Category:
Food

More unicorn food

Unicorns continue to take over the food industry. (See previous post: Unicorn food phenomenon). Some recent examples:

Unicorn farts glitter beer from Duclaw brewing.



Unicorn-shaped macaroni & cheese.



Unicorn Swirl ice cream



But a criminal element may be infiltrating the world of unicorns. Last month, a man dressed in a pink-and-white uniform costume robbed a Maryland convenience store.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 02, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Food, Myths and Fairytales

Decomposition Cupcake

The “Five Stages” cupcake by artist Claire Ratcliffe. It was part of the Edible Body Farm exhibit held in England back in 2016, which used culinary creations to explore the topic of bodily decomposition.



Stages of decay cupcakes by Claire Ratcliffe

Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 25, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Art, Death, Food

Jelly-Strength Tester

Invented in 1932 by C.R. Fellers and J.A. Clague of Massachusetts State College. It's technical name is the Fellers-Clague Penetrometer.

As is explained in The Complete Book on Gums and Stabilizers for Food Industry, there are two ways of testing the strength of jelly: 1) "tests in which the elastic limits (breaking strength) of the jellies are exceeded and the jelly is ruptured", or 2) "tests measuring deformation (sag) of jellies without exceeding the elastic limit."

The Fellers-Clague Penetrometer is of the first type.

Latrobe Bulletin - July 13, 1932




Source: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Analytical Edition

Posted By: Alex - Sat Mar 02, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Food, Jello, Inventions, 1930s

Toast as a unit of power

Odd units of measurement: Back in 1975, Allan Clemow of Tufts University figured out how to translate power consumption into pieces of toast. By his estimate, one kilowatt hour was equivalent to toasting 60 slices of bread. Therefore:

  • Ironing for an hour = 68 slices of toast
  • Watching TV for 4 hours = 100 slices of toast
  • Blow-drying your hair for 10 minutes = 4 slices of toast
  • Drying a large load of clothes = 270 slices of toast

These estimates may all now have changed thanks to more energy-efficient appliances.

Casper Star Tribune - Nov 20, 1975

Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 22, 2019 - Comments (1)
Category: Food, 1970s, Power Generation

The Burnt Food Museum

It was founded in the late 1980's by harpist Deborah Henson-Conant. She writes:

Deborah put on a small pot of Hot Apple Cider to heat, then received an unexpected . . . fascinating . . . and very long phone call. By the time Deborah returned to the kitchen, the Cider had become a "Cinder" and thus the first, and perhaps still the most impressive, exhibit: "Free Standing Hot Apple Cider" was born.

The museum still seems to be going strong, though its website specifies that it's a private museum, which means that you need to arrange personal tours in advance to see it. A price of $3500 is quoted. For that amount, I'm sure Paul and I could arrange something if you wanted a behind-the-scenes tour of WU.





Boston Globe - May 13, 2001

Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 18, 2019 - Comments (1)
Category: Food, Strange Websites

Cooking with Scraps

Good idea, or a kind of "stone soup" scheme? I add stones and water, you dump in all the veggies and meat. Now it tastes great!



Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 06, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Food, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Books

Miss Popcorn

A few of the holders of the "Miss Popcorn" title. It seems the title must have been discontinued after Miss Popcorn of 1952 generated a bit of bad press.

Chicago Tribune - Oct 21, 1950



Cincinnati Enquirer - Mar 11, 1951



Palm Beach Post - Nov 12, 1952





Windsor Star - Aug 6, 1953

Posted By: Alex - Tue Dec 11, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Food, 1950s

Meats for Babies

Back in the late 1940s and early 50s, Swift's urged mothers to start feeding their babies canned, processed meat at 6 weeks because "Results of actual test feedings with six-weeks-old infants show meat gives baby a better start in life!”

I'm no expert, but six weeks seems awful early to start feeding your kid meat, even if it has been pureed into meat mush. Aren't most kids still on breast milk or formula at six weeks?



Boston Globe - Apr 4, 1948

Posted By: Alex - Wed Dec 05, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Babies, Food, 1950s

Page 27 of 81 pages ‹ First  < 25 26 27 28 29 >  Last ›




weird universe thumbnail
Who We Are
Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

Paul Di Filippo
Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

Contact Us
Monthly Archives
November 2024 •  October 2024 •  September 2024 •  August 2024 •  July 2024 •  June 2024 •  May 2024 •  April 2024 •  March 2024 •  February 2024 •  January 2024

December 2023 •  November 2023 •  October 2023 •  September 2023 •  August 2023 •  July 2023 •  June 2023 •  May 2023 •  April 2023 •  March 2023 •  February 2023 •  January 2023

December 2022 •  November 2022 •  October 2022 •  September 2022 •  August 2022 •  July 2022 •  June 2022 •  May 2022 •  April 2022 •  March 2022 •  February 2022 •  January 2022

December 2021 •  November 2021 •  October 2021 •  September 2021 •  August 2021 •  July 2021 •  June 2021 •  May 2021 •  April 2021 •  March 2021 •  February 2021 •  January 2021

December 2020 •  November 2020 •  October 2020 •  September 2020 •  August 2020 •  July 2020 •  June 2020 •  May 2020 •  April 2020 •  March 2020 •  February 2020 •  January 2020

December 2019 •  November 2019 •  October 2019 •  September 2019 •  August 2019 •  July 2019 •  June 2019 •  May 2019 •  April 2019 •  March 2019 •  February 2019 •  January 2019

December 2018 •  November 2018 •  October 2018 •  September 2018 •  August 2018 •  July 2018 •  June 2018 •  May 2018 •  April 2018 •  March 2018 •  February 2018 •  January 2018

December 2017 •  November 2017 •  October 2017 •  September 2017 •  August 2017 •  July 2017 •  June 2017 •  May 2017 •  April 2017 •  March 2017 •  February 2017 •  January 2017

December 2016 •  November 2016 •  October 2016 •  September 2016 •  August 2016 •  July 2016 •  June 2016 •  May 2016 •  April 2016 •  March 2016 •  February 2016 •  January 2016

December 2015 •  November 2015 •  October 2015 •  September 2015 •  August 2015 •  July 2015 •  June 2015 •  May 2015 •  April 2015 •  March 2015 •  February 2015 •  January 2015

December 2014 •  November 2014 •  October 2014 •  September 2014 •  August 2014 •  July 2014 •  June 2014 •  May 2014 •  April 2014 •  March 2014 •  February 2014 •  January 2014

December 2013 •  November 2013 •  October 2013 •  September 2013 •  August 2013 •  July 2013 •  June 2013 •  May 2013 •  April 2013 •  March 2013 •  February 2013 •  January 2013

December 2012 •  November 2012 •  October 2012 •  September 2012 •  August 2012 •  July 2012 •  June 2012 •  May 2012 •  April 2012 •  March 2012 •  February 2012 •  January 2012

December 2011 •  November 2011 •  October 2011 •  September 2011 •  August 2011 •  July 2011 •  June 2011 •  May 2011 •  April 2011 •  March 2011 •  February 2011 •  January 2011

December 2010 •  November 2010 •  October 2010 •  September 2010 •  August 2010 •  July 2010 •  June 2010 •  May 2010 •  April 2010 •  March 2010 •  February 2010 •  January 2010

December 2009 •  November 2009 •  October 2009 •  September 2009 •  August 2009 •  July 2009 •  June 2009 •  May 2009 •  April 2009 •  March 2009 •  February 2009 •  January 2009

December 2008 •  November 2008 •  October 2008 •  September 2008 •  August 2008 •  July 2008 •