First, a congratulations to the two major prize winners from the last Heat Eat Review giveaway. I’m in talks with some other companies to get free stuff to for giveaways, especially since 1/3 of the cost of sending 14 Indian meals across the country was the shipping.

• I have never seen two people less excited about winning:
  
  

  Travis and Chang, winners of the $50 Amazon Gift Certificate and Indian Dinner for a Week giveaways.

  
  You can win in the next giveaways (they’ll be on Facebook and Twitter), just become a fan of Heat Eat Review on Facebook or follow Heat Eat Review on Twitter to get the details when they’re posted.
• Microwave cookery. I have shown you how to make oatmeal in the microwave, but I haven’t attempted anything nearly as insane as making a spinach souffle in a microwave. Amy’s a brave lady. Or crazy. Same thing, right?
• Oh wait, this is supposed to include food reviews! Well, here’s my first link, straight from Josie of YumYucky: Hot Cocoa Ice Cream. No, your eyes do not deceive you. Still not sure about clicking on that link? Who wouldn’t want to read a review that includes the phrase “like a house full of rats in need of pest control service”?
• I find it curious that the Girlfriend on Vacation Food Pyramid does not include frozen meals. Also, if you made one called ‘Girlfriend on Vacation Activity Pyramid’ it would probably include a lot of episodes of Law and Order SVU.
• Dove Chocolate is cashing in on breast cancer over at ZOMG, Candy! Okay, so they’re donating money – but it still feels weird.
• Gigi Reviews is conducting a Gum Week and reviewing things like pieces of Trident that look suspiciously like pink Andes mints.
• Joan Collins in a microwave commercial, not that Joan Collins would ever, EVER use a microwave:
  
  If you at all enjoy Go Fug Yourself, you will probably love this commercial.
• Not about food, but what are you going to be for Halloween? Anyone have good, inexpensive costume ideas?

Cream of Tomato Soup! Green Peas! I’m still trying to imagine the audacity of folks who tried to sell TV dinners in a Black and White TV world. Also fun (and no video): 10 Old School Frozen TV Dinners and Bonus Vintage Ads on the Miami New Times. The photos on there will make you realize just how good we have it now.

Thanks to the Candy Blog for the link!

P.S. Yes, I’ve still got a few Hunger Challenge posts coming, but this week we’re back to posting reviews of actual frozen foods, including apple pie! Yeah! You know, just in time for Fall.

As a designer I value data visualizations that provide instantly accessible meaning. As a person who grew up in the 1980’s, I’m more than a bit amused by the amount of margarine my family consumed. Combine those two loves and you get something like the Times Labs’ Blog.

My recent favorite is an interactive tool that charts the last three decades of British grocery shopping. Above you can see the rising purchases of convenience vegetables over the years. I have a feeling that while American purchasing styles probably mirror those of the British (more convenience foods and chicken) there are some marked differences (we don’t eat nearly as much canned beans).

I’ve included screenshots of the meat and vegetable sections, but I urge you go to the site and play with the tool yourself. It can be a bit titchy at times, so if the tool doesn’t load, just refresh your page.

United Plates of America, an adorable series of prints made by Kansas City artist John Wayne H, is available via the Shorthanded Studio online shop for prices (1 print for $15 or 3 for $35) that make me wish I was from Connecticut or West Virginia. You can see the whole series (and comment on how the foods selected have nothing to do with the states) on the Shorthanded Studio website.

Hat tip to Serious Eats.

P.S. Is it just me, or does West Virginia look evil?