One of the nice things about taking part in a swap is getting to know someone through their blog. This list from a BBC reader's poll was on my tea swap partner's blog. Maybe I'm wrong, but going through the list, I am convinced that most Americans are probably more adventurous eaters than people in the UK.
My Results:
1. Fresh fish - Yes.2. Lobster - Yes.3. Steak - Yes. I am a confirmed carnivore.4. Thai food - Yes.5. Chinese food - Yes.6. Ice cream - There’s always room for ice cream.7. Pizza - Who hasn’t eaten pizza? I love the spinach and mushroom one from Zachary's. If you're ever in the Bay Area, you should try it!8.Crab - My favorite time of the year is when the start of crab season is announced on the news.9. Curry - Yup.10. Prawns - Check.11. Moreton Bay Bugs - Do crayfish count? They look like they’re the same size.12. Clam chowder - Always New England style on clam chowder Friday.13. Barbecues - Mmmm. Roast beast! I’ve never met a barbecue I didn’t like. *If you ever get a chance to eat Brazilian barbecue (churrasco), do it!14. Pancakes - Yep, but I prefer French toast or waffles.15. Pasta - Yes!16. Mussels - Yes.17. Cheesecake- Yes.18. Lamb - I think people either love lamb or hate it. I enjoy it; but then again, I pretty much like everything except liver, or fermented tofu, or lima beans, or...19. Cream tea- Mmmm. Clotted cream and scones.20. Alligator- No, but I bet it tastes like chicken.21. Oysters - Yes. In winter, I love to eat them in stew.22. Kangaroo - No.23. Chocolate - Yes. Pretty much a given.24. Sandwiches- Ditto.25. Greek - Yes!26. Burgers - Make mine medium rare with mushrooms on top.27. Mexican food - Of course.28. Squid- Yum! A workout for your teeth.29. American diner breakfast - Do truck stops count?30. Salmon- Eight years of my life were spent living in Oregon. There were times when I felt like the Bubba Blue (think Forest Gump) of salmon. I love smoked salmon when it's still warm from the smoker.31. Venison - Had it. Moose was better. So was elk.32. Guinea pig - Not Fluffy!33. Shark - My parents lived in Hong Kong for 14 years. Shark fin is in many dishes. Kind of unavoidable when you’re trying to be polite.34. Sushi - My people’s soul food. But what’s up with the cream cheese ones? That’s like adding fruit to bagel dough!35. Paella - Yes. Fried rice, big whoop. Not crazy about it.36. Barramundi - I don’t think so.37. Reindeer - Rudolph? No way!38. Kebab - I love chelo kebabs with a side of fattoush salad.39. Scallops- Yes. 40. Australian meat pie - No. Isn’t it just a chicken pot pie with beef?41. Mango - Yum.42. Durian fruit - Oh, P.U.! If I have to hold my nose to eat it, chances are I won’t. 43. Octopus- Yep, Mom makes a great salad with cucumber, rice vinegar, and octopus.44. Ribs - My favorite.45. Roast beef - Yes. Just had some yesterday!46. Tapas - Yes.47. Jerk chicken/pork- Yes.48. Haggis - Not in your life.49. Caviar- Black, red, yellow, and green. You’re not a good Japanese girl if you don’t eat these.50. Cornish Pastry- Yes. They sell them at my farmer’s market. I want to eat one in the UK someday.
So much of this list seems normal to me (well, except for durian and haggis, but they're not normal!) I keep thinking there should be more things on the list, like: sugar apples, jabuticaba, feijoada, bulgogi, Nutella crepes, or even a pastrami on rye from a great deli! What would be on your list?
It's a sandcastle bundt pan from Williams-Sonoma. Cute, isn't it? Unfortunately, I don't have kids and I bake cakes only about once or twice a year. Even though I felt guilty about it, I exchanged it for one of these. Now, I've never been a big pancake eater, but I have wanted one of these pans ever since I read about them in third grade (I am such a literature nerd! I tried to whittle once, after reading about it in the "Little House" books. Took off the top half of my thumbnail!)
with just about anything, provided you cover it with extra batter before you flip them over. They were a little crunchy on the outside and pretty tasty! Kind of like a cross between a silver dollar pancake and a jelly doughnut. I'm trying to figure out what else I can make in the pan... In the end, it was worth the guilt.
with just about anything, provided you cover it with extra batter before you flip them over. They were a little crunchy on the outside and pretty tasty! Kind of like a cross between a silver dollar pancake and a jelly doughnut. I'm trying to figure out what else I can make in the pan... In the end, it was worth the guilt.
