November » 2013 » semisweet&nuts

Nouveau Beaujolais Day

November 21: Nouveau Beaujolais Day

Okay, first of all, my Food Bible (I just made that up) that tells me what day every day is, screwed up. It says that November 20 is Nouveau Beaujolais Day. BUT NO. Nouveau Beaujolais Day is the third Thursday is November… which would be November 21 this year. I learned this the hard way when I went to BevMo looking for it and was turned away. Wah wah.

Let’s learn a bit about NOUVEAU BEAUJOLAIS from our ole pal Wikipedia, shall we?

Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November. This “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” used to see heavy marketing, with races to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe. The current release practice is to ship the wine ahead of the third Thursday of November, and release it to the local markets at 12:01 am local time.

Beaujolais nouveau is a purple-pink wine reflecting its youth, bottled only 6-8 weeks after harvest. The method of production means that there is very little tannin, and the wine can be dominated by such fruity ester flavours as banana, grape, strawberry, fig and pear drop. The wine is recommended to be slightly chilled to 13°C (55°F).

So since I wasn’t about to go anywhere at 12:01am (is that really a thing here in America? Or just dans de minuscules villages de France dans la campagne??), I called around. I knew BevMo was SUPPOSED to have it (since I went there the day before…. LIKE SOME SORT OF ROOKIE IDIOT), but BevMo is sorta far (or I’m sorta lazy) and I had a dinner party to go to. I called Trader Joe’s and the guy’s all “yeah! We just got it in today! It’s in a special display!” and I’m all sweeeeet because Trader Joe’s is close!

I ran in, saw a Beaujolais display, grabbed it, and went home… to quickly drink it by myself before the dinner party. Don’t judge. Anyway, it wasn’t until I was home and drinking this stuff that I realized there was no mention of NOUVEAU anywhere. Huh. Maybe they just SAY nouveau, but don’t write it on the label? Or maybe I’m just some sort of TURD who bought the wrong bottle of wine. Yep. Some sort of turd. There was nothing NOUVEAU about it. Let’s just say I celebrated Vieux Beaujolais Day. Sorry I failed you all. I’ll try to do better.

Tomorrow: National Cashew Day

National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

November 20: National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

What does something need to be in order to be called “fudge”. I always thought that “fudge” was something special. Something you got at penny candy stores in quaint tiny towns in northern Wisconsin. Something that involved candy thermometers and “soft ball stages”. Apparently all of this goes out the window when it comes to “peanut butter fudge.”

According to the internet, peanut butter fudge is peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Microwaved? Whhhhaaaat? What is this black magic?

I added chocolate to mine because duh. It’s good… But I’m not the hugest peanut butter fan. I mean, I am, but not as dessert. I like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I like apples and peanut butter. I’ll eat a Reese’s if someone gives me one, but if I’m in the candy aisle and I want something, it’s not going to be anything with peanut butter in it. So, this stuff is good, but I’m not going to eat a massive amount of it (read: the entire pan) . It’s currently hiding in the freezer. I’ll likely bring it into work and make everyone else eat the black magic.

Tomorrow: Nouveau Beaujolais Day

Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day

November 19: Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day

Diet Coke. Our relationship is long and storied. It began in the campaign office for Mary Beth Tighe; I was volunteering on her campaign as part of my government class in high school. The office was out of regular Coke and only Diet Coke remained. I had a stack of campaign mailers and a roll of stamps staring me in the face. I needed a drink (a carbonated one) to get me through the afternoon. So I cracked open a Diet Coke. And I liked it.

And soon my life was spinning out of control.

Just kidding. But I WAS drinking many, MANY Diet Cokes in a day.

Now I limit myself to one (sometimes two!) DCs a day. Do I think that it’s giving me cancer and rotting my brain? Definitely not. But I do think that drinking water is probably a better choice. Look at me! Growing up!

Tomorrow: National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

National Vichyssoise Day

November 18: National Vichyssoise Day!

I’ll admit it: when I saw the word “vichyssoise”, I was scared. It could have meant anything. It could have meant braised French bulldog. It could have meant parboiled fish heads. But it means potato leek soup. And angels began singing the hallelujah chorus.

Vichyssoise was supposedly created in 1917 by a French chef at the Ritz Carlton in New York City, who was reminiscing about his childhood and blah blah blah he liked cold soup on hot summer days. There is some debate (though, really, who debates these things??) whether vichyssoise is an American or French invention. My opinion: I don’t care.

Vichyssoise is surprisingly simple. Chopped leeks, an onion, a big potato, chicken stock and salt. Simmer, blend until smooth, chill, add cream. Bathe your tongue (or elsewhere, I won’t judge you) in the velvety texture.

Vichyssoise has a lot going for it. It’s easy to make, it’s delicious, it’s cheap, and you get some extra minerals from eating the dirt you weren’t able to rinse off the leeks (try and try, you always leave a little). It is, however, really plain looking. Not particularly ugly, but plain. It’s hard to photograph a bowl of beige liquid and make it fun.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t try.

Tomorrow: Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day

National Baklava Day

November 17: National Baklava Day!

Ah, baklava. Not to be confused with balaclava.

Tangent: Last year for Bryce’s birthday we went to a laser tag place with a bunch of people. I had given everyone the heads up that it’s best to wear dark colors so you don’t glow in the black light. Most people wore dark jeans, or yoga pants, etc. One of Bryce’s friends, however, wore a balaclava. And like, tactical gloves (are tactical gloves a thing? Did I just make them up?). Whatever. It was terrifying.

BAKLAVA, however, is not terrifying. It is delicious. Well, sometimes. I’ve had baklava in the past and it’s been overly sweet and sticky. I’ve never had BAD baklava, but I had never had a truly delicious baklava until November 17. It was the perfect combination of sweet, salty, flaky… yum.

Tomorrow: National Vichyssoise Day

National Fast Food Day

November 16: National Fast Food Day!

So, this is where I look like a bad sister and an even worse hostess. My brother and his girlfriend came to visit over the weekend and where did I take them for dinner? Jack in the Box. Actually, “take them” is also a lie. We went through the drive-thru and ate it on the coffee table while watching Karate Kid II. If that’s not a resounding advertisement for the Bay Area, I don’t know what is! COME VISIT ME, EVERYONE! I’M FUN! 😀

Jack in the Box is seriously the bomb, though! Two tacos for 99 cents! You can’t beat it!

Tomorrow: National Baklava Day!

National Raisin Bran Day

November 15: National Raisin Bran Day!

Over the course of this project, when I recognize the birthday of someone I know, I wonder to myself if they’d like the food item assigned to “their” day. Today is one of those days, and I think the person in question would be okay with raisin bran. Maybe not. Maybe I’m wrong. I think I’ll check and see.

ANYWAY, everyone has had Raisin Bran! TWO SCOOPS!

This person definitely likes Raisin Bran too much.

I didn’t feel like driving to Safeway (lazy!) to buy “real” (if there is such a thing… Kellogg’s has obviously brainwashed me) Raisin Bran, so I had Trader Joe’s brand. WITH CLUSTERS. Anyway, it’s tasty! A welcome (albeit temporary) addition to my cupboards.

Tomorrow: National Fast Food Day

National Guacamole Day

November 14: National Guacamole Day!

I’m pretty picky about my guacamole. It needs to be thoroughly mashed (I like avocados, but I don’t want a huge chunk of plain avocado in my guac), but not whipped so it’s texture-free. It needs to have the correct amount of salt. No one likes bland mush. It needs a bit of lime in it. It needs to have a bit of heat. And, this one will perhaps be controversial, but it shouldn’t contain tomatoes.

In a pinch, Chipotle makes really decent guac. It could stand to be spicier, but overall… it’s a solid guacamole! It has a nice consistency, it’s (usually) well-seasoned, and it doesn’t contain tomatoes. Hooray!

Tomorrow: National Raisin Bran Day!

National Indian Pudding Day

November 13: National Indian Pudding Day!

Do you know what Indian Pudding is? I didn’t. I assumed it was something Indian (as in from India) and I was intrigued by the prospect of eating a curried pudding. Alas, the pudding should really be called Native American Pudding Day. Or, in Canada, First Nations Pudding Day.

According to Wikipedia (this blog should really be sponsored by Wikipedia…), Indian Pudding is a type of Hasty Pudding. A hasty pudding is “a pudding or porridge of grains cooked in milk or water. In the United States, it invariably refers to a version made of ground corn”. Hasty pudding is also mentioned in the song Yankee Doodle, which I didn’t believe. I tried to sing it, but I guess I only know the lyrics through “called it macaroni” (side note: why couldn’t I have made macaroni?). But yeah, hasty puddin’ is a lyric. Now you know.

Anyway, Indian Pudding is a traditional New England dessert. Again, from Wikipedia:

It was commonplace in the colonial era and enjoyed a revival as part of Thanksgiving Day celebrations in the late 19th century. It was found in most American cookbooks before 1900. The 20th century’s commercial puddings with their industrially perfect smooth consistency displaced Indian pudding and its cooking time had little appeal for the modern home cook. It is still associated with autumn holidays and occasionally revived by restaurants.

Can I just say that I, for one, am grateful for the “industrially perfect” consistencies of pudding? I actually had to make this the day before National Indian Pudding Day since I had a conference in Sacramento on the real holiday and I had my doubts that any restaurants would be serving Indian pudding on their menus, despite the “occasional revival.” I did, however, wait to try the Indian pudding until National Indian Pudding Day (at 5:30am). Verdict? I’m going to leave this one to the colonists.

Tomorrow: National Guacamole Day

**I just realized there are THREE “National Indian Pudding Days: November 13, February 17, and June 27. WTF? I am not eating this three times. I will be celebrating the alternate food holidays.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

November 12: Chicken Soup for the Soul Day!

Remember these books?

I actually never read one (I guess I am unsoulful), but remember the craze well. Let’s review the full selection of titles, shall we?

Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada The Wonders of Winter
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Us Girls
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Kids
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven
Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Wives
Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade
Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader’s Choice 20th Anniversary Edition
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Parenthood
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Billy Graham & Me
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels Among Us
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding My Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey
Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Cat Did That!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Great Health
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Married Life!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Boost Your Brain Power!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Back Pain!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Hello to a Better Body!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Here Comes the Bride
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stay-at-Home Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Mothers and Daughters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times for Teens
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love
Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for the Young at Heart
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Teenagers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Preteens
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat’s Life
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog’s Life
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandmothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving and Recovery
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Mothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive
Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom
Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales
Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings
Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women
Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Cat
Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Extraordinary Teens
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Golf Book
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Divorce and Recovery
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In… To College
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Boost Your Brain Power!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Back Pain!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Hello to a Better Body!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Great Health
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christian Kids
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christian Teen Talk
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Cheer
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dads & Daughters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grand and Great
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Happily Ever After
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Cats
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms & Sons
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms Know Best
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Older & Wiser
Chicken Soup for the Soul: On Being a Parent
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Golf and Sport
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Growing Up
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Relationships
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Tough Times
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Wisdom of Dads
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Woman to Woman
Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul
Chicken Soup for the African American Soul
Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul
Chicken Soup for the Beach Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Bride’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul
Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul
Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2
Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul
Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Country Soul
Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Dieter’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul
Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul
Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul
Chicken Soup for the Latter-day Saint Soul
Chicken Soup for the Military Wife’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Nature Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul: Second Dose
Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul
Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul
Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Shopper’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Sister’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Sister’s Soul 2
Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition
Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles
Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels Among Us
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers
Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Billy Graham & Me
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrating Brothers and Sisters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrating People Who Make a Difference
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Divorce and Recovery
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding My Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love
Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving and Recovery
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Here Comes the Bride
Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for the Young at Heart
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Us Girls
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Love Stories
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Married Life!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution
Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada
Chicken Soup for the Soul: O Canada The Wonders of Winter
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Parenthood
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader’s Choice 20th Anniversary Edition
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories for a Better World
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Kids
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People
Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Woman to Woman
Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul
Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul
Chicken Soup for the Veteran’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Working Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul
Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawai’i
Chicken Soup to Inspire a Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body and Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul
A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul
A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul
A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul
A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul
A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for Every Mom’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the New Mom’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul 2
Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul
Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recipes for Busy Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Tribute to Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrating Mothers and Daughters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Mothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms and Sons
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms Know Best
Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: On Being a Parent
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stay-at-Home Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Mothers and Daughters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: To Mom, with Love
Chicken Soup for the Working Mom’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad
Chicken Soup for the Father’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul
Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dads and Daughters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: On Being a Parent
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Wisdom of Dads
Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Grandparent’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grand and Great
Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandmothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Older and Wiser
Chicken Soup for the Soul: To Grandma, with Love
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles
Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul
Chicken Soup for the College Soul
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christian Teen Talk
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Extraordinary Teens
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Preteens
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Teenagers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talkin’ Faith
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In… To College
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Growing Up
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Relationships
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Tough Times
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times for Teens
Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul IV
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Journal
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Letters
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: on Love and Friendship
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: on Tough Stuff
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal Challenges
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal Friends
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal School
Chicken Soup for the Child’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Girl’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Kid’s 2
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christian Kids
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Treasury for Kids
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Kids in the Kitchen
Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR Extreme Race Journal
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens Talk
Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul II
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Cat Did That!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Cats
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat’s Life
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog’s Life
Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Cat
Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey
Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Golf Book
Chicken Soup for the Baseball Fan’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul: The 2nd Round
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball
Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Golf and Sport
Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Woman Golfer’s Soul
A Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Cheer
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Treasury
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Treasury for Kids
Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Book of Christmas Virtues
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Busy Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Loving the Way You Live
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Women
Chicken Soup for the Dieter’s Soul Daily Inspiration
Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul Daily Inspirations
Chicken Soup for the Soul Daily Inspiration for Women
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Wives
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Dads
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Golfers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Moms
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cartoons for Teachers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Cats
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Dogs
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Grandmothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Mothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Sisters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Teachers
Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Kids in the Kitchen
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Recipes for Busy Moms
Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul
2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul
3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul
Chicken Soup for the Grandparent’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grand and Great
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Older and Wiser
Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body & Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Arthritis
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Asthma
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Back Pain
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Breast Cancer
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Diabetes
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Heart Disease
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Menopause
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stress
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Weight Loss
Chicken Soup for the Soul in the Classroom – Elementary School Edition
Chicken Soup for the Soul in the Classroom – High School Edition
Chicken Soup for the Soul in the Classroom – Middle School Edition

HOLY COW. WHAT THE HELL?!

Wow.

What can we glean from these titles? There are 22 CSFTS books for moms, 8 CSFTS books for dads. There are CSFTS books for NASCAR fans, hockey fans, baseball fans, and runners, but no book for football OR futbol fans… which is strange since there are an estimated 400 million American football fans, and 3.5 BILLION (with a B!) soccer fans worldwide. Looks like someone in the soup factory marketing department needs to get fired. There are 10 books for the Christian soul (+ one bonus book… Billy Graham and Me), 1 book for the Jewish soul, and no books for Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or atheist souls (BECAUSE THEY’RE SOULLESS). There are 6 books on cancer, 2 books on menopause, 4 books on dieting/weight loss, 1 book on diabetes and no books on HIV/AIDS. Because chicken soup doesn’t cure AIDS, duh.

As much as a hate to disappoint you, I didn’t read all of these books (maybe the next blog?!). I did, however, eat some chicken dumpling soup in hopes of warming my tummy, and maybe my soul.

All I can think about when I see this picture is how I wish I had used a different color bowl. Not that soup is particularly photogenic (this soup in particular), but I certainly didn’t do it any favors with this orange bowl.

Tomorrow: National Indian Pudding Day