Speaking Of BLT's

I keep two lists posted on the inside of one my kitchen cabinet doors. One is labeled 'Great Food Combos'; the other is 'Fake Food That Tastes Good'. The first list details what, over the years, have emerged as seemingly perfect combinations of taste, texture, and visual appeal. While very far from complete, the list includes the following:

• BLT's - bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches on toasted, preferably whole wheat, bread with mayonnaise
• Hot Fudge Sundaes - complete with homemade fudge sauce and warm, freshly roasted, salted pecans
• Campbell's Tomato Soup and a grilled Vermont cheddar cheese sandwich
• A hot dog (frankfurter) on a grilled roll with Raye's mustard, relish, and freshly prepared horseradish
• Pepperoni pizza with and ice cold Foxon Park birch beer

You'll no doubt note that these are not gourmet, up-scale meals. True enough. But, they very well meet the qualifying conditions outlined above for sensory perfection.

The second list needs a bit of explanation. Over the years, artificial flavors, colors, additives, preservatives, and so forth have supplanted what was once the 'real thing' in many prepared foods. However, this doesn't mean that they can't and don't taste good. Again, it's far from complete, but what's on the list so far are:

• My-T-Fine butterscotch pudding - make butterscotch pudding from scratch and you'll know what I mean
• Banana Popsicles - flavor by Monsanto?
• Fanta Grape and Orange sodas - nothing close to grapes nor oranges, but they sure refresh and go down easily

Let me know what's on your lists.

Balance And Equilibrium

You know that expression about too much of a good thing? It's true. There is a fine, but well defined line between enjoyment and overdoing it. As an example, imagine a great meal with good friends at a fine restaurant. Stop short of being fully satiated and you still hunger for another bite or sip. Your longing intensifies what you have already enjoyed and makes what has been good even better. The positive experience will linger indefinitely. Cross the line to consuming that extra bite or having too much to drink ... how you feel and what you remember is not so pleasant. All the flavors, camaraderie, and great surroundings fall away and you're left feeling stuffed or worse.

Equilibrium plays a part in another food related arena and has larger implications for life as a whole. There's no taste quite like well prepared bacon, but it's probably not the healthiest item you can put in your diet. Eat too much and you tamper with your well being - avoid it and you'd miss that perfect combination of taste, texture and visual appeal - the BLT. What I'm trying to say is that within reason, you've got to want to get up in the morning - if you can't look forward to what lies ahead, why bother? You just need to do it within rational boundaries - neither too little, nor too much. If you follow my line of thought, this rationale is an approach to daily living - neither too little, nor too much - know when you've had enough and when to stop. Just don't forget the mayonnaise.