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Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Hi Robin
This is a devious recipe from a book I wrote called The Healthy Lunchbox designed to lull unsuspecting children into eating sardines. Maybe it would help you too?
Just-like-tuna paté
Enough to fill 2 large wholemeal baps, 4 wholemeal rolls or 3 granary or wholemeal sandwiches
1 can of sardines in sunflower or olive oil
75g/3oz Quark or low fat curd cheese
Grated rind of half a lemon
1 tbsp chopped chives
Freshly ground black pepper
Drain the sardines, split them lengthways and remove the backbone. (Yes, I know it’s healthy but there’s nothing more offputting to kids than coming across crunchy bits of bone) Put the sardines in a blender with the Quark, lemon rind and chives. Whizz, taste and season with pepper.
* you can of course make this by hand but the extra smooth texture you get from blitzing the mix makes it somehow less sardiney.
http://thefrugalcook.blogspot.com
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Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
Here over the other side of the pond in England we have exactly the same issues too. And for my sins I'm writing a book - and a blog - about it - thefrugalcook.blogspot.com so this debate is really interesting.
What I've found over the past couple of months is that I spent - and wasted - a lot more on food than I thought I did by buying too far ahead (things always cropped up to postpone a meal), impulse shopping and buying ingredients 'just in case' I might need them for some future recipe.
I now shop more often but try and ask myself first whether we couldn't feed ourselves from what we already have in the fridge and storecupboard. And more often than not we can.
I agree 100% with Ed's comment about not walking away from small producers at this time, though. But it does need a major adjustment in the way we shop for food. Butchers and meat producers here in the UK have told me that they can barely give their cheaper cuts away
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Hi Robin
This is a devious recipe from a book I wrote called The Healthy Lunchbox designed to lull unsuspecting children into eating sardines. Maybe it would help you too?
Just-like-tuna paté
Enough to fill 2 large wholemeal baps, 4 wholemeal rolls or 3 granary or wholemeal sandwiches
1 can of sardines in sunflower or olive oil
75g/3oz Quark or low fat curd cheese
Grated rind of half a lemon
1 tbsp chopped chives
Freshly ground black pepper
Drain the sardines, split them lengthways and remove the backbone. (Yes, I know it’s healthy but there’s nothing more offputting to kids than coming across crunchy bits of bone) Put the sardines in a blender with the Quark, lemon rind and chives. Whizz, taste and season with pepper.
* you can of course make this by hand but the extra smooth texture you get from blitzing the mix makes it somehow less sardiney.
http://thefrugalcook.blogspot.com
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Well, it has been a year, but I got one more. I bet even Marvin from Burnt Lumpia doesn't know about this. When I get my hands on some green (unripe) mango (traditional craving for pregnant Filipinas), we get some which start to get soft but still green. We (our family) scrapes it with a fork/chops it very fine and serves it with sardines and tomato sauce and rice. Sometimes we saute it a bit, but mostly we don't bother.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Personally I love sardines right out of the can too. No frills just the can and the fork! I like the one with Soybean Oil and my dog is even hooked on them too! He sure has a shiny coat now and no constipation problems so I don't have too much of a problem sharing with him. lol
My problem is trying to find a quiet spot to eat them where he can't find me! lol
Husband hates the fishy smell tho. Guess its a required taste.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
i love sardines right out of the can. i eat one can everyday and i savor it.
delicately picking out the bone and eating bite by slow bite... i practically lick the can.
i've discovered that in order to get good sardines you've got to pay for them. the cheap ones have more of a fishiness that i don't like. i buy norwegian brislings. mediterranean style is my favorite. i've discovered that everyday i actually feel better after i eat them. they really help me stay alert for the rest of the day. i felt an instance high after the first time i ate them, so i've been hooked every since.
i've tried doing recipes and mixing them in salads but honestly, i love em plain and that's how i only eat them from now on.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
guess what I make a living out of them. I do product development for a certain brand in asia. But eversince I started working on it, I stopped eating them at home. C'mon give me a break, they're everywhere at work. =) I want to eat something else. lol.
I'm not sure if you're familiar with fried sardines but they're great on toasts and on rice as well. One can eat it right off the can or bottle (yes, there are bottled sardines). But for the tomoto sauce based sardines, I'd rather heat them first and add some lemon or a bit of soy sauce.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
I, too eat them out of a can. I prefer the ones packed in mustard sauce, as the mustard hides a bit of the fishy taste, but also buy the water-packed and add my own mustard. I just smash a few onto wheat bread or a bagel. Eating them on bread also makes them more palatable for me. Eating them with hard-boiled eggs sounds like a good idea, too...
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
yes many chances. We eat less meat. Meals have become simpler eg grilled sandwiches smeared with pesto,cheese and turkey slices. buy a lot of frozen vegetables(store brand) to make a vegetable soup with every evening meal. Leftovers are brown bagged. Use coupons and buy one get one free deals. Buy bread on sale and freeze for later use. Make banana bread and corn bread 1X a week to have with all 3 meals.
Mix orange juice with 1/2 water. Live in city (condo living) so no room for hunting or garden. We eat out 1x a week at a local place and make sure we get there early to take advantage of the early bird special. Otherwise we still eat delicious meals.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
As suggested above, buy sardines packed in water. Drain well, mash and spritz with balsamic vinegar and malt vinegar to taste, add a scant amount of mayonnaise, if you like a creamy spread or omit. Fold in a tablespoon of chopped, drained and rinsed, capers and season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Spread on hot, buttered rye toast. This sandwich is quite palatable, even delicious. This is a variant of the French Canadian "sardines on toast.
The sardines won't be oily, 'fishy'. Buy the cheap brand of sardines in spring water and visit a dollar or discount store to buy capers. The ones from Spain seem the cheapest. I think this sardine approach is good on all counts. Do try to enjoy....
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Try getting a tin of the smaller sized variety and using them instead of anchovies in a puttanesca sauce. I cut them in half lengthwise rather than chop them.
If you ever have a chance to try Venetian sarde in saor, do it!
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
I just ate my first can of sardines. These were packed in water. Quite tasty. I ate them plain right out of the can with a little pepper on top. Thanks for the sardine tips. They are an excellent source of protein.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
Who buys food anymore? Seriously, This is a good year to be a hunter - I have my meat for the year set - and a gardener. The only things I typically buy at markets are flour, olive oil, sugar, honey, salt and dairy products. They are probably more expensive, but with a weekly shopping bill of around $25 I really don't notice much.
Yes, I know few people can or want to go to this length, but it can be done. And I think I eat pretty well...
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
re: sardines and rice -- yes! must be cos i'm half filipina? salad of choice to accompany is red onion/juice ripe tomatoes/coriander and a sharp vinaigrette.
my parents retired to live in st jean de luz and every time i visit them i stock up on their sardines from this WONDERFUL shop: http://www.labelleiloise.fr/
in fact, my ma sent me a dozen tins for my birthday!
the other way i like tinned sardines is in on toast with plenty of mayo and sliced tomatoes.
if i get fresh i make them in escabeche OR grilled -- too too yum.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
I'm curious whether rising food prices (if they continue) will affect which sorts of cookbooks will sell - i.e. will the ones whose appeal comes from having eight different types of exotic-or-expensive ingredients be as popular or will the public's taste turn to those less complicated or less aspirational in nature . . .
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
This thread has been inspiring in so many ways. I have to say I'm coming to the same conclusion Michael Pollan came to in his latest book. We eat more plants and occasionally some meat, and it's really hard for me to say that given how much I love meat. And as so many of you pointed out, we can all do this even in the face of rising food prices. It takes a little bit of creativity and a little bit or forethought and preparation, but if you buy and eat smartly, our lives can be filled with delicious food no matter what's going on with food prices.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
I've been following discussions of food prices and shopping local vs supermarkets & I have to jump in here. I live in Toronto (Canada). Every summer/fall I shop at local farmers' markets & the prices are *always* higher than the grocers', sometimes close to twice as high: last year strawberries from the farmers were $5.00-$7.50/qt vs $4.00/qt in supermarkets; corn was $3.50/6 vs $2.00/12 in supermarkets at the height of the season. I still shop farmers as much as I can, but it's not as often or as much as I'd like to or as I have in the past. I know people say 'shop local/organic' at any cost, but one has to weigh practicalities against ideology. Unless Alice Waters wants to pick up my tab, I'll have to compromise somewhere along the line.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Try Sultan brand sardines in chili oil from Morroco. Yellow box. They are great and would probably go well with pasta and just use the oil on the pasta as well. Maybe add some capers, green onions or how about some lightly sauteed kale........? And how about some toasted old baguette just smashed up in there?
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
Great thread. I haven't changed too much, but I have planted many more veggies this spring. I tend to grow greens, herbs, toms, and cukes each year. This year, I'm adding peas, beans, cabbage, beets, etc., as I figured the cost of additional soil, amendments, plants, etc. outweighed the prices in the markets.
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
I can eat them out of can, but that's me. Here's a good way to tart them up:
http://badhomecooking.typepad.com/bad_home_cooking/2007/04/how_to_avoid_br.html
Which I did at Pessach last year.
Good luck. And don't overthink what you can or can not eat whilst pregnant. I craved tekka maki (tuna roll sushi) when I was pregnant with my first....ate it all the time, in defiance of the Parenting Police. The now 11-year-old is tall, smart and healthy. And loves sushi.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
My way of cutting back is going to my parents' house for dinner once a week and taking home leftovers! But seriously, it's been tough seeing prices rise, and my husband is a picky eater, so I still end up buying out-of-season produce for him. No matter what I tell him, he wants to eat what he wants! So, I eat very simple meals to make up for it. He also doesn't understand that I have to go to more than one store to get groceries so we don't spend a fortune.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
Definitely. It's also changing where I shop. I don't go to the megamarts anymore if I can help it. The ethnic markets are where it's at. Good prices even if I have to go to several different ones to get all the things I need. I just can't afford the mainstream stores anymore. It's getting ridiculous!
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
With $10 wheat, there is about 12 cents worth of wheat in the average loaf of bread. Having been involved in agricultural all my married life (34 years) I know first hand how hard it is to make a profit in farming. Although the prices are high right now, the crop is still in the field and I'm certain the price will drop when harvest gets underway. Most farmers HAVE to sell when they deliver the grain to the elevator and won't get that top price. The bank, fuel and fertilizer people all need paid, so the majority don't have the option of holding their crop. We are no longer actively farming, but still have ties to the land - our son has cattle and puts up hay; our daughter is involved with a student farm at Kansas State, is an Ag-Historian and on the state Democratic food and farm counsel. They are 6th generation farmers. As for my husband and me, we are trying to become more self-sufficent. We're planning a big garden, thinking about getting a few chickens (our Vizslas will love that!) and might have my nephew (manager of a grain mill) bring us some flour the next time he comes this way.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
These days it's better to be an egg farmer than to work at the Wall Street firm Bear, Stearns.
Oooh, I dunno, Ed. Not to answer your question about food prices (so many above have done that rather well!) but rather to nitpick on this comment, they are still eating okay at Bear, Stearns according to this story in Slate .
Quote:
Because Bear Stearns may be worth only $2 a share, but that doesn't mean that place doesn't still have an amazing salad bar.
Fed Salad
"The feta cheese? Some chick peas. Green peppers? Green peppers. Roasted chicken."
The man ahead of me in the salad line is roughly my age, 29, but his karma feels a decade older. A feeling of powerlessness can make small decisions take on greater meaning, and he is really considering every component of today's lunch.
"You get one more veggie, baby," the woman behind the counter tells him.
It's true. You get four vegetables and one protein for $4.95 at the Bear Stearns cafeteria, an especially generous deal from a firm that, by some estimates, has a net worth in the negative billions. Today's lunch is theoretically subsidized by the Federal Reserve by way of JPMorgan, a disturbing notion for a nation that prides itself on free markets, but one that means little to the man ahead of me.
He has one more veggie to choose and aims to choose it well. "I'll have a few of those raisins," he says at last.
.................................................
Of course he sh*t one has to shovel is different in each industry you mention. :)
(I like the clothes better on Wall St.)
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
@eatWashington: Not to endorse the evil WTO, but you grandfather would have prevailed today with a sardine labeling case, as bristling (sprattus sprattus) is now considered one of twenty-one fish species that are permitted to be labled and sold as a "sardine" per the WTO Codex Alimentarius.
Um, Peru won a huge sardine labeling case a few years ago. I learned about the current regulations then.
Yay for all sardines!
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
Oh, wow!!! Such good eats. I drain 'em (Packed in oil or water) on a paper towel then slather up a couple of slices of bread wirh mayo, slice up a little onion and pile it all into a sandwich. Don't even have to slice or mush up the sardines. yum
Eating for Two: How Do You Love Sardines, Tell Me All the Ways
This vision brings tears to my eyes - Daddy and I would sit on the back porch (Mother would not allow sardines in the house) and smash sardines on Saltine crackers. I was about 5 and none of my siblings would touch them. Just me and my Dad. I hadn't thought about that until I read this piece today. I can hardly wait to get a can, sit on the back porch and think of my Dad, long gone, but those sardines were only thing that was "just us". We liked "Kipper snacks" the best but forget mayo and mustard. Thanks for the memory!!
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Here over the other side of the pond in England we have exactly the same issues too. And for my sins I'm writing a book - and a blog - about it - thefrugalcook.blogspot.com so this debate is really interesting.
What I've found over the past couple of months is that I spent - and wasted - a lot more on food than I thought I did by buying too far ahead (things always cropped up to postpone a meal), impulse shopping and buying ingredients 'just in case' I might need them for some future recipe.
I now shop more often but try and ask myself first whether we couldn't feed ourselves from what we already have in the fridge and storecupboard. And more often than not we can.
I agree 100% with Ed's comment about not walking away from small producers at this time, though. But it does need a major adjustment in the way we shop for food. Butchers and meat producers here in the UK have told me that they can barely give their cheaper cuts away