Meet The Team / Keith McDuffee

Gather 'round, men, for the spicy food cook-off. You don't want to miss this one; it could save your life.

Capsaicin, the chemical in hot peppers (particularly cayenne and habenero) that makes them hot, literally stops prostate cancer cells in their tracks. Really. They actually commit suicide (apoptosis), leading to an eighty percent reduction in the size of the tumors compared with the mice spared from the hot stuff.

This is great news, but not really a surprise that the cancer cells commit suicide when exposed to the capsaicin. After all, haven't there been times you've wanted to kill yourself when eating those nuclear-hot buffalo wings or that seven-alarm chili? Makes perfect sense to me.

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It has happened to all of us at one time or another. You needed to buy fresh cilantro (or as some call it, coriander) for one recipe, that called for a tablespoon or so, and now you have this giant bunch of cilantro rotting in your fridge. How can you let such a special herb go to waste? Here are eight fun things we do with our leftover cilantro.

1. Add to homemade ginger lime salad dressing -- just lime juice, cider vinegar, ginger, olive oil, a splash of sesame oil and fresh cilantro, all to taste.

2. Blend into hummus, either homemade or store-bought, with a bit of cumin. Voila -- instant clash of the ethnic flavors, but all in good fun.

3. Slow cook eggplant, chick peas, garlic and onions in a can or two of diced tomatoes, with cumin, coriander and cinnamon. Sprinkle on cilantro and crispy onions and garlic before serving.

If the media hasn't overdosed you with enough holiday spirit this year, maybe you'll get your fill at a fast food restaurant.

Heinz has released a limited edition set of holiday ketchup packets sure to set your holiday spirits soaring. Or at least to inspire some collectors. Or burger lovers. Or Santa Claus. Someone will appreciate them, I am sure.

I hesitated to even write this post up for Slashfood, as I am not sure that Cheetos qualify as food, but I digress . . .

Yep, there is now a Cheetos lip balm. For those of you who can't get enough of that lip-smackin' orange cheesy taste, you can now wear it on your lips 'round the clock. What's next, Doritos lip balm (with Cool Ranch flavor)? Can someone please tell me what would posses someone to want to rub some of this on their lips?

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Ah, memory lane. Remember those Tab Cola commercials? Tab, you're beautiful to me. Well, nostalgia, step aside and make room for the new and improved Tab Cola, complete with a new recipe, boasting extra caffeine. The reinvented cult classic comes in a retro extra-slim can to make it attractive to young women.

What's next? Doublemint Gum with a little extra punch of green tea? Or maybe they'll just sell it in a Mork and Mindy lunchbox.