Ok, I'm 71 and this week I bought some sweet potato's for the first and last time.
I have to admit this comes under the heading of foreign food as far as I am concerned, I can't really see what it is good for!
It doesn't make a good french fry (chip) it doesn't roast properly, not much good as a mash, in fact however you cook it something tastes and feels wrong about it.. no matter what I do to it I can't make it taste like a spud..Why on earth do they call it a sweet POTATO.
I reckon when they discovered this some foreigner was eating it and the explorer couldn't understand the local name for it, probably Darwin, he had a habit of saying things just to upset people..
John.
SP fries are pretty good... they just aren't potato-y. You bake them, add butter and they taste pretty good. Boil them, they are sweet. They are sweet and don't remind me much of potato in taste. My wife loves them, me not so much.
You likely got the Kenyan variety, since they have been heavily imported into the UK recently. Before you give up entirely, look online and try a couple of different recipes. In the south we do Sweet Potato pie... reminds me of pumpkin sorta.
My Grandmother, who was the worst cook in recorded history spoiled my first encounter with sweet potatoes. It took me until 2012 to try them again...now I can't get enough! John, just slit it stem to stern, just through the skin to vent it, stick it in the oven at 350 for about an hour...Some people add cinnamon butter, but I found they are great plain...they will literally fall out of the skin....a wonderful surprise when I found that they didn't have to taste bad.....and the sweet potato fries are GREAT.....My Step daughter brought over a BIG bowl of mashed ones at Thanksgiving...she used a commercial chicken broth as the liquid rather than milk, when the mashed them...outstanding!
John, you don't want to give up yet...
First start calling them "yams" ---there is a slight difference between an actual "yam" and an actual "sweet potato", but who cares - they are bot similar in nature (to each other) but like you said - they are not much like a regular potato. Maybe if you think of them as Yams, you won't be expecting a "potato" and maybe will like them better for what they are.
Next- like some others have suggested - try some different recipes.
Troll's in the oven is good - just baked, and add butter - cinnamon and a little brown sugar if you like. Delicious.
Fries: this is how missus GB makes them - cut in strips bout the size of your fingers. Spray or brush on a wee bit of olive oil. 350 in the oven until they are getting a little crispy on the edges - I think this is about 20-30 minutes - might want to stir them up a bit half way through. Add some sea salt when they're done. These are great.
Sweet potato pie- now that's a great thing....
I've just steamed one with some carrots and potato's and will serve it to my son with roast chicken breast and gravy to see if he will eat it..
John.
Hmmm... I'm not too sure about that, John. I've never tried them that way. It might be really good, but here again- you're cooking it like a white potato and it's not a white potato so I'm afraid you'll be disappointed...
Here, John...some recipes to try: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20600272,00.html http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/10-sweet-potato-recipes http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/sweet-potato.html
Well John, I am with you buddy......
First off I do not like pumpkin pie, well don't like any pie, not my thing. So while living in CO all the Americans I worked with were making a big deal of their mama's sweet potato pie and how good it was. Being a dumb a$$ Canadian I had to ask what a sweet potato pie was.....duh.....1982 this was before the health food craze. So I had a couple of the people bring me a slice of the pie. I ate them and smiled and told them they were good.
They tasted like dirt, and were the worse thing I have ever eaten. I have had SP fries since and they are ok, I have had yams and they are ok......but SP pie I'll just pass on that thanks.
Quote from: CDNRatMan on January 31, 2015, 19:50:14 PM
Well John, I am with you buddy......
First off I do not like pumpkin pie, well don't like any pie, not my thing. So while living in CO all the Americans I worked with were making a big deal of their mama's sweet potato pie and how good it was. Being a dumb a$$ Canadian I had to ask what a sweet potato pie was.....duh.....1982 this was before the health food craze. So I had a couple of the people bring me a slice of the pie. I ate them and smiled and told them they were good.
They tasted like dirt, and were the worse thing I have ever eaten. I have had SP fries since and they are ok, I have had yams and they are ok......but SP pie I'll just pass on that thanks.
And you wonder why you have trouble getting people to mail you stuff from the US.... ::)
WHAT.......because I don't like SP pie......boy you folks are some touchy about your foods.............I did try other things American
Love Carl Jr.'s.....
Breakfast burritos are awesome.....
not a Popeye's fan.......did like Perkins, was a huge fan of Country Kitchen, so there.........
You definitely need to keep a more open mind to the whole eating experience... My wife is like you, when it comes to that..plain and simple stuff. Me, on the other hand, I will eat anything that doesn't eat me first...which is why I had to go on a weight loss campaign. Spicy octopus is pretty good, and one of my favorites is Habanero spiced Chili....I've lately discovered that I really like hot and sour soup.....and crawfish, and...and...and...
All this talking about food has me wondering...John, you have any special food plans for Shrove Tuesday? Sweet potato pancakes comes to mind...
Sorry to give you the wrong impression there Troll, but I have always made it a thing that no matter were I am I try the local cuisine. This has lead to some really mind opening experiences.
Uqhuq was one such an experience. Seal blubber and seal flipper pie were others. I do like to try different things and enjoy a lot of them.
Seal blubber and flipper pie... how were those?? Don't really sound good, but a lot of stuff doesn't.
It just occurred to me, as I was removing the 6" of global warming that fell overnight, that the reason you didn't like the pie is because my Grandmother made it.....
Last time I was in Canada, about 50 years ago, I went to a diner and asked for an open chicken sandwich, I think it was the only thing I recognised on the menu. In Britain a sandwich used to be two slices of bread and butter with something inside them, Sliced Ham, beef, pork, chicken or even lamb, most common was cheese, and if we were feeling really adventurous sliced onion or lettuce. So back to Vancouver in the sixties, the waitress bought me a plate with a slice of bread and butter and hot sliced chicken breast in a white sauce.. After staring at it for a few minutes in stunned silence I ate it and enjoyed it but I have never seen it since.
John.
Very common all over the U.S. Chicken, Beef, Pork, and this latest craze (not my thing) pulled pork...
Quote from: Troll on February 01, 2015, 09:07:18 AM
All this talking about food has me wondering...John, you have any special food plans for Shrove Tuesday? Sweet potato pancakes comes to mind...
Ahh pancake day..
Our pancakes are a lot different to yours, Two or three eggs half a pint of milk, add flour until it reaches the consistency of custard or double cream before you whisk it, heat about a teaspoon of clear oil or fat until the pan smokes a little bit, pour some mix in until it covers the bottom of a large frying pan to about 1/8th inch or a thin skin, swirl the pan until the mix bubbles a bit or the pancake moves on the surface of the pan, then toss it.. serve hot with a sprinkle of sugar and a squirt of lemon..
Best served to a large family one at a time, cooking time is usually twice as long as a childs eating time if you do it right.
John.
Oh Yes, Pulled pork..
It's a big thing in Chinese eat all you like buffets.
Britain has become a place where you can buy any foreign food you want now, KFC (which has gone downhill since the Colonel died), McDonalds, steak houses, carvery's, Kebab houses (I tried one of everything they sold the night the local one opened and threw most of it away), the Scots have deep fried mars (chocolate) bars, Indian and Chinese, a lot of bad fish and chip shops and a few great ones.. I rate a good fish and chips by the care taken in peeling the chips.. we still have some cafe's where you can buy eggs, baked beans, bacon and chips with a couple of slices of toast and a large mug of tea, and we have some where they sell the same thing sitting in a pool of fat with half raw or solid eggs.. But we don't have to eat the bad stuff just because it is there.
John.
Yeah when I lived in Scotland, there was one McDonald's down in London and a KFC over in Edinburgh. The KFC tasted as if they left out a spice or two - not uncommon since Scots didn't like spices other than curry!!! or so it seemed and so it was reported to me by a couple of Dunoon restaurant owners!
In my travels I never expect to dine on things to which I am accustomed at home. I try to enjoy the local foods. Some things are always better - like fish and chips! Somethings simply aren't the same. We were eating just outside the Ayr airport (couldn't tolerate the cucumber sandwiches at the airport). A family from Australia sat at the table next to us, obviously having just arrived. The waitress was taking their order... the kid wanted a hamburger and chocolate milkshake. As the waitress stood perplexed, I had to laugh. That family was in for an interesting Scottish adventure.
Of course that was back in the olden days when men were made of iron and ships of wood.
Fish and chips are a disappointment in Australia, very small portions of fish, the best KFC was in New Zealand, Served with mash and gravy and little soft yellow rolls, the best Fish and chips anywhere in the world was in the Yemen, they called it Kingfish but I think it might have been barracuda, a nice strong flavour, The best steak I ever tasted was in Bombay, It was at a café inside a large cinema and they called it a sizzler, It was a large water buffalo fillet, dished up on a chunk of wood with a cast iron plate straight out of the oven, it was served with badly cooked peas, carrots and soggy French fries, but the steak had some spices on it, just enough to notice and you could cut it with a fork, it was so big that I couldn't finish mine the first time I went there, by my third visit I think I could have eaten two. And thinking back to that open chicken sandwich back in Vancouver, well that was pretty darn good as well.
I honestly can't remember eating anything really special in America, China, Japan, Africa or many other countries although I did turn down the offer of chocolate covered locusts in Kenya.
John.
somehow I don't think the pulled pork I'm thinking about is the same as the pulled pork you are thinking about...I can't see a Cajun Barbecue specialty in a Chinese restaurant...I'm into Sushi, though...and Gyros!
Quote from: Troll on February 01, 2015, 13:39:24 PM
somehow I don't think the pulled pork I'm thinking about is the same as the pulled pork you are thinking about...I can't see a Cajun Barbecue specialty in a Chinese restaurant...I'm into Sushi, though...and Gyros!
I think it is just belly pork, cooked until the fat has gone and the meat is scraped with a fork into strings then flavoured with a sauce, the whole thing placed in a big heated tray and you just help yourself.
I can't compare the flavour of the sauce because I haven't tried both but I think the pork is probably similar..
They also sell what they call crispy duck which seems to be prepared the same..
Most of the meat I cook I wrap in cooking foil so that I don't have to clean the inside of the oven, chickens and other fowl get a few minutes to brown without the foil.
John.
Troll ride up here and I will stand the treat to the best Gyros you have had .........I would even pay to feed GB himself.....but wonder if he could eat more then 4 of them, the normal person gets full on one.........
It's REALLY TEMPTING....The best Gyro I can remember was in Germany, but there is a restaurant near me that does a pretty good job. That's kinda like the fad we're having now with the pulled pork. There used to be "Greek" restaurants all over, around here, now they're gone, replaced with something else....sometimes I'm not sure what the something else is...We have more of those Chinese buffets than anything else, right now,mostly run by Hmongs.
This place has been in business for a long time, and their reputation is huge, in their old location, truckers used to stop right on the highway and fake a breakdown to pick up orders they called in for pick up.......
I will foot the bill for you any time.......but beware that after eating there you will need a nap before continuing your ride.......lol........I also know a really good place for fish and chips.....and an awesome ride for the day. Drag Mr. GB along with you.
Oh god,
I just looked up Gyro's, they are what we call Doner kebab.. Tastes like two week old road kill with added gristle..
Tried it once.. never again..
Good lean roast beef, roast potato's crispy on the outside fluffy inside, peas, cauliflower, puff pies and really nice gravy.. That'll do me... Or a white bread and vintage cheddar cheese sandwich. Sometimes when I am feeling really adventurous I will have some branston pickle on it.
John.
Here, again, I don't think we're talking about the same thing...Gyros are a blend of marinated beef and lamb slow roasted, with vegetables and a garlic/cucumber sauce in a pita bread...Usually served with a Greek salad, consisting of normal lettuce/tomatoes, onion, Feta, black olives, and pepperoncini ...with a healthy dose of Balsamic vinaigrette ......Here's a recipe for the pulled pork I was thinking of...http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Texas-Pulled-Pork/?prop24=hn_slide1_Slow-Cooker-Texas-Pulled-Pork&evt19=1
Quote from: CDNRatMan on February 01, 2015, 17:36:57 PM
This place has been in business for a long time, and their reputation is huge, in their old location, truckers used to stop right on the highway and fake a breakdown to pick up orders they called in for pick up.......
I will foot the bill for you any time.......but beware that after eating there you will need a nap before continuing your ride.......lol........I also know a really good place for fish and chips.....and an awesome ride for the day. Drag Mr. GB along with you.
Might just have to do that. Maybe I can follow you home from Drift-In....
Quote from: Troll on February 01, 2015, 18:55:30 PM
Here, again, I don't think we're talking about the same thing...Gyros are a blend of marinated beef and lamb slow roasted, with vegetables and a garlic/cucumber sauce in a pita bread...Usually served with a Greek salad, consisting of normal lettuce/tomatoes, onion, Feta, black olives, and pepperoncini ...with a healthy dose of Balsamic vinaigrette ......Here's a recipe for the pulled pork I was thinking of...http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Texas-Pulled-Pork/?prop24=hn_slide1_Slow-Cooker-Texas-Pulled-Pork&evt19=1
That sounds just awful.
John.
;) lol.......
Troll perhaps you should ride up here for the Freedom Ride then you can go home and head out to Drift In or ride down with me and add more miles to your clock.....lol...
John no worse then mashed peas.....lol...
John....Which sounds awful?
Quote from: Troll on February 03, 2015, 09:36:05 AM
John....Which sounds awful?
The bit I outlined in bold, I can live with the pulled pork although they could have chosen a better name for it..
John.
Hmmmm. That's the part I like the best!
All this talking about sweet potatoes has made me hungry....baking one for dinner, with BBQ Chicken!
I had some fresh pickerel (walleye) and wild rice and veggies for supper tonight.....
Now you're just making words up..
John.
no John that is an actual fish and it is dependent on your area of living what it is called, it is one of the best eating fish you can have over here, and the best part is the cheeks if you can get enough of them....
That sweet potato was just right. I didn't need to add anything to it...just as it was. I decided to make the BBQ chicken, rather than pulled pork, or Jerk Chicken...Not a fan of walleye, but I sure do like LOX!
Quote from: Troll on February 04, 2015, 08:12:52 AM
That sweet potato was just right. I didn't need to add anything to it...just as it was. I decided to make the BBQ chicken, rather than pulled pork, or Jerk Chicken...Not a fan of walleye, but I sure do like LOX!
Ok, I'll Bite.
LOX..
As far as I understand that is a herring fillet with the skin on rolled up, and pickled in vinegar and then eaten raw.. If so it sounds ok to eat if you are in the middle of a war, surrounded by U-boats and unable to get much real fish, but not by choice..
Maybe take the skin off, make sure all the bones are out and have it hot on toast..
Apparently, in American films, they eat it on a bagel with cream cheese..
bagel.. a stale hard roll shaped like a donut and tastes like month old bread.
Cream cheese, spreads like soft butter tastes like processed cheese that they forgot to put the cheese flavour in..
There you go.. American food explained in English.
John.
Lox, salted smoked salmon usually served on a bagel with creme cheese and raw onion...There is a light version, called Nova Scotia Lox which has less salt...personally I prefer the original version, and the bagel isn't toasted...
Ok in the absence of real food, I could eat that.
My son and I have just sat down to chicken and french fries (chips) and to give it a last chance I chipped and fried some sweet potato, so now we have tried it boiled roast and fried, At this point we have both decided that, It might not be real food but if there was nothing else it may act as an imitation food..
We are going to throw the rest of the sweet potato's in the garbage and never eat any sweet potato's as long as we live..
For those of you that have read any Diskworld novels by Terry Prachett this has to come under the heading of, Commander Grimes statement of "Let's see what disgusting food we can make these foreigners eat."
John.
Quote from: CDNRatMan on February 03, 2015, 16:56:30 PM
I had some fresh pickerel (walleye) and wild rice and veggies for supper tonight.....
Yum! I haven't had pickerel since I left northern Ontario. It is the best fish.
Quote from: Troll on February 04, 2015, 09:42:51 AM
Lox, salted smoked salmon usually served on a bagel with creme cheese and raw onion...There is a light version, called Nova Scotia Lox which has less salt...personally I prefer the original version, and the bagel isn't toasted...
Nova Scotia Lox is made one community, 40 miles, from my house. My friend's husband and son work at the smoke house. I don't like the lighter salt version either.
Hard to find the original recipe around here, too many "health nuts" who despise salt...while eating their cheese curds and drinking gallons of beer with their "Friday Night Beer Batter fish".....Who knows what "Lutefisk" is?????
Sometimes "health nuts" go too far. Once had a guy who refused to eat any salt arrive in full cardiac arrest due to ... you guessed it low sodium causing a bad rhythm!
Yeah... just had a doctor appointment, yesterday for my 6 month/6000 mile check. BP 117/70, pulse 57, cholesterol 125, weight 172, sodium, glucose, everything in the normal range....calls me a success story.....no guesses on the Lutefisk?
swedish fish in lye or something like that, isn't it?? used to have a boss that ate the stuff. family recipe. Looked terrible.
Driftingirl, when you and Fred come for a visit we will go and have some really good Georgian Bay white fish in Killarney, and I'll even cover the tab, then later we will go to the Moose's Cookhouse for a fed of locally caught pickerel and once more I'll cover the food but not the beer.......lol....and Troll for you too......
Quote from: greenbarn on February 05, 2015, 20:23:49 PM
swedish fish in lye or something like that, isn't it?? used to have a boss that ate the stuff. family recipe. Looked terrible.
Close... Norwegian...Lye fish. This is from wikipedia:Lutefisk is dried whitefish (normally cod, but ling is also used) treated with lye. The first step is soaking the stockfish in cold water for five to six days (with the water changed daily). The saturated stockfish is then soaked in an unchanged solution of cold water and lye for an additional two days. The fish swells during this soaking, and its protein content decreases by more than 50 percent, producing a jelly-like consistency. When this treatment is finished, the fish (saturated with lye) is caustic, with a pH value of 11–12. To make the fish edible, a final treatment of yet another four to six days of soaking in cold water (also changed daily) is needed. Eventually, the lutefisk is ready to be cooked.
The smell is enough to drive you outside...The first time I went to a "Lutefisk Supper" at a Church, I thought they were having problems with their septic system, then I learned the truth.
OMG! Why?
Quote from: CDNRatMan on February 05, 2015, 20:56:02 PM
Driftingirl, when you and Fred come for a visit we will go and have some really good Georgian Bay white fish in Killarney, and I'll even cover the tab, then later we will go to the Moose's Cookhouse for a fed of locally caught pickerel and once more I'll cover the food but not the beer.......lol....and Troll for you too......
Taking you up on the white fish in Killarney...then we'll ride to Kirkland Lake and I'll get my son to make sure he has a feed of Sesekinnika pickeral for us.
I'm in....lol..........