Episode 8: "Common Threads" Options

[SimonBao]

That's why Steph's peanut butter choice seemed like a no-brainer. The thing is, I'm not sure I've ever had a dish that paired a peanut sauce with tomatoes (unless they were maybe just a few small dices or something). That's just not a natural pairing and something that most good cooks wouldn't try to force.

Tele, peanuts and tomatoes isn't quite a Combo from Another Planet. I've eaten stews and soups in West Africa that use unsweetened peanut butter and tomatoes. Some have also had rice in them, or green leaves of some kind, or some animal flesh. Goat or guinea fowl, I think. Actually, they taste fine. But the stews and soups have additional seasonings that give them complexity. We had a huge day-long party for the Live 8 concerts, all cooks asked to prepare all African foods, and one of them was Mafe, a peanut butter and tomatoes stew made with chicken. (I can send the list of dishes and their recipes.)

But Mafe is really a long long boat ride away from what Stephie did.

This post has been edited by SimonBao: May 1, 2008 - 01:21 PM

[WhataJoke]

Well, that was the challenge. No matter what others may do, THAT was the challenge.

As for how most Americans do eat, they never replicate the Lack of Protein issue. Plenty of protein in American diets and meals. But far too many simple carbs and simple starches, too much high fructose corn syrup, too many saturated and trans fats, too much fat and calories over all.

Which is why most dietitians would welcome a meal like Marks in any family's weekly meal.

Oh and here is the recipie on Bravo's site.

Coconut milk FTW!!!!!! LMAO!

3 cans of Coconut Milk

Edit: and they don't even list the Sweet potatos. LOL anything to support the fraud perpetrated on the show I guess.

This post has been edited by WhataJoke: May 1, 2008 - 01:29 PM

[chucole]

Talk about abnormal kids......

Well, they are knife packed spice hounds. I credit all that to the hub, not me.

[SivartAlappes]

Which is why most dietitians would welcome a meal like Marks in any family's weekly meal.

Oh and here is the recipie on Bravo's site.

Coconut milk FTW!!!!!! LMAO!

3 cans of Coconut Milk

Edit: and they don't even list the Sweet potatos. LOL anything to support the fraud perpetrated on the show I guess.

That recipe is for the curry (without the sweet potatos listed)... but the picture is of nikki's dish!

[WhataJoke]

That recipe is for the curry (without the sweet potatos listed)... but the picture is of nikki's dish!

Or the bean sprouts which are good for you. Or the Cabbage that seems to be ontop of it. Yeah they leave out a ton of stuff. But they made sure they added polish sausage into Antonia and Lisa's repcipe when there was none! LOL

[teleburst]

Which is why most dietitians would welcome a meal like Marks in any family's weekly meal.

As a dish, perhaps. Not as a "meal".

[SivartAlappes]

As a dish, perhaps. Not as a "meal".

For many households, a "meal" is basically a dish with some sort of side (often times a bread of some kind).

Speaking of which... didn't Mark go looking for either flatbread or pita bread? He could have done something with that as a side... maybe make some kind of patte or hummus?

[SimonBao]

Which is why most dietitians would welcome a meal like Marks in any family's weekly meal.

Well, I'll tell ya what, find me a certified dietician who think that is a healthy and nutritious meal and I'll begin to pay attention.

Had I been tempted to introduce an American family of four (with children) to a curry dish, I would have gone with a Ca Ri Ga, served with the usual baguette. Requires no mastery of chopsticks that way. There's a reasonable recipe for it here, lots of variations to that dish, and one can make it as mild or as blistering as one wants. It requires some sweetening but there's nothing sweet about the final dish, which does constitute a meal. The recipe should call for both carrots and sweet potatoes, or optional white potatoes too. Or totally go off the res and also put in some parsnip. But I'd first want to know what's in the pantry before trying to do the dish for $10.

[SimonBao]

For many households, a "meal" is basically a dish with some sort of side (often times a bread of some kind).

Speaking of which... didn't Mark go looking for either flatbread or pita bread? He could have done something with that as a side... maybe make some kind of patte or hummus?

He did indeed, which made me think at first he was looking for some whole grain protein. But then we never saw him purchase any or include any. Whole wheat flatbread with hummus is exactly what vegetarians and vegans look for, that grain/legume combo of complete protein. But I suspect he may have hit his $10 ceiling faster than he expected.

[partsgirl]

Parts, I have to strongly disagree with you. I mean, very strongly.

A basic precept of contemporary vegetarian and vegan cooking is that a meal MUST still include a complete protein. Meaning, it includes all the essential amino acids needed by humans. An individual dish or side doesn't need to offer a complete protein, but that total meal must.

That's surprisingly easy to achieve, it's as old as agriculture, long ago achieved in all hemispheres and on all continents. One includes in the meal both one or more good high-protein whole grains (wheat being the go-to grain) and a good high-protein legume. Consumed together, that famous grain/legume combo is a complete protein. Chickpeas and whole wheat pita can do it on their own.

Or, one uses any of the few plant sources of (more or less) complete proteins. Soy beans, tofu, quinoa, etc. Peanuts are not bad but still should be offered in a meal with a whole grain in order to truly be "healthy." Mark had *some* peanut in that dish somewhere... but that dish does not meet a standard for being a healthy vegan or vegetarian meal. Conceptually, Mark was wrong from the get-go.

Simon, I don't mind you disagreeing. I see your point and it is very valid. I was just thinking of vegetarian in terms of my family, and perhaps i should have mentioned that. We're not vegans by any stretch of the imagination... Long live Beef! What I was thinking about are the veggie dinners my daughter and I enjoy on occasion. We'll hit the farmer's market or grocery store and just buy a bunch of different vegetables. We grill them, bake them, steam them, etc. We just simply call it our veggie dinner. No protein at all. In my opinion, there isn't anything wrong with an occasional meal that is missing some kind of protein. So, yes, I understand where you're coming from. Yes, if Mark was attempting to add some kind of protein then he probably should have been complete in that. I was just looking at it from a different point of view.

[WhataJoke]

For many households, a "meal" is basically a dish with some sort of side (often times a bread of some kind).

Speaking of which... didn't Mark go looking for either flatbread or pita bread? He could have done something with that as a side... maybe make some kind of patte or hummus?

He made a cucumber salad with Garilic Nan bread according to the website.

MEAL!!! LOL

[partsgirl]

What PG wrote:

It looks like something the cat gacked.

What WAJ Wrote:

LOL seriously that looks completely nasty. Nikki's bear dropping mushrooms have been dethroned easily by the new champion for the nastiest looking food of the season.

Dang, WAJ. You're so much more eloquent than I.

[partsgirl]

Oh we will, don't worry.

Hello all!

Hey, lady! Glad to see ya!

[partsgirl]

Does anyone know of a tropical deserted island that I can buy? I just heard of a new reality show *Hurl*. They take competitive eaters, have them eat a bunch of stuff and the put them through ridiculous challenges like riding a roller coaster to see who hurls. I thought Springer was bad, and the folks on the court shows. Can't understand the people who go on the clean house show when they live like pigs and the intervention show makes me sick to think about it.

Every time I think we have gotten as shallow as we can get----someone drains a little more water out of the pool.

Hold up! I'm buying my airline ticket, now. Be right beside you.

[johnw]

Perhaps. And maybe it didn't come off the way I intended but I happen to find Uncle Ben's and vaudeville blackface fairly offensive and I was snarking on that sort of commercially embedded racism, not trying to be racist (and I used Rev. Wright because the right wing's reaction to him seems pretty racist as well). I did misfire though because I meant to use that other bastion of condescending marketing, Aunt Jemina, instead of Mrs. Butterworth. I guess I probably just saw the Geico commercial featuring her. Plus, I recently saw "CSA", the what-if-the-Civil-War-was-won-by -the-South movie that took racist advertising to its ultimate conclusion.

I guess when I see Uncle Ben, Uncle Remus and Al Jolson (and the famous [expletive deleted] Chicken featured in the great movie, Ghost World), the snark just naturally oozes from the pot to the plate. But you're right - snark falls flat on its face if you have to explain it.

What is racist about condemning Rev Wright for claiming that the Govt introduced the AIDS virus to kill Blacks, or the American people brought 9/11 on themselves? It isn't so much about race but the fact that Rev Wright is spewing anti-American garbage. The Rev Wright may be the albatross that sinks Obama in November should he get the Democratic nomination which seems likely.

[Radyms13]

Hold up! I'm buying my airline ticket, now. Be right beside you.

Pack plenty of beans and rice!! It's deserted, but we can still eat good!

[SimonBao]

He made a cucumber salad with Garilic Nan bread according to the website.

MEAL!!! LOL

Not unless it was whole wheat naan bread paired with a legume. Nutrition hasn't changed in the last hour.

[SimonBao]

Simon, I don't mind you disagreeing. I see your point and it is very valid. I was just thinking of vegetarian in terms of my family, and perhaps i should have mentioned that. We're not vegans by any stretch of the imagination... Long live Beef! What I was thinking about are the veggie dinners my daughter and I enjoy on occasion. We'll hit the farmer's market or grocery store and just buy a bunch of different vegetables. We grill them, bake them, steam them, etc. We just simply call it our veggie dinner. No protein at all. In my opinion, there isn't anything wrong with an occasional meal that is missing some kind of protein. So, yes, I understand where you're coming from. Yes, if Mark was attempting to add some kind of protein then he probably should have been complete in that. I was just looking at it from a different point of view.

Parts, at *most* conferences I attend, the hotel banquet staff are told to expect X number of requests for vegetarian lunches and dinners. And that staff always promise that's no problem, they have a vast repertoire of meatless entrees to suit all palates.

Know what ends up coming out of the kitchen and placed in front of those who requested vegetarian meals? Plates of grilled veggies. Not just that, it's the same plate of grilled veggies at both lunch and dinner. For up to 3 days. Drives the Veggie People crazy.

None of them are found dead mid-way through the conference, unless they were also a really boring speaker, but not one of them holds up their grilled veggies as an example of healthy, nutritious dining. LOL

[dcjewbear]

What is racist about condemning Rev Wright for claiming that the Govt introduced the AIDS virus to kill Blacks, or the American people brought 9/11 on themselves? It isn't so much about race but the fact that Rev Wright is spewing anti-American garbage. The Rev Wright may be the albatross that sinks Obama in November should he get the Democratic nomination which seems likely.

I'm with you on this one.

[SecondTry]

And to answer "What would you have cooked?"

Quickfire: Honestly have no idea. I did a random check through all my chicken recipes and all of them take at least 20 minutes. Maybe a rice and beans mix or something.

Elimination: Since everyone went either poultry or meatless, I might have risked doing a chili. It would depend on how much access I had to the TC pantry and what was there, but I can't imagine that I'd have to buy more than the meat, the kidney beans, tomatoes for a base for the sauce, and some kind of green vegetable.