As cruel as it was, I really think Saturday Night Live had it right when they dubbed the Food Network “porn for fat people.” I know this from personal experience. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching something on the Food Network, or a cooking show on another channel, and I had to have it. Nothing is as good at setting off cravings as cooking shows. Just last weekend I caught Paula Deen’s holiday cookie special, and there I was the next day, making chocolate chip cookies (Tyler Florence’s recipe. I highly recommend it).
This problem becomes so much worse at holiday time. It seems like every episode features some ridiculously good looking recipe. Whether it’s cookies, cakes, or even a big holiday roast of some sort, I can’t help wanting whatever I see.
I recall one instance when my roommate and I were flipping through the channels during the summer, at around 9:30 PM. We stopped on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and Guy was at a diner that featured amazing onion rings. My roommate and I turned to each other and nearly said at the same time: “We have to get some onion rings.” So there we were at 10 PM, eating onion rings and a calzone (we couldn’t just get onion rings). Let me tell you, if there is any equation that will guarantee heart burn and bad sleep, it’s eating half a calzone and onion rings at 10 PM. Bad idea.
Luckily, I have found that this works for just about every kind of food, not just the stuff that’s bad for you. Thank god for Ellie Krieger and her healthy recipes. She manages to make just about anything look good. I’ve found myself craving salad after watching certain episodes of Healthy Appetite. In particular, she has an awesome yogurt thousand island dressing.
Clearly, I am nothing but a sheep. I think I’m lucky that my house isn’t full of all those junky infomercial products. Alright, I do have a couple, but only a couple. Stop looking at me like that. I don’t have a problem! Really, I don’t, I’m telling you. I’m going to go sit in the corner and hang my head in shame now.
Have you ever experienced a food show craving that you just couldn’t resist?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Dec 13, 2008 @ 10:40 EST5EDT
I recognized that picture of chocolate chip cookies right away! It’s the picture for the food network recipe that I use. It doesn’t always happen to me (I remember once Sandra Lee making some kind of steak with taco seasoning and chocolate?!) but sometimes I see a recipe and I absolutely have to make it, like Giada’s chicken saltimbocca..
Ha. I had forgotten about that embarrassing need for onion rings. Damn you food network! (shakes angry fist)