Playing With Your Food

 

There are some very cute/fun things you can do with food. I’m sure some of them are quite tasty as well as being funny. Some take a LOT of time to execute, and don’t seem worth it when it’s eaten so quickly. But that’s just me. I can make good food, but it sure won’t be picture-worthy. Maybe a mashed potato mountain with gravy lava. Most of these pictures had no recipe.

 

 

Ghost Cake

I have a LOT of respect for the professionals who design and make gorgeous cakes. This one isn’t bad to make at home. The candle eyes made from egg shells and candles is a neat idea. This one at least had a real recipe.

 

 

Hot Dog “Roast” (and something else)

It doesn’t say what’s in the middle. I doubt that it’s baked beans. The topping might be shredded cheese. The red stuff might be ketchup or pimento pieces. At least you know the broccoli is healthy.

 

 

Chicken Pie

A LOT of effort for something that is basically a chicken potpie. I don’t know if the chicken head is real, but those feet certainly look like the real thing. The crust looks like it might be tasty.

 

 

Sea Creatures

My guess is the whale (?) is made from a zucchini and the shark is a cucumber. At least when the meal is over, you can take these decorations and actually make something from them to eat.

 

 

Hard Boiled Egg Shenanigans

I don’t know what the first two creatures are supposed to be. The penguin is cute, though. And they are completely edible. I can’t imagine taking the time to do a whole platter of these.

 

 

Frogs

I can’t guess what these are made from. The lily pads might be from raw potatoes. What the yellow frogs are I’ve no idea. It has to be something firm enough to carve. Squash?

 

 

?????

NO CLUE about this one. Actual frogs/toads? Whatever, it’s a HARD PASS! There’s not enough alcohol to get me to try one of these. I’d just watch someone else eat one and wait for the reaction…What’s YOUR guess???

 

Breakfast

 

When you see an example of the American breakfast from 1776 to 2026, you aren’t just looking at food—you’re looking at the history. We’ve gone from "survival porridge" to "Instagram-ready protein bowls.”

 

Classic bacon and eggs

This wasn’t actually a thing until the 1920s. A man named Edward Bernays was hired by a bacon company to boost sales, so he got doctors to go on the record saying a "heavy breakfast" was healthier than a light one. Suddenly, bacon and eggs became the national gold standard. And of course, the bacon was fried first and then the eggs went into the grease left behind.

 

Patriotism and coffee

Look at the shift from Tea (1776) to Coffee (1795). After the Boston Tea Party, drinking tea was seen as "unpatriotic." Out with the kettle. In with the coffee pot. And we haven't looked back since. By 1995, we didn't even have time to sit down—the "To-Go" cup became our most important accessory.

 

Cold cereal

In 1905, boxed cereal was marketed as a "health food" for sanatoriums. By 1965, it was a sugar-fueled morning ritual for almost every kid and quite a few adults. Fast forward to 2026, and we’ve come full circle: we’re back to bowls, but now they’re packed with quinoa, chia seeds, and enough protein to power a small village.

 

1935’s Grapefruit Craze: During the Depression and into the mid-century, the "Grapefruit Diet" was the original viral wellness trend.

 

The 1975 Toaster Revolution: Pop-Tarts and Toaster Strudels. I never cared for Pop-Tarts. LOVED Toaster Strudels. Especially chocolate ones. Which they discontinued. But that’s OK, because toast with Nutella on it is just as good.

 

The 2015 Avocado High Point: Avocado toast actually has roots in Australian cafe culture, but it became the ultimate American symbol for the millennial generation. I do NOT like avocado and would never desecrate my toast with it.

 

Growing up, my brother and I would almost always have oatmeal or other cooked cereal, like Cream-O-Wheat or Malto Meal. Grandma would make it and then wake us up. Now my usual breakfast is Slimfast coffee. 1 cup milk, 1 scoop Slimfast, 1 heaping tablespoon of instant flavored coffee that had loads of sugar in it. Heat it up in the microwave and enjoy.

 

What’s YOUR breakfast like?

 

 

Food and Drink Stuff

 

 

Ground Nut Stew

Many years ago I read the book “Roots” by Alex Haley. There were several mentions of a food called ground nut stew. I couldn’t imagine what that could be. It turns out that peanuts were the ground nuts they were talking about. The dish is made with a creamy base of peanut butter, tomato paste and broth. It can be made vegetarian or with meat protein. Add veggies and spices and is typically served over rice. I wouldn’t mind tasting it, but don’t think I want to actually make it.

 

 

Hair of the Dog

AKA Hair of the dog that bit you. Basically, it’s drinking alcohol the morning after a binge that is supposed to help with the hangover. Don’t know. Never tried it. There are many supposed “recipes” for the actual remedy. All call for a pretty good boost of booze.

 

 

Smoking Bishop

During Advent I reread A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Hadn’t read it in many years, but have seen several movies made from the book. Toward the end, Scrooge is talking to Bob Cratchit and says, “…we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!”

As you’ve probably guessed, it’s a wine punch or wassail popular in Victorian England. A myth says it was traditionally served in a punchbowl shaped like a bishop’s mitre.

 

 

Licorice Pipes

There’s a series of books by Louise Penny, who is a Canadian writer. The series takes place in Quebec and crimes are solved by Chief Inspector Arman Gamache. Delightful books. Something mentioned was a candy called licorice pipes. Made from black licorice in the shape of a pipe. Cute. I LOVE anything made from black licorice.

 

 

So….eat a hearty dish of ground nut stew, accompanied by a big bowl of smoking bishop. Have some licorice pipes for dessert. Just remember to save some of that smoking bishop for the next morning…

 

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Random Thought

If you eat meat as a comfort food, isn’t it also a support animal?