Food, Glorious Food!
Instantly Search Two Million Recipes
The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Black Licorice
Use of “Healthy” on Food Labels
Something Sweet to Quit On
A Closing Chuckle
I’ve probably done as much research on food-related topics as I’ve done on writing, but I’ve published very little about healthy cooking and eating. (My only definitive article reflecting months of research is listed at the end.) Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this little collection of “short food Tidbits.”
Instantly Search Two Million Recipes
I cook from scratch, and when I want a new idea for what to do with a particular fruit, vegetable, or piece of meat, I go online. But I dislike “recipe blog sites” bloated with a cook's elaborate how-to instructions, images, ads, videos, and popups before getting to the recipe.
To save time and have fun, check out Recipe Search with Typesense, an open-source recipe search engine without ads or images. You can instantly search two million+ recipes by typing in what you’re looking for, which will turn up a page of boxes of recipes showing a list of ingredients with a link to instructions. Some recipes may have images and ads, but they don’t clog the page. Each recipe links to others.
I was astonished by the countless recipes that appeared in my search for Brazilian Chicken, a new dish I was introduced to. Then I typed “Peanut Butter Cookies” and turned up more than 5,000 variations. A fun site to explore!
The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Black Licorice
I have always liked black licorice, and red too, but my ears perked up when a friend wrote about her addiction to black licorice and Licorice Allsorts in particular. I’d never noticed this candy before, but I see it’s readily available online. A serving of seven small pieces is only 130 calories, but each piece is mostly sugar, and one’s taste for this candy could easily lead to addiction, as my friend discovered.
Years ago, I started using black licorice when I learned it was a good natural laxative. My new research indicates that it’s also good for acid reflux. While black licorice has a remarkable list of health benefits, it also has a dark side. The article “Is Black Licorice Bad for You?” discusses both the good and bad sides, citing a 2017 FDA report stating eating two ounces of black licorice per day for at least two weeks could prompt an arrhythmia—an abnormal heart rhythm—in adults 40 and older.
For more about the ugly and “spooky and dangerous side of black licorice,” read this article. The good news is this: “If you’re a fan of black licorice, there is no need to ban it from your pantry. Eaten in small quantities from time to time, licorice poses no significant threat to otherwise healthy adults and children. But it is advisable to monitor your intake.”
I watch a lot of old Western movies, and I like a candy treat at night. When I stumbled across a box of Good & Plenty in my drugstore, it was like stepping back in time because this was my favorite movie treat (along with Milk Duds) when I was growing up. I never knew that this licorice treat is one of our country’s oldest candies, first made in 1893. But I’m watching my diet by allowing myself only 10 pieces at a time (just 52 calories) until the box is gone. Then I might have to try another box of Milk Duds, just for nostalgia’s sake, you understand.
Use of “Healthy” on Food Labels
In the fall of 2022, the FDA began a public process to update the “healthy” claim for food labeling to be consistent with current nutrition science and federal dietary guidance. Use of the “healthy” claim is voluntary. When used, it meets limits for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and to qualify, foods must also provide at least 10% of the Daily Value for one or more of the following nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein, and fiber. Get complete details here on the FDA website.
Something Sweet to Quit On
A Recipe for “Goopenpucky”
Throughout his life, my husband played with words and phrases, turning and twisting them to suit his humorous inclinations. Sometimes he made up words; other times he borrowed the words and phrases of others, using them in a new way. I talk about this in my memoir of my life with him, but here is the story behind one of my favorite words from Harry’s vocabulary.
When we were first married, I made a recipe for Harry that probably came from my Mother’s recipe box. All I remember is that Harry loved it and said it was “great Goopenpucky,” a word I’d never heard before. When I asked where he got that word, he said, “I don’t know. I just like it.”
So did I. For years I thought Harry made it up, but during the writing of my memoir, I turned up a couple of web pages suggesting this was a pliable sealant used when doing repair work. I figured Harry might have picked it up from some construction worker he knew in the forties, loved the musicality of the word, claimed it, and gave it a new definition.
As time passed, “Goopenpucky” became his word for any concoction that satisfied his sweet tooth. Whenever he asked for it, I was free to serve any cake, pie, or other dessert loaded with calories and lots of whipped cream. Below is the original recipe he dubbed “Goopenpucky,” which called for real whipping cream. In later years, I substituted Cool Whip, but this product wasn’t introduced to the marketplace until 1967, so for many years, Harry got the real thing in his desserts.
“Goopenpucky”
In a medium-sized pan, heat a cup of water and add a package of lime Jello, stirring well until dissolved. Add 15 marshmallows and heat on low until melted. Pour into a mixing bowl and refrigerate until the mixture starts to set. Then add:
1 cup whipping cream, whipped (or Cool Whip
1 can small crushed pineapple
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
I share this story whenever I make variations of Goopenpucky for guests. I hope you enjoyed it and will share this Bulletin and recipe.
A Closing Chuckle
At a revival meeting, a preacher was given an apple pie as a thank-you gift. It tasted so bad that he threw it out. Later when the woman who gave him that pie asked him how he liked it, he replied, “Ma’am, a pie that tastes like that don’t last long in our house.”
Related Article:
Eating Wisely to Improve and Maintain Good Health. You are what you eat. A study of nutrition changed Barbara’s life, and what she learned could change yours too—if you follow her lead. (This article links to my PDF report, “Tired of Being Fat? How to Finally Lose that Unwanted Weight”)
First published as a Brabec Bulletin on August 5, 2024.
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