Hey everybody,
Today's article is kind of a monster, so it'll be a few more hours before it's up. In the meantime, please enjoy Sarah Haskins' second video this week. (Thanks to reader Kelly for the suggestion.)
Rawk,
Kris
Rabu, 18 Juni 2008
Selasa, 17 Juni 2008
Tuesday Megalinks: The Tim Russert Edition
Has anyone else been affected by Tim Russert’s death more than they expected to be? It could be that he was the same age as my dad, or that he seemed like a genuinely good guy (see: Tom Brokaw’s on-air eulogy). But more likely, it’s that he was an exemplary newsperson: well-informed, (relatively) objective, and enthusiastic about his chosen duties. You don’t see it a lot anymore.Either way, today’s Megalinks are dedicated to him. Because information is power, and no one knew it better. Go Bills.
Casual Kitchen: How to Create Your Own Original Pasta Salad Recipes Using The Pasta Salad Permutator
Dan has a MONSTER post on DIY pasta salad combinations, and he’s even giving out a prize for the worst creation. I’m thinking a Caper/Cauliflower/Pineapple Tortellini Salad with Lentils and Mayonnaise-Lemon Dressing. Anyone? Anyone?
Food Network Addict: Ted Allen Joins Food Network in “Food Detectives”
Yes! My favorite Queer Eye guy is getting his own Mythbusters-style show! BOW TO THE GLASSES! (Thanks to Serious Eats for the link.)
Gourmet: Where Are the Women?
Women today make up the vast majority of home cooks, as they have for centuries (millennia, even). So, why don’t they head up professional kitchens, especially on the East Coast? I’m thinking it’s the whole crazy-hours-make-it-impossible-to-have-kids thing, but I’m not sure. (Thanks to Eater for the link.)
Lifehacker: Change Your Cooking Style to Cut Back on Meat
Yay! Lifehacker highlights Mark Bittman’s recent Reduce Your Meat article, which emphasizes the health benefits of Meat as Condiment, rather than Meat as Main Course. It's infinitely valuable knowledge, all at the low, low price of free.
Men’s Health: The 125 Healthiest Supermarket Foods in America
Hm. I don’t agree with all their choices, but this gigundo list is helpful nonetheless. If you buy processed food (and I do), it’s a must-read.
My Open Wallet: Why Do Otherwise Normal Girls Refuse to Go Dutch?
Question of the week! Ladies, do you pay for yourself on first dates, or do you let your date fork over the cash? I always did, unless he insisted. And secretly? Feminist leanings to the contrary, I appreciated it. (Aside: there were one or two dates where I paid, and I didn’t mind one bit.)
New York Times: Tapped Out
The Grey Lady finally catches on to bottled water’s ripoffedness.
Owlhaven: Frugal Cooking Carnival
Mary schools, cooks for, and generally raises TEN kids, so she knows baseball. Here, she details a week-long healthy, frugal eating plan for her giant family, pics included. I can’t imagine what her shopping trips must be like.
Festival of Frugality #130: Out of Debt Again
This week’s FoF goes with a little piggie theme. Check out CHG’s 60 Marinades post among other magical entries.
Slashfood: Is Bribing Kids with Food Really a Good Idea?
Not having kids, I’d say it’s a terrible idea, and that children should learn to recognize work and achievement for the pride and self-worth they foster. That said, when I DO spawn, I’m pretty sure I'll be exchanging brownies for a cry-free trip to the supermarket.
The Simple Dollar: Seven Things You Can Do Right Now to Help the Flood Victims
Not food related so much, but key nonetheless. Trent has some great suggestions on lending aid to folks in Iowa. And if this article is any indication, they’re gonna need even more soon.
Time.com: How America’s Children Packed on the Pounds
Much like the Washington Post’s recent series, Time explains why U.S. kids are bigger than ever, and how it’s affecting their futures. More on this issue in tomorrow’s CHG article, so stay tuned.
Curried Zucchini Soup: This One's For the Ladies
I was eating my 90-calorie Light Probiotic Pomegranate Berry Medley La Yogurt this morning when I ran across this:
Her name is Sarah Haskins, and she’s hilarious. Beyond that, she also has a great point: yogurt? And diet products in general? They’re all aimed at women. Beyond the occasional NutriSystem appearance by Dan Marino, I can’t think of a single diet ad directed towards men. Can you picture one? Can you even make one up? What would it look like? Maybe four or five John Goodman-esque frat guys, standing around an untouched pizza, moaning about their flab? Or John Madden and Charles Barkley trading tips on the lightest Subway sandwiches? Maybe a re-animated John Wayne espousing on the wonders of fat-free cottage cheese? (“Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from … like his love handles.”)
I bet it’s hard to imagine ads like these, because they don’t currently exist. Somehow, diet products have become a stereotypical chick thing, like pink toenail polish and caring about The Hills.
Why does this happen? Why do diet campaigns specifically target women? Do we naturally worry about our weight more than guys? Are we more health-conscious in general? Do we inherently dig lighter foods? Or, do the ads tell us we should worry about our weight? Do they say over and over that we need to be on diets, so we can look and feel like the beautiful stick people pushing Yoplait?
Me, I think it’s a combination of both. I’m all for free will and self-control, but it’s hard to deny advertising’s role in our self-perception, from what we eat to what we wear to what color pink we paint our toenails. Even at 30, even with an MA in media analysis, commercials affect the way I think about myself. And I don’t like it. Just once, I’d like to see a gang of happy, curvy moms throwing down over who gets the last super-sized Snickers bar. It might not win a Clio, but it’d make me feel better.
Which brings us, in a (very, very) roundabout way, to Martha Stewart. I would guess that 99.9% of her fans are women, and between her magazines and television show, she creates a lifestyle that’s nearly impossible to attain. Yet, I cut her way more slack than easy-solution diet products. Maybe because she doesn’t pander as obviously. Maybe it’s because her DIY lifestyle is way, way healthier than quick-fix yogurts. Maybe I just like her nail polish.
Whatever it is, she made this Curried Zucchini Soup. And a soup that’s delicious hot and cold can never be a problem.
Curried Zucchini Soup
Makes 4 generous servings
Adapted from Everyday Food.
Note: I apologize for yet another incredible picture. ("Incredible" here meaning "terrible.")
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
Kosher salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 1/2 pounds zucchini (about 3 medium), sliced 1 inch thick
1 baking potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1) In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and 1 tablespoon salt (not a typo). Cook until onion is tender and a little translucent, 4 or 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and curry. Cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, stirring constantly.
2) Add zucchini, potato, and 4 cups water. Jack up the heat. Once it comes to a boil, drop heat to medium-low and cook for 10 or 15 minutes. Veggies should be tender at the end.
3) Add half the soup to a blender. (If blender is more than half full, you might have to split this into three batches.) Puree soup. Repeat for second half of soup (and if necessary, batch #3). Serve.
Approximate Calories, Fat, and Price Per Serving
142 calories, 3.8 g fat, $0.67
Calculations
1 tablespoon olive oil: 119 calories, 13.5 g fat, $0.10
1 medium onion, chopped: 46 calories, 0.1 g fat, $0.18
Coarse salt: negligible calories and salt, $0.01
2 garlic cloves: 9 calories, 0 g fat, $0.10
2 teaspoons curry powder: negligible calories and fat, $0.20
1 1/2 pounds zucchini (about 3 medium): 109 calories, 1.2 g fat, $1.48
1 baking potato: 284 calories, 0.3 g fat, $0.61
TOTAL: 567 calories, 15.1 g fat, $2.68
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 142 calories, 3.8 g fat, $0.67
Her name is Sarah Haskins, and she’s hilarious. Beyond that, she also has a great point: yogurt? And diet products in general? They’re all aimed at women. Beyond the occasional NutriSystem appearance by Dan Marino, I can’t think of a single diet ad directed towards men. Can you picture one? Can you even make one up? What would it look like? Maybe four or five John Goodman-esque frat guys, standing around an untouched pizza, moaning about their flab? Or John Madden and Charles Barkley trading tips on the lightest Subway sandwiches? Maybe a re-animated John Wayne espousing on the wonders of fat-free cottage cheese? (“Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from … like his love handles.”)
I bet it’s hard to imagine ads like these, because they don’t currently exist. Somehow, diet products have become a stereotypical chick thing, like pink toenail polish and caring about The Hills.
Why does this happen? Why do diet campaigns specifically target women? Do we naturally worry about our weight more than guys? Are we more health-conscious in general? Do we inherently dig lighter foods? Or, do the ads tell us we should worry about our weight? Do they say over and over that we need to be on diets, so we can look and feel like the beautiful stick people pushing Yoplait?
Me, I think it’s a combination of both. I’m all for free will and self-control, but it’s hard to deny advertising’s role in our self-perception, from what we eat to what we wear to what color pink we paint our toenails. Even at 30, even with an MA in media analysis, commercials affect the way I think about myself. And I don’t like it. Just once, I’d like to see a gang of happy, curvy moms throwing down over who gets the last super-sized Snickers bar. It might not win a Clio, but it’d make me feel better.
Which brings us, in a (very, very) roundabout way, to Martha Stewart. I would guess that 99.9% of her fans are women, and between her magazines and television show, she creates a lifestyle that’s nearly impossible to attain. Yet, I cut her way more slack than easy-solution diet products. Maybe because she doesn’t pander as obviously. Maybe it’s because her DIY lifestyle is way, way healthier than quick-fix yogurts. Maybe I just like her nail polish.
Whatever it is, she made this Curried Zucchini Soup. And a soup that’s delicious hot and cold can never be a problem.
Curried Zucchini Soup
Makes 4 generous servings
Adapted from Everyday Food.
Note: I apologize for yet another incredible picture. ("Incredible" here meaning "terrible.")
1 tablespoon olive oil1 medium onion, chopped
Kosher salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 1/2 pounds zucchini (about 3 medium), sliced 1 inch thick
1 baking potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1) In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and 1 tablespoon salt (not a typo). Cook until onion is tender and a little translucent, 4 or 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and curry. Cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, stirring constantly.
2) Add zucchini, potato, and 4 cups water. Jack up the heat. Once it comes to a boil, drop heat to medium-low and cook for 10 or 15 minutes. Veggies should be tender at the end.
3) Add half the soup to a blender. (If blender is more than half full, you might have to split this into three batches.) Puree soup. Repeat for second half of soup (and if necessary, batch #3). Serve.
Approximate Calories, Fat, and Price Per Serving
142 calories, 3.8 g fat, $0.67
Calculations
1 tablespoon olive oil: 119 calories, 13.5 g fat, $0.10
1 medium onion, chopped: 46 calories, 0.1 g fat, $0.18
Coarse salt: negligible calories and salt, $0.01
2 garlic cloves: 9 calories, 0 g fat, $0.10
2 teaspoons curry powder: negligible calories and fat, $0.20
1 1/2 pounds zucchini (about 3 medium): 109 calories, 1.2 g fat, $1.48
1 baking potato: 284 calories, 0.3 g fat, $0.61
TOTAL: 567 calories, 15.1 g fat, $2.68
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 142 calories, 3.8 g fat, $0.67
Sabtu, 14 Juni 2008
Parmesan Crusted Portobello Mushrooms, The Present, and Me
(There’s a longtime meme floating around the blogosphere that entails writing a letter to your junior high self. I thought I’d try it.)
Dear Me in 1989,
Wow. Hey. What’s up? Long time, no see. Nice Bon Jovi poster.
So, you’re probably wondering A) who I am, B) why I’m writing this, and C) whether I still have your Thundercats folder. Here are my answers:
A) I’m you! At 30. Stop crying.
B) To tell you about THE FUTURE! It’s a wonderful place, filled with spaghetti and water park rides.
C) I do. Thundercats, ho!
So, seriously, here we go. Some of this might be upsetting, but most of it is actually pretty neat. Especially the part about Hanson.
1) I know you believe you’re the most awkward human being in existence, but you’re not. You actually won’t become that person for another year, when you closely resemble an adolescent girl Woody Allen.
2) You will have your first grey hair at 17, find stretch marks during freshman year in college, and suffer at least two minor gastrointestinal operations by your mid-20s. As a result, you will suddenly understand Grandma.
3) You know your pink leggings? The ones you pair with the oversized t-shirt with COOL splashed across the front? Save ‘em. They’re the height of fashion in 2008, thanks to a woman named Lindsay Lohan. You don’t know who that is yet, but her lady parts will be big news.
4) Speaking of lady parts, congratulations on that whole hitting puberty thing! Enjoy your bosoms now, because in the future, they’ll be chiefly known as The Things That Hurt When You Run.
5) The Mets … never mind. You don’t want to know.
6) The Red Sox … never mind. It’s a surprise.
7) You will be continually abused by the great state of New Jersey. Do not trust its men. They mean no good.
8) There will be more Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Superman movies. Most will suck, and you’ll develop an all-consuming hatred for something called Jar-Jar Binks, along with an inappropriate crush on Obi Wan Kenobi. He’s played by a different guy now, so it’s okay.
9) U2 is still your favorite band! They’ll release a classic album called Achtung Baby, followed by a pretty good L.P. named Zooropa, and then a piece of crap called Pop, which will cause the Edge to regularly step out of a giant lemon mid-concert. But it gets better after that, because then they have two great records and Bono almost wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Oh, and Larry Mullen Jr. will not age a single day. It will be uncanny.
9) You wrote in your diary that you Guns N’ Roses “Patience” holds all the keys to life. I have no response to that, but it’s noted.
10) No one says “mint” anymore in 2008. And “sick” means “good” now. It’s very confusing.
11) Your parents and siblings turn out pretty cool. Your dad quits smoking, your mom gets like 27 Masters degrees, and your siblings stop sucker-punching you in the kidney. Aces.
12) Hanson on 21 Jump Street? Still a babe.
13) A woman will have a god’s-honest shot for a Presidential nomination. Her opponent will be a black guy. Despite this, racism still abounds and lady magazines will keep offering headlines like, “Anorexia Rules!” and “25 Reasons to Please Your Man Instead of Going to Math Class.”
14) You’ll grow up, go to school, get a job, pay taxes, move to Brooklyn, meet a man with a glorious beard, and finally settle down with a blog, a pint of blueberries, and a library card. Time and death will rob you of and bless you with friends and family. You will always hate mayonnaise. But.
15) You’ll gain a great appreciation for the finer things, like: eggs, blue cheese, peppers, onions, olives, salmon, tuna, cottage cheese, eggplant, broccoli, curry, chickpeas (and all that is made with them), and mushrooms.
16) Speaking of mushrooms, you will make Parmesan Crusted Portobello Mushrooms at least once a week for the rest of your life. It’s a simple, wholesome Bobby Flay dish, slightly altered for economic reasons. This is confusing you, I bet.
17) You’ll always be pretty happy.
18) Except about #5. Seriously, it’d be nice if they got it together for like, five seconds.
Love,
You
Parmesan Crusted Portobello Mushrooms
4 servings
Adapted from Bobby Flay.
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper
4 portobello mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed
Olive oil, for brushing
1) Preheat grill. It should hover around medium-low.
2) In a small bowl, mix parmesan, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir. Set aside.
3) Brush mushrooms all over with a little bit of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Grill cap side down for about 4 or 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Flip. Grill another 5 or 6 minutes, until tender.
4) Flip mushrooms back over and sprinkle parmesan mixture over gills. Close grill. Grill until parm has melted. If you have truffle oil lying around, remove mushrooms from grill and drizzle oil on them. If you don't have truffle oil, just remove mushrooms from grill. (Do not try to eat mushrooms while still on grill. You will meet a horrible end.) Serve.
Approximate Calories, Fat, and Price Per Serving
89 calories, 6 g fat, $1.18
Calculations
1/3 cup grated Parmesan: 144 calories, 9.5 g fat, $0.75
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme: 5 calories, 0.1 g fat, $0.45
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper: negligible calories and fat, $0.03
4 portobello mushrooms: 87 calories, 0.7 g fat, $3.40
Olive oil, for brushing: 119 calories, 13.5 g fat, $0.10
TOTAL: 355 calories, 23.8 g fat, $4.73
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 89 calories, 6 g fat, $1.18
Dear Me in 1989,
Wow. Hey. What’s up? Long time, no see. Nice Bon Jovi poster.
So, you’re probably wondering A) who I am, B) why I’m writing this, and C) whether I still have your Thundercats folder. Here are my answers:
A) I’m you! At 30. Stop crying.
B) To tell you about THE FUTURE! It’s a wonderful place, filled with spaghetti and water park rides.
C) I do. Thundercats, ho!
So, seriously, here we go. Some of this might be upsetting, but most of it is actually pretty neat. Especially the part about Hanson.
1) I know you believe you’re the most awkward human being in existence, but you’re not. You actually won’t become that person for another year, when you closely resemble an adolescent girl Woody Allen.
2) You will have your first grey hair at 17, find stretch marks during freshman year in college, and suffer at least two minor gastrointestinal operations by your mid-20s. As a result, you will suddenly understand Grandma.
3) You know your pink leggings? The ones you pair with the oversized t-shirt with COOL splashed across the front? Save ‘em. They’re the height of fashion in 2008, thanks to a woman named Lindsay Lohan. You don’t know who that is yet, but her lady parts will be big news.
4) Speaking of lady parts, congratulations on that whole hitting puberty thing! Enjoy your bosoms now, because in the future, they’ll be chiefly known as The Things That Hurt When You Run.
5) The Mets … never mind. You don’t want to know.
6) The Red Sox … never mind. It’s a surprise.
7) You will be continually abused by the great state of New Jersey. Do not trust its men. They mean no good.
8) There will be more Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Superman movies. Most will suck, and you’ll develop an all-consuming hatred for something called Jar-Jar Binks, along with an inappropriate crush on Obi Wan Kenobi. He’s played by a different guy now, so it’s okay.
9) U2 is still your favorite band! They’ll release a classic album called Achtung Baby, followed by a pretty good L.P. named Zooropa, and then a piece of crap called Pop, which will cause the Edge to regularly step out of a giant lemon mid-concert. But it gets better after that, because then they have two great records and Bono almost wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Oh, and Larry Mullen Jr. will not age a single day. It will be uncanny.
9) You wrote in your diary that you Guns N’ Roses “Patience” holds all the keys to life. I have no response to that, but it’s noted.
10) No one says “mint” anymore in 2008. And “sick” means “good” now. It’s very confusing.
11) Your parents and siblings turn out pretty cool. Your dad quits smoking, your mom gets like 27 Masters degrees, and your siblings stop sucker-punching you in the kidney. Aces.
12) Hanson on 21 Jump Street? Still a babe.
13) A woman will have a god’s-honest shot for a Presidential nomination. Her opponent will be a black guy. Despite this, racism still abounds and lady magazines will keep offering headlines like, “Anorexia Rules!” and “25 Reasons to Please Your Man Instead of Going to Math Class.”
14) You’ll grow up, go to school, get a job, pay taxes, move to Brooklyn, meet a man with a glorious beard, and finally settle down with a blog, a pint of blueberries, and a library card. Time and death will rob you of and bless you with friends and family. You will always hate mayonnaise. But.
15) You’ll gain a great appreciation for the finer things, like: eggs, blue cheese, peppers, onions, olives, salmon, tuna, cottage cheese, eggplant, broccoli, curry, chickpeas (and all that is made with them), and mushrooms.
16) Speaking of mushrooms, you will make Parmesan Crusted Portobello Mushrooms at least once a week for the rest of your life. It’s a simple, wholesome Bobby Flay dish, slightly altered for economic reasons. This is confusing you, I bet.
17) You’ll always be pretty happy.
18) Except about #5. Seriously, it’d be nice if they got it together for like, five seconds.
Love,
You
Parmesan Crusted Portobello Mushrooms
4 servings
Adapted from Bobby Flay.
1/3 cup grated Parmesan2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper
4 portobello mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed
Olive oil, for brushing
1) Preheat grill. It should hover around medium-low.
2) In a small bowl, mix parmesan, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir. Set aside.
3) Brush mushrooms all over with a little bit of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Grill cap side down for about 4 or 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Flip. Grill another 5 or 6 minutes, until tender.
4) Flip mushrooms back over and sprinkle parmesan mixture over gills. Close grill. Grill until parm has melted. If you have truffle oil lying around, remove mushrooms from grill and drizzle oil on them. If you don't have truffle oil, just remove mushrooms from grill. (Do not try to eat mushrooms while still on grill. You will meet a horrible end.) Serve.
Approximate Calories, Fat, and Price Per Serving
89 calories, 6 g fat, $1.18
Calculations
1/3 cup grated Parmesan: 144 calories, 9.5 g fat, $0.75
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme: 5 calories, 0.1 g fat, $0.45
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper: negligible calories and fat, $0.03
4 portobello mushrooms: 87 calories, 0.7 g fat, $3.40
Olive oil, for brushing: 119 calories, 13.5 g fat, $0.10
TOTAL: 355 calories, 23.8 g fat, $4.73
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 89 calories, 6 g fat, $1.18
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