Monthly Cooking Thread - March 2020

[Jamestown1630]

Why ‘stale’ beer? I’ve always used the ‘still bubbly’ stuff for the deep-fried veggies.

(Stale beer sounds sorta non-existent - like ‘leftover wine’ - in this house...:-)

[nopardons]

Yes, genes do play a big deal in the scheme of things, but perhaps not in how one feels about food and other things. That comes from one’s parents’ attitude/behavior. ;^)

[nopardons]

I don’t know, but I use it straight out of a newly opened bottle and for those who don’t want to use the beer, you can substitute water or seltzer to thin out the batter and it’s still very good. The trick is to NOT make the batter too thin, so I eyeball it and NEVER use a measuring cup to add the liquid portion.

[Jamestown1630]

I think it’s a good idea to introduce little babies to a wide variety of foods as soon as possible.

Little ones generally don’t have decided preferences until they become older, and feeding them lots of different things as soon as they can chew makes them more open to different flavors and textures.

After all, in some cultures people are fine with eating insects; and it’s just because they were introduced to them before they were old enough to develop a contrary prejudice.

(I’m not suggesting that we feed babies insects; just suggesting that what anyone finds ‘delicious’ is often based upon very early experience and culture.)

[nopardons]

True, but some very young children absolutely HATE the texture and/or taste of something things, but will develop a taste for them as a much older child.

Not interested in eating bugs at all and thank GOD they've never been offered to me to eat in any form!

OTOH, my family introduced us to all kinds of different foods/ethnic dishes at an early age and I carried that on, as has my progeny.

[Jamestown1630]

'but will develop a taste for them as a much older child.'

That happened with my brother. He would only eat my Granny's plain (but delicious) Southern cooking. But when he got older, and traveled around, he started learning to eat more interesting things (especially Chinese, Italian, and things highly flavored with garlic and peppers.)

We still haven't gotten him to like Mexican, but hope springs eternal. He seemed more open to trying new things when he was presented with them *outside* of the family, with 'other' friends. I think it may have been that he felt pressured to 'perform' in those situations - and, in the process, he actually found out that he LIKED the food.

[mylife]

spearagus, toss it in the pan with a lil olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes then deglaze with white wine

[mylife]

It is Arcadian for “stuff your face” :)

[kalee]

So do I.

[nopardons]

Babies and toddlers have more and more sensitive taste buds, which is why some very small children don't like things that are highly spice, "hot", and/or very sour. OTOH, my Godson wouldn't eat tomatoes nor any kind of ground meat, alone, or in dishes as a small child, but later grew into loving them both.

Some people are "adventurous" eaters, whilst others never are; it's just differences between people I guess.

Some religions proscribe certain food, whilst others don't, but have certain things, not "allowed" to be eaten at different times of the year. That all boils down to different cultures; though ancient Jewish food proscription actually do a scientific bases for them not to have been eaten in ancient times. And there's a theory that at one time, now clouded by the mists of time, the pig was a totem animal for some Jews, which then developed into a proscription for all of them and now, for only some of them.

The history of food is indeed a fascinating thing to learn about!

[Jamestown1630]

LOL! According to Wiki, you are pretty much correct :-)

[Jamestown1630]

'The history of food is indeed a fascinating thing to learn about!'

Yes, it is!

[nopardons]

;^)

[smvoice]

That is EXACTLY the way I make asparagus. Although sometimes I will deglaze by squeezing lemon juice instead of wine.

Just the best way to serve fresh asparagus, imho. Simple and delicious!

[Calvin Locke]

I’ll occasionally use a wok for stir-frying cut asparagus. Never thought about deglazing it though.

[mumblypeg]

Try Sunday jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters down on Royal St.
I remember their turtle soup to be quite tasty.

Our family went there often after mass at St. Louis Cathedral.

[doorgunner69]

I know the peridoc table well enough, never saw “ADY” before??

[doorgunner69]

Babies and toddlers have more and more sensitive taste buds, which is why some very small children don't like things that are highly spice

My father used to take me to Olvera street (L.A.) when I was little, been eating Mexican and spicy everything ever since. Must have been no older than 4-5 when I started. Not a toddler, perhaps, but an early adopter of spicy.

[nopardons]

It's around that age, that taste buds, in young children, begin to calm down, so I'm not surprised that you began to like spicier food then.

There have been quite a few studies done on very little children and on up, which is why/how I know about this.

[mylife]

keep- it simple stupid :)