Got some new cookbooks.

[zimmerstutzen]

When I was in second grade, my mother was very sick. I had to get myself off to school every morning. I got dressed, went to the barn to feed and water the chickens, collect the eggs and then back to the house where I cooked my eggs in my own cast iron frying pan. Then washed up and walked to the bus stop. My mother frequently apologized for being so ill. But she did teach each of us to cook and do laundry so we would be able to fend for ourselves someday. Mom got better in spite of the doctors and turns 87 this year. My Mrs. Brags about my cooking to the women folk.

 

[tenngun]

:thumbsup: good story, ... Teach a man to fish

 

[satx78247]

WISE Mom, imVho.

"Modern" parents who don't teach their children necessary "everyday living skills" are setting them up to FAIL, when the children are "on their own".

yours, satx

 

[coloradoclyde]

When I was in second grade, my mother was very sick. I had to get myself off to school every morning. I got dressed, went to the barn to feed and water the chickens, collect the eggs and then back to the house where I cooked my eggs in my own cast iron frying pan. Then washed up and walked to the bus stop. My mother frequently apologized for being so ill. But she did teach each of us to cook and do laundry so we would be able to fend for ourselves someday. Mom got better in spite of the doctors and turns 87 this year. My Mrs. Brags about my cooking to the women folk.

Gee Zimm, Sounds like you could be my brother... :shocked2: :haha: :thumbsup:

 

[Brokennock]

Worse. A very close friend in college shared a dorm with a girl who we wouldn't have trusted to even TRY to make toast. Dorm fires are bad.
She once wanted to make boxed mac-n-cheese (why? Can't cook=no taste) She put some water in a pot and set it on the stove, I doubt she measured the water. A minute or two later she actually asked me, in all seriousness, "how long do I boil the water before I put the pasta in?"

More on topic, I'm a big fan of "The Settlement Cookbook" as well as a few obscure old cookbooks. I also raided my grammie's recipe box after she passed. I used this smarty pants phone thing to take pictures of all the great old recipes we remembered from growing up.
Root beer, potato starch donuts that use leftover mashed potatoes, all sorts of pickles and canning recipes, oh, and, "trap boil" was in with all the rest. Ha ha.

Gonna Google that Shaker book and we if I can find a copy.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Do you want the ISBN number?

 

[satx78247]

Inasmuch as I had a new electric toaster, bread & butter, I just couldn't believe that he didn't know how to make toast. = I'd guess his "Mommy" did everything for him, even at 15YO.

yours, satx

 

[tenngun]

I kind'a think that's why we have so many 'foody' shows on tv now. Lots of people grew up not cooking, and maybe mom and dad didn't cook either. So many frozen and pre done meals can be bought, mom and dad both working out of the house, many families just one mom or dad. Now our young are(re)discovering cooking.
My step son and his partner live near downtown Boston. My step son is a good cook, and loves it, but... five days a week its take out for them.
We tend to loose skill real fast if we don't use them. I bet by 1750 you would have been hard pressed to find an Indian that could knap an arrow head east of the Mississippi.
I work in a trauma unit, It is a surprise to me every day to meet so many people, well n to their fourties who are almost helpless.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I'll admit, if I lived in a big city I would probably eat out five nights too....There is much more to do in a big city and many more places to eat.
I live in a food desert.....and cooking is a form of entertainment.
Also applies to growing my own food too.

 

[satx78247]

I do live in a big city of 1.6 million, with many various/great places to eat out, but I don't know anyone but Mrs. Brown (my 88YO next door neighbor & who has "severe issues" with her hands) who eats out more than one or 2 days a week.

There are 8 individual cottages on this property & most of us "share food" (including "making extras" to share when baking) & when it's cool enough to eat outside (Picnics aren't "really fun" when it's 100 degrees F or "pouring down rain"), several of us get together to BBQ outside together.
(I guess that we're "out of step with" modern life.)

Note: It must be admitted that the youngest resident "on property" is >50YO, not counting grandkids.

yours,satx

 

[zimmerstutzen]

There are things about cooking that have been almost lost with the advent of modern ingredients and convenience cooking.
I actually like some cooking shows. There are reasons why some steps in a recipe must be followed and some cooking shows explain the science of why.

Many years ago I saw a chart of how to tell how hot cast iron was for cooking based up holding a hand over it, touching a wet finger to it, or the time it takes for a drop of water to evaporate.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Age, location, local culture.....are huge factors in what ends up on the dinner plate....for sure...

Some towns are food towns...some aren't...

 

[tenngun]

Local taste is important. I grew up in a town with a large Hispanic population, and learned good Mexican food young. The best I ever ate was a little hole in the wall in San Diago in the navy. The place looked like the lowest dive, and the family that owned it would be hard pressed to sit in a duce and a half, though there were only half a dozen. Looks aint every thing, God went there to eat on his days off.
After doing my hitch I moved to the Ozarks, where Mexican food all tasted like taco bell. Not bad but not good. Then some years ago a Family moved in to Mt Home Arkansas that put out food on a par with the best I ad ever had. She lasted about a year. That was over twenty years ago, and we are getting some good places, Still I miss that little hole in the wall.

 

[satx78247]

The Alamo City has GREAT Tex-Mex, Thai, Chinese & BBQ but I truly MISS a city with GREAT Authentic Mexican, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Indian & other World cuisines available.

Tex-Mex is almost a "religion"/cult here in South Texas & I suspect that more fistfights have started over who has the BEST than have started over adultery.
(IF anyone is coming to SA and wants a recommendation, I can give you a DOZEN or more places that have GREAT Tex-Mex but I refuse to get into a HOT argument over whose place is THE BEST.)

Btw, the nearest thing that we have to AUTHENTIC "Interior" Mexican is LA PALOMA in Alamo Heights, which is quite good BUT not if compared to LA FONDA SAN MIGUEL in Austin, by any means.
Note: "LA FONDA", as locals call it, is $$$$$ and a "cocktail dress & heels sort of place" after 1800 hours & for brunch on Sundays.
(My adopted daughter is FROM Acapulco, Mexico & even she is "impressed with" LA FONDA. = Noemi says that , "You would have to look hard in the DF to find a place that's better.")

yours, satx

 

[coloradoclyde]

Tex-Mex is almost a "religion"/cult here in South Texas & I suspect that more fistfights have started over who has the BEST than have started over adultery.

That made me laugh...:haha:
I'm a long way from Mexico....And I wont eat at a taco bell or similar....
I've had some good Mexican food....but most of what's served in my area is bung fodder... :td:
I make my own....In fact I spent most of the day today harvesting pinto beans.....to make my own bean burritos.....Homemade bean burritos are "to die for"......everything else is bung fodder... :haha:

 

[sidelock]

The best I ever ate was in Mexico. Next best was in Williamsburg VA. A Mexican fam.run place I have visited every year in Dec. for at least 10 years. First few times it was great, "BUT" as time has gone on I guess the American Influence has taken over and it is now just OK.

 

[sidelock]

I love sushi. We have in Hamilton MT possibly the best sushi restaurant in the US. My very favorite restaurant in MT.

 

[satx78247]

Imo, sushi is too much like the cut bait that I used to use when I was commercial trotlining in college DAZE.
(I paid more than half of our college costs catching & selling catfish. Mostly "single-servers" at a buck each & still alive - It's difficult to find fresher fish than those who were swimming in a tub

 

[satx78247]

IF you should ever visit The Alamo City, call & we'll take you to PETE'S TAKO HOUSE, which is my favorite "hole in the wall joint".
(While PETE's may NOT be the best café in the city, their GREEN ENCHILADAS & CARNE GUISADA are "well-regarded" all over South TX & even by other Tex-Mex chefs.)

yours, satx

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The best I ever ate was a little hole in the wall in San Diago in the navy. The place looked like the lowest dive, and the family that owned it would be hard pressed to sit in a duce and a half, though there were only half a dozen. Looks aint every thing, God went there to eat on his days off.

Was that over near Coronado in say Barrio Logan, or over in National City?

After I moved from San Diego, we found a guy from Mexico, in a tiny little building, that only made burritos, just outside of DC when I was growing up....could've taught a thing or two to Chipotle.

If folks go to Hathi Trust and search under the word "cookery"...., they will find old cook books, OR try English cookery books to the year 1850...it's a book that lists previously published cook books by Year and Title, and then search for the title; some can be found within The Hathi Trust...., so alas are lost.

LD