generosity but also having the passive-aggressive desire to damage the fillings of trick-or-treaters.	The honey-flavored taffy was first manufactured in 1924 by the Schutter-Johnson Co. of Chicago. It is now made by Nestle.	One piece (7 grams) has 26 calories.	Vote for Bit-O-Honey
Butterfinger	Evasive, slippery, not necessarily to be trusted.	Invented in 1923 by the Curtiss Candy Co. of Chicago. The crunchy bar wrapped in chocolate is now made by Nestle.	The Fun Size (18.5 grams) has 85 calories.	Vote for Butterfinger
Candy Corn	Purely deluded people. They don't get that candy shouldn't attempt to imitate other food groups, particularly corn.	Invented in the 1880s, it was first manufactured commercially by the Wunderle Candy Co. in Philadelphia and by the turn of the century at the Herman Goelitz Candy Co. in Cincinnati.	A serving of 22 pieces (40 grams) has 140 calories, or 6.4 calories per piece.	Vote for Candy Corn
Good & Plenty	Optimistic, perhaps overly so. A little bit of Weimar energy. Strong advocate of gay rights; acquainted with the bitterness at the center of most lives.	The licorice candy was first produced in 1893 by the Quaker City Confectionery Co. in Philadelphia and is considered the oldest branded candy in the country.	A serving of 33 pieces (39 grams) has 140 calories, or 4.2 calories per piece.	Vote for Good & Plenty
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups	Generous souls. Those who understand the salty in life, as well as the sweet.	Created by Harry Burnett Reese in the 1920s. Reese was a former dairy employee of Milton Hershey, founder of the Hershey Co. In 1963, the Reese candy company was sold to Hershey for $23.5 million.	A one-cup package (21 grams) has 110 calories.	Vote for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Snickers	Just going with the crowd, the safe candy choice, guaranteed to please the masses. Not ambitious, but dependable.	Created in 1930 by Mars, Snickers bars sold for a nickel. The Fun Size was introduced in 1968.	The Fun Size (17 grams) has 80 calories.	Vote for Snickers
Twix	Both brittle and supple in social situations; sort of trapped between personality types.	A Mars product, caramel-and-cookie Twix bars were created in the United Kingdom in 1967 but weren't sold in the United States until 1979.	The Fun Size (16 grams) has 80 calories.	Vote for Twix
Twizzlers	Sickos. Truly demented. Plastic people living plastic lives.	The Twizzlers brand was introduced in 1929. The red licorice strips are manufactured by Y&S Candies, a company established in 1845 that is now a Hershey subsidiary.	The snack size (14 grams) has 37 calories.	Vote for Twizzlers

10/4/07

Energy Drinks...Or so they say...

The Downsides of Bottled Water and Energy Drinks

Information by Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D.

"In an earlier entry, I railed against the bogus health benefits of bottled waters such as Aquafina®, a Pepsi product that TV advertisements are now admitting is simply tap water that has been "filtered, filtered, and filtered" again, to remove the (harmless) impurities present in much cheaper tap water.

Next to appear on the supermarket shelves were additional unneeded bottled waters fortified with unneeded herbs and vitamins. In addition, the non-degradable plastic bottles containing these unneeded products add to the litter on streets and the problems associated with waste disposal.

The wisdom of using bottled waters may be questionable, but at least they don't pose the possible health risks of so-called "energy drinks." You've surely heard about these malevolent products, but probably haven't given them much thought.

"Energy drinks" were popularized in the U.S. with the 1997 introduction of Red Bull®, a carbonated beverage from Austria that contains 80 mg of caffeine in every bottle—about the same amount as is found in a cup of coffee. For comparison, classic Coca Cola® contains 23 mg caffeine and Mountain Dew® contains 37 mg caffeine.

Additional ingredients in Red Bull include two caloric sweeteners (glucose and sucrose), three non-caloric sweeteners, some B vitamins, and the same amount of the amino acid taurine as is found in a glass of red wine.

Other brands of "energy drinks" may contain twice as much or more caffeine as Red Bull, plus other questionable ingredients such as guarana — a South American caffeine-containing herb. (In 2005, the sales of "energy drinks" amounted to an estimated $3.5 billion.)

The calories in these drinks do provide some energy, but mostly their content of caffeine and taurine "soup up" one's feelings of alertness and may produce troublesome side effects such as anxiety, irritability, heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and indigestion.

These manifestations are more likely to occur with "energy drinks" than with coffee, which is usually drunk more slowly than the cooled "energy drinks." "Energy drinks" can also lead to dehydration because caffeine stimulates urination and thus increases water loss.

Yet another downside to "energy drinks": Because of their high caffeine content, they are frequently used by young people during nightlong parties as a mixer for vodka drinks.

And, quite predictably, many brewing companies have taken notice of this trend and are now selling "energy drinks" already laced with alcohol - carbonated malt beverages (beers) containing somewhat more alcohol than average beers, along with the caffeine, taurine, and other constituents of the non-alcoholic "energy drinks." The Marin Institute, self-described as a watchdog group for the alcohol industry, claims that 20 brands of alcoholic "energy drinks" have been marketed in the last 10 years.

Attorneys general from 28 states and the District of Columbia have issued harsh criticism of beverage companies that sell alcoholic "energy drinks." They ask that federal officials investigate the ingredients in these products because of their alcohol content and because of the advertising accompanying them, which targets underage customers with misleading claims of benefits, such as increases in energy and stamina.

One take-home message here is the need for greater awareness on the part of parents, teenagers, and young adults about the possible negative health effects of these popular beverages. "

This is why If I do have energy drinks I drink the Sugar Free. My favorite is Sugar Free Red Bull. I do not drink them all the time though...maybe once a month. People are crazy to think that a can of sugar water with a label of herbal supplements that are not even regulated by the FDA is going to give them some boost of energy and make up for not properly taking care of their bodies. It`s like going to McDonald's and getting a Powerade with your Big Mac meal...Are you dehydrated from the curling motion of that burger to your mouth? LOL That is a subject on its own...Have you ever looked at the 'Nutritional Value' on anything that you can get from the golden arches? Check this out..McDonald`s Nutritional Info

If you drink energy drinks...What is your Favorite?

9/24/07

Grilled Cheese - A Simple Classic

I just got in from a 10.5 mile bike ride around the forest preserves in Willowbrook, IL and I decided that later this week I will have a cheat day from my new hardcore diet/training till I leave for basic and I am going to 'cook' for myself...Grilled cheese can definitely be a bachelors snack..It`s easy to make and great tasting. I am such a big fan I decided to blog it lol ;)

10 Tips For the Greatest Grilled Cheese

It's the childhood favorite you never outgrow, the most comforting comfort food of all time -- the grilled cheese sandwich. American, cheddar, gouda ... whatever your pleasure, follow these ten tips from Laura Werlin, author of Great Grilled Cheese, and have yourself a slice of melted cheese heaven.

1. Good to grate
Don't slice your cheese when you can grate it (the bigger the grater, the better). This ensures evenly melted, gooey cheese in every bite.

2. Get cheesy
Don't be shy -- plan on about two ounces of cheese per sandwich. Use your palm to press the grated cheese onto the bread so it doesn't fall out.

3. Embrace the ooze
Don't fret if the cheese oozes out of the sandwich. The toasty bits at the bottom of the pan are the best part!
Bread

4. No need to Wonder
Don't just assume that white is the only way. If you love focaccia or whole-wheat, go for it.

5. Size does matter
Don't slice your bread more than 1/4" thick or it'll overwhelm the cheese.

6. Smush your bread
Flatten sandwiches with a spatula or a heavy pan to ensure oozing cheese and crisp rather than doughy bread.
Butter

7. Butter le pain, not le pan
Spread room-temperature butter on the bread (on the side you're grilling, not the inside of the sandwich) before you grill. That way, you'll get evenly buttered, evenly browned bread with a little crunch.

8. Salted butter is best
Just trust me.
Cooking

9. Stick with nonstick
Although a cast-iron skillet is the traditional fave, a nonstick skillet is your best bet for easy flipping and no sticking.

10. Put a lid on it
Cover the skillet while cooking the first side of the sandwich for maximum cheese melting.
And now for the ultimate grilled cheese recipe, from Laura Werlin's Great Grilled Cheese:

The Best Grilled Cheese

8 slices sourdough bread (1/4 inch thick)

2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

6 ounces best-quality cheddar cheese (orange or white), coarsely grated

To assemble: Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place 4 slices on your work surface, buttered side down. Distribute the cheese evenly over the 4 slices. Place the remaining 4 bread slices on top, buttered side up.

Stovetop method: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Put the sandwiches in the skillet (in batches if necessary), cover, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the undersides are golden brown and the cheese has begun to melt. Uncover, and turn the sandwiches with a spatula, pressing firmly to flatten them slightly. Cook for 1 minute, or until the undersides are golden brown. Turn the sandwiches again, press with the spatula, and cook for 30 seconds, or until the cheese has melted completely. Serve immediately.

Sandwich maker method: Preheat the sandwich maker. Follow directions for sandwich assembly, and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Gas grill method: Brush the grill rack with oil and preheat the grill to medium-high. Follow directions for sandwich assembly. Put the sandwiches on the grill and follow directions for the stovetop method.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

If you are really good at making grilled cheese Virgin Mary might appear. ;)

Now the real important information....

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per 1 sandwich

Calories 291.51
Calories from Fat 143.43

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 15.94g		25%

	Saturated Fat 6.07g	30%

	Polyunsaturated Fat 3.13g

	Monounsaturated Fat 5.84g

Cholesterol 19.45mg		6%

Sodium 695.65mg		29%

Potassium 137.02mg		4%

Total Carbohydrate 27.07g		9%

	Dietary Fiber 1.17g	5%

Protein 9.8g		20%

Alcohol 0g

Vitamin A	12 %	Vitamin C	0 %

Calcium	22 %	Iron	10 %

Vitamin D	0 %	Vitamin E	3 %

Thiamin	9 %	Riboflavin	14 %

Niacin	9 %	Folate	8 %

Vitamin B-6	3 %	Vitamin B-12	3 %

Phosphorus	19 %	Magnesium	5 %

Zinc	8 %	Copper	4 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

All in all its not great...But it`s not that BAD either...I think I might add some tomato soup to go along with it! Happy Monday Everyone...And join my stock game on the post below. :)

8/24/07

A quick rant and rave.

I enjoy steak and shake. I like their food. It`s good classic American food. I have been there now dozens of times. My one complaint is that I have not ever been there one time where I got good service. The servers are always young kids (maybe high school) and they Just do not pay attention. I still find myself going back all the time because of the food. I am a huge fan of their Grilled Chick Salad w/ Fat Free Italian Dressing. But I would love that place even more and it could possibly become a favorite if I could just be served properly. If you know me then you know I am not that picky, I really like to leave good tips and I still do despite the service but....Come On!! Get some people that care about thier jobs! I always go somewhere and think well if this were my store or my restaurant etc, This is what I would do to improve it. If management everywhere did this our economy would be so much better. I am done now. LOL

www.juliomedina.com