Not Pictured. < sigh >

Y'all. I just got back from Barcelona, Spain. My Iberico ham was confiscated by US customs agents, which I half expected (though we bought it from Duty Free in the hopes that would be an approved source). I can handle it.

What I didn't expect? They also confiscated my unopened bag of bacon-flavored sunflower seeds. I had not even taken a photo of the package. Although I suggested that there was possibly no meat product of any sort in this snack (as I have found that many "bacon-flavored" things are artificially flavored), I was shown no mercy. The agent let us keep our brick of Manchego, but I ask you, is that justice?

I have to admit: I teared up a little. The reason I bought it? To share with you, my loyal readers. The brand name? "Bacon and Me." Great, right?

I guess I'll never know. Thanks a lot, America.

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PopLab and Picnic

Monday evening, a small group of PopLab (see here) participants had a picnic and talk in Washington Square Park.  We found an accessible place to circle our wagons, then dropped a lot of food inside the circle.



Several people had made dishes using CSA bounty.  Prinny cooked up bok choy with garlic; Kelly made a salad.  I had nothing to share, but I still felt welcome.  Even our conversation was sometimes delicious, as I'd hoped.


Sandals from Payless. 


p.s. These were good.

Do you think Obama would like some Doritos?

(photo taken and uploaded by lawnwrangler4ever, AKA my good friend, M.)

Because I would like some Doritos.


p.s. Poetry Tuesday was to be suspended this week in honor of Inauguration Day. Or, more accurately, because I didn't write a poem (Which was the case last week, too. We'll be back to form soon). BUT, in light of this important occasion and in keeping with yesterday's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, please consider this non-snack-related poem I wrote in college:


Unfinished: Kansas City

just one block from Troost is the park
and historic buildings
and smaller cars with Other drivers
but on Troost I am nervous despite myself
and try to smile (more than I would at white pedestrians)
at the black men and women catching the bus
and I do not make fun of the names of soul food restaurants
to prove I am not racist.

Poetry Tuesday: Indigestion Nation

I do not deserve these two doughnuts for voting,
These Boston Kreme doughnuts,
These bolsters of sweet.
I do not deserve this large smoothie for waiting,
This Peach Pleasure smoothie,
This vessel of chill.
I am nervously sipping on cream-heavy polls;
I am gingerly resting on peach-flavored pins.

I am wistfully biting my lip into shreds
And consuming desserts that I do not deserve
Because I deserve them,
Food's dim rooms and blankets.
I'm tacos and hot wings and cheddar cheese chips.
I'm butternut squash and dark chocolate with ginger
Till somebody wins.
Until somebody wins.



p.s. I am OUTRAGED that Whole Foods on 14th Street has stopped serving smoothies. Jamba Juice does not cut it.

A fresh start.

It's the rare snacking political metaphor! In short: I endorse voting tomorrow (if you're eligible). Freshen the breath of our nation, already.



Our relationship with other countries hasn't always left a clean taste in my mouth.




Be vigilant. The small vote can be mighty. Demand yours be counted and consumed.



Seriously. Let's vote! I like a candidate who is strong, sharp, and whose ideas taste clean.



I found all these mints languishing in Snack Jail. It's sad, really. I just haven't been in a minty mood. Maybe on Wednesday...