Bird flu-scared Cambodians turn to eating rats **New FAST FOOD ATKINS LowCarb**

The Straits Times ^ | Feb 17 2004

[carlo3b]

FEB 17, 2004 Bird flu-scared Cambodians turn to eating rats PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) - Fear of catching bird flu from eating chicken has prompted some people in north-west Cambodia to resort to eating rats, a newspaper reported on Tuesday. Rats have been fetching good prices in Battambang province during the last two weeks, according to newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea, or the Light of Cambodia. The newspaper said villagers catch the rodents in nearby rice fields and sell them for up to 1,400 riel (35 US cents) each to market vendors, who resell the meat for about 1,800 riel per kilogram. 'I started selling rat meat over two weeks ago when people became afraid of eating chickens for fear of getting infected with bird flu,' 38-year-old vendor Chhun Sarom was quoted as saying. He added that he sold up to 60kg of rat meat a day. People eat the rat meat with rice or as a snack while drinking alcohol. -- AP Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

[carlo3b]

TRUTH IS OFTEN HARD TO SWALLOW.. :)

[carlo3b]

SNACKS
What a great subject at this early stage in our journey to find excitement and adventure on a Low Carb maintenance diet!

The word Boring comes up a lot when speaking to folks struggling to live with the perceived limitations of Atkins and the many other variations of Low Carb.

For some Rats are the answer, for others.. Maybe not!

Well, you can say you heard it here first folks, I HAVE THE ANSWER.. drum roll.. it doesn't have to be a burden or a mystery, you can just change your definition of snack.. GASP!

YES, it's that easy.. thank you.. please no flowers... keep your seats.. no need to stand and applause...blush.. good night.. :)
 

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They've been eating rats in India for centuries.

[carlo3b]

WHAT ABOUT SNACKS...
you can just change your definition of snack..RATS, or something else a bit different...:)

It's all in your head, and thats where it belongs. We have this notion that something has to be naughty to be good! We perceive anything usually used in a different context and readily available to be blasé, or boring.

I have been skirting, and circling this issue in countless other venues, and here on FR for a long time.. Your mind craves satisfaction, something to change the subject and wake up the senses!

Your senses need a drastic change,. a jump start to wake them up, so they can tell the brain that something is happening to pay attention. You need, SPICE, BURN, FREEZE, CRUNCH, GOOEY, STICKY, SOUR, and yes SWEET!

Dips that are piping HOT as H%LL, frozen, and BITTER lime juice, cheap low carb baked wheat thins, with Habañero, or Jalapeño cheese dip, ..slowly eating only a few of these thingys will satisfy your hunger because they get the glands, and taste buds jumping. Use your imagination.. Strips of cold roast in one of those dips with burn you mouth for a moment and cause you to drink a gallon of ice water.. GOOD!  That'll fill you up! A touch of lemon on the tip of you tongue will pucker you up as well! Get the picture??

Lets see if you can post some of your own ideas!.. waiting.. tapping my fingers... looking at my watch.... whistling..... ZZZZzzz
 
 
 

[KantianBurke]

Rats: the other other OTHER white meat.

[carlo3b]

They've been eating rats in India for centuries.

They are low in carbs.. and plentiful.. How about the beautiful Ozarks any Rats on the grill????

[Sister_T]

That title! LOL!!

[carlo3b]

YUMMMMMMMMMMM.. and it's much too early for lunch... thanks for nothing.. grumble grumble.. :)

[carlo3b]

Here is your chance to GET ON or GET OFF this and other Carlo3B, all important..(LOVE AMERICA, This is Your Country), (I'll be Damned), (Bwhahhahahh), (The Hell you say), (Aweeeeeee), (snif) ... PING LISTS.

If you wish to remain* on it, just sit back and enjoy our wonderful exchange of ideas and you will be alerted whenever we start posting, Historic, Patriotic, Family, and Diet, and a wholesome exchange of recipes and other valuable info re: various food management threads.

*If you have been flagged to this thread on this post, you are already on our temporary ping list.. :) Remember, other pings don't count... :(

To be removed** or added to the list, simply respond to this post publicly, on this thread, or Freepmail me with your preference.

[Wright is right!]

"They've been eating rats in India for centuries."

It's on the menu in China everywhere. I once knew a guy who went on a group tour of China back in the '80's. At one restaurant, the lavish multi-course meal they were to be served listed all the various items, and #4 on the list was rat. So they all whispered to each other, "Don't eat #4! Don't eat #4!"

To the group's chagrin, the courses were served in a different order than as presented on the menu. The fourth dish served was steamed veggies. They'd already eaten the rat.

The various world cultures and their embrace of, or revulsion to, various foodstuffs is an interesting study. For instance, Lewis and Clark resorted on their exploration to wild dog meat. After being initially repulsed, the members of their party admitted that it was "rather tasty."

Michael

[angkor]

This article is absolute BS.

The Khmer, Thai Isaan, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Asian ethnics have always eaten rice field rats. They're not street rats.

Not everyone eats them of course (some think they're repulsive) but it's not like this just popped up because of avian flu.

[Wright is right!]

One of my fave snacks is to use extry-thin slices of Genoa salami as "chips" with guacamole. The combo of the two flavours and textures is a dazzler. Lots of goodness and protein and fat, velly velly low carbs.

Michael

[Sunshine55]

Dannon has FINALLY come out with a low-carb yogurt called Carb Control. 3g of carbs, and it's been a Godsend. Also, I came across some EXCELLENT candy the other day called Sinfully Delicious, made by Innovation Candy Concepts. Each package contains 6 dessert bites (resembling Velamints) with 1 carb per bite, and they come in flavors such as Strawberry Cheesecake, Banana Cream Pie, Key Lime Pie, and Cinnamon Apple Pie. They really do take the edge off, and well worth 25 cents a pack.

[Gabz]

I'm not going to touch this one!!!!

[rocky88]

"Well, we could possibly get infected from eating the birds, so let's eat these dirty, nasty rodents instead!!" YUM!

BTW, I don't ever watch Fear Factor because IT repulses me, but I was flipping channels last week and saw a girl lying in a coffin-shaped container, having a barrel-full of RATS poured on her!! If that is not repulsive enough, her "boyfriend" became angry with her after she couldn't sit in the coffin anymore - he said "it didn't look THAT bad" - what a jerk. That show is like a train wreck - you just can't look away some times. But, I will not seek it out in the future because it made me very naseuous (thank God I wasn't still pregnant when I caught this scene!)

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning sweetie!

[kevkrom]

LO-CARB TERYAKI SAUCE
=====================

1/4 c. Soy sauce
1/4 c. rice wine vinegar
2 T.   sugar substitue (Splenda, et. al.)
1 T.   no-carb thickener (Thicken/Thin NOTSugar)
2      garlic cloves, minced
1 t.   ground ginger
1/2 t. red pepper flakes
dash   sesame oil (or sesame seeds)


LO-CARB GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN
=============================

1 1/2 lb.  chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
3/4 c.     soy flour
2          eggs
1/4 c.     soy sauce
           oil for frying

Mix flour, eggs, and soy sauce.  Coat chicken pieces in 
batter and fry in batches.  Set aside.

3/4 c.     chicken broth
1/4 c.     rice wine vinegar
1/4 c.     soy sauce
1/4 c.     water
1/4 c.     sugar substitue (Splenda, et. al.)
2 T.       no-carb thickener (Thicken/Thin NOTSugar)
2 T.       no-carb thickener (Thicken/Thin NOTStarch)
2 T.       sesame oil

Mix all and keep in refrigerator until cooking time.

1 c.       chopped scallions
12-16      pickled hot peppers, rinsed and dried
           fried chicken pieces from above
           sauce mixture from above
2-4 T.     peanut oil

Heat oil in wok over high heat.  Add peppers (carefully!)
 and cook 1 minute.  Add chicken and scallions, cook 2 
minutes, stirring constantly.  Add sauce mixture, cook 
until sauce reduces, stirring constantly.

This dish is normally served with rice, but on a low-carb 
diet, consider using steamed or stir-fried veggies as the 
side.  Regardless, the side should be bland enough to take 
away some of the heat of the chicken.

[.38sw]

Mmmmm. Grilled rat on a stick. Easy to eat!

[angkor]

The various world cultures and their embrace of, or revulsion to, various foodstuffs is an interesting study.

My wife is Asian, hates cheese, thinks its disgusting, like eating a chunk of lard.

On the cultural distinctions, there's a very interesting book called Good to Eat: Riddles of Food and Culture (basically blows away lots of cultural taboos and favorites, e.g., Atkins would love it), and another one I can't recall that was basically a cookbook for ethnic stuff we'd consider disgusting, Hawaiian Roast Puppy Dog was one memorable recipe.

[carlo3b]

The Khmer, Thai Isaan, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Asian ethnics have always eaten rice field rats. They're not street rats.

This should give pause to all of those worldly guys looking East for those Asian Honey mail order brides.. They come with a little baggage that they weren't counting Carbs on.. LOL >>;)