Winning Combos

I am a sucker for suckers. Actually, I’m not. I just thought that was a really good opening. Although I do enjoy a Tootsie Pop every now and again, I’m not what you’d call a big sucker fan. But that all changed today. For that is when I had my first Caramel Apple Pop. It’s a green apple candy covered with chewy caramel.  I love the sharp tartness of the hard candy combined with the sugary sweetness of the caramel.  And I can sum it up in two words: Mmmmmmmmm.  Mmmmmmmmm!!

There are so many winning food combinations out there. While some are new and exciting, others bring back fond childhood memories.

When I was little we had “popcorn parties” at my house - which meant nothing more than my mom fixed popcorn for the family. But calling it a popcorn party transformed it into an event. (And before microwave ovens, popcorn actually was more of an event!) My mom even had a special little pot in which to melt the butter. And here comes the combo part – my dad always ate his popcorn with a Hershey Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar. If you’ve never tried hot buttered popcorn paired with any type of milk chocolate, I suggest you try it pronto. You’ll be glad you did. And you can find a similar tasty decadence by dipping hot french fries into your chocolate shake.

I learned a much healthier combo from a good friend recently – a pear with dark chocolate. And now I hear people are putting chocolate into their chili! When it comes to food, I’m a girl who doesn’t knock it until I’ve tried it. So I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

My dad also puts salt on his watermelon which I know many people do. But I believe he’s alone when i t comes to peanut butter with Chinese food. Yep, my dad always pairs peanut butter on toast with his Chicken Chow Mein. While I like my apple pie a la mode, my sister likes to melt a piece of sharp cheddar cheese on top. And my mom (WARNING: the following food combo may not be appropriate for readers with delicate sensibilities) dips her Fritos into Miracle Whip. Blech! (Says the girl who dips her french fries into ranch dressing.)

A friend of mine swears by always pairing sweet fruit (dried cherries, dried cranberries, etc.) and a crunchy nut in her salads. And they’re always delicious.

I like scrambled eggs with cottage cheese – not mixed together – but side by side on a small plate. The saltiness of hot dogs also goes well with cottage cheese.

Since taste is so subjective, I realize I may be intriguing some of you while grossing out others. But I’ve learned in life that some of the least likely combinations bring out some of the most interesting results – whether it be food, colors, or people… sometimes taking a risk really pays off.

- Monica Regal
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Comments

[TheCluelessCrafter]

Monica, thanks for appealing to the senses to get the message across. Yes, unexpected combinations are a welcome surprise in life. I have taken this concept to how I live my entire life, and it has made me much richer!