To PARTICLEWILL and others who like sweets in chili. Skyline chili uses chocolate in their recipe and that is common in Chili in that part of the country (Cincinnati, OH–possibly a German immigrant influence?). Cinnamon in chilia has a long tradition, since it is a hot, yet mellow, spice. People often associate it with sweetness because in most concoctions (cinnamon toast, cinnamon buns, cinnamon in coffee), it is combined with sugar. When used with other hot spices, cinnamon enhances the spiciness and helps separate the flavors. Try it sometime.
I am also a salter. Watermelons without salt is unedible to me.
How’s your blood pressure? <g>
I don’t think porn and beans go together very well! LOL! Unless you’re into something I don’t want to know about. 
You are removing the “pork” from the beans when you take out the “lump o’fat”. But eating “pork” and beans even on top of pork chops doesn’t sound so bad…
Wow - popcorn and M&Ms - I thought my wife was the only one who did that, but it seems there are others. =)
I, too was horrified to see her dump and entire bag of M&Ms (plain) into a full bag of popcorn! I’ve tried it and it just doesn’t appeal to me - when she wants to do that now we get two little bags. =)
Most people have heard of this one:
Junior Mints and movie Popcorn…
I was dubious at first, but now they are a medley of minty, salty goodness…
PS - mmmmmm… porn and beans…
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Diver *
**Of course I salt watermelon. I also add salt and pepper to cantaloupe…
I love salted watermelon, and I thought my family was the only one that put salt and pepper on cantalope. The pepper really brings out the flavor.
I’m not Cygnus, but I salt and pepper the frying pan before I break my eggs into it.
I have also tried the Goobers (chocolate covered peanuts) and popcorn combo. It’s not bad, it’s just not good either. And all the Goobers wind up at the bottom anyway. Haven’t heard much about peanuts and Coke lately, but I’ve known people who did it.
Also, regarding putting crackers in chili, I prefer to eat chili like it’s a dip, dipping crackers into it and eating them. I also heard this weird rumor that chili isn’t supposed to have beans in it … ?
lee, I have never tried salting the plate first, but now that you mention it, it might be a sound alternative to the tedious though willingly-endured task of salting each bite individually. Must try this… And I, too, have skipped meals for lack of salt. If there’s no pleasure in the food, why bother? Better to wait for later when you can have something with salt and actually enjoy it.
Notluf - My area has bottled Coke available periodically too, in the little bottles (8 oz?). It is, as you say, ridiculously overpriced, about $4 for a six pack. I buy it once a year, for the big family-reunion-type bash that we normally host over the 4th of July holiday. The first year I provided them, people were beside themselves with surprise and delight, and even the beer drinkers found room for a little bottle of Coke. Since then I have made it a point to include a few six packs of it each year, justifying the outrageous expense under the “special occasion” rule (besides, it seems modest compared to the beer and rib expense). Only once a year - but the experience is a pleasant one. I sure miss pop in bottles - it really was/is better than pop in plastic - perhaps because of the innate permeability of plastic? And I guess that deposit system just made too much sense when we could just THROW IT AWAY instead.
Delores Claiborne, I am mildly embarassed to say that my blood pressure is absolutely normal and occasionally on the low side. Last time I donated blood my reading was 110/70. Clearly a result of good genetics, since I obviously do nothing to encourage these good readings. By the way, how’s your husband? {shudder} <g>
Oh, and I forgot to say that my mom also puts sugar in her chili, and so do I, although most of the rest of the family does not. Not a lot, just a spoonful, although when I’m making a whole batch I use honey instead. Mmmm. Think I’ll have some Cincinnati chili for lunch today - I have a package in the freezer.
Tanzarian - “porn and beans” - is that a typo or a Fruedian slip? =)
I’ll just contribute to the thread by saying that pretzels and M&Ms is one of my favorite snacks. 2 M&Ms, a bite of one of those thin salty pretzels and I’m in sweet and salty heavan.
> I put salt on watermelon, and on apple slices. Always have. Always will.
I’ve always put mustard on my apples.
Extra good with cheddar.
Ah, yes. Spending many a summer afternoon in my great-grandmother’s backyard eating watermelon and that little knobby salt shaker in reach. Takes ya back.
I hated eggs until she had me try them with mustard. Now I switch between mustard and Tabasco. More sophisticated palate now, I guess.
NO, NO, NO, NO!
Watermelon good. Salt bad.
You saltoholics (like my wife) are ruining this country.
Let me 'splain.
Too much salt = hypertension = more doctor visits = more prescriptions & medical costs = higher insurance costs for everyone.
How can we possibly succeed as a nation if you keep salting every damn thing you find? As a deeply concerned American, I implore you do look deeply into your hearts and stop what you know is wrong.
For those of you with NaCL freaks in your family, try what I did to my wife…
If it doesn’t have at least 1/4 inch layer of salt on it, she won’t eat it. So, I went to our local feed store (they have those in the country) & paid $8 for a 50lb salt lick.
Wrapped it in larger & larger boxes & put it under the Xmas tree. She was giddy for weeks thinking she was getting a new T.V. or something.
Xmas morn, with the whole family around, that’s the first present she tore into. Man, was whe pissed!
I told her she could keep it on the table, & just scrape off what she needed…
Myrr21 was right. You’re baaaaaaad. Now stop it.
BT
Like Biker Tim (welcome) I bought a salt lick for a lady who salted EVERYTHING. She, however thought it was a wonderful gift and kept it on her desk. She regularly licked it.
I miss her.
And I think I’ll go home and try out porn and beans just to see what I’m missing.
I’ve seen folks salt their watermelon and never thought much about it. However, some of the German folks in the Texas Hill Country put sugar and a little bit of salt on their popcorn. I saw this at a country peddler fair and was amazed.
The grossest combination I’ve ever seen: An old man putting pepper and pancake syrup on his cottage cheese!! That nearly triggered the gag reflex!!
Salt does not cause hypertension. People who have a calcium channel related heart condition causing health problems or other electrolyte imbalances should carefully monitor their salt intake. Salt is not specifically bad for anyone else.
However, putting it on watermelon is . . . well, disgusting.
Let’s not even mention those catsup on hot dog folks.
I do put ginger in my chili recipe though. But then I make Chicken Chili, and Pork Chop chili, too. Mmmmmmm. Beans are a side dish.
Tris
A slight clarification here. “Lightly salted” is correct. Not enough to make the watermelon taste salty, just enough to sweeten it. I’m sure some budding chemist will correct me but the salt neutralizes the acid (?) in the watermelon.
A Hawaiian friend of mine told me that this works with pineapples too.
Oh yeah… and on the rare ocassions that I drink American beer, I salt that too.
Doesn’t McDonald’s use a sugar-based coating on theirs to give them that “golden” look?