Salty-Sweet: My Favorites

Candy corn

I was browsing a bunch of food blogs just now, which I often do while I snack (such a bad idea), and I came across this post from Dessert Comes First asking readers to chime in on their favorite salty-sweet combinations. That got me to thinking about my favorites, which took me all the way back to my childhood.

Filipino street-style pancakes

Is there anyone who hasn't tried McDonald's fries dipped into their ice cream? Usually the caramel sundae. I don't know when or why people started doing this, but it seems like something everyone has done since childhood, which makes me think it's a purely instinctual thing to do. Hah, we were having salted caramel before it was even invented (or at least became popular)! Another childhood treat that I enjoy to this day is pancakes, Filipino street style, slathered with margarine and sprinkled with white sugar. Filipino street pancakes use watered-down batter, which makes them flatter, floppier, less dense, and less sweet--a perfect backdrop for the margarine and sugar. Think of them as a cross between a pancake and a crepe. And finally, treats from my yearly Halloween haul: candy corn; Pete's butterball (buttery caramel-flavored hard candy); and those absolutely divine, chewy, perfect little caramel cubes by Kraft.

Above: McDonald's caramel sundae
Right: Kraft caramel cubes

Garrett Chicago mix popcorn

I also made a few delicious discoveries during my teens and early 20s. On a visit to Chicago, I got a tub of Garrett's Chicago mix popcorn, a combination of caramel and cheese popcorn. I was no stranger to salty-sweet popcorn, having been addicted to kettle corn at some point, but I was rather skeptical and a bit grossed out by the cheese-and-caramel combination. I wrinkled my nose and sort of held my breath as I tossed a few pieces into my mouth... and what a revelation! I'm really not a big fan of popcorn (besides kettle corn)--my boyfriend and I even got into a silly fight once because of it--but this popcorn, I like a lot, so much so that I even started to preach the gospel of cheese-and-caramel popcorn. Another discovery was salted caramel--which, reflecting on all the salty caramel I enjoyed as a kid, is really more a re-discovery. I like salted caramel anything: cakes, cupcakes, ice cream. Give it to me and I will devour it, happily. And how can I forget Trader Joe's milk chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzels? Bite-sized pillow-shaped crisp pretzels filled with peanut butter and coated with chocolate. What's not to like? Arr. I'm salivating just thinking of it.

Trader Joe's milk chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzels

Finally, my current favorites. Cheese pancakes (shaved cheddar or parmesan). I'm not a huge fan of traditional pancakes (I much prefer them Filipino street style), but incorporate some shaved cheese into the batter and my, what a difference. Ditto Oreos: I'm not really a fan (except mint Oreos, which I just cannot stop eating), but separate the cookies, put some grated processed cheese (Eden/QuickMelt/Velveeta) in there with the frosting, put it back together, and my goodness. It's like having little bite-sized Oreo cheesecakes. And finally, queso ice cream--so simple, so rustic, so homey and familiar and comforting. Love in a scoop.

Looking at what I've listed, a few things have become clear to me. I  never thought of myself as someone who particularly liked the salty-sweet combination, but it looks like I've always loved salty-sweet and just never realized it. Also, I'm seeing two things a lot of my favorites have in common: caramel and cheese. Finally, my list is full of things that are traditionally sweet, with an added dash of saltiness. But there is nothing that is traditionally savory, with sweet things added in (e.g., meat dishes with raisins or pineapple, soups or stews like nilaga or pochero with banana--not a fan!). A true testament to the sweet tooth I am!