This week, my six food groups consisted of:

- midnight snacks;

- ballpark weinies and meat on the grill; 

- potatoes and pasta (not together, but they both have carbs);

- sandwiches (preferably chicken salad);

- delicious restaurant fare;

- and Jell-O.

Mmmmm! Good eating this week. I'm not sure that it'll help my weight much, but a heavier me might pack more punch on the softball field. Who knows? 

While eating at Buffalo Wild Wings in Apple Valley, I read about the restaurant's specials. Then, I realized that through the company's Web site, you can invite your friends out to the eatery on those nights.

Go to http://www.wildmessages.com/2nd/fla/index.php and select the Hot Twins, the Space Alien, or the Worldly Frenchman, who will gladly call your friends with the invitation.

What fun!

I was watching “Iron Chef America” the other night, and it really inspired me to try to eat more than just macaroni and cheese.

Just months after my 40-day recipe challenge, my eating is in a slump again. My general meals either come from a box or somehow incorporate tortillas and frozen vegetables. What can I say? I’m pretty tame in the kitchen. I never really venture outside my comfort zone of pizza-based foods. They’re good enough, so why try for something better?

Paul Sunder might well be the best baker in town.

The former editor often stops by the Jordan Independent office with his well-known Looking Back column and a bag full of cookies. What a guy!

Most recently, he brought chocolate chip, my favorite. Mmmm ...

I think the guy should open his own cookie store. That kind of specialty shop could really work in downtown Jordan -- right next to the JI. 

A week later, I'm still reaping the benefits of Valentine's Day dinner.

I've eaten watermelon every day since that blessed holiday, on which my darling wife and I dined in the middle of the living room floor. The location is a fairly typical place for us to eat. I often ask her, "Do you want to eat at the table or have a picnic?" Our frequent picnics rarely range outside, but they move from the dining room floor to the floor of the office that holds our Xbox to on top of the oh-so-comfy comforter in the bedroom.

Newly signed Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Livan Hernandez is one of the best innings-eaters in baseball.

Former Twins Johan Santana and Carlos Silva tossed a combined 421 innings last year. Hernandez would throw that many by himself if you let him. This guy doesn't ever want to come out of a game. I don't know how many times I've looked at a boxscore to see that he got shelled for five runs in the first inning and then kept going through the eighth inning.

Gotta hand it to Paul Sunder -- he makes a great chili.

It was partially frozen in a plastic Smart Balance butter spread container marked "P.J.'s chili" when he dropped it off today. So I warmed it for about 10 minutes in the microwave.

Having stuck to pizza-only diet today, I downed all of the chili in fewer than five minutes.

Good stuff. Mmmm ... 

This just in from the random facts file:

I've just been informed by a coworker that Jennie-O seasoned turkey burgers are "pretty darn good." This particular coworker had never tried them before. 

Just FYI. 

(By the way, be careful what you say in the newspaper office. It might end up on the Internet.) 

This weekend is going to be a good one, and here’s why:

• I get to most of it with my girlfriend.
• I’m going to a gospel concert.
• I’m going to eat three great home-cooked meals.
• I’ll be done with my Christmas shopping.
• It’s just after 9 a.m. Friday, and I’m about to leave work – starting my weekend early.

Do you have big plans for the weekend?

Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing really is kind of gross when you think about it – all those entrails and whatnot. But I sure do love the taste.