Your guilty pleasures? Things you shouldn't like but do anyway because they taste good

Momofuku cookies.

Eating roux straight out of the pan. Pumpkin mallocremes. White rice with butter. At least half a batch of any cookie dough I make

Trader Joe's Parmesan Pastry Pups.

chocolate chips, by the handful

A big bowl, 2 spoons to mix it all, cornflakes and condensed milk. My guilty, sweet and sticky snack.

Suzy Qs. I haven't bought a package in years, but when I'm really stressed thinking about them makes me feel better. I also live original Ruffles... Very hard to find in small bags so rarely indulge. :))

Toasted, buttered sourdough with Nutella. Crunchy, buttery, sweet and sour. Yum.

Potato chips!

I love Kinder eggs. You crack open a milk chocolate egg and find a toy inside that you often have to put together! What could be better than that?! The best one I got was a toy airplane that I got from a Kinder egg at Duty Free. I happily put it together and flew it...while I was on the plane.

There was a point in my life when I could make Kraft Boxed Mac'n Cheese by sight, measuring cups be damned. For parties, I'd make 3 boxes worth in my best and biggest pasta pot. Can you beat the warmth of that creamy orange glow? I think not...

Funfetti cake!

Asda's custard donoughts!

Oh chef Susie! You're right! It was always a holiday treat in our household... Condensed milk sandwiches! The rule when we were kids was that you could have as much as you liked, so long as it didn't trickle off the bread before you finished the sandwich! If you put too much on to accomplish the task, then Mum would put it on for you (thinly) next time! The same applied to the Dutch treat hakels (chocolate vermicelli that would be shaken on bread...as thickly as we dared!)

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Sweetened condensed milk..right outta the can! The only sweet I truly love.....on Fresh bread.....

What could be worst for you than that fatty grease stripe atached to tenderloin?Love it!Gotta have it!Am I alone on this one?

Wow, pierino, you really are psychic. (Either that, or you have a friend at the NY Times.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/dining/top-chefs-say-that-sometimes-only-supermarket-brands-will-do.html?ref=style

Sourdough bread toasted with butter and sprinkling of salt, Velveeta shells and cheese, and cinnamon toast crunch cereal. If I start eating any of these things, I won't be able to stop myself... and I am about 9 months pregnant wishing I had all these things in my kitchen now, that would make for an awesome three course meal!

If you get out the Bayou it seems most oyster poor boys are served on pullman slices with shredded iceberg, mayo and butter.

wonder bread, fried bologna, fried egg, American cheese and Hellmans, for breakfast

O & C Onions right out of the can.

Hostess Snoballs (I like the white ones), Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes, Oreos ... the Chocolate Cupcakes are probably my number one guilty pleasure. I also looove chili cheese fries.

no one mentioned Wheat Thins or Ritz Crackers. Think they merit consideration

Mmmm...french fries with an insulting amount of ketchup....

And I second Hamburger helper. I don't understand why...but I like it!
And I'm a sucker for Velveta Shells and Cheese. I think it's because it stays so damn creamy.
Oh-and Dairy Queen Blizzards. I could eat those till I got sick!

Hamburger Helper's Beef Stroganoff. I know how to make if from scratch, but it is too good by adding a little sour cream at the end. Oh! and Tostinos pizza rolls with Ranch dressing

Hamburger Helper's Beef Stroganoff. I know how to make if from scratch, but it is too good by adding a little sour cream at the end. Oh! and Tostinos pizza rolls with Ranch dressing

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Too many to count, but here are a few at the top of my list: port wine and cheese in a plastic jar, Shin ramyun with a slice of Kraft cheese melted on top, Combos, and Robo Pops. Sadly, I could go on with this list all day...

During my adolescent years, I lied on WW Chicken Fetticuine. No desire for that now, TG...

Hot chips.....hard to resist ....to smell them is to want them!

peanut butter with a spoon.
York mint patties.
Sour cream and onion (or any) Pringles.

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing from the packet, made with Hellman's; Big Cheez-its and orginal red twizlers. (Not at the same time!)

Its a daily battle for me not to pull into a McDonalds drive through and get a large order of fries. I can't even remember the last time I actually had them. It's been several years. I swore off of fast food joints like McDonalds, Burger King, etc.. long ago, but that doesn't erase the fact that I think the fries are delicious.

I know there are much better fries out there made from fresh cut potatoes. I think its more the convenience then the quality that made me go for them.

Stay strong Ben.... Stay strong.

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese :)

@Sam1148... I think I meant ascorbic acid but what a great tip.

@sdebrango... Yes! Underwood Deviled Ham. Came in a little tin and the pleated paper wrapper had a red devil on it. That got spread on a saltine with a sliced olive on top (with a martini). The weekday sandwich version was Oscar Mayer deviled ham spread with bits of pickle in it - came in a plastic tube. If anyone remembers eating that, the tube was sealed with metal grommets and you invariably stabbed yourself with a paring knife, trying to cut open the tube.

I think somebody else already said Malted Milk balls. They don't even taste very good but the texture over the moon & out of this world.

Don't forget Disco Fries.

No fellowship in Creton? I feel so lonely.

Betty Crocker Au gratin potatoes!,, Yea the ones in the box. Sad but true.

Betty Crocker Au gratin potatoes!,, Yea the ones in the box. Sad but true.

Betty Crocker Au gratin potatoes!,, Yea the ones in the box. Sad but true.

Betty Crocker Au gratin potatoes!,, Yea the ones in the box. Sad but true.

Betty Crocker Au gratin potatoes!,, Yea the ones in the box. Sad but true.

Two more that I remember that pimento cheese spread in a jar, spread on white bread, and deviled ham it came in those little cans that were wrapped in paper with mayo and dill pickle on white bread.

I like the San Francisco treat too (although I haven't had it in many years, it evokes fond memories.) Actually, I couldn't give a Roni about what I 'should' and 'shouldn't' enjoy eating....oops, shameless.

Nobody loves War Heads or citric acid. Bummer.

Hot Pockets are definitely the road to perdition, Rice-A-Roni not far behind.

Hamburger Helper, Honeycomb cereal, Hot Pockets & Open Pit BBQ sauce. Rice-A-Roni... I'm hungry.

I'm scared to ruin the Kraft singles, Velveeta, or any fake cheese for that matter, food parade..., but I vehemently despise all of those things, and often say that there is almost no amount of money you could pay me to eat them. Something about orange cheesy stuff makes my stomach squirm. But I love junk food of all sorts, and as a kid was known to eat fig newtons and chips every day. I still love nutri grain bars--ingredient list is scary. Doughnuts, muffins, cheese danishes, and almost any baked good is my idea of heaven. And can I say that I like boxed yellow cake with that terrible chocolate canned frosting. I haven't had it in years, but it was oh so good! As was the strawberry boxed cake, which I was allowed to have on my birthday in kindergarten. I can still taste it.

I love Kraft singles too, any American cheese really. So nice know I have so much company among Food52ers!

I love deep fried tofu. The way they make it here at the store taste soooo good, but I know it can't be good to eat everyday, so I enjoy it once a week.

Nutella, straight out of the jar, using a pack of breadsticks for the dipping tools... It's been a while since I've indulged, but it really is very good.

Another delicious thing is a MacDonalds vanilla milk shake with a double espresso stirred in. The staff look at me like I'm crazy, but it warms the shake up enough for it not to be hard work to drink, and it's not cloyingly sweet. It doesn't work with a chocolate shake though, just the vanilla.

Salt and vinegar Pringles, those giant piles of nachos with cheese and jalepenos and sour cream you get at sports bars for sure. Really anything deep fried. A big one is anything very carb-heavy with lots of cheese - buttery grilled cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese (I used to be huge on Stouffer's frozen kind. It is amazing, especially with baby carrots). Recently my biggest problem has been creme fraiche - I can't seem to open my fridge without grabbing big globs of it straight with a spoon and/or my fingers... repeatedly.

I persist in thinking that the totally denatured cherries in canned fruit cocktail are the true doors to heckdom.

I think mine takes the cake here - Betty Crocker Blueberry muffin batter - unbaked. I used to love this during final exams or other high-stress times. Mix it up and eat it straight from the bowl, maybe leave enough to bake a few for breakfast the next day. Now I avoid this entirely due to the partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup in the mix, of which I have had more than I care to think about.

So far I think Kraft Singles and SPAM are the winners here in the category of foods that will send you to hell. I'm surprised that Doritos haven't scored higher.

The "Hungry Man Fried Chicken Dinner" enough sodium to kill a small elephant. But I loved it---until they stopped using wings....and finding it with 'bone in' fried chicken harder to find now, even then it's only a breast and a thigh...no wing. The original had this great skin on it that was super salty. It'd be two meals for me tho.

Duck Prosciutto....mmm the fatty bits

Velveeta

Velveeta

Ooey, gooey nachos with sliced jalapenos. Cheesy potato skins with sour cream. Creamy baked macaroni and cheese with fresh tomatoes. White Mexican Cheese Dip with chips. Grilled cheese sandwiches with American and Provolone cheeses. Yep, I like cheese. ;0

Chocolate Hostess cupcakes (two in a package) with the seven squiggles on top and the vanilla creme in the middle ...

French Fries dipped in Tartar sauce :)

Crispy, salty french fries; mac 'n cheese; a big slice of NY cheesecake!

Spam. In fried rice. In musubi. in onigiri. As a sandwich. As a burger. With eggs.

I make a Spam thing with cut-up Spam cubes and grated cheddar cheese mixed with Miracle Whip (not mayo) then smeared on hamburger bun halves and broiled until they brown on top. Only my husband and I know I make these things.

Also chicken skin (I can buy a bag of crispy chicken skin, freshly fried, by the pound at a local Fillipino market), sour cream and cheddar Lays potato chips (not the wavy ones), cherry/mango Bigstick popsicles, bacon sandwiches (no L or T), tuna noodle casserole with crushed potato chips and grated cheddar on top and many more horribly unhealthy things I just can't think of right now.

Hy husbands family make this cheese toast concoction that I LOVE. 1 part Velveeta, 1 part imperial cheddar (VERY sharp cheese, comes in a red tub) to a ridiculous amount of fried bacon and chives/green onions, smeared on toast and broiled. Once we had left over fried walleye and it was amazing smeared on it!

My other guilty pleasures are the white processed cheese slices (not orange!) and croissants with Gruyere and tomatoes. Yuuuuum. I just love cheese!!!

Another, Campbell's cream of tomato soup with pepperidge farm goldfish instead of saltines or oyster crackers. Like dipping a grilled cheese in tomato soup!!

Velveeta. On anything. I actually hide it in my fridge so no one will find it!

Kettle Potato Chips sprinkled with blue cheese and chives - baked until warm....I'll eat the whole plate!

weird list # 2:
Those sweet/salty/ chile infused tamarind candies from thailand..from the oriental grocery They torture you by taping the boxes shut. it takes longer o open the box than it si to scarf the whole lot down. Bonus: the tamarind seeds inside.. If you manage to get one to germinate in a flower pot, pick off the leaves to nibble. Yep peeps, its true.. been there done that..
(killed the poor sapling which probably braved Xray & gamma radiation while being imported into the US)

ooh, lemon wedges with salt.. I'm with you on that totally.. its the evil twin of raw mangoes with salt & chili powder.. The inevitable hypersensitive teeth is the cherry on top!

Matjes herring. or Schmaltz herring. Preferably when I will be home alone. I 'd be surprised if I got any "agrees" on this!

Lemon wedges sprinkled w/salt. Don't tell my dentist.

S'mores!

I'm ashamed to say party mix and occasionally Store bought pizza like Dijourno (sp)

Fries and gravy.
Rotel cheese dip.
Donuts.
When I was a kid, I used to love the cherry pie filling in a can. My parents used to give me a can in my Christmas stocking.
I can't remember the last time I had a Kraft single. Looks like I need to revisit them.

A really cold can of fruit cocktail with those crazy-red cherries.

Saltine or Townhouse crackers with butter. Just plain ol' butter hehe

Flat root beer.

Also - cheese fries. The cheese must be yellow, and whether or not it's real cheese must be questionable.

I love to indulge in a slice or two of Spam once in a while. When we had a house on Maui it was easy to scarf it up on the sly because it's in just about every convenience and grocery store and deli and is called musubi (yes...on a block of rice wrapped with nori)

So do we have a consensus that Kraft Singles rule?

Just about anything that's deep-fried: fried chicken, doughnuts, french fries, tater tots, okra, potato chips, buffalo wings, etc. That is why I don't have a deep-fryer at home. I reserve all fried foods for the rare occasions I eat out. Ramen noodles (especially the Korean Shin spicy ones) is another favorite. And I am embarrassed to add Chefboyardee's mini ravioli.

I raise my hand for Kraft singles too! And Honey Nut Cheerios. And, when available, Cadbury Dairy Milk bars

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This question is great! I, too, am a sucker for junior mints, but my real guilty snack (and what I ate as my after school snack throughout most of high school) is a big glass of super chocolatey chocolate milk with a bag of Sour Cream and Onion potato chips. Yum! I also sometimes make pumpkin bread just so I can have some of the batter, which is probably why my loaves don't always end up being very high! ;)

I have not had this since I was a child but sometimes my Mom used to fry thick slices of spam and serve with runny fried eggs and homemade biscuits. I remember it tasting so good but have not had it since Ieft home many years ago.

@Sam1148 - Never thought of making Gummies - what a great excuse to buy ascorbic acid. Thanks for the link

French fries, Nestle Quick chocolate mixed into soymilk, and these little sandwich cookies made by Glutino because they're like Oreos and I haven't had a true Oreo since 2001 and can't seem to be bothered to make my own. Oh, and peanut M&Ms.

This is such a great question and such a fun thread. It's pretty obvious that I could use a bit more guilt. I actually don't feel guilty eating anything I enjoy. So, if you rephrased the question as, "What foods readily available at the 7-11 do you really like?", the answer would be Fritos or Corn Nuts, washed down with Fresca. Ahhhhh. ;o)

Ham, cream cheese, and pickle roll ups. With or without a tortilla. Why are they so good?!

Cheese in a jar.

I am on board the kraft singles bandwagon - old favorite (terrible) kraft cheese on tortilla chips, sprinkled with dried oregano, heated in the microwave. Other past indulgence (only when I was a kid and then again when I was pregnant) Elio's pizza! Its like the terrible square pizza school pizza with holes in the bottom.

Expensive steak that I dip in ketchup & french fries dipped in mayo. Best meal!

Chicken skin (either fried or roasted) Fried chicken, french fries, potato chips, corn chips

A bowl of ice cram with a couple of large globs of peanut butter. Yum!

How about the other guilty-but-delicious direction? I love foie gras. And veal.

Cracklings . . . always go out of my way to create when cooking pork with skin on. Also, peanut butter, bacon, mayo and lettuce sandwich.

Conversation hearts (Necco brand only). Swedish fish. Cheez It crackers-classic, smoked cheddar and spicy are my faces. Tuna casserole made with Campbell's cheddar cheese soup. And recently discovered (this is elevated above all the others) Pure Icelandic Chocolate Bars from whole foods. Come two per package (lovely waxed paper) and can gobble them both in about 7 minutes and I'm NOT a chocolate fan.
Great question, btw

p.s. Love reading all these - great question, Pierino!

@Sam1148 - Fritos with chopsticks are good too.

I don't have a sweet tooth, more salt/sour/crunch/fat. Marshmallow peeps are the devil - make me want to swivel my head around 360 degrees a few times. ;-)

Multi-layered BLTs on toasted, good grain bread with extra slices of perfectly crisp bacon. Mayo laced with streaks of fresh tomato juice and seeds, running down your wrists. I believe there's supposed to be icy-crisp iceberg lettuce in there somewhere. That's good - it's a bunker for the mayo and tomatoes.

War Heads sour candy (they take the enamel off your teeth) or Lifesavers Sour Berry Gummies. Late at night, in bed after I already brushed my teeth, reading a mystery novel. I should just order some powdered ascorbic acid from a wholesaler and eat that with a spoon.

On a really bad day, I might make a special stop on the way to home to get a foil-wrapped block or jar of Velveeta. If I don't have pasta and some other hard-grated cheese to mix it with, it's going on Saltines or Ritz crackers. Then all will be well.

I consider crispy chicken skin something one absolutely *must* eat! I'd feel guilty for leaving it. :) I love Ritz crackers spread with cream cheese, Doritos and also fake guacamole flavored tortilla chips, and come Easter time I will eat those malted milk ball type eggs in disgusting quantities. And, I always seem to excavate all the chunks out of chunky ice cream, leaving a sad eviscerated container for the next person who comes along.

Oh boy - an inordinate amount of ketchup, on eggs, or a grilled cheese dipped in it, or carefully and generously applied to the tater tot or French fry.

I will eat both Jelly Bellies and any kind of caramel corn until I feel like throwing up.

Campbell's tomato soup with saltines all broken in it (served with a grilled cheese dipped in ketchup)

I did not know WW has smoked string cheese? But now I want it!

(ps Nannydeb found a t-shirt that says I Put Ketchup On My Ketchup that I really need)

Nozlee are we totally stealing your thunder???

So far nobody has mentioned those foamy little peeps they sell for Easter.

Potato chips crammed into sandwiches- particularly a chicken salad or tuna salad sandwich.

I hate to admit this one, but I kinda love Cadbury Eggs - I know they're tooth-achingly sweet & essentially disgusting, but I loved them as a kid, and I still have to eat one (or 2) around Easter every year.

I have a really hard time walking by a port wine cheese ball rolled in almonds. I sometimes resist but more often than not I buy it, a pack of Carr's whole wheat crackers (or triscuits) and end up dipping into it for several small snacks a day until it is mysteriously gone. I blame this on my dad who used to get the port cheese spread in a crock, mix it with dijon and mayo, slather it on saltines and broil it until it puffed up into this browned, toasty concoction....I won't go to all that trouble, but the cheese on its own hits a special spot.

My guilty pleasures: potato chips, cheetos, raman noodles, oreos, krispy kreme donuts,
crispy skin, crispy fat, mayo. I do not keep these items in the house, except the raman noodles, as they are too tempting. So, on the rare occasions when they are available I do savour each bite!!!
The guilt comes later.. . . .

Odd, given my profession, but I don't have a sweet tooth; I do, however have a potato chip tooth. Given that, I'll be lunching tomorrow @panfusine. With a side of pommes frites.

How is it that no one has mentioned Doritos yet? Either of the "comparative" flavors: Cooler Ranch or Nacho Cheesier. Also Laughing Cow cheese triangles. And while we're at it, the amazingly delicious Cheese on Wheat flavor of Lance snack cracker.

All of the above are great road trip treats and go down perfectly with chocolate milk from the gas station!

Cougar gold cheese from the creamery at Washington State University. And french fries (with real potatoes and really deep fried). Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey - reuben sandwiches from a great deli.

As the song says, these are just a few of my favorite things....and I can't have them in my kitchen or go to a place that serves them or I eat it ALL. Cannot be trusted around these items. Sigh

This is funny. I thought of Kraft singles as one of the weird foods in menasque's question. And cheetoes. Which I love. All potato chips. Especially salt and vinegar. Oreos. Weight watchers string cheese. (smoke flavored. Seriously.). Fritos. Anything chocolate and mint like thin mint candies. Or junior mints like in Seinfeld. Popcorn. Ice cream. Must stop now.

Oreo cookies. Or the "healthy" versions (like Joe Joes)
Also, Girl Scout "Thin Mint" cookies.

In addition to many of the above, chicken skin!

Cheese. Undoubtedly the one thing I can never pass up. It's an obsession that started with an apprenticeship to a cheese maker, and has not relinquished its grip on me since. Raw milk cheddar, epoisses, st. agur, humboldt fog...basically anything from stinky to refined and subtle fits the bill.

Freshly made warm Ghee as soon as it cools down.. Generous drizzle over rice & lentils after licking a dollop of it straight up.
Potato chip sandwich..chips stacked between slices of buttered bread
licking leftover cream cheese from the little cup that accompanies a freshly toasted bagel
Spoon up the leftover spicy salsa from CHipotle grill after the chips are finished.
Salt / chaat masala over chunks of Watermelon

Sara Lee Pound Cake, Cream filled cupcakes (Love Little Debby's) Ruffles Potato Chips (sour cream and onion) I also love grilled cheese sandwich with kraft singles, hot dog on potato bun with mustard and baked beans

Cookies with a cream cheese schmeer.

Potato chips with shrimp/crab 'paste' (cream cheese based dip)

Creton (I'm a naughty naughty fish-cheating-veg every few years)

Worst? Crab Rangoon.

This isn't unhealthy, but I sometimes crave raw tofu with ketchup.

Cheetos. Especially the flaming hot kind.

There's a 99cent Raman noodle thingy I love. Yakisoba brand. It has a veggie packet with dried cabbage dried shrimp that hydrate great. (I even boost that up with some soaked dried shrimp I keep in the fridge).
Very bad for me, I know...but it's sweet and spicy..hey, shrimp. Needs a touch of sesame oil tho.

Hellman's/Best Food mayonnaise. Yes, I know how easy it is to make my own.

Kraft Singles??? You're going to have to elaborate.

Ranch Style Beans.

I was going to say "basic fish and chips" - as my cardiologist would say "no, no, and no!" ... then saw your comment about Kraft singles.
I know the "cheese" is made out of plastic, but oh sooooo good.
A quick trip to my youth.

pierino, you're psychic! Look out for a post on Friday on this very topic...