There Is A Great, New Local Food Experience in Scottsville, Virginia

Cyclists can not survive on riding and caffeine alone... We also require food, and I have found a great, new place that you should try if you find yourself near the historic town of Scottsville, in Central Virginia.

Country Blessings Local Food's has just opened on Main Street (actually addess is 20 Valley Street). It is easy to find though, look for the first building on your left after the James River Bridge if your heading North, or the last on your right if heading South on Highway 20.

Country Blessing's offers a wide variety of Virginia products with the majority coming from within a 50 mile radius. Products from well-known, local sources and local organic produce, a great varity of  Wines From Virginia Vineyards: and Great Mirco-Brews FromVeritas Virginia Breweries.

The Deli/Grocery Carries Regional and International Food and Cheeses

They also serve Breakfast, Lunch, Weekend Brunch (which I really like) and are open until 8PM every night,

Their menu includes Pizzas (Be sure to try the Deep Dish!), Strombolis, Calzones, Sandwiches (Deli &; Grilled), Paninis, Burgers (hormone-free beef),  Gyros (Whowould have ever thgouth you Salads, Home-Made Sides.

Even better you can download a copy of their menu for yourself.

Making Cotton Candy Using a Bicycle

Who says you need to have a fancy carnival-worthy setup to make cotton candy? In China, they make cotton candy using a simple bike. There's propane underneath the apparatus, heating up the sugar, but then it's all spun around and stretched out by simple pedal power.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like they figured out a way to make funnel cakes or sausage with onions and peppers using only a bike, so you might still need to go to a fair to get those.

Via Gizmodo.com

Finally, the reason for Cookie Monster's hyperactivity has been revealed!

Now they have done it... It is bad enough that I need vast quantities of coffee on a daily basis, but now there another disturbance in the Force... I am seeking some and as soon as they are delivered and devoured, I will gladly pass along a review.Buzz Strong's Caffeinated Cookies ($5). Made with Brazilian coffee, Tahitian vanilla, and Swiss dark and white chocolate chips, these cookies are all-natural and have a shelf life of nine months despite their lack of preservatives. And with four cookies offering the caffeine equivalent of drinking a full cup of coffee, you're sure to "buzz strong" for a while.

Writing Spoon Turns Your Coffee Into Ink

Writing spoon turns your coffee into ink; that is if you can part with your coffee...

Admit it, some of you like those restaurants where they use paper tablecloths and servers write their names upside down with crayons (I used to work at a Macoroni Grill, and I know wait staff that had to practice for months to do that). Why? Because you love to doodle (and you love crayons).

If only you could combine your passion for food and drink with your passion for doodling in one simple device. Enter the Writing Spoon by Spanish artist, Julie Mariscal. It incorporates a makeshift fountain pen into the spoon, making it possible to use things like coffee or soup as ink. You can pick one up on her website for around $31, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than it would be to get your own Gizuccino-making machine.

[via Gizmodo]

Your support is needed for a worthy cause...

Campaign to grow vegetable garden on White House lawn...

Several past U.S. presidents had vegetable gardens on the White House lawn. Eleanor Roosevelt started a victory garden on the White House lawn in 1943, which encouraged millions to do the same in their own front yards. When WWII ended, home gardeners were producing 40 percent of the United States' produce.

Roger Doiron, founder of Kitchen Gardens International (an organization that promotes kitchen gardening and home-cooking) hopes to convince the next US president to make a small vegetable garden on the 19 acres of grass surrounding the White House. His video about making a garden in the front yard of his own "white house" is entertaining and inspiring.

This Lawn is Your Lawn

I doubt if there will be any luck with the idea... As one commenter put it "Jimmy Carter did all kinds of "lead by example" stuff when he was President, and we lambasted him for it. What makes anyone believe the next President wouldn't get the same treatment?"

Regional Hot Dogs Styles Across America...

Sonorans Hot Dog. Photo: Mr Frosted [Flickr]

Jenn Sit of Serious Eats’ Eating Out Blog has posted a very interesting article about the various regional styles of American hot dogs. Her #1 on the list is my favorite hot dog- "Sonorans" from Tucson, Arizona:

"Bacon-wrapped hot dogs are grilled, then nestled in steamed bolillo rolls and topped with pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayo, and jalapeños. Other variations could include any of the following: shredded cheddar, queso fresco, cotija cheese, salsa verde, and guacamole. "

I say Sonaran Hot Dogs are the best you will ever have..

Try 'Hermano's' , a local stand located Mon- Sat 11am- 10pm on 22nd just west of Wilmont St, Tucson. (Not that I haven't been there thousands of times or anything...) Is your hometown’s dog listed?

Link - Check out the "Slaw Dog', another of my favorites

Science Vault: Coffee As Treatment For the Plague

Its been nothing but roses lately for us coffee drinkers needing a scientific reason to validate our habit.

The past couple weeks have yielded no less than four separate studies on the beneficial health effects of drinking coffee: reducing the risk of liver cancer, protection from age-related memory decline, cutting the risk of colon cancer in half, and caffeine + exercise might contribute to lower risk of skin cancer.

With all these "real" benefits coming to light, it is amusing to discover that coffee (while once maligned as a bad habit) was once touted as a ground-breaking treatment for the Plague in 18th century Europe. Guess what? It didn't work.

(Continued by following the link...)

A Caffeine Boost for Smucker?

Smucker announced the largest acquisition in its history earlier this month. It will acquire the Folgers coffee business from Procter & Gamble

Coffee will move from zilch to account for 42% of Smucker's sales, thus eclipsing the legacy jam, baking, peanut butter, and milk businesses...

With a name like Smucker, will the coffee be any good?

Free Folgers Gourmet Coffee...

Click to sign-up for a free sample of coffee!

Folgers Promotional Offers

I know a how a little thing like a good cup of coffee can make a big difference on any day.

Caffeine Laced Chips?...I'll Just Stick To Coffee

Via [ Geekologie.com]

If you're anything like me; you down several large cups of coffee to get you going in the morning. Well for those of you out there that aren't into the liquid caffeine scene, how about some, uh, chips?

That's right, Engobi "Energy Go Bites" are cinnamon or lemon flavored chips laced with wake-up powder. While I couldn't find the exact amount of crack per bag, each 1.5-ounce serving is advertised as containing "70% more caffeine than those little energy drinks." Yeah, and all for the low, low price of $1.29. To promote the chips, Engobi is taking the chips to the street.

The company is running a "Girls, Guitars and Geeks City Tour," with a Guitar Hero-equipped van, giving gamers willing to leave their basements the chance to compete for Guitar Hero controllers and gear emblazoned with the name of everyone's favorite insomnia-inducing snack product. And if you were worried that Engobi was run by a bunch of old shriveled nads with no concept of what's cool to their target demographic, fear not.
Says the company's VP, Mark Singleton: ""If this contest, the Engobi girls, or our high-octane Engobi snack chips don't perk you up, I'm not sure you have a pulse. With Engobi on the scene, couch potatoes just earned a place on the endangered species list."

Wow, Mark, wow. You just made a whole bunch of no sense whatsoever. Doesn't gaming promote a certain level of couch/desk chair potatodom? However? Might be good after a long ride through the local hills....

Engobi WebsiteviaEngobi Chips: Caffeinated, Guitar Hero-Friendly [gearlog]

NOTE: Whatever you do, don't go to the Engobi website and then click Products, What's Inside and then scroll over the heaps of shit at the bottom. Trust me, just don't.

Nutrition: Getting that caffeine kick

By Joe Beer

Caffeine is the obvious choice for the cyclist looking for that extra few percent. Millions drink coffee and tea to give them a morning ‘jolt’ so why not use it pre-ride to get some extra metres on your mates or blast to a PB?

Sounds logical so far but some of the ‘waking up effect’ that people report (or rely on) is psychosomatic – many teas contain negligible caffeine yet people claim they need two to get out the front door. The jolt is probably the warmth of the drink rather than the caffeine. However, put the focus on exercise testing and caffeine gets the thumbs up here’s why…

Roll Your Own Homemade Herbal Teas

Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done: "Country Living online details how to make your own herbal teas by mixing and matching ingredients from your herb garden or plants around the house for tasty and healthy results. The article runs down which flowers, herbs, bushes, and weeds are edible and drinkable and suggests a few mixes to get you started. If you've ever dabbled in homebrew teas, share your experience in the comments. Photo by Kanko*.

Homemade Herbal Teas [Country Living via TipNut]

Coffee Marinated Sirloin?!

Brewed Coffee: Coffee Marinated Sirloin
April 16, 2008

I love coffee and I love steak – who can resist either? The thing is, I have never really thought of these two ingredients coming together, have you? Well, apparently, you can use coffee to marinate a good piece of sirloin. According to The Canadian Press, to which I attribute this eye opening piece of news, the marinade adds creaminess to the steak. An added bonus – the coffee’s acidity tenderizes the meat as well. Here’s the recipe:

Start to finish: 1 1/2 hours (20 minutes active)
Servings: 4

1 1/2 cups cold coffee
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons honey
1/2-inch chunk fresh ginger
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Four 8-ounce bottom sirloin steaks (or other tender, broiler-friendly cut)
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
In a blender or food processor, combine the coffee, pepper flakes, peanut butter, honey and ginger. Puree until smooth, then taste and season with salt and pepper.
Pour half of the marinade in a baking dish. Set the steaks in the baking dish, then pour the remaining marinade over them. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
When ready to cook, preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the steak, in batches if necessary, and sear until lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Transfer the steaks to the prepared baking sheet. For medium-rare, broil for 7 to 8 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the steak reads 135 F.
Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving."