Why It’s Better if We Can’t Afford Meat

10|28|10

Beef ranchers are complaining that the domestic market is “withering,” and therefore the quality of meat will decline.

This, of course, assumes that we’re not smart enough to buy better beef. From many perspectives – that of the person who wants only organic beef; that of one who wants only local beef; that of one who wants grass-fed beef, or “natural” beef, or humanely raised beef, or all of the above – the price of “normal” (that is, industrially-raised) beef is already too low. Suppose one wanted higher quality beef, and were willing to pay for it? Suppose one were willing to eat less beef in order to keep one’s food budget more-or-less stable? Wouldn’t a decline in industrially raised beef be OK? And who cares if it becomes even “worse?” It’s already produced with almost no concern for quality.

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Dinner with Bittman: Real Beef Stroganoff

10|27|10

Recipe from How to Cook Everything.

Real Beef Stroganoff

Makes: 4 servings

Time: 30 minutes or less

Don’t scoff; this is good stuff, despite the bad versions of it you’ve undoubtedly tried. Use pieces of tenderloin if you can, because the cooking is quick and the meat should be tender. Both the mushrooms and the tomatoes are optional; the dish is perfectly fine without either or with both. Serve this over buttered egg noodles or plain rice or with bread.

Other cuts and meats you can use: boneless veal or pork shoulder or veal round.

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This Week’s Minimalist: Ricotta Gnocchi

10|27|10

No potatoes. No dough-rolling. No-sweat gnocchi.

Dinner with Bittman: Raw Beet Salad

10|26|10

Recipe from How to Cook Everything.

Raw Beet Salad

Makes: 4 servings

Time: 20 minutes

Beets, like carrots, can be eaten raw. And they’re delicious that way, crunchy and sweet. So sweet, in fact, that they need a strongly acidic dressing like this one for balance.

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Photos From Powell’s Books, Portland

10|26|10

Last night I spoke at Powell’s in Portland, Oregon, one of the great American book stores. I love it there.

Putting McDonald’s Out of Business

10|26|10

The fact that Mickey D’s may be forced to raise prices because of higher commodity costs isn’t entirely bad news; but it’s not entirely good either.

In a fair world, anything that discourages people from eating at McDonald’s could be seen as wonderful. Reflecting the true cost of a cheeseburger – one that includes the health care costs that appear down the road, or the environmental costs that few people seem concerned about – would be a good thing. By discouraging the consumption of cheeseburgers, higher prices would encourage better health and less environmental damage.

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Creamy Carrot and Chickpea Soup

10|25|10

By Freya Bellin

One of the cold weather staples in my kitchen is a good, hearty soup — the kind that needs only a thick slice of bread to make itself a meal. This carrot and chickpea soup fits right into that category: it has relatively few ingredients, takes only about 30 minutes of active cook time, and is completely satisfying as a main dish. The smoked paprika smells amazing bubbling in a stock pot for hours. My chickpeas soaked for about 3 hours before I added them to the stock, and it required about 2 hours cooking time to soften them. If you remember, try soaking the beans overnight to reduce that time. Plus, you can reuse the soaking liquid – I used 2 cups of chickpea liquid and 4 cups of vegetable stock for the 6 cups of liquid needed. I ate a few bites of the soup before I pureed it and it’s as good chunky as it is smooth. Recipe from The Food Matters Cookbook.

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Leonard Lopate Show

10|25|10

My conversation with Leonard Lopate on his show last Friday.

Sunday Supper: Chicken Cutlets and Tomatoes in Packages

10|24|10

Recipe from How to Cook Everything.

Chicken Cutlets and Tomatoes in Packages

Makes: 4 servings

Time: 1 hour

You can steam chicken directly over water, but better, in my opinion, is to steam the chicken, along with the flavorful juices of wine, tomato, oil, or stock, in a wrapped package in the oven. This method—traditionally called cooking en papillote—is simple and foolproof. It’s also impressive to serve individual packages at the table, using either parchment paper or aluminum foil to wrap the chicken and its seasonings. Easier still, if not quite as attractive, is to combine everything in a covered glass or ceramic baking dish.

Other protein you can use in this recipe: any cutlets—pork, veal, or turkey.

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Everyday Pancakes

10|22|10

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Time: 20 minutes

It’s amazing how quickly you can whip up this batter. Store it, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Adjust the consistency of the batter with either more milk or more flour as you like. Recipe from How to Cook Everything.

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