Here's the thing.

Es que I don't make any food that isn't vegetarian. So every recipe I care about flaunts its meatlessness by substituting things like spinach and black beans and sweet potatoes. Hence, not fit for this blog. So instead of posting an actual recipe, I have decided to post pictures of scary children eating unappetizing things.





Enjoy!

Beer Battered Cod

I like this recipe because, other than the fish, normally all of the ingredients are in the house.

Ingredients:


1 egg
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups beer
1 t garlic powder
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t salt
1 lb cod (or similar fish)
2 cups crushed corn flakes
1 t cajun seasoning
enough vegetable or canola oil to adequately fry

+ mix together in a medium bowl egg, flour, beer, garlic powder, salt and pepper
+ in a different bowl/plate mix the corn flakes and cajun seasoning
+ dip the cod in the wet ingredients, and then in the dry.
+ heat oil to 350F or until it seems hot enough - i don't have a thermometer
+ fry the cod until its golden brown and starts to get flaky.

i ate this in sandwich form. i made lemon-y garlic bread (mix together butter, garlic and a little lemon rind - spread on bread, wrap in tinfoil and bake for like 15 min) and then ate it with tartar sauce and it was delicious.

It's all about mood.

Via design*sponge, some polaroids that might capture the hearts of those who like to reminisce about things like chicken a la king and pimento spreads.

Edible (?) Mashup

A guest post from Dan. He also wanted to mention that you can basically use any kind of canned vegetable for this. It's all about using what's been sitting in your cupboard for way too long collecting dust (or, you know, buying really cheap nasty canned foods):

"I created this as a way of getting a filling meal in little time, with no necessary trips to the grocery store. The most recent version went as follows:

1 can sliced carrots
1 can corn
2 cans grean peas
2 cans whole new potatoes
1 can roast beef
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can turkey gravy
1 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
salt, pepper to taste

Throw everything together in a pot and heat over medium high heat, stirring often." When hot, eat.

Miss Know it All

"Virtually everyone enjoys a crisply ironed dress shirt, clean sheets on a well-made bed, and a savory home-cooked meal. Yet housekeeping today stands as a somewhat neglected, if not maligned, job. But as author Cheryl Mendelson points out in Home Comforts, keeping house well can be a rewarding position--it allows you to provide for the physical and emotional comfort of loved ones. It's also not an easy job--there's much to be learned about properly managing a home, and Mendelson has set out to provide a guide to doing just that.

Mendelson, a homemaker, lawyer, and mother, learned about housekeeping from an early age from her grandmothers, one Appalachian, the other Italian. The two grandmothers taught her that although different ways of keeping house can be appropriate, there are generally smarter, faster, and more creative ways of housekeeping that make it less of a chore and more of an art. In a practical, authoritative tone, Mendelson discusses the ins and outs of homemaking, such as washing dishes, recommended cleaning methods for various surfaces, housekeeping for those with pets or allergies, and emergency preparedness and safety procedures.

Mendelson's well-researched book includes meticulous sections on food (for example, which foods belong in the fridge versus the pantry, food storage times, picking the freshest fruits and vegetables, and keeping your kitchen and food sanitary) as well as laundry (caring for various fabrics, how to read--and read between the lines of--clothing care labels, and removing stains). Mendelson covers a lot of ground, and as she herself points out, readers shouldn't feel required to do everything mentioned in the book--simply pick the activities that seem appropriate for your particular home. This is a comprehensive reference book that should serve homemakers well and induce a greater appreciation for the effort and specialized knowledge that go into keeping house."

elaine's famous potato salad

i'm a little hesitant posting this recipe, because i haven't explicitly received permission from the creator. in fact i haven't even really even discussed the exact "recipe" with the chef, but i'm pretty confident in my ability to accurately deduce it, so here goes:

elaine's famous potato salad

potatoes
apples
pineapple chunks (fresh, not canned)
mayonnaise

to put this recipe in the proper context, i guess i should explain that in hong kong almost everybody seems to love mayonnaise. it is especially popular to make "fruit salads" with mayonnaise. and apparently potatoes are considered a fruit. the school canteen makes a pretty good fruit/potato salad involving what i think is canned fruit cocktail, but its nothing compared to the salad elaine, the security guard from the dorm next door, made for some of the other kids in my program that live in her building. fortunately for me, none of the other americans seemed to feel the same way, which scored me an impromtu invitation since they figured i would be the only one capable of eating enough not to offend her. i do have to admit that even i was a little shocked at first, but the pineapple/mayo combo really does grow on you.

Reprise: awesomeness from my mayo jar.

UPDATE: I made this last night and it was AWESOME! First of all, it is totally meatloaf-kind-of-fun to smear a mixture of mayo and parmesan onto raw chicken and then roll it in bread crumbs. Secondly, that's basically the only effort this recipe requires, other than remembering to take it out of the oven. Thirdly, that was some effin' moist bird flesh. So tender and delicious! Highly recommended, and so perfect for those who believe in mayonnaise.



PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 Minute(s)
Cook Time: 20 Minute(s)


1/2 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs


Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. In medium bowl, combine Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise and cheese. On baking sheet, arrange chicken. Evenly top with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
3. Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

If this tastes good, I think it might just be the easiest baked chicken recipe EVER.