"OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
news
> Geez...
> Reading this thread makes me realize just how lucky I was to have the
> parents I had. We eat a great variety of foods, I love to cook and
> I'll
> try nearly anything at least once! There are a few foods I just cannot
> enjoy but I'm still always looking for new stuff to try. <G>

Yes, the influence of parents has been alluded to by several in this
thread, iirc. That's a very good point. My mother was a good cook, but
she wasn't into exotic stuff, but she had a nice and large repertoire of
varied foods, so I guess I just got used to seeing some things all the
time.

We kids often had the job of peeling, especially before a Jewish
Holiday, most especially before Passover, when there is a LOT of cooking
to do. We would all sit around, wearing aprons, and peeling tons of
fruits and vegetables: apples, oranges, potatoes, carrots, parsnips,
parsley roots, and on and on. It was actually a lot of fun.

I never personally peeled any garlic when I was a kid, but I watched my
mother do it often enough.

I don't know, it's just that garlic seems almost like an onion. Could
you imagine someone in America saying that they'd never seen an onion
before?

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
news
>
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote
>
>> Now hold on, yogurt? They don't have televisions? They don't see
>> commercials?
>
> I'm thinking maybe the Galloping Gourmet is why I knew what
> a head of garlic looked like, fresh garlic (perhaps any garlic at all)
> never crossed my threshhold, growing up.

I'd forgotten about that show! I don't think I've watched it much.

Why was there no garlic in your home?

"Steve Wertz" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 11:06:21 GMT, Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
>> Actually, it was a science-fiction convention, and we were playing a
>> live-action role-playing game called "the Masquerade," which was
>> about
>> vampires.
>
> And since you had the real garlic, while everyone else had the
> fake plastic bulbs, you probably won - right?

No, I was the only one who even thought of the idea. And in fact, it was
camouflage, because in fact *I WAS* a vampire in the game, and I carried
a head of garlic with me to fool the vampire hunters.

Mordechai Housman wrote:

> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

Yes, there are a good percentage of people who grew up on "easy meals"
and take out food who have no idea what unassembled foods look like.
These are also the people who rave about the heavily salt and sugar
laden industrial "food" at places like applebees and pizza hut.

We were cycling last month and there was a large blackberry patch loaded
with berries so we stopped to enjoy them. A few people actually
commented "whats wrong with you...you can't eat stuff out in the woods..."

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote

> "Nancy Young" > wrote

>> I'm thinking maybe the Galloping Gourmet is why I knew what
>> a head of garlic looked like, fresh garlic (perhaps any garlic at all)
>> never crossed my threshhold, growing up.
>
> I'd forgotten about that show! I don't think I've watched it much.
>
> Why was there no garlic in your home?

My stepmother is from Japan. Close as I can tell, she tried very hard
to make American food for my father. She pored over magazines and
collected recipes she thought he would like. In those days, in the
environment of the military commisary, and in the days when almost all
vegetables came in a can, same with soup, she cooked what she saw.

Once in a while, when her sisters would send her nori from Japan, she
would make sushi, no fish in them that I recall, but a nice slice of
pickled ginger.

Aside from that, no, there were no fresh herbs spices in our house that I
can think of. And I'd be willing to bet, a lot of people's houses back
in those days.

nancy

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
> Okay, well salt pork I would ALSO have trouble identifying, since I eat
> only kosher and I am not even aware of having ever seen salt pork,
> whatever that is. I did nonce see large pigs' feet in a bottle at a store
> I went to several times.

I guess when you see "pork" in "salt pork", you immediately realize it's
something you don't have to know about. Fatback might be a little different
since the name doesn't necessarily indicate its origins. Both are more in
the category of seasoning or flavor elements as opposed to main ingredients.

> The part that we use as a spice is the leaf, isn't it? So after it is
> picked, it grows back again the next year, I assume.

Regarding rosemary, it's basically a Mediterranean region plant, and is not
hardy in regions where it snows. Washington, DC is in too cool a zone
according to Dept. of Agriculture charts for it to survive the winters. So
here it is considered an "annual", where further south it is a "perennial".
The part used is a leaf of sorts, but it looks like pine needles. On my
neighbor's plant, I'd swear most of the above ground portion is surviving
the winters, not just the roots. It's a fairly big bush (for rosemary) that
she has. I can't see it growing that big in one season, but I've never
remembered to see what it looks like in the dead of winter or early the
following spring.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

"wff_ng_7" > wrote

> The part used is a leaf of sorts, but it looks like pine needles. On my
> neighbor's plant, I'd swear most of the above ground portion is surviving
> the winters, not just the roots. It's a fairly big bush (for rosemary)
> that she has. I can't see it growing that big in one season, but I've
> never remembered to see what it looks like in the dead of winter or early
> the following spring.

Mine overwinters and I'm just south of NYC. Then we'll have
a wicked cold winter and it won't make it. So I have to replant
it every so often. Right now my rosemary bush is pretty big, and
it had flowers for the first time I've ever seen that in these parts.

nancy

"Nancy Young" > wrote:
> Mine overwinters and I'm just south of NYC. Then we'll have
> a wicked cold winter and it won't make it. So I have to replant
> it every so often. Right now my rosemary bush is pretty big, and
> it had flowers for the first time I've ever seen that in these parts.

I guess rosemary is more hardy than I've been led to believe. I wish I could
grow it at my house, but there are factors other than climate. I have
essentially full shade behind my house and no place in front. If that wasn't
bad enough, the house behind me (rowhouses) has a bottomless bucket of
peanuts for the squirrels, who manage to dig up most anything I've planted.
At least the squirrels are entertaining.

The neighbor with the rosemary bush said I could take as much as I want. No
one could ever use so much rosemary themselves. The bush is pretty big. One
of my favorite uses is for bagna cauda, with garlic, rosemary, anchovies,
and red pepper flakes in the olive oil. A nice simple dinner with a variety
of vegetables, some fresh homemade bread, and a glass of red wine.

--
( #wff_ng_7# at #verizon# period #net# )

"wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
> The neighbor with the rosemary bush said I could take as much as I want.
> No one could ever use so much rosemary themselves. The bush is pretty big.


Can't beat that deal. This is the first year we've done well with two
plants, one in the garden, one in a pot. The potted plant is actually
bigger but it will not make the winter; we hope the one in the her garden
does. My daughter has two plants in her Las Vegas home. They are about 4
feet in height, three feet diameter.

"Travlr" <travlr> wrote in message
.. .
>
>
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head
>> of garlic with me.
>
> (snipped for brevity)
>>
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> adults who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>
>> Mordechai
>
> I have an odd story. When my husband was in his early 20's and joined
> the army, he was surprised to eat rice! He had never eaten it before.
> On leave, he asked his mother why and she said because she didn't like
> it so never served it at to the family.

And he never saw it in school, or anywhere else?

"LadyJane" > wrote in message
oups.com...

<Fascinating story, unfortunately long, so snipped>

> I firmly believe that there are no fussy eaters (where children are
> concerned) just dead lazy parents who can not be bothered to introduce
> or experiment with food where their children are concerned. My kids
> LOVE all foods - because they've been encouraged to try all sorts of
> different dishes. They may not like them, but they will at least try
> and then make a judgement. Getting kids to at least 'try' different
> foods is half the battle in broadening their tastes. IMHO

I try to introduce new foods to my kids every so often, but the two
younger ones (ages 8 and 6), almost always refuse to even try them. The
oldest (almost 10), will cautiously try some things, and usually likes
them.

So it's not always the parents' fault entirely. Some kids really ARE
afraid to try new things.

"Serene" > wrote in message
...

>>>
>>> People are different. That includes kids.
>>
>>but the difference is YOU TRIED! and probably KEEP ON TRYING!
>>rather than give up and offer takeaway Maccas, pizza etc.
>
> Maybe his parents tried and got resistance all the way. Sometimes kids
> are more willing to try things in other people's houses than at home.
> (I tend to think they *were* being lazy, but all I was saying is that
> some kids are going to be picky no matter how you try.)

I agree with you, Serene.

"LadyJane" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Serene wrote:
>
>> Maybe his parents tried and got resistance all the way. Sometimes
>> kids
>> are more willing to try things in other people's houses than at home.
>> (I tend to think they *were* being lazy, but all I was saying is that
>> some kids are going to be picky no matter how you try.)
>
> his mother dished up the same thing, day after day after day, year in
> year out.
> noodles, pita, shredded veg & grated veg and the odd hunk of cheese.
> never cooked a single blessed thing for the kid! (except the dousing
> of
> the noodles which does NOT count!)
>
> which is why he had such a great time at our place - cooking abound!
> and he wasn't reluctant to try - just never been given an opportunity
> to 'try'!
>
> really wicked as far as I am concerned.

Aside from the issue you bring up, with which I agree, there is also the
dubious value in such a diet, where the child never gets a hot meal. I
won't go so far as to say that this was child abuse, or even out and out
neglect, but it can't be all that great and healthful a lifestyle that
this child had.

growing rosemary - I certainly had no problem growing it in
Calvert County. After 4 years, mine was 3-4 feet high and 3-4 feet
wide. Bay laurel (bay leaf) does well too - it'll freeze to the
ground in really cold winters, but comes back up in the spring.

- Mark

On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 02:49:02 GMT, "wff_ng_7" >
wrote:

>"Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
>> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
>> garlic with me.
>>
>> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He saw me
>> holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>>
>> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he had
>> never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.
>...
>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults who
>> were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
>I've had that happen quite a few times in recent years. Some of the things
>were worcestershire sauce, leeks, salt pork, and celery root. I guess I
>could somewhat see leeks and celery root being unknowns, but worcestershire
>sauce and salt pork? I know there are a lot more than just these that I can
>think of off the top of my head. It's really pretty sad.
>
>I think it comes from eating processed or prepared foods all one's life.
>Even if such a person knows of the basic food ingredient, and can perhaps
>identify the flavor, they may never have seen it by itself... such as
>garlic.
>
>Speaking of rosemary... I have a neighbor that has quite a bush of it in
>front of her house. I thought she grew it new every year, but found out this
>year it's the same plant that survives the winter year after year. I was
>surprised it could survive here through the winter (Washington, DC). We've
>had snows well over a foot in the time she's had the rosemary. I guess it's
>because of where it's planted and the huge amount of sun it gets.

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
news
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
>> My late father, who was a butcher of the old school (no self-service
>> at HIS store!), used to tell me in graphic detail how salami was
>> made, in a facetious effort to cool off my desires for it.
>>
>> And a friend of mine who has a farm and a meat processing plant once
>> told me that if I knew how hot dogs were made, even the finest kosher
>> hot dogs, I would be so disgusted that I would never eat one again.
>
> Ugh. That reconfirms to me that I'm not wrong in never eating hot
> dogs.
> Salami..well.. I have to eat that! I'm Italian!! I just won't think of
> anything bad....

Well, should you ever want to be cured of eating salami, just stop on by
my place and I'll go through my later father's performance on the
process. Its quite a visually disgusting show, and it had my family both
gagging and giggling, which is no mean feat, I can tell you.

Truth to tell, it has never really cured my appetite for salami either.

Plant the cloves in the fall and harvest in the spring.

On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 12:00:15 GMT, "kilikini"
> wrote:

>
>"jmcquown" > wrote in message
. ..
>> kilikini wrote:
>> > "LadyJane" > wrote in message
>> > ps.com...
>> >>
>> >> Serene wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
>> >>> qualifies as a vegetable. :-)
>> >>>
>> >>> serene
>> >>
>> >> Think we run similar households serene!
>> >>
>> >> LadyJane
>> >> --
>> >
>> > Count me in on that one. We buy at least three heads of it a week.
>> >
>> > kili
>>
>> Buy it? Grow it! In pots!
>>
>>
>
>I can't wait that long! LOL. No, seriously, maybe I'll try it in the
>spring. I can't keep a plant inside because my cats have an obsession with
>digging them up. I've tried and tried; it's not worth it!
>
>Question, to grow it, do you just plant a head of garlic? How does it
>reproduce?
>
>kili
>

Oh pshaw, on Mon 04 Sep 2006 04:05:08a, Mordechai Housman meant to say...

> "Wayne Boatwright" <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote in message
> 28.19...
>> Oh pshaw, on Sun 03 Sep 2006 08:37:20p, Dave Bugg meant to say...
>>
>>> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>>>
>>>> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>>>> adults who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>>>
>>> Yeah. For example, there was a guy who hadn't heard of creme fraiche;
>>> can you believe it? :-)
>>
>> Some folks have barely heard of yogurt, let alone creme fraiche. :-)
>> There
>> are a lot of "backward" communities out there.
>
> Now hold on, yogurt? They don't have televisions? They don't see
> commercials?
>

Doesn't mean they know what the commercials are talking about.


--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Is there life before coffee?

I have to say, my mom did make an effort. But in the 60's and 70's
things like ginger, garlis, and fresh herbs didn't exist in Southern
cooking culture.

- Mark

On Sun, 03 Sep 2006 23:58:53 -0700, Serene >
wrote:

>On 3 Sep 2006 23:48:58 -0700, "LadyJane" >
>wrote:
>
>>I firmly believe that there are no fussy eaters (where children are
>>concerned) just dead lazy parents who can not be bothered to introduce
>>or experiment with food where their children are concerned.
>
>I see what you're getting at, and I agree that parents should make
>more of an effort to provide a variety of wholesome foods to their
>kids, but I'm here to say that I am a good, creative, inventive cook,
>and I ended up with one child who will eat ANYTHING (sushi from age 2,
>beets right out of the can, hummus, *anything*), and one child who had
>maybe a dozen foods that were acceptable, and those foods had *better*
>not touch each other.
>
>People are different. That includes kids.
>
>serene

On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:06:06 GMT, "wff_ng_7" >
wrote:

>
>"Nancy Young" > wrote:
>> Mine overwinters and I'm just south of NYC. Then we'll have
>> a wicked cold winter and it won't make it. So I have to replant
>> it every so often. Right now my rosemary bush is pretty big, and
>> it had flowers for the first time I've ever seen that in these parts.
>
>I guess rosemary is more hardy than I've been led to believe. I wish I could
>grow it at my house, but there are factors other than climate. I have
>essentially full shade behind my house and no place in front.

You folks are giving me encouragement... I was wondering if rosemary
would overwinter here in NM, and I am thinking that it might.

Do you think it is too late to find a small bush and plant it?

Christine

On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:04:43 GMT, "kilikini"
> wrote:

>
>"LadyJane" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>>
>> Serene wrote:
>>
>> > In our house, garlic isn't even a spice -- we use so much of it, it
>> > qualifies as a vegetable. :-)
>> >
>> > serene
>>
>> Think we run similar households serene!
>>
>> LadyJane
>> --
>
>Count me in on that one. We buy at least three heads of it a week.

Yep, us, too. It goes on everything from popcorn to pasta. When we're
out of garlic, it's as bad as being out of milk or bread.

serene
--
My blog: http://serenejournal.livejournal.com
My cooking blog: http://serenecooking.livejournal.com

"Christine Dabney" > wrote

> You folks are giving me encouragement... I was wondering if rosemary
> would overwinter here in NM, and I am thinking that it might.

Oh! I never knew rosemary grew flowers until I saw full hedges
of it at a Marriott Resort in Las Vegas this last April. I think it's
safe to say you can grow it in New Mexico.

nancy

"Goomba38" > wrote

Goomba, your date/clock is out of whack, in case you didn't know.

nancy

I guess it can happen anywhere. One of my closest friends here calls
herself a "foodie-type" ( I think she means someone who loves buying
good wine & cheese, etc. and loves gourmet cooking but is a limited
cook herself).

But she's sometimes mystified by some of the things I cook. She was
even recently confused and hesitant on how to cook brown rice!

And I must add, we live in a mid-sized city where good food isn't hard
to find.

I guess it just must be how far someone wants to bother learning about
it versus just enjoying it from someone else's kitchen.

Kris


Mordechai Housman wrote:
> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
> garlic with me.
>
> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He saw
> me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>
> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he
> had never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.
>
> I was astonished. I grew up in a very urban area: Brooklyn, NY. Most of
> the people I know there are not into very creative cooking. They don't
> use anything near the many herbs and so forth used by the people on this
> ng. But who has not seen a head of garlic in his life? I have to weep in
> sympathy.
>
> There were a few places in Brooklyn, though, where you could exotic
> herbs, roots, and so forth. The big local Shopright had a nice, very
> large selection, though I didn't see too many people overwhelming the
> store and rushing to those aisles.
>
> Where I live now, in Rockland County, there is (AFAIK) only one
> supermarket near me that carries fresh herbs and such: such as rosemary,
> chives, basil, and so forth, though not as wide a selection as I'm sure
> many people here would demand in their local stores. It's actually one
> of the smaller supermarkets, but they have a decent selection of
> vegetables. So I have changed my shopping habits to shop in this store
> as much as I can.
>
> In one other VERY big supermarket I asked the guy if he had fresh
> rosemary, and he said he didn't know what it was, and no one ever asks
> for it. I was a bit stunned, to tell you the truth. Rosemary is not such
> an exotic spice. I hadn't asked for the root of some Mexican vegetable,
> such as a friend of mine used to use a lot. So I went to the dried spice
> rack to show him what it was, and I couldn't find it there either!! Even
> in Brooklyn it hadn't been this difficult!
>
> Oddly, this very big supermarket has a much wider (and often better)
> selection of fruits than the other one. So I wind up having to go to the
> big place for fruits and a few other things, and to almost the other
> side of town for vegetables and herbs and so forth.
>
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

On Mon, 4 Sep 2006 12:22:04 -0400, "Nancy Young" >
wrote:

>
>"Christine Dabney" > wrote
>
>> You folks are giving me encouragement... I was wondering if rosemary
>> would overwinter here in NM, and I am thinking that it might.
>
>Oh! I never knew rosemary grew flowers until I saw full hedges
>of it at a Marriott Resort in Las Vegas this last April. I think it's
>safe to say you can grow it in New Mexico.
>
>nancy
>

Well..... Albuquerque is at 5000 feet above sea level..and where I
am, is up another several hundred feet. That is not as warm as Las
Vegas...

Christine

I guess it can happen anywhere. One of my closest friends here calls
herself a "foodie-type" ( I think she means someone who loves buying
good wine & cheese, etc. and loves gourmet cooking but is a limited
cook herself).

But she's sometimes mystified by some of the things I cook. She was
even recently confused and hesitant on how to cook brown rice!

And I must add, we live in a mid-sized city where good food isn't hard
to find.

I guess it just must be how far someone wants to bother learning about
it versus just enjoying it from someone else's kitchen.

Kris


Mordechai Housman wrote:
> Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a head of
> garlic with me.
>
> At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He saw
> me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
>
> I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said he
> had never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic before.
>
> I was astonished. I grew up in a very urban area: Brooklyn, NY. Most of
> the people I know there are not into very creative cooking. They don't
> use anything near the many herbs and so forth used by the people on this
> ng. But who has not seen a head of garlic in his life? I have to weep in
> sympathy.
>
> There were a few places in Brooklyn, though, where you could exotic
> herbs, roots, and so forth. The big local Shopright had a nice, very
> large selection, though I didn't see too many people overwhelming the
> store and rushing to those aisles.
>
> Where I live now, in Rockland County, there is (AFAIK) only one
> supermarket near me that carries fresh herbs and such: such as rosemary,
> chives, basil, and so forth, though not as wide a selection as I'm sure
> many people here would demand in their local stores. It's actually one
> of the smaller supermarkets, but they have a decent selection of
> vegetables. So I have changed my shopping habits to shop in this store
> as much as I can.
>
> In one other VERY big supermarket I asked the guy if he had fresh
> rosemary, and he said he didn't know what it was, and no one ever asks
> for it. I was a bit stunned, to tell you the truth. Rosemary is not such
> an exotic spice. I hadn't asked for the root of some Mexican vegetable,
> such as a friend of mine used to use a lot. So I went to the dried spice
> rack to show him what it was, and I couldn't find it there either!! Even
> in Brooklyn it hadn't been this difficult!
>
> Oddly, this very big supermarket has a much wider (and often better)
> selection of fruits than the other one. So I wind up having to go to the
> big place for fruits and a few other things, and to almost the other
> side of town for vegetables and herbs and so forth.
>
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai

Kris wrote on 04 Sep 2006 in rec.food.cooking

> I guess it can happen anywhere. One of my closest friends here calls
> herself a "foodie-type" ( I think she means someone who loves buying
> good wine & cheese, etc. and loves gourmet cooking but is a limited
> cook herself).
>
> But she's sometimes mystified by some of the things I cook. She was
> even recently confused and hesitant on how to cook brown rice!
>
> And I must add, we live in a mid-sized city where good food isn't hard
> to find.
>
> I guess it just must be how far someone wants to bother learning about
> it versus just enjoying it from someone else's kitchen.
>
> Kris
>
>
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
> > Some years ago I attended a convention, and I happened to have a
> > head of garlic with me.
> >
> > At some point, I met a guy from iirc Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He
> > saw me holding the garlic, and he asked me, "Is that garlic?"
> >
> > I said it was. He asked me if he could see it and hold it. He said
> > he had never in his life (he was in his twenties) seen garlic
> > before.
> >
> > I was astonished. I grew up in a very urban area: Brooklyn, NY. Most
> > of the people I know there are not into very creative cooking. They
> > don't use anything near the many herbs and so forth used by the
> > people on this ng. But who has not seen a head of garlic in his
> > life? I have to weep in sympathy.
> >
> > There were a few places in Brooklyn, though, where you could exotic
> > herbs, roots, and so forth. The big local Shopright had a nice, very
> > large selection, though I didn't see too many people overwhelming
> > the store and rushing to those aisles.
> >
> > Where I live now, in Rockland County, there is (AFAIK) only one
> > supermarket near me that carries fresh herbs and such: such as
> > rosemary, chives, basil, and so forth, though not as wide a
> > selection as I'm sure many people here would demand in their local
> > stores. It's actually one of the smaller supermarkets, but they have
> > a decent selection of vegetables. So I have changed my shopping
> > habits to shop in this store as much as I can.
> >
> > In one other VERY big supermarket I asked the guy if he had fresh
> > rosemary, and he said he didn't know what it was, and no one ever
> > asks for it. I was a bit stunned, to tell you the truth. Rosemary is
> > not such an exotic spice. I hadn't asked for the root of some
> > Mexican vegetable, such as a friend of mine used to use a lot. So I
> > went to the dried spice rack to show him what it was, and I couldn't
> > find it there either!! Even in Brooklyn it hadn't been this
> > difficult!
> >
> > Oddly, this very big supermarket has a much wider (and often better)
> > selection of fruits than the other one. So I wind up having to go to
> > the big place for fruits and a few other things, and to almost the
> > other side of town for vegetables and herbs and so forth.
> >
> > But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
> > adults who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
> >
> > Mordechai
>
>

Most people at the edge of lower middle class would propbably not be
aware of it. Not that is expensive or hard to grow...just one more thing
that is expenable. There seems every year to be more and more people
slipping in pay scale. And things like rosemary might be a luxury they
fore go. Leaving their children unaware of it.

That would apply to many other seasonings as well. They can't afford a
failed experiment so they don't try new stuff often.

--


Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect

-Alan

In article <mtVKg.1554$RW2.526@trndny04>,
"Mordechai Housman" > wrote:

> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
> news >
> > Geez...
> > Reading this thread makes me realize just how lucky I was to have the
> > parents I had. We eat a great variety of foods, I love to cook and
> > I'll
> > try nearly anything at least once! There are a few foods I just cannot
> > enjoy but I'm still always looking for new stuff to try. <G>
>
> Yes, the influence of parents has been alluded to by several in this
> thread, iirc. That's a very good point. My mother was a good cook, but
> she wasn't into exotic stuff, but she had a nice and large repertoire of
> varied foods, so I guess I just got used to seeing some things all the
> time.
>
> We kids often had the job of peeling, especially before a Jewish
> Holiday, most especially before Passover, when there is a LOT of cooking
> to do. We would all sit around, wearing aprons, and peeling tons of
> fruits and vegetables: apples, oranges, potatoes, carrots, parsnips,
> parsley roots, and on and on. It was actually a lot of fun.
>
> I never personally peeled any garlic when I was a kid, but I watched my
> mother do it often enough.
>
> I don't know, it's just that garlic seems almost like an onion. Could
> you imagine someone in America saying that they'd never seen an onion
> before?

You never know... :-)

I don't know a lot about Jewish cooking, but some of the traditional
recipes sound very interesting. I really should do some googling and
check more of them out.
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
George > wrote:

> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
> > But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> > who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
> >
> > Mordechai
>
> Yes, there are a good percentage of people who grew up on "easy meals"
> and take out food who have no idea what unassembled foods look like.
> These are also the people who rave about the heavily salt and sugar
> laden industrial "food" at places like applebees and pizza hut.
>
> We were cycling last month and there was a large blackberry patch loaded
> with berries so we stopped to enjoy them. A few people actually
> commented "whats wrong with you...you can't eat stuff out in the woods..."

Oh gods... that is SO sad!

Some of my fondest memories are picking wild blackberries with my
mother, and enjoying the resulting jam she made from it. :-)

We still have a few jars unopened of her Dewberry jam.
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote
>
> > "Nancy Young" > wrote
>
>
> Aside from that, no, there were no fresh herbs spices in our house that I
> can think of. And I'd be willing to bet, a lot of people's houses back
> in those days.
>
> nancy
>
>
>

I think that was due in part to lack of availability. Even recipes from the
40's - 60's, even the 70's, weren't very ethnic, fresh or original. I
absolutely love having all the fresh produce, herbs and spices we have now!
I'm just afraid that these things will slowly go by the wayside as more and
more people buy crap from a box.

kili

"Mordechai Housman" > wrote in message
news:vnVKg.3432$hV2.2652@trndny05...
> "wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
> news:yuMKg.1165$I71.1017@trnddc01...
> > "Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
> > I guess I could somewhat see leeks and celery root being unknowns, but
> > worcestershire sauce and salt pork? I know there are a lot more than
> > just these that I can think of off the top of my head. It's really
> > pretty sad.
>
> Okay, well salt pork I would ALSO have trouble identifying, since I eat
> only kosher and I am not even aware of having ever seen salt pork,
> whatever that is. I did nonce see large pigs' feet in a bottle at a
> store I went to several times.
>

I've only purchased salt pork once, to make clam chowder. Since then, I use
bacon and I much prefer the flavor of that. Salt pork is really tough and,
well, um, salty. :~) I know you can't eat it, but you can find it in the
meat case OR bacon section (I've seen it in both) of your local
supermarket - usually.

Again, I usually use smoked ham hocks or bacon to flavor beans, greens and
soups. Much more tender and has better flavor, IMO.

kili

"Christine Dabney" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:06:06 GMT, "wff_ng_7" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Nancy Young" > wrote:
> >> Mine overwinters and I'm just south of NYC. Then we'll have
> >> a wicked cold winter and it won't make it. So I have to replant
> >> it every so often. Right now my rosemary bush is pretty big, and
> >> it had flowers for the first time I've ever seen that in these parts.
> >
> >I guess rosemary is more hardy than I've been led to believe. I wish I
could
> >grow it at my house, but there are factors other than climate. I have
> >essentially full shade behind my house and no place in front.
>
> You folks are giving me encouragement... I was wondering if rosemary
> would overwinter here in NM, and I am thinking that it might.
>
> Do you think it is too late to find a small bush and plant it?
>
> Christine

Chris, in California it grew as a hedge! Nice, tiny little purple flowers,
too. I don't see why you can't grow it in NM.

kili

"George" > wrote in message
...
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
> > But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> > who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
> >
> > Mordechai
>
> Yes, there are a good percentage of people who grew up on "easy meals"
> and take out food who have no idea what unassembled foods look like.
> These are also the people who rave about the heavily salt and sugar
> laden industrial "food" at places like applebees and pizza hut.
>
> We were cycling last month and there was a large blackberry patch loaded
> with berries so we stopped to enjoy them. A few people actually
> commented "whats wrong with you...you can't eat stuff out in the woods..."

Um, okay. How have people been doing that for centuries then? I would have
happily stopped with you and gobbled a bunch until my mouth was a complete
purple smile. :~)

kili

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
news
> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
> > My late father, who was a butcher of the old school (no self-service at
> > HIS store!), used to tell me in graphic detail how salami was made, in a
> > facetious effort to cool off my desires for it.
> >
> > And a friend of mine who has a farm and a meat processing plant once
> > told me that if I knew how hot dogs were made, even the finest kosher
> > hot dogs, I would be so disgusted that I would never eat one again.
>
> Ugh. That reconfirms to me that I'm not wrong in never eating hot dogs.
> Salami..well.. I have to eat that! I'm Italian!! I just won't think of
> anything bad....

LOL. I guess that's why I don't eat any kind of sausage, period, whether
it's a hot dog, bratwurst OR salami. :~)

kili

kilikini wrote:
> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote in message
> news:vnVKg.3432$hV2.2652@trndny05...
>> "wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
>> news:yuMKg.1165$I71.1017@trnddc01...
>>> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote:
>>> I guess I could somewhat see leeks and celery root being unknowns,
>>> but worcestershire sauce and salt pork? I know there are a lot more
>>> than just these that I can think of off the top of my head. It's
>>> really pretty sad.
>>
>> Okay, well salt pork I would ALSO have trouble identifying, since I
>> eat only kosher and I am not even aware of having ever seen salt
>> pork, whatever that is. I did nonce see large pigs' feet in a bottle
>> at a
>> store I went to several times.
>>
>
> I've only purchased salt pork once, to make clam chowder. Since
> then, I use bacon and I much prefer the flavor of that. Salt pork is
> really tough and, well, um, salty. :~) I know you can't eat it, but
> you can find it in the meat case OR bacon section (I've seen it in
> both) of your local
> supermarket - usually.
>
> Again, I usually use smoked ham hocks or bacon to flavor beans,
> greens and soups. Much more tender and has better flavor, IMO.
>
> kili

Salt pork has a lot more flavour than bacon for bean soups. And yes, you
can *eat it* (laughing). It's a lot like pancetta, actually. Very fatty,
to be sure, and needs to be cubed and browned well before adding to a pot of
beans for soup. No need to add salt, that's for sure!

Jill

Nancy Young wrote:
> "Goomba38" > wrote
>
> Goomba, your date/clock is out of whack, in case you didn't know.
>
> nancy
>
Thanks. New laptop.

Mordechai Housman wrote:
>
> But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered adults
> who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>
> Mordechai



When I was a newlywed in my early 20's, I was picking through a display
of fresh spinach in a large market. Two older ladies (60-somethings)
approached and asked "What is that and how do you cook it?" I studied
them for a few seconds to see if they were kidding with me, and finally
told them. Neither one had ever cooked fresh spinach, in the late
1960's! Both said they always bought it frozen.

DH's cousin taught in a poor school district in northern VT and was
amazed when her students didn't know that pickles were made from
cucumbers and butter made from cream. She demonstrated both as well as
other food processes in her classroom.

Some people aren't at all curious or adventurous in their food
sampling or knowledge. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

gloria p

wff_ng_7 wrote:
>
> Speaking of rosemary... I have a neighbor that has quite a bush of it in
> front of her house. I thought she grew it new every year, but found out this
> year it's the same plant that survives the winter year after year. I was
> surprised it could survive here through the winter (Washington, DC). We've
> had snows well over a foot in the time she's had the rosemary. I guess it's
> because of where it's planted and the huge amount of sun it gets.
>


When our daughter lived in the San Diego area she planted a six inch pot
of rosemary in the front yard flower bed. It grew into a large bush,
over three feet across and three feet high. In summer it was covered
with tiny bright blue flowers, quite striking.

gloria p

Mordechai Housman wrote:
> "Nancy Young" > wrote in message
> news
>>
>> "Mordechai Housman" > wrote
>>
>>> Now hold on, yogurt? They don't have televisions? They don't see
>>> commercials?
>>
>> I'm thinking maybe the Galloping Gourmet is why I knew what
>> a head of garlic looked like, fresh garlic (perhaps any garlic at all)
>> never crossed my threshhold, growing up.
>
> I'd forgotten about that show! I don't think I've watched it much.
>
> Why was there no garlic in your home?


You'd be surprised at the number of people in my parents' generation who
didn't use onion or garlic because they were "ethnic" ingredients only
used by those folks on the other side of the tracks.

My late mother-in-law comes to mind, a Yankee who didn't want to be
mistaken in any way for those "Eye-talians". Black pepper was the
strongest thing in her spice rack till I came along. She did evolve a
bit, however, since her second husband loved onions and garlic.

gloria p

Christine Dabney wrote:

>
> You folks are giving me encouragement... I was wondering if rosemary
> would overwinter here in NM, and I am thinking that it might.
>
> Do you think it is too late to find a small bush and plant it?
>



It's never too late ;-)

I can't grow rosemary because I always overwater it.
My garden center guy keeps saying "It's a Mediterranean shrub,
it LIKES dry conditions." Sigh.

gloria p

"kilikini" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "George" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mordechai Housman wrote:
>>
>> > But my point here is to wonder: have any of you ever discovered
>> > adults
>> > who were really unaware of some basic foods? Is this common?
>> >
>> > Mordechai
>>
>> Yes, there are a good percentage of people who grew up on "easy
>> meals"
>> and take out food who have no idea what unassembled foods look like.
>> These are also the people who rave about the heavily salt and sugar
>> laden industrial "food" at places like applebees and pizza hut.
>>
>> We were cycling last month and there was a large blackberry patch
>> loaded
>> with berries so we stopped to enjoy them. A few people actually
>> commented "whats wrong with you...you can't eat stuff out in the
>> woods..."
>
> Um, okay. How have people been doing that for centuries then? I
> would have
> happily stopped with you and gobbled a bunch until my mouth was a
> complete
> purple smile. :~)

People today often tend to reject anything that smacks of
"pre-modernism." They are as uncomfortable with such things as our
great-grandmothers were uncomfortable with modern conveniences, such as
plastic bags. How many people today use a non-electric grater? So what
if it comes out tasting better? That only matters to people who have
actually tasted the hand-grated type. But for today's "modern" people,
who have never bothered to taste the difference, the idea of using hand
tools would mystify them, at best.