Food Stuff

Americans eat 500 million pounds of peanut butter a year, enough to coat the floor, of the Grand Canyon.

The tall chef’s hat is called a toque.

Some yoghurt contain beef or pork gelatin.

Tiramisu means ‘pick me up' in Italian.

Eating an early dinner, or just skipping it altogether, may increase the amount of fat a person burns at night, a study found.

Onion is Latin for ‘large pearl’.

The weight of a Babybel is 21 grammes.

Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

Death row inmates in Texas don't get to pick their last meal.

The reason why peppers taste hot is because of a chemical compound called capsaicin, which bonds to your sensory nerves and tricks them into thinking your mouth is actually being burned.

Pumpkin flowers are edible.

Real aged balsamic vinegar actually costs anywhere from $75 to $400 or more.

Ketchup was used as a medicine in the 1800s to treat diarrhea, among other things.

Several ancient cultures viewed the apple as a feminine symbol and found a resemblance between the two halves of a vertically cut apple to the female genital system. Alternatively, an apple cut horizontally resembled a pentagram, which was considered key in revealing knowledge of good and evil.

Ortharexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where the sufferer is obsessed with eating healthy food.

Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.

Chocolate can kill dogs; it directly affects their heart and nervous system.

The average American spends US$ 7,852 on food every year.

Alcohol consumed with food is absorbed more slowly, because it spends a longer time in the stomach.

The oldest evidence for soup is from 6,000 B.C. and calls for hippopotamus and sparrow meat.

I hate aspects of this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced frivolity, but because it`s the season when the food police come out with their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the holidays without gaining 10 pounds.1. About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they`re serving rum balls.2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it`s rare. In fact, it`s even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can`t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It`s not as if you`re going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It`s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It`s later then you think. It`s Christmas!3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That`s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they`re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it`s skim, pass. Why bother? It`s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other peoples food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college?6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Years, You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you`ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa. Position yourself near them, and don`t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They`re like a beautiful pair of shoes. You can`t leave them behind. You`re not going to see them again.8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don`t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it`s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean have some standards, mate.10. And one final tip: If you don`t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven`t been paying attention. Reread tips. Start over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just around the corner.