Food and allergies
 

What the hell is tempeh?

I've only recently got this "tofu" thing down, please don't confuse me with any new health food crap.

Food and allergies
 

http://www.tempeh.info/

lord knows. All I know is that it's sufficiently non-toxic that I don't worry about cross-contamination when I put it on the grill with genuine, honest-to-God, amurican red meat.

Food and allergies
 

Pork gumbo? Why go through the trouble of making gumbo if it isn't seafood? My momma makes the best seafood gumbo ever.

Anyhow, I think we all probably have stories of meals we've had to suffer through that somehow contained our least favorite foods or foods that we couldn't eat for some reason (kosher, vegeterian, don't eat vegetibles). We politely pushed the food around, declined seconds, and drank a little more wine than the rest of the people at the dinner party. Sometimes there will be something that we can eat, but sometimes there won't be. The host/ess certainly has some duties to ensure that if a guest cannot eat something that there are alternatives, but sometimes alternatives simply aren't available for whatever reason. I remember a multi course meal that my mother served at an informal dinner party about a year ago. Every single thing that she served was on one of our friend's cannot/will not eat list. By the end of the night, we were all laughing about it, as yet another plate came out and there was another reason that he couldn't eat it. Eventually the cheese plate came out again so he could have at least something.

Especially with smaller parties, sometimes the meals prepared just don't work with all the guests, and sometimes it's impossible to know in advance what a guest can or can't eat.

Tofu blech
 

While we're on this subject, I think it's morally wrong to shape tofu into little balls that look exactly like fresh mozzarella, put them in a dish where fresh mozzarella would be a perfect ingredient, and then put that unlabeled dish in your overpriced buffet. Do you hear me, Sizzling Express?

The fact that I was eating the tofu while reading the posts with obstetric news you don't need to know made it that much worse.

Food and allergies
 

(i) I am under no illusions that my personality is better than my food. I play to my strengths; if they are there for the food, I can accept that.

(ii) Yes, it is inhospital to refuse any hospitality, so we resort to bitching and moaning on anonymous chat boards rather than suffering in silence. But oh for the days when a little cooking wasn't considered onerous and all the aspects of entertaining, including the food, was an art.

Food and allergies
 

I love this line:

"But tempeh is now rapidly becoming more popular all over the world as people look for ways to increase their intake of soybeans."

(Thank god - I've been searching and searching for ways to increase my intake of soybeans! Now I can finally move on to my search for additional kelp byproducts!)

Food and allergies
 

There were always vegetarians, and they never consented to eat the steak. They just shut up about it. Now, however, with the mistaken shift of focus to food (perhaps driven by everyone deciding adopting "gourmet" tastes and cooking pretensions), the vegetarians (etc.) feel untoward pressure to eat it, and therefore have retaliated by issuing menu demands to ensure they can. This is not an improved state of affairs.

Paigow, you behaved perfectly with the gumbo. You graciously thanked your host for his extra efforts to accomodate you, and you didn't eat something that you felt you shouldn't. Brava.

On a totally different note, I have rediscovered my cache of fountain pens. Yea fountain pens.

Tofu blech
 

Oh ewwwww. This is why I smell/poke/cut open everything that I am unsure of. Kinda like seeing a nice pasta salad and saying "no meat in there, right?", getting a "no" response, putting it on your plate and taking a sniff only to discover crab or some other sea creature. WTF? That is meat, people. And no, I don't care if it is "imitation" crab because not only do I not eat meat but I don't crave or even like the taste of it so I don't want a substitute.

edited to say that I am a good guest and restaurant patron. I always find something to eat and I don't complain. I do get a bit annoyed when people try to be too "helpful" about my not eating meat -- I have been doing this for over two decades so I think I know how to manage. I also don't like being lied to about what is in food, especially when someone is trying to steer me from my wicked "no meat" ways by sneaking something in.

Dinner Parties
 

I threw my last formal dinner five or six years ago when three minutes before I was to seat my 8 guests (after having cleared the menu with everyone in advance since I was cooking beef tenderloin), one of the girlfriends decided she no longer ate red meat and asked if I cook some chicken for her. Not when she arrived for cocktails, of course, but as I was about to seat everyone for dinner.

Of course, I accomodated her, but since then, I have people over for cocktails.

Food and allergies
 

I reccomend skipping over Tempeh and going straight to Seiten, getting ahead of the curve.

satellite radio
 

Looking into it myself. From what I understand the little receiver that you can move from place to place (home, car, office) is about $200 and you may need some adapters for it. The service itself is about $10-12 a month. I'm seriously thinking about getting it, and my only question was whether you can pick it up in these concrete and steel edifices we call office buildings...

If you can, I'm buying the service for sure.

Food and allergies
 

I dunno if it was gumbo which is why I put a question mark. It was southern porky soupy food. And the issue wasnt whether there was anything for me to eat- there was side stuff, no other entree. the problem was that I felt bad after he made his ill informed effort but I wasnt gonna put pig meat into my body.

and PEPCO is fucked. 45 minute hold times and then rude bitches answer the phone and put you back on hold never to return. fucking utility monopolies. Its enough to make me go all Bilmore and shun civilization and electricity.

Tofu blech
 

I noticed the butcher counter at the supermarket sells imitation crab meat. What the hell is it if its not crab? Is imitation crab meat a term of art? An ingrediant unto itself like "artificial color"? Why get fake meat from a butcher?

Food and allergies
 

See, this is exactly what I would hope to avoid - people issue food demands, and therefore are cut off from hospitality by fed up hosts.

Hosts are already an endangered species after years of abuse and neglect; they should really be better protected and shouldn't have their available range further limited.

BR(even Lance should be able to show up, ooh and aah over the food, and sneak into the bathroom when it is time to eat whatever bizzare micro-meals he brought with him that he is supposed to consume every 30 minutes, or whatever it is he does)C

Tofu blech
 

It's fish, not crab.

Food and allergies
 

I'd be very careful at any but the most Americanized Mexican restaurants then, since lard is the primary ingredient in most Mexican dishes, including some vegeterian sounding dishes like bean burritos, where the beans and the tortilla are held together with lard.

Tofu blech
 

Why not call it fish? Is "crabfish" taken?

Having exhausted fat chix and kids/no kids . .
 

I liked the law student who gave her name and said she would keep doing it because cds are over priced.

Food and allergies
 

Putting refried beans aside, in Dallas pinto beans are often prepared using diced up ham or otherwise incorporating pork, while black beans are often the only vegetarian option. RT, do people prepare black beans with lard, etc. down there?

Food and allergies
 

But lard is good for you because it has no transfat!

Seriously, Baja Fresh uses no lard, so their veggie meals should be veggie safe, if not heart healthier (probably use hydrogenated vegetable oils in place of the lard).

And on a sort of related note, Pa. Ag Wants Butter In Schools; Calls for Butter's Return to School Lunches, Saying It Was 'Needlessly Removed

P.S. Lard might actually have some transfat. It was a joke.

Tofu blech
 

Imitation crab, or surimi, is a blend of crab meat and pollack or some other firm, relatively mild whitefish, like halibut or haddock. I'll tolerate it in "crab salad" at a buffet or something like that. However, when I'm cooking myself, I always use the real stuff. Yeah, it's a lot more expensive, but not outrageous, and a little goes a long way.

Tofu blech
 

Yes: Surimi. Not at surimi.info, but here

It's minced fish, processed, and pressed into cakes, with some artificial color. Then used in California rolls all over the US. Unless you spring for the "real" crab meat version (which you should)

Tofu rulz
 

It is technically referred to as Krab. Way catchier than crabfish. Learn it, love it.


RP'ed to change re: line. I heart tofu (when prepared correctly).

Having exhausted fat chix and kids/no kids . .
 

I liked this one. Thanks, bro!

"I'm very worried about my brother at Johns Hopkins University. He's very involved in file-sharing and would have to get a lawyer if he gets into trouble," said one pre-law student at NYU.

Food and allergies
 

I love charro beans (the ham or pork soupy beans). My momma also makes the best charro beans ever.

I'm not sure about black beans here, since the lard thing doesn't bother me that much so I never bother to ask. I'm going to guess that it probably depends on the restaruant and whether or not they care about vegetarians and how they prepare their beans.

Food and allergies
 

Ditto on the charro beans. I usually get those instead of black beans, despite the higher fat content. This reminds me, time for lunch...

satellite radio
 

To date, the only place my receiver does not work is a tiny patch of driveway on the bottom level of the parking garage at my office. Works fine in the office. Works fine in the car. Works fine at home.

I love that if I feel like listening to Show Tunes then BY GOD let there be show tunes!

Bn'(Can't remember the last time I felt like listening to show tunes)B

You know....
 

I need a new avatar...

I need an avatar PERIOD.

Any suggestions?

Bn'B

You know....
 

How about something like this mom?

http://www.wackypackages.org/realproductsscans/bold.jpg

You know....
 

Left column, bottom picture.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/V...696/Page5.html

(spree: live animals)

You may be sorry to learn that you have died. But not before you won the Tampa Speed Classic.

http://www.networksplus.net/nga/ads/archive/feb98.htm

(spree: dead animal story, no picture)

You know....
 

I Googled "Bold and Brazen" and came up with this from Morna's BiPagan Page. It has something to do with a poem about a witch titled Bold and Brazen. Leagl will have to right-size it for an avatar but I think it is kinda cool and might suit you.


http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev...ze/goddess.gif

edit: why didn't it work?
Here is the address. www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/5430/bold.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/5430/goddess.gif


Not that I don't think a red x doesn't work for B&B, but I figured you might like me to fix it for you. It didn't work because the site prevents linking directly to photos like that. - L

You know....
 

Geocities doesn't allow links.

You know....
 

I was thinking a box of raisinettes
http://www.ordercandy.com/images/can...5-AA_thumb.jpg

You know....
 

I love "Cleans Even Tough-to-Clean-Modern-Fabrics."

I picture marketing types gathered round a conference room table working to come up with a euphemism for polyester.

Three lovely choices, all resized for your use, if you should so choose.

http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev...ze/goddess.gif

http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev...leaze/bold.jpg

http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev...leaze/rais.jpg

Speaking of new avatars...
 

I stumbled across a new one for MR:

http://www.ilovebacon.com/091103/flavor.jpg

Admins, feel free to resize this if I fuck up the page view for everybody.

Cabin Fever interview
 

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/int/...9/11/eli_roth/

Really amusing interview with the Cabin Fever director about why horror movies are great and why so many of them suck ass.

I am psyched to see this movie, incidentally.

[Salon - get a day pass.]

A Tip for Thurgreed
 

I had a bit of fun with a client (not really my client, but my client's client...) when I was pregnant with #1 (so of course, I was wearing my regular clothing into my 6th month). So I was around 6 months, was wearing my regular pants, but had on a maternity shirt -- but it wasn't a totally obvious maternity shirt.

Anyway, at some drafting session, this guy asks, "When are you due?" And I, completely straight-faced (maybe a hint of a quizzical look thrown in), responded, "Due for what?"

The poor guy -- all color drained out of his face. I quickly reassured him, but I think I almost gave him a heart attack. Poor thing.

A Tip for Thurgreed
 

Hence the rule: Unless you actually see a baby coming out of someone's body, do not ask if she is pregnant.

A Tip for Thurgreed
 

What are tripplets? A bunch of kids named Tripp? Or did you mean triplets? (I can't figure out if this is a spelling error, or a capitalization error...).

Identical twins cannot be drug induced. (Though how you know they were identical, I don't know -- only a medical test can confirm it.) Identical twins are a "freak of nature" -- it's not hereditary, just a freak "accident". Fraternal twins, however, are hereditary (not sure if that's the right word, but what I mean is they "run in families" -- i.e., it's an inherited trait). All drug-induced multiples are fraternal. Which makes the woman I used to work with (who has two sets of identical twins -- medically tested and confirmed to be identical) all the more remarkable!

And about the big-ass strollers, just because a child is able to walk without falling down, does not mean he or she is able to walk long distances as easily as an adult. I'm thinking 2 & 3 y.o.s probably fit this description fairly well.

Even my "big" boy (5 y.o.) sometimes gets to ride on the little "scooter" thingy (kind of a mini skateboard) we can attach to the back of the stroller (takes up no more width on the sidewalk -- he's just between the person pushing and the stroller itself) if we're going for a really long walk.