DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   We have already mentioned food myths on a variety of lists – but until now we have not made a food-specific misconceptions list. This list explores some of the most common myths we have about food and (no-doubt controversially) debunks them. In the case of the more controversial topics, I have included sources. 10. Fat Free – Lose Weight    The Myth: Fat free food is calorie free    This is a very common myth – so common that food manufacturers market to it. The misconception that fat free is better is the reason that so many products are labelled “fat free,” “low in fat,” “fat reduced,” etc. So many people who want to lose weight will chow down on all of these “low fat” foods thinking they are going to lose weight – even worse, they often tend to eat more of the low fat food than they would have if it were full fat. What really matters when trying to reduce weight is calories – eat fewer calories than you burn and you will lose weight. ...

   Batter up! When it’s your turn to bring dessert, hit a home run with one of these easy, adorable treats. PB-and-Jam Session Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes | Makes 12 For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting . Make as directed. Mix ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter into the frosting. To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with 1 teaspoon raspberry jam and 1 teaspoon chopped roasted peanuts . Take a Bow Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12 For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting . Make as directed. To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with a “bow” formed from a strip of gummy tape (cut and assembled using dabs of frosting to stick the pieces together, as necessary).                  ...

   Lahti Ski Games is a yearly international winter sport event. The games last for three days, during which participants compete in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined. In the nearly 90-year history of the Lahti Ski Games the fireworks seen on Saturday night have become one of the highlights of the event. The goal of establishing the games was to get a competition similar to the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Finland.    The idea for the games came from a Finnish legend, Lauri Pihkala in 1922. He wrote an article about a competition equal to the Holmenkollen Ski Festival after the double win of Anton Collin and Tapani Niku at Holmenkollen the same year. In the article Pihkala suggested Lahti as the location for the competition because of the city’s location and grounds. First Competition Ever Held    The first Lahti Ski Games was held 3–4 February 1923. From the very beginning volunteers have played a big part in arrangin...

The Canine Collection    Transport your pet to another time with a "hilariously tongue-in-cheek" oil painting. For $950 and up, Dutch Touch Art uses a digital photo of your cat or dog to incorporate his or her regal visage into a hand-painted Old World–style portrait, using a stock background image or your suggestion. Should you wish, the image of your pet can include "personal effects, such as favorite toys." Feel The Turf Between Your Toes    You can get the feeling of walking barefoot in a grassy field wherever you go with Kusa flip-flops ($32), Australian-made knockabouts lined with high-quality synthetic turf that has "the look and feel" of the real thing. Their designer says that sporting the shoes is a way to rebel against "imposed conformity." But feel free to wear them just to start conversations when you're out strolling on a city street, along a beach, "or — if you're into irony — on an actual ...

Food is something we interact with on a daily basis – frequently, in fact. There are many very obscure facts about food that are fascinating and definitely worthy of knowing. So, at the behest of Juggz, here is a nice trivia list about food. 10. Coffee    The Fact: The most expensive coffee in the world comes from civet poop    Kopi Luwak are coffee beans that come from Civet (a cat sized mammal) poo. The animals gorge on only the finest ripe berries, and excrete the partially-digested beans, which are then harvested for sale. Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 USD per pound, and is sold mainly in Japan and the United States, but it is increasingly becoming available elsewhere. My question is: who the hell discovered that it tasted good? 9. Feast    The Fact: The largest food item on a menu is roast camel    The camel is stuffed with a sheep’s carcass, which is s...