Friday, January 16, 2009

Got Lava Balls?


Have you ever tried Gimbals Lava Balls? Cripes -- I haven't eaten any in 2 days and my mouth is still recovering. I ate a bunch the other day and I swear, they burned my mouth raw. I've had them before and this didn't happen last time. I don't know -- maybe I just ate too many at once. The inside of my mouth feels like it's been scrubbed with sandpaper. But dang, these things are SO GOOD! I get them at Costco in big 4-pound jars. The Candy Direct website describes them as "the hottest candy on planet Earth" and I'd say that was about right. I love cinnamon flavored things. I've always said one of my favorite candies were Super Hot Tamales, which go by the name of Fire now. I was never fond of Atomic Fireballs because the hot cinnamon flavor only lasted a short time and it was sweet in the center. You don't have that problem with Lava Balls. They're hotter on the inside and like the ad says, the heat explodes all over your mouth. No wonder why my mouth is so raw.

I'm a big fan of hot, spicy foods. One of my favorite pizzas is called a Hot Hawaiian. It has ham, pineapple, bell peppers and jalapenos. You can't eat it without your lips burning. I also love green olives stuffed with habeneros. Eating those is like a form of self-indulged torture. They're hot as hell, but I keep eating them. When I go to Subway, I usually get a veggie sandwich with lots of banana peppers and jalapenos. I love that stuff. Tonight I'm cooking chicken in my crock-pot. I'll mix a can of cream of chicken soup with a jar of Trader Joe's Habenero Salsa and pour it over the chicken. It turns out really good. Rick can't eat spicy food as much because of his acid reflux and hiatal hernia. Hot foods bother him, but he can tolerate the chicken. I, on the other hand, can't get enough of the hot stuff. My mouth is just about all better and I'm wondering how long it will be before I crack open that jar of Lava Balls again. I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess.

How about you -- can you tolerate hot, spicy foods?

14 comments:

  1. OK, MY mouth is burning just from reading your blog! I am a total wimp when it comes to spicy food. My eyes will water while Vince is cooking, never mind me eating! But I am getting better! When Vince and I started out together I was a white bread and butter kind of girl... now, I might even have rye! lol

    I think I will leave the Lava Balls to you though Rena!

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  2. Lavaballs! The name is just funny!
    You are too funny with your candy. I cannot eat anything spicy...I'm a wimp!

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  3. I can tolerate spicy things. Once in a while, I like a bit of kick to my food. But only to enhance the flavour, not to kill my mouth.

    I can't stand jalapenos, though. It's not the heat, it's the actual flavour. Something about the flavour ruins a dish for me. Even the smell...blech. I don't know why - I've never had anything bad happen to me in the past.

    I do like a bit of red pepper flakes in some things. Just a small bit, though. A little goes a long way!

    Gale

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  4. Rena, you're a hoot! I can stand a little heat that hits the back of the mouth and throat, but not the kind that gets the tongue. I'm going to have to try some lava balls. DH loves spicy food, the hotter the better. More often than not, restaurants or food will say something like you'll be sorry, or hotter than whatever and it doesn't even phase him.

    Nancy

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  5. You come up with the oddest stuff...which is why I like your blog. I NEVER know what to expect. One day it's Circus Peanuts, the next it's Fabian and now it's Lava Balls.

    I can't take the heat. My mouth has never been able to tolerate hot/spicy anything, so even though I love cinnamon, Lava Balls and I would probably not keep good company.

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  6. I love spicy food, and the taste of habeneros. I did once make some grilled jerk chicken that was a little over the top, though! Even my kids like spicy food...they are definitely not wimpy when it comes to trying new foods.

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  7. Those lava balls sound cRaZy! I'm not sure I'd enjoy burning my mouth raw. But I do emjoy a little kick in my food. I grow jalapenos in my garden and add them to everything.

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  8. I can only take moderatly spicy. Once anything on my starts to burn, the joy is gone.

    YOu go girl!

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  9. I like my food spicy,but not to the point where you need water to get you through it.I definately couldn't hack your lavaballs.Never heard of them.In fact,I've never heard of a lot of these candies you like! You crack me up,and keep me amused.:)

    Leanne

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  10. Rena i LOVE hot and spicy food, i say the hotter the better!! I get cravings for it and just have to have it at least a couple of times a week, i am making home made pizza tonight and to make it spicy i add hot chilli sauce, fresh chillies and chilli flakes.... mmmm, i even have to put extra chilli spices on pizzas when we order takeout as the jalepenos and spices they put on are never hot enough for me.
    As you know i have a small vege garden growing and in it i have 5 different varieties of chillies growing, habeneros, jalepenos, one called firecracker and another two..... I say if you dont have tears running out of your eyes it just aint hot enough!! LOL

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  11. Spice is the variety of life - oh okay, I'm a little backwards. I love a little spice ;) and Lava Balls looks like it just might hit the spot. Thanks for this post - I'll be looking these little guys up.

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  12. hey there!!
    just letting you know Im having a giveaway!
    Hope you are doing well!!
    Cheers!
    Hilary

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  13. I love cinnamon. But no hot peppers. No, no, no.

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  14. Never heard of lavaballs but I used to eat fireballs. They were fun and we'd have contests over them.

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