Can We Talk 2

A Naughty List

         You know Santa has a naughty list. Just for the record, I am not on it! However, I heard a remark on a Christmas show on TV last night about a weakness. It occurred to me that I have a few of my own, making a different kind of naughty list.

         Of course, I'm referring to food weaknesses, not addictions like alcohol or gambling. I can't remember that character's "one" weakness, but I have quite a few. Number one: Creme Brulee. Fortunately, I hardly ever encounter it. It's made with whipping cream and half and half, not to mention the caramelized sugar, which actually has fewer calories than the dairy parts.

         Next, I'd have a whole group of things involving pecans. Pralines--that's just pecans in melted butter and sugar. You can add other flavorings, but as long as you don't burn the butter, they are all great. Then, there's turtles--pecans, caramel, and chocolate. Next is homemade or bakery made pecan pie--not the kind that comes from the freezer case at the grocery.

         Other weaknesses that will break all my resolve include hot fudge on Breyer's coffee ice cream, chocolate chess pie, and /or cheese grits. I did not grow up on grits. I learned about those after I got out of college when I was visiting North Carolina with some other students. They couldn't believe I didn't know about them. We just had them plain with butter. I was introduced to the cheese version many years later.

         I have to mention hot crab dip, another item I hardly ever encounter. It's served warm, with a cream cheese base. The main ingredient after cream cheese is crab meat. Serve with any kind of cracker strong enough to hold it. I'm not a picky cream cheese person. Low fat or fat free are just as good.

         Cheesecake almost makes the list. I've had enough varieties that weren't very good that I'm wary of cheesecake. But if it turns out to have quality ingredients in a good combination, I might not be able to stop.

         Actually, a good Philly steak and cheese is hard to resist. But no sides to avoid the stomach ache later.

         My personal naughty list is probably longer than most people's. My "one" weakness is multiple stimuli. I'm headed to the grocery store, but none of these items is on my shopping list.