"Syrup" news and stories

Did you really think that only fashion designers roll out a spring line?

The latest is this: Mrs. Butterworth's 24-ounce bottles of syrup. Yes, the famously coy talking syrup bottle has gotten into fashion. The bottles, which have carried the iconic shape since their 1961 debut, now come in three different springtime designs decked out with bunnies, flowers, and butterflies.

But Mrs. Butterworth's manufacturer, Pinnacle Foods Group, has taken things a step further: With the help of 20 accessories, available for download through Facebook, a game of "paper dolls" is born. You simply print the images, cut them out and place 'em on top of the pear-shaped gal. You can sit around the table at breakfast with your spouse, kids or friends and dress up the lady on the bottle. Will she go to the beach (thanks to a snorkeling mask)? Or exchange her winter boots for a pair of rollerblades? (No, we're not kidding.)

But don't try to outsmart Mrs. B -- you can't put these accessories onto a Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottle already in your pantry. The secret codes to obtain the snorkel gear et al. are printed on the spring-themed bottles. Maybe the gimmick will entice you to to pick up two or three bottles -- you wouldn't want to have the worse-dressed syrup at the table, would you?

There are some things in this world that were meant to taste like hazelnut. Actual hazelnuts, for instance, and also Aunt Sylvia's famous holiday pralines. Maybe even a hot cocoa or a cookie batter that has a dash of extract in it.

But what about coffee beans?

Flavored coffee is and will likely always be a loaded topic; It's often considered the final qualifier when separating the proverbial men from the boys of caffeinated beverages. "Is it really so bad?," you might ask yourself. "What's all the hubbub?"

Read on after the jump to find out.

In honor of National Maple Syrup Day, we've decided to conduct a little experiment. In observing the above photo, do you feel somewhat ill-at-ease or alarmed at the dauntingly naked pancakes? Do you feel a strange urge to reach into the photo and pour syrup all over the painfully undressed cakes? If so, consider yourself a true maple syrup fan.

We can't get enough of the buttery-sweet nectar -- and no sweet-flavored brunch would be complete without it. But maple syrup is well enjoyed past the morning hours and we love the subtle sweetness it adds to any dish. In honor of National Maple Syrup Day, get creative with these suggested recipes:

• Smashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes
• Maple-Basted Delicata Squash
• Blueberry-Maple Caiprissimo Cocktail
• Turkey Fingers with Maple-Mustard Sauce
• Chicken with Black-Pepper Maple Sauce
• Carrot Cake with Maple-Cream-Cheese Icing
• Nutmeg-Maple Cream Pie

Become a member of the Slashfood Flickr pool to get a shot at having your photos featured on the site.

About to dig into pancakes but your syrup bottle is tapped? A few kitchen staples can easily satisfy your cravings.

Photo: Flickr / Roadsidepictures

Her name is Butterworth. Mrs. Butterworth. And after 40 years of mystery, she's ready to reveal her first name to the world.

Slashfood reported in June that Mrs. Butterworth's had launched a contest asking participants what they think the company's iconic spoke-bottle's first name might be, accompanied by a short statement as to why. The co-winners, 15-year-old Shayla Doty, of Logansport, Ind., and Cynthia Harmon, 44, of Champaign, Ill., each independently found their way to "Joy" -- as well as $500 and a year's supply of syrup.

Said Miss Doty, "The father-to-be, Mr. Butterworth, was in favor of the name Yvonne, while the mother-to-be felt she was more deserving of a name that would remind them of what a precious jewel she would be -- Opal. Having not settled on a decision the day their giggling baby girl arrived, the doctor suggested "Jocelyn," meaning "the merry one." A light bulb lit above Daddy Butterworth's head, and he suggested combining the first letter from all three names, J-O-Y."

Ms. Harmon contended that, "Growing up, Mrs. Butterworth was teased by classmates who called her 'Joy Buzzerworth' in reference to a popular practical joke item called a joy buzzer that shocked people when they shook hands. When Mrs. Butterworth's introduced her syrup to the world, she didn't want anybody to think about Joy Buzzers, and just wanted them to love her thick and rich and buttery syrup, and so she decided to leave out her first name."

Still, Slashfood wonders -- did she meet a Mr. Butterworth and tie the knot, or is Missus just a nickname? Share your best guesses in the comments below.

Contest results will be posted at mrsbutterworthssyrup.