Becca wrote:

>> eat alone. Lord help me if I make the house smell like sauerkraut and
>> short ribs. I'd hear about it for the next 24 hours.
>
> My oldest son and I will eat anything, or at least try it. My youngest
> son is just like his dad, very picky. Nothing wrong with that, it is
> their choice.

Don't you think that perhaps labelling them as "picky" would indicate
that there is something wrong with it?

Dave Smith wrote:
> Becca wrote:
>
>>> eat alone. Lord help me if I make the house smell like sauerkraut and
>>> short ribs. I'd hear about it for the next 24 hours.
>>
>> My oldest son and I will eat anything, or at least try it. My
>> youngest son is just like his dad, very picky. Nothing wrong with
>> that, it is their choice.
>
> Don't you think that perhaps labelling them as "picky" would indicate
> that there is something wrong with it?

IMO, there is nothing wrong with being a picky eater.

Becca

Dave Smith wrote:
> Becca wrote:
>
>>> eat alone. Lord help me if I make the house smell like sauerkraut and
>>> short ribs. I'd hear about it for the next 24 hours.
>>
>> My oldest son and I will eat anything, or at least try it. My
>> youngest son is just like his dad, very picky. Nothing wrong with
>> that, it is their choice.
>
> Don't you think that perhaps labelling them as "picky" would indicate
> that there is something wrong with it?


I would likely have used the word "picky" myself in regard to my family,
if it wasn't for the fact that I realize my family just really lack the
gene that makes a pallet more adventuresome then wanting a cheese sandwich.

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:50:02 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> wrote:

>Never occured to me to eat it raw. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!

Zucchini and summer squash (yellow crookneck) are both good to eat
raw. You might like to dip them in a little buttermilk dressing.

Tara

Becca wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>> Becca wrote:
>>
>>>> eat alone. Lord help me if I make the house smell like sauerkraut
>>>> and short ribs. I'd hear about it for the next 24 hours.
>>>
>>> My oldest son and I will eat anything, or at least try it. My
>>> youngest son is just like his dad, very picky. Nothing wrong with
>>> that, it is their choice.
>>
>> Don't you think that perhaps labelling them as "picky" would indicate
>> that there is something wrong with it?
>
> IMO, there is nothing wrong with being a picky eater.
>
> Becca

Given the definition of "picky":

- extremely fussy or finicky, usually over trifles.
- Excessively meticulous; fussy.

It isn't exactly a positive trait.
So long as they are preparing their own food it is no problem, but if
you have to go to extra work to please them it is not a good thing.

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:00:47 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> wrote:

>I like eggplant sliced very thin, then dipped in egg and cracker
>crumbs, then fried.

I bet you would like breaded and fried rounds of summer squash, too.
Tara

Becca > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> IMO, there is nothing wrong with being a picky eater.

IMNSHO, if one is cooking his or her own meals, or eating out
alone, then there's nothing wrong with being picky. One impacts
no one else but oneself.

OTOH, if one is expecting others to manage the meal or choose
the restaurant based on a very limiting list of restrictions
(often provided by that lone person), then being a picky eater
is unacceptable.

The Ranger

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:27:21 -0800 (PST), Sheldon wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>>
>> i once had a semi-live-in girlfriend with a strong allergy to onions.
>> cooking was a pain in the neck.
>
> WTF is a "semi-live-in girlfriend"... perhaps it's best I don't know.

she stayed with me maybe four days a week, but still had a place of her
own. exotic, huh? and evidently hard to figure out.

blake

On 28 Dec 2008 06:45:47 GMT, Default User wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:26:28 -0500, Mr. Bill wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:10:33 -0500, Goomba >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > What in the world makes people so picky and do they ever just
>>> > decide to get over it because of the nuisance it causes?
>>>
>>> It is all about control......look at me and look at my demands.
>>> Simple as that.
>>
>> why would you say that? even aside from genuine allergies, why should
>> someone eat something they don't like? to submit to your 'power'?
>
> I don't eat onions. Period. If I can tell there are onions in something
> I either pick them out (if possible) or don't eat the dish. Now, I
> don't make a big deal out of it, and I don't insist that food be cooked
> without them. It's not like I will starve or anything.
>
> Brian

the gal i referred to upthread was sure-nuff allergic. she broke out it
hives, whether the onions were visible or not.

your pal,
blake

On 28 Dec 2008 06:45:47 GMT, Default User wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:26:28 -0500, Mr. Bill wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:10:33 -0500, Goomba >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > What in the world makes people so picky and do they ever just
>>> > decide to get over it because of the nuisance it causes?
>>>
>>> It is all about control......look at me and look at my demands.
>>> Simple as that.
>>
>> why would you say that? even aside from genuine allergies, why should
>> someone eat something they don't like? to submit to your 'power'?
>
> I don't eat onions. Period. If I can tell there are onions in something
> I either pick them out (if possible) or don't eat the dish. Now, I
> don't make a big deal out of it, and I don't insist that food be cooked
> without them. It's not like I will starve or anything.
>
> Brian

this is a pretty reasonable approach, one that i'm surprised more people
don't follow.

usually, there are not onions (or whatever disagreeable ingredient) in
*everything*. if there is, just drink more beer.

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:08:54 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:

> Sheldon wrote:
>
>> I happen to have some very good friends who are very fussy eaters. I
>> enjoy their company but I refuse to invite them for a meal and I
>> decline all offers to partake of their offers to eat at their house.
>> The few times we do eat together it's at a mutually agreed upon
>
> That's how I feel about having my brother and his wife for holiday
> meals. They are both good eaters but their son is a pain in the ass who
> lacks the simple social graces to take a pass on items he doesn't like
> and pouts and moans. For instance, at Christmas a few years ago we had
> more than a dozen different things for dessert including his
> grandmother's Christmas pudding, various types of short bread, tarts,
> brownies, other squares and cookies and fruit salad. This guy moans
> "There's nothing I like for dessert". Bad enough from a five year old,
> but this child was over 30 at the time.
>
> Too bad so sad. I'll be darned if I am going to end spend a lot of time
> preparing a big meal for a person who is so damed picky, and when
> preparing a holiday meal for a crowd I am not going to dumb it down to
> his level.

'there's a mcdonald's right down the street.'

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:19:53 -0600, Kathleen wrote:

> Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> From what I see, it is primarily a fad diet adopted by young women who,
>> BTW ate the single largest group of vegans. In the US, 80% of vegans are
>> under 35 and 785 of vegans are female.
>
> From what I've seen among high school girls, adopting a vegan diet
> appears to be a convenient cover for an eating disorder. It gives you
> the perfect excuse to reject nearly everything found on the average
> dinner table. "I'm not anorexic, I'm vegan".

interesting thought.

your pal,
blake

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:58:31 +1300, bob wrote:
>
> But if there's someone new in the equation, we simply ask if there are
> any foods they can't or prefer not to eat - which is a good idea since
> a surprising number of people are allergic to shellfish ... or the
> peanuts in the hot, spicy sauce my wife makes for Indonesian Fried
> Rice,.
>

do you have a recipe or some pointers for that? sounds interesting.

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:32:12 +0000 (UTC), Steve Pope wrote:

> Dave Smith > wrote:
>
>>Steve Pope wrote:
>
>>> These days many people are vegan so as to reduce carbon
>>> emissions and (at least in their thinking) save the planet.
>>> It's like any other "self imposed" form of energy conservation.
>
>>Sure. I will buy that when they give up their cars, give up their
>>electronic toys and turn down their furnaces and air conditioners, and
>>buy only locally produced produce.
>
> Understood, but you may be underestimating the carbon impact
> of a meat-heavy diet.
>
> It's instructive, although imperfect, to go through an on-line
> energy consumption audit, and play with variables such as whether
> one is vegan. It can make a significant difference, although
> it'll be under one ton of carbon per year.
>
> Steve

i don't really understand the line of thinking that goes, 'if you try to
reduce your carbon footprint you must live in a cave or you're not
sincere.' must all jews be ultra-orthodox? must every catholic be opus
dei? it makes no sense.

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:03:39 -0800 (PST), Sheldon wrote:
>
> Their mommy's raised them that way. When I grew up there were no
> choices, we all ate what was placed in front of us and we were
> required to clean our plates, we couldn't pick and choose, everything
> was required to be eaten and without complaint... no one was forced to
> eat and no negative comments were tolerated.. you could go to your
> room without but the same dish was served the next day, ice cold from
> the fridge, and the following days as well, didn't take long to
> acquire a broad palate... only exceptions were for illness.
>

jesus, sheldon, this makes even less sense than most of your babblings.

>we were
> required to clean our plates, we couldn't pick and choose, everything
> was required to be eaten and without complaint... no one was forced to
> eat and no negative comments were tolerated..

you were required but no one was forced? do you even read your own posts?
can't you even remain coherent for one sentence?

blake

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:11:11 -0700, Gloria P wrote:

> Nancy Young wrote:
>> ladysailor wrote:
>>> On Dec 28, 1:03 am, Sheldon > wrote:
>>>
>>>> When I grew up there were no
>>>> choices, we all ate what was placed in front of us and we were
>>>> required to clean our plates, we couldn't pick and choose, everything
>>>> was required to be eaten and without complaint... no one was forced
>>>> to eat and no negative comments were tolerated.. you could go to your
>>>> room without but the same dish was served the next day, ice cold from
>>>> the fridge, and the following days as well, didn't take long to
>>>> acquire a broad palate... only exceptions were for illness.
>>>
>>> I don't remember you growing up but it appears we had the same
>>> parents.
>>
>> I thought the same damned thing. Liver is especially bad
>> served cold the next day. It was horrid enough the first day!
>>
>> nancy
>
> I would send a child away from the table without additional food,
> but I would never serve the refused food cold for another meal.
> That's a nasty power play.

it's ****ing sick. my mother's father used to pull that shit with her and
she hated it, so she never did it. she didn't go so far as to fix
something else - correctly assuming we wouldn't starve if we didn't eat one
item at one meal.

this is probably one reason that sheldon is so rigid in his thinking.
everything is a demented power play.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
Tara > wrote:

> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:50:02 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> > wrote:
>
> >Never occured to me to eat it raw. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
>
> Zucchini and summer squash (yellow crookneck) are both good to eat
> raw. You might like to dip them in a little buttermilk dressing.
>
> Tara

Ranch!!!
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:10:42 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:

>In article >,
> Tara > wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:50:02 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >Never occured to me to eat it raw. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
>>
>> Zucchini and summer squash (yellow crookneck) are both good to eat
>> raw. You might like to dip them in a little buttermilk dressing.
>>
>> Tara
>
>Ranch!!!

FOOD FIGHT!

On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:23:42 -0500, "cshenk" > wrote:

>When we do a party dinner, we normally
>have 2 choices of 'main', with one being seafood, and the other 'something
>else'. We have a fair number of semi-vegetarian friends, so make
>substantial amounts of 'sides' that can be 'main meal'.
>
>Since we also have a fair number of friends with dietary restrictions (some
>religion, some preference, some medical), we ask them to remind us if
>there's anything special we need to avoid or at least have some suitable
>dishes without 'whatever'. Kinda like having some dishes with no onions if
>Blake was coming.

I like you.

In article >,
Damsel in dis Dress > wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:10:42 -0600, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> >In article >,
> > Tara > wrote:
> >
> >> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:50:02 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> >> > wrote:
> >>
> >> >Never occured to me to eat it raw. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
> >>
> >> Zucchini and summer squash (yellow crookneck) are both good to eat
> >> raw. You might like to dip them in a little buttermilk dressing.
> >>
> >> Tara
> >
> >Ranch!!!
>
> FOOD FIGHT!

<wiggles eyebrows>

Everything is good with ranch dip. :-)

'specially home made:

2 pints sour cream (full fat or low fat)
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch powdered dressing mix
1 container Hormel Bacon Bits

Mix well, serve.

You can substitute 1 pint of buttermilk for one of the pints of sour
cream to make a buttermilk bacon ranch...
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

"tintalle" wrote

> I don't usually eat seafood myself, and the smell of it really just
> isn't pleasant to me.
snipped rest.

Thats fine! Not everyone loves it! When we do a party dinner, we normally
have 2 choices of 'main', with one being seafood, and the other 'something
else'. We have a fair number of semi-vegetarian friends, so make
substantial amounts of 'sides' that can be 'main meal'.

Since we also have a fair number of friends with dietary restrictions (some
religion, some preference, some medical), we ask them to remind us if
there's anything special we need to avoid or at least have some suitable
dishes without 'whatever'. Kinda like having some dishes with no onions if
Blake was coming.

In article >,
Damsel in dis Dress > wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:23:42 -0500, "cshenk" > wrote:
>
> >When we do a party dinner, we normally
> >have 2 choices of 'main', with one being seafood, and the other 'something
> >else'. We have a fair number of semi-vegetarian friends, so make
> >substantial amounts of 'sides' that can be 'main meal'.
> >
> >Since we also have a fair number of friends with dietary restrictions (some
> >religion, some preference, some medical), we ask them to remind us if
> >there's anything special we need to avoid or at least have some suitable
> >dishes without 'whatever'. Kinda like having some dishes with no onions if
> >Blake was coming.
>
> I like you.

I've found that discussing menu with dinner guests is always productive.
:-) I'm not a terribly picky eater so am more than willing to cater to
guest preferences. I simply won't offer things that I know dad and I
don't like.

Makes for a more fun evening and it gives me warm fuzzies when they go
back for seconds. <g>

Just experienced that last night... I had discussed the menu options
via e-mail prior to me shopping for dinner.

I prefer to cook for an appreciative audience... It's far more fun!
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

cshenk > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> Since we also have a fair number of friends with
> dietary restrictions (some religion, some preference,
> some medical), we ask them to remind us if there's
> anything special we need to avoid or at least have
> some suitable dishes without 'whatever'.

There's a HUGE difference between being a "picky eater" and
making the host/ess know there are certain food-based allergies
that should be avoided. As has been beat to death already,
picky eaters are all about control and public display not
avoidance for safety.

For example I must avoid most vine-based berries because the
reason will immediately be visible (purple-splotched hives)
starting at my hairline and dramatically moving down; it's
almost cartoonish in its movement. For SWMBO, crab and oysters,
crab- and oyster-based sauces will send her into anaphylactic
shock.

It would really be the height of rudeness to seize up and drop
dead at the dinner table simply because one was afraid of being
labeled "a picky eater."

The Ranger

In article >,
Dave Smith > wrote:

> Sheldon wrote:
>
> > restrictions, not even for medical reasons... people who require
> > special food considerations can dine elsewhere and ruin someone elses
> > dinner with their constant food prefererence commentary and attempts
> > at proselytization... as far as I'm concerned these are rude boors who
> > use their adopted eating styles to control. And anyway, why should I
> > feel obligated to cook vegetarian for them, they won't cook meat for
> > me.

My daughter was a vegetarian for eight years, my sister for thirteen.
Neither was rude. Now we have perhaps the rudest person in the history
of long term posters to rfc, complaining that vegetarians are rude! Why
don't we just call rude people rude, and vegetarian people vegetarian?

> True enough. My brother's son and daughter in law are vegetarians. When
> they come to visit my brother he has to buy and prepare special food for
> them.

So the whole rest of the year your brother never eats any vegetables?
It's not exactly rocket science to fry up a plate of sausages to go
along with the rest of dinner. Everybody gets some nice pasta, and
those who want get sausage with it.

> When he goes to their place he gets vegetarian food. If he wants
> meat he has to get it and cook it himself.

They never went out to eat? During those thirteen years my sister was a
vegetarian, even though I usually stayed with her, we ate out with my
dad, uncles, aunts and cousins fairly often. Those who wanted meat
ordered meat.

> One time he was cooking a
> steak on the BBQ and made the mistake of using the same implement on his
> steak and on their veggie burgers.

I have made mistakes in my life. If people won't accept an apology for
an honest mistake, I don't call them vegetarians, I call them RUDE.
Other than Jews, most people accept soap and water as a solution for
this problem. I'm not familiar with strict Jewish cooking, but there
must be some way to deal with this other than discarding something.

> It seems to be a one way street with
> vegetarians expecting people to cater to them but they don't cater to
> people with omnivours.

I think this can be worked out.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

blake murphy wrote:

> On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:32:12 +0000 (UTC), Steve Pope wrote:
>
> > Dave Smith > wrote:
> >
> >>Steve Pope wrote:
> >
> >>> These days many people are vegan so as to reduce carbon
> >>> emissions and (at least in their thinking) save the planet.
> >>> It's like any other "self imposed" form of energy conservation.
> >
> >>Sure. I will buy that when they give up their cars, give up their
> >>electronic toys and turn down their furnaces and air conditioners, and
> >>buy only locally produced produce.
> >
> > Understood, but you may be underestimating the carbon impact
> > of a meat-heavy diet.
> >
> > It's instructive, although imperfect, to go through an on-line
> > energy consumption audit, and play with variables such as whether
> > one is vegan. It can make a significant difference, although
> > it'll be under one ton of carbon per year.
> >
> > Steve
>
> i don't really understand the line of thinking that goes, 'if you try to
> reduce your carbon footprint you must live in a cave or you're not
> sincere.' must all jews be ultra-orthodox? must every catholic be opus
> dei? it makes no sense.


That "carbon footprint" jazz is simply another ruse to separate you from
your M-O-N-E-Y, blake...


--
Best
Greg

Sheldon wrote:

On Dec 27, 2:24?pm, (Steve Pope) wrote:
> Dave Smith > wrote:
>
> >Steve Pope wrote:
> >> Dave Smith > wrote:
> >>> I'm with Sheldon on this one. I don't cater to picky eaters. Nor do I
> >>> cater those with self imposed diets, like vegans.
> >> Do you also reject diners who drive up in a Prius or riding on
> >> a bicycle? ?Must they all have to drive a truck?
> > I'm sorry. Was there supposed to be a witty and meaningful comment
> > there that I missed?
> > I said that I don't cater to their self imposed diets.
>
> These days many people are vegan so as to reduce carbon
> emissions and (at least in their thinking) save the planet.
> It's like any other "self imposed" form of energy conservation.
>
> I think it'd be reasonable to differentiate between "picky
> eaters" and those who are choosing to do something good by
> consuming fewer resources.

They can be as vegan as they want, in their own house. There is no
such thing as vegetarian/vegan anyway... they all make up their own
rules as they go along... same as those who claim to keep kosher, they
all adhere to a self imposed level of kasruth. People who choose to
live by their own personal standards are fine, just don't in any way
impose those constantly fluctuating *lunatic* standards on me. I've
known many who have claimed to be vegetarian... yeah, they just began
that week and stopped the next week and then become vegetarian again
the very next time you invite them. And then there are those who say
they eat no meat, but then I catch them eating chicken and fish, oh,
that's not meat they claim, they mean red meat. Duhhhhuh And I can't
count how many jews claim to keep kosher but they'll happily eat
Chinese food out... they just eat their shrimp and pork way over in
the next town hoping no one will recognize them. Arguing all these
weird eating styles is as idiotic as arguing religion... yoose wanna
pray to a carrot, fine by me, but do it in your own house.... me, I'm
gonna pray to a porterhouse, and don't yoose dare make any comments,
yoose don't like it... don't eat any... more for me! LOL
-----------------

GM replies:

Several of the strictest "vegetarians" I know are severe alcoholics and
chain smokers (in addition to their other bad habits like gambling and the
inability to keep a job). Maybe they are assuaging their guilt by being
"vegetarian", who knows...or even cares.


--
Best
Greg

"Damsel in dis Dress" wrote
> cshenk wrote:

>>When we do a party dinner, we normally
>>have 2 choices of 'main', with one being seafood, and the other 'something
>>else'. We have a fair number of semi-vegetarian friends, so make
>>substantial amounts of 'sides' that can be 'main meal'.
>>
>>Since we also have a fair number of friends with dietary restrictions
>>(some
>>religion, some preference, some medical), we ask them to remind us if
>>there's anything special we need to avoid or at least have some suitable
>>dishes without 'whatever'. Kinda like having some dishes with no onions
>>if
>>Blake was coming.
>
> I like you.

It's pretty easy actually. If you dont mind a longish post ;-) here's sorta
how it goes.

Normally I havent any plan at all for what to make, other than might have
one nice sales item and list it. In this day and age, we all do the invites
via email except for Art (he has no computer). I just wander over and ask
Art. I also hang my head over the fence and ask Sadie and Joe.

Last time, it was a really nice pork shoulder. Now, some of us are religion
based non-pork eaters, (but none are really strict and dont mind if the pork
is there for others etc). Told everyone I'd go looking for some nice fish
and keep them to the sorts Sadie and Joe are more comfortable with. Ghissie
(never could spell her name) is trying an adkins diet with some success so
we adapted the pulled pork to use a home grown BBQ without too much sugar
(she sent over some sugar sub stuff that worked well for the minor sweet
adjustments).

Now some coming were semi-vegetarian and 2 are diabetics. The diabetics are
easy, just make sure not all the sides are starchy and they fit in close
enough to adkins needs that we had that in mind anyways. Don (husband) has
a need for lower sodium (not severe restrictions, just normal caution) so
that gets fit in.

What did we end up with?

Pulled BBQ pork shoulder with carmelized roasted onions and bell peppers,
with a soy-vinegar tomato base (and a little sweetner from Ghissie). Mildly
spiced with chinese 5 spice and just a hint of chile pepper. Suitable for
everyone in the group who eats pork. (the soy is sodium reduced and
acceptable levels for Don)

3 whole baked snapper, one pink and 2 red. Made with a mix of butter, olive
oil, rice, mushrooms, and spinach stuffing. This was suitable for all
except the diabetics cant eat the stuffing (rice) or have to limit it to
just a little. The semi-vegetarians often take a little bit of this.

Side pot of white 'sticky rice' with 'serve yourself' fumi furikake in both
ebi (shrimp, dried) and wasabi types, plus a small bowl of crumbled dried
spiced ebi and another bigger bowl of niboshi (small guppy sized dried whole
fish, see later note on them). This one works for all but the
diabetic/adkins except the ebi version is 'not kosher' but the niboshi are
(grin). Don has to be careful with the fumi furikake but the separate ebi
and niboshi are fine. One of the diabetics is rice tolerant with portion
control so always grabs 1/2 cup. The semi vegetarians and my family will
have at least 1 cup each so I make 12 cups total. (see later for dessert!)

Big batch of steamed then fast pan fried whole fresh green beans made in
butter, olive oil, and a small drizzle of quality roasted sesame oil. Due
to some with dentures, the sesame seeds at this stage are at the side (see
niboshi later). This one is good for all.

Big batch of asian type 'greens' (these are sorta between broccoli and
spinach in taste, stems are eaten). These are fixed with a little olive oil
in a stirfry method and a few nice whole pitted black olives get added.
This is good for all, and suits those who arent fond of green beans in this
group. (not too far off for adkins)

A big fruit bowl with sliced asian pears, melon bits of several types,
peeled grapefruit, grapes (seedless), bananas, peeled tangerines, and any
other assorted oddiments like a dragon fruit or so that came up at the
grocery. Something in there for everyone.

A large bowl of reduced salt (I have a special adaption for Don) 'salt
boiled' peanuts.

A loaf of fresh breadmaker bread and a stick of butter, 'room semi-soft'.

Just before dinner, the fireplace 'popcorn popper' (lidded metal thing,
vents at top) gets a quick drizzle of oil, 3-4 whole garlic cloves (not
mashed), sesame seeds, and many of the niboshi, get fast heated to just a
bare sizzle then this is put on the table as munchies or rice toppings or to
add to the veggies if desired. Garlic lovers grab a cooked clove out and
mince it then apply to whatever they want. (folks let me know as we
assemble the pan, how many garlics to add). These side munchies get eaten
just as they are by many and are suitable for all but the semi-vegetarians.

After dinner, while sitting with a cup of hot tea, the leftover rice gets
milk, heavy cream, dried figs, raisins, cinnimon, honey, and a touch of karo
added to make a rice pudding. Suitable for all but the diabetics (who munch
fruit usually at this stage such as the grapefruit, or the peanuts if any
are left etc).

Now, before you think that was alot of trouble, it really wasnt. You need a
fair amount of food to cover 12-14 people (size of that meal) so you are
going to make multiple dishes anyways. Just takes a small amount of
planning to make sure there's enough of 'something for everyone' and dont
try to make it so everyone can eat everything.

Oh, and others brought various 'goodies' too ;-)

On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:12:44 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> wrote:

>That sounds so strange! I'm willing to try it, though, if I discover
>that I like raw zucchini.

You could start by dipping it into some ranch dressing and eating it
as a snack... I'd put more on the plate though, maybe some carrots,
bell pepper and green onions (celery, if you like it).


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"Omelet" wrote

> I've found that discussing menu with dinner guests is always productive.
> :-) I'm not a terribly picky eater so am more than willing to cater to
> guest preferences. I simply won't offer things that I know dad and I
> don't like.

Hehehe same here. When folks ask what to bring, I tell'em anything but
liver (liverwurst excepted, doesnt bother me and Don likes it).

> Makes for a more fun evening and it gives me warm fuzzies when they go
> back for seconds. <g>

And thirds.... ;-)

> Just experienced that last night... I had discussed the menu options
> via e-mail prior to me shopping for dinner.
>
> I prefer to cook for an appreciative audience... It's far more fun!

Yup and nothing wrong with it! I rarely do a 'set menu' but the few times I
do, we email out what it is and anyone who wants to come and knows in
advance they wont want the main dishes etc, brings an extra dish with them
that they like (and enough to share around).

Last time I did that, it was due to an excellent sale on the local blue
crabs and a really nice sale on big stuffable squids. My kitchen wasnt big
enough to make really another 'main dish'. Oven filled with 4 large stuffed
squids, 2 large pots boiling on top waiting for the 15 live crabs. Crockpot
full of mixed sweet and other potato types (steamed in jacket potatoes
really). Ricemaker doing rice. 1 burner for tea, 1 open to reheat anything
needed. Large green leafy salad (4 choices of dressing). Fresh bread as
always.

Joe and Sadie just grinned and told us to tell them how it went (a little
too off kosher for them). The 2 semi-vegetarians decided squid is a
vegetable for the night ;-)

"Dan Abel" wrote

> I have made mistakes in my life. If people won't accept an apology for
> an honest mistake, I don't call them vegetarians, I call them RUDE.
> Other than Jews, most people accept soap and water as a solution for
> this problem. I'm not familiar with strict Jewish cooking, but there
> must be some way to deal with this other than discarding something.

I think he's referring to an extreme case there and yes, they are rude. In
the case of our 'kosher' friends, they are not strict to the point where I
have to worry about kitchen implements. They do avoid pork and many types
of seafoods, but they don't mind (and make themselves) dishes with meat and
milk in the same one etc.

Steve Pope wrote:

> I would say most vegans or
> vegetarians draw the line at eating meat and their numbers are
> significant within our culture such that most restaurants and
> hosts will graciously meet their requirements without giving
> it a second thought.


Maybe in *Berkeley* they will...

In normal places vegetarians are considered freaks and so are left to their
own devices...


--
Best
Greg

In article >,
Omelet > wrote:

> In article >,
> Tara > wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:50:02 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >Never occured to me to eat it raw. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
> >
> > Zucchini and summer squash (yellow crookneck) are both good to eat
> > raw. You might like to dip them in a little buttermilk dressing.
> >
> > Tara
>
> Ranch!!!

Blue cheese!!!

Dill dip!!!

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

blake murphy > wrote:

>On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:32:12 +0000 (UTC), Steve Pope wrote:

>> It's instructive, although imperfect, to go through an on-line
>> energy consumption audit, and play with variables such as whether
>> one is vegan. It can make a significant difference, although
>> it'll be under one ton of carbon per year.

>i don't really understand the line of thinking that goes, 'if you try to
>reduce your carbon footprint you must live in a cave or you're not
>sincere.' must all jews be ultra-orthodox? must every catholic be opus
>dei? it makes no sense.

It's just a _reducto ad absurdium_ (I'm sure I mispelled that) argument
used against environmentalism.

Pollution and conversation are numbers games. An incremental
reduction in pollution helps incrementally; and there's no
such thing as eliminating it entirely, so incremental is all
you're going to get. It's still worth doing, or at least
worth considering.

Steve

Dan Abel wrote:

> My daughter was a vegetarian for eight years, my sister for thirteen.
> Neither was rude. Now we have perhaps the rudest person in the history
> of long term posters to rfc, complaining that vegetarians are rude! Why
> don't we just call rude people rude, and vegetarian people vegetarian?
>
>> True enough. My brother's son and daughter in law are vegetarians. When
>> they come to visit my brother he has to buy and prepare special food for
>> them.
>
> So the whole rest of the year your brother never eats any vegetables?
> It's not exactly rocket science to fry up a plate of sausages to go
> along with the rest of dinner. Everybody gets some nice pasta, and
> those who want get sausage with it.

Of course he eats vegetables. As I said, when the son and daughter in
law come to visit they have to by and prepare vegetarian meals, like
fake meat. When they go to visit the son and daughter in law they have
to buy and cook their own meat..... and get chastised for using using
the same implements on the veggie burgers that he used on his meat.
These are not the only vegetarians I know who expect to be catered to by
omnivores but who do not show the same courtesy.



>> When he goes to their place he gets vegetarian food. If he wants
>> meat he has to get it and cook it himself.
>
> They never went out to eat? During those thirteen years my sister was a
> vegetarian, even though I usually stayed with her, we ate out with my
> dad, uncles, aunts and cousins fairly often. Those who wanted meat
> ordered meat.

Yes, they do go out to eat. He, being the father is expected to pay for
everyone. The vegetarians don't take everyone out to dinner on their
buck, either when hosting or visiting.

In article >,
Dave Smith > wrote:

> Dan Abel wrote:
>
> > My daughter was a vegetarian for eight years, my sister for thirteen.
> > Neither was rude. Now we have perhaps the rudest person in the history
> > of long term posters to rfc, complaining that vegetarians are rude! Why
> > don't we just call rude people rude, and vegetarian people vegetarian?
> >
> >> True enough. My brother's son and daughter in law are vegetarians. When
> >> they come to visit my brother he has to buy and prepare special food for
> >> them.
> >
> > So the whole rest of the year your brother never eats any vegetables?
> > It's not exactly rocket science to fry up a plate of sausages to go
> > along with the rest of dinner. Everybody gets some nice pasta, and
> > those who want get sausage with it.
>
> Of course he eats vegetables. As I said, when the son and daughter in
> law come to visit they have to by and prepare vegetarian meals, like
> fake meat. When they go to visit the son and daughter in law they have
> to buy and cook their own meat..... and get chastised for using using
> the same implements on the veggie burgers that he used on his meat.
> These are not the only vegetarians I know who expect to be catered to by
> omnivores but who do not show the same courtesy.

I would say that you and your brother need to choose different
vegetarians, but as you've posted before, you don't get to choose family.

> >> When he goes to their place he gets vegetarian food. If he wants
> >> meat he has to get it and cook it himself.
> >
> > They never went out to eat? During those thirteen years my sister was a
> > vegetarian, even though I usually stayed with her, we ate out with my
> > dad, uncles, aunts and cousins fairly often. Those who wanted meat
> > ordered meat.
>
> Yes, they do go out to eat. He, being the father is expected to pay for
> everyone. The vegetarians don't take everyone out to dinner on their
> buck, either when hosting or visiting.

McDonalds has vegetarian food.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Dan Abel wrote:

>> Of course he eats vegetables. As I said, when the son and daughter in
>> law come to visit they have to by and prepare vegetarian meals, like
>> fake meat. When they go to visit the son and daughter in law they have
>> to buy and cook their own meat..... and get chastised for using using
>> the same implements on the veggie burgers that he used on his meat.
>> These are not the only vegetarians I know who expect to be catered to by
>> omnivores but who do not show the same courtesy.
>
> I would say that you and your brother need to choose different
> vegetarians, but as you've posted before, you don't get to choose family.

How many more do I have to know before I meet one that breaks the mold?


>> Yes, they do go out to eat. He, being the father is expected to pay for
>> everyone. The vegetarians don't take everyone out to dinner on their
>> buck, either when hosting or visiting.
>
> McDonalds has vegetarian food.

I wouldn't know. I would have to be starving and it was the only place
for 100 miles.

Gregory Morrow > wrote:

>Steve Pope wrote:

>> I would say most vegans or
>> vegetarians draw the line at eating meat and their numbers are
>> significant within our culture such that most restaurants and
>> hosts will graciously meet their requirements without giving
>> it a second thought.

>Maybe in *Berkeley* they will...

>In normal places vegetarians are considered freaks and so are left to their
>own devices...

My phrase "mosts restaurants and hosts" is intended to be worldwide.
All of India, Africa, Mid-east, U.K. and the coastal regions
of North America pretty much outnumber a few recalcitrant backwaters.

Steve
>
>
>--
>Best
>Greg
>
>
>
>

Kathleen wrote:

> I've done a chili bar on a couple of occasions. A big pot full of mildly
> spiced shredded beef chili with bowls at one end of the table, with
> various add-ons further along, including shredded cheese, refried beans,
> sliced jalapenos, sour cream, sliced black olives, diced onions and
> tomatoes, shredded cabbage, fresh salsa, lime wedges, tortilla chips and
> soft flour tortillas.
>
> The only complaint I've ever gotten was that the bowls needed to be
> bigger.

My list of chili garnishes is close to that, but I offer pinto beans rather
than refried beans. I haven't tried shredded cabbage, but I do put out
sliced avocados and white rice. If practical, I fry the tortilla chips
myself.

Bob

In article >,
"cshenk" > wrote:

> > I prefer to cook for an appreciative audience... It's far more fun!
>
> Yup and nothing wrong with it! I rarely do a 'set menu' but the few times I
> do, we email out what it is and anyone who wants to come and knows in
> advance they wont want the main dishes etc, brings an extra dish with them
> that they like (and enough to share around).

They brought turnip greens and since we'd arranged to have them arrive
just to visit while I was still cooking, she prepped them in the sink
and steamed them here.

She left her steamer! That reminds me, I need to e-mail them about that.

>
> Last time I did that, it was due to an excellent sale on the local blue
> crabs and a really nice sale on big stuffable squids.

Oh yum!

> My kitchen wasnt big
> enough to make really another 'main dish'. Oven filled with 4 large stuffed
> squids, 2 large pots boiling on top waiting for the 15 live crabs. Crockpot
> full of mixed sweet and other potato types (steamed in jacket potatoes
> really). Ricemaker doing rice. 1 burner for tea, 1 open to reheat anything
> needed. Large green leafy salad (4 choices of dressing). Fresh bread as
> always.
>
> Joe and Sadie just grinned and told us to tell them how it went (a little
> too off kosher for them).

Yeah, I wonder why sea-bugs and shellfish are un-kosher? <shrugs>

> The 2 semi-vegetarians decided squid is a
> vegetable for the night ;-)

<lol>

So, you stuff and braise or baked the squid? I have made stuffed baby
octopus using a spinach and mushroom based stuffing, but I generally do
squid cut into rings and deep fried...
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama

In article >,
"Gregory Morrow" > wrote:

> Steve Pope wrote:
>
> > I would say most vegans or
> > vegetarians draw the line at eating meat and their numbers are
> > significant within our culture such that most restaurants and
> > hosts will graciously meet their requirements without giving
> > it a second thought.
>
>
> Maybe in *Berkeley* they will...
>
> In normal places vegetarians are considered freaks and so are left to their
> own devices...

That's pretty narrow minded... I suppose you don't respect Kosher eaters
either?
--
Peace! Om

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." -- Dalai Lama