Protecting Preschoolers from Choking

Dealing with a picky preschooler at the dinner table may be the least of your concerns, according to a new study.  Instead of stressing about your child’s refusal to eat his veggies, researchers warn parents that they should be carefully monitoring four year olds while they chow down on classic kid favorites, like hot dogs, as the number of choking incidents among preschool-aged children is dangerously high. Researchers say a staggering 34 children a day are admitted to hospital emergency rooms due to choking.  That translates to more than 12,000 emergency room visits a year, though the study’s author notes … Continue reading

How to Make Healthy Corn Dogs at Home

It’s not everyday that you see the words “healthy” and “corn dog” in the same sentence. Okay, so maybe these dogs are not “healthy,” but they are healthier than the ones you find at the state fair. Then again, who goes to a carnival to eat health food? Cotton candy, corn dogs and fried coke are what most folks are chowing down on at summer festivals, but now you can get a taste of fair food in your own home. In your own kitchen you can modify fatty recipes (such as corn dogs) to make them less artery clogging. Let’s … Continue reading

Hearty Dips for Your New Year’s Eve Party

Thirty-two games, 64 teams… the road to the College Bowl Championship has begun at my parent’s house. With the University of Hawaii Warriors about to make history at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, my parent’s seaside home has turned into party central and their kitchen is at the center of all the action. Here in Wisconsin we’re gearing up to watch our beloved Badgers (my alma mater) take on Tennessee in the Outback Bowl on January 1st. And around the world home cooks are getting ready to ring in 2008 with their own celebrations. Whether you are hosting … Continue reading

Hot Dog History Made On Independence Day

The Yellow Mustard Belt has returned to the United States on this Fourth of July. In a previous blog I told you about six-time defending hot dog eating champion Takeru Kobayashi’s injured jaw and how his injury may squash any hope of him leaving the 2007 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest as the champ. Well, turns out the Japanese eating king couldn’t shake his arthritic jaw in time and was dethroned this afternoon in Coney Island. In what some are calling hot dog history, American Joey Chestnut shattered the world record by downing a record-breaking 66 dogs in the 12-minute … Continue reading

Chicago’s Festive Edible Treats (Or Where You Can Get Rudolph On A Bun)

I don’t know about you, but I love to eat. My dream job would consist of traveling across the county and dining at the nation’s best eateries. I’m not talking about the hoity-toity five-star restaurants (yes, they’d be on my list too), but I enjoy visiting the good ol’ fashion diners, food carts and ma-and-pa establishments lauded by locals for having the best food in town. I’ve found some unbelievably tasty treats in the Windy City (yes, this is yet another blog about Chicago). You’ve read my glowing reviews of the city’s attractions and its family-friendly restaurants, but I cannot … Continue reading

The Man With The Bottomless Stomach

I first saw Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi a few months ago when he traveled to my neck of the woods to compete in a bratwurst eating contest. Now I hear he’s at it again, only this time it’s hamburgers. Kobayashi is headed south this week to defend his title in a Tennessee hamburger-eating contest in which he is undefeated. He along with a dozen other finalists will be traveling to the Chattanooga headquarters of fast-food chain Krystal Co., to eat as many small, square hamburgers as they can in eight minutes. Kobayashi (who I am convinced has a bottomless … Continue reading