The interesting thing about that map, to me, is the way all the countries are jigsawed together to be roughly Africa shaped. I like maps, but I love globes. If I had space and money I'd probably collect them.

Trader Joe Dark Chocolate Wedge + Bacon Marshmallow + chef's torch = super fancy sort of s'more. Yum.

Wait wait wait, WHAT? Where do I get Bacon Marshmallows? Are they also from Trader Joe's?

Gar, the Monty Python thing makes my brain itch. I can't wrap my mind around it.

Bacon Marshmallows are from Rustic Puff [link] The Cabernet Marshmallows I sampled were also delicious, and the people at the booth (that seemed to also be the people who make the marshmallows) were very nice. I am intrigued by their marshmallow of the month club, but that will have to wait until I'm not dieting...

Zen, it took me a long time before it sunk in - years after I first heard of it. And it still amazes me.

Trader Joe's has gone seriously pumpkin. I mean, I THOUGHT it had already hit that--the pumpkin poptarts, pumpkin yogurt, and pumpkin cream cheese were already out. But now there are also pumpkin filled breakfast bars, and granola, and chai, and pumpkin waffles, pumpkin croissants, mini pumpkin pies, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin ravioli...and on and on and on. My god. I admit, I bought some pumpkin waffles. I was overwhelmed and felt like I had to eat something pumpkin-y! I have not tried them yet.

I tried the TJ pumpkin macaroons. And they were good. But I have to admit that for me the one true macaroon is the kosher-for-Passover coconut macaroon. Not saying that one is more "authentic". Just that for me a macaroon must have coconut.

Well, but those are two entirely different sorts of thing, the coconut passover-type macaroons, and the french two-meringues-with-filling-between macaroons! I don't think you can compare them any more than like "I prefer macaroons to chocolate chip cookies" or something.

That said, I have tried the french-style macaroons at various places, and have so far failed to see what the fuss is about.

Ah, so they are not considered varieties of the same thing. Just happen to have the same name, like the way the wind (noun - the one that swirls leaves) is spelled the same as wind (the verb,as in I once owned a watch I had to wind before all watches were run by batteries.)

I checked Wikipedia. Apparently started out as the same thing and evolved in different directions. Glad I did not claim "authenticity". Coconut macaroons came later! [link]