This is indeed a changing world that we live in. Especially the business world. Mega mergers are cropping up, companies being bought out, corporations being gobbled up and split apart and some just declaring bankruptcy and fading away.
AT&T and T-Mobil are in talks about forming the largest telecommunications conglomerate. American Airlines and USAir becoming the world’s biggest air carrier. Anheuser-Busch InBev is now the world’s largest brewery and now billionaire Warren Buffett is buying the HJ Heinz Co. for $23 billion, the richest deal ever in the food industry. It’s like Carly Simon sings in her famous song, “The times they are a changin’.” Wait a minute, maybe that was Bob Dylan. Hold on, wasn’t it Bob Denver who sang that? No, he played Gilligan on the hit TV series. Was it John Denver? Denver Pyle? Dylan Thomas was a famous Welsh poet. Now I’ve got it. Carly Simon sang “Anticipation” for the famous Heinz ketchup commercial, which brings me back to the original topic at hand. Ketchup.
The HJ Heinz Co. was founded in 1869 and whether you spell it ketchup or catsup, it is not the only product affected by this buyout. Heinz has over a 50% share of the US ketchup market. The Heinz Company also owns Ore-Ida brand frozen potatoes, also with a market share of over 50%. If you think about it, what’s more natural than French fries and ketchup? In addition, the Pittsburg-based company also makes, pickles, vinegar, baked beans, sauces and of course, the famous Heinz57 Steak Sauce.
And now with Warren Buffett’s investment firm Berkshire Hathaway teaming up with 3G Capital in snapping up Heinz we have a true ketchup buffet.
Actually making ketchup at home is not at all hard. Here’s a quick one to spice things up.
Chipotle Ketchup
1 Can Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
1 Cup Ketchup
1 Tbs. Fresh Lime Juice
1 Tbs. Cilantro
Place all ingredients except cilantro in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Stir in cilantro and serve.
Anticipation is where it’s at when ketchup is concerned. I loved watching slap the bottom of the bottle frantically for five minutes and having a giant glop of ketchup spread out all over the plate and their lap. Funny stuff.
Homemade Mango Ketchup
¾ cup Light Corn Syrup
2 Tsp. Allspice
1 Tsp. Cinnamon
2 Tbs. Dark Rum
½ Cup Golden Raisins
¼ Cup Finely Chopped Onion
1 Garlic Clove, smashed and Minced
½ Cup Tomato Paste
2 Mangoes, Diced
1 ½ Cup Cider Vinegar
3 Cups Water
½ Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbs. Chipotle in Adobo Sauce, Minced
Place raisins, onions, garlic, tomato paste, mangos and ¾ cup vinegar in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
Empty in to a large sauce pan and add rest of ingredients, only use 1 cup of water, reserve rest in case ketchup gets too thick. Bring to a boil and recued to simmer. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for an hour.
Remove from heat and let cool. Run ketchup through a strainer before filling a glass bottle with the ketchup. This stuff goes great with any kind of pork or poultry.
Just about anything Warren Buffet touches; he leaves alone and makes money with it. The landscape of ketchup and frozen potatoes has nothing to worry about.
I anticipate nothing but good things with this. Catch up with you later.
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