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ruthcooks

eGullet Society staff emeritus
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Posts posted by ruthcooks

  1. Two more advantages of electric stoves--they don't "stink", and they don't blow up your house. My son-in-law's brother is a fire chief, and he says he's seen too many fires caused by gas stoves and would never have one in his house.

  2. I miss the food atmosphere of the times: people were interested in good food, rich food, and no one was obsessed with the horrible LOW FAT mentality. Food tasting good was the most important thing.

    And you know what? Butter and cream did not make the Americans obese, it took fast food and sugary drinks to do that.

  3. I can't think of anything I'm doing without, but here are some changes in buying habits:

    1. My menus are dictated more closely by what is on sale at the grocery store.

    2. I have switched to cheaper paper products, and am surprised to find I like some better than more expensive versions.

    3. I am buying smaller quantities of produce in order to avoid food waste. The bonus benefit is that my diet is more varied.

  4. My mother made two things with Campbell's Tomato Soup: Swiss Steak and Meatloaf. To this day I do, too.

    The Swiss Steak--or rather, its gravy--is heavenly. Using a thick cut of round steak, about 1 1/2 inches, pound the daylights out of it, season and flour and pound some more. Brown in hot oil (Mom used lard) on both sides. Top with a great quantity of chopped onion. Spread the undiluted soup over the onion. Add some water to the pan, being careful not to wash off the onion and soup, cover and place in a 325 degree oven for about two hours. Exact timing depends on meat thickness. Meat should be fork tender, and the gravy should be a rich red color, NO LONGER ORANGE. Mom and I both used iron skillets, perhaps that accounts for the change in color. Must have mashed potatoes.

  5. I remember watching Sara Moulton attempting to make something in which an apple was sliced horizontally and then reformed. She obviously had never made it, possibly never even read it, as she sliced the apple into wedges and then tried to put it back together. Epic failure. She didn't even apologize. :wacko:

  6. Swiss Chard...grew in my parents' garden...hated it, never ate it again. Like bad celery.

    And of course, cilantro. Smells like overalls which have been worn about a month straight by a farmer who never takes a bath.

    Salmon. Can't think why it's so popular. Last time I cooked it, I threw it away and decided I was through trying to make myself like it. Love it smoked, however.

  7. I am charged by my DIL with making a dessert my son likes. This means it contains apple and/or caramel and/or pecans. Since my poor old hands don't peel apples so well, I am making pecan pie bars. And because these are too sweet for me, I am making an old-fashioned "icebox cake" with raspberries, which my son also likes. DIL and her mother will probably contribute a couple more choices and one is sure to be chocolate. No one in this group likes pumpkin or cranberries

  8. I like the idea of a mushroom broth, thickened however you like it, add mushrooms, onions, peas, your garlic, etc.

    Also: I used to order a wonderful pie which had the crust baked separately, vegetables cooked ditto, combined at the last minute for heating. Everything retained its flavors. For fast crust, frozen puff pastry?

  9. I have read that excess salt does not cause high blood pressure in everybody - certain people are susceptible to it.

    I read once that this number is 17% only!

    Governments should pave roads, help with natural (and man-made) disasters, and protect its citizenry, collecting as few taxes along the way as is absolutely necessary to accomplish these things.

    The true role of government is the protection of it's citizens (police and armies and courts), and that means from each other and from foreign powers.

    The only road the government paves is the road to hell, currently underway. :wacko:

    Quite frankly, people need to some responsibility for themselves.

    Amen.

    [

  10. When I was a kid, you just put on some of your Mom's or Dad's old clothes and a generic mask, or cut eye-holes in a sheet. Treats were often homemade, such as popcorn balls, but apples were frowned upon.

    My mother loved candy corn and, like some of you, swore that it tasted so much better when fresh at Halloween. I used to send her several pounds each year, until she died two years ago at age 90. Now I think about her whenever I see CC in the stores and it makes me sad.

    My choices for trick or treat this year are Tootsie Pops and M&Ms--not very seasonal, just oldies but goodies. Plus individual gifts of Oreos and Cheetos, which are my littlest grandchildren's favorites.

  11. I haven't looked at Italian Food in a long time, but my favorite of hers, Summer Food, gave me an idea that led to one of my signature dishes when I was catering. It was a small part of the dish, but her recipe, the combination of ingredients, was so unique, it knocked my socks off. There's a lot of that in her books. Great reads and great resources.

    Do tell--what was the dish?

    TIA

  12. Locavore may have been the 2007 New Oxford American Dictionary Word of the Year, but there's already been a word for those whose diets are restricted to seasonal items grown in their immediate area: That word is peasant.

    Another word is farmer. I grew up on a farm in the 40s and 50s, and have always been quite amused by the locavores who don't seem to realize that eating close to home involves preserving foods by freezing, canning, cold storage, drying, salting, smoking, etc. as well as shopping.

  13. I used to make a brunch casserole featuring wild rice, link sausages, mushrooms and almonds. Since I'm no longer catering, I don't have use for such a large amount anymore.

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