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Easter Fun Facts!

partysugar — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:11:53 -0700

I hope that nobody minds my tiny obsession with useless knowledge concerning statistics and facts about food and holidays. I happen to think that knowing a plethora of nonsensical information is an incredibly fun conversation starter, especially in awkward or uncomfortable moments. Although DearSugar may not approve, I'm all for avoiding horrid questions by quickly changing the subject. I mean how else do you deal when you're at your family's Easter brunch and your uncle asks you how your job is going and you were fired the week before? Well instead of bursting into tears or bashing your former employer say: hey did you know that 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year? Or that the world's largest jelly bean weighs over 6000 pounds?? I'm telling you read through my Easter fun facts and you'll have something interesting to say when you are at a loss for words. To find out what part of a chocolate bunny gets eaten first and just how many marshmallow Peeps get consumed each year read more

When taking a bite into a chocolate bunny, 76% of Americans prefer to bite off the ears first. 5% eat the feet first and 4% eat the tail first.
During the Easter season, Americans buy more than 700 million Peeps - making Peeps the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
Adults prefer milk chocolate (65%) over dark chocolate (27%).
86% would prefer having chocolate bunnies instead of a live rabbit.
Each day throughout the year, 5 million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are produced in preparation for Easter.
16 billion jelly beans are made specifically for Easter which is enough to fill a plastic egg the size of a 9-story building.

Kids prefer red jelly beans and 75% are willing to do extra chores for more Easter candy.
57% of kids get up super early on Easter to see what the Easter bunny has brought them.
80% of parents carry on the tradition of the Easter bunny by preparing a surprise Easter basket filled with goodies for their children and 90% of adults hope for their own Easter treat.
The first chocolate eggs were made in Germany in the 19th century and remain one of the most popular Easter candies today.

Solid chocolate bunnies are favored, followed closely by hollow chocolate bunnies, marshmallow filled bunnies, and other Easter bunny candy.

In the old days pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.
The exchange of eggs for Easter dates back to a springtime custom older than Easter itself in which eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.

The Easter egg roll on the White House lawn has been a tradition since 1878.
After Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy consuming holiday.

Got a fun Easter food fact? Please share it with me, I'm dying to know more!

Source

What's the Deal with Green Potatoes

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:00:00 -0800

You buy potatoes. You store potatoes. You forget you have potatoes. You remember you have potatoes. You pull them out and their skins are GREEN!!!
So what's the deal with green potatoes? I heard that the green skins are poisonous. Is it true? And why does it turn green in the first place?

The green coloring on the skin is a build-up of a chemical called Solanine. It is a natural reaction to the potato being exposed to too much light. Solanine causes a bitter taste and if eaten in large quantities, can cause illness (you'd have to eat a lot though).

If you find slight greening on your potato skins, simply peel it off. Try not to peel off the entire skin because it contains valuable nutrients and the majority of the potato's fiber. Cut away any sprouts as well since they are also toxic.

So there you have it. Potato skin mystery solved.

Fun Food Facts

YumSugar — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 00:15:09 -0800

Everyone will most likely be seeing extended family members within the next couple of days and there is bound to be one of those inevitable uncomfortable moments when you find yourself suddenly put on the spot. Have no fear Sugar reader! I've compiled a list of fun food facts for you to keep as your secret weapon and bust out in just such moments. For example, did you know the most popular pizza topping in Japan is squid? Here in America it's, yep you guessed it, pepperoni. For more of my fun food facts, read more.

Wisconsin is the state that produces the majority of cranberries, growing more than 300 million pounds per year. That's as much as 25,000 elephants weigh!
6 out of every 10 apples consumed in the US were grown in Washington state.
It takes 12 bees to make one tablespoon of honey.
The average person eats nearly 254 eggs per year.

Carrots were not always orange. Five thousand years ago carrots were white, purple, red, yellow, green, and black. In the 1700's the Dutch bred the variety we commonly find in supermarket's today.
Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries.
The name onion is derived from the Latin term for large pearl.
The first breakfast cereal ever produced was shredded wheat.
Ice cream originates from China. When Marco Polo returned to Italy after exploring China in 1295, he took with him a recipe for a Chinese dessert, entitled Milk Ice. The Italians substituted cream for the milk and ice cream was born.
Bakers used to be fined if their loaves of bread were under a certain weight, so they would add an extra loaf to every dozen to ensure that their breads were not under weight-hence the term, baker's dozen.

Fish has traditionally been paired with slices of lemon since the Middle Ages. Back then people believed the fruit's acidic juices would dissolve any bones accidentally swallowed.

Got a fun food fact to share with us all? Post it below!

The Road: A Bleak Journey That Will Haunt You

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

It's not that I was expecting a film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road to be happy sunshine - I just wasn't expecting it to seem so possible.

The apocalyptic tale takes place in a wasteland in the future after most humans are gone. It's desolate, the sky is a brownish-gray, and the land seems to be covered with ash. Unlike showy 2012, this is an end-of-the-world tale stripped down, which makes it all the more realistic and chilling.

To see what I mean, just read more.

We meet Man (Viggo Mortensen) and Boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a father and son making their way down south because they can't survive another Winter in this ominous setting. (Charlize Theron plays their wife and mother through a series of flashbacks). With a meager amount of food left on the planet, the select few people remaining (and there aren't many) will basically kill for supplies - or turn to cannibalism for sustenance. If this sounds like a horror film, it's because it pretty much is one. In fact, it's the worst, most plausible kind: one that explores the evils of humanity.

I'm sure many viewers won't be able to (or won't want to) stomach the subject matter, but the film is worth seeing thanks to the relationship between the father and son. In terms of plot, there isn't a ton that happens, and most of the action involves bumping into new strangers, like an elderly man (Robert Duvall) and a threatening gang. Some may find the lack of events monotonous, but this is why father and son are so important. Man is an average Joe who questions how far he'll go to keep Boy safe and what that means for his conscience; Boy is an innocent who still looks for good in people. The film obviously raises questions about the nature of who we are when tested - but the story is ultimately about their relationship.

As Man, Viggo Mortensen gives a mesmerizing performance that should bring his name up around awards season, and Smit-McPhee as his son is a great child actor, especially given the dark subject matter.

If you're a McCarthy fan or even just a fan of great acting, you'll want to check this one out. But, I'd suggest saving it for next week - after you find your Thanksgiving warm fuzzies somewhere else.

If you'd like to review a movie you've seen recently, check out the Movie Reviews Group in community. I may even feature your critique on the site!

Test Your Knowledge of the Food Network's Chefs!

partysugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:50:24 -0700

One of my favorite specials on the Food Network is Chefography, an hour-long show that details the life of one of the network's celebrity chefs. It's fascinating to learn about their background, personal life, and how they got their start in the food industry. However, not all the chefs have been featured on Chefography. Sure, the heavy hitters (Rachael, Giada, Bobby) are highlighted, but what about the newer chefs? I've done some Internet searching and found a bunch of fun facts about the rising stars of Food Network. Think you can guess which chef's life I am describing?

Question 1 of 8

Which chef's grandmother Alma inspired her to become a cook?

Burning Question: At What Temperature Is a Turkey Cooked?

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:48 -0800

No matter what kind of turkey you'll be having this year, there's one question you'll need the answer to: What temperature does a turkey need to reach in order be considered "done"?

Until last year, the USDA recommended cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 180ºF. But based on the fact that bacteria threat salmonella cannot withstand temperatures of 160ºF after 30 seconds, the FDA now suggests a minimum internal temperature of 165ºF as measured by a food thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

At what temperature do you consider your turkey done?

Got a burning question? Join the Burning Question group in the YumSugar Community! It's your place to post the most pressing questions about the culinary world.

To the Rescue: Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Formula?

PetSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:55:24 -0800

Can they? Yes. Should they? Probably not. Although not that different ingredient-wise than adult formulas, puppy-specific kibble usually has more fat and protein.

The meat sources are likely listed first (ie, in higher proportion) for a growing body, which obviously makes it more appealing to an adult dog. The high protein and caloric content can make adult dogs overweight super quickly, so there's a reason the packaging says to only feed to the lil ones for a limited time - that meal for an extended period of time is damaging and dangerous to health.

In fact, some breeders of large dogs (especially those prone to weight issues or bloat) recommend not feeding these puppy formulas more than a few months due to the high content of all those things mentioned above. Did you feed your pets puppy food or move straight into adult bits for the babes?

Source: Flickr User estoril

Do Tell: What's on the Menu For Your Pets This Thanksgiving?

PetSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:49 -0800

Introducing large quantities of rich "people food" into a pet's diet on Thanksgiving is bad for their tummies! In fact, some typical holiday fare should never be fed to pets. One sure way to be certain no one slips up is to place the appropriate portion of your furry friend's normal snacks in a convenient location. Point out the healthy treats to your guests and encourage them to pamper your pals with extra petting or playtime . . . not to feed the snacks all at once.

Dog-Approved Snacks:

Small piece of white-meat turkey
A few cooked, unseasoned carrots or green beans
Spoonful of canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
Sweet Potato Dog Chips
Small apple or banana slice

What's on your pet's menu for next week?

Source: Flickr User TheGiantVermin

Happy Birthday, Tyler Florence!

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:30:47 -0800

Tyler Florence - best known for his approachable recipes, affable demeanor, and, of course, strapping good looks - turns 38 today. To honor the Food Network host, cookbook author, and celebrity chef (who was just spotted at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival) I've put together a quiz full of TyFlo fun facts. What do you know about the charismatic food figure? Find out when you take our quiz!

Source

Take the quiz

How Foodie Are You?

partysugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:00:41 -0800

I had such a fabulous time putting together my last food trivia quiz that I decided to do another one.

It's jam packed with fun facts from the trivia game Foodie Fight. What are you waiting for? Test your foodie knowledge now!

Take the quiz