Happy Twinkie Day!

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcTBiqVw6YfFt2PgTaqkxufgixoG6qIb5wdExK6kK-cgXRbkXXJfCjqpIYRg1ps7-Xi7eoZ6oTi9LemwJmYGyqG-M9DFZNT1bRRWlAHfuxCiG5bAml0Jr8rJSL5bQMWBjfHAncRXxWGJQ/s1600/twinkieday.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457065926209672018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcTBiqVw6YfFt2PgTaqkxufgixoG6qIb5wdExK6kK-cgXRbkXXJfCjqpIYRg1ps7-Xi7eoZ6oTi9LemwJmYGyqG-M9DFZNT1bRRWlAHfuxCiG5bAml0Jr8rJSL5bQMWBjfHAncRXxWGJQ/s320/twinkieday.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" /></a>Thanks to <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-food-celebrations-week-two.html">Louise</a>, I'm aware that this is the day Twinkies were invented in 1930. The funny thing is that I remember thinking they were new when I first ate them as an elementary school child. That was long after 1930. Actually, I liked them. And I bought this package of 10 individually wrapped Twinkies today and ate my first one in years. Despite the mile-long list of industrial ingredients, it tasted pretty good. I assume the other 9 have an infinite shelf life.<br /><br />Update: after an hour, I decided to have a second Twinkie. It didn't taste as good as the first. All kinds of philosophical thoughts are crowding into my brain in response to this experience.

Happy Twinkie Day!

Thanks to Louise , I'm aware that this is the day Twinkies were invented in 1930. The funny thing is that I remember thinking they were ...

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What did Mao Eat?

"Chairman Mao adored red-braised pork," Fuchsia Dunlop learned from the dictator's distant relative -- also named Mao. She found Chairman Mao's native village of Shaoshan to be full of such relatives. They still profit, she observed, from a lively tourist industry of Chinese visitors who revere the one-time leader.<br /><br />Mao's family home was carefully preserved: "no opportunity for communist propaganda is missed." Throughout Shaoshan's province of Hunan and the rest of China, Dunlop found a surprising view of Mao as "the last great leader of China.. ..They smile a little sadly when they reflect on his 'mistake,' the Cultural Revolution, but they forgive him: after all, doesn't everybody make mistakes?"<br /><br />Dunlop's book <span style="font-style: italic;">Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China</span> combines her experiences traveling, learning Chinese, discovering a wide range of Chinese regional cooking, and exploring villages and cities where Westerners rarely travel. In visiting Mao's home in Shaoshan, she focused on the kitchen with meat-smoking racks over an old wood-burning range and an open fire with a blackened kettle suspended above it. Dunlop talked to a local official about Maoist cookery and collected the red-braised pork recipe with its seasoning of star anise, ginger, and chili. Another tourist might have had a different focus. Hers is always on food.<br /><br />To the end of his life, she found, Mao's eating habits were those of a Hunanese peasant. He told a Soviet envoy "that you couldn't be a revolutionary if you didn't eat chillies." He disliked Chinese haute cuisine, and preferred rustic dishes such as steamed bacon, smoked fish with chilli, bean curd, cabbage, wild vegetables, and "the coarse grains that were normally the last resort of the rural poor."<br /><br />Above all, Mao despised those who ate well and wasted food to show off their wealth or power while others went hungry. Throughout the book, Dunlop documents the destruction of Chinese traditional court and restaurant cooking during the Cultural Revolution. She also frequently mentions the mass starvation caused in 1958 by the Great Leap Forward. Peasants were forced into collectives and their cooking pots were melted down to make steel. A mass wave of self-deception and bad faith resulted in a famine during which at least thirty million people died. She often remarked on the lasting impact of these events on the food preferences and habits of people she met.<br /><br />Dunlop's ability to create a vivid image of history through her own experiences is amazing. Her tour of Mao's home town is only one of many chapters. As she apprenticed in restaurant kitchens, ate at home or in restaurants with many common and not-so-common people, and learned several regional languages, she learned food and culinary customs of China. The combination of food history, political and social history, and personal experience makes her book extremely readable.<br /><br />(Quotes about Mao: p. 175-179)

What did Mao Eat?

"Chairman Mao adored red-braised pork," Fuchsia Dunlop learned from the dictator's distant relative -- also named Mao. She fou...

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Mona Peepsa on the Web -- Happy Easter!

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv8eRROMS7syPgdam8vSG4cJfRs8FjW-7C8AMlQEuE6686s3xQ2Pz-vYitwdNflV-6jzoH52CZPWnud8N2oqN6e9_GNFTbxl4yyrSZ9rIUSstvhwg34FnTUeoitPYqe4qRBKWUvf1V8iW/s1600/monapeepsa1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456268764938173378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv8eRROMS7syPgdam8vSG4cJfRs8FjW-7C8AMlQEuE6686s3xQ2Pz-vYitwdNflV-6jzoH52CZPWnud8N2oqN6e9_GNFTbxl4yyrSZ9rIUSstvhwg34FnTUeoitPYqe4qRBKWUvf1V8iW/s320/monapeepsa1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjgAe7xpOnhSLRbkPb4eJvxJfSVHDNoaaTT2dODnGI-2zfk7JxFCfFOZt1pPx5jgptShXO_ql2XMbyLiRYxe6067UEcyAJ9CT4lhSmveOunZAILtUojM6puc3dXnHDDq2q1PZPgfVD8tJ/s1600/monapeepsa2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456268759442902626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjgAe7xpOnhSLRbkPb4eJvxJfSVHDNoaaTT2dODnGI-2zfk7JxFCfFOZt1pPx5jgptShXO_ql2XMbyLiRYxe6067UEcyAJ9CT4lhSmveOunZAILtUojM6puc3dXnHDDq2q1PZPgfVD8tJ/s320/monapeepsa2.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMjF-Wkgr3MiH6Rqjh2PmEh_3rxCq9tGXT4448vOo39NakoK-K2OQxZ3n_UJiwTq2EAbbwiYTVMO1cyMYOnOPYqXtTpBZs5R0MaC0imdJGCX4KT3WGlsy_WXU6nmyyhSRJReS0elApU1y/s1600/monapeepsa3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456268753747184962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMjF-Wkgr3MiH6Rqjh2PmEh_3rxCq9tGXT4448vOo39NakoK-K2OQxZ3n_UJiwTq2EAbbwiYTVMO1cyMYOnOPYqXtTpBZs5R0MaC0imdJGCX4KT3WGlsy_WXU6nmyyhSRJReS0elApU1y/s320/monapeepsa3.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />This is Peeps Day among other things, and Peeps belong on this blog because they are edible and some people even view them as food. So I searched the web for Mona Peepsa. Here are a few web gleanings. (There are also a lot of dead links to past Peeps contests.) I enjoy looking at the winners of the many contests, and seeing the creative titles of all the entries.

Mona Peepsa on the Web -- Happy Easter!

This is Peeps Day among other things, and Peeps belong on this blog because they are edible and some people even view them as food. So I sea...

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The meaning of food

<object height="430" width="480"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://media.theonion.com/flash/video/embedded_player.swf?&videoid=17129"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.theonion.com/flash/video/embedded_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" flashvars="videoid=17129" height="430" width="480"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/video,17129/">Stouffers To Include Suicide Prevention Tips On Single Serve Microwavable Meals</a>

The meaning of food

Stouffers To Include Suicide Prevention Tips On Single Serve Microwavable Meals

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Zombie Food from Evelyn

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfYA-iijsL_IzMlLUXLDa2LDXsDLFANjxya5ZJ6Fxpq17MkRuPvatgbP2m5ZMcmwFcdwMAwDVO5BXxzCHcT9_t85x0rLPRxZDUG2_Lb1OraqwJ6SgFEfndpwD18r1sNXdSGwG0CRvBtk8/s1600/zombie2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455323192788753186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfYA-iijsL_IzMlLUXLDa2LDXsDLFANjxya5ZJ6Fxpq17MkRuPvatgbP2m5ZMcmwFcdwMAwDVO5BXxzCHcT9_t85x0rLPRxZDUG2_Lb1OraqwJ6SgFEfndpwD18r1sNXdSGwG0CRvBtk8/s400/zombie2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGB69Pudo8DLYg96C1XetRghcbaFafg8HMaHRFx5l9Up3Wc1QqPXBdxgpkfJkeplGKwC6j2C_qel73udEWz-ugXdSoDfvXB82sErekbVCaXwH8EVHvmBnLGLYXftIMfrCLfd8tBWNoAkVa/s1600/zombie1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455323190863008146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGB69Pudo8DLYg96C1XetRghcbaFafg8HMaHRFx5l9Up3Wc1QqPXBdxgpkfJkeplGKwC6j2C_qel73udEWz-ugXdSoDfvXB82sErekbVCaXwH8EVHvmBnLGLYXftIMfrCLfd8tBWNoAkVa/s400/zombie1.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>

Zombie Food from Evelyn

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Note on the Weather

We ate our artichokes on the back patio this evening, in glorious sunshine. I'm not sure we have ever been able to do this in March before. It was so enjoyable I didn't even think of taking a photo. The predictors tell us to expect a few more days of weather about 70 degrees!

Note on the Weather

We ate our artichokes on the back patio this evening, in glorious sunshine. I'm not sure we have ever been able to do this in March befo...

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Passover Dessert

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQGhx7vmcxc1Rra2fxbXaKldMbqo7QjAgSP4hjdP6_7mWPqAHl1grh-vNhliNlSsh1d2YZFW1_8cxjTLDf8GOEN3hTfNls9ZSAKF-ZhbReQWsVrrXoOVbR93Lw5VNPAIpcOV_q3nEIX41/s1600/crisp1819.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454265132375301250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQGhx7vmcxc1Rra2fxbXaKldMbqo7QjAgSP4hjdP6_7mWPqAHl1grh-vNhliNlSsh1d2YZFW1_8cxjTLDf8GOEN3hTfNls9ZSAKF-ZhbReQWsVrrXoOVbR93Lw5VNPAIpcOV_q3nEIX41/s400/crisp1819.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3S_lFCfapn7IgYaY_M4cGmTxzwVLRH3WZ_85PABcBLxGl9UHPtl7HrneTpq4tp0YiXdiF1mMWJHIdpa1t2uMA5ZKHgZFg692Xep3yLw_l9_wa87-ClO9YsTRwMEC7i2mk9Uj4tf_xv9H/s1600/crisp1832.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454265122033631778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3S_lFCfapn7IgYaY_M4cGmTxzwVLRH3WZ_85PABcBLxGl9UHPtl7HrneTpq4tp0YiXdiF1mMWJHIdpa1t2uMA5ZKHgZFg692Xep3yLw_l9_wa87-ClO9YsTRwMEC7i2mk9Uj4tf_xv9H/s400/crisp1832.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Strawberry-Apple or Rhubarb Macaroon Crumble</span></b></div></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><b>Topping:</b></span><br />7 oz almond paste (about 1 cup) crumbled<br />1 cup sugar<br />2 large egg whites<br />½ cup matzoh cake meal<br />¼ tsp. salt<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Fruit mixture:</span></b><br />3 lbs tart apples peeled, cored, sliced & sprinkled with lemon OR equal amt of rhubarb thin-sliced & blanched<br />1 lb strawberries, rinsed, hulled, sliced<br />1 ½ tbsp potato starch (or other starch or matzoh cake meal)<br />1 Tbsp sugar (or more as you like it)<br /><br />• In food processor, whirl almond paste & sugar. Add egg whites, cake meal, and salt. Process until mixture resembles wet cookie dough.<br /><br />• Toss fruit ingredients in large bowl. Obviously you can combine any equivalent quantity of rhubarb, strawberries, and apples as desired.<br /><br />• Spread fruit mixture in shallow 2 ½ to 3 qt. baking pan, greased. Pat topping over fruit.<br /><br />Bake at 350 degrees until topping browns, 40 to 45 minutes. Allow to stand before serving.

Passover Dessert

Strawberry-Apple or Rhubarb Macaroon Crumble Topping: 7 oz almond paste (about 1 cup) crumbled 1 cup sugar 2 large egg whites ½ cup matzoh c...

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