Breakfast of champions....

[gertilda]

Hey, Bethalize, I know that this is off the food topic, but I am visiting England in October to see a friend.  We will be spending a weekend in London and I was wondering if you know of any great places that we should see/experience?  We are already planning on Market Day in Notting Hill.  Other than that we'll just be American Tourists--just what every native anywhere likes to see  !  And we're hitting Cambridge on the way back to where she lives.

[northcarolina]

First of all I don't cook - ever!!  So I make no pretense about knowing anything to do with it, but I do know this - Southerner's cook EVERYTHING w/lard!  At least, my mom did (who was a Yankee but learned to cook southern for my dad!).



Snails??? Yuck!    I don't think I could even LOOK at one, much less get it anywhere near my mouth!!!



north carolina

[daisylee]

OK, genunine midwestener here!  Sweetcorn is corn on the cob (as opposed to feed corn for livestock)...boiled in water. Some people add sugar to make it sweeter.  Or can be roasted in it's husk after soaking in cold water on an open fire (grill)!  And butter, salt, and enjoy! (Need lots of dental floss, kernels tend to get stuck between the teeth!)



And you would be amazed at what all they make out of corn!  I understand they can even grind up to cobs after the corn is removed and use it in fertilizer!



Liz, we need to have you come to the states, introduce you to our unusual food.  I remember our exchange students from Leeds when we were in high school. (This was in 1975)  We introduced them to Italian beef sandwiches (which they loved) with french fries.  They thing we were hysterical about was the fact they actually found a bottle of malt vinegar for their "chips" and carried it around with them. (We use tomato ketchup here, but I do love the malt vinegar!)



Daisy



 

[countrigal]

I'm really late in getting involved in this discussion, but I must agree with the previous post in that we all speak the same language, but with so many variations and differences. Just the differences in oils used to fry french fries, and the texture of those, can drive a palette yearning for deep southern fried food.  Spent 3 years in the Portugese islands called the Azores and the thing we missed the most was American fast food.  Took a 5 hour plane ride into Italy just for an American hamburger and fries.



Daisylee, I'm with you on the midwestern heritage.  Grew up in South Dakota, big farming land.  Corn is used for many, many uses in a variety of forms.  If they don't grow well, the pigs feed well!  

Liz, if you need anything from the states or want to try anything, drop me a line.  



As for grits... I'm sorry, but I'm in AR, born in AR, and I have to say that anything you have to add food to to give it flavor is not edible.  My husband loves grits, and yes, I cook them for him, but I refuse to eat them.  The only time that I've actually eaten them I've added butter and bacon and just barely managed to choke them down.  They make good cement though!    Course, I might be really strange here because I don't like oatmeal or cream of wheat for the same reason.  Never have gotten into eating that mushy type of stuff.  Closest I get is mashed potatos!



But that's all from my corner of the world...  :::dodging grits being thrown from all around::::



CG in AR

[donnap99]

Andrea,



I'm so sorry about your injuries, and I apologize, but as I read your message, sitting here in my office at ten after five, I couldn't help but break out in the most hysterical, crying laughter I have had in weeks!  And then what happens?  One of the Associate Deans appears at my door, and asks if she should come back later!  



Oh well...

[countrigal]

Add slow in with late...  Took a long time for that response due to work popping up.  (Couldn't they see I was in a very important discussion?)  



Froglegs are actually quite good, if cooked Louisanna style.  I tried some while down there for New Years a couple of years ago and found they really do taste like fried chicken.  I know, everyone says that of "odd" items, but this is true!  My husband, who loves fried chicken but is allergic to it, found a new way of experiencing the taste.  Problem is, it's like all chicken wings because there's not enough meat on those legs!



Ok, now I'm really gone...



CG in AR



Hey!  It's finally raining!!  21 straight days of 100+ temps is over, burn bans are looking to be cancelled, life is looking good!  Yippee!!  Makes this Tuesday feel like Friday!!!  Yeah!!!    

[bethalize]

...about coming to the States. My other half has been asked to consider working more in Detroit with Visteon. Thing is (and no disrespect to all those who live in Detroit) it doesn't sound like the greatest of places to live, all cars, malls and flak jackets. Can you live in Canada and commute?



Gethilda, that's brilliant! email me about when you're coming to Cambridge - ehb102@hotmail.com.  To make the best of your time in London, I recommend you do all the touristy things so you can say you have - see Big Ben and the House of Parliament on Westminster bridge (Did you know that it's actually the bell inside Big Ben that's called Big Ben?), maybe go on the Millenium Eye (big ferris wheel). Go to Trafalgar square and see Nelson's column and feed the pigeons. If you like buying stuff, go to Camden Market (check when it's on). See the street entertainers in Covent Garden (the market and shops too and a fruit market if you get up reeeeally early).  Go shopping in Oxford Street and Bond Street. Have afternoon tea at the Ritz in Green Park. Wave to Eros on Picadilly Circus. Have a look a Buckingham Palace (very expensive to go in, depends on how much you like the Royals). See a musical like Cats or Phantom of the Opera. I wouldn't bother with the museums as they're so big unless you have a particular interest in them as you can spend a whole day in them and STILL come out feeling guilty that you haven't read all the labels. Go to Harrods, Fortnum & Masons and Selfridges and marvel at how much things cost (good places to buy souveniers).  Take one of those open top bus tours to see all the sights in one and hear the history - I'll stop there, or there won't be any space left on the site!



Oh, I nearly forgot! Try fish and chips! And a cream tea! And buy The Times.

 

[marieh2000]

Liz,



After all this discussion of food, especially Southern food, I've got to know...have you ever had fried green tomatoes?? (Don't usually keep lard around, but they're wonderful cooked in bacon grease!)





Marie in Mississippi



CG - I know how you feel.  We've FINALLY had rain for the past few days.  Was SOOO GLAD to see it!

 

[andrea843]

Okay, I step back for a couple of days, and the longest thread we have to date, is about.....food.  Hmmmm. what does that tell us?



That we're all bleedin HUNGRY!



And don't stone me, I LIKE fruit cake, but only Claxton fruitcake. And Liz, send me TINS, no, really just the tins, I collect them.  Have some wonderful cookie boxes from Japan,,, OOOOOOHhhhhh LIZ! I bet you could get me a packet of Scottish Oatmeal...::drool: heavy brown stuff, oh man haven't thought about that in years.  My Great Grandmother, who was from a little town in Scotland used to make it for me, and put sliced apples on top and a bit of honey and it was so nutty and wonderful... I have looked and looked and have been unable to find it, even in the gourmet stores.  I get all squishy inside when I think of it, sitting at her breakfast table and being small and half afraid, because their accents were so thick I had  a hard time understanding them.  



It's amazing what a memory can do and what can trigger it.



I've enjoyed reading your thread guys, for the first time in days, I actually relaxed when I went to read the postings::chuckles::



Later y'all



Andrea (fried green tomatoes....ewwwwww) in Charleston

[bethalize]

Haven't had fried green tomatoes, but I've seen the film.



Andrea, mail me your address and I will.

[bethanial]

<The minute I get a chance, I'm going to be trying elvers and frogs legs.>

Frog legs are okay, taste like chicken, not among my favorites, but what is cool is goin' frog giggin' (actually catching the frogs to use for frog legs).



<I bet you don't vook with lard, either!> I'm assuming that vook = cook.  Most of us don't, but occasionally you find somebody in the deep south (like where I'm from) that still uses lard.  It is the best for melt-in-your-mouth biscuits!