Monday, July 27, 2009

We Debate, You Decide - The Macadamias

A month or two ago, my parents went to Hawaii. And because my smart parents know that the BEST gift to send back is something to let you experience the culture a little bit, they sent us a box of different flavored macadamia nuts.
(Which was so nice of them!)

...mmmm macadamia nuts...

what was I saying?

Oh yeah.

So I've been quite stingy with the little cans, opening one occasionally --pretty much whenever I realize they are still in my hiding place in the pantry (shhhh!) - and making sure everyone gets to try each flavor.

The other night, I opened the Kona Coffee Glazed nuts, and asked who wanted some. Of course everyone did, which frankly surprised me just a little. They all helped themselves to a little sample and pronounced them delicious.

And they were. And life was happy.

Until I set the can down on the counter, and someone read the word "coffee" on it, and quite frankly, you would have thought I had just brought a case of Jack Daniels into the church nursery and announced happy hour.

Apparently the family thought I'd said "toffee" not "coffee", and began loudly registering their opinions about being beguiled into consuming coffee by their own mother and wife.

After, some, uh, discussion, The Brain asked me to just throw them away, which I did, because he's my husband and I respect his decision.

(For my non lds friends, the health code that mormons live by specifically prohibits drinking coffee and tea.)

Now I realize it's entirely possible that I'm way off in left field here, but in my own defense, I really didn't think there was anything wrong with coffee flavored macadamia nuts.

Then again, I'm the one who makes the coffee whenever I stay in a hotel with a coffee maker, not to drink, but just because I like the smell.

Oh yeah, I'm such a rebel.

28 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I really hope your bishop doesn't read this. I'm pretty sure you would be exed.

I think you were fine. You told them that it was coffee flavored. I don't eat coffee ice cream or anything, because I don't like the flavor, but I don't think it's breaking the WoW or anything. But in general, I stay away from it.

Yvonne said...

When we first moved to Canada I used to eat Coffee Crisp candy bars and then I realized it was "coffee". I still eat Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream ; )

I have never tried the Kona Coffee Glazed Macadamias--but I do love the regular ones ; )

The Wiz said...

I'm sure they were awesome. I'm sad they're in the garbage. Nothing wrong with them.

Unknown said...

I love coffee flavored ice cream. I might even like those nuts enough to go dig the can out of the trash.

Maybe.

mormonhermitmom said...

Well, if I was a lawyer (I'm not), I'd say the D&C doesn't specifically state that one must not eat coffee beans or ground coffee powder or nuts dipped in coffee and then dried. I mean there are many uses for different plants and herbs and it's how we use them that is important. For instance the D&C DOES specifically say that tobacco is not for humans but for helping sick cattle. There must be a purpose for coffee beans that doesn't involve a caffein addiction although I don't know what that would be.

Sorry for the novel, but I don't think you will go to hell for one can of coffee flavored nuts.

Dave said...

I've never been a big fan of anything coffee flavored, so my opinion prolly doesn't count for much here.

That said, I wouldn't freak out having eaten one, but I pretty much avoid anything with coffee as an ingredient, even if it is delicious.

It's kind of like alcohol. I love cooking with beer, wine, and liquor. When the alcohol cooks off, all that's left is the flavor. I remember my mom getting a little freaked when she found a fifth of Southern Comfort in my pantry :-)

MNM: Mangum Family said...

Totally nothing wrong with it. Now, I'm no G-A, but I think you're in the clear on this one.

And for Dave, not that it matters, I wouldn't go changing my cooking habits over it, but when you cook with alcohol, it does not cook off ALL the alcohol. Just enjoy what little is left, and call it ignorant bliss!

Sarah said...

I suppose this is an issue we should decide personally. I try to avoid anything with coffee as the ingredient, the whole better safe than sorry attitude.
But I also drink copious amounts of Dr. Pepper so maybe my opinion is flawed.
Most of all, you should be proud that your family wants to stand so firmly behind a principle they believe in.

Selwyn said...

G'day =)

Thought I'd de-lurk ('cause, you know, you said to in your side bar) and say that it's all in the FLAVOUR. If it's not an ingredient, but flavoured something, I think it's okay to eat accidentally, though I'm still not sure if eating Rum 'n' Raisin flavoured icecream is not quite right.. Which will bear further pondering the closer to summer I get... =)

Buddy said...

Where was I? I missed the entire Coffee-nut extravaganza. Blahh.

LisAway said...

Oh, I'm a fan of coffee flavored stuff. I just can't feel bad eating extremely small amounts of it maybe once every other month, never of my own purchase. And NEVER drinking it as a hot drink. ;) I totally understand people avoiding it completely, much like cola drinks. You make your own choice, and don't worry about other people's, is what I say.

Emmy said...

That is pretty funny. I personally hate the smell of coffee :)

We got a box of chocolates that are that same brand from a friend that lives in Hawaii, sooo good. And he buys them for an insanely cheap price at Costco!

Lee said...

I wouldn't have opened or eaten them. I don't eat coffee flavored anything. However, I think flavored stuff is something you have to decide for yourself. My family has decided we don't partake in things that have coffee in it at all. But like I said, that's a choice we made.

As for the smell of coffee... EEEWW!! I can't be in the same room with somebody drinking that stuff. The smell makes me wanna puke!

Dave said...

btw, I always make the coffee in hotel rooms too. It seems wasteful, but the aroma... mmmmm :-)

Tay said...

Letter of the law, spirit of the law. Right? Er... because that's applicable in all situations...

I would not have had any problems. I don't even like macadamia nuts.

Anonymous said...

go ahead, enjoy your coffee flavor! i also enjoy tiramisu (full of rum and mocha), the occasional mocha ice cream, and even a coffee flavored nut or two :) sometimes it's best not to get caught up in the details.

Loralee and the gang... said...

I love the smell of coffee, too, and I also think that it's ok to eat coffee-flavored treats. Pretty sure they don't have any more caffiene that chocolate does (which I am addicted to).
My husband also thinks anything coffee flavored is taboo, too, so we as a family do not indulge.
I hear ya on this one, sista!
:~D

christa said...

you're hilarious- I love that you make the coffee just for the smell. I'm all about making your own choices...and not passing judgement- I don't see the difference between Red Bull and Coffee, yet 90% of the mormons I know are super addicted to Red Bull and I get the stink eye when I have my annual Frapp @ Starbucks.

i said...

i'm just glad i think coffee is
N a Y S T y !! i have no clue. have you fasted about this!?!?!?!?!?!?!? j/k. :O)

beckers said...

I can't believe they pounced on you like that!!! Sheesh! See if you share with them next time!

Paul said...

I'm always late to these comments, but...

I still get Jamocha shakes at Arby's. It's the rebel in me, I guess. I would have been fine on the Macadamia nuts.

And I'm with you on the smell of coffee. I love that aisle at the grocery store. Coffee is so much better when you smell it all your life without tasting it. It smells like it would be a little piece of heaven. Then you taste it, and you realize it tastes like the vinyl floor of a taxi cab. The smell, without the taste, keeps the fantasy alive.

Dave said...

Paul, I would love to hear the story in which you discovered the taste of the vinyl floor of a taxi cab.

Paul said...

It's really not as interesting as it sounds. I was in Chicago, and I was sharing a cab with this midget. He was having trouble with the snaps on his pirate outfit - he only had two fingers on one hand, and the he was really struggling. So, just as I ask if I can help him, we pass this monkey, who's walking down LaSalle Street, holding the hand of a guy that looks an awful lot like the Pope. What the heck, right? So anyway - well, it's sort of a long story from there. I don't want to bore you with it.

Dave said...

Paul, I approach your story with a healthy amount of incredulity. You see, I happen to know that any self respecting pirate connoisseur in Chicago would never choose an outfit that shunned buttons for the clearly inferior snaps.

ganelle said...

I think you should ask Vern; then again as RS President, she did give out cafe latte flavored suckers at church on Mother's Day...

It's all relative.

Cynthia said...

I brought home a "no caffeine" Dr. Pepper and put it in the fridge. I thought my ENTIRE family was considering putting me out on the streets. Sheesh! (Did I mention NO caffeine?)

CB said...

I like coffee flavored things, especially ice cream!
I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Flavored is different than drinking a cup of joe!

Leslie said...

First time to your blog. LOVE it! I thought the post was hilarious, so true. Then, I read the comments and laughed so hard I nearly spilt my coffee all over my laptop. It is good to see that we can all have a sense of humor.