Required Reading

My high school biology teacher spoke with some derision about my generation, because he said we didn't know how to cut up a chicken. I have long forgotten his exact words, but the gist was that we thought meat originated a supermarket, all wrapped up in shiny packaging. My own children think that meat from a grocery store is "kinda gross" and prefer to think that it comes from the kitchen of a restaurant, preferably sliced, diced, cooked, and slathered with melted cheese. But, I am a farmer's daughter, and I know how everything from bacon to chicken wings gets from farm to freezer case. My dad grew tens of thousands of chickens, but wouldn't eat it. Ever.

As a reader with a strong preference for fiction, I wouldn't have chosen The Omnivore's Dilemma for my to-be-read stack of books. My daughter didn't choose it either, but one of her professors had it on his reading list for ecology. As she worked her way through the text, she kept saying, "Mom, you have to read this." So, when her semester ended, the book ended up in my stack of books. Last week, this non-fiction examination of the American way of eating became my book of the week. Due to its length, it took more than a week for me to digest it, pun intended, but I have enjoyed the feast. The author, Michael Pollan, is a a professor and sometimes columnist for the New York Times. In this book, named one of the best books of 2006 by the New York Times, he puts to work his ability to explain complexities in a way that a layperson can grasp. Seldom have I encountered anything so well-written, yet so basic to life.

"What's for dinner?" used to have more to do with what was in season in the garden and/or what the hunter had been able to shoot than the policies of some federal agency, but no more. Americans are living and breathing corn. Yes, corn. There's corn in the fuel tank of your car, and there's more in the DNA of your hair. That's because U.S. government policy pays farmers exorbitant amounts of money to grow corn, and once harvested it is transported to various industrial settings and made into darned near everything average Americans eat. There's high fructose corn syrup for sodas and baked goods; then it is made into additives with weird names which contribute to processed foods, and it is the principle component in feed for livestock. Even if the livestock, such as cows, don't normally eat corn because it can't be properly digested. In our country, bovines are "corn-fed" because there is a government sponsored industry which makes it so, and the main consumer of antibiotics is the livestock industry. Without the drugs, the cattle would sicken and die.

When Pollan describes the feedlot where Steer 534 eats a combination of hybrid corn, urea, antibiotics, and animal waste, I cringed. That is, of course, the reaction that is intended. Anyone who both reads and thinks will have to force down a commercially produced burger, once having seen the feedlot and slaughter house in this detailed exposé of the industrial farm system. The pastoral Virginia farm where cows dine on grass and chickens fertilize pastures and produce eggs which are so good that they are marketed to gourmet restaurants is quite a contrast. For those Americans who hunger for change, the industrial farming/food technology system is a great place to start.

Lest the reader think this book is mostly negative, please realize that Pollan takes the reader through four different nature-to-table scenarios: modern industrial food technology, organic food technology, locally grown farm products, and the hunter/gatherer mode of way back when. Each one has some merit, as well as some faults.

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, is a big book. Not just in length, but in the subject matter. It tackles the interwoven relationships which affect and are affected by our nation's food chain. This includes the environment, politics, the economy, the health of the planet and our nation. This book blends enlightenment and motivation. Being a "locavore" will foster better health, for people, animals, and for the planet.

The prof was right— it should be required reading for everyone.

’Tis the Season— For Home Cooked

As the weather chills, having a warm kitchen, filled with savory dishes and the aroma of good food, helps the spirit as well as the taste buds. If you are like me, this is a good time to grab up a cookbook or a collection of favorite recipes, and seek out a new dish or a forgotten favorite.

No one has ever confused me with Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray. However, I’m a wife and a mother, so being able to put together family friendly meals and snacks is a necessary part of my skill set. This month, I am going to share recipes and a few tips for fun with food. They are all easy, because everything I cook pretty much falls into that category.

Egg in a Basket

This simple dish makes children of all ages feel special. Take a hardy slice of French bread and cut a large hole in it, about the size of an egg. Heat a non-stick skillet sprayed with butter flavored cooking spray to medium, then place the bread in the skillet. Break an egg into the hole and cook the egg as the bread browns in the skillet. Place the “hole” in the skillet also, and when both sides are brown and the egg is done, slide both pieces onto a plate and serve it solo or with bacon, grits, or whatever you like for breakfast.

This dish has been one of my daughter’s favorites for many years.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

• 1 pound size bag of frozen broccoli cuts
• 1 pound size bag of frozen broccoli and cauliflower cuts
• 1 sweet onion, finely chopped
• 3 cans of lowfat/ low sodium chicken broth (14 & 1/2 oz size cans)
• 8 oz of light Velveeta Cheese, cubed
• ground red pepper (optional)

In a small stock pot or dutch oven, place broth, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions. Bring this to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for approximately 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Using a potato masher, mash the veggies to desired consistency. Add the Velveeta cheese cubes, cover and heat for five more minutes on low heat. Stir the soup to blend the cheese with the veggies. Ladle soup into warmed bowls and sprinkle with red pepper (if desired). Remember, red pepper is quite hot, so use just a small amount.

In cooler weather, soup is one of my favorites. This recipe makes about 10 cups of soup and is low in fat and calories. I like it with crackers as a main dish, but it works well as a first or second course. This soup is made with frozen and canned ingredients, except for the onion, which can be omitted if you don’t have a fresh one handy. Once made, you can refrigerate any leftovers for a quick lunch later on.

Enjoy!

The Best Fried Green Tomatoes in the World

This blog is about lighter subjects, such as books, films, and other entertainment. Indeed, since one of hubby’s constituents complained “your wife shouldn’t be writing stuff like that online,” I have largely left out references to his work or mine, or to friends and family, unless those friends are fellow writers and/or bloggers. However, this entry is serious.

In the south, we don’t just enjoy good food, we come mighty close to worshiping it. Certain dishes are quintessentially southern, and none more so than fried green tomatoes. Yes, I know of a book (and movie) with that in the title, and they were quite good. However, that’s merely entertainment. No, I am talking about the food, which is entertainment and much more.

During the past week, I accompanied friends and family to the Blue Willow Inn, a beautiful restaurant in historic Social Circle, Georgia. Our reservation was for 12:30 in the Grizzard room, named for humorist and writer Lewis Grizzard, who helped put the Blue Willow on Georgia’s culinary map. The Inn has beautiful grounds with flowers, and this room overlooks the garden. The decorations include memorabilia from the University of Georgia, which was more than Grizzard’s alma mater, and framed covers from his books adorn the walls. Better yet, it is right next door to the room which serves as the buffet. However, of all the delicious dishes I ate, the one which stands out is fried green tomatoes. This is a delicacy which I sometimes cook for various unnamed family members, and those family members seem to really like mine. I’ve never cooked any which compared to those at the Blue Willow Inn. Even if you don’t like the fried green tomatoes (and I can’t imagine that) there are many reasons to try this repository of the best southern cuisine, including fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, and delicious pecan pie.

If you are ever in this neck of the woods, make a reservation at the Blue Willow Inn and find out why southerners are so serious about their cooking.

Eating my Royalties

I seldom eat fast food. That’s not to say that I don’t eat out— I sometimes do, but I don’t usually eat at fast food restaurants. Typically, the only reason I choose one is if I am by myself, and then I almost always choose Chick-Fil-A.

This past week, however, my Epson CX6400 printer laid down and died. It was only a couple of years old, but it was good and dead, so I went shopping for another printer, and by gosh, I didn’t want an Epson. I bought an HP, because we still have a couple of those which function, but they are so old that they have serial connections, and I only have one Mac old enough to have that, and it is a computer that I don’t really use. However, this entry isn’t really about printers.

After having bought the fancy HP all-in-one at an office store near the Mall of Georgia, I looked around for something to eat, and there was a Burger King right on the corner. I went in and let someone else go ahead so I could read the menu. Wow, are there a lot of new things since I ate there last. That guy didn’t take long, so I had to decide on something, so I picked a Whopper combo. I’d heard of that. And it only cost $4.23 (taxes included), which is about what I got in my last royalty check.

"Want cheese?" The clerk asked.

"No, that has a lot of fat."

"What size fries did you want?"

"What’s the smallest?" I asked, knowing that they are filled with fat, too.

"Medium." The clerk replied, bored.

I got medium fries and a medium diet drink, which I had to get for myself from a machine along the wall. The sandwich was huge, and the fries were okay. I thought I had managed pretty well until I went into a bookstore. When I picked up my wallet at the checkout counter, it was wet. It seems I managed to get some ice in my purse when I was getting my own drink.

That wasn’t such a big deal, as I threw the ice into the trash outside of the bookstore and laid my things out on the car seat to dry while I drove home. No, the worst part was learning via an internet site called CalorieKing that my fast food lunch had a thousand calories in it. What a bargain!