Your REAL thoughts on super-processed, horribly delicious food...

[schrutefarms]

I eat pretty well, I go to farmers markets a lot, and while I wouldn't describe my lifestyle as extremely healthy, I at least put forth the effort. Most of the time. But I have a HUGE thing for Pizza Huts (actually Wing Streets) buffalo nuggets....They are the MOST delicious thing ever. I crave them. I order a 20 piece, just so I can reheat them later....Naturally, I do this when I am totally alone, as it is hard for certain people to accept...So what is YOUR super duper horrible, but oh-so-good food item(s)?

[fldhkybnva]

Hands down, Chinese food. I indulge in ever so tasty General Tso's and Sweet and sour chicken once a week

[EWSflash]

Oh man- I nearly forgot the most horribly delicious of all, though it's not (mostly) super-processed, it is a heart attack in a box, and a local one, too. Lucky Wishbone, steak fingers, gizzards, and their fried chicken. And their fried shrimp, and their breast o' chicken sandwich, plus their coleslaw.I doubt the cabbage can overcome what the dressing will do to your arteries, but it's really tasty and you will crave it once you've had it. They even have genuine onion rings!

[Toomchtodu]

Super-processed? Horribly delicious? OMG...there are so many.
My number one is Velveeta....for grilled cheese or with Rotel for tortilla chips. It is a must during football season, along with Lil Smokies prepared in bbq sauce (Masterpiece Original) and beer.
When I'm on the road it has to be Micky D's Sausage and Cheese Biscuit or Sausage and Cheese McMuffin...but never with the egg. Probably 2-3 times a year I'll cave when I see a Sonic drive in. I has to be the foot long chili cheese coney.
But I save the big time for the State Fair! I must admit...I regress to my childhood and first stop....Pronto Pup, It's on to the Red Onion for their home made fried red onion rings with plenty of salt. For my sugar fix its a toss up...large cotton candy or salt-water taffy. It's mandatory to also stop by the dairy barn and have some delicious ice cream. It's a good thing I only attend once every 3 or 4 years.

[mamachef]

I love and adore a grilled cheese sandwich or two, made w/ individually-wrapped Velveeta slices. There must be two per sandwich, and they must be made on processed sliced French bread, w/ mayonnaise spread on the outsides, lightly sprinkled on both grilled sides with garlic salt. OMG heaven is a place on earth when you bite into the mel-crunchy goodness of one of these things.

[Sparklebright]

I can eat a whole box of Ruffles by myself. You know those lovely sweet coconutty morsels dipped in chocolate.
Especially the caramel version.
Same with a box of Wafflekuchen. Really thin sugarcone rolled up like a cigar and then half dipped in chocolate.

But then Velveeta is pretty hard to beat.
Sliced as thin as possible and eaten on the spot.
Like tiny cheese wafer heavan!
Thank goodness I'm not going to the grocery store right this minute!

[Bunson]

Kraft Blue Box Mac N Cheese

KFC Original Recipe

[drongo]

For me, it's Vegemite. I stock up because it can be hard to find in New Jersey.

[Perilagu Khan]

And they call it the Garden State.

[drongo]

That "Garden State" moniker causes people to lose their proper priorities.... we don't need no steenkin' tomatoes, blueberries, etc. when we don't have Vegemite!!!

[Perilagu Khan]

Whereas Chicago was hog butcher to the world, Metuchen once billed itself as the Vegemite capital of the world.

[drongo]

And this is the song they sang: http://caprimulgus.com/vegemite.wav

[biondanonima]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Doritos yet in this thread. When I started low-carbing 10 years ago I stopped eating virtually all processed food, and since I've allowed myself to reintroduce some of those things into my diet, I notice that most of them really don't taste as good as they used to. However, Doritos are ALWAYS amazing! Cheetos as well!

[Steve Green]

Jack in the Box immediately comes to mind -- specifically, those cheap tacos. Also the jalapeno poppers, which would be pretty unhealthy even if they weren't loaded with chemicals.

[Perilagu Khan]

Lipton's Chicken Noodle Soup

Uncle Ben's Wild Rice

Kraft Mac n' Cheese

Velveeta Shells n' Cheese

Tabatchnik Soups

Chef Boyardee Pizza Kit

Kraft Spaghetti Kit

Marie Callendar's Pot Pies

Ramen Noodles/Cup o' Noodles

Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli

French Onion Dip

Kraft EZ Cheeze

[Jjjr]

Haven't had Tanatchnik soups or that particular brand of pot pies but 'yes,' to all the rest! Re: Chef Boyardee, my fave was Mini Bites, the ones stuffed with cheese filling and in sauce with those 'meatballs,' byt the changed them to now be just regular mini ravioli (meat filling instead of the cheese filling) with everything else the same. I miss the cheese ones :*(

[Perilagu Khan]

Never had the cheese ravs. Guess I missed out!

But I do remember Franco-American Spaghetti Os with the mini-franks. Campbell's bought out Franco-American I believe, and I haven't seen those spaghetti os with franks in many a decade.

[KristieB]

Spaghetti O's, cold, poured into a bowl so I don't feel like a barbarian eating them straight from the can.

[schrutefarms]

I LOOOOVE spaghetti-o's!!!! Not cold, must be heated, but in that same way that a McDonanalds hamburger is not a hamburger you would get when craving a hambuger....Spaghetti-o has it's place. Right next to a Mickey-D's burger. Both so yummy!!!!!!

[kattyeyes]

<<McDonanalds hamburger is not a hamburger>>

Right there with you--it is kind of its own entity, isn't it?!

When I was a child, I thought Spaghetti-Os was soup! Come to think of it, it really does taste more like tomato soup with Os in it than it does spaghetti. I was wise beyond my years maybe. ;)

[CoryKatherine]

spaghetti-os aren't soup? what are they? these do not qualify as just pasta with sauce

[kattyeyes]

I think Campbell's (and Franco American before them) thinks they're pasta and sauce, though you and I and the rest of the world all know better.

http://www.campbellsoup.com/spaghetti...

I prefer to think of them as they're own crazy thang, or as soup...though I am glad my SpaghettiOs days are history. ;)

[Avalondaughter]

I love KFC. I love the chicken and the potato wedges and the mashed potatoes.

You know what's really scary? I used to love McDonald's chicken nuggets, but they stopped frying them in beef fat and then they started using all white meat. They're nott he same anymore. The worse they were for me, the more I loved them.

I love Slim Jims and beef jerky.

I love breakfast sausage.

I'll put in an honorable mention for Hot Pockets. I can do without them, but offer one to me and I'll eat it and want another one.

[mordacity]

Maple breakfast sausage is possibly the perfect bad-for-you food, because it's sweet and salty and fatty and porky and completely delicious. Whenever I buy it, it's a challenge not to ignore the pancakes and just eat the whole package in one sitting.

[ktmoomau]

On my wedding in two weeks diet and this chain is just what i need. The uber processed foods I love (some already mentioned):

Velveeta and Rotel with a little hot sauce
Dunkin Doughnuts blueberry cake doughnuts- between these and homemade amish doughnuts I could walk by any other doughnuts
Fritos- with chili
Hot Dogs- who doesn't love hotdogs, I prefer ballpark myself
Goldfish crackers- I will eat half a bag if left to my own devices and of course naturally following suit- Cheetos and Cool Ranch Doritos
Archway iced oatmeal cookies the soft ones
Boboli pizza crusts- really for a fast pizza they are tasty I will take it
Chick-fila chicken sandwiches- oh the sodium
Schmuffin- Sheetz version of the McMuffin
Sheetz meatball subs
Arby's curly fries
Oreo's with milk, if I don't have milk forget it
Helluvagood onion dip with Ruffles

I am sure there is more...

[AussieBeth]

This is revolting - but scrumptious! A food court place near me (at Chadstone, for anyone in Melbourne, Australia) sells those dodgy fake crab peices (otherwise known as Krab, seafood extender, mock crab - the flakely peices kind, not the stick kind though) smothered in batter and deep fried. They are oh so bad, but oh so GOOD!!

[ckatcook]

I had to respond when I saw this. I eat really good 99 percent of the time. But about once a year I get a craving for kraft mac and cheese and spam. Frito pie, and suzy Q's. My DH came home with some the other day and I about downed the whole package. I am equally hanging my head in shame at the fact that I love McDonald's breakfast..the mcgriddle just rocks!

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

I just thought of another one: Marie's Spinach Salad Dressing. It's similar to the bacon dressing at Marie Callendars. It is sweet, tangy and baconny. I could eat tons of spinach salad w/that dressing.

[bobbieliz]

Definitely it is Spam, straight out of the can, sliced, eaten until it is gone. MMMMM!

[AngelSanctuary]

OMG yes, Spam, I'll love it waaaay too much!

[janecooks]

I am deeply ashamed to admit that I cannot take a roadtrip without starting the day with a sausage biscuit from McDonalds. I follow that up with a mid morning snack of super salty beef jerky and spend the rest of the day cracking sunflower seeds with BBQ flavor. Don't even get me started on the Cheetoes......I eat chard for 4 days following each trip to cleanse my body of all the toxins.

[MMRuth]

I will confess that, while I can start a road trip (from Manhattan) without one, I do not continue it the next day without a sausage biscuit with hashbrowns. Lunch the previous day on the road is likely to have been Whopper Jr. and onion rings.

[Karl S]

Sausage biscuit is part of my roadtrips to LI and back. And Roy Rogers fried chicken (either in Stonington or Sturbridge) on the way back (or Five Guys burger, now that there's that option in Mystic CT).

[Catskillgirl]

I should have kept reading before getting all misty-eyed over White Castle. Roy Rogers was a staple in my life for years. The last one anywhere near closed years ago, and I still miss their fried chicken. And my dogs miss their biscuits!

[Karl S]

You do have one about 40 miles northeast of you - on the NY Turnpike in Ruby NY near Kingston

http://www.royrogersrestaurants.com/i...

[Catskillgirl]

Thank You!!! I had no idea. I never use the Thruway in that stretch - I can see I'll have to make a road trip to... anywhere!
Wow. My arteries are clogging as we speak, in anticipation.

[Karl S]

The Thruway has a few RRs sprinkled along its route (though I am not sure how the remodeling of certain plazas is going). It's probably the easiest place in the Northeast to find them.

http://www.nysthruway.gov/travelplaza...

And do NOT forget to bring the dogs....

[Catskillgirl]

Oh, now you've got me nostalgic for White Castle. Any road trip from NYC heading north had to involve a stop at a drive-through in Spanish Harlem (1st Avenue and 102? somewhere near there). I couldn't bear the smell of their burgers, but loved their tiny fish sandwiches. And the fries they used to sell before changing them in the late 90's sometime. Mmmmmm.

[MMRuth]

Yes, there is one in Spanish Harlem, also in the Bronx on our way up to Arthur Ave.

[c oliver]

I know there's one in Queens also.

[Firegoat]

I have to start a road trip with the sausage mcmuffin, no egg from McDs. The BF always stocks the truck with "in flight snacks" which consist of sunflower seeds and beef jerky for me, and a cooler of water, diet coke and gatorade

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

Ball Park brand chicken or turkey franks. The seasoning and smokieness is better than a lot of other turkey/chicken hot dogs. And they really do plump when you cook em'.

i also love manwich or any other sloppy joe mix. Especially on pasta w/ a little grated cheese.

[Catskillgirl]

Manwich! Oh do I love that stuff on occasion. I don't know what they put in it, but I can't duplicate the taste without resorting to the can. MmmmmmManwich. Who needs a bun? I shred up some cheddar and shovel, er, spoon, the mess on top and dig in.

[CoryKatherine]

has anyone mentioned dunkin donuts? this is embarrassing but their turkey cheddar bacon flatbread is pretty effing tasty.

no match for my traditional "I just don't care about myself anymore" fav, though, which is a bacon egg and cheese, extra cheese, on a croissant. D&Ds croissants aren't gourmet but I like them for what they are.

[Kinnexa]

I rarely eat animal flesh unless it's fish, but every three or four months or so I get a mad, unholy craving for dead bird--KFC Extra Crispy or Banquet frozen fried chicken. I have a few pieces and I'm good for a while.

Cheap store-brand mac 'n'cheese 'dinner' has a place in my heart, too, especially after midnight.

[mess]

an arbys beef & cheddar with extra red ranch sauce.. this is something I can literally eat before I make it back to my destination.. it is so good it's stupid. its the only fast food I ever eat and it's rare but when it happens. aye....

[hotdiggitydog]

I can't believe no one has mentioned White Castle yet! I don't even want to know what they're made out of (I've heard beef baby food factors in there) but I could pound about 10 in a sitting if I'm left alone with them. Luckily and/or unfortunately, I now live at least 100 miles from the nearest White Castle and those frozen ones you can get in the grocery store do not cut it.

[shanagain]

I am addicted to Maruchen Instant Lunch, Lime & Chili w/Chicken flavor, preferably with a squeeze of fresh lime. The chili is habanero flavor, making it all so painful, so good. SO BAD. I'm kind of jonesing right now because I ate my last one yesterday.

[hungryungry]

every one in a while, usually around 2:30-3am, usually while intoxicated, I just HAVE to have some street meat. with chilli and cheese, even better!

[CoryKatherine]

haha speaking of bicoastalism- no trip to the west is complete without a delicious, amazing, perfect in&out burger.. with onions and sauce...

/booking a flight

[Passadumkeg]

Going to Las Vegas on Sat. I already located the one in Henderson, near my bros.

[Passadumkeg]

Heading to Las Vegas on Sat., have googled the IN&OUT , found on in Henderson, near my bros.

[Passadumkeg]

I wuz gonna pompously gonna add, "Oh, no not me!", but upon further soul searching and deep personal reflection I have decided that I suffer from "bicoastalism"! GIMMEE "TASTEE-KAKE, CAKE AND PIES & FRITO PIES!
Passadum-pie

[applehome]

Yeah my wife's got that spot for frito pies - but I buy the nice thick corn tortillas by the pound, and quarter them and fry them up in the deep fat fryer - that's all we have for chips these days. So now, making chilaquiles is a snap - a lot yummier too. Fried chips and rotel in a pan, throw in some left over chile (verde is even better than red), some eggs for breakfast, cheese to finish - pretty soon nobody's even thinking of frito pies any more!

[kattyeyes]

Oh, man, just cut that out--you're killin' me! I am salivating all over your post. I don't think anyone in my world even knows what chilaquiles are, nevermind how to make them at home with home-fried tortillas. Color me jealous. :) That beats Fritos with a big bat in my book.

[Passadumkeg]

App, yes when feeling ambitious, we'll fry up corn tortillas too. Here in Las Vegas, we just went to a Mexican supermarket and loaded up a duffle bag w/ freshly made tortillas, green chiles, posole, chorizo, avacados, tomatoes, and spices to take back to the icy far north.
But Frito pies are nostalgic for me. In '71 I was a broke first year teacher recently out of the service and school. Across the street from school, in a small New Mexico mining town was the bowling alley. I dreaded the cafeteria food, but for a quarter, yea a quarter, I could get a big Frito pie in a bowl with really good chile. Ahhh.... those were the ........

[kattyeyes]

My lust for chilaquiles got me way off-topic and I apologize. It's just one of my favorites and it lured me away from talking about our super-processed yet horribly delicious food including your Frito pie and my bag of Munchos. :) Safe travels to you, Passa, and your tasty bag o'goodies!

[cycloneillini]

Mine is Twizzlers - the strawberry ones. Hate black licorice. Forget popcorn at the movie theater - I go for the Twizzlers. With a diet Coke - how sick is that?!

[Firegoat]

No, sick is DRINKING the diet coke through the twizzler, using it like a straw (guilty)
My local farm store had watermelon licorice the other day. Don't think it was twizzler brand, but looked like them. I had a couple of pieces and they were good. It was a huge bag. My boyfriend was grossed out by them and made fun of them. I left them in his truck by mistake that day. I talked to him later that night and he had eaten the ENTIRE big bag. Clearly there are heroin in those as well.

[AngelSanctuary]

um...Fish Filet? With it's greasy fish, fat loaded sauce and half (cheap bastards) a slice of American cheese.

And their fries...but how processed can deep fried fries be...it's potatoes and oil~

[mordacity]

When you make them it's potatoes and oil. When McDonalds makes them there are all sorts of other chemical additives involved to tinker with the scent, taste, frying time, etc.

[CoryKatherine]

My friends will all tell you that they know when I'm under some stress or eating emotionally when they find Velveeta in my fridge. Velveeta mac and cheese, not even baked, just on the stovetop, with a little bit of extra butter and elbow macaroni- is my ultimate comfort food/guilty pleasure.

[Bunnyfood]

I am going to have to admit there is a place in my heart for:
japaleno cheese poppers- the ones filled with the mysterious orange goo, not the ones with cream cheese...I wuld never order them out, but they are just great crispy from the oven...
Yup, the truth...

[dinaofdoom]

here in texas, the local supermarket chain has a store brand version that is actually quite good and cheap (2 boxes for $5, which i think is 8 pieces a box).
red chipotle/milder peppers, with a seasoned cream cheese inside, baked in your oven.
hard to resist!

[Karl S]

McDonald's sausage biscuit (no egg, no cheese - it's no longer on the summary menu but they still make it). I do not apologize. If the bottom half of the biscuit is subpar, I chuck it.

[Richard 16]

Wise's Cheez Waffles. Crisp cracker sandwich with what looks and tastes like the day glow orange "seasoning" of Kraft M&C in the middle.

I am so ashamed...

[al b. darned]

OMG!! I haven't had them in years! I can eat a whole at a sitting. Even better when you take them apart and make double stuff Cheez Waffies!

[dinaofdoom]

i LOVE those things, and i cannot find them since relocating to texas.
when i visited home (boston) the other year, i found them at a gas station on a drive to NYC and i was quite happy.

[Richard 16]

With all the salt that's in them ("A Days Worth In Every Bite!") you could get a couple of cases and - deliberately having someone hide and ration them for you - and they might last a long, long, time.

I's also from near Boston but now in St. Louis; imagine my horror, delight, and avarice finding them here...

[twisterp]

I love ballpark nachos smothered w/ jalapenos & county fair corndogs!!

[shanagain]

I'm a sucker for any and all ballpark food. Nachos, hot dogs & garlic fries are at the top of my list.

[Rick]

Not sure if it qualifies as super processed, but a few times a year I just go to town on a bag of kettle cooked potato chips. It's pure evil going to Costco where they have a GIANT bag of Kirkland Kettle Potato Chips for $4.50 and they're sooo good! I buy that entire bag maybe twice a year, and the whole thing is gone in a week, max, and I live alone! Also at Costco, I do their hot dog maybe once every couple of months.

[burlgurl]

I eat very well 99.9% of the time..i swear. But I always get my KD craving..I put in 2 cheese packets for each box and it is soooo good.
Entenmeen's cheese filled coffee cake..OMG!
subway cold cut combo..extra pickles and mayo..
hot dog from a street vendor
..and no dessert to me beats a Duncan Hines brownie from mix with icing ..or a Dairy Queen Praline Parfait..

[KevinB]

OK, I live nowhere near Philadelphia, and at my city's restaurants, no one seems to make a decent one, so when I'm craving a Philly cheesesteak, I get a fresh Italian roll, fry up some onions, prepare two pieces of "wrap" (processed cheesefood), and (preparing to turn in my CH badge) Steak-Ums. I'm not good enough with a knife to slice a beef roast thinly enough for a cheesesteak, and I don't own a meat slicer.

So I throw the thin little rectangles on the grill, while the cheese melts over the onions on the bun under the broiler. I have to watch them carefully - it's only 30 seconds a side from frozen till they're done, slap 'em on the bun, and (heretical I know) throw a squeeze of BBQ sauce on it. So, processed meat, processed cheese, and processed sauce - awful I know, but it tastes great!

[Catskillgirl]

You just *had* to mention Steak-Ums, didn't you?

I'm hanging my head in shame. I love them. With mayo on a hard roll. No cheese, no onions, nothing but s & p. I don't want to know what they really are, but they sure are tasty!

[KevinB]

The thing I love is they go on sale at about half price every three months or so, so I buy a couple of boxes and stash in the freezer. Then, when the craving hits, I'm good to go!

Just curious about different bun definitions. You mentioned a "hard roll", and when I visit Buffalo, I try to get a beef on a weck. What are they all? Here in Toronto, we have - as in-store or standalone bakery products, not commercial pre-packaged bakery products from Wonder, Weston, or the like -

"dinner rolls" (various shapes and sizes, but all have a soft exterior and soft interior),

"french rolls" (size of an eyeglass case but a bit thicker, with a slight crust and a soft interior),
"Italian rolls" (same size as french rolls, but a much more pronounced crust and a bit stiffer crumb),
"Calabrese rolls" (come in a variety of shapes, but with a very pronounced crust and very chewy crumb - not for the faint-hearted or those with doubtful dentures), and
"Baby Vienna" (torpedo shaped, but with a crispier crust than an Italian roll and a slightly stiffer crumb - my personal fave for a "sub for one" as they are about 8" long).

I've heard people talk about Amoroso rolls, and others. What are your definitions?

[Catskillgirl]

For me, a hard roll is a kaiser roll. Definitely has a crust, and seeds on top are a plus. Kimmelweck rolls are a classic kaiser roll with the additon of coarse salt & caraway seeds on top. I grew up near Buffalo, revelling in beef on weck. How I miss it! I've taught my bakery guys to make weck rolls, but they dislike making under a dozen at a time, and they just don't keep. (The salt melts off if you try to freeze them or wrap them in plastic.) So I only get them when I can use up a dozen - not often.

[Karl S]

Good old-fashioned hard rolls start to stale within hours. Hard rolls would classically be purchased twice a day - once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Like with bagels, which were also traditionally designed to start to stale within a day, a lot of people today think that keeping quality is invariably a sign of good quality, whereas in certain breads its a sign that their nature has been compromised.

[Catskillgirl]

Yes, hard rolls are only good for a day. Stored in paper bags to keep the crust crisp. If you really need them for the next day pack in plastic bags for freshness, then out of the bag 1/2 an hour at least before enjoying. A good fresh hard roll will flake when you bite it - your desk should be a total mess after eating a sandwich on a fresh hard roll!

[KevinB]

There used to be sub place in Toronto that made the best veal subs, of which the bun was a major highlight. As you say, the crust would flake like crazy, and the crumb was only slightly dense.

Maybe standards here have just gotten lax, but I remember kaisers as being much crustier in my youth; now, what's sold as a kaiser barely has more texture than a Wonder hamburger bun.

And while we have a plethora of onion, cheese, and cheese and onion buns, I haven't seen any lately that are salted on top, except for the "pan de sol" buns which my wife picks up from a Filipino store. These are a very soft and yielding bun with salt on top.

Come to think of it, I've noticed that Asian breads and buns are usually very soft and fluffy; if they want something crispy, they deep fry it. I wonder why that is?

[Babyducks]

Drakes Devil Dogs and Coffee Cakes. A thick slice of Velveta on white bread with a perfectly ripe beef steak tomato with lots of Best Foods Mayo..heaven!

[JohnE O]

Yes, Drakes. I can only get them when I visit Philly. The other delicacy I haven't had in over a decade is Chocodiles. I'd make a run to the store for 2-3 of those and a big cup of coffee.

[avgolemona]

Top ramen, throw away the seasoning packet, drain and add Velveeta. Sooo awful, it grosses me out to think about it. I only do it about once a year or so, and it's the only time I eat either ramen or Velveeta.

Also, Cheez Whiz on crackers.

[virtualguthrie]

Easy, Nacho Cheese, more specifically Salsa Con Queso... so wrong, so good.

[mcel215]

McD's fries.... I know they are sprinkled with heroin.

I only eat them a couple of times a year, but when I drive by......my knuckles turn white holding the steering wheel so I don't drive thru.....

[brendastarlet]

I love McD's cheeseburgers. I don't need anything bigger. I just get two of them, no onions (which means they make them fresh), fries and a child's sized chocolate shake.

[tracylee]

Ya know, that's about the only thing I do like onions on - but I scrape about half of them off. The other thing I like them on is Arby's Beef and Cheddar buns.

[schrutefarms]

Mmmm....I get the two cheeseburger meal, hold the cheese, extra onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard. And some ranch dresing for the fries. Yum! I am partial to the re-constituted onions. :)

[hungryungry]

ditto on the fries.

[kirinraj]

Fried spam with rice. so good i dont even feel bad eating it

[wonderflosity]

Tostito's Queso Cheese in a glass jar. I try to eat it with organic corn chips, to try to off set it somehow.

Also mac n cheese. Kraft dinner, or like my grandparents made it, with velveeta cheese. It is a total comfort food for me.

I also love Campell's cream of Tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, dipped in ketchup. Another comfort food from my childhood.

A & W poutine... It's my weakness at 4 am when very little else is open. It's the only non vegetarian thing I've eaten in 5 years!

^^^^ just noticed all the above are creamy gooey cheezy things... At least I'm predictable.

[virtualguthrie]

Didn't look at the responses before posting, and I see the Tostito's Salsa con Queso is on your list too... awesome!

[im_nomad]

what is non-vegetarian about the poutine ? is it the gravy ?
(I ask as a veg, i'm not making fun....all of your other stuff has cheese !)

[alixium]

yeah, the gravy is made with animal fat.

[CoryKatherine]

... I didn't read through everything before I replied (below), but on my way back up I saw that I basically echoed you... my comfort foods are all the same things. Tostitos Queso is unreal. And Velveeta... well, like I said, my friends know to be worried about me when I start keeping it in the fridge. Cheesy gooeyness is definition emotional eating for me.

[PegS]

Swanson's pot pies. And it has to be Swanson's because it's all about maximum crust and not about the insides at all.

And, um, I have quite a fondness for jalapeno Slim Jims.

[Jjjr]

Love Swanson meat pie crust and gravy! I get them just for that and leave the insides behind too.

[pikawicca]

Don't give in often, but once in a while I just have to eat Spam.

[Boccone Dolce]

I have never knowingly eaten Spam.
I'm convinced it's not something I'd enjoy, I greatly dislike scraping gel off formed meat from a can, which is what I envision the entire can is like- just the gel. Am I wrong?

[kirinraj]

yes! slice it very thin and fry it in its own fat until crispy. eat with rice, shoyu, furikake, and eggs. Tasty

[pikawicca]

If you have previously scraped gel off formed meat from a can sounds like you've eaten Spam.

[Firegoat]

could be a vienna sausage..... those things are wallowing in unidentified gel

[kattyeyes]

Or cat food. HA HA! My cat likes the gel part. Sorry, I read this and couldn't resist. Canned Wellness has a layer of gel that must be (from the look of my cat's cleanly licked bowl, anyway) pretty scrumptious! ;)

[Deenso]

There've been some changes since you scraped the "gel off formed meat from a can," I guess. No more gel - at least not in Spam Lite. Honestly, it's a staple in our cupboard, just like some canned soups and vegetables. Don't use 'em on a regular basis, but it's nice to know they're there to fall back on. I mean, sometimes - just sometimes - you've got eggs and no bacon. Guess what's in the cupboard? Spam Lite! LIfe is good...

[Firegoat]

lol I would be laughing at this, but I was in our local tiny grocery store over the weekend, and found myself standing in the canned meat section. I thought of this thread. I saw the vienna sausages. I saw the Spam. I saw the Treet. (or is it Treat?) and then... the "Spam Light" Not sure I would have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

[Orchid64]

There's no gel on regular Spam either. I'm not a Spam fan, but my husband is. It's not that hard to handle anymore.

[kubasd]

They also sell spam and spam light singles! lol

[tracylee]

Yup,
crunchy Cheetos
Jimmy Dean Sausage Egg & Cheese Muffins
Taco Time Soft Combo Burrito

Thank goodness I finally got over my cravings for chicken strips! The ones at the corner market tasted soo much better than the ones I tried from KFC.

[dinaofdoom]

i eat the jimmy dean lowfat sausage egg & cheese muffins almost every day to prevent myself from stopping at whataburger for the more texan and obesity-inspiring version.

[Candy]

No one is going to separate me from my Chili-Cheese Fritos

[schrutefarms]

Totally 2nd the chili-cheese Fritos.

[al b. darned]

I'm jealous! We can't get them around here. They are one of my favorites!

[Deenso]

For me, the ultimate comfort food comes straight off the supermarket shelves: Kraft original mac n' cheese, mixed with diced Spam (this is ultra good if you saute the little Spam cubes first to get nice, brown edges), canned baby peas, and condensed cream of mushroom soup. Dump into a casserole, top with bread crumbs or crumbled potato chips, bake until the top is browned. For dessert, Snackwell devil's food cookies. OMG.

[Deenso]

Just made this with Spam Lite - even better!

[HaagenDazs]

Hot Pockets! OK some of the meats aren't so great but I've had many a Hot Pocket sandwich thingy when I'm hungry and lazy.

[Blueicus]

According to one of my new favourite TV shows, the Hot Pocket's just the American Empanada.

[Siobhan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9c9lA...

[small h]

Lays potato chips & Lipton California onion dip. For the Superbowl.

[donovt]

egg mcmuffins. I get them about 3 times a year and am extremely happy every time.

[yamalam]

Little Smokies. Need I say more?

[lulubelle]

cooked in BBQ sauce? YUM!

[cycloneillini]

Better yet cooked in BBQ sauce with some bourbon added - aka whiskey weenies

[lulubelle]

OMG! I totally have to make those!

[Louise]

How do I spell the sound of a snorting laugh? <snerk> Whiskey weenies!

So perfect for Superbowl....maybe next year.

[c oliver]

I take six or eight (at a time) and microwave them til all but splittin apart. It's very easy for me to eat a package in 24 hours.

[CoryKatherine]

.... my boyfriend lives for Lil Smokies. I have to admit, in mustard, they are pretty satisfying

[Boccone Dolce]

Get some smack-a-can croissants- cut them into strips, roll yer smokies & bake.
My sister in law made these one year and I had to remove myself from the general area- tiny food is so easy to just eat and eat and...

[pikawicca]

First make a tiny incision in your smokies and insert small pieces of sharp cheddar, then wrap.

[linguafood]

I can't get anywhere near Cheetos (the crunchy ones, of course. the puffy ones are just sad). I'm also in the grilled cheese = velveeta camp, albeit with whole wheat toast. Kraft Mac & Cheese is something I crave, but I have it maybe once a year.

Thus, it would appear that processed "cheese" product is my soft spot. Which really doesn't come as much surprise, since *real* cheese is one of my reasons to live :-D

[Will Owen]

Blue-box Kraft mac'n'cheese with cut-up hot dogs. Dunkin' Donuts, especially the oldfashioned crullers. 2 Sausage McMuffins w/egg, and one of those hashbrown cakes. KFC once in a while - WHY did they drop the Hot & Crispy Extra Spicy?? (It's been at least twenty years and I'm still in mourning!) But aside from that radioactive-looking margarita mix, that's about it for me and artificial...

[Morganna]

I like ground beef in my box mac and cheese. :)

[TampaAurora]

Box Mac and Cheese - I've got the Blue Box Blues! I have to have that or my Cheesy Tuna Helper about once a season.

[EWSflash]

Me too- Kraft mac & cheese,three or four times a year, no additives except a ton of pepper and about a half-tablespoon of butter instead of a half a damn stick, and I eat the whole thing, which isn't nearly as gluttonous as it was 30 years ago.
Two sausage egg mcmuffins once or twice a year.
Once a year, an original Giant Arby's, with both horsey sauce and Arby's bbq sauce- no cheese, no other adulterations. Once every two years, a small Jamocha shake with it.
Local place- Poncho's, has the best quesadillas- homemade tortilla, great cheese, expertly done. Not horrible or mass-produced, but nutritionally horrible and also irresistable

[shanagain]

I start to get excited weeks before a good road trip, knowing that it will involve a Sausage McMuffin w/ Egg, hashbrown, and small orange juice.

Now I'm actually thinking about creating a road trip for justification purposes.

[Catskillgirl]

LOL! For me it's a Quarter Pounder with cheese and small fries. And yes, it does justify a road trip! Now I'm having second thoughts about declining an invitation to a wedding shower - it's 6 hours away. Definitely would need to stop for lunch on the way, and maybe even dinner if I time it correctly. LOL!

[dinaofdoom]

we had a babysitter who put cut-up hot dogs and ketchup in our kraft mac & cheese and it blew my adolescent mind!
i don't like ketchup, though, so these days it would be just the hot dog as an add in.

[Ravac]

Try Guilden's mustard in your mac-n-cheese with hot dogs.

Home alone food.

[corneygirl]

stouffers mac and cheese, so gross, but good, esp if hung over.

[Terrieltr]

Frozen pepperoni french bread pizza. My go-to, I'm feeling lazy food.

Also, Cheetos.

[hungry100]

has there ever been a food as perfect as the Cheeto?

[John Manzo]

Yes, the Bugle.

[tracylee]

Omigosh, I used to save up for those in the Peace Corps, the cost of importing them drove the price way up. I don't think I've had them since!

[goodhealthgourmet]

oh man, Bugles rocked...i haven't thought about those in YEARS. if only they didn't contain wheat flour i'd go buy some for nostalgia's sake!

[John Manzo]

If you want to go straight to hell- nacho cheese bugles.

[tracylee]

Hey, and when we're there, let's do lunch!

[EWSflash]

Nope, Cheetos are the king AND the queen.

[tall sarah]

Entemenne's (sp?) Raspberry Danish. I eat the entire box in 2 days. Or less. Thankfully, I don't often shop at a grocery that sells them... just too tempting!

[Louise]

Oh yeah. I forgot about those. I think they're glazed with heroin.

[KristieB]

OMG that is the funniest thing I"ve read in a long time. Thanks for the chuckle Louise.

[TampaAurora]

Entemann's Devil's Food with Marshmellow Icing

[goodhealthgourmet]

i probably haven't eaten an Entenmann's product since high school, but i'm with Louise - i'm pretty sure that at least back in those days, *everything* they produced was either glazed or infused with heroin or some other highly addictive drug. seriously. crumb donuts, danish, crumb cakes, dessert cakes...didn't matter. just give me a fork and get out of my way! one of the few reasons my gluten intolerance isn't such a bad thing now ;)

[mordacity]

Oh, those devil's food crumb donuts! Absolute heaven! Unfortunately (or fortunately?) my local grocery seems to carry every Entenmann's donut EXCEPT those.

[lulubelle]

We called the crumb donuts "Gerbil Donuts" around my house when we were kids because of their resemblance to well, umm.......

God they are tasty though!

[tastycakes]

mmm chocolate crumb donuts, drooooooooolllllll. haven't seem those in years. i used to pick all the nuggets off when no one was looking.

[mordacity]

They stopped selling them in some regions. They had them all the time in Houston when I was a kid, and then suddenly they were gone. Now I live in DC and I can get them again. I always bring a couple boxes with me when I go home for Christmas.

[schrutefarms]

Going on Entenmanns....Lousinana Crunch Cake, anyone????

[goodhealthgourmet]

i preferred the Banana Crunch Cake.
or the Swiss Chocolate Chip Cake.
or the Marshmallow Iced Devil's Food Cake.
or the Crumb Coffee Cake (preferably the Cheese-filled variety).
or the Devil's Food Crumb Donuts...

good lord. it's really quite fortunate for my waistline - and my arteries - that i can't eat gluten anymore!

[Catskillgirl]

Oh, that Banana crunch cake. Sooooo good. I've been so good - I've walked right past the Entenmann's display in the supermarket for over 3 years now. But you've awakened the beast. I might have to look for one next shopping trip. OMG this is good. And yes, the Louisiana Crunch cake is super good as well. And their chocolate chip cookies! Love this stuff.

[BaltoPhilFood]

Ah the danish ring and the cheese filled crumb coffee cake...it's been about 15 years. I still walk by them at the grocery store and wonder how I did it, and so often! These days it's scrambled egg sammy with melted white american on Maier's White Italian bread, toasted, just like mom made for home cooked comfort. Skillet corn bread, tostitos with lime and harvest cheddar sun chips.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i was at the supermarket yesterday and they had a big sale table with tons of Entenmann's products on it. it was one of those rare occasions when i'm actually thankful for my gluten intolerance...and it totally made me think of this thread :)

[TampaAurora]

Sadly, my husband brought home chocolate glazed donuts as a surprise. They call me!

[coll]

I grew up on Entenmanns, having lived on Long Island most of my life (1950s on) plus my husband actually worked there as a bench man after getting out of the Air Force during Viet Nam. He has stories to tell about the brothers (all good). So today there was an irresistable sale at the grocery store and I bought his old favorites, chocolate chip cookes and Raspberry Struedel. Sad to say, dry as a bone and basically inedible after the first bite. So go ahead, take a taste and be done with it, you won't be going back. Their wine, from nearby Martha Clara vineyard, established after selling the bakery, is where their quality shines nowadays. The baked goods should not be allowed to use the Entenmann name.

[pikawicca]

Back in the day, Entenmann's had an outstanding raspberry/cheese coffee cake. The stuff they peddle these days is garbage.

[coll]

Actually I just realized, while their old fashioned stuff is crap, they have a new line of high end pastries/black and white mini cookes and so on. The almond squares are exquisite, although at the price of $6.50 for a tiny little jewelbox. I think the line is called Ultimate? So guess they know there is still a market for good quality stuff. I believe Bimbo is the proud owner of Entenmanns at this time.

[Boccone Dolce]

Cherry Cheese Danish!
Cherry Cheese Danish!

Ultimate Crumb Cake- I will smack any hands that approach my pile of crumbs.

I can not purchase any Entenmann's. I lose my mind every time.

[goodhealthgourmet]

BD, you're nicer than i am...anyone who ever tried to steal my crumbs got stabbed with a fork ;)

[EWSflash]

I have NEVER had an Entenmann's pastry. I see them in the stores, and keep telling myself that it's so much easier to not buy them than to not eat them when they've been bought. Unlike a Twinkie or Hostess Chocolate cupcake, which I will buy a two-pack of and hunker down in the car in the parking lot and eat both of them. No- that's not true! I eat one hunkered down in the parking lot and eat the other on the drive home.

[kchurchill5]

Crumb cake Entenmans. Great

[jjbourgeois]

I haven't seen Louisiana Crunch Cake in years, which is probably a good thing. One of my secret guilty pleasures, Nacho flavored Velveeta melted on Dorito's. Oh, the shame, the shame. And since i'm confessing culinary sins, Underwood Deviled Ham on Wonder Bread with mustard. May the food gods have mercy on my soul.

[dinaofdoom]

my grandparents, bev and bill (oh, such a 50s time warp couple, i swear) would serve us the same lunch all the time, which they also served their kids:
golden guernsey milk in an archie and jughead jelly jar glass
charles chips
underwood deviled ham on oatmeal bread

if we were particularly good children, there would be a ho-ho or ding dong for us.

[schrutefarms]

Ha! My grandparents were Bill and Betty Jo

[dinaofdoom]

oh hot damn i loved that thing (i don't like chocolate).
there were some crumby danish loaf things and some glazed but lumpy donuts that were also good.
but the LCC had my heart.

[Louise]

Actually I read a few years back about some place in either Hong Kong or Peking that got busted because they were adding opium to their soup. The customers were literally addicted. Can't find the story now.

[L_W]

Jumping on the Velveeta bandwagon. Although I use 4-5 different cheese when I make mac and cheese, the Velveeta HAS to be there to give it that "mom" taste. (Oh, and I top my mac and cheese with crushed goldfish crackers, so I guess that is another...)

[purple goddess]

Like you, I buy a lot from farmer's markets, local suppliers, grow a lot of my own produce... hell.. I run a damn web site for localvores....

But I get a huge jones on for Chien Wah spring rolls about once a week.

It's an Australian thing, but imagine boiled cabbage and unidentifiable "meat" in a claggy cornflour glaze, inside a "spring roll" wrapper that looks like it's got lupus. Deep fry the whole thing and eat with soy sauce.

There is nothing remotely Asian about it and it is pretty much an heart attack in a bag, with enough air miles on it to make you weep.

Yet, I give in to my craving about once a year. If I ate them any more regularly, I'd be dead.

[Catskillgirl]

LOL! This sounds amazing. I've never heard of such a thing, but I do love your description. Guilty pleasures!!! For me it's a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with cheese. I only give in maybe 2 or 3 times a year, but I look forward to it for weeks. Along with a small order of fries... heaven (and an incipient heart attack) on a plate! Well, a paper plate anyway. *G*

[latindancer]

Grilled cheese made with Velveeta and white processed bread....about half a stick of butter covering both sides of the bread to grill.
Campbell's tomato soup made with whole milk.
Like you...I only eat this when I'm alone :).

[gordeaux]

microwave 7-11 burritos
Velveeta melted with (at least homeade salsa) to make hot cheese dip.
I don't do processed foods very often at all, but I can't seem to shake these habits once or twice a year.

[Morganna]

I make grilled cheese sammiches with velveeta on occasion, along with campbell's cream of tomato soup made with milk. It's comfort food from when I was home sick when I was a child (I was a sickly child). I usually have this once or twice a year. :) I don't like non-processed tomato soups, but I do like good cheeses most of the time.

Today I'm making homemade mac and cheese for dinner. I've been craving that. THAT I make with good quality sharp cheddar. :)

[kattyeyes]

2nd the Velveeta and salsa (and I don't even use homemade salsa for that)...and its second cousin, the dip with chili and cheese layered over cream cheese. Definitely on the same frequency as your indulgence--just once or twice a year, but mmmmm! Also, a McDonald's sausage McGriddle or hotcakes 'n sausage. There. I said it. I should feel somehow absolved of my sins now. ;)

[Davwud]

Just Sunday we did Velveeta with a can of Rotel and it was oh so good.

DT

[kattyeyes]

It's the snack that eats like a meal!

[Davwud]

With all the other goodies we had a dab leftover. So I put it on some fries the next day. OMG!!!!

DT

[kattyeyes]

That is both naughty and nice! ;)

[kchurchill5]

Velveeta and Salsa. Store bought onion dip with chips and egg McMuffins

[dumpycactus]

poutine or nachos are the farthest i've gone!
it helps alot to be vegetarian, otherwise i'd probably be all over shish taouk or something like that