The Path (a Hulu original series) is a weird show by nature. A fictional culty religion and its followers is the kind of premise that implies that. Season two episodes just started to be released, but one of the weirdest things that stuck with me from the first season, though, was the use of a green juice. Part of the "rehab" or "detox" process for members who essentially are in solitary confinement to re-find their connection to the religion is to drink a psychotropic green juice. Something our society has come to revere as the definition of a healthy choice is used in this world as a "reprogramming" device.
Read more#tbt Rachel's "go long" soft pretzels (and cheesy dip) [Friends]
The Super Bowl is Sunday, which is the best night, not for football, but for food, obviously. Not everyone likes football or commercials that are now released ahead of time, but sports food is universal. The perfect example of this comes from The One With The Football episode of Friends. Rachel gets bored of the intense game of football the group plays to win the Geller Cup and "went really long" to get a soft pretzel instead.
Read moreAwards Show Eats: SAG Awards / Freddy's BBQ cauliflower [House of Cards]
I know House of Cards is an old name on the awards circuit, and it wasn't a favorite to win at the SAG awards, but how damn good do those ribs look every time Francis goes to his former favorite spot?! Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright were both nominated, so I thought a veggie version of the politician's favorite DC eats would be a good way to enjoy my favorite awards show. Food from a political show felt right on this particular night, anyway.
Read more#tbt Bluth Cornballer baked hushpuppies [Arrested Development]
The Bluths are a very enterprising family and one of their ill-fated ventures cam in the form of the Cornballer, a mysterious deep frier-type appliance that burned whoever tried to use it. Use at your own risk aside, I was always curious exactly what cornballs exactly were. We never got a great look, despite the infomercials and its availability in Mexico only. While the Bluths should stick with frozen bananas (and trust me, I'll get there), I took cornballing into my own hands, and I didn't get burned once. That's maybe because I do almost anything I can to avoid frying things so I don't get burned or burn down my apartment.
Read moreOlivia Pope's every meal popcorn [Scandal]
Olivia Pope has a lot things about her life "handled" (or, she did until things went CRAZY a couple seasons ago), but her diet was never one of those things. For someone so in command of insane situations, we pretty much only ever see her eating popcorn with red wine out of her signature Crate & Barrel wine glasses. Even though she's an established woman with more than enough means to at least get delivery, she makes the sad choice to eat several servings of popcorn on her own. But at least she has it together enough to always put it in a chic glass bowl. That way you know this questionable nutritional choice is deliberate.
Read more#tbt Gavin Volure's not-potpourri veggie chips [30 Rock]
If Tina Fey is the female and comedy icon we all aspire to be, then Liz Lemon is the food icon we all recognize in ourselves. 30 Rock's episodes are dense with both jokes and food references, and the fictional food is used perfectly in the show. Liz Lemon falls at about Lorelai Gilmore levels of healthy when it comes to her diet, but that doesn't mean healthy food can't be extracted from moments in the show.
When Liz accompanies Jack to rich, house-arrested businessman Gavin Volure's fancy house, she puts on a dress in place of her usual jeans and flannel, but that doesn't give her appetite a makeover. She reaches for a bowl of dried something at the table instead of engaging Jack in conversation, but it turns out to be potpourri or "these are not chips." Here, I offer the alternative outcome.
Read moreMasha Heddle's honey cakes [Game of Thrones]
Sansa has never been my favorite character, but I appreciate her sweet tooth. I think to drive home her femininity, they highlight her penchant for the desserts of Westeros and I can’t say I blame her. Her most famous favorite is lemon cakes, of course, so I went off that as inspiration to search for other sweet options from the series, a place where a creepy inn owner made unlimited sweet cakes for Catelyn when she was a child. I didn't want to miss making something for a favorite show, especially when it is nominated. Plus, it's always great to see the cast dirt-free and looking glamorous, even if they aren't taking home the trophy.
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