How to Grill the Greatest Hot Dog Ever

It is the Fourth of July. Time to go out and set some food on fire to celebrate the birth of America.

I hope your holiday was filled with awesomeness. In the spirit of being 100% awesome American, we here at SeedSing want to show the good reader how to grill the perfect hotdog. A friendly neighbor passed down this incredible secret to us a few years back, and we will never grill hotdogs the old fashion way.

Are you ready to be blessed with this knowledge?

In the words of an early role for Samuel L Jackson "Hang onto your butts".

Step 1

Buy Hotdogs - Sounds easy. Any brand of hotdog will work, but we prefer Nathans in our virtual office.

Step 2

Get the right tools. - You will need a skewer (wood or metal, it does not matter) and a sharp knife. I use a paring knife because it is small and easy to control.

Step 3

Run the skewer through the hotdog length wise. Try to get the skewer through the very middle.

Step 4

Spiral cut the hotdog with your knife. Slice the hotdog down to the skewer and slowly turn the hotdog as you tilt the knife down the length to make a spiral cut

It should look like this when done.

Step 5

Take the skewer out and place the hotdogs on a hot grill. Any kind of grill will work, we prefer charcoal around here. Taste the heat not the meat.

While cooking, rotate the hotdogs often. If the grill is very hot, you should rotate every 30 seconds or so. Hotdogs cook fast, these spiral cut dogs cook faster.

Step 6

Enjoy. Take the hotdogs off the grill when they are cooked to your liking. The spiral cut dogs should have mildly separated and created a delight that will be crispy and hot on every bite. The crevices are also great places to store toppings.

That is our gift to the world on America's birthday, awesome spiral cut grilled hotdogs. The small amount of extra work makes these a must have at a cookout. This even makes turkey dogs worth the effort.

Happy 4th.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He had three spiral cut hotdogs today. One for the U, one for the S, and the last for the great A.

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

Ty Revisits, and Face the Consequences, of Little League Baseball Concessions

Tastes great today, does not feel great tommorow

This past Sunday my wife was working the concession stand at the ball park that our son plays baseball in. My son and daughter went swimming in the morning, and come lunch time ,we decided we would go to the ball park to visit, and to eat some lunch. Now, it needs to be known, my son plays at the same ball park that I did has a kid. I am very familiar with every field, I know where all the landmarks are, and I am very familiar with the food. This was the food I grew up eating after my baseball games. I had it all too. I tried pretty much everything they had to offer.

When we went the other day, some of the options have changed, and the food is of better quality, but for the most part, it brought me back to my childhood, especially when my son ordered a slushie. Slushies, for those that don't know, are drinkable snow cones. They are sugary, sweet and delicious. But, the one thing they still had on the menu, the item I ordered that day because I hadn't had one in almost 2 decades, was the "Pepper Belly".

Now, I'm sure that every little league park in America has their own version of this, and they call it by their own particular name, but here in West County, in Saint Louis, a "Pepper Belly" is a bag of plain Fritos covered in chili, cheese and jalapenos. I know it may sound disgusting, but it wonderful, and since Sunday I don't count carbs, it was well worth the purchase. When I was a kid they used to serve it in a Frito bag, which was visually cool, but also super messy. Now, they serve it in a paper bowl, which is much better. And, not to worry, you can recycle the bowl. So, you can eat garbage and save the Earth. Win

When I was a kid, I could house about 3-4 after every game. I used to get them without the jalapenos, which is how my son ate it on Sunday, and I would crush that Pepper Belly in less than a minute. So, when we ordered them on Sunday, I assumed that I would eat, at the very least, 2 of them. This time, I got the jalapenos, and added the ones from my son's, and was in high heaven. This Pepper Belly brought me back in all the right ways. The crunchiness of the Fritos mixed with the chili, which has beans, and that I usually don't like, but this almost needs it, was phenomenal. Then add on the cheese, that they sprinkle on and it melts as you are eating it and the jalapenos, this Pepper Belly is a culinary delight. I loved every single bite of it that I had. I was scraping the chili and cheese off the bottom of the bowl. I would try and get a little bit of every single item in every bite. I would take the Fritos that were not covered with chili, and dip them in the run off chili. The added jalapenos were amazing. It was the perfect amount of spice. I loved it. My son also loved his version, the jalapeno less one, as well. He kept taking bites, looking at me and saying, "you were right dad, this is really good. I may want seconds". It was awesome. Even my daughter enjoyed her few bites, and she is a very picky eater.

Unfortunately the Pepper Belly does have its down side, much like my naked chicken chalupa scenario. As I said, while eating the Pepper Belly, and enjoying every second of it, about 2-3 hours later, my stomach was not happy with me. It was worse than the naked chicken chalupa. It took almost 2 full days to get fully out of my system, and it hurt when getting it out of my system. I was in physical pain. I don't know if it was an ulcer, a bad batch(it was not a bad batch), or if I am just getting older, and my stomach cannot handle food like this, like it could before. It definitely wasn't an ulcer, I am fine today. As I already said, it was not a bad batch because my son was fine and my wife had one too, and she was okay. So, I think it is me getting older. I walked out of the shower on Sunday night and told my wife this realization. I told her that maybe I cannot handle spicy food as well as I once could. I then shivered because that is the oldest sounding thing I think I have ever said. Spicy food has never really given me a problem, until I turned 35. So, I'm pretty sure the chili and the added jalapenos were what put me under. It was heart breaking for me. But, just like with the naked chicken chalupa, I will never stop eating Pepper Bellies.

I am working the concession stand this coming weekend, and you better damn well believe I will have another one, maybe 2, and just deal with the consequences afterwards. Pepper Belly's are a culinary delight. I love them, and I do not mind the aftermath. Seriously people, if you haven't had one of these, or something similar, go get one, or even better, make one. They are great. Despite the issues, I am so happy that Pepper Belly's are back in my life. What a delight.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He needs to get down to Texas and have a frito pie, or better yet come on out to Cincinnati and get a walking taco. I think he would find some comforting similarities.

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

A Non-Coffee Drinker Finds Joy in Cold Brew Coffee

I was never a coffee drinker. As I kid, I didn't like the smell of it, so I never asked my dad to try it. My mom didn't drink it either, and since she was the at home parent, it wasn't ever really an option. As I got older, high school age, I had friends who drank coffee regularly. But, I still wasn't interested. I was also the one kid who didn't drink alcohol, and I still don't, in my whole school, so the fact that I didn't drink coffee was not surprising to anyone. Even when I left college and started working in the real world, coffee was never an option. I still didn't like the smell, and the few sips I had were far too strong. That was my own doing, being that I tried my father's coffee, and he used to drink it black. I still stayed away even after my son was born. But, the tiredness was starting to take over, this was in the first year of his life, so I wasn't an at home dad yet, and I needed something. I tried Diet Coke for awhile, but that used to upset my stomach in the morning, and no one should ever be drinking soda at 7am. I tried tea for awhile, but it was either much too hot, or again, too strong for me, even if I added sweetener. What is a tired man to do?

My wife finally convinced me, around 6 years ago, to give coffee another shot. I moaned and groaned that it would be too strong and mess up my stomach. She then introduced me to the concept of cream and fake sweetener being added to coffee. At first, it was just a little cream and Splenda because I didn't want too much coffee. But, the more I drank it, this sweetened version of it, the more I started to like it. I do have to say to all the coffee purists and snobs out there, I sweeten the shit out of my coffee, so please don't come at me and tell me I am not a real coffee drinker. I don't drink it for the taste, I drink it for the caffeine and the fact that I can add stuff to make it palatable for me is just an added bonus. So, after getting the right amount of cream and Splenda in my coffee, I became, in my mind, an adult that enjoys a coffee every morning. I now drink it everyday with breakfast, and sometimes, I may even have a cup in the afternoon. I enjoy going to local coffee shops to try out what they have. I go to Starbucks occasionally, but lately I have been more of a Kaldi's man. Coffee shops are neat little places, and even the major chain places, like Starbucks and Kaldi's, have their own kind of charm.

Recently though I have found my new coffee obsession. It has been brutally hot in Saint Louis ever since schools let out here, in late May, so a hot cup of coffee in the morning, while I still have one almost every morning, isn't as appealing as it should be. But, again, thanks to my wife, I have started to drink iced coffee, and my new favorite thing, cold brew coffee.

It is amazing.

The fact that the coffee can still be doctored up with cream and fake sugar, and be "refreshing" is so awesome. I had an iced coffee from Starbucks this morning because I didn't have time to make one before taking my son to camp. And it was great. It paired very nicely with the sous vide eggs I got. My wife and I now love to buy Stok brank cold brew coffee from the grocery store. It comes in a jug, akin to milk, and we put some in our Yeti cups, add cream, fake sugar and ice, and it is wonderful. We usually have that in the afternoon on the weekends too, when our kids are taking a nap and having "quiet time". I like the local shops version of iced coffee too. Every local shop has their own brand of beans they use, and I like them all.

This whole cold brew thing is simply amazing to me. I don't know exactly how it works, but the fact that they brew it, make it cold, then add ice and you can do whatever you want from there, is remarkable. I'm a big time fan of buying the Target brand, Up and Up, bottles of cold brew that they sell in their stores. The cinnamon flavor is great. But, when it comes to cold brew coffee, it gets no better, for me, than what Kaldi's is doing. I don't know what they do, or how they brew it, but their cold brew is out of this world. I treat myself to this once a week, usually on the weekends so my wife can have one as well, and it is so good. The coffee at Kaldi's is already much better than any other chain I've been to, but that added flavor of some kind of berry, I can't quite put my finger on it, makes their cold brew stand out. I don't even have to add too much cream or Splenda to it because it is so good on its own. The berry gives it a natural sweetness, and it tastes so god damn good. Kaldi's cold brew is something I will drink year round if they sell it year round.

I know that I am a novice when it comes to coffee. I know that what I drink isn't "real" coffee. I know that purists are probably super angry with me right now. But, I do know that Kaldi's cold brew coffee is a joy and I cannot wait to have another one in a few days. I like coffee, I love cold brew coffee.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is starting to catch up on food trends from the last decade. He is all in on food trucks, with a look at bone broth and raw water coming up next.

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

Quench Gum Still Exists and it is Still Awesome

Think of this, but in gum form

A few weeks back, when my son's school year ended, he told me wanted to go to a comic book store and the candy store as his "treat" for finishing out the year. I was pretty happy about this because it meant we got to go to The Loop here in Saint Louis. The Loop is a cool little strip of wacky and vintage clothing stores, art stores, record stores, great dining options, the best movie theater in the state, and of course, a comic book store and a candy shop. We went and did the comic book thing, and he was stoked. Me, I'm not a big comic book guy, but he loved it. After we finished up there, we headed over to the candy store. The place in The Loop is called Rocket Fizz, and it has all different kinds of candy. It has new stuff, old stuff, crazy sodas, with flavors like buffalo wing and bacon, it is just a cool, old school candy shop. They also sell old school concert posters, movie posters and they have those big cut outs of characters from popular movies that they sell as well. My son picked out a bag filled with a bunch of different salt water taffy, a solid choice, and my daughter wanted some Dots, an even better choice. I figured since I was there, I would indulge. I got myself a fancy root beer, some Altoid cinnamon mints, my favorites, and then I spotted something I thought I would never see again.

When I was a kid playing little league baseball, I used to chew Big League Chew gum. It made me feel like a major league baseball player. But, as I got older, I started to dislike the taste, and the powdered substance it left on my face was just ridiculous. I was in a local sporting goods store when I was about 10, and I saw this new gum called Quench Gum. It was essentially Gatorade in gum form. As I 10 year old that was all I needed to hear. I wanted that gum. I needed that gum. And my parents, being as great as they are, obliged and bought me some. I was hooked. It really did quench my thirst, I thought, and I chewed it all the time. It was so sweet and delicious and perfect for chewing during one of my games. I used to have packs and packs just stuffed into my baseball bag. My teammates loved it too, and we all started to choose Quench over Big League Chew.

By the time I was playing high school baseball, Quench Gum was gone, replaced by sunflower seeds. That was all I chewed for all 4 years of high school baseball. It was all about sunflower seeds. But, from time to time I would go to that same sporting goods store and ask if they were ever going to get any Quench Gum. I was almost always met with a blank stare.

This brings me back to Rocket Fizz. Not only did they have my favorite flavor of Quench Gum, orange fruit punch, they had all the flavors. I was so extremely happy. Now, I didn't go nuts and buy one pack of each, I just bought the orange fruit punch. The moment I got home I had to try it immediately, and I did, and I had the total opposite reaction as to when I ate that Hostess chocolate pie. Quench Gum was just as juicy and wonderful as I remembered it when I was 10. I was so happy. It was perfect. I chewed and chewed until it lost its flavor, which happens in about 5 minutes. But, those five minutes when the flavor explodes in your mouth, it is amazing. It really does taste like a sports drink. It really does quench your thirst. It does what it promises. With the losing its flavor after 5 minutes, so what. Fruit Stripes gum, which I also love, is the same. So is Big League Chew. Same with Bubble Tape or the single wrapped Bubble Gum flavored Yubba Bubba. The only gum that keeps its flavor is minty gum because it is supposed to. Gum like Quench Gum is meant to give you that immediate pleasure, go away, and have you coming back for more. It achieves that goal tenfold. I am chewing some while I type this, and I will probably chew some more when I go for a run later today. I love this stuff.

It was such a great surprise to see Quench Gum sitting on the shelf at this candy store. I will definitely be going back to get some more in the very near future. I do have to try all the old flavors now since orange fruit punch was such a hit. For now though, I will just enjoy this very delicious and wonderful and juicy and thirst quenching orange fruit punch gum. I am so very happy that Quench Gum is back in my life. What a treat.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was also looking for some candy cigarettes for his kids. He found none so he just sprang for the real thing.

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

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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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.