The Great Toilet Paper Debate

            Since the beginning of time, man has debated such weighty issues as the existence of God, the meaning of life, and whether toilet paper ought to hang over or under. This last issue is one of particular importance to many in modern society, who feel that toilet paper orientation is an issue of identity: and for those who take their toilet paper coupons seriously, it’s important to consider all the facts.

            First off, you may think this toilet paper business is much ado about nothing – but 50 percent of people say that they do pay attention to TP orientation. 20 percent of people report that they have flipped the roll around at a friend’s house or in a public restroom when they believe it is facing the wrong direction. Add to that the fact that the average American spends 30 minutes per year looking for the end of the roll, and you begin to sense the gravity of the situation.

            According to experts, both over and under methods have their advantages. Rolls that unravel over make it easier to control how much toilet paper you tear off (which makes this method more eco-friendly) while the under method looks tidier and makes it harder for cats/dogs/ babies to unravel the roll and make a mess. If you’re a toilet paper coupon aficionado, check out the infographic below – it unravels the whole issue for your careful consideration.

This Is Not A Joke

            I can still reach around and wipe my own booty, but if for any reason that should change it’s comforting to know that I won’t have to give up my Charmin coupons. Thanks to the wonderful invention that is “The Comfort Wipe,” cleaning up after you do your business will never be uncomfortable again (I never realized it was such an ordeal in the first place, but the folks who do infomercials have a knack for making simple acts seem terribly complicated, messy, and stressful).

            What is the Comfort Wipe, you may ask? Well, it’s a handy “sanitary toilet paper arm and holder” that lets you clean up and dispose of your toilet tissue without getting your hand anywhere near your actual behind. The ad is totally worth sitting through just to see the gloriously posh old lady at the end who delightedly says that the Comfort Wipe “allows you to maintain your dignity.” As if using the restroom is an affront to my dignity! I don’t think I’ll be using the money I save with my Charmin coupons to buy this unnecessary invention any time soon, but if you have to have one you can find this engineering marvel on ebay. 

Why It's Awesome To Eat In America

      

      Living in the US of A is awesome.  Can think of lots of reasons, but the food is one of my favorite. This list of 10terrific things about the American food scene was compiled in honor of Food Day on October 24 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and it celebrates things that make  American nutrition truly excellent. We’re not all greasy burgers and cupcakes, you know. I’ve included my five favorites here, but you can see the whole list at the link above (and score some food coupons, too!) if you’re really interested.

1)    Water – We have a great public sanitation system, and the majority of tap water provides healthy, affordable refreshment.

2)     Traditional Asian/Mediterranean Diets – One of the nice points of a melting pot culture I that you’re exposed to many different cuisines with many fabulous benefits. Traditional cuisines from around the globe are becoming increasingly popular here in the US, and that means people are eating more fruits and veggies and less of the stuff that’s bad for them.

3)    Sustainable and organic foods -- Healthy foods are taking hold, and that means that we’re taking better care of our soil and our farmers, and we’re also consuming healthier foods and lest chemicals as a result. Nice.

4)    You may not have heard of the Coalition of Imokalee Workers, but they’ve successfully campaigned for better working conditions for farm workers. They’re still working to improve the lives and defend the rights of American farmers and farm workers.

5)    The New “My Plate” dietary guidelines give the ancient food pyramid a more practical presentation, and the nutritional guidelines are modified, too. The government’s new Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage us to use our food coupons more carefully and to eat more fruits and veggies, which could help turn the obesity epidemic around. 

Babies Know Right From Wrong At A Very Young Age

        

        Kids learn the golden rule as soon as the enter school – but children much younger than that are able to tell right from wrong, according to a new study. Before you’re even doing using Huggies coupons for your little one, he or she has developed a sense of morality!

         The study was conducted by a team of psychologists at the University of Washington. Researchers measured the amount of time babies watched food being divided among people, and based on this data the scientists were able to deduce that babies are aware of uneven sharing, and what’s more, that unfairness upsets them!

         Babies were visibly surprised by the way milk and crackers were doled out to members of a group, and they seemed to expect that the treats would be distributed evenly. The study also looked at the way these babies played with each other after observing the food distribution, and the scientists found that babies who were most aware of food distribution were the ones most likely to share their toys. Who knew babies were so altruistic?
         The scientists believe that babies develop a sense of fairness early on by observing interpersonal interactions, which is pretty incredible. Those big, adorable eyes are always taking in information and babies are always learning, often in ways we can’t perceive. I wonder if babies can pick up other abilities this way – does seeing mom use Huggies coupons teach baby to be frugal? You’d have ot be a baby mind-reader (or a very good psychologist) to figure it out, but it’s definitely interesting to consider. 

Oh-So-Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake

I’ve been reliant on Sanka coffee coupons since I discovered how delicious that stuff is (I can drink it for dessert and it won’t keep me up all night!), but I wasn’t fully utilizing the potential of instant coffee until I discovered this recipe for chocolate mousse cake online. It’s rich, delicious, and wows everyone (even in-laws) – it’s got a hint of coffee, a cakey shell, and a heavenly mousse center that is to die for. Garnished with a bit of fresh whipped cream and a few berries, you’ll find it totally irresistible. Warning: make it for company, because this is one treat you can’t trust yourself around.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon Sanka instant coffee
• 2 sticks melted unsalted butter
• 8 eggs, separated
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon brandy
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 16 ounces (1 bag) melted semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 tablespoons unbleached flour
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit – the high temperature is essential to getting the perfect cakey outer layer/gooey inner layer balance. Grease a 9” springform pan and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix instant coffee into melted butter. Set aside.

In another separate bowl, beat the 8 egg whites until stiff. Set Aside.

In an upright stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they are lemon-colored and add sugar. Beat until combined. Add brandy, vanilla, and melted butter to the sugar/egg yolk mixture. Add the flour and mix gently, only until combined. Fold in the egg whites and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes – the center should still be soft. Serve with whipped cream and coffee, of course! I recommend Sanka coffee coupons, but this yummy dessert tastes great with any after-dinner drink you like. 

McDonald's Is A Little Bit Confused ...

McDonald’s seems to be undergoing a bit of an identity crisis. In an attempt to encourage more people to use McDonalds coupons, the chain has introduced two new burgers to two new markets: the “Big New York” steak burger and the “English Pub Burger.” The weird thing here  is that these unique sandwiches have been added to the McDonald’s menus in Israel and Illinois, respectively.

            The “Big New York” burger debuted in Israel earlier this year, and the sandwich is certainly BIG …. even if it doesn’t necessarily invoke its namesake city in any other way. It’s got two patties that weight in at over one-half-pound each (for a total of more than one who pound of premium beef) as well as lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions and Royal sauce. To further promote the Taste of America angle they’ve got going on over there, McD’s Israel is also featuring the Big Texas steak burger, which has an equal amount of cow but is topped with BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and fried onions.

            If you think affiliating those gluttonous sandwiches with seemingly arbitrary American cities is a stretch, consider the all-new English Pub Burger, which is being tested at McDonald’s locations in some Illinois locations. Customers can redeem their McDonalds coupons for the new burger, which is receiving rave reviews. It features 1/3 pound of beef, hickory-smoked bacon, white cheddar and American cheese, grilled onions, steak sauce and Dijon mustard on an artisan roll. American cheese on a purportedly British burger is rather contradictory, but who cares if its nonsensical as long as it tastes good, right? 

What Type of Coffee Drinker Are You?!

            What kind of coffee consumer are you? Are you a Starbucks addict?  A Chock Full O Nuts coupons devotee? There are as many types of coffee consumers as there are kinds of coffee drinks – which type are you?

            Coffee Addicts are truly codependent on their caffeinated beverages. If you stagger from bed to the coffee pot in the morning, if you guzzle coffee like its Gatorade, or if you don’t understand why they make sizes smaller than Venti, you’re definitely an addict.

            Coffee snobs think that the $20 Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker is an insult. They have gourmet coffee makers, French presses, and fancy vacuum pots. IF you have ever roasted your own beans, if you have ever read/owned a book on the subject of coffee, or if you refuse to drink coffee that isn’t “up to your standards” you’re a coffee snob.

            Teenager isn’t just an age group – it’s a sub-group of coffee consumers who like their caffeine to taste like candy in a cup. These folks drink Frappuccinos like they’re water, combine their espresso with an equal part of sugar, and don’t even understand what it means to sense a “bitter” note.

            Redneck coffee drinkers are not particular about where their coffee comes from. They can’t tell the difference between Chock Full O Nuts coupons, instant coffee, and a  well-roasted, freshly-ground cup. These folks love their coffee and must have it in any way possible, so if you’ve enjoyed gas station coffee or consumed the last cup in the pot hours after it was made, you might be a redneck coffee drinker.

Get The Best Brew For Your Buck

            

          So you’ve decided to save money and make your coffee at home, but you’re a bit overwhelmed by the choices on your grocery store’s coffee aisle. Should you use illy coupons or go for the beans stored in those big plastic bins? Is the “gourmet” stuff worth the price tag, or is Folgers really the best part of waking up?

            Thank gosh for Consumer Reports, the magazine that tests and ranks products so you don’t have to waste your time and money drinking a bunch of duds. Recently, the respected consumer-watchdog organization ranked 37 grocery-store brands, from gourmet blends to decaf brews. The coffee-tasting experts who executed the tests set out to find “smoothness and complexity with no off flavors,” with interesting results.

            The tough critics at Consumer Reports didn’t award any of the more than three dozen varieties they tasted with the magazine’s highest rankings of “Excellent” and “Very Good.” They say that, if you’re looking for a standout like you’d find at the swankiest downtown coffee shops, you aren’t likely to find it.             

          That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a tasty cup of coffee to be found on the grocery aisle – there just isn’t anything there to knock your socks off. The highest marks went to Starbucks House Blend and Green Mountain Signature Nantucket Blend Medium Roast, which tasters said offered the best blend of taste and price. The rest of the rankings were as follows: Dunkin’ Donuts Dark Roast; Allegro light roast by Whole Foods; Archer Farms (Target breakfast blend); Kickapoo Organic Driftless Morning; Peet’s House blend; Sam’s Choice house blend medium roast (also found at Walmart stores); Eight O’Clock original; Melitta classic medium roast; Seattle’s Best breakfast blend (owned by Starbucks); New England eyeopener blend; Dunkin’ Donuts original blend medium; and Folgers house blend medium. Next time you don’t know whether to use illy coupons or to branch out, remember these findings – you can also check out www.ConsumerReports.org for more info. 

Check Out The World's Fastest Coffee-Powered Car!

         

        You know how some people chain-drink coffee to get through the day – those folks who run on Maxwell house coupons? One industrious inventor took a cue from those caffeinate folks and engineered a car that, like the dude in the cubicle next to you, gets its power from java.

         Martin Bacon engineered a special waste-powered car that runs on coffee grounds, and it has earned the distinction of being the world’s fastest waste-fueled car. A wood-burning vehicle called the Beaver XR7 once held the title, but the Beaver topped out at 47.7 miles per hour. Bacon’s coffee car can reach a top speed of 77.5 miles per hour and can sustain speeds as high at 66.5 miles per hour.

         Bacon’s brilliant auto works by incinerating wood and coffee grounds at temperatures upwards of 1292 degrees farenheit, which creates a fuel that is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. The process is called “gasification” and it is an interesting alternative to the battery0powered electric cars favored by much of the alternative fuel industry. Someday, you and your car might be powered by the very same Maxwell House coupons! You can learn more about alternative fuel vehicles and see a video of the coffee-mobile in action at

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/coffee-stimulated-car-smashes-speed-record/8716

Have Your Coffee & Eat It, Too!

I like to drink coffee, but I like to eat my coffee even better. I’m not crunching away on coffee grounds, mind you – I’m using my coffee coupons to make delicious sweets. I’m a huge fan of Sandra Lee’s Espresso scones, but my new favorite is this recipe for Jamaican coffee brownies.
INGREDIENTS

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 15 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons finely ground Jamaican coffee beans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

PLUS

• 1 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 tablespoons freshly brewed Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

• 30 thin strips crystallized ginger

DIRECTIONS

         Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 13x9” baking pan with cooking spray.         

         In a large metal mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, cocoa, coffee, and sale. Place  this bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, which will slowly melt the butter. Whisk until butter melts and all ingredients are well-blended. Remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla extract and eggs. Fold in flour and mix in pecans, if desired. Bake brownies about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

         While brownies cool in the pan, place chocolate ships in a small bowl and brew 6 tablespoons of coffee. Bring brewed coffee to a simmer in a small saucepan and then pour over chips, then stir until melted and smooth. This ganache will need to thicken for about an hour, and then it will be ready to spread over the brownies. Cut the brownies into 15 squares and garnish with ginger strips – I think you’ll agree that this recipe is an excellent use of coffee coupons and is a great compliment to after-dinner coffee.