This Food Truck Trend is Pretty Great

The truck fumes add that extra zing

Today I took my kids to a local garden that has small pools and big splash pads everywhere. It is free and it is awesome, and if you ever visit Saint Louis and are looking for a good time, and to cool off, I suggest going to this place. The place I speak of is Citygarden. But, my piece today is not about Citygarden. I will do that another day. Today I want to talk about something that makes Citygarden great, and that is the food trucks.

There are food trucks everywhere when Citygarden is open. It is so awesome and perfect for kids and adults alike. There are many different types of food trucks down there today. Today it was seemingly all Mexican food, which is my favorite. But, I have seen fancy food trucks, grilled cheese food trucks, fried food food trucks, Middle Eastern food trucks, pretty much any type of food you could want, there has been a food truck for it down at Citygarden one time or another.

As I said, today it was all Mexican food. I was stoked. I went to the nacho food truck for my kids because who doesn't like chips and cheese? I got them some BBQ nachos to share, and they woofed them down. It was perfect. For me, I had a hard time deciding if I wanted nachos, a quesadilla or some tacos. I eventually decided on tacos, and boy was I happy with my choice. I went to the nearest truck to me, and found a limited taco menu. This makes me happy because whenever I see a small menu, I feel like they know what they do best, and that is all they will serve. I am not a fan of menus that are 3, 4 and 5 pages long. And Cheesecake Factory needs to really slim it down. There is a thing as too many choices. But the menu today had 5 different tacos, a burger if that was what you wanted and a few sides. The tacos were a sweet potato, a fish, a pork, a chicken and a beef taco. I got the pork, chicken and beef. And they were delicious. Not only was the menu small, but the portions were just the right size, and while the stuff on the taco was minimal, it was the perfect blend of flavors. The pork taco had braised pork and a cabbage slaw with some Mexican cheese, and it was outstanding. The beef taco was super simple. It had this exceptional tasting beef, that same Mexican cheese and something they called Cha Cha sauce on it. Again, outstanding. But the best one I had had the fewest ingredients, and that was the chicken taco. It had shredded chicken that was put in a citrus glaze, and Mexican cheese. Oh my goodness was this taco amazing. I ate the thing in 3 bites and I wanted to go back and buy 5 or 6 more of these tacos, it was that good. The tortillas on these were excellent too. They had a little grill to them they were flour, they were the perfect size and they held in all the ingredients. There was no spillage or seeping out, it was just right. This was heaven as far as food goes for me. Oh, and don't let me forget my corn salad side, it was awesome. It had chilled corn, red peppers, cilantro, jalapenos and that Cha Cha sauce on it. It was so refreshing and delicious on a hot day like we had in Saint Louis today.

While you are reading this you may be saying, well it was a food truck, those are trendy now, it must have been expensive , right? Nope. My whole meal cost me 10 dollars. And when you put my kids nachos in the mix, it only cost me 17 bucks to feed me and my 2 children. That is one hell of a deal if you ask me.

I love the food trucks downtown, but today was something special. There was a little something extra. The delivery of a taco, not from a fast food restaurant, is just perfect, when it is done right. I wish I could remember the name of the truck, and I hope it will be downtown the next time I take my kids, but today's lunch was a meal I won't soon forget. I try to lay off the carbs during the week, but these tacos today were just too enticing. Go out and eat a taco tonight from a food truck, and this will all make so much more sense to you. What an excellent meal. Tacos from food trucks rule.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is used to eating food out of truck, but prepared food being delivered from a truck with a health inspected kitchen, that is a new one.

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The Naked Chicken Chalupa was Good for the Taste Buds, Not So Good for the Stomach

Damn you Beautiful Taco Bell

Last Friday I wrote about how excited I was that Taco Bell was bringing back the naked chicken chalupa. It was my ode to the one thing I love about Taco Bell. Well, last night I went to get a few for me, and one for my wife. She wanted to try them too, because much like me, she loved them. So I got us 3 mild ones, 2 for me, 1 for her, and we dug in.

I have to tell you, they’re still pretty great. The fried chicken shell was pretty tremendous. It has a nice crisp to it, the way it’s shaped is perfect for a taco, and the “chicken” tastes pretty good. The inside is filled with shredded lettuce, shredded Mexican cheese and diced tomatoes. This was all fine, but didn’t add much. But, something I forgot about, there is some kind of spicy green sauce at the bottom. It’s too smooth to be guacamole, but too green to be sour cream. I am glad I got us the mild flavor because this green sauce has a kick. I am a big fan of what they did with this sauce. I added 2 packets of hot sauce and my wife ate her’s sans sauce. I prefer my method. While eating the naked chicken chalupas there were just sounds being grunted, or the occasional, “yep, these still hold up”. We both remembered why we liked them so much.

So yeah, the naked chicken chalupa is still pretty great. And, shockingly, I didn’t feel sick or gross after eating them last night. I was kind of surprised by this pleasant feeling. I was full, but not bloated. But, all that changed this morning.

Now, before I get into it, I regret nothing. My wife got up to get ready for work and told me she wished she hadn’t eaten the chalupa. I asked if she were sick, and she said no, but that she felt awful. I was surprised because I still felt okay. This was around 7am this morning. My wife left for work, seltzer water in hand around 730. I still felt fine, but as I was making my son breakfast, the pain set in. I’m not going to get gross, but I will say, I’ve spent a good amount of time in my restroom today. I feel like I’m being punished by my diet and by Taco Bell. I shouldn’t have eaten one of these, let alone 2. My body is rejecting these chalupas. I now remember why I don’t eat like this regularly anymore, and why I stay away from Taco Bell. As I said, I regret nothing, but my body sure does. The thing that frustrates me most is how long it took to take effect on me. I thought I was in the clear. I thought my stomach was going to let me get away with it. I thought, since Sunday is my day to eat whatever I want, I would be free from this feeling. Well, I was/am not. I should have only had one, but who’s to say I still wouldn’t feel like I do now? Taco Bell is evil, and I’m paying for it today. All of this isn’t to say that I won’t be going back to get more naked chicken chalupas, hell, I might get more this coming Sunday, but I will think about it a bit more.

The fact is that the naked chicken chalupa is great. I still love it. But, I despise the way it has made my body feel today. Was it worth it? Probably not. Will I buy more, eat them and deal with the aftermath? You better believe it. Go, please and buy these because they’re great. Just know, you will be in for a rough day the day after. God damn you Taco Bell. Why must you torture me so?

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. His body has not been properly trained for Taco Bell like the head editor. A strong regiment of chili cheese burritos should be all the training Ty needs.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Long Live Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa

Taco Bell has big plans for you guys

I'm not much of a fan of Taco Bell. I have stated as much on the podcast. Hell, RD and I went into a big time debate early on in our podcast. He loves it, me, not so much. Everything there tastes the same to me. It is all one big goo of meat and random sauces. Now, this isn't to say that I do not go there. In fact, on days that I don't diet, Taco Bell is one of my go to fast food spots. It is cheap, and I know what I am going to get, and that it will satisfy me until it decides it is time to void my body. I want to give the right person credit, and I am pretty sure it is Matt Braugner, a fantastic stand up comedian, but he nails it when it comes to Taco Bell. He basically says that everything comes from what is basically a caulking gun, and that the food is meant for drunk people to "soak up the night". I mean, come on, that is too perfect.

I say all this because I am excited about something that I saw on my TV last night pertaining to Taco Bell. One thing I do "admire" about them, they always take chances. They come up with new food stuffs all the time. I remember when the chalupa first came out. I remember when they first started making their version of quesadillas. I have tried their take on fries. I haven't had their breakfast, but I have heard good and bad about it. I used to love their 2 shelled tacos, I can't remember what those are called (ed note: Double Decker Taco), but I do know that they were held together by a smear of refried beans, and their selection of drinks, even though it is a Pepsi establishment, and that is utter blasphemy, is pretty unique. But, the one new product they came out with a little over a year ago that I went nuts for was the naked chicken chalupa.

For those of you that don't know what that is, first off, you are a better person than me, second, it is a taco, but the "shell" is a piece of fried chicken shaped like a corn tortilla. When this first came out I stayed very, very far away. I did not want to lower myself to being a person that tried, and liked, a naked chicken chalupa. I had lost all this weight, I was calling myself a runner, I was, and still am, hiking all the time, and I was, still am, an avid basketball player. I didn't need the naked chicken chalupa. But, I was convinced by many, many people, who I trust, to try this thing. So, my wife and I ventured on over to Taco Bell on a day where I let myself eat whatever I wanted, and I tried one.

Oh my goodness was it amazing. I kid you not. I was floored by how good this naked chicken chalupa was. I couldn't believe that, of all places, Taco Bell made something so original, and tasted so good. This wasn't like their typical fare, this was unique. As I stated, the shell was a piece of fried chicken shaped to look like a shell. That is insane. Then, the inside had some lettuce, diced tomatoes and a little Mexican cheese blend. I put some fire sauce on it and I was hooked. I went back that day and got some more. I then went a few more time, just to get the naked chicken chalupa. Then, like some cruel joke, it was off the menu. No reason was given, other than it was seasonal, and I was crushed. I finally had a reason to got to Taco Bell, and not be ashamed of myself. I know it isn't healthy, but as a big time advocate of the Atkins diet, this was as close as Taco Bell, or any other fast food restaurant for that matter, has gotten since KFC made the double down, which is horrendous.

Lucky for me, I saw a commercial that brightened my day last night. Taco Bell has these new ads that are like throwbacks to old creepy news stories, and the guy that is the spokesperson said that they were bringing the naked chicken chalupa back. I was so excited I rewound the commercial and showed it to my wife, who was just as excited as I was. I'm not sure the exact date that they are bringing it back, for all I know, they already have them in the restaurant, but I know for god damn sure that I am going to buy a shit ton of them. This is a good thing that Taco Bell has done. They are bringing something back that was wildly successful, and hopefully this time, they keep it around for longer, or just put it on the menu permanently.

I know this is a weird and goofy thing to be excited about, but dammit, I'm pumped. Thank you Taco Bell. For once in your odd existence, you are doing the right thing. Long live the naked chicken chalupa.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is not yet aware that there is a "Wild Naked Chicken Chalupa" that is advertised to be a little spicy. Dump some fire sauce on that thing and experience fast food heaven.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Aldi is Awesome

Good food is wherever you find it

As a kid, my mom did all the grocery shopping for the house. Now that I am the at home parent, I do all the shopping. When I first started to do all the grocery shopping, we had one kid, and it was pretty easy for me to go to our local store, Schnucks, and get pretty much everything we needed at a decent price. Then, we had our daughter, and I started to realize that buying everything at Schnucks was becoming a little too expensive. It just became too much. I then remembered that when I would go grocery shopping with my mom when I was young, she would go to a place called Aldi.

Going to AIdi meant we were "poor". That is what I always thought. I was a dumb kid, and the fact that I wasn't getting brand name cereals, chips or even Pop Tarts, made me think that we just didn't have the money that other families did. Well, I was dead, dead wrong. Now that I do all the grocery shopping, I have become in love with Aldi.

I started to think about going there after our daughter was born, because as I said, groceries were getting to be way too much. So, I decided that I would try out Aldi for everything that we needed, except for protein and veggies. I figured that I could get the off brand cereal, off brand Pop Tarts, off brand chips, all the stuff that I could throw into the pantry and it would last. It was great. On just buying all the non proteins and veggies, we were saving a ton of money, and honestly, we couldn't really tell the difference in taste.

For example, I bought some off brand cool ranch Doritos at Aldi, I think it was Burmann's brand or something like that, and my wife and I ate them, and we couldn't find any real difference. Now, you people need to know that we both love cool ranch Doritos. So, the fact that we found something so similar for almost 1.50 cheaper, it was a game changer. The same thing goes for the cereal and their off brand Pop Tart. Their Cinnamon Toast Crunch, called Cinnamon Crunch, is delicious. My kids love their Marshmallows and Stars, many of you may know that as Lucky Charms. Their Cocoa Rice, or coca Crispies, turn the milk from the cereal into chocolate milk all the same. Their off brand Pop Tarts taste exactly the same as regular Pop Tarts. I literally cannot tell the difference between Pop Tart brand Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Millville brand Brown Sugar Cinnamon. They both taste exactly the same. Same thing goes for Millville's s'mores, blueberry or strawberry. They all taste the same, and they are much, much more cost effective. 

Then, as an almost dare, I, along with my wife, decided we should try the meat and veggies. The veggies were really no problem because we go through veggies in a week. I will say, if you do plan on buying veggies at an Aldi, make sure you eat them within a week or two, or else they may not last. But, as I said, we plow through our veggies. We have one every night with our dinner, and Aldi brand asparagus, canned green beans, canned corn, brussel sprouts, it is all good. Even their fruit is delicious too. My son loves their apples. They sell bags of limes, which we go through fairly quickly weekly, are very good. We love their bananas. It is all good. After going through the veggies, we decided it was time to try proteins there. We were saving so much, and going to Schnucks just to get meat, became tedious. We also talked to a good group of our friends who shop at Aldi, and they all said the meat was fine. So, we decided to try it, and we have not looked back. I get all the protein there. I can buy a 2 pound skirt steak at Aldi for 9 bucks. Two plus pounds of chicken breast is only 3.50. Getting ground beef at Aldi is wonderful. It cooks up real nice, and it is mad cheap. I got three pounds of it this past Monday for only 9 dollars. That is wild.

So now, I pretty much do all of the grocery shopping at Aldi. The only reason I go to a Schnucks or Whole Foods or any other local store is to get the random things I cannot get at Aldi. I am so proud of myself if I am able to get everything I need at Aldi. If I can get it all done in one shot, that is a good day. I need to say, Aldi does not sponsor SeedSing, and this is not meant to be a commercial for them (ed note: yet). I just wanted to give my love to my new favorite grocery store. Also, sorry mom for saying and thinking that we were "poor" when I was kid because you shopped at Aldi. You rule, and so does Aldi. Thank you for showing me the way.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is also a big fan of Aldi because that means Ty always a quarter nearby. It is either in his pocket, or in the little pay slot on the shopping cart.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 24 - Christmas Pudding

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One,                              Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three

Day 24: Christmas Pudding

Christmas Eve is a day of tradition. Families gather to try and recreate memories from holidays past. Christmas Day is usually filled with early excitement, afternoon resting, and a quite evening meal. Christmas Eve is the time to party, and remember the great gatherings of generations past. The generational celebration brings back the ancient food of our ancestors for the modern crowd to enjoy. No food is more ancient, and more enjoyed, than the classic Christmas pudding.

Christmas pudding, or plum pudding if your nasty, has been a holiday celebration staple in western world for a long, long time. Most recipes called for indulgent ingredients that need to be mixed by every member of the family. The legend says that those who mix the pudding will get their holiday wish. The mixture is wrapped in linen, soaked in liquor, stored for months/years, and boiled for hours before the big holiday feast. Once ready, the pudding is unwrapped, soaked in brandy once again, set on fire, then a sprig of holly is ceremoniously placed in the top, once the fire is out of course. Once the family has finished the pudding the holiday's have officially been celebrated.

Christmas pudding is special treat to finish off the most wonderful time of the year. The recipes vary from family to family, the way to cook the different mixtures is not uniform, the taste is not consistent, yet the tradition of the Christmas pudding is the highlight of the season. Even a drunk ass like Bob Cratchit can not deny the masterpiece of the traditional Christmas pudding. Have a very merry holiday and an awesome new year.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Historic food like Christmas pudding deserves a song that tells the tale of Christmas's greatness story of goodwill towards man. 

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 23 - The Mall Food Court

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One,                              Twenty-Two

Day 23: The Mall Food Court

The final days of the holiday shopping season can be brutal. The stores are packed with people trying to score those last few perfect gifts. Anxiety is high among these last minute shoppers, and good will toward one's fellow person is at an all time low. There is very little time left to enjoy a well crafted holiday treat. The shoppers of the last few days need only to eat in order to survive. The local mall food court is the ideal trough to provide the necessary sustenance to the gift seeker.

The mall food court sees some of it's best business in the last days of holiday shopping season. Sbarro's, Panda Express like eateries, the cheesesteak joint, and Chick-Fil-A on a non-Sunday join their fellow store fronts in offering the shopping masses some needed calories during the homestretch of peak capitalism. Want pizza for Christmas, the food court has got you covered. In the need for generic cheesesteak and thick cut fries for your Hanukah,  the food court is your oasis. Do you desire a huge cherry Icee and some kettle cooked popcorn, the mall food court will deliver on your wish. If a person needs to shop first, and think of nutrition second, the mall food court is one of the best gifts these people can find in the Christmas rush. Taste be damned, just give these soldiers of late year commerce something edible, and give it to them quickly.

Shopping late in the holiday spending spree can be draining on a person's soul. Many people are looking for gifts that are in low supply. Sometimes multiple hands reach for the last doll on the shelf. The winners go home happy, the losers recharge at the food court. There must be a better way. The food court is a gathering place for the rest of us. Celebrate.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. What is this great holiday for the rest of us? Watch this classic episode of "Seinfeld" and be enlightened. 

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 22 - Eggnog

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One

Day 22: Eggnog

There are certain seasonal treats that certain people inexplicably look forward to. Minty flavors tinted with green food dye are sought after in the late winter weeks. A thousand different varieties of lemonade invade our taste buds during the summertime. Pumpkin spice everything appear once the sun sets on Labor day. When the Thanksgiving feast is complete, eggnog takes it's place on the throne of high holiday treatdom.

Eggnog has been around a long time. Texts dating back to the late 1600s talk of a nog drink. In the America's of the 1700's, history describes a dairy, egg, and spiced drink. The famous Modern Bartender's Guide from 1878  has multiple recipes for eggnog. It is a drink that has been around a while. Eggs, cream, sugar make this delicious elixir. Adding some nice brown liquor, bourbon, spiced rum, brandy, or cognac, make this holiday staple even more intoxicating. Eggnog has held the throne of holiday favorite for centuries, and it shows no sign of abdicating.

Eggnog, alcoholic or not, is awesome. Anyone that says otherwise is a holiday treat Grinch. Their humbuggery is not needed at your holiday table. Eggnog rules, and debate will not be tolerated. One does not challenge the throne without a hearty rebuke. Go drink some eggnog, and be merry and bright.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Eggnog is great, the song The Christmas Shoes is terrible. Enjoy your nog as you listen to Patton Oswalt masterfully take apart that Christmas tune from hell.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 21 - Ham

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty

Day 21: Ham

Welcome to the winter solstice. The day with the least amount of daylight, in the Northern Hemisphere that is. A day that is usually cold, again in the Northern Hemisphere. A day with a long history of grand feasting. For many millennia, at least in he Northern Hemisphere, having a grand feast on the winter solstice was a thing. Since the daylight was short, the weather was cold, and spirits needed to be lifted, a grand feast would cure all. The highlight of this winter fess was meat. There is no greater winter feast meat than ham.

Christmas ham is a tradition, and awesome one. Many meats show up during the holiday season, but nothing beats a good ham. Glazed in sugar, spiral cut, that is the best way to do a December ham. Go out to a reputable ham shop, get that magic meat, and your holiday guests will love you forever. Ham is the peak of holiday meat. No question about it.

The grand feast of the winter solstice has been lost to history. We tend to have our feast in the last days of November and the end of December. November gets the overrated turkey as it's meat star. December gets ham. December is the better month for feasting. 

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. The winter solstice is also a time for reflection. Maybe you can drink on apple wine and listen to Dolly Parton sing about a "Hard Candy Christmas".

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 20 - Champagne

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen

Day 20: Champagne

The holiday season is a time for indulgence. We eat more candy than any other time of year. Fine foods like steak, veal, and top of line fresh caught fish are enjoyed more often than in the other eleven months. Even our choice of bubbly wine gets an upgrade from the common sparkling variety to the fine heritage of champagne.

Champagne is special. Maybe it is grapes, maybe it is the process, or maybe it is marketing, but champagne is almost always worth it's hefty price. The legends in this case are true. actual champagne is light years better than sparkling wine. Pouring a few ounces of the bubbly elixir is indulgent, and it makes anyone's holiday's extra merry and bright.

The holidays are about gifting our guests, and ourselves, with the very best. Our lunch meats should be upgraded with roast beef or steak. Our M & M cookies need to be upgraded with red and green M & M's. Our sparkling wine deserve the ultimate upgrade in any holiday season. Go out and splurge on champagne, make your holidays merry and indulgent.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. If you happen to be alone this Christmas Day, go to your local tavern, order some champagne, and listen to Phoenix (with Bill Murray) sing a jaunty tune about being alone on Christmas Day.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 19 - Fruit Cake

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen

Day 19: Fruit Cake

The holiday season is filled with emotions that swing from one range to another. We are filled with joy and happiness one moment, then we are filled with dread and anxiety a minute later. The excitement of finding a perfect gift, followed by the dread of seeing the price. The warm fewling of being with long not seen family, followed by the realization of why you only see these family members once a year. The holidays are filled with feelings that are in direct conflict of each other.

Fruit cake is the perfect holiday dish to reflect this emotional dichotomy. Fruit cake is either an awesome dish, or it is dreadful. Go to your local grocery store and buy a cheap fruitcake mixed with bad walnuts and over sweetened dried fruit, it is a holiday chore to get through. Find a special homemade connection with real brandied fruit, and you can sometimes taste holiday bliss. The lesson here is skip the chain store fruit cake, and find a nice artisanal made one that has spent years wrapped in brandy soaked cheesecloth. That is the only reason to eat fruitcake.

We go from the greatest highs to the lowest lows during the holiday season. We experience the joy of charity, and the dread of sticker shock, sometimes within the same act. Fruit cake is the perfect holiday treat to represent this swing. Sometimes it is great, sometimes it is terrible. Yet fruit cake will always be part of the mystery of what our holiday season is all about.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Fruit cake can be enjoyed with any holiday feast. Devo knows no matter what you believe, none of it is true, a Merry Something to You.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 18 - Smoking Bishop

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen

Day 18: Smoking Bishop

The end of the year finds the daylight short, and our spirits needing to be uplifted. It is easy to grab a beer we know well, or a mix a drink that carried us through the entirety of the year. December though calls for something different, it calls for a drink more festive. During the holidays we should be uplifting our spirits with a nice hot bowl of smoking bishop.

Smoking bishop was an old drink when Charles Dickens made it famous with A Christmas Carol. Once Scrooge was redeemed, he offered to share some smoking bishop with already hung over Bob Cratchit. The ancient drink calls for hot port wine spiced with holiday seasoning and baked fruit. It is simple, it has been around for years, and smoking bishop is delicious enough to share by reformed misers and their alcoholic clerks. It is a drink that screams Christmas.

The holiday season is about bringing people together. Old friends gather, friendly acquaintances meet up, and bosses will toast the holidays with their clerks. Smoking bishop is a festive holiday connection that has held it's own with the test of time. This December, gather a bowl of smoking bishop and share with all you wish to make merriment with. 

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Smoking bishop is meant to be shared. It is not a drink one has alone. The band Phoenix, with help of Bill Murray, knows what is like to be alone on Christmas Day.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 17 - Goose

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen

Day 17: Goose

Every festive event has a dish that is the absolute center of attention. The Memorial Day cookout has hamburgers and hot dogs, the Fourth of July barbecue has hamburgers and hotdogs, the Labor Day outdoor feast features hamburgers and hotdogs, and every holiday food feast after has turkey. Christmas tries to be different. Instead of hamburgers, hot dogs, or turkey, Christmas dinner wants to make goose as the highlight of the meal.

Cooked goose is a dryer, less flavorful, version of turkey. Turkey is already an overrated highlight dish. Turkey tends to be dry, no matter well you brine it, and most people cover turkey with mayo, barbecue sauce, or any other number of strong flavors. Turkey is fancy spam. Goose is a worse version of turkey. It is dryer, it is less flavorful, and it is a waste of time. Christmas goose only looks good as words written in a Charles Dickens story.

With all of our fine food choices, it is a shame that people will offer goose as a highlight to their Christmas feast. Turkey is disappointing enough, but by offering goose, you show your guests that old English literature means more to you than actual flavor. Even if the goose is as big as you, do not serve it. Serve a good ham instead.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. If you serve goose, there may be a fight. Christmas should be merry, and I don't want to fight. Just like the Ramones sang about. 

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 16 - Bourbon Balls

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen, Fifteen

Day 16: Bourbon Balls

Once the end of year holiday season hits, homes are filled with sweet treats and plenty of good liquor. Both of these staples make the holidays cozy and warm. Many night are ended with a nice sweet treat, and a stiff drink to wash it down. But what about the special December treats that are one part dessert and one part booze. In this special category of holiday magic, bourbon balls are the first choice anyone should make.

Bourbon balls are an extremely easy treat that can made at home. Ground vanilla wafers, corn syrup, confectioners sugar, chopped pecans, unsweetened chocolate powder, and some fine bourbon - that is all it takes to make a bourbon ball. It takes less than an hour to complete the entire process of making a good bourbon ball. It is simple, it takes very little effort, and the end result is delicious. The booze/candy treat known as a bourbon ball is a fantastic adult treat during the holiday season.

Once the weather gets cold, and the daylight gets shorter, candy and booze become a happy marriage for the holiday season. Chocolate is awesome, pecans are incredible, and bourbon is a magic elixir. Adding all of these great icons together results in one of the most festive treats for the end of the year. Go out and make bourbon balls, and as an extra treat, take a sip of bourbon for your effort. That will make your holidays warm and bright.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. The "Star Wars Holiday Special" is a million times worse than the prequels. The Boba Fett carton in the special is one of the best Star Wars holiday gifts ever.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 15 - Blue Milk

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,                           Fourteen

Day 15: Blue Milk

Some of the food and drink we use year round becomes extra special around the holidays. We take for granted the vegetables we eat all year, but in December those same vegetables are the stars in a party platter. Our soups we reluctantly sip in July become hearty and comforting in the waning days of fall. The bantha milk (aka blue milk) we drink on Tatooine becomes a special holiday beverage during our time on Ahch To.

Blue milk is a special kind of thing from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away. It is like regular milk, except it is blue. For many years we thought one could only get blue milk on Tatooine, but as of yesterday we learned one can find it on a remote island on the planet of Ahch To. Not everyone likes it, but legendary Jedi heroes will drink that stuff straight out of a creatures teat. It is that awesome, for some. 

Today we witness a new chapter in the beloved Star Wars Saga, and surprisingly blue milk makes a mid December reappearance. Is it milk that is blue, probably. Is it a holiday treat, probably not. Yet this lovely blue milk will hold a spot in one of our most beloved December released films. In all honesty, the blue milk appearance was probably just a way to make the jaded gen xers connect with the newest Star Wars film. Happy life day anyways.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. This holiday we encourage all people to gather around their tree, raise a glass of blue milk, and sing along to the Tree of Life.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 14 - Beef Brisket

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen

Day 14: Beef Brisket

A big hunk of meat is a big part of the holiday season. The weather is cold, we need a big hunk of meat to warm us up by filling our stomachs. Our clothes are bigger and cover our whole body, a big hunk of meat will add excess pounds that can be lost in the spring months through vigorous exercise. The holidays are filled with joy, and nothing is as joyous as a well season big hunk of meat. One of the very best, and festive, big hunk of meats out there is that of the beef brisket.

Beef brisket makes an appearance on our Holiday Eats Advent Calendar because it is a classic Hanukkah dish, and it is an awesome hunk of meat. Get a nice fatty piece of beef brisket, season it to your desire, then place it in a slow cooker for six to eight hours. Once done, your family/guests/self will have an awesome holiday feast. Sauce or no sauce, horseradish or no horseradish, au jus, or lack of jus, no one can go wrong with a well cooked hunk of beef brisket. It is worthy of any holiday feast.

December is a month filled with feasting. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Immaculate Conception, Winter Solstice, Friday, we have a a reason to feast on any day. The star of our feast is usually a nice big hunk of meat. Turkey is boring, steak is overrated, but beef brisket, that is an awesome hunlk of meat. Make sure you enjoy this magnificent hunk of meat no matter what your December feast may be.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. This December, one can find a great brisket in any fine New York City deli. Indulge yourself in a fine ditty about a Christmas Fairytale in New York.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 13 - Apple Cider Doughnuts

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve

Day 13: Apple Cider Doughnuts

One of the best parts of the holiday season are the seasonal takes on food available year round. Hershey's Kisses, M&Ms, and our favorite beers all have special December releases. Many of these treats are spiced with the flavor of the seasons. Peppermint, fresh hops, and late fall fruit are the enhancements used to turn yearly indulgences into holiday masterpieces. There is no grater holiday enhancement than apple cider, cinnamon, and fried doughnuts.

The classic apple cider doughnut starts to make an appearance around September. Cider is starting to make itself part of the weekly shopping list, so why not add the doughnut that gets enhanced by this fall elixir. The holiday season brings on the height of apple cider doughnut due to the timing of Hanukkah. The eight nights of celebration incorporates oil fried foods into the festivities. Doughnuts are fried foods, apple cider and cinnamon are late fall staples, bring them together and it all adds up to an awesome  holiday treat.

Once December rolls around, the treats we have loved all year get a bit extra festive. What makes the end of the year so great, is the culinary adventure we get to have. The flavors of the end of year have no equal. By adding apple cider, and cinnamon, to fried sweet rings of dough, we create one of the greatest treats of the end of the year holiday treats. Go out and grab a dozen apple cider doughnuts from your local shop. If it is a good doughnut shop they should give you thirteen if you order dozen. That will make for a very happy holiday indeed.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Many people consider December 13th to be the beginning of the Twelve Days of Christmas. We are more in favor of the song that cuts down on that endless tune.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, holiday Eats: Day 12 - Latkes

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven

Day 12: Latkes

Today is the first day of Hanukkah, or Chanukah if you prefer. The next eight nights are filled with ceremony, presents, and some nice traditional food. Many of the treats associated with Hanukkah are fried in oil. Other than being delicious, food fried in oil has a tie to the history of Hanukah. The legend says that the Maccabees had oil for only one day, but it lasted for eight. The importance of the oil for the Jewish army has been brought forth as a vital part in the food we eat during Hanukkah.

The latke is one of the most famous, and the absolutely most tasty, treat one indulges in during Hanukkah. Shredded potatoes, eggs, onions, salt, and hot oil, that is what makes a great latke. Crispy on outside, chewy on the inside, that is what makes a great latke. Apple sauce and sour cream to dip, that is what makes a great latke. The fact is that a latke is an outstanding holiday treat.

No matter what your heritage is, a latke is a must have during the holiday season. If you do not celebrate Hanukkah, go out and eat a latke to show solidarity. If you know nothing about Hanukkah, go eat a latke because it is delicious. Latke's are awesome, that is all that needs to be said.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. When is Hanukkah any year? There is a great song about that very issue.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 11 - Mixed Nuts in a Shell

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten

Day 11: Mixed nuts in a shell

The holiday season can be filled with frustration. Trying to get a good parking space, and failing. Trying to find the right gift, and failing. Trying to navigate the social scene without being an ass, and failing spectacularly. The angst of the holidays can usually be cured by destroying something, without breaking the law. This is where shelled mixed nuts come in.

During the holiday season, one can find a bag of shelled mix nuts in any grocery store. The bag contains a nice variety of brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and almonds. Unlike their brother the peanut, these shelled nuts cannot be opened by a mere mortal's hands. A person needs a special tool. The traditional shelling tool is a lot like a crab claw breaker, a scissor like contraption of steel and ridges. Place the nut between the two legs of the nutcracker, squeeze hard, and once you hear the load CRACK, the delicious insides are yours for the eating. The insides are usually quite tasty, but the ceremony of breaking the shell open is the joy of mixed holiday nuts. Any holiday angst can be remedy with a nice bag of shelled mix nuts.

The holiday season is supposed to be about joy and goodwill towards one's fellow person. Unfortunately, most people are selfish oafs. In order to keep our holiday spirits on the joyous side, we need to resort to basic destruction. Thank goodness we have a nice bag of mixed buts to violently crack open. There are even fancy decorative ways to crack those nuts. Isn't Christmas the best?

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. What would you do to give the meek a happy holiday? Check out what Art Carney did on a classic episode of the "Twilight Zone".

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 10 - Icebox Cookies

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine

Day 10: Icebox cookies

Cookies are the best. Ones filled with chocolate chips, ones acting as the bread in a frosting sandwich, even ones made of oatmeal, good cookies have almost no equal sitting on the top of the desert hierarchy. Cookies are not owned by a season, yet Christmas has some of the best cookie traditions.

Icebox cookies are one of the basic recipes out there. Flour, sugar, egg, and butter (lots of butter) are the main parts in any icebox cookie concoction. The holiday spin on icebox cookies comes with the cutouts. Snowflakes, trees, and any other winter holiday shape is what makes icebox cookies special to Christmas. Once the raw dough is cut into its festive shape, it is cooked, ,and then decorated with a generous helping of red and/or green sprinkles/frosting. Once completed, a simple and delicious treat is available for all holiday revelers. God bless us everyone.

December is far and away the best month for sweet treats. Many of these treats are not unique to the month, but the holiday adds some enhancements to our indulgences. Icebox cookies are welcome anytime of the year. When those cookies are in the shapes of pine trees, snowflakes, and menorahs (I have that one) and the same cookies are covered in red green sugar connections, we have a holiday treat worthy of the best of the year. Plus, if the cookies come out too overdone, you can always put some string through them and hang the ruined treat on the tree. One will never lose with a holiday icebox cookie.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. One should always enjoy their snowflake shaped cookie with a great interpretation of "A Christmas Carol". We recommend a more modern take on Dickens' tale like a Dr. Who interpretation.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

The Advent Calendar of Good, and Bad, Holiday Eats: Day 9 - Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a treat associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be terrible. Enjoy.

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Day 9: Celebration Ale

The craft beer revolution is fairly new. Many attribute the beginning if the beer revolution to the 1970's. Way back in the olden days, President Jimmy Carter (i.e. History's Greatest Monster) signed the law that allowed for small independent breweries. These new freedom lover breweries decided to create a seasonal schedule. Americans were subjected to a beer for each equinox and solstice. The highlight of the year seemed to be reserved for the winter holidays.

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was one of the trailblazers in the micro brew revolution. They were also on the forefront of creating seasonal brews. The highlight of the year, and every year after, was the winter offering Celebration Ale. Starting in 1981, Celebration Ale has been an American IPA brewed with the freshest of hops. It was (probably) great in 1981, and it is still great today. Celebration Ale is also vital to getting through the grind of the holiday season for anyone who loves a good beer.

December brings us a wide variety of great new beer flavors. All the micro, and local breweries, have decide to throw their lots into the holiday game. Celebration Ale was one of the first commercially available holiday beers for the greater public to try. It started revolution. And nearly thirty years later, Celebration Ale is a must have for all beer lovers of every Christmas season. 

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. Holiday hijinks spare no one. Check in on the mushroom kingdom to see how Mario and Luigi handle holiday mayhem.