I’m thinking of making this a feature here on Teeny Manolo, because it seems I heartily dislike quite a few things.

And instead of going to therapy or taking some Zoloft, I will instead vent about it in this space and make myself feel better.  For free!

I have seen this commercial numerous times, and with each consecutive viewing, my loathing of the message increases tenfold.

Kelly Ripa, I think you are as cute as a button, but damn girl, you are rich!  You don’t need some lousy applicances to make your life easier! If I had your bank account, I would simply hire people to do all of this for me, rather than flying around the house like an elf on crack.

In my very unbridled opinion, these plates are superfantastic! 

(Neatorama via Boing Boing)

There’s a union rule, apparently; every blog must include at least one post about Michael Jackson at least once a week until the world screams STOP! So here it is; Michael Jackson’s Sweet Potato Pie. As if Michael Jackson baked. Or ate.

From CDKitchen:

Ingredients:
3 Eggs
1/2 cup White sugar
1/4 cup Butter; melted
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/3 cup Milk (about)
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
2 1/2 cups Sweet potatoes (fresh or canned; heaping cups)
2 tablespoons Fresh lemon or orange juice
1 Pie shell (9-inch); unbaked
1/2 cup Pecan halves, optional

Directions:

Beat eggs and sugar. Add melted butter, salt, milk, vanilla, and spice. Blend egg mixture with mashed sweet potatoes and lemon or orange juice.

Pour into unbaked pie shell or greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Garnish with pecan halves if desired.

Bake in preheated 400-degree oven 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees; bake 40 minutes longer or until golden. Serves 8.

Tactfully, it doesn’t say whether those 8 are adults or children.

We’re just overrun with occasions for celebration recently! Not only is it National Donut Day in the US, but it’s the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Heinz Ketchup to the great nation of Canuckistan. Presumably shipped via dogsled from more civilized climes, where it had been known (if in off-label form) since around 1801, the condiment quickly took over the pantry, being the perfect compliment to the Great Canadian National Dish of KD and thus required at a minimum of one meal every 36 hours.

We all know how America celebrates its celebratory occasions. How does Canada commemorate this most commemorative of occasions?

With Ketchup Cake:

“We all think of ketchup as the perfect complement to hotdogs, hamburgers and fries, but its unique taste makes it an ideal flavour enhancer for many recipes including desserts,” explains Amy Snider, PHEc. and Culinary Nutritionist., “Heinz Ketchup not only adds great flavour to the cake, but it also creates a wonderfully moist texture.”

With Canadians being the second highest per capita users of ketchup in the world, this gorgeously red dessert is sure to grace the tables of cake and ketchup lovers from coast to coast to coast during this special anniversary year.

ORLY? Any brave readers care to try the recipe (in the post) and report back on deliciousnessosity?

As predicted, last Friday’s designer disaster brought out the best in our commenting community, and the competition was as heated as the griddle at a greasy spoon at high noon. So who is our winner for this week?

gemdiva Says:
March 7th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

“Hey everybody”, cried Lulu. “Breakfast is on me!”

Yes, returning champ gemdiva wins over-easy! And what shall we serve up for her imaginary reward? This equally crazy/fabulous “Coral Reef” candleholder by Michael Aram

We will present the following, actual designer dress without comment, because we expect you can do better than us. Do it in the comments section and the winner will receive, as always, a fabulous, completely imaginary prize:

I was trying to think of something for a Valentine’s day list, and instead came up with items that either have “heart” in the name, or are decorated with hearts.

I’m guessing this may not be a typical Valentine’s Day list, but that’s all right with me.

Webkinz Plush Stuffed Animal Love Monkey A must for the Webkinz fanatic in your life.

Domo Valentine’s Day Plush So ugly he’s cute!

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray Make perfect hearts of ice every time!

The Day It Rained Hearts A classic Valentine’s Day book for kids.

Polar F6 Women’s Heart Rate Monitor Watch Maybe not a gift I would suggest a guy to get for Valentine’s Day, but it fits my theme.

Kaiser Bakeware Heart Cookie Cutters Make cookie hearts in a jiffy with 6 sizes to choose from.

JanSport Superbreak Backpack Hearts galore decorate this excellent backpack.

Folding Hearts Learn how to make over 51 origami heart designs from origami master Sy Chen.

Heart of Darkness Hey, not everyone likes Valentine’s Day!

Now, I’m all for being healthy. I’m all for exercising (as long as it’s not raining, or too cold, or the weekend, or I have anything better to do). I’m all for eating right. But today I saw something.

And that? That thing that I saw? That just ain’t right.

I shook my head. I had another cup of coffee. I watched old Lily Tomlin specials.

I trawled the internet, looking for parallels, and I found them, of varying degrees of utility and authority: The Olive Oil Diet. The Coconut Oil Diet. The Linseed Oil Diet. The Palm Oil Diet.

But…the Baby Fat Diet?

I don’t care what they say: that shit’s just not right!