A pupusa/taco mashup at Farmers' Market.

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At the DesMoines Downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings fromMay through October there's two things that whet my appetite themost: pupusas and tacos.

The pupusa ladies at Pupusas El Salvador rocks out thebest pupusas found in these parts [seeblog post] – spinach being my favorite. And SamAuen and the gang at Tacopocalpyse offer some of tastiest nuevotacos around, as well as the aptly named Breakfast Thing– a corn tortilla quesadilla topped with scrambled egg and yourchoice of savory meats and vegetarian items [seeblog post].

Most times I'm torn between what to enjoy. So one morning I had an idea. First I went to Pupusas ElSalvador for a pupusa bursting with spinach and cheese, topped offwith slaw and salsa. Then I took my booty around the corner toTacopacalypse and requested a Breakfast Thing sansthe quesadilla, offering my pupusa as an alternative platform toheap upon.

From left: Making pupusas; A handful ofspinach and cheese for my pupusa; Hot off the grill.

With all the fixings… what a breakfast! On a chilly visit toFarmers' Market recently I hoped to repeat that experience but wascrestfallen to find the pupusa ladies absent. I consoled myselfwith a special request: a pair of egg tacos.

Tacos are important. Especially when its 32 degrees outside.

From left: Pupusa with curtido (slaw) andhot salsa; Capped off with Breakfast Thing toppings; Egg tacoswith cheese.

Photos from the Picasa Web Album: Reviewed Foods and More reviewed foods

Recent eats: Paul Revere's Pizza, Mullets, B-Bop's

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Paul Revere's Pizzamay be a Cedar Rapids-based franchise of pizzerias scatteredmostly across Eastern Iowa, but the pair operating in Des Moineshave always seemed to operate as a separate entity. In factthey're not even listed on the corporation's website.

Their pizza isn't exceptional, but it is cheesy. Friends of minein the Kingman neighborhood enjoyed the occasional sausage andmushroom pizza, but I like my Paul Revere's pizza even simplerwith just a scattering of pepperoni, as shown here on a 20-inch Ihad delivered while dog-sitting earlier this year.

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I'm a fan of breakfast at Mullets [seeblog post], especially so of their heartybreakfast burrito. On my last visit I took the side of salsa verdeand mixed it into a small bowl of sausage gravy. A perfect burritotopper! But ask for a plate so you can smother it.
 

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B-Bop's is the favorite choice ofmany Central Iowans for burgers, fries, and shakes. Of late I'vetried the half-pound BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger withSweet Baby Ray'sbarbeque sauce, pickles, and onions; and the B.L.T.,uniquely built on a sesame seed bun. But what I've enjoyed themost is the tasty chili. A loose, tomatoey concoction, B-Bop'schili is as homey as it gets. Shredded cheese offered as a topperquickly melts into the soupy brew, complimenting its saucyessence. Crushed saltines soften when added and contribute awelcoming body.

Photos from the Picasa Web Album: MoreReviewed Foods

Recent eats: NYC Pizza Cafe, Angelo's, Famous Dave's

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Tradition dictates that taco pizzas be covered in a salty heap ofcrushed nacho cheese-flavored tortilla chips. I for one, prefercrisp lettuce and juicy tomato as the only additions.

I had a delightfully unique Taco Pizza from NYCPizza Cafe recently, once I scratched underneath thesurface. NYC's pizza starts off with their tender crust, then slathers the surface with a savory refriedbean sauce. Topped with ground beef, diced jalapeno andcheese, then baked, and finished with chopped lettuce, tomato and theomnipresent crushed tortilla chips.

After I polished off a slice to sample the full treatment, Iscraped off the chips, lettuce, and tomato and ate them separatelyas a salad, with copious amounts of packet taco sauce as an ersatzdressing.

Then I was able to enjoy the pizza as it had come from the oven.The seasoned bean sauce is quite delicious. Without the lettuce,tomato and chips, more jalapeño and a smidgen more beefwould be welcome, but otherwise a fine pizza worthy to revisit. Infact I almost did recently until social dinner plans forced me tosettle for a plate of Italian Nachos at Old Chicago.

I've heaped enough praise upon personal favorites Mr.Filet and Angelo'sPizza, to the point where some of you are probablylamenting, "Enough already!"

I agree, but first I have to mention the B.L.T.pizza I enjoyed a while back. It's a simplebacon pizza, built on Angelo's thin, crispy, charred crust; toppedwith lettuce and tomato. Sound good enough? But wait… "Where'sthe mayo?", you say. Ah, I will tell you.

Angelo's paints a veneer of mayonnaise on top of the cheesebefore loading on the L. and T. The mayo helps to glue down thelettuce; You can taste the flavor, but its not overbearing.

I have a fondness for FamousDave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que's sauces, link sausage, WilburBeans, and their sweet cornbread muffins. On my lastvisit to load up on a double portion of sausage, I also shared aplate of Not’cho Ordinary Nachos with my tablemate.

Dave’s version piles on Wilbur Beans, chili,sliced jalapeños, shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese,chopped tomato, drizzles of sour cream and Rich & Sassysauce, and your choice of beef brisket, chopped pork or pulledchicken. We sampled the tender brisket.

A fun, imaginative build! I could have eaten the whole platealone as a meal, but then I wouldn't have had room for my sausage,and healthy doses of Dave's Wilbur's Revenge hot BBQ sauce.

More Holiday Cookies!

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After a disastrous attempt to revisit friends in Las Vegas forthe holidays, I salvaged the Sunday morning prior to Christmaswith a visit to my pal Deb Kirch, bearing a bag of gifts. Inreturn, I was bestowed a bounty of cookies. w00t!

Chocolate Mint Cremes. Chewy,chocolatey, just enough peppermint to complement thechocolatey flavor.	Festive Fudge Blossoms.Crisp, nutty, good cocoa flavor.
Oatmeal Cranberry Toffee.Chewy, sweet, pocketed with crisp bits. A personalfavorite.	Peanut Butter Spritzes.Unique crumbly texture, even a tad fragile. Not fordunking.
Spritzes. Moister and lesscrumbly than P.B. variety. Cinnamon candy star adds azip.	Mexican Wedding Cakes, alsoknown as Russian Teacakes. Nutty, lightly sweet. Aperfect cookie for tea.
Chocolate Chip. America'sfavorite cookie, year round. Crisp, as it should be.	Chocolate Chip Cookie DoughTruffles. Technically not a cookie. Sensuous raw cookiedough texture and flavor. Sugar crystals crunch softlywith each chew.
BONUS! Candy! Caramel PecanClusters. With a chocolate drizzle it's a triple threatpraline!	More Candy! Peanut ButterBalls. Study, but delicate. Melts in your mouth!

The Lord of the 'Rings': The Return of the Donut King

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A couple of weeks after Dunkin' Donuts [blog post to come]opened up in West Des Moines, I wandered out there on a chillySaturday morning, more interested in sampling breakfast sandwichesthan doughnuts. Finding a fifteen minute wait inside, anddrive-thru traffic backed up onto Eighth Street I angrily stormedoff to revisit Donut King nearby on Grand [seeblog post of previous visit].

Despite thehubbub at Dunkin' Donuts – not unlike the maddening clamor whenKrispy Kreme rolled into town a few years back – business at DonutKing was brisk and lively, seemingly unaffected.

If therewas one ring to rule them all it would be the Peanut,available either on a plain or chocolate doughnut. Surprisingly moist. A damn fine doughnut!

The Raspberry,a jam-filled raised doughnut is light and airy, and not as sweetas I would have expected with all that powdered sugar. Mydoughnut exhibited uneven filling, concentratedto one side. Such idiosyncrasies should be expected from amade-by-hand product.

The Buttercrunchwith a pebbly, yellow-tinged exterior is sweet and messy. Alittle sweet for my tooth, but the kids should like it.

Afghan Violence Spreads Over Terry Jones' Quran Burning

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Violent protests flared in Afghanistan for a second day today, enflamed by Outrage over the burning of a Quran by Florida Pastor Terry Jones.Nine protesters were killed today in Kandahar, M Hundreds marched holding copies of the Quran "when security forces shot into the air Thurs Disperse the crowd.

Zalmai Ayubi, a Spokesman for the provincial governor, said it is unclear how the protestors were killed.read more at http://abcnews.go.com

Pastor defiant over Qur'an burning

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Dressed in black robes, the white-haired Pastor Terry Jones looked down from his position in the "judge's chair"set up in the mock Courtroom of his tiny church.

Judgement HAD Been hmmmm. A verdict had occurred Been Given And now it was time for the sentence be carried out Thurs. The "guilty" party - the Qur'an - was set in a black metal fire-proof tray.

"Give Them a few minutes. Those WHO Desire leave Thurs. That is not a problem," Jones intoned in his Gravelly monotone as his Assistant Pastor Wayne Sapp Stood next to the book, looking Solemn with his hands placed behind his back.

read more at http://www.mg.co.za

Katie Couric Replacements For 'CBS Evening News' (PHOTOS, POLL)

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With news of Katie Couric's departure from the "CBS Evening News" All but official, talk is turning Quickly Thurs Who will replace her at the anchor desk. The network newscasts May Not Be The titans They once were, But They're Still the Most-Watched News Programs around, and anybody WHO gets the gig Will Be Occupying a very prestigious position. Below, see "some of the hotly-and Not So hotly, and purely speculatively-tipped picks for Potential Couric replacements. Be sure to tell us Whether you think These people nudged Actually take Couric's spot, Whether or hell will freeze over before That Happens.