Oh, the chemical smell of Thanksgiving....

[Labcat]

Nov 28, 2013 13:39:48 GMT -5 Apple said:

I get that taste with a lot of things as well.  I do almost all from-scratch cooking and baking.  This year, I made the chocolate peanut butter pie I made last year, that calls for cool whip, and it just doesn't taste as good as it used to.  Looks like it's time to find a recipe that uses real whipped cream (the only problem with the real stuff is that it doesn't hold its shape after a while).

I'm very sensitive to various fumes, and that has affected me at work.  For the most part, I just don't do those jobs or make sure I never use the cleaners in a sprayer, just with a bucket and rags.

I have kept just enough processed food in my diet that it doesn't all affect me, but I'm finding that rare fast food meal sits worse and worse.  It still sounds so good, but after a few bites of many items, my stomach doesn't feel so great.

One substitute for the whipped cream would be coconut cream.  You can usually get about 1 cup of cream out of a can of coconut milk.  Just skim it off the top or put in the refrigerator overnight to help separate and solidify it.  

[HoneyBBQ]

Nov 28, 2013 15:43:25 GMT -5 @wxyz said:

NOT trying to be a bummer or argue, but many blind studies have shown that the "taste of organic" is placebo affect or whatever you want to call it.  It is a good thing that people have a choice and I am glad you guys are able to exercise that choice.

"Organic food less tasty than normal, watchdog says"

www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8340585/Organic-food-less-tasty-than-normal-watchdog-says.html

"In the study – which the organisation admitted was a small-scale investigation – it was found that conventionally grown tomatoes were sweeter, had a stronger flavour and were juicer than organic tomatoes. The produce, one of amateur gardeners' favourite crops, was tasted by 194 expert food analysts in a blind taste. Crucially, they did not know the test was about organic produce. "

and on another issue:

"Scientists Say Organic Food May Not Be Healthier For You"
science.slashdot.org/story/12/09/09/0542216/"

"NPR reports that although organic fruits and vegetables, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizer, comprise a $29 billion industry that is still growing, a new analysis of 200 peer-reviewed studies that examined differences between organic and conventional food finds scant evidence of health benefits from organic foods. 'When we began this project, we thought that there would likely be some findings that would support the superiority of organics over conventional food,' says Dr. Dena Bravata, a senior affiliate with Stanford's Center for Health Policy and co-author of the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 'I think we were definitely surprised.' Some previous studies have looked at specific organic foods and found that they contain higher levels of important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. For example, researchers found in one study that tomatoes raised in the organic plots contained significantly higher levels of certain antioxidant compounds. But this is one study of one vegetable in one field; when the Stanford researchers looked at their broad array of studies, which included lots of different crops in different situations, they found no such broad pattern. Here's the basic reason: When it comes to their nutritional quality, vegetables vary enormously, and that's true whether they are organic or conventional. One carrot in the grocery store, for instance, may have two or three times more beta carotene than its neighbor. But that's due to all kinds of things: differences in the genetic makeup of different varieties, the ripeness of the produce when it was picked, even the weather. Variables like ripeness have a greater influence on nutrient content, so a lush peach grown with the use of pesticides could easily contain more vitamins than an unripe organic one."


"The Food Lab: Do 'Better' Eggs Really Taste Better?"

www.seriouseats.com/2010/08/what-are-the-best-eggs-cage-free-organic-omega-3s-grocery-store-brand-the-food-lab.html

My unscientific anecdote: I have a LOT of allergies. Like... ten times what normal people have. It's highly annoying, to say the least. One facet of my allergies is an oral-allergy syndrome that causes my lips and gums to itch when I eat food I'm allergic to. Mainly this is when I eat certain fruits, but also celery and carrots. I personally find when I eat organic apples that my oral allergy syndrome is less severe than when I eat non-organic. Which is strange, because if you get an allergy test, it just tests the chemicals or whatever that are IN the apple. It's not like they put in the Round-up in with the shot they test you with. So somehow or another, the chemicals and sprays exacerbate my allergy (but don't cause it).

And of course the vitamin content is the same (slate article). I think it's a silly way to spin the data. An apple is still an apple at the end of the day. You just may get more than you bargain for with non-organic.

[8 Bit WWBG]

I've noticed that the Chick Fil-A breakfast biscuits I like don't taste as good now that I don't have them that often.  I still get them when I'm in the area, but that is down to once every 2 weeks instead of twice a week or so.

One does tend to adjust to what one eats regularly, that is for sure.  I've seen a few people either develop habits, or break them, thanks to a change in circumstance that made the habit harder (or easier) to sustain.

[chiver78]

went to a "Friendsgiving" meal today, and managed to keep my curiosity in check and not take a scoop of a legit green bean casserole that someone else brought. I think the fact that I got to see how congealed it was when cold, and how it slowly turned back to "normal" in the long time it took to reheat the refrigerated tray, ick...that definitely helped.

I was surprised to see that the 10# of very garlic mashed potatoes I brought were just gone. yay!

[msventoux]

I'm having trouble eating anything with canola oil or vegetable oil.  After I switched to mostly using olive oil the other two types of oils always smell (and taste) rancid to me, even if they're freshly opened. 

[skubikky]

Nov 28, 2013 18:34:08 GMT -5 milee said:

Nov 28, 2013 18:26:38 GMT -5 swamp said:

It may be a function of age. I used to be able and would eat everything.  I now find that processed stuff tastes welrdl. And believe me, sometimes it would be easier if I prepared a side of rice a roni for dinner. 

Fantastic. So in addition to getting those little wrinkles at the corner of my eyes, I can now look forward to major changes in taste? Great.

....um....that's the least of it.....

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 1, 2013 22:38:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

went to a "Friendsgiving" meal today, and managed to keep my curiosity in check and not take a scoop of a legit green bean casserole that someone else brought. I think the fact that I got to see how congealed it was when cold, and how it slowly turned back to "normal" in the long time it took to reheat the refrigerated tray, ick...that definitely helped.

I was surprised to see that the 10# of very garlic mashed potatoes I brought were just gone. yay!

What the?? It isn't a holiday without my green bean casserole!

ETA: but I served my green bean casserole next to a huge bowl of garlic mashed potatoes so do the two negate each other??

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 2, 2013 19:39:03 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I love me some chemcial based foods!  The chemicals is what makes things taste so yummy! 

You mispelled "wine"

[Peace Of Mind]

Dec 1, 2013 22:38:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

went to a "Friendsgiving" meal today, and managed to keep my curiosity in check and not take a scoop of a legit green bean casserole that someone else brought. I think the fact that I got to see how congealed it was when cold, and how it slowly turned back to "normal" in the long time it took to reheat the refrigerated tray, ick...that definitely helped.

I was surprised to see that the 10# of very garlic mashed potatoes I brought were just gone. yay!

LOL!  DH had bronchitis and a sinus infection and for some reason I was not in the mood for green bean casserole this time and he wasn't either.  I roasted green beans and asparagus instead this year and DH and I both agreed that would be how I'm doing the vegetables from now on.  I think we've grown up and prefer real food instead of the moosh!  Until we crave moosh again.   

[chiver78]

Dec 2, 2013 19:53:40 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Dec 1, 2013 22:38:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

went to a "Friendsgiving" meal today, and managed to keep my curiosity in check and not take a scoop of a legit green bean casserole that someone else brought. I think the fact that I got to see how congealed it was when cold, and how it slowly turned back to "normal" in the long time it took to reheat the refrigerated tray, ick...that definitely helped.

I was surprised to see that the 10# of very garlic mashed potatoes I brought were just gone. yay!

What the?? It isn't a holiday without my green bean casserole!

ETA: but I served my green bean casserole next to a huge bowl of garlic mashed potatoes so do the two negate each other??

lmao, no.....they don't negate each other. I'd totally compliment your garlic mashed potatoes though! there's no such thing as too much garlic IMHO

[chiver78]

Dec 2, 2013 19:55:10 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

Dec 1, 2013 22:38:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

went to a "Friendsgiving" meal today, and managed to keep my curiosity in check and not take a scoop of a legit green bean casserole that someone else brought. I think the fact that I got to see how congealed it was when cold, and how it slowly turned back to "normal" in the long time it took to reheat the refrigerated tray, ick...that definitely helped.

I was surprised to see that the 10# of very garlic mashed potatoes I brought were just gone. yay!

LOL!  DH had bronchitis and a sinus infection and for some reason I was not in the mood for green bean casserole this time and he wasn't either.  I roasted green beans and asparagus instead this year and DH and I both agreed that would be how I'm doing the vegetables from now on.  I think we've grown up and prefer real food instead of the moosh!  Until we crave moosh again.   

roasted isn't moosh....? I don't think I've ever had roasted green beans or asparagus, they don't seem like veggies that would roast to my liking (still sorta crunchy)    but yay for finding new ways to cook veggies that you and DH like. I had leftover pancetta from the weekend's cooking, so I did up another batch of Brussels sprouts 'n pancetta with some baked fish tonight. yum.....I'd have thrown out extra fish if I had to in order to finish the sprouts.

[Peace Of Mind]

Dec 2, 2013 20:08:08 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 2, 2013 19:55:10 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

LOL!  DH had bronchitis and a sinus infection and for some reason I was not in the mood for green bean casserole this time and he wasn't either.  I roasted green beans and asparagus instead this year and DH and I both agreed that would be how I'm doing the vegetables from now on.  I think we've grown up and prefer real food instead of the moosh!  Until we crave moosh again.   

roasted isn't moosh....? I don't think I've ever had roasted green beans or asparagus, they don't seem like veggies that would roast to my liking (still sorta crunchy)    but yay for finding new ways to cook veggies that you and DH like. I had leftover pancetta from the weekend's cooking, so I did up another batch of Brussels sprouts 'n pancetta with some baked fish tonight. yum.....I'd have thrown out extra fish if I had to in order to finish the sprouts.

No, roasted doesn't turn them into moosh at all.  We do prefer them to carmelize a bit and they are softer but you can just roast them a shorter time before they reach that point and remain crunchy.  I spread them out on cookie sheet lined with tin foil.  I drizzle olive oil, garlic, a little S&P and either Italian seasoning or Oregano and after roasting them I sprinkle grated parmesan or whatever cheese you like over them.  Delicious!  DH never liked green beans or Brussel sprouts until I made them that way.  He used to prefer them smothered in cream of crap soup and French Fried Onions.  But he still won't eat asparagus.  But hey, I'm making major progress.  He used to only eat corn as his only "vegetable".  LOL!

[Cookies Galore]

Dec 2, 2013 20:08:08 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 2, 2013 19:55:10 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

LOL!  DH had bronchitis and a sinus infection and for some reason I was not in the mood for green bean casserole this time and he wasn't either.  I roasted green beans and asparagus instead this year and DH and I both agreed that would be how I'm doing the vegetables from now on.  I think we've grown up and prefer real food instead of the moosh!  Until we crave moosh again.   

roasted isn't moosh....? I don't think I've ever had roasted green beans or asparagus, they don't seem like veggies that would roast to my liking (still sorta crunchy)    but yay for finding new ways to cook veggies that you and DH like. I had leftover pancetta from the weekend's cooking, so I did up another batch of Brussels sprouts 'n pancetta with some baked fish tonight. yum.....I'd have thrown out extra fish if I had to in order to finish the sprouts.

I find it hard to believe someone of your culinary mastery has never had roasted asparagus!

[chiver78]

I grill year-round.....and grilled asparagus is the shit. why mess with something that isn't broken?

[swamp]

Dec 2, 2013 20:29:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I grill year-round.....and grilled asparagus is the shit. why mess with something that isn't broken?

I grill year round too. But sometimes standing out at the grill when it's -30 really sucks, so I throw it in the oven instead. 

[Deleted]

Come back inside! broiling is upside down grilling according to Alton Brown. 

[chiver78]

Dec 2, 2013 20:32:02 GMT -5 swamp said:

Dec 2, 2013 20:29:21 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I grill year-round.....and grilled asparagus is the shit. why mess with something that isn't broken?

I grill year round too. But sometimes standing out at the grill when it's -30 really sucks, so I throw it in the oven instead. 

that's what the grill pan is for.     

or, yanno, it was a thinly veiled insult at my cooking skills that I chose to ignore.

[swamp]

No insult. I just don't like to stand outside when it's really cold. 

[Apple]

Roasted asparagus is yummy!  I like it best when the ends get a little burnt.

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 2, 2013 21:08:58 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 2, 2013 20:32:02 GMT -5 swamp said:

I grill year round too. But sometimes standing out at the grill when it's -30 really sucks, so I throw it in the oven instead. 

that's what the grill pan is for.     

or, yanno, it was a thinly veiled insult at my cooking skills that I chose to ignore.

how in the world is swamp being a wuss in the cold an insult? 

[chiver78]

Dec 2, 2013 21:40:33 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Dec 2, 2013 21:08:58 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

that's what the grill pan is for.     

or, yanno, it was a thinly veiled insult at my cooking skills that I chose to ignore.

how in the world is swamp being a wuss in the cold an insult? 

swamp wasn't insulting, I grill out of my garage often enough myself.  my comment was directed at the poster who called my cooking skills into question, where there wasn't any reason. I don't need to debate further, but will do so if y'all find the need. no skin off my back!

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 2, 2013 21:59:44 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 2, 2013 21:40:33 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

how in the world is swamp being a wuss in the cold an insult? 

swamp wasn't insulting, I grill out of my garage often enough myself.  my comment was directed at the poster who called my cooking skills into question, where there wasn't any reason. I don't need to debate further, but will do so if y'all find the need. no skin off my back!

I have no idea what you are talking about and certainly don't want to waste time debating whatever the hell it is you are talking about. You quoted swamp and yammered something about an insult. I thought you were talking about swamp and so did she...how that qualifies as debating to you is beyond me...I forgot, everyone else is always wrong

[whoisjohngalt]

Dec 2, 2013 21:26:35 GMT -5 swamp said:

No insult. I just don't like to stand outside when it's really cold. 

I thought that was husbands were for...

[Peace77]

I avoid chemicals too.  I use ALL Free & Clear for laundry detergent and skip the fabric softener.   I use only Flylady's purple rags and water for windows and mirrors.

Most canned vegetables are terrible (corn and beets are ok).  I avoid restaurants that only serve canned veggies such as Denny's.

The prepared food served in some natural food stores such as Whole Foods and MOM's is excellent.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I don't go so far to only eat "natural". I'm not keen on canned veggies - except as Peace77 said - corn is ok - such as Niblets.

Frozen veggies nuked or steamed are ok and I don't mind them at all. I don't care for canned beans or peas, carrots, etc - it's mush.

I'm not all that into the "natural" or organic foods the stores are selling now. I've found that a lot of the organic tastes terrible.

When we were growing up as kids, there was no such thing as organic farming or meats OR preservatives - and we were much healthier than the kids of today with all their health problems from food that's been "improved".

I also don't buy into the whole "organic" theory that it's better for you. I"ve had organic milk or eggs and it tastes terrible.

I've probably got a better resistance to things because I've been exposed to them all my life - unlike kids to day who are getting sick or all kinds of "syndromes" due to the crap they're being exposed to instead of naturally grown foods like they'be been doing for decades, if not centuries.

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2013 22:07:31 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

I don't go so far to only eat "natural". I'm not keen on canned veggies - except as Peace77 said - corn is ok - such as Niblets.

Frozen veggies nuked or steamed are ok and I don't mind them at all. I don't care for canned beans or peas, carrots, etc - it's mush.

I'm not all that into the "natural" or organic foods the stores are selling now. I've found that a lot of the organic tastes terrible.

When we were growing up as kids, there was no such thing as organic farming or meats OR preservatives - and we were much healthier than the kids of today with all their health problems from food that's been "improved".

I also don't buy into the whole "organic" theory that it's better for you. I"ve had organic milk or eggs and it tastes terrible.

I've probably got a better resistance to things because I've been exposed to them all my life - unlike kids to day who are getting sick or all kinds of "syndromes" due to the crap they're being exposed to instead of naturally grown foods like they'be been doing for decades, if not centuries.

I'm guessing you think the organic tastes terrible because you're used to the pesticide version of those things.  It's just like grass fed beef or vegetarian sausage - they taste different the first time but you get used to them (although I've never found the grass fed beef to taste different, others on her have said they have).

[milee]

Another study linking pesticides to health issues.   healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/aging/the-crazy-link-between-pesticides-and-parkinsons

The Cliff Notes version is that people with a certain genetic mutation are very susceptible to trace amounts of a chemical found in two pesticides and develop Parkinson's even when exposed to very small amounts of those pesticides.  So those people also felt that they were fine and there was no need to avoid those pesticides...

Until we know more about how the various pesticides play a role in disease, I don't think it's a bad idea to avoid them.  Yes, you might be one of the people that is immune or you might not, but there's no way to know.

BTW, I think this is what we will discover is going on with ADHD, Autism and Alzheimer's as well.  They'll be a result of a very complicated combination of factors.  A combination of a genetic predisposition and exposure to one or more obscure environmental factors and possibly only the exposure at certain key developmental times will have a result.  Combinations like that are incredibly difficult to ferret out and test for, so to be safe, I try to keep my family's exposure to toxins as low as possible just in case.  Again, it may not be necessary and we may not even have the predisposition so could eat mass quantities of chemical goop with no ill effect, but if we can afford to avoid it and avoidance isn't hurting anyone, why not take the safer path?

 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I can't find the book I read about farming discussing this but here is a link discussing the topic.  If you're no growing your own or verifying with the farmer what you're getting there are no assurances that organic is pesticide free and therefore "better" for you than the regular stuff.

www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~lhom/organictext.html

Not saying don't buy organic but be aware you may not be getting what you think you are.

"Free range" is another one.  All free range means is the animal has to have access to the outdoors it does not mean they ever actually have to set foot outside. Technically leave the cage door open can qualify you to slap "free range" on your product.

The idea that it means wide open spaces is a myth unless you're buying directly from a supplier that can verify what you're geting.  If you're buying it in a supermarket the difference between that free range chicken and the regular chicken besides the price tag is the free range one got to see some sunshine filter into it's cage.

It's amazing the amount of loopholes there are, for which you can thank lobbyists. 

[milee]

I get that, DramaQ. It's not a perfect system and if I were one of the people that knew I had a certain genetic mutation that predisposed me to something like Parkinson's, I'd probably seriously look at growing my own food or making a good relationship with a local farmer I could trust.

As it is, though, I think my system is a reasonable compromise given what I know and can do.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I've become a cynical asshole about it all, especially after DH worked in the meat industry.  I read some of the company's literature and when you get past the "We care about quality and you" warm fuzzies they're trying to send and read in-between the lines it's quite disturbing how much control this one company has over our food supply. 

It shouldn't really amaze me because the food industry has really deep pockets and we know what talks in Washington.

If I had the money I'd go completely with CSAs and the meat suppliers at the Farmer's Market. But I don't so I do the best I can with what I have to work with.   When the farmer's market is in season I do most of my shopping there.  We get some produce from my BIL.

When it's not I mainly stick with avoiding the dirty dozen at the supermarkets.


I'm probably going to die from some cancer brought on by all the chemicals I work with the non-organic apple won't have a chance to kill me.