by Mary BradyWhat do Red Hots have to do with romance? Besides cinnamon hearts on Valentine's Day?
Research, of course, and how factual details can add reality and credibility to a story.
One morning last week, though I don't particularly like coffee sweetened or flavored with anything--except a little heavy cream around the holidays--I melted those little spicy confection into my morning java.
Why? Transference, I suppose. Spring hasn't shown up yet where I live and love, and I can't control the weather, but by golly, I can control my coffee. I have to tell you, the Red Hots were a rather tasty change.
Or--maybe I did the deed because I was meant to research something for this post.
Some of what I found: In the early 1930's, Ferrara Pan Candy Company (also the maker
s of Boston Baked Beans) created the "cinnamon imperial" called Red Hots. Surprisingly, there are many more steps to making the candy than one might imagine, including gentle tending by the "panner" to make sure the coating is thick, tasty and becomes that Hot shade of Red.And, of course, most of you already know, the Ferrara Pan Candy Company performs the great public service of creating chocolates. Thank you Ferrara!
When I "left" the factory and came back to my word processor, I discovered my spell checker does not recognize hots as a correctly spelled word. It suggests hoots. Hmmm. She's got the hoots for him...okay...
While Red Hots in or out of coffee is not a high prioritiy, adding texture and color to my writing is right at the top of the list behind characters and conflict. Many mini research sessions have led to using "found" facts to get a point across, to help demonstrate a character's quirks, or even to help a character give love another chance.
In the name of keeping the stories fresh, writers of all sorts "tweet" little factoids in notebooks, on scraps of paper, cocktail napkins and in electronic devices--all in the name of making the story more real in the face of fiction. A "fact" I, as a reader, appreciate.
Next time, when you notice the facts the author used to enrich your experience, give a thanks to all researchering writers.
Now if you are so inclined, please share a useless or useful fact you found while rattling around the Internet, the library, or the books crowding the shelves at your home. Especially something you found on a research project you never meant to do...until one snowy day you found Red Hots in the gift bag your hubby had brought home the day before...
Thanks to everyone who bought/read Promise to a Boy, my February
release, and I hope everyone out there buys the March books.
To a commenter, I will give a choice of one of my books, He Calls her Doc or Promise to a Boy--or a set of TossOns stretch bracelets with matching earrings. And Red Hots from the Ferrara Pan Candy Company.
I guess Red Hots need to show up in book four.
52 comments:
"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!" - Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)
Not an actual fact per se, but sweet.
marypres@gmail.com
"There are more plastic flamingos in America than real ones."
Where I stumbled across this I cannot remember nor can I remember what I was originally looking for...
But I love this tidbit!
Ice is a mineral.
I didn't stumble across this--I teach it to my kids each year. Ice is a naturally occuring, nonliving solid with a crystal structure and a unique chemical composition--H2O--which makes it a mineral. Techinically this makes snow a sedimentary rock.
Can you tell that I'm about to head out the door to teach science?
Fun post, Mary.
Ummm..it's too early to think. LOL.
I run across fun facts all the time, but I have a bad memory so unless I write it down or it's something really odd, I don't usually remember it.
I rely a good deal on my son who is a veritable elephant and a font of information rolled into one. He's an elephant fountain. Ha, ha. Okay, I need more coffee....and I do have some red hots. Hmm? Maybe I'll jazz it up this morning.
Fun post :)
Urban legend holds that love bugs are synthetic ~~the result of a University of Florida genetics experiment gone wrong.
Why I was searching love bugs~ we get gobs of them on the car window when driving down a highway in late spring and late summer and I was curious as to how they got the name. For those who don't live along the Gulf Coast who may not know what a love bug is you need to research it!!
While I was doing some research for a future book, I found out that the government will issue new social security numbers and identities to victims of domestic violence who are trying to escape from their spouse. This led to a key plot point in the book!
FActoids? At this time of day on the day after Day Light Savings sprang forward? I don't think so.
Fun post, though, Mary.
Never heard of love bugs.
Am shocked to learn that ice is a mineral.
And, Margaret, that is very interesting about the new identities.
I'll be back to see what else I can learn here.
Deb
OMG, I've learned so many useless facts over the years, I wouldn't know where to begin. Oh, hears one!!! Did you know that our ears and noses NEVER stop growing! lol
great post. My fun facts guy just walked out the door, when he returns I'll get one from him and re-post.
P.S. He drives me nuts with them!!!
marybelle, Lucy got a lot of things right! Great quote!
Babs, LOL I've seen those plastic flamingos in people's yards. They are pretty in a sort of oddball way. A great funny factoid.
Jeannie, I'm soooo learning already. Ice is a mineral. I wonder if anybody ever taught that to me.
Liz, I used to use my kid as an auxiliary memory bank when it had to do with his school. The little guys are amazing.
Ellen Too, now you’ve done it. Sent all of us northerners to Bing and Google. Love bugs created in a lab, sounds like the beginning to a romantic suspense. Hmmm…
Margaret, I didn’t know that. Interesting!. I love the secret identity stories. Lots of places for conflict and angst.
Deb, daylight savings time. I tried not be dismayed by losing that hour, but today I slept longer. Gotta break that cycle. I’m having fun learning things, too.
OMG, Helen. I just got a mental image of all of our photos with our new larger ears and noses!
Gloria’s fact man. Is he handy at parties when the conversation starts to go into lull mode?
While researching trees in Montana, I found out that Russian olive trees, not native to the state, have become invasive. They have two-inch thorns that look pretty wicked in photographs.
If cows don't want to be moved from a certain field or pasture, they run into the Russian olives because the thorns don't bother them, but will pierce the hide/skin of horses and humans.
The cows stand inside the trees while the humans are helpless to move them to another pasture.
I had no idea cows could be so wily!
Great post, Mary!
Mary, fun post. My head is filled with usless facts, I find with research. But ask me to come up with one off the top of my head and I'm stuck.
Mary, wily cows? I didn't know that either. The next time I go to Montana, I'm going to chase a cow and see where she runs. Maybe not. Love the facts though.
Rogenna, LOL. Maybe failure to find facts in the face of (sorry I can't find an F word to put in here) has a medical name. Somebody look it up. Quick!
Here is something to with left over Vodka (other then drinking it):
LCD screen cleaner
These days everyone seems to have bigger and bigger LCD or LED television screens which are better and brighter to look at, but much harder to keep clean. Water-based cleaners will leave spots and streaks, harsher chemicals may etch the plastic. Try a little cheap vodka on a very soft cloth instead. It's perfect for cleaning dust and fingerprints without damaging the fragile surface.
I always find useless facts when I'm researching something. Did you know that teaching is known to be the profession that has the most liars? Now, if they asked the teachers and they admitted they lied, wouldn't that make them the most honest?
Great post.
Ann, Vodka. I’m going out now and get me some. Wait. Why isn’t there any left over from the previous bottle? Oh, yeah, hubby must have used all of it to clean the TV and computer screens in our house.
Christie, LOL. Most honest gets my vote. I love all these interesting facts coming forward.
Thanks!
I am reading the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skoot now- as part of a book club and discovered that Henrietta's cancerous cells helped paved the way to many modern miracles, like the polio vaccine! I never knew how cancer cells could do that until the author, who is a biologist & a writer discussed how those cells behaves very much like normal cells do!
Fun food : ) "Researchers have found that eating chocolate, the number one food craved by American women, causes the brain to release endorphins, chemicals that make us feel good. The ingredients make the texture, smell and flavor of chocolate more enjoyable and combine with other ingredients like caffeine to make a person feel good. It's Mother Nature's solution via food cravings to try to elevate those chemicals, help us feel better and to function more efficiently. Fortunately, there is a sweet solution for those chronic cravings -- feed them." (CNN Food)
Happy people make a happy world : )
I see these all the time. My hubby can remember some crazy ones all the time, he has a sponge for a brain, lol!
Here's a few I know
The largest cell in the female body is the egg.
TYPEWRITER, is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.
Butterflies taste with their hind feet.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
Have a wonderful day!!!
Pang, so many facts, so little time. I had no idea either. Sounds like an interesting book. I love books written by “experts” on something, whether they got their information by way of the universities or by way of research.
Virginia, your “fact” makes me want to rum out to the store and buy chocolate! I only keep the very dark kind in my house as it seems to migrate from my cupboard to my mouth without any conscious participation on my part—that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I wonder if we could make enough chocolate to create world peace.
Taking mini-breaks through out the work day can actually make you 9% more productive?
Love bugs - I remember them well when I lived in Florida. Hard to wash off the car.
My husband was just reading about Norway which has been named the best country in the world to live in for a number of years now. One fact that he found very interesting was that both parents get paid maternity leave.
Off Topic ~ I read both your books this past week and really enjoyed them. Are you trying to populate Montana with people from Chicago? I grew up in a small town so the gossip chain is very realistic. Lots of wonderful characters in both stories.
Mary, in the spirit of world peace, I offer you two easy brownie recipes : )
FROSTED RASPBERRY FUDGE BROWNIES:
Your favorite fudge brownie mix (13in x 9in pan size)
1/4 cup raspberry preserves (or cherry or strawberry)
One tub ready-made fudge, sour cream, vanilla, or cream cheese frosting
2 tbsp raspberry preserves (or cherry or strawberry)
Spray a 13in x 9in baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare brownie mix per package directions, adding in 1/4 cup raspberry preserves. Bake as directed on package. Allow brownies to cool. Stir 2 tbsp raspberry preserves into frosting in tub and blend well. Spread frosting over cooled brownies and cut into squares. Decorate as desired.
CANDY BAR BROWNIES:
1 box fudge brownie mix (for 13in x 9in baking pan)
1 box of thin mints or thin chocolate bars (like Andes candies), or larger flat candy bars (like Hershey’s) broken into pieces, or miniature chocolate bars (like Hershey’s miniatures)
if desired for topping, ready-made frosting and sprinkles or crushed hard candies
Prepare brownie mix per box directions. Pour half of batter into greased and floured baking pan. Place candy pieces evenly across batter. Top with remaining batter and bake per box directions. Allow to cool before cutting into squares. If desired, top with frosting and sprinkles or crushed hard candies or peppermints. So easy, so good and so pretty!
Mary....I didn't tell you any more about lovebugs deliberately..snicker..because I knew you would love to research them but I would suggest using wikipedia for your research.
I think I was looking at book blogs and I found a WWII recipe for flourless, sugarless chocolate cake mentioned. I searched for the recipe and found one. I made the cake and it was good!
Alinaduffer, fascinating tidbits. You all make this so very entertaining. The TYPEWRITER is the best because I got to experiment right away!
Marcie, mini-breaks make me productive. Hmmm. I must be really prolific…
Does anyone know what the love bug said after it hit the windshield of a moving car?
Kaelee, thanks for the kind comments on my books. Funny you should mention the Chicago thing. It occurred to me too. The next one I made sure the newcomer comes from Southern California and when the hero has to make a trip, it is nowhere near the Windy City.
Norway does sound like a place of many benefits. I wonder what it’s like to have the day be mostly dark in the winter. Cozy maybe. A fire in the fireplace. Chocolate. Maybe a nice dark red wine… A hunk.
Hi Mary,
I found these facts about Red Hots on NPR's website.
Red Hots are great for satiating a sweet tooth without the fat and calories. Twenty pieces contain only 60 calories and are fat free.
Cinnamon's medicinal benefits are widely known. Cinnamon has been used to treat minor conditions such as toothaches and bad breath, and has been reported to aid in the treatment of type II diabetes by lessening the impact of carbohydrates on blood-sugar levels.
The next time you want to spice up applesauce, simmer it with a handful of Red Hots until they have completely melted. The applesauce will have a cinnamony kick to it and turn a light pink color.
Red Hots are delicious when dissolved in a steaming mug of hot tea or hot chocolate, providing a little extra heat and spice.
Purchasing Red Hots in the candy section of a supermarket is more economical than getting them from the baking section.
Virginia, Frosted Raspberry Fudge Brownies and Candy Bar Brownies for world peace. I love it. Thanks for the recipes. Mmm. Mmmm! Maybe we should all bake something today.
EllenToo, LOL you’re a tease—meant with all the positive and delightful connotations. From the image files of love bugs, I can see why there are so many of them!
Chey, CAKE GOOD. When my hubby asks me what I’d like to have for dessert, my first answer is always cake. I love cake, except, alas carrot cake, which I only like and tolerate because people work hard to make it. I know them are fighting words, but maybe my mother was frightened by a large carrot when she was pregnant with me. Sorry. A little punchy.
Going back to revisions for a while. I'll be back!
Love this blog. Such a fun Monday find. But for an interesting bit of info to share I had to ask dh.
Did you know manure piles are the perfect temperature for making cheese? Common in pioneer days.
I'm too tired to think of a factiod.:)
Hawai'i is the most isolated populated land mass (in the middle of the Pacific) and when measured from east to west, Hawai'i is the widest state in the United States. :)
We have over $300,000,000 damage from the tsunami, but not loss of life thanks to our civil defense and emergency responder teams. We need to all pray and send good thoughts and aid to the people of Japan.
Tammy, the applesauce seems like a great “cooking” idea to do with the kids. Red Hots and hot chocolate. There’s another one I want to try. Candy area vs. baking section—who’d’a thought?
Linda s, I can tell dh is a fun kind of person. Manure piles. Hmmmm. I’m going to have to think on that one.
Icp, glad you came anyway. I hope you love the factoids as much as I do!
Snookie, glad you're safe. Spent several hours at the tsumami museum in Hilo. Most frightening facts, figures and photos.
Sending good thoughts!
Fun Fact: North Dakota is the only state in the US that has never had an earthquake. Do we want to go there and make applesauce with Red Hots? Well ...
I have always wondered what you have written in those little spiral notebooks. But, I have never peeked as sometimes the unknown is intriguing!
Sandy
Fun comments.......since I am late to the party...can't think of a thing to add!!
Sandy, North Dakota sound peaceful and now that their winter is waning... As to the little notebooks, I have to be careful to make sure I'll be able to read what I've written.
Jackie S., glad you joined us. Glad you had fun reading the facts.
For some reason, I keep thinking of something I sort of know- that oldest synagogues in Eastern US were founded by Sephardic Jews, fleeing Spanish Inquisition in Spain and then New Spain (later Latin America).
Not a fun fact I know.
Here's the language pedant in me coming out...
My little useless fact is that a "factoid", by definition, is something that seems like a fact but isn't actually true at all. Like a humanoid is something that looks human but isn't.
It's now come to have a different meaning over a relatively short period, shifting to mean a fact that's true but relatively useless, due to persisitent misuse by journalists and radio announcers.
Proof English is an evolving language, but it still makes me cringe!
Mary, being an Aussie I've never heard of Red Hots so now you have me intrigued.
I love trivia and could normally rattle off a stream, but it is midnight here and my brain can only think of one: A group of foxes is called a skulk.
When I read this I was inspired and created a crossword-loving hero - of course he couldn't answer this one, it was the heroine who had to .
Laura, interesting. That’s the kind of thing that makes one wonder if we all live many lives. Maybe you were there. :-)
Autum, thanks for clarifying for all of us. My favorite word peeve is the use and misuse of the word myriad. Alas, it too is evolving to make all usage correct. And then there is that all things Wiki (not at all be confused with Wicca) seem to be creating factoids.
Anita Joy, I like your trivia bit. A skulk, eh. There are foxes where I live. The next time I see one, I’ll have to pull out that bit of info and impress myself. Midnight isn’t my best time either. Good luck with that hero and heroine.
Mary, I love how research throws up facts that fit right into your story, or lead it into another direction. Unfortunately I can never retain them so can't pass any on! Great blog.
Karina
Karina, LOL. Research always feels like I'm working and the fit with my work is like a puzzle falling into place. As far as retaining, retaining? I'm not familiar with that term. Maybe I'll go look it up.
Nothing to do with red hots, but still an interesting fact: Pear Brandy has a real whole pear inside the bottle and the bottle is genuine. It has not been cut in any way.It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over the pear buds and wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stem.
One more short one:
Even numbers on a book page are always on the left. Missy Moore
missy, wow! I love the pear thing. Now I'll be touring liquor stores looking for the genuine article. LOL I guess I never paid attention to the book pages. Thanks for the facts.
The word mile derives from the Latin word for thousand. It was the distance the average Roman soldier covered while walking a 1000 paces.
No idea if it's useful but I like it.
Silvia,
I like it, too. There is something primative and bad boy about a Roman soldier. I wonder how many of us would faint or run away if confronted by the genuine article. Would be fun to do that kind of research. Have a great day!
For reasons I can no longer remember, I was looking up cashews one day, and what I found made me wonder who in the world ever decided that eating them would be a good idea. (Don't get me wrong; I love cashews.) I understand that the tree itself is full of thorns. Then, the seed is surrounded by a double shell containing an allergenic phenolic resin, anacardic acid, which is a potent skin irritant. The toxin is related to the more well known allergenic oil urushiol which is found in the related poison ivy. Roasting cashews destroys the toxin, but it must be done outdoors, since the smoke (not unlike from burning poison ivy) contains droplets which can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening reactions by irritating the lungs. Who on earth persisted through all these deterrents (first, having the skin eaten off when the shell is opened and then being poisoned upon eating the unroasted nut)??? As soon as I hit the skin irritant, I would have said, "Not edible!" and given up.
Here's an interesting tidbit. I dislike any spicy hotness in my food. What other people say isn't really hot at all just lights me up and sets my entire mouth on fire, rendering me incapable of tasting any of the good flavors the food might have. That aversion notwithstanding, I really like Red Hots. I don't eat them often, and I do find them hot, but they don't impair my taste buds or leave me in unbearable pain.
JV I'm with you on the cashews and am so glad people provide them already edible for me. As far as the hot stuff. Although I'm not as sensitive as you are, I do get it. My hubby's brother calls me a chicken for not loving the hot sauce he makes. I like the flavor of hot, but not the pain and I don't feel it nearly as much as you do. I did have some habanero ice cream, which was good because it had hot fudge on it.
Mary, I know that dairy helps to reduce the burn of foods with spicy heat like leppers, so the ice cream might have been a perfect combination.
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