The HowStuffWorks vending machine is small treasure trove of such delicacies as TGI Friday’s potato skins, Chex mix and a revolving variety of Doritos. When I’m in desperate need of a mid-afternoon snack, I usually spring for the salted peanuts, telling myself that they’re a marginally healthy option.  Suffice to say, I try to avoid the calorie-laden temptations.

After looking at foodie designer Emilie Baltz’s collection of office junk food “gourmet” recipes posted on Core77, I might have to give the snack machine another go, however. Even if the idea of potato chip and Twinkie Napoleon’s is too lowbrow for your palette, you should at least check out the impressive presentations. A Fruit Roll-Up’ s swirl of blue, red and yellow food dyes makes an attractive wrapper around a Reese’s Cup and crushed potato chip bonbon.

The name of this eye-catching concoction? Truffle Berry Praline Purses.

Baltz magically transforms office-friendly ingredients, including ketchup packets, cheese puffs, peanuts and V-8 , into gems like Cheese Chilequiles and Mocha Nougat Fondant. I’m halfway tempted to raid the HowStuffWorks kitchen for ramen, ketchup and a Mounds bar to make Baltz’s Tom Khaa Ramen for dinner tonight.

Since these recipes are intended for office dining, I could swing through the drive through instead and gussy up some fast food. Fancy Fast Food’s McSteak and mashed potatoes made out of a Big Mac value meal doesn’t look half bad. But proving yet again that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, the nearly 1,200 calories I’d be ingesting will deter me for now.

More on HowStuffWorks:
Do certain foods trigger acne breakouts?
How Food Cravings Work
How Space Food Works