Eating With Family Open Thread

Ouch... (4.00 / 2)

If you want to zip about 1100 miles up the coast, we'll put together something great for you!

;)

Five species of factory farmed dead animal?  Taking that Noah's Ark thing to a whole new level, eh?

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by: JayinPhiladelphia @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 05:33:46 AM UTC

Eating With Family Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

If I'm visiting family far away, then in some sense I'm "at home" and I feel quite comfortable inserting myself into the kitchen and making sure that some kind of food is made that I can eat. If I'm visiting family or friends nearby then it's more difficult, but I think of it like a potluck and insist on bringing something along. You have the opportunity, then, to prepare something more satisfying and less conspicuous than a PB&JS.

Staying with friends' family - that's tougher. You really have to approach them early and explain the situation and offer to prepare something. But you'll have to rummage through the fridge and maybe hit the grocery store.

-- Andy

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by: Andy Anderson @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 06:39:59 AM UTC

I've got a few different predicaments (4.00 / 2)

In one I drive to my cousins' place, and their mom is a registered dietitian and an AWESOME cook, who makes GREAT food. Love it. I never need to bring anything to make myself happy although typically I'd bring at least a bottle of wine to say thanks.

In another, I drive or fly to Phoenix to stay with family and then it's much less practical for me to bring food. Especially if I'm flying. Depending on who is cooking or which restaurant the family all eats at, there's a range of what can happen. But when it's been bad, it's been BAD and I've been stuck. Worst year was particularly bad bc I had the stomach flu on top of everything else. When I drive, I bring a lot of fruit. It's not that Phoenix itself is bad, it's spending an entire day at someone's house when all the grocery stores and restaurants are closed that has the potential to be awful because you're trapped there.

The third scenario is a drive to my roommate's family. Again, it depends on whose house and who is cooking... but it can be BAD. Right now I'm just not financially or otherwise in good shape to really make something to share and bring with. I spent the day building the chicken coop and it's FINALLY done.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 06:50:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I should add (4.00 / 2)

when it's my roommate's family, all of the negotiating is left up to him to let them know that we're vegetarian, leaning toward vegan. And I don't think that really gets discussed very well in terms of what it means and how it can be accommodated. His sister gets it bc we eat at her place a lot and she lives nearby. Often we bring the ingredients over there and my roommate (a chef) cooks. But it's a big family and not everyone "gets it" about vegetarian or vegan, let alone organic, no trans-fat, no artificial ingredients, bla bla bla.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 06:52:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Rest of the Eats (4.00 / 3)

When it comes to the non-organic, trans-fatty, sugary, artificial-ingredient-filled food, depending on what it is exactly I just won't eat it or have small quantities - I'm only absolute when it comes to things I can see: chunks of meat or gobs of dairy. I have to trust my body to handle the occasional small dose of liver- and heart-killers. (Thank goodness everyone has tap water or we'd probably be stuck drinking soda pop, one of the worst things everyone has :-(

Of course, it's important, if at all possible, to bring or fix something high quality and satisfying that you can fill up on. Hopefully it's something that others might enjoy, too, but I wouldn't count on it. Maybe we should make a list of ideas here, one- or two-dish options. Off the top of my head, things I've brought in the past:

• Veggie-filled pasta salad
• Boston black-eyed peas, with brown rice (from New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant)
• Moroccan stew

The bright side of these gatherings is that there is usually a wide selection of dishes available and you can pick and choose, and contribute to. Hopefully no one will take it upon themselves to give you a hard time about your "unusual" food selection - usually others won't notice or realize they're asking to have their own food choices and lifestyle critiqued.

Happy holidays everyone (I hope!)

-- Andy

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by: Andy Anderson @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 15:52:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yesterday (4.00 / 2)

Except for one, we're all omnivores but I didn't eat meat yesterday. I tried some of everything else and mostly ate the garlic smashed potatoes. The red pepper quiche was good also.

I took baklava from Puffs and Pastries, and everyone agreed it was the best they've had. I didn't eat any. For dessert I ate mostly lemon bars, plus fudge and one peanut butter cookie.

After many years, I finally talked Jean into making fudge with butter instead of margarine. She might make it with butter from now on, because this batch is excellent.

Yesterday I weighed myself for the first time in a month. I've gained about 7 pounds. I always gain a little when winter comes, but this year I think it's because CSA season ended in November. I have been eating less well since then.

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by: count @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 09:47:04 AM UTC

garlic potatoes (4.00 / 2)

Keith made a huge pot of the potatoes. I brought some home, and that was breakfast!

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by: count @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 14:38:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Word Lens (4.00 / 1)

iPhone/iPod Touch have a new application (sure to migrate to Android and other platforms if it catches on) that is stunning in concept, although if you watch some videos you will wonder about the implementation. I hope it matures to be really useful.

The idea is, your smartphone does real-time character recognition and language translation, so you can view a street sign, menu, or billboard written in a foreign language and read it in your native language.

Word Lens videos

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by: count @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 10:22:32 AM UTC

If that app is ever available for android I am so going to be all over it (4.00 / 1)

for a person wanting to learn a foreign language, this app would be so helpful. And now that there are a lot of products in grocery stores that are written in foreign languages, this would be really handy for ingredients, etc.

I remember when I was working for Western Tile & Marble doing their field fabrication and stone repair. The containers of epoxy would always be in germen, french, sometimes russian, etc. Almost never in english. An app like this would have come in handy. As it was, I had to know a few key words and then I'd be able to noodle out how much hardener (harter) to filler (kleber) so that the stuff would a- harden and b- not blow me up or catch fire.

Normal people scare me.... But not as much as I scare them.

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by: JoanneRigutto @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 17:51:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

tradition (4.00 / 3)

typically, i've prepared a meal if i have the money to serve one. some years i've been able to find some really fine local poultry, so it's goose or duck when i can. if i go with traditional fare, i buy organic as much as possible. my family are stuck on a traditional table full of sweets, meat, and cetera. if i'm invited to a meal somewhere, i go with the idea that shared food is blessed and therefore not bad if i avoid over-indulging. i prefer to serve a meal, though, and have the honour of cooking a meal for ten people this year at a friend's house who's wife is ill. the meat is clean local ham, but the rest of the menu is stocked from the larder and the supermarket, so the fare isn't exactly pure and "safe". but the husband is a generous and loving man, sharing with all who walk through his door. i see that as an offset to the quality of the food. the attitude and intention i feel are just as important. that said, this meal will be what it is: a shared meal amongst good honest folk struggling to keep this year special for our soon-to-be-absent friend.
happy christmas, everyone..

www.wiserearth.org   go, join, act

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by: radicalmom @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 11:47:37 AM UTC

cool (4.00 / 2)

the honour of cooking a meal for ten people this year at a friend's house who's wife is ill

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by: count @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 12:17:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

love this comment.. (3.75 / 4)

and reminds me that food is "bigger" than where it comes from sometimes

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by: LeeN @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 19:33:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

new traditions (4.00 / 4)

for me. Up until last night, Xmas was spent with former best friend And since she's one of the worst cooks.ESPECIALLY veggie/vegan, I always made something vegan for my daughter. So even though I am a Jew by birth and a practicing Buddhist I made dinner last night. Vegan..For sister,bil and cousin

My daughter made really good soup that was Indian and way too hot for anyone except daughter and myself. And we made home made whole wheat pasta with a fresh tomato sauce.I made home made bread and a good salad that I will post the recipe for.

I guess I am lucky because my immediate family are good cooks and use good ingredients. But in the wider world people don't cook or think about food the way we do here.

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by: LeeN @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 13:29:25 PM UTC

Dani (4.00 / 2)

Did Dani bring you back some interesting spices?

Glad she made it back with only one day's delay. I thought she might have been hung up there for even longer.

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by: count @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 14:44:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yes..from India.. (4.00 / 3)

some Masala. I'll post some recipes as they come my way. And she brought some special honey's from Italy although she won't share them as they are gifts

She's lucky she ended up stuck in a 5 star hotel in Quatar
She flew Quatar airlines instead of British Airwaves.

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by: LeeN @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 17:43:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I just tell the host (4.00 / 4)

that I've got a little 24 hour bug and my stomach is unsettled.

Threat of puke always keeps people from bugging me about not eating chemical and CAFO's based food.

I usually make a protein shake before I visit family and friends who not yet come to understand why their food choices are bad for their health and the planet.

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by: OrganicGeorge @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 14:35:37 PM UTC

Hahaha (4.00 / 2)

somehow I don't think you've got Jewish relatives. The "24 hour bug" thing would NOT play well in my family at all. Then I think everyone would either be recommending all kinds of meds and pushing them on me OR telling me to get away so I don't expose them/puke near them.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 18:31:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

have u seen (or heard) (4.00 / 3)

the movie Taking Woodstock??
My therapist tells her non Jewish colleagues they have to watch to understand the Jewish family

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by: LeeN @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 19:37:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

no I haven't nt (4.00 / 2)

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Dec 27, 2010 at 06:02:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

that reminds me (4.00 / 3)

of my old trick to avoid drinking in Russia: I'm taking antibiotics.

For food: I am allergic to that.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 18:43:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nice (4.00 / 2)

would be hard to play it off that I'm allergic to everything except for the made-from-scratch toffee my roommate (the chef) is bringing. At least there will probably be a veggie tray out as an hors d'ouvre.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 18:47:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That reminds me of gift giving at Christmas time (4.00 / 2)

Ever since I moved out on my own back in the mid 80's, I've always been broke at Christmas time. Working in construction, it's normal for work to slow way down this time of year, especially outdoor commercial construction, which is most of what I did. So SOP for this time of year is "Merry Christmas, here's your last paycheck we're out of work".

It used to always trouble me that I wasn't able to buy everyone the types of gifts that I wanted to, assuming I was able to buy any gifts to begin with.

I had to train everyone to not give me any gifts as I didn't feel right receiving a gift if I wasn't able to give one. When I finally got all the family members trained, I was able to drop the whole concept of gift giving and was able to just enjoy getting together with the family. That's when I really started to look foreward to Christmas instead of dreading it.

Normal people scare me.... But not as much as I scare them.

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by: JoanneRigutto @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 19:23:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And that's really what it ought to be about... (4.00 / 2)

not all this running around shopping and gifting. I'd much rather do without gifts all together.  Just getting together and eating and talking. Religious ceremonies if you're into that.

I noticed one of our TV channels was talking about Christmas 2010 being when Americans learned once again how much they love to shop. Uggh!!

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by: DennisP @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 03:09:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

One of the big problems in this country (4.00 / 2)

is that a lot of businesses make at least 50% of their annual gross income from Christmas purchases. Some are much, much higher.

As a business owner, that'd make me awful nervous to have such a high proportion of my business dependant on one holiday/year.

Normal people scare me.... But not as much as I scare them.

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by: JoanneRigutto @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 06:09:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'd add to that (4.00 / 2)

that I HATE when all the gifts come into the house. Mostly that just goes for the kids' stuff. All the new toys and crap. Cuz of course they take zero responsibility for putting it away, and it doesn't even have a spot to go, and often people buy kids such awful stuff, which of course the kids love. This year the worst thing that came home with us was a dancing snowman. I told the kids we had a "no turning the snowman on during dinner" rule tonight.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Dec 27, 2010 at 06:13:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Fascinating converstation and concept (4.00 / 2)

If someone is serving something I don't like, I just don't eat it, if it's the whole meal, I don't eat at that meal. If I were going somewhere else far away from my home, I'd eat before or after the family meal. Of course, I'm used to going a day or two without eating, so I can do that, I realize a lot of people can't. But still, if you're away from home, you're probably either going to be in a motel/hotel or with relatives. There ought to be something to eat.

If I know ahead of time that the host/hostess has a hard time accepting that, then I just wouldn't go. My philosophy is, I'll support family, etc. be freinds, etc. the rest of the year, but if they normally don't serve food that I eat and then get upset when I don't eat it, why go? I'll send a card instead.

Normal people scare me.... But not as much as I scare them.

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by: JoanneRigutto @ Sat Dec 25, 2010 at 19:12:19 PM UTC

Visit Grocery Stores (4.00 / 2)

You can buy per packaged organic snacks at most stores now, it so much better than is was 20 years ago.

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by: OrganicGeorge @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 00:47:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I can't do w/o eating (4.00 / 2)

bc of my migraines. Empty tummies = bad for migraines. Yesterday I had the most beastly headache. For dinner I ate nothing but mashed potatoes. Other than meat, which there was lots of, the other options were creamed corn, some kind of creamy green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, and a cheesy garlic bread that had a spread on it that was an unnatural color orange. And tamales that looked delicious but were made with chicken. So I stuck to mashed potatoes only.

Then I ate tons of dessert and felt sick over that in addition to feeling sick from the migraine. At about 10pm I informed my roommate that it was time to leave or else I was going to throw up. So we left. And being in a dark car made me feel better although I still hurt a lot.

Today was a bit of a detox day for me. Decaf coffee, no sugar in my oatmeal, spinach, lentil soup made w/ cauliflower, and homemade corn tortillas w refried beans for dinner. OK, I admit to eating a little bit of the chocolate "Santa" got me. I mean - how did he know my favorite??

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Dec 27, 2010 at 06:07:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It can be a problem (4.00 / 3)

but our close friends know our eating patterns and make an effort to have something vegetarian to eat. For gatherings hosted by people we don't know as well, I always assume the worst and eat something before going... Usually I'm really glad I did. Amazing that someone could have a huge buffet dinner, yet have no vegetarian dish - let alone vegan.

At a recent holiday party, an acquaintance served stuffed mushrooms. A vegetarian friend asked whether the dish was vegetarian, the cook said, "Yes... (pause while a bite was taken) well, almost vegetarian.. there's just a little bacon". The truth is most people are clueless about food.

Bringing a dish is a good way to handle this situation, if the circumstances allow. I've found that it can also educate people that vegetarian food is not something strange and tasteless. A vegetable-heavy pasta salad can be a great way to start, because it's comfort food and most ingredients are very familiar.  

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by: catdevotee @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 08:40:13 AM UTC

agree (4.00 / 3)

I'm a baker so I always volunteer to bake home made bread that is almost always at least some whole wheat. Recently it's been http://www.daisyflour.com flour

I also make dips that look they something people know but I sneak in ingredients that may be unfamiliar. Last night to bring to a friends I made bean dip with white beans and artichokes.I added some garlic and veganaise which isn't junky. If was my version of that dip you often find this time of year..The one with mayo,artichokes and cheese

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by: LeeN @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 11:19:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's a great line... (4.00 / 2)

"Yes... (pause while a bite was taken) well, almost vegetarian.. there's just a little bacon".

Lol.

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by: JayinPhiladelphia @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 16:52:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jill, was your pumpkin pie vegan? (4.00 / 3)

If so, how did you do that?

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by: desmoinesdem @ Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 13:24:41 PM UTC

the best way I've done it before (4.00 / 2)

is using tofu. So, can of pumpkin or equivalent, 3/4 c. sugar (or less... you can get away w/ as little as 1/3 c.), 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, firm tofu instead of 2 eggs, and 1 c. soy/rice/whatever milk. Blend that, pour into crust, and then bake like normal.

This time the pie wasn't vegan. I bought it on a whim at Whole Foods. I was just too overwhelmed and out of it to bake or cook anything because I spent all my time building the coop the past few days. When I saw the pie on sale at Whole Foods I figured it was better than nothing.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Dec 27, 2010 at 06:10:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]