Silliness So what are you doing RIGHT NOW? - Page 2689

DMcCunney · 11-01-2016, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

Eating a Tootsie Roll. My first ever. Not quite what I was expecting - it's not a roll for starters. And it's very chewy. I thought it was going to be chocolate as well, not toffee-like. I also had my first Twinkie last week (as far as I can remember. I did live in Baton Rouge in the mid-70s but don't recall having tried one).

Twinkies were widely renowned as programmer's junk food, to be consumed during late night hacks to meet deadlines.

There was something of a tempest in a teapot a while back. Hostess bakeries (who made Twinkies and a few other things) went belly up. The various craft unions had to agree to the Chaper 11 reorganization plan they'd submitted to the courts. The Bakers and Confectionery Workers refused, and Hostess was liquidated instead. Lots of Twinkie fans were upset at the loss of a favorite snack. Twinkies are available again from an outfit who bought the brand when Hostess was liquidated. I was never a Twinkie fan, and can't say whether the current offering matches the original.

Quote:

The reason for all this fun is that our local supermarket has started selling a range of American brands, so I'm trying a few out

.

There's a program called Unwrapped on the Cooking Channel on US cable TV. They do documentaries on snack foods and their makers, with looks inside the plants showing how the products are made and packaged. A recent episode covered the iconic M&M's coated chocolate candies. IIRC, the plant that makes them turns out over a billion a year.

The show is popular enough that snack food manufacturers invite them to come in, tour the plant, and show the audience how their favorite snacks are made.
______
Dennis

badgoodDeb · 11-01-2016, 05:00 PM

Sigh. Back in the 1970's , you used to be able to tour the Hershey Chocolate plant, in Hershey, PA. You were on separated walkways, but you could see the huge vats of chocolate being stirred .... see the conveyor belts making kisses or portioning bite sized candies into bags.

Nowadays, that's too unsanitary I guess. The tour is through a completely separate building, and it's more like a DisneyWorld tour. You sit in a little car seat (like a roller coaster car) and are slowly trained past lots of movie screens showing the cacao being picked, roasted, etc.

But you don't get to SMELL it, or really see it, like you used to. Except for the fact that the whole town smells of chocolate, and that the tour dumps you into the Hershey Gift Shop at the end (well, that part's the same!), that's as close as you get to the real product.

As it should be, I suppose. I'm happier as a consumer, but I do miss the tours!

Cinisajoy · 11-01-2016, 05:13 PM

I have been to both the M&M and Hershey's plants. To me, they both stank.
Though they smelled better than the Dannon Yogurt Plant, the meat packing plant in Grand Island Nebraska and the Georgia Pacific paper mill.

Rumpelteazer · 11-01-2016, 05:33 PM

Normally I watch a scary movie on Halloween. But last night I was too tired after helping out at my sister's place. So I moved it to tonight. I'm now trying to decide which movie to watch. The only thing I know for certain is that I don't want to watch something that's too scary. But the question now is do I watch an old time favourite or something new, a classic or not or maybe a sequel. Or I might just watch a James Bond movie, which is what I'm really in the mood for TBH.

orlok · 11-01-2016, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I was never a Twinkie fan, and can't say whether the current offering matches the original.

Dennis

I can understand why. It felt like cramming over-processed gunk into my mouth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

But you don't get to SMELL it, or really see it, like you used to. Except for the fact that the whole town smells of chocolate, and that the tour dumps you into the Hershey Gift Shop at the end (well, that part's the same!), that's as close as you get to the real product.

I used to work next to the Cadbury Chocolate factory in Birmingham (England). I once went round the offices and factory and the smell was so overpowering it felt like hitting a brick wall, and then wading through treacle. I've no idea how people did that every day.

Blossom · 11-01-2016, 06:38 PM

The tootsie rolls they sell today are not the ones we grew up with. The formula has changed. Just like the Starburst I bought for Halloween taste horrible now. Not many candies here in the US have remained true to the originals. It's the same with some chocolate bars too sadly. Overly processing and cheap low quality ingredients.

Sent from my XT1528

badgoodDeb · 11-01-2016, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

The tootsie rolls they sell today are not the ones we grew up with. The formula has changed. Just like the Starburst I bought for Halloween taste horrible now. Not many candies here in the US have remained true to the originals. It's the same with some chocolate bars too sadly. Overly processing and cheap low quality ingredients.

Sent from my XT1528

Hmm! I haven't noticed any difference in tootsie rolls or Starburst (and I like both) .... but Velveeta 'cheese' in slices is totally NOT the same stuff any more. It probably melts OK, which may be all the criteria they used .... but I don't cook with it. I eat it straight, once in a while (like on a road trip) .... and the current stuff tastes like plastic. Bleeccccchhh.

issybird · 11-01-2016, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

Not many candies here in the US have remained true to the originals. It's the same with some chocolate bars too sadly. Overly processing and cheap low quality ingredients.

Totally agree. It's gotten so that it's hardly worth eating the leftover Halloween candy.

(I give out Snickers and Reese's Cups.)

Cinisajoy · 11-01-2016, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Totally agree. It's gotten so that it's hardly worth eating the leftover Halloween candy.

(I give out Snickers and Reese's Cups.)

We don't give out candy. It has been 6 years since we have had trick or treaters. And they really didn't count. Grandkids and friends.

Blossom · 11-01-2016, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Totally agree. It's gotten so that it's hardly worth eating the leftover Halloween candy.

(I give out Snickers and Reese's Cups.)

We don't do chocolate due to many food allergies kids suffer from nuts and chocolate. For years I couldn't eat chocolate due to GERD. So I sympathize with the kiddies who are allergic. Now the GERD is mainly under control I can eat chocolate here and there.

Snickers and Reece's are two of my favorites! Yum. Almond Snickers are the best!

Sent from my XT1528

cromag · 11-01-2016, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Sigh. Back in the 1970's , you used to be able to tour the Hershey Chocolate plant, in Hershey, PA. You were on separated walkways, but you could see the huge vats of chocolate being stirred .... see the conveyor belts making kisses or portioning bite sized candies into bags.

Nowadays, that's too unsanitary I guess. The tour is through a completely separate building, and it's more like a DisneyWorld tour. You sit in a little car seat (like a roller coaster car) and are slowly trained past lots of movie screens showing the cacao being picked, roasted, etc.

But you don't get to SMELL it, or really see it, like you used to. Except for the fact that the whole town smells of chocolate, and that the tour dumps you into the Hershey Gift Shop at the end (well, that part's the same!), that's as close as you get to the real product.

As it should be, I suppose. I'm happier as a consumer, but I do miss the tours!

We were just at Hershey Park in September. They now pump in the smell of chocolate during the "factory" ride.

I also miss the Crayola factory tours. They opened an attraction in Easton called "The Crayola Factory" which the kids enjoyed. It has since been named "The Crayola Experience" -- I have no idea what it's like now.

Rumpelteazer · 11-02-2016, 05:05 AM

Waiting until it's time to leave for the fair. It opens at 10am, so if I leave around 9.20am, in 18 minutes, I should be there before the doors open, but not too early.

I've got my sturdy shoes on (last week I splurged on new gel slipsoles), extra bags in my backpack, my iPod is charged (hopefully it'll help with blocking out the noise and busy-ness of the fair) and my wishlists.

Whilst waiting I'm looking for horror books on Amazon.

orlok · 11-03-2016, 07:26 AM

Passing on best wishes to all at MR from Stitchawl at his request. He still pops in for a look once in a while, but is otherwise occupied with his fencing and motorcycling (a long trip exploring the high mountain region along the Thai/Burmese border is planned for next week).

badgoodDeb · 11-03-2016, 02:16 PM

Good to hear from Stitchawl! Glad he is well.

cromag · 11-07-2016, 03:21 AM

Also glad to hear news of Stitchawl!

11-01-2016, 05:00 PM	#40322
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,576 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Sigh. Back in the 1970's , you used to be able to tour the Hershey Chocolate plant, in Hershey, PA. You were on separated walkways, but you could see the huge vats of chocolate being stirred .... see the conveyor belts making kisses or portioning bite sized candies into bags. Nowadays, that's too unsanitary I guess. The tour is through a completely separate building, and it's more like a DisneyWorld tour. You sit in a little car seat (like a roller coaster car) and are slowly trained past lots of movie screens showing the cacao being picked, roasted, etc. But you don't get to SMELL it, or really see it, like you used to. Except for the fact that the whole town smells of chocolate, and that the tour dumps you into the Hershey Gift Shop at the end (well, that part's the same!), that's as close as you get to the real product. As it should be, I suppose. I'm happier as a consumer, but I do miss the tours!

11-01-2016, 05:13 PM	#40323
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I have been to both the M&M and Hershey's plants. To me, they both stank. Though they smelled better than the Dannon Yogurt Plant, the meat packing plant in Grand Island Nebraska and the Georgia Pacific paper mill.

11-01-2016, 05:33 PM	#40324
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,422 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	Normally I watch a scary movie on Halloween. But last night I was too tired after helping out at my sister's place. So I moved it to tonight. I'm now trying to decide which movie to watch. The only thing I know for certain is that I don't want to watch something that's too scary. But the question now is do I watch an old time favourite or something new, a classic or not or maybe a sequel. Or I might just watch a James Bond movie, which is what I'm really in the mood for TBH.

11-01-2016, 06:38 PM	#40326
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	The tootsie rolls they sell today are not the ones we grew up with. The formula has changed. Just like the Starburst I bought for Halloween taste horrible now. Not many candies here in the US have remained true to the originals. It's the same with some chocolate bars too sadly. Overly processing and cheap low quality ingredients. Sent from my XT1528

11-02-2016, 05:05 AM	#40332
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,422 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	Waiting until it's time to leave for the fair. It opens at 10am, so if I leave around 9.20am, in 18 minutes, I should be there before the doors open, but not too early. I've got my sturdy shoes on (last week I splurged on new gel slipsoles), extra bags in my backpack, my iPod is charged (hopefully it'll help with blocking out the noise and busy-ness of the fair) and my wishlists. Whilst waiting I'm looking for horror books on Amazon.

11-03-2016, 07:26 AM	#40333
orlok Close to the Edit! Posts: 9,797 Karma: 267994408 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"	Passing on best wishes to all at MR from Stitchawl at his request. He still pops in for a look once in a while, but is otherwise occupied with his fencing and motorcycling (a long trip exploring the high mountain region along the Thai/Burmese border is planned for next week).

11-03-2016, 02:16 PM	#40334
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,576 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Good to hear from Stitchawl! Glad he is well.

11-07-2016, 03:21 AM	#40335
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,864 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Also glad to hear news of Stitchawl!