Here's a little known factoid - did you know that KFC changed its image by retiring the slogan Kentucky FRIED Chicken. Instead, they became known as serving up Kitchen Fresh Chicken. Long are the days of Wesson Oil commercials that proudly encouraged yummy fried chicken for dinner. When was the last time you saw a splatter screen? How about a Fry Daddy? It must be a pretty big sin to eat fried foods these days. Or is it?

Look at the menu at Long John Silvers; nothing but fried foods. Look at any menu for that matter, deep fried beer battered shrimp, fried clams, french fries, fried potatoes, fried eggs. Outback restaurant has the Blooming Onion, that puppy is soaked in oil. Fried Fried Fried.

So perhaps no one is trying to say that fried foods are good for you, but nations sure are indulging in the grease laden foods, especially Americans. Perhaps this isnt a good time to bring up the Obesity statistics. But heres the kicker, "It tastes so good!" Granted, some fried foods are just too greasy, but a majority of them just taste delicious. Thats why loads of indulgers treat themselves to a so many artery-closing delicacies!

First there were the french fries, now there are deep fried dill pickles and deep fried Oreos? How did THAT leap happen? Dont forget deep fried ice cream and deep fried peaches. Of course what menu isnt complete without the deep fried mushrooms, deep friend cheese sticks, and deep friend cauliflower? Perhaps if you deep fry vegetables, its a little healthier? Is that how it works? Or if you deep fry already fattening nibbles, such as ice cream and Oreos, then it doesnt really matter because youre already cheating?

Nevertheless it continues. Theres deep fried strawberries, Snickers, potato salad, zucchini, tofu, cheesecake, rice balls, bananas, corn, shrimp, and even deep fried turkey. Product flyers claim the winged bird is "so much juicier when cooked in a deep fryer!" So we got rid of the little table top Fry Daddy and went for the floor model turkey fryer. Umm, ok.

Then theres the big decision about what kind of oil to use? Olive, peanut, vegetable, canola, lard, butter, margarine or Valvoline 10-40? Certainly dont forget to check out your saturated fats against your polyunsaturated fats versus the monounsaturated fats.

Maybe you should say fats. Did we ever decide if fried was a bad word? Perchance the better word is Sauted. Indeed. Sauted Oreos - much healthier!