PumpkinBear’s Profile
Recent Comments
Pumpkin Pie Fudge Recipe?
I was actually going to make this for Thanksgiving for people to take home in little cellophane bags. I found the recipe at Tastespotting:
http://realmomkitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-fudge.html
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
I see what AyeEat and Charm City Cupcake are saying and I think I have a pretty decent understanding of where my food comes from. I was a vegetarian for three years; I've seen the videos of slaughter houses and men kicking chickens and tazering cows- I get it. I don't know, this just seems different. There's killing animals for the purpose of them being eaten and then there's perfecting a way to deep fry a fish so that it's still alive and can serve as a means of entertainment.
Let's be honest, this isn't about people ordering a stellar piece of fish. If that were the case, they could probably get anything else on the menu. This is about ordering a fish just to poke it and prod it and laugh at it.
I know it's just a fish, but it gave me the creeps.
Meat Lite: Spaghetti with Squash-Sausage-Sage Sauce
I'm making this for dinner tomorrow.
See more comments by PumpkinBear »
Recent Posts
Can a bundt cake pan and angel food cake pan be interchangeable?
Posted by PumpkinBear, November 21, 2009 at 3:23 AM
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
Posted by PumpkinBear, November 17, 2009 at 9:42 PM
The Most Unhealthy Thing You've Ever Made
Posted by PumpkinBear, October 20, 2009 at 4:52 AM
See more posts by PumpkinBear »
Recent Favorites
PumpkinBear hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
PumpkinBear hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
PumpkinBear hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
@Lorenzo: That thing about eating monkey brains is true, though I've never seen a news article on it and I kind of doubt it's still happening. When I was growing up my weirdo brothers used to obessively rent this series over and over again from a local video store. It was called "Faces of Death" and just featured really horrible, creepy footage of people and animals dying in unusual ways. They'd force me to watch it and I'd cry and have nightmares.
Some of the stuff really stuck with me, like the segment where these Americans in Vietnam (I believe) watch as a live monkey gets held down by a head vice and then gets it head cracked open. Everyone begins eating the brains. It was disturbing, to say the least.
Pumpkin Pie Fudge Recipe?
I was actually going to make this for Thanksgiving for people to take home in little cellophane bags. I found the recipe at Tastespotting:
http://realmomkitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-fudge.html
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
I see what AyeEat and Charm City Cupcake are saying and I think I have a pretty decent understanding of where my food comes from. I was a vegetarian for three years; I've seen the videos of slaughter houses and men kicking chickens and tazering cows- I get it. I don't know, this just seems different. There's killing animals for the purpose of them being eaten and then there's perfecting a way to deep fry a fish so that it's still alive and can serve as a means of entertainment.
Let's be honest, this isn't about people ordering a stellar piece of fish. If that were the case, they could probably get anything else on the menu. This is about ordering a fish just to poke it and prod it and laugh at it.
I know it's just a fish, but it gave me the creeps.
Meat Lite: Spaghetti with Squash-Sausage-Sage Sauce
I'm making this for dinner tomorrow.
Favorite SE recipe?
I'm so with Foodie, Foodie. As soon as I saw that recipe on SE I knew I had to make it and I did and fell in love instantly. I made it yesterday for dinner and it was awesome.
And this one for pasta with zucchini and beaten egg yolk:
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/09/vegetarian-pasta-with-zucchini-and-beaten-egg-yolk-recipe.html
pasta side dishes
Rigatoni with roasted cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and tons of fresh parsley. I make it all the time. Also- and I know this looks weird- I make this recipe as a side dish for chicken. I found it on Tastespotting:
http://patentandthepantry.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/mustard-butter-broccoli-pasta/
Favorite Pizza Condiment??
My nieces slather their pizze in rach dressing- and not just the crusts.
Dec. 5-7 Loner Vacation
To fill your Saturday lunch slot why not go to that place that sells hot dogs and papaya drinks. know what I'm talking about? Gray's Papaya! I had to Google it. I don't know anything about the place- I'm from Los Angeles, but Bourdain loves it so it can't be too bad.
Lobster or King Crab Legs: Which do you prefer?
I can't afford either, so I'll go with the chicken, please.
Thankgiving side dish ideas - HELP!!
I blanche green beans and then toss them with caramelized onions that were cooked in bacon fat, then I garnish the beans with the bacon and slivered almonds.
I love Tyler Florence's dressing recipe that includes sweet Italian sausage, dried figs, fresh sage, and all kinds of other good stuff.
Asparagus is always good. I just toss them with salt, pepper, and olive oil, roast them, and then springle freshly grated parm on top.
Food and Wine had this great recipe for fall vegetable hash recently that I think I'm going to make for Thanksgiving this year. It sounds delicious:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/roasted-fall-vegetable-hash
Video: How to Make Kimchi on 'Nyam Nyam'
Could she be any goddamn cuter? I want to put her in my pocket and carry her with me always.
Plus, her boots were killer.
Food Truck Boom
I actually think it's annoying that food trucks are getting all of this play lately. I grew up in L.A. and eating awesome Mexican food from trucks was a regular occurence; street food overall was pretty commonplace. They've always been around, they've always offered delicious, affordable food and it's bothersome that no one gave them props until blogs starting going crazy for them.
Videos: Feeding a Cat With Chopsticks
That made me so happy. My cat is big and old and tubby, but he still does silly stuff, too. He really likes Doritos and sandwiches, like not just the lunchmeat, but taking a piece of the sandwich mayo, cheese, mustard and all. Maybe that's why he's tubby ...
What's your food therapy?
I take a two-step approach: make something that's a comfort food and that enables you to pound around the kitchen. I like mashed potatoes; they're delicious and require a good pounding, as does bread and refried beans.
Watch It with Us: 'Top Chef Las Vegas,' Ep. 10
It's interesting that we're talking about this. Portman just wrote an essay for the Huffington Post in which she says this batshit crazy thing:
"I say that Foer's ethical charge against animal eating is brave because not only is it unpopular, it has also been characterized as unmanly, inconsiderate, and juvenile. But he reminds us that being a man, and a human, takes more thought than just 'This is tasty, and that's why I do it.' He posits that consideration, as promoted by Michael Pollan in The Omnivore's Dilemma, which has more to do with being polite to your tablemates than sticking to your own ideals, would be absurd if applied to any other belief (e.g., I don't believe in rape, but if it's what it takes to please my dinner hosts, then so be it)."
Until now I was getting very sick of hearing Anthony Bourdain's seemingly constant tirade against vegetarians, but basically equating meat eaters to rapists is ridiculous and I'll take Bourdain's shit talking any day.
You can read the rest here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalie-portman/jonathan-safran-foers-iea_b_334407.html
Anyone use pumpkin (or apple sauce) and oil to replace butter?
When baking, I actually rarely use butter, no matter what the recipe calls for. I just think canola oil keeps baked goods more moist and butter can burn easily. There are some recipes where it can't be avoided, but I use oil whenever I can.
As Vegetarianka said, yogurt is also an excellent substitute. Plain yorurt works well, but sometimes I use flavored yogurts like vanilla or strawberry and it's excellent.
I bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan---Dinner 10/28 Wed???
It's only around 2 p.m. here in Los Angeles, but I've already eaten what I consider to be my "dinner." I eat one large-ish meal in the afternoon and then a small snack in the evening. Anyhow, I had fried potatoes and "chili beans," which is just pinto beans and Mexican chorizo. It was a comfort food growing up and it still is.
Meatloaf
@BananaMonkey: It's a ribbon of onion-y goodness that runs through the center of the free form meatloaf. It's really tasty, you should try it!
Meatloaf
I have no definitive meatloaf recipe, though I do consider it a comfort food as well. My approach is always a kind of "everything but the kitchen sink" thing, though.
If I'm using turkey, I'll soak half a box of panko in milk and use that as well as the other dry half, I may throw in sundried tomatoes, finely diced onions, garlic, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes that have been sauteed so they don't remain weirdly crunch.
Sometimes I'll do it "Italian style" and stuff the meatloaf with basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella. My boyfriend likes it when I stuff his with caramelized onions and cheddar. All of that being said, I think my meatloaf always includes eggs, bread crumbs or bread soaked in milk, worsheshire, s&p, grated parm, ketchup, and parsley. The rest is just kind of made up on the spot, depending on what I'm in the mood for. BBQ sauce as the "glaze" is also a nice addition, as well.
A source for tripe?
I don't know if receiving tripe in the mail would be the best idea and also, I couldn't find anything when Googling it several different ways.
Every Mexican market I've ever been to has an excellent butcher counter, with tons of tripe and other nasty bits included. Maybe you can find one in your area?
What strange things are in the door of your fridge?
How funny! I was actually thinking about this the other day. I have weird peach butter a neighbor brought back from Hawaii, three different kinds of pickles, the biggest jar of mayo you've ever seen (thanks, Costco), Dijon mustard, ketchup, a jar of sundried tomatoes, pesto, a small jar of bacon fat, chili garlic sauce, jarred horseradish, homemade vinaigrette's in mason jars- it's endless, seriously.
Any food you could eat daily til' you kick the bucket?!
I forgot about pasta! Oh pasta, I love you so much.
What desserts do you crave?
I'm not big on desserts, but when I'm in the mood for something sweet it's got to be chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. True, it's chocolate overkill, but the urge comes so rarely I've really got to do it up when it hits.
Would You Eat This Lobster?
@SmokedMeat: You really made me laugh. Maybe he likes Judge Judy? All of the old people in my life really dig Judge Judy or that "straight-shootin' Dr. Phil."
Any food you could eat daily til' you kick the bucket?!
Everyday for the rest of my life I could eat:
Cheese (any kind)
Sushi
Bagels with cream cheese
Spinach salad
Peanut butter toast on 12 grain bread (I actually do eat this everyday)
A sandwhich, preferably with mayo, dijon, turkey, spinach, sprouts, and good cheese
My dad's enchilladas
Favorite SE recipe?
I made the Bayless tacuba style enchiladas tonight because of this thread.
Thanks for the tip. They were great! Green, flavorful, and creamy.
I added a jalapeno to the poblanos, and sprinkled on some green Tabasco Jalapeno sauce for a kick. AWESOME.
I did a 1.5 recipe, so we have plenty of leftovers.
Thankgiving side dish ideas - HELP!!
Neither are fancy, but both are oh-so-good!
Carrot Soufflé
Serves 10
3-1/2 lbs peeled carrots
1-1/2 lbs sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1 TBS vanilla
1/4 cup flour
6 eggs
1/2 lb butter, softened
powdered sugar
Steam or boil carrots until extra soft. Drain well.
While carrots are warm, add sugar, baking powder and vanilla.
Whip with mixer until smooth.
Add flour and mix well.
Whip eggs and add to carrot mixture. Blend well.
Add softened margarine to mixture and blend well.
Pour mixture into baking dish about half full as the souffle will rise.
Bake in 350ºF oven about 1 hour or until top is a light golden brown.
Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar over top before serving.
Corn Pudding
2 16 oz cans creamed corn
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup flour
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
Mix all ingredients and beat until smooth. Pour into a 9”x13” baking pan. Bake at 350˚F for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and center is firm to touch.
Favorite SE recipe?
[+1 for Leo Maya's Chicken with Green Sauce]
Dec. 5-7 Loner Vacation
Keeping up with you deli and cheesecake desire, I would say go to Carnegie Deli on 55th and Seventh Avenue. You can have really good sandwiches and really good cheesecake - all in one place. Then, if you feel the need to go to brooklyn - give Junior's cheesecake a try. But I really love Carnegie Deli. Have a great time in NY.
Dec. 5-7 Loner Vacation
Thanks again for the additional comments and after some further review I have replaced Lombardi's with Motorino, scratched King Papaya from Dinner from Sunday Dinner, and have added Minetta Tavern for Dinner on Saturday.
So pretty much Saturday is totally on lockdown so that is 1 day. Basically at this point I am looking at filling Sunday Breakfast and another dinner or lunch. I say either because I am willing to move things around based upon when it is best to hit some restaurants or depending on how early I need to get there.
For Motorino, how hard would it be to get a single spot by myself at lunch on Sunday or Monday? I am willing to move by Shake Shack meal to dinner on Sunday if it would be easier to do Motorino when I know I can get there right when they open on Sunday.
Thanks guys keep up the great work.
Food Tattoos?
I'm in the process of designing a pin-up (40's style) of a chefly young lady with a plate of sushi in one hand, and a slice of maki in the other, along with all of the standard accoutrement of a pin up. I already have a toqued skull biting my first chef knife tatted on my other arm, in military style. Soon I will add the words 'Death From Within' in some form with that one. I will try to post up pics when they are complete!
Dec. 5-7 Loner Vacation
Try Locanda Verde for bfast. The crispy garlic potatoes are awesome, as is the french toast. It is not expensive and downtown in Tribeca. Great place.
Favorite Pizza Condiment??
At our pizzeria we have red pepper flakes and parmesan on every table. We also have Tabasco and similar sauces and we have two homemade sauces: creamy chipotle and chimuchurri. This last one is intended to go with "empanadas" but a lot of clients request it to have it with their pizza, it has a strong lemony/parsley taste. They some times ask for our (also) homemade Italian dressing, but creamy chipotle is the most requested of all.
Dec. 5-7 Loner Vacation
my mini chinatown food tour - recommend it to my visitors who want to have a taste of a lot for a little in under and hour...
copied from part of a yelp review:
Here's my circa 75-minute (including the ride on the B or D from 40th and 6th) lunch break tour of Chinatown - best with a partner so you can share everything and get the most flavor and diversity for your money.
-Get out at Grand St and head SE to Prosperity Dumpling on Eldridge. Order 10-15 fried. Eat in or eat while you walk....
-Down to Canal, where you'll head east until you hit Elizabeth. Once southbound on Elizabeth, you'll eventually run into ViVi Bubble Tea on Bayard. Grab an order of light, crispy popcorn chicken for $3 with your choice of spice - I prefer curry.
- take a left out of ViVi and then a right on Mott. Close this perfect circle of a tour by picking up the #1 (say yes to spicy!) at Banh Mi Saigon (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) on the east side of Mott just before Grand.
20 fried at prosperity = $4
popcorn chicken at ViVi = $3
Banh Mi at Saigon = $3.75
Total cost for a 3 course meal for 2: $10.75
Favorite SE recipe?
This is a miracle right here:
http://www.seriouseats.com/cgi-bin/mte/mt-search.cgi?search=puff pastry cinnamon rolls&limit=20&IncludeBlogs=31,26,36,39,34,30,38,16,33,25,32,35
I'll be making these as my holiday gifts for the neighbors this year.
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
Awesome. You know that is a fresh fish! My mouth is watering.
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
I have to agree that the comparison to animals in the wild isn't totally sound. For one thing, animals in the wild have adapted evolutionarily to kill their food as fast as possible, so that it doesn't get away--thus increasing chances of a full meal and another generation.
That someone would choose to use an inefficient method seems a different story all together. And yes, commercial farming of animals sometimes has less than savoury kill practices, but for those of you equating the two, don't assume that everyone, particularly Serious Eaters, either condone those practices or purchase meat from factory farms.
Favorite SE recipe?
@Cary--thank you thank you thank you for bringing that recipe to my attention! We had the Pepin chicken thighs last night and they were completely awesome. had no idea that sort of yummy crunchy skin was got through such simple methods. Totally putting that one in the arsenal for mid week meals.
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
The consumption of a still-living animal by humans, and the same thing being done by other species is not comparable, since there is no evidence that other species have an equivalent comprehension of the 'wrong', 'cruel', or 'suffering'.
To be human is to have an understanding of these concepts (or in the case of very young children, to have the potential for this), and to act accordingly.
Conflating the suffering caused by humans and other species by saying that 'Mother nature is cruel' makes no sense, since 'nature' is impartial; things occur in nature that we may interpret as cruel, but that's anthropomorphising.
Favorite Pizza Condiment??
I don't mind the condiments on my pizza, but I don't go dipping. What I want on the pizza is already there.
I like a pizza that's smeared with garlic butter, basil pesto, artichokes and oven cured tomatoes.
pasta side dishes
Call me simple but I like a serving of angel hair tossed in clarified butter and roasted garlic. I actually kind of despise angel hair pasta as a general rule, but this just makes me happy for some reason.
Favorite Pizza Condiment??
I've started eating pizza by choice recently. The place near our house serves their pizza with honey packed on the side.
On my pizzas, I add a lot of crushed red pepper flakes and dip the pizza in honey, even the chicken ranch pizza.
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
Agreed. This is cruel, without any justification. Really? The extra minutes of suffering added that much savor to your meal? Honestly, if I was out with someone who ate this, I would wonder about their character. It's on par seeing children torture dogs - you know something's wrong there.
This is not the same as foie gras or veal or other controversial food - the animal is killed quickly (one hopes) in those cases. This is just causing suffering because you can. Truly disgusting.
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
The bottom line is treat everything with respect.
Your fellow man, your food too.
Honor everything on this earth. Especially the food you eat. It is your sustenance. Treat is with respect.
pasta side dishes
@Dmcavanagh: I know, right? I was wondering the same thing. Plain old pasta with butter is good enough for me...
soba noodle salad is a great idea! Make a dressing with orange juice, sriracha, ginger, sugar, and vinegar and toss in some crispy veggies. Delish!
pasta side dishes
I've never had a pasta side dish that was "dry and tasteless'". What have you been served?
Favorite SE recipe?
Leo Maya's Chicken with Green Sauce, made by Mario Batali's babysitter. It's simple, foolproof and delicious.
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
I was disturbed by the video too (saw it in my rss). Yes, I understand that animals are killed all the time for human consumption, and it could have been a mistake (horrible, horrible mistake) for the fish to have been boiled almost to the point of death, but did they have to keep poking chopsticks into its mouth?? That was the truly cruel part - PUT IT OUT OF ITS MISERY! I didn't think it was funny at all, and I'm glad that SE had the decency to remove it.
Recent Posts
Can a bundt cake pan and angel food cake pan be interchangeable?
Posted by PumpkinBear, November 21, 2009 at 3:23 AM
Eating a Fried Fish that's Still Alive
Posted by PumpkinBear, November 17, 2009 at 9:42 PM
The Most Unhealthy Thing You've Ever Made
Posted by PumpkinBear, October 20, 2009 at 4:52 AM
Stupid to Make Homemade Halloween Treats?
Posted by PumpkinBear, October 19, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Recent Favorites
PumpkinBear hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
PumpkinBear hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
PumpkinBear hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
About PumpkinBear
Website: http://myspace.com/wordsnotbombs
Location: Los Angeles, CA
About: I love to cook.
Favorite foods: All things sandwiches, peanut butter toast, pad thai, sushi, meat and cheese combinations, roasted potatoes, all things pasta, California rolls, nori and white rice, sun dried tomatoes, thai ice tea with boba, asparagus.
Last bite on earth: A carne asada burrito.
@Lorenzo: That thing about eating monkey brains is true, though I've never seen a news article on it and I kind of doubt it's still happening. When I was growing up my weirdo brothers used to obessively rent this series over and over again from a local video store. It was called "Faces of Death" and just featured really horrible, creepy footage of people and animals dying in unusual ways. They'd force me to watch it and I'd cry and have nightmares.
Some of the stuff really stuck with me, like the segment where these Americans in Vietnam (I believe) watch as a live monkey gets held down by a head vice and then gets it head cracked open. Everyone begins eating the brains. It was disturbing, to say the least.