Monday, January 31, 2011

Greek Meal

Greek meal, went off without a hitch.  Lots of info and pictures to come.

In the mean time. I'm thinkin alligator is up next.  Anyone have any interesting recipes to use?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

1/25/2011

Ok, I thought it was time for an update in my progress of finding the perfect recipes.  My search has been long and hard.  I’m not only trying to find the perfect recipe, I’m looking for the recipe that will throw me headlong into Greek food.  I want to taste Greek in every bite.  Anyone can go and order a gyro, I want something real.  So here are the recipes I’m kind of feeling right now.
Appetizers:
3 Cheese Eggplant rolls
Olives with Lemon
Peppers stuffed with feta
Mydia me Tomata Kai Skordo (Mussels with Tomato and Garlic)
Keftethakia (Cocktail Meatballs)

Main Courses:
Potato and Lamb Moussaka
Arni Tis Katsorolas Me Patates (Potted Lamb Casserole)
Lamb and Eggplant Moussaka

Desserts:
Baklava
Koulourakia

I’m also on the search for a good wine to drink with dinner.  Anyone have any ideas? 

Friday, January 21, 2011

1/21/2011

In the sharing of my mission, I have come across some mixed reactions.  I have encountered everything from the disgusted to the excited to share in my journey.  Lets clear up some confusion that I have created.  When I say ‘bizarre’ I don’t mean animal intestines and insects will be on the menu all the time, I mean different from the typical American food.  I want to cook with different raw materials then what is in the typical American kitchen. 
My boyfriend is extremely excited for this journey to start.  My first party is set for January 30, 2011.  Which would be next Sunday.  I am super excited.  I haven’t decided on what I’m going to cook as of yet, I found a couple of fun recipes that use beef and lamb.  Ground lamb.  A meat, that I, myself, have never had.  I’ve heard many different points of views on lamb, everything from its very delicious to its too gamey for some people.  Anyone ever had it?  I’m dying for your input!
One last note… Anyone know where to find exotic meats online? 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

1/20/2011

I’m on my search for ‘bizarre’ recipes.  And I’m not really sure what I’m looking for.  I want to find recipes that are far out of our comfort zone as Americans.  If you think about it, what are Americans known for?  Food wise; we’re a pretty simple lot; hamburger and fries, the hot dog vender on the street, macaroni and cheese, and the southern fried chicken we’ve all come to love.  I don’t know about you, but I want to know more.  I want to know what rabbit tastes like, what snake and alligator taste like.  Will it be difficult, absolutely?  But isn’t that the point?  Isn’t that the point of self exploration? 
So like I said, I’m on the hunt for a recipe.  Do I want to travel to China first?  How about Russia?  Ireland, or how about to the land of my ancestors, Germany?  I have settled on Greece this week.  Let the research begin.
Not only do I want to research the recipes, I want to research the culture.  Learn what food means to the people.  I want to understand what food means, what traditions these people have with their food.  Is it merely a meal they seek, or something more? 

My Misson

Cooking; by definition means to prepare food.  How boring is that?  Cooking is so much more; it’s a form of self expression, of self exploration.  Conquering our fears of what is bizarre food really is.  Is salmon candy really all that strange?  Actually, the answer will surprise you.  Cow brain, really all that disgusting?  That I don’t know, but I do plan on finding out.  I am to my core, a very safe eater.  If it doesn’t look or sound good, I do not and will not bring it near my mouth.  A habit, which you should know, is very annoying to my boyfriend who is extremely adventures in both his life and his food.  Which very strange, seeing as cooking is a passion of mine. 

So this is my mission.  Over the next year, I will cook three ‘bizarre’ recipes every other week, a appetizer, main course, and a side dish, and I report back to you with pictures, and details of my journey.  I might even get my friends to try them.  Have ‘bizarre’ food parties.  How exciting does that sound?  So let the fun begin!  I hope you enjoy in the journey as much as I do.