Comments on: Kitchen Staples

By: The Little Things · Amy’s Beef Stew

The Little Things · Amy’s Beef Stew — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:55:50 +0000

[...] I had cubed beef that had to be used soon, but no other traditional stew ingredients - only the ingredients that I keep on hand at all times. It was delicious! It has either a Latin or an Italian feel to it, instead of the typical [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:27:05 +0000

Mom, have you tried Ore-Ida’s Steam and Mash potatoes? They’re frozen, cooked, cut potatoes. You nuke them in the bag and then they are super-easy to mash. It’s really not much more work than the dried flakes. But they do take up a lot of space in the freezer which might be an issue for you.

But mashed potatoes from scratch – not worth the time and effort! Maybe on Thanksgiving.

Wait until you come visit in the spring. I’ll feed you my cabbage and spinach – my new favorites!

By: Grandee

Grandee — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:01:22 +0000

I remember you and Nick went crazy for Gran’mere’s mashed potatoes as our family meal was routinely salad, meat and a vegetable. Since it was my job as a teen to prepare mashed potatoes EVERY night, I used rice for us when a sauce or gravy was involved. I thought bread stuffing was enough of a vehicle for Thanksgiving gravy. In cold weather I yearn for carbs, so I now prepare more mashed potatoes although not from scratch.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:52:49 +0000

Stephanie, yes, I am alerted to all comments, even on old posts. I must say that I’m suspicious of the evidence that contradicts the idea that these are “diseases of old age” more than “diseases of civilization.” I’m suspicious because the data that I’ve seen seems shaky (although I don’t know enough to say it is fatally flawed) and because the idea that these diseases are mainly a result of extended life spans can be integrated so well into the rest of my knowledge. However, diabetes has become much more prevalent even in young people. Still, would these young people have been “weeded out” (apologies for the crassness) in earlier times?

I suspect there are many factors at work. Bottom line: I think the science of nutrition is in its infancy, and we should be cautious about leaping to conclusions. In the meantime, my philosophy is: use common sense, listen to your body’s signals, and enjoy food!

By: Heather Lackey

Heather Lackey — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:57:54 +0000

Adding in fat and removing grains have changed the way I cook, too. It seems like so much less of a chore, and it’s very easy to improvise and play around now.

Regarding Stephanie’s comment above, I wonder what sort of food the zoo animals are eating. A quick Google search brings up: “The animals are fed both specially prepared dry food, which is made by Purina for specific zoo animals, and fresh fruits and vegetables. The carnivores are fed chicken and prepared meats by Nebraska Brand meats. There are frozen mice and rats for those who eat rodents.” If that specially prepared dry food from Purina is anything like the specially prepared dry food Purina wants me to feed my dogs, I’d implicate that in the need for insulin as the animals age sooner than I would their advancing age. Purina does love its cheap, highly processed corn, soy and wheat.