Crabapple jam-jell made by Pat with fruit picked up from under a tree at an Arby's somewhere. Picker was James, the regional manager, who DID get a couple jars for his trouble.
by Pat Laster
Here I
sit at 9:30 p.m. eating a 6-inch pepperoni pizza––(“Is it too late to eat a
pizza?” I asked myself. “Yes,” I answered, but my arm and hand opened the
freezer door, pulled one out anyway, thus counteracting my left-brained
answer.)––and taking notes from one of the paragons of humorous writing,
Dorothy Parker.
Her
humor isn’t rubbing off on me, but here are some facts I didn’t know, and which
I thought interesting at the time. Before –and if—I publish this book of
journal jottings, I will update each item.
*As of
January 2010, Taco Bell was owned by Yum Brands and is the largest Mexican
fast-food chain in the US. (
Associated
Press, hereafter
AP)
*Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner, author of
Papa Hemingway, started Newman’s Own
line of salad dressings in 1982.
* Two varieties of pumpkins are Jack B. Little
(miniatures) and Sugar Pie.
* Two varieties of pear are Moonglow and Harrow
Delight.
* Two varieties of fig are Brown Turkey and Celeste.
* Jersey Red is a variety of apple.
* A ‘butter bell’ is the name of a French-inspired
crock to keep butter soft without refrigeration. Now, it is a brand name for
such a crock.
Did you hear about
the guy who robbed a Staten Island pizzeria and fled with a bag of dough?
* Oreos were introduced in 1912.
* PepsiCo Inc. is the world’s largest snack-food
maker. – D Welch,
Bloomberg News
(2.16.12)
* Kellogg Co. is buying Proctor and Gamble’s Pringles
potato chip business for about $2.7 billion, making it the largest maker of
savory snacks sold in 140 countries.
* According to David S. Bachman, MD, writing in the
September 2011 issue of the now defunct
Aging
Arkansas, bananas are better than apples. He said bananas prevent
depression, build brain power, control blood pressure, helps avoid
constipation, helps cure hangovers, heart burn, mosquito bites (rub it with
inside of a banana skin) and nervousness. Bananas suppress food cravings, help
SAD sufferers, aids in quitting smoking, reduces stress and helps prevent
strokes.
* In the fall of 2010, Sara Lee sold its Fresh Bakery
to Grupo Bimbo, a Mexican baking giant based in Mexico City, which made it the
largest US baker (sic). Sara Lee said it will keep its Hillshire Farms meat and
Senseo Coffee, its frozen desserts and deli meats. (S, Skidmore & M.
Chapman) Since then, Sara Lee has made other changes, some of which are
mentioned later.
*
Statements from a news article quoted the late Julia Child as saying, “Don’t
snack. I never snack. The French don’t snack.” Don’t
tell me she didn’t lick her fingers or ream the batter from beaters and bowls
when she baked.
“If
you eat three sensible meals,” she continued, “you shouldn’t snack.” She didn’t
specify a sensible meal, but I’ll bet a bagel it wouldn’t have been the same as
Bridgette Bardot’s!
*Speaking
of updates, here’s one: Sara Lee, long a conglomerate, has further slimmed down
to only meat and cheesecake, and has been renamed to Hillshire Brands. For
further details, see Emily York’s article from the
Chicago Tribune that was published in the
Arkansas Democrat- Gazette on July 1.
c 2012 by Pat Laster dba
lovepat press
