John Mudd Loves Pickles

February 1, 2010

A new month brings a new job opportunity, in addition to a huge change to my lifestyle.  February also brings a new page to John Mudd Loves Pickles!  These pickles have some tough shoes to fill since January’s pickles were so enriching and full of robust vigor.  Walking through the doors of my sister’s apartment after my first day, I was tired, had a headache, and just needed some rest and relaxation.  Salvation came in the form of two plump, juicy, crisp Vlasic pickles…

As soon as I finished this delicious snack, my headache went away and I was able to enjoy the rest of my night.  This snack was just what the doctor ordered.  I give it 4 out of 5 belly rubs.

February 2, 2010

As I was enjoying a late night pickle, I spotted a cat walking over to my snack in an attempt to observe it:

After examining what would eventually be the inspiration for my personal website, Chase the Cat decided that he was not a big fan of pickles. Even after I had a cat sniff my pickle, I still give this pickletastic encounter 3 out of 5 belly rubs.

February 3, 2010

Pickles make an incredibly satisfying late night snack.  They just have a certain aspect that tends to hit the spot when you don’t know what kind of snack you’re looking for.  This was the case this past Wednesday night / Thursday morning when I quietly scuffled to the fridge and grabbed an ever tempting jar of Vlasic whole dills.

These pickles were scrumptious and absolutely annihilated my picklicious desires.  Here’s a close-up of the gruesome two-some that worked their magic:

And like that… I was out like a light.  To quote Fight Club, “Babies don’t sleep this well.”  This experience definitely proves that pickles are a solid remedy, no matter what ails you.  I’m giving this one a perfect score.  5 out of 5 belly rubs!

February 5, 2010

Lunch in my cubicle today yielded a delicious pickle paired with a Smoked Turkey on Foccacia.

In the middle of the day, a pickle is about as satisfying as a nap, so I certainly took the time to enjoy the pickle that my sister provided.  This particular pickle was tantalizingly sweet, allowing me a small slice of paradise in the middle of my work day.  4 out of 5 belly rubs.

February 6, 2010

Snow pickles are the best pickles.  After exploring the best places to snack, this is what happened:

This first photo basically sums up what I’m all about.  Soon to be on a t-shirt near you…

Granted there isn’t a pickle in this photo, but I feel like every photoshoot needs an action shot.

Look at that focus and determination.  You can really see the satisfaction I get from eating such a fine delicacy.

Yes, that is a stop sign that im sitting next to.  Yes, it snowed that much.  Yes, I love pickles this freaking much.

February 8, 2010

After being snowed in since Friday evening, I decided it was time to enjoy a pickle.  This is the lucky son-of-a-gun that I pulled out of the Vlasic jar…

Although it was dainty, this little guy packed a punch and was able to satisfy that ever present desire.  4 out of 5 belly rubs.  God damn, I love pickles!

February 9, 2010

Just when I thought we had seen the worst of it, Mother Nature decides to send another ten inches of snow towards the East Coast.  I decided the only thing that would put me in a better mood is a healthy dose of Vitamin P.  After burrowing my hand into the jar, I realized that there were only three pickles left, so I chose to put the Vlasic jar out of its misery right then and there.

While these pickles were of a smaller stature, they were certainly delectable and served as a wonderful finale to a fantastic collection of snacks.  While your average pickle consumer would just throw out the jar and be done with it, it is probably clear by now that I am far from a normal consumer of pickles.  Instead, I choose to prolong the enjoyment of the pickle experience by sipping the pickle juice, much like that of a fine wine.

Notice the pure ecstasy in my face.  The bold and rich flavor that pickle juice embodies is not for everyone, but I find that it is definitely something worth trying.  It may be an acquired taste, but this is the case regarding many other fine delicacies that the world has to offer.  The ironic thing is that pickle juice actually has some pretty amazing health benefits recognized by athletes around the globe.  Loaded with electrolytes, pickle juice actually has 15 times more electrolytes than Gatorade and 30 times more electrolytes than Powerade.  This prevents dehydration and muscle cramps in athletes, proving that p.j. is more than a liquid that should go unused.  It can be used in combination with different foods, incorporated into recipes, but most importantly, it’s a great hangover cure.  So throw out your Bloody Marys and grab a nice, tall glass of Pickle Juice.

February 11, 2010

While shopping in Safeway today, I decided to treat myself to a Van Holten’s Hot Mama.  As I’ve said before, the pickle in a pouch is one of the most satisfying pickles available, but it’s also one of the most challenging.  This Hot Mama was ridiculously sour and reinforced just how tart and tangy a pickle can be.

After devouring the entire pickle in approximately 42 seconds, I realized that instead of treating this Hot Mama like a challenge, I should have savored all that this pickle had to offer.  What’s not to like about this pickle?  It’s got a catchy name, a walloping smack of flavor, and am illustrated pickle with a purse on the label.  As I look back and try to remember something wrong with this pickle, I find myself drawing a blank.  This is exactly why I’m giving this pickle a perfect 5 out of 5 belly rubs.  This truly was one Hot Mama (I couldn’t resist).

February 15, 2010

The day after Valentine’s Day, I had an urge for something salty, so I reached into the fridge for my old acerbic friend.  I found an unopened jar of Mt. Olive Petite Kosher Dills and went to town on them.

While I normally choose to enjoy a jar like this over a period of time, I decided to eat as much of the brackish snacks as I wished in one sitting.  While I didn’t finish the jar, I certainly had my fill.  I have to believe that the reason I felt full after consuming only half of the jar had something to do with the meal I ate just moments before.  These dills were tart, cold, and crunchy, all things that I look for in particular when I’m appreciating a delicately crafted pickle.  I give this adventure 4.5 out of 5 belly rubs.  It was close to a perfect score, but the jar lost a half a point since it had a really tight lid… Until  next time, Happy Pickling!

February 16, 2010

I’ll keep this short and sweet.  This pickle paired incredibly well with the turkey sandwich that I was having for lunch in my cube.  Although it was a little less crisp than I had hoped for, it really made the sandwich the center of attention.  That being said, this selfless pickle still only earns 3 out of 5 belly rubs.  They can’t all be winners…

February 19, 2010

Tonight’s pickle experience features some guest appearances by a couple of individuals that I used to work with.  I decided to stop at Panera for dinner with my lovely girlfriend, Emily, since Panera’s pickles are usually somewhat excellent, averaging about 3 belly rubs per dining experience. Since I had been craving a pickle for a couple of days, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to end my pickle drought.  Upon arrival, I ran into some old friends that I used to work with, Kirstyn Indgjer and Josh Urban.  Both Kirstyn and Josh are incredibly talented musicians, so you should definitely recommend taking a gander at their work (They’re projects and music are on facebook, so check them out if you’d like.  I’m sure they wouldn’t mind).  After chatting for a little while, Josh thought this would be a perfect pickle photo op.  I agreed and hurriedly ordered my food so that we could take this snapshot…

This pickle was really something, and I’m pretty sure it had something to do with running into some really great friends that I hadn’t seen in a while.  The pickle was smooth and flavorful but still had a robust bite that was unmistakably spot-on.  After three days without a pickle, this one really gave me what I needed.  You guessed it… 5 out of 5 belly rubs.  Thanks again to Josh and Kirstyn for making this pickle live up to it’s potential.  Until next time…

February 21, 2010

Another pickle found it’s way onto my plate while I was eating dinner at my girlfriend’s home tonight.  A lovely Claussen kosher dill paired nicely with the chili cheese dog and mac n’ cheese that was prepared.  The stimulating tartness really allowed the pickle to affirm it’s independence while still allowing it to function as a supportive piece of the meal.

Overall, the meal was incredibly rewarding, with the pickle scoring high marks for it’s selfless actions.  I give this weekend-concluding pickle a terrific 4 out of 5 belly rubs.  Many thanks to the Feldman family for such a great meal featuring a truly superior pickle.  What a fantastic way to finish out the weekend.  Have a Great Pickle, and stay tuned for my next pickle adventure.

February 23, 2010

Tonight, I decided to stock up and purchase a couple of jars of pickles.  Luckily, I found two brands that I had somehow never tried before.  The first brand is of the Nathan’s variety…

This is a really classy looking jar, just screaming to be opened.  I mean, just look at that famous Nathan’s font.  So, powerful, so inviting, and so domineering. Take a look at the lid…

I mean, since the lid claimed that the brand is “famous,” I had trouble believing that the Nathan’s brand would package a product that would be anything less than electrifying.  Fortunately, the kosher dills I pulled from this fateful jar were incredibly reminiscent of the brand that started my pickle journey, Claussen.

From its similar texture, to the corresponding flavor, and the complementary color, these pickles tasted almost identical to Claussen kosher dills.  I have to admit that if I were doing a blind taste test, I really doubt I would be able to tell the difference between a Nathan’s pickle and a Claussen.  You’re probably wondering if this is a good or a bad thing, and I will admit that I’m not quite sure.  I honestly think more testing needs to be involved since I am only comparing the whole kosher dills between the two brands.  Any type of variation has a major impact on whether I have a good pickle experience or a less than memorable one.  Because of their delicate texture, robust flavor, and incredibly appealing font, I have to give this first experience with Nathan’s pickles a perfect score…  5 out of 5 belly rubs.  Another interesting note is that Nathan’s offers a “half-sour” pickle which I have yet to try.  I figured I should start with Nathan’s kosher dill variety since it’s what I know and also because it’s the type of pickle with which i have the longest history.

The second brand of pickle that I tried tonight was Richfood.  This is the inexpensive shoppers brand that, to put it bluntly, was somewhat disappointing.  Notice the fluorescent green color…

While the color is somewhat similar to Vlasic pickles, the taste is nowhere near as good.  I guess this is a case in which you get what you pay for.  2.5 out of 5 belly rubs.  Sorry Richfood, but you left me no other choice.  Check back tomorrow to see if this brand can turn their game around and start satisfying my pickle desires.

February 24, 2010

Surprisingly, after my first experience with Richfood kosher dill spears, I found myself somewhat unsatisfied and wanting more.  To quote the late Freddie Mercury, I guess you could say I had “insatiable an appetite.”  Here’s a look at what Round 2 of the Richfood spears had to offer.

Once again, these pickles turned out to be okay, but that’s about it.  While they weren’t bad, they just weren’t great, and compared to some of the other pickles that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying this month, these just didn’t even come close.  For the price they are all right, but when it comes to pickles, I’m a man of quality over quantity.  2 out of 5 belly rubs, the lowest rating yet…  Until next time, Happy Pickling.

February 25, 2010

I started tonight off by grabbing the Nathan’s jar out of the fridge and plucking out a few lucky candidates for my consumption.  I then realized that I craved more of a tart flavor, one that Nathan’s simply couldn’t produce.  Luckily, I was packing such an appetite that I was able to double more normal pickle rate for the evening.  This is what I snacked on tonight…

Here’s a reverse angle…

This motley crew of pickles proved to be exactly the kind of variation I need.  This snack maintained a steady fluctuation between sweet and sour flavors, and whole and spear body shapes.  I have to give this super-sized pickle snack 4 out of 5 belly rubs.  That’ll do pickle, that’ll do…

February 28, 2010

The final day of February brought a delicious burger from Chili’s.  Naturally, there were a couple of pickle slices on said burger which took this mouthwatering burger to new and undaunted heights of flavor.  This burger was messy, but well worth the hassle once I tasted the smooth essence of pickles on a burger that was cooked to perfection.  Here’s what this little beauty looked like…

Anything that leaves this much grease in its trail is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and this burger was no exception.  The pickle aroma and overall tartness partially compensated for the loss that Team Canada handed to the U.S. hockey team in the gold medal game.  If Sidney Crosby (the jagaloon who scored the game winning goal in overtime) was a snack, he would either be a bread and butter chip or a gherkin.  Regardless, the pickle was excellent, so I’m giving it 4 out of 5 belly rubs.  It only lost a point because it was slathered in mayonnaise, making the pickle less crisp than I would prefer.  Still, the month of February ended with a good pickle experience.