I was going to name this the Spaghettios thread, in honor of Miggie, but I think Guilty Pleasures might be more to the point. Awhile back Mig shared with us her love for Spaghettios, and although I've never had them (really), I can respect the fact that we all probably have a weakness for some kind of "tacky" food--canned of frozen or otherwise--that we do not readily admit to. And believe me, I'm sure that those of us from the New York City area can come across as "food snobs," so I just want to show that we are not. I'll get this thread started by admitting my weakness for Campbell's Chunky Soups and Velveeta "cheese."

Anyone else?

A thread in honor of me? I am so greatful. PB you are such a sweetie. Thank you

Looking forward to reading other people's guilty pleasures.

Ha Ha!!

Great avatar Miggie!!

Now, share a guilty pleasure with me. Maybe the Colonel has a weakness for Dinty Moore canned stew.

Chocolate bar with almonds.

Nutty Buddy Ice cream cones

Sunflower seeds (don't know how much guilt is involved, but I'm hooked on them. I think I need some sort of detox).

Pizza

That was the beef stew I ate last night. It's good to eat when you are camping.

I think canned soups have come a loooong way since the Campbell's alphabet soup days. Both Progresso and Chunky are very tasty. Low calorie, too, if you happen to be watching your weight.

Taco Bell

WHITE CASTLE Cheeseburgers.

You're speaking right to my soul, DC.

My "childhood" White Castle is still there, at Fordham Road and Hoffman Street. I grew up at Hoffman and 187th. What's funny, is that even the old Italian men would sneak there for a snack of half a dozen burgers, but they'd never admit it to ANYONE.

................especially their wives!

White Castle Cheeseburgers and their cheese fries.
Twinkies
Funny Bones
Fluffernutters

Boston Market Creamed Spinach

No, no, no! White Castle fries are a sacrilege. They're God-awful!

Now, their onion rings ain't bad.

Outback cheesefries.

Hey, this is supposed to be guilty pleasures.

I also like their clam strips.

My grandmother, God rest her soul, born in Cosenza, Calabria, LOVED Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips!

Remember them?

Tastykake Butterscotch krimpets
Snickers
Archway Blueberry filled cookies

While I try to limit fast food, I'll stop occasionally at Arby's. I usually pay for it later.

I also frequently get a taste for a good old fashioned PB & J.

PB & J is a gimmee! One of my favorites!

I was thinking more of foods that some people are ashamed to admit that they eat.

Well, we all know what Uncle Junior was ashamed of eating.

What?

It's as guilty a pleasure as any.

Go ahead and fess up Cardi, just admit you like spaghettio's

I recently had some Spaghettio's with the sliced hot dogs inside. it brought back memories. I got used to eating the boxed macaroni and cheese while in law school. I prefer the Velveeta shells and cheddar.

As a kid, I remember Campbell's selling a line of their condensed soup, called the "Manhandlers." I'm guessing they don't make it anymore?

I have a few:

• Cheese in a can - I think Kraft makes it; it has a little nozzle on top of the can and its perfect for putting on Saltines.
• Boboli "bread" - I'll stock up on one or two and along with a jar of pizza sauce and a package of mozzarella cheese they make a decent alternative to frozen pizzas.
• Potato sticks - the ones that come in the round container. They're similar to potato chips except they're cut differently.
• Chocolate covered Oreos - pop a few with a glass of cold milk Mmmmmmmmm.....

My mom makes the absolute best chocolate chip cookies. I looooove dipping them in milk until they are just about to break and then sucking the milk from the cookie. Every now and then, a small piece will break off a chocolate chip will sink to the bottom of the milk glass....

(Insert Homer Simpson voice here: "Mmmmmmmm...cookie.")

I refuse to dunk. I don't mind the dunking so much, but I can't stand the crumbs in my milk. Even when I was a little girl, my mom either had to strain the milk after I dunked, or throw it out.

Since SC mentioned Oreos, I have to tell you that deep fried Oreos are outrageously good. And they are definitely a guilty pleasure because you KNOW how bad they are for you. My daughter whipped up a couple of batches this summer and we couldn't stop eating them. We made her promise never to make them again, since my mother almost went into a diabetic coma.

Nobody here has mentioned Snowballs. Remember those things? The cakes with the pink marshmallow and coconut on the outside? Oh, they were so good. I haven't seen them in years, though.

The dessert of the dessert, huh?

Did you ever hear of FFV (Famous Foods of Virginia)? They used to make chocolate chip cookies that were sold here in New York in the 50's/60's. The cookies were about 3" across, hard (as opposed to the current softer chocolate chip cookies that are mostly sold now) and simply delicious!

I've done some lookups online but I can't find any references to those cookies.

Currently, I like the Famous Amos cookies.

Trader Joe's makes long, thin chocolate chip cookies that are covered in chocolate on one side. They are the perfect size for dunking.

No I never heard of FFV. It sounds good. I, too, like the harder cookies - that's what my mom makes.

Something about the store bought chocolate chip cookies just does not do it for me. Although I do like the Entemann's little ones.

I like Oreos as well, although not the ones dipped in more chocolate. Too much for me. Do they still make "double stuff" Oreos with the extra filling? I remember having those on occasion as a kid.

That reminds me - we used to call them "Chinese Restaurant cookies". They're about 5" across and have a dollop of hard chocolate in the middle of them ... I LOVE THEM! (My local bakery makes them).

Yeah... they're still sold. They're TOO sweet for my liking.

Chef Boy-ar-dee stuff in a can. It doesn't matter what it is, I'll just eat it unheated. But, I have to be really in the mood...or really pickled.

Sacrilege, ain't it?

Used to have a serious weakness for Campbell's Chunky Soups, but I haven't had them in quite awhile.

Every other year or so, I used to buy a big box of Yodels or Funny Bones and polish off the entire thing with a few tall glasses of milk.

But, you know, there are days (most days) when I think everything has become a guilty pleasure. Even breathing.

But, I refuse to give up my vices. Especially breathing.

Signor V.

I remember eating potato sticks. I thought they stopped making them. Now I think they're so pointy they can be used as a weapon to poke someone in the eye.

Oreo double stuff are the only ones I buy lately. The regular ones don't have enough filling. I love me some cream filling. Never had chocolate Oreos. To me the cookie is chocolaty enough.

My favorite potato chips are Pringles. I have to keep them away because I'll literally eat half the can in one sitting. Whenever I'm in the mood for a big salty flavor chip I like Munchos.

I like that they're consistantly the same size and that they're a little thicker than a normal potato chip BUT they have a "processed food" taste that I don't like. I can't stand "flavored" (i.e bar-b-que) potato chips.

Buckeye balls, ice cream sandwiches, funyuns, bugles

I'm afraid to ask.

Who's Buckeye?

SC,

You'd LOVE the homemade potato chips at Michael Jordan's, at Grand Central, if you haven't tried them already. They're a bit more than a guilty pleasure, though. They're like 10 bucks a bowl.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups confectioners' sugar
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips



DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.
Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

Never had them. Potato chips are a snack for me.... I prefer fried potatoes or a baked potato if I'm eating in a restuarant.

What is with you and peanut butter, Mig? You own stock in Skippy?

Nope. Peter Pan peanut butter is the best. Since you mentioned it, I'm gonna have to make the Col. make me a peanut butter milkshake.

Oh, me too, of course, but the chips are served at the bar, in family style bowls.

I didn't think it possible, but you just outdid the SpaghettiO's. SKIPPY is THE peanut butter!!!

Oh, and Skippy peanut butter is the only peanut butter.

Peter Pan is fake just like spaghetti-o's

And you pay $10 for them?? Come to Brooklyn... I got a bridge I wanna sell ya.

$10.00 -



Priceless -

I had to go back to Skippy pb when Peter Pan got recalled. But now that it is back on the market I'm back to the good stuff. Not that sloppy second Skippy junk.

Now I need a Spaghettio's/Peterpan avatar.

Hey, if you want a tasteless avatar just use a picture of George Steinbrenner.

You make me laugh

Thanks. Thats the second nicest thing I heard today.

What was the first??

Oh, and JIF is the best peanut butter.

JIF???????? Even Peter Pan is better than JIF!!!!!!!!

I beg to differ. Jif rules.

You LIVE to differ.

No way Jif sucks.

There are certain things that I just can't buy an offbrand name. Peanut butter is one of them. I like both Peter Pan & Jif. What do I usually buy???? Jif!


TIS

Well, yes.

THAT'S why I like you!!!

I hear that all the ladies say that to him!

SC, I wouldn't take that from someone who gets his picture taken with a piece of ice on his head

This from someone who eats Spaghetti out of a can and puts Ketchup on her steak!

You know I love ya MAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Don't forget that I like Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden.

Outback I could live with. Olive garden....well maybe if I was in Ohio or someplace like that and was desperate for Italian food.

A wacky package from a wacky guy!

Skippy gets my vote, even if SC wants to pick on me for being frivolous with my potato chip money.

See, I would say the same thing about the Oreos dipped in extra chocolate. Different strokes...

I too am a fan of Peter Pan PB (I recall this discussion, I think, in another thread). My family prefers Skippy, which is what we usually buy. We recently got a new variety of Skippy, called Natural - or something like that - in a container with brown lettering. I couldn't tell a difference.

Anyway, I eat peanut butter most days.

Any cream cake or pastry is a treat in our house because we very rarely have them. Last night though we had some apple turnovers,thick of cream and chunky apple!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Guilty pleasures:

Creamed Chipped beef on toast
Canned tuna right out of the can
Spraying canned whipped cream directly into my mouth.
Three Muskateers Bars
Velveeta on Philly Cheesesteaks.

Oh man, I haven't had that in awhile. I love this stuff. It sticks to your ribs. A hearty thing to eat for dinner on a cold night.

This sounds tasty!
Does creamed,chipped beef come in a tin then cos i can't say i've seen it over here in Never-Never-Land?

I don't believe I've ever seen it in a can. It's usually in a red bag, located in the section with packaged lunch meats. You add milk to it.

Yummmmmmm.

That's great stuff!!

I like to add a box of frozen peas to the chipped beef. They add sweetness and, of course fiber, which really lends to the poop-ability of the dish.

Hey, I've been good for weeks.

I also like those little vienna sausages in a can. I actually ate a can while watching football a couple weeks ago. It brought back memories of my childhood. It's surprising how much better they taste when you buy something because you want to, not just because you're broke and that's all you can afford.

I ate canned Hormel chili this past week, while watching the games. It wasn't too bad.

Looks like something my cat threw up.

Man, you are one picky eater.

Yeah but tasty puke though eh?

It kind of looks like chicken fried steak with the white gravy, that they make down south.

Now THAT'S a guilty pleasure!

I used to have three cats. One of them would eat whatever the other two threw up. My wife was grossed out by that, and I'd tell her to chill out - it was a "home-cooked meal" for that one cat.

Actually the colloquial term for this dish is S.O.S. (Sh*t On a Shingle)

One of my all time favorite snacks is saltine crackers and Hormel potted meat.

Sure, the potted meat looks kinda like wet dog food, but MAN is it good.

Here...have a looksie:

Really for a guy that can't cook, Spaghetti-Os aren't too bad, once in a while.

I've been craving Ramen Noodles...I hate Ramen noodles.

I haven't had chipped beef on toast in years. My mother used to make it sometimes for breakfast as well as lunch. She made a similar dish with tuna, and I'd have creamed tuna over toast. I liked both.

As a kid, I also liked chicken a la king over toast, which came in a can and was made by Swanson's, I think.

My daughter and the Col love potted meat. They also like those vienna's that Beth likes. All I got to say is YUCKIE. I'll stick to my Spaghettio's.

Now that fall is upon us, I am remembering probably my favorite dessert: pumpkin pie. Costco sells a 55" pie for $6.00. It is so delicious that I could probably eat the entire thing in two days if I was so inclined.

Costco sells more pumpkin pies than any place on earth. I agree. They are outstanding. Mel Kiper, the NFL Draft expert at ESPN, eats a pumpkin pie every day.

While Costco makes great pumpkin pies, Sam's Club makes a great triple chocolate cake. Problem is I don't get to Sam's too often.

Other fall favorites are apple cider and caramel apples, sprinkled with peanuts.

A 55" pie?????

Thats 4½ feet across!

I love a good "fall" pie.

My favorite pie ever, though, is Key Lime pie. I order it online from Kermit's in Key West. The shipping is practically usury, but I only order it a few times a year.

Pumpkin pie and cool whip that is heavenly.

You ever try REAL whipped cream, Mig?

I don't think so. I have been deprived of the finer things in life.

Try it once (or make your own). BIG difference!

Ok I'll have to find a recipe.

Buy some heavy cream. Put it in a chilled bowl. Whip with beaters until it forms stiff peaks. As you beat it, add confectioner's sugar, one teaspoon at a time, to taste. Some people add a touch of vanilla, but that's not for everyone. Don't underbeat it or it will be too watery. Don't overbeat it, or it will turn to butter.

It is a whole different WORLD than Cool Whip!!!

I do like Costco's pumpkin pie. It's quite good. So is their chocolate cake. They also sell terrific chocolate cake.