Sadly, I think 'ant' is right!

[FarmI]

I have just been over reading in rec.food cooking. Sigh!

Like most ngs, it's American dominated and I really have to stop myself from
posting and asking things whihc i know will result in an avalanche of
insults descending on me. I must be turning into a wuz in my old age.

For some time now, in a whole raft of different threads, there has been
discussion of things being cooked for Christmas and I'm simply gobbsmacked.

As a quite normal, dull, country cook, I would cook any number of these
things they write about as a part of our normal lives but it seems that it
is a once a year thing for the Americans who post on r.f.c. I keep
wondering why they bother posting? Are they bragging or is the cooking of
these things so unusual that it's note worthy? I really can't work Yanks
and their daily lives out.

[ant]

Post by FarmI
I have just been over reading in rec.food cooking. Sigh!
Like most ngs, it's American dominated and I really have to stop
myself from posting and asking things whihc i know will result in an
avalanche of insults descending on me. I must be turning into a wuz
in my old age.

Yeah, you have to bite your tongue/fingers when in a very US room. It's
irritating and sometimes one has to cut loose, but they don't like it.
rec.skiing.alpine is funny. If someone comes on and asks a question about
skiing in europe, or Japan, or anywhere not US/Canada, they are often told
to go to a different newsgroup, like rec.resorts.europe. Yet it doesn't
strike them as wrong that a non country-specific group has been hijacked by
north americans.

Post by FarmI
For some time now, in a whole raft of different threads, there has
been discussion of things being cooked for Christmas and I'm simply
gobbsmacked.

cooked, heated up more like. that's what passes for "cooking" over there.
Getting stuff out of packaging, and warming it up.

One place I lived over there, the kitchen consisted of a giant fridge,
microwave, sink, and stove. There was barely any bench space... it was
mostly for putting things you'd taken out of the fridge on. Utensils and
cookware was very hit or miss. Frustrating.

Post by FarmI
As a quite normal, dull, country cook, I would cook any number of
these things they write about as a part of our normal lives but it
seems that it is a once a year thing for the Americans who post on
r.f.c. I keep wondering why they bother posting? Are they bragging
or is the cooking of these things so unusual that it's note worthy?

What are they discussing?

Post by FarmI
I really can't work Yanks and their daily lives out.

They are incredibly lazy. Sorry, but I've lived and worked with the buggers
for years. At work they're inefficient, and generally anything hard is left
to mexicans and other cheap labour.

Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating. Most
things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got home from the
US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of things and I was
worried, but some months later everything was back to normal. Not good.

[canetoad]

Post by ant
cooked, heated up more like. that's what passes for "cooking" over there.
Getting stuff out of packaging, and warming it up.

Two words come to mind when I think of American food. Processed cheese.

[ant]

Post by canetoad

Post by ant
cooked, heated up more like. that's what passes for "cooking" over
there. Getting stuff out of packaging, and warming it up.

Two words come to mind when I think of American food. Processed cheese.

And shredded. It's often cheaper to buy a bag of tasteless shredded cheese
than the same stuff in a block.

[Chookie]

Post by ant

Post by canetoad

Post by ant
cooked, heated up more like. that's what passes for "cooking" over
there. Getting stuff out of packaging, and warming it up.

Two words come to mind when I think of American food. Processed cheese.

And shredded. It's often cheaper to buy a bag of tasteless shredded cheese
than the same stuff in a block.

Or you can try aerosol "cheese food"...

http://www.cockeyed.com/inside/cheese/cheese.html

[Jeßus]

Post by ant

Post by FarmI
I have just been over reading in rec.food cooking. Sigh!
Like most ngs, it's American dominated and I really have to stop
myself from posting and asking things whihc i know will result in an
avalanche of insults descending on me. I must be turning into a wuz
in my old age.

Yeah, you have to bite your tongue/fingers when in a very US room. It's
irritating and sometimes one has to cut loose, but they don't like it.
rec.skiing.alpine is funny.

You should be familiar with scott abraham then <G>

[giarcgood]

Post by ant
Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating. Most
things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got home from the
US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of things and I was
worried, but some months later everything was back to normal. Not good.

Interesting, I have been to the States about 15 times and each time I
get the trots during the second day. I always blamed the beer, perhaps
it is the food.

I will experiment next time by not eating for a couple of days.

[Craig Welch]

Post by giarcgood

Post by ant
Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating.
Most things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got
home from the US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of
things and I was worried, but some months later everything was back to
normal. Not good.

Interesting, I have been to the States about 15 times and each time I
get the trots during the second day. I always blamed the beer, perhaps
it is the food.
I will experiment next time by not eating for a couple of days.

You could experiment next time by not drinking for ... ne'er mind,
you're right.

[AusWendy]

Post by ant
They are incredibly lazy. Sorry, but I've lived and worked with the
buggers for years. At work they're inefficient, and generally anything
hard is left to mexicans and other cheap labour.

I have given up using their recipes. Just about every casserole recipe has
cans of onion soup and cans of other soups in it. Don't they make anything
from scratch?

And all their weird stuff - cans of dough and this bisquick stuff not to
mention half and half lol.

Most of the recipes I've seen are too full of short cuts and seem too bland.
One thing I had a chuckle at was when some were talking about what to have
on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned cookies!!! Come on
cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a tiramisu not bloody cookies
lol.

Aus Wendy

Post by ant
Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating. Most
things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got home from
the US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of things and I
was worried, but some months later everything was back to normal. Not
good.
--
ant
Don't try to email me!
I'm using the latest spammer/scammer's
email addy.

[AusWendy]

Post by AusWendy

Post by ant
They are incredibly lazy. Sorry, but I've lived and worked with the
buggers for years. At work they're inefficient, and generally anything
hard is left to mexicans and other cheap labour.

I have given up using their recipes. Just about every casserole recipe
has cans of onion soup and cans of other soups in it. Don't they make
anything from scratch?
And all their weird stuff - cans of dough and this bisquick stuff not to
mention half and half lol.
Most of the recipes I've seen are too full of short cuts and seem too bland.
One thing I had a chuckle at was when some were talking about what to have
on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned cookies!!! Come on
cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a tiramisu not bloody cookies
lol.
Aus Wendy

I know its not polite to follow up to your own post but I can't help it -
the evil Christmas spirit has got me lol. Over at alt.binaries food there
are some pics of a wedding that one of the posters catered for and YES you
guessed it there are pics of COOKIES oh my, no nice desserts etc for the
wedding, bloody cookies lol. Also at a work function pics of COOKIES lol.
Maybe they share a common obsession :)

Aus Wendy

Post by AusWendy

Post by ant
Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating. Most
things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got home from
the US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of things and I
was worried, but some months later everything was back to normal. Not
good.
--
ant
Don't try to email me!
I'm using the latest spammer/scammer's
email addy.

[Jeßus]

AusWendy wrote:
<snip>

Post by AusWendy
I know its not polite to follow up to your own post but I can't help it -
the evil Christmas spirit has got me lol. Over at alt.binaries food there
are some pics of a wedding that one of the posters catered for and YES you
guessed it there are pics of COOKIES oh my, no nice desserts etc for the
wedding, bloody cookies lol. Also at a work function pics of COOKIES lol.
Maybe they share a common obsession :)

Thanks for the tip, alt.binaries.food sounds like an interesting group :)

Cheers,

[Jeßus]

Post by Jeßus
<snip>

Post by AusWendy
I know its not polite to follow up to your own post but I can't help
it - the evil Christmas spirit has got me lol. Over at alt.binaries
food there are some pics of a wedding that one of the posters catered
for and YES you guessed it there are pics of COOKIES oh my, no nice
desserts etc for the wedding, bloody cookies lol. Also at a work
function pics of COOKIES lol. Maybe they share a common obsession :)

Thanks for the tip, alt.binaries.food sounds like an interesting group :)

(Now I'm following up to my own post...)

OMG, that group isn't good to read first thing in the morning :\

They sure love their carbohydrates - I'm certain they'd add some to
their water if they could figure out a way to do it (not that they'd
actually drink water, I suppose!).

[ant]

Post by Jeßus
They sure love their carbohydrates - I'm certain they'd add some to
their water if they could figure out a way to do it (not that they'd
actually drink water, I suppose!).

Sugar is a carbohydrate! Although their main sweetener is high fructose corn
syrup.

[Jeßus]

Post by ant

Post by Jeßus
They sure love their carbohydrates - I'm certain they'd add some to
their water if they could figure out a way to do it (not that they'd
actually drink water, I suppose!).

Sugar is a carbohydrate! Although their main sweetener is high fructose corn
syrup.

Yes, true.
And although low carb, let's not forget good 'ol Aspartame, which they
put in everything else which doesn't have sugar/fructose over there.

I don't like sugar, but I'd rather that than Aspartame any day.

Best of all is Stevia, a highly underrated herb which unfortunately is
receiving the 'special' treatment meted out by their wonderfully
incorruptible <cough!> FDA :)
I usually throw in a teaspoon of the dried leaf into a pot of tea, very
nice.

[ant]

Post by Jeßus
Best of all is Stevia, a highly underrated herb which unfortunately is
receiving the 'special' treatment meted out by their wonderfully
incorruptible <cough!> FDA :)
I usually throw in a teaspoon of the dried leaf into a pot of tea,
very nice.

If some giant company owned the rights to it, I'm sure the FDA would
discover that it was safe...

[Jeßus]

Post by ant

Post by Jeßus
Best of all is Stevia, a highly underrated herb which unfortunately is
receiving the 'special' treatment meted out by their wonderfully
incorruptible <cough!> FDA :)
I usually throw in a teaspoon of the dried leaf into a pot of tea,
very nice.

If some giant company owned the rights to it, I'm sure the FDA would
discover that it was safe...

100% Correct.
Unfortunately for them/fortunately for us (notwithstanding the current
scientifically baseless opposition & suppression of Stevia in the U.S),
one cannot patent or otherwise secure any rights to a naturally
occurring substance :)

Not yet anyway.

[Craig Welch]

Post by Jeßus
They sure love their carbohydrates - I'm certain they'd add some to
their water if they could figure out a way to do it (not that they'd
actually drink water, I suppose!).

They have figured out a way. It's called soda (soft drink).

[ant]

Post by AusWendy
I have given up using their recipes. Just about every casserole
recipe has cans of onion soup and cans of other soups in it. Don't
they make anything from scratch?

Pretty rare. No one seems to make stock, either (they call it bouillion and
dont' know what stock means). You can get these little jars of bouillion
concentrate, it's very thick and gooey, a bit like vegimite. And when you
mix it with water, it's stunningly salty. I guess using tinned soup is
just a step on from that.

We used to cook a bit like that in the 60s, remember that chicken thing with
the packet of french onion soup and apricot nectar? Excpet that wasn't
bland.

Post by AusWendy
And all their weird stuff - cans of dough and this bisquick stuff not
to mention half and half lol.

Everything pre-prepared and packaged. The amount of rubbish produced by them
is phenomenal. A person living alone will fill a full-sized rubbish bin in
days, just with all the packaging. All their food is packaged. I would
trail around the supermarket with my basket, put the veggies and stuff
striaght in (I'll get a bag at the checkout), and the contrast between my
pile on the checkout belt vs all the boxes and packets of other shoppers was
quite marked. They all push trolleys, too, even if just buying a few
things. and they push them through dress shops and department stores. I
fervently hope we don't go down the same track. People in Nordstroms,
looking at designer clothes, with a fscking shopping trolley!

Post by AusWendy
Most of the recipes I've seen are too full of short cuts and seem too bland.

That's the thing. The food is bland. It is SO bland.

Post by AusWendy
One thing I had a chuckle at was when some were talking about
what to have on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned
cookies!!! Come on cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a
tiramisu not bloody cookies lol.

Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

[Tricia]

ant wrote:
snip

Post by ant
Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

I have a recipe for Mrs Field's Choc Chip cookies here somewhere, jotted
down when she was demonstrating it on American TV. It uses about double the
amount of sugar we Aussies would use.

[Chookie]

Post by Tricia
snip

Post by ant
Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

I have a recipe for Mrs Field's Choc Chip cookies here somewhere, jotted
down when she was demonstrating it on American TV. It uses about double the
amount of sugar we Aussies would use.

Try looking up cake recipes on rfc. Three cups of sugar to one and a half
cups of flour... I can't imagine how sweet the result would be. It must
change the texture too.

[Tricia]

Post by Chookie

Post by Tricia
snip

Post by ant
Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

I have a recipe for Mrs Field's Choc Chip cookies here somewhere,
jotted down when she was demonstrating it on American TV. It uses
about double the amount of sugar we Aussies would use.

Try looking up cake recipes on rfc. Three cups of sugar to one and a
half cups of flour... I can't imagine how sweet the result would be.
It must change the texture too.

Eww sounds horrible

[FarmI]

Post by ant
We used to cook a bit like that in the 60s, remember that chicken thing
with the packet of french onion soup and apricot nectar? Excpet that
wasn't bland.

This dull country cook still makes that recipe now and then when inspiration
runs short.

Post by ant
Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

And are you as unimpressed by Orios as I was?

[ant]

Post by FarmI

Post by ant
We used to cook a bit like that in the 60s, remember that chicken
thing with the packet of french onion soup and apricot nectar?
Excpet that wasn't bland.

This dull country cook still makes that recipe now and then when
inspiration runs short.

I have to say, it tastes pretty good! It's wrong, morally, but it is quite
yummy.

Post by FarmI

Post by ant
Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

And are you as unimpressed by Orios as I was?

ugh. see other post. I always take some tim tams and cherry ripes to feed
them, and make them jealous. But with yanks, they have some inbuilt
resistance, to ever believing that anyone else has it better than they do.
When they taste something really good, they get all puzzled, and then some
programmed yank thing comes in and re-convinces them that in fact, yank
stuff is really much better.

[FarmI]

Post by ant

Post by FarmI

Post by ant
We used to cook a bit like that in the 60s, remember that chicken
thing with the packet of french onion soup and apricot nectar?
Excpet that wasn't bland.

This dull country cook still makes that recipe now and then when
inspiration runs short.

I have to say, it tastes pretty good! It's wrong, morally, but it is quite
yummy.

:-)) Good description. I feel the same about the "Licorice Allsort Slice"
I make but it is a yummy, "sometimes" treat and most definitely morally,
nutritionally, calorifically indefensible.

Post by ant

Post by FarmI

Post by ant
Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

And are you as unimpressed by Orios as I was?

ugh. see other post. I always take some tim tams and cherry ripes to
feed them, and make them jealous. But with yanks, they have some inbuilt
resistance, to ever believing that anyone else has it better than they do.
When they taste something really good, they get all puzzled, and then some
programmed yank thing comes in and re-convinces them that in fact, yank
stuff is really much better.

:-)) On that theme...... When Bill Clinton visited Parliament House,
someone I know who works there overheard him telling one of his people what
a stunningly beautiful building it was. That same person also frequently
overhears other American visitors, (or is specifically told by them) adverse
comments that compare it unfavourably with X building. That X building
invariably turns out to be a building in their own State. That person has
now made it a hobby to check out all the buildings on the internet that he
can identify and has a quiet chuckle to himself as he does so.

I don't think there is too much harm in Americans being proud of their
country but it does lead them into some dangerous waters at times and we
have followed them too on too many occasions but perhaps for different
justifications.

[ant]

Post by FarmI
I don't think there is too much harm in Americans being proud of their
country but it does lead them into some dangerous waters at times and
we have followed them too on too many occasions but perhaps for
different justifications.

Americans are proud, with no reference to anything else. They never compare
themselves to anywhere else,they just claim superiority. And get all
surprised when others disrupt their fond dreams. Watching the Chilean and
Argentinian instructors have a real red-hot go at them was priceless. The
yanks thought they were poor peons wanting to find a better life; in fact
they were kids on their gap year and they were NOT happy! One of the best
things I've ever observed.

Keep an eye on Chile and Argentina, maybe finally they are going to find
their rightful place in the world, they are proud talented people with great
land. adn they aren't backward in coming forward. And giving the yanks an
earful whenever provoked.

[Chookie]

Post by ant
Americans are proud, with no reference to anything else. They never compare
themselves to anywhere else,they just claim superiority. And get all
surprised when others disrupt their fond dreams. Watching the Chilean and
Argentinian instructors have a real red-hot go at them was priceless. The
yanks thought they were poor peons wanting to find a better life; in fact
they were kids on their gap year and they were NOT happy! One of the best
things I've ever observed.

Oooh, more information please. Sounds fascinating!

[ant]

Post by Chookie

Post by ant
Americans are proud, with no reference to anything else. They never
compare themselves to anywhere else,they just claim superiority. And
get all surprised when others disrupt their fond dreams. Watching
the Chilean and Argentinian instructors have a real red-hot go at
them was priceless. The yanks thought they were poor peons wanting
to find a better life; in fact they were kids on their gap year and
they were NOT happy! One of the best things I've ever observed.

Oooh, more information please. Sounds fascinating!

It was pretty much as I wrote. The Chileans and argentinians were mainly in
the food and beverage or lifts areas, some were instructing (they were
qualified). Yanks hear a spanish accent and think "mexicans" even if they
know they're not, and assume they are poor and supplicant, grovelling into
america to make a better life. In fact, most of these kids were middle and
upper class, on their gap year or taking a working holiday from uni. They
were educated, proud people who looked the world in the eye, and didn't take
kindly to the crap jobs, no help with the extortionate accommodation, crap
pay and in general the crap the yank employers routinely shovel. Chileans
are outspoken, but Argentineans are known as loud by the rest of south
america. So I always enjoyed seeing them let the yanks have it with both
barrels, and they did.

Quite a few of them in food and beverage got so thoroughly disgusted that
they upped and left.

[Horry]

Post by ant

Post by Chookie

Post by ant
Americans are proud, with no reference to anything else. They never
compare themselves to anywhere else,they just claim superiority. And
get all surprised when others disrupt their fond dreams. Watching
the Chilean and Argentinian instructors have a real red-hot go at
them was priceless. The yanks thought they were poor peons wanting
to find a better life; in fact they were kids on their gap year and
they were NOT happy! One of the best things I've ever observed.

Oooh, more information please. Sounds fascinating!

It was pretty much as I wrote. The Chileans and argentinians were mainly in
the food and beverage or lifts areas, some were instructing (they were
qualified). Yanks hear a spanish accent and think "mexicans" even if they
know they're not, and assume they are poor and supplicant, grovelling into
america to make a better life. In fact, most of these kids were middle and
upper class, on their gap year or taking a working holiday from uni. They
were educated, proud people who looked the world in the eye, and didn't take
kindly to the crap jobs, no help with the extortionate accommodation, crap
pay and in general the crap the yank employers routinely shovel. Chileans
are outspoken, but Argentineans are known as loud by the rest of south
america. So I always enjoyed seeing them let the yanks have it with both
barrels, and they did.
Quite a few of them in food and beverage got so thoroughly disgusted that
they upped and left.

Why would middle and upper class, educated, proud Chileans and Argentinians
on their gap years travel to America for crap "food and beverage" jobs with
crap pay?

[FarmI]

In fact, most of these kids were middle and

Post by Horry

Post by ant
upper class, on their gap year or taking a working holiday from uni.

Why would middle and upper class, educated, proud Chileans and
Argentinians
on their gap years travel to America for crap "food and beverage" jobs with
crap pay?

For the same reason that middle to upper class Australian kids on their gap
year go overseas. They want something a bit different to what they've
always known.

I know a number of such kids who have gone work in boarding schools in the
UK where they have been patronised by certain Poms who thought they were a
cut above "colonials".

One such kid that I know very well is a brilliant rider. She can do
dressage as well if not better than she can muster cattle or tear through
rough country at a gallop. The attitude of the snotty Pommy parents changed
when they found that she had no trouble riding their little darlings
Thoroughbreds who did nothing all week but eat their heads off all week and
get very frisky by the time the kids needed to be able to ride them. The
little darlings could "ride" but only if it was a gentle hack on a subdued
nag. Of course gentle nags aren't the sort of horse that aspirational
parents buy and nor are they the sort of horse that the little darlings
would be caught dead on.

Our young colonial suddenly became much sought after to take the
Thoroughbreds out and ride some of the friskiness out of them. She got her
own back and made them grovel before she'd cooperate.

[Horry]

Post by ant
In fact, most of these kids were middle and

Post by Horry

Post by ant
upper class, on their gap year or taking a working holiday from uni.

Why would middle and upper class, educated, proud Chileans and Argentinians
on their gap years travel to America for crap "food and beverage" jobs with
crap pay?

For the same reason that middle to upper class Australian kids on their gap
year go overseas. They want something a bit different to what they've
always known.
I know a number of such kids who have gone work in boarding schools in the
UK where they have been patronised by certain Poms who thought they were a
cut above "colonials".
One such kid that I know very well is a brilliant rider. She can do
dressage as well if not better than she can muster cattle or tear through
rough country at a gallop. The attitude of the snotty Pommy parents changed
when they found that she had no trouble riding their little darlings
Thoroughbreds who did nothing all week but eat their heads off all week and
get very frisky by the time the kids needed to be able to ride them. The
little darlings could "ride" but only if it was a gentle hack on a subdued
nag. Of course gentle nags aren't the sort of horse that aspirational
parents buy and nor are they the sort of horse that the little darlings
would be caught dead on.
Our young colonial suddenly became much sought after to take the
Thoroughbreds out and ride some of the friskiness out of them. She got her
own back and made them grovel before she'd cooperate.

Working in a UK boarding school is a bit different to working in a "crap
food and beverage job", though. People don't travel to foreign countries
to experience "something a bit different to what they've always known" when
that "something" is a crap food and beverage job.

(I take the point about obnoxious Americans and patronizing British, having
observed them myself.)

[Phred]

In article <11e3ihb4bnmte$.1dnhglej7rwdo$***@40tude.net>, Horry <***@gmail.com> wrote:
[snip]

Post by Horry
(I take the point about obnoxious Americans and patronizing British, having
observed them myself.)

Have you also seen us forelock-tugging, covetous Aussies?

Cheers, Phred.

[Narelle]

Post by Horry

Post by ant
In fact, most of these kids were middle and

Post by Horry

Post by ant
upper class, on their gap year or taking a working holiday from uni.

Why would middle and upper class, educated, proud Chileans and Argentinians

snip<
Working in a UK boarding school is a bit different to working in a "crap
food and beverage job", though. People don't travel to foreign countries
to experience "something a bit different to what they've always known" when
that "something" is a crap food and beverage job.
(I take the point about obnoxious Americans and patronizing British, having
observed them myself.)

Sure they do. Heaps of backpackers, even from wealthy families, get
jobs in pubs or cafes whilst travelling. It's part of the romance of it
all.
N

[Horry]

Post by Narelle

Post by Horry

Post by ant
In fact, most of these kids were middle and

Post by Horry

Post by ant
upper class, on their gap year or taking a working holiday from uni.

Why would middle and upper class, educated, proud Chileans and Argentinians

snip<
Working in a UK boarding school is a bit different to working in a "crap
food and beverage job", though. People don't travel to foreign countries
to experience "something a bit different to what they've always known" when
that "something" is a crap food and beverage job.
(I take the point about obnoxious Americans and patronizing British, having
observed them myself.)

Sure they do. Heaps of backpackers, even from wealthy families, get
jobs in pubs or cafes whilst travelling. It's part of the romance of it
all.

Backpacker jobs in pubs and cafes sound a lot different to what ant is
describing (extortionate accommodation, etc.). Middle and upper class,
educated, proud people don't take crap jobs with extortionate accommodation
costs. (I can understand the ski instructors -- who presumably are paid
more than the food and beverage people.)

[FarmI]

Post by Horry

Post by FarmI

Post by Horry
Why would middle and upper class, educated, proud Chileans and Argentinians
on their gap years travel to America for crap "food and beverage" jobs with
crap pay?

For the same reason that middle to upper class Australian kids on their gap
year go overseas. They want something a bit different to what they've
always known.

(snip)

Post by Horry
Working in a UK boarding school is a bit different to working in a "crap
food and beverage job", though.

I dunno, from what the kids have said about their experiences, it sames like
it's pretty crappy stuff, but given that they get down time and can get out
and away, I can see why they do it.

People don't travel to foreign countries

Post by Horry
to experience "something a bit different to what they've always known" when
that "something" is a crap food and beverage job.

Having done the big trip 'OS' in my youth and having gone from a high paying
job to working in a poorly paid job in retail in the UK, I'd have to say
that I did exactly the same thing when I was young. I wasn't there for the
work experience, or the money as I had the work experience here in Oz before
and after my trip and had taken all the money I needed. I was there to
experience the place.

Post by Horry
(I take the point about obnoxious Americans and patronizing British, having
observed them myself.)

:-)) And we Oztaylians can give as good as we get.

[Chookie]

Post by ant
That's the thing. The food is bland. It is SO bland.

That explains it, then. There is a spin-off from Flylady called Saving
Dinner, which gets rave reviews from Yank subscribers to Flylady. I had a
look at the recipes but none of them seemed anything special to me, not even
the one I actually cooked. I was hoping they'd be one-pot meals, but usually
she has that it will only take you 15 minutes to cook it, oh, and serve with
rice and all the vegies she forgot to include in the recipe...

The thing which sets the Saving Dinner lady apart is that she uses herbs.
That's right, herbs. Stop the presses, eh.

YOu can see what I mean at:
http://www.savingdinner.com/about/free_dinner_menu.html

Post by ant

Post by AusWendy
One thing I had a chuckle at was when some were talking about
what to have on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned
cookies!!! Come on cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a
tiramisu not bloody cookies lol.

Cookies are everywhere. And if they are Special, they make them
humungous,like dinner plates. Oh, and they're bland.

I think cookies are a Christmas tradition there, like pudding and custard are
here. Oh, those Newcastle Pudding Lady puddings are good. I bought one at the
Easter Show and it was yummy on Christmas Day!

Had a discussion recently about American fruitcake (as opposed to fruit cake)
on misc.kids. It's a joke in the US because most people don't like it -- but
nobody from anywhere else would like it either!

Post by ant
...our annual agricultural show has a baking competition with a
section for "American Fruit Cakes". They appear to be composed of extremely
large pieces of preserved fruit and brazil nuts, apparently held together with
PVA glue. Is that what your fruit cakes are really like?

Apparently the answer is Yes.

But why the RAS has a section for American fruit cake is another question...

[FarmI]

Post by AusWendy
I have given up using their recipes.

I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey recipes,
but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about American recipes a
you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to be in just about every
American recipe I've ever read.

Post by AusWendy
on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned cookies!!! Come on
cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a tiramisu not bloody cookies
lol.

I often wonder if it is us Aussies who are a weird mob. Aussies seem to
have a good line of home made biscuits, slices etc which we can all turn out
at the drop of a hat. I used to read online in ngs and see in films,
frequent mention of "Orio cookies". I saw some in a shop once and I bought
a pack - bloody ghastly! They weren't ven as good as the icing filled
chocolate biscuit in the Arnotts Family Assorted pack (and I leave then for
someone else to eat and go for the Monte Carlos and the shortbread ones).
If that is the sort of 'cookie' that they thing is good, then Mr Arnotts
could make a killing exports his duller packs to the US.

[giarcgood]

Post by FarmI
I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey recipes,
but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about American recipes a
you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to be in just about every
American recipe I've ever read.

I have one American cookbook "America: The Beautiful Cookbook". It seems
extremely good. Published in 1990 and describes itself as "authentic
recipes". Perhaps that is why it seems so different to what people here
are saying.

Of course I haven't actually cooked anything from it yet. Will make it a
mission and report back.

[FarmI]

Post by giarcgood

Post by FarmI
I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey
recipes, but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about
American recipes a you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to be in
just about every American recipe I've ever read.

I have one American cookbook "America: The Beautiful Cookbook". It seems
extremely good. Published in 1990 and describes itself as "authentic
recipes". Perhaps that is why it seems so different to what people here
are saying.
Of course I haven't actually cooked anything from it yet. Will make it a
mission and report back.

:-)) I don't think that anyone who has those sorts of books has ever cooked
any of the recipes in them. I think I have an "Australia: the beautiful" or
something as near as dammit and I have only ever looked at it.

[ant]

Post by FarmI

Post by giarcgood

Post by FarmI
I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey
recipes, but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about
American recipes a you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to
be in just about every American recipe I've ever read.

I have one American cookbook "America: The Beautiful Cookbook". It
seems extremely good. Published in 1990 and describes itself as
"authentic recipes". Perhaps that is why it seems so different to
what people here are saying.
Of course I haven't actually cooked anything from it yet. Will make
it a mission and report back.

:-)) I don't think that anyone who has those sorts of books has ever
cooked any of the recipes in them. I think I have an "Australia: the
beautiful" or something as near as dammit and I have only ever looked
at it.

Coffee table books.

I buy recipe books by reading them. If i start drooling, I buy!
So I have all the Diane Seed books, and the Ian Parmeter books, and Paula
Wolfert... Charmaine Solomon taught me to cook, pretty much.
I like brevity, but intense instructions where needed. Especially with
recipes with simple ingredients, preparation is all.

[FarmI]

Post by ant
I buy recipe books by reading them. If i start drooling, I buy!

A really drooly book is "Crazy Water Pickled Lemons" by Diana Henry - North
African food and you can smell the food as you read.

[ant]

Post by FarmI

Post by ant
I buy recipe books by reading them. If i start drooling, I buy!

A really drooly book is "Crazy Water Pickled Lemons" by Diana Henry -
North African food and you can smell the food as you read.

I got Paula Wolfert's Moroccan cook book years ago using the drool method.
She tells little stories too, which is nice.

I'll keep an eye out for the Henry book though, for sure.

[Craig Welch]

Post by ant
I buy recipe books by reading them. If i start drooling, I buy!
So I have all the Diane Seed books, and the Ian Parmeter books, and Paula
Wolfert... Charmaine Solomon taught me to cook, pretty much.
I like brevity, but intense instructions where needed. Especially with
recipes with simple ingredients, preparation is all.

Which is why *the* most thumbed, bookmarked, scribbled in book in
our kitchen is Taste of IndoChina http://tinyurl.com/29zb7e.

We bought it years ago (IIRC, in Amazon's first year of operation)
and have worked our way through just about every recipe.

Of course it helped that when we bought it we lived in Singapore,
and could get all our spices made up to order in Little India.

[Liz]

Post by FarmI

Post by AusWendy
I have given up using their recipes.

I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey recipes,
but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about American recipes
a you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to be in just about every
American recipe I've ever read.

Post by AusWendy
on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned cookies!!! Come on
cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a tiramisu not bloody cookies
lol.

I often wonder if it is us Aussies who are a weird mob. Aussies seem to
have a good line of home made biscuits, slices etc which we can all turn
out at the drop of a hat. I used to read online in ngs and see in films,
frequent mention of "Orio cookies". I saw some in a shop once and I
bought a pack - bloody ghastly! They weren't ven as good as the icing
filled chocolate biscuit in the Arnotts Family Assorted pack (and I leave
then for someone else to eat and go for the Monte Carlos and the
shortbread ones). If that is the sort of 'cookie' that they thing is good,
then Mr Arnotts could make a killing exports his duller packs to the US.

If you want a description of graham crackers, this site is useful:
http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/biscuits/previous.php3?item=115

[ant]

Post by FarmI
I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey
recipes, but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about
American recipes a you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to be
in just about every American recipe I've ever read.

The yanks pronounce them as Gram Crackers.
Nearest thing I can think of is Salada biscuits. Bland savoury cracker
biscuits.
they're nothing, but the yanks venerate them to Special Status.

Post by FarmI
I often wonder if it is us Aussies who are a weird mob.

No, we're normal. But thank god for the Italians, Greeks and Chinese who
snapped us out of our stodgey 50's ways.

Aussies seem

Post by FarmI
to have a good line of home made biscuits, slices etc which we can
all turn out at the drop of a hat. I used to read online in ngs and
see in films, frequent mention of "Orio cookies". I saw some in a
shop once and I bought a pack - bloody ghastly! They weren't ven as
good as the icing filled chocolate biscuit in the Arnotts Family
Assorted pack (and I leave then for someone else to eat and go for
the Monte Carlos and the shortbread ones). If that is the sort of
'cookie' that they thing is good, then Mr Arnotts could make a
killing exports his duller packs to the US.

When I first had Oreos, I thought of the chocolate cream bikkies in the
arnotts package which people would leave as less desirable than the others.
thsi is about the best they've got. This and the soft boring Chips Ahoy.
Any of our biscuits murder theirs. Our chocolate bars murder theirs. Hell,
our chocolate murders theirs, and this is not difficult. It is very hard to
overstate the awfulness of their food. If in the southern half, at least
you can ferret out where the mexicans get their food and and buy there.
fresh and bright food, and usuallyl cheap. But aside from that, it's a
wasteland. Yet they go on about it like it's something good. well it's
bloody well not!

I made a pasta sauce tonight consisting of little else but tinned Coles
italian tomato, bubbled for a bit. (that, soem salt, pepper, some fresh
basil leaves torn off the plants, and some peeled parmesan). Lovely
flavours. You just never taste that in the US. Ever.

[FarmI]

Post by ant

Post by FarmI
I have one American cookbook and I use if for the leftover turkey
recipes, but other than that, I think exactly the same thing about
American recipes a you do. WTfFare Graham crackers? They seem to be
in just about every American recipe I've ever read.

The yanks pronounce them as Gram Crackers.
Nearest thing I can think of is Salada biscuits. Bland savoury cracker
biscuits.
they're nothing, but the yanks venerate them to Special Status.

Thanks ant. Always wondered what they were (not that I've ever been tempted
to make any of the recipes I've read)

Post by ant

Post by FarmI
I often wonder if it is us Aussies who are a weird mob.

No, we're normal. But thank god for the Italians, Greeks and Chinese who
snapped us out of our stodgey 50's ways.

God yes - meat and 3 veg - boring as bat shit.

Post by ant
Aussies seem

Post by FarmI
to have a good line of home made biscuits, slices etc which we can
all turn out at the drop of a hat. I used to read online in ngs and
see in films, frequent mention of "Orio cookies". I saw some in a
shop once and I bought a pack - bloody ghastly! They weren't ven as
good as the icing filled chocolate biscuit in the Arnotts Family
Assorted pack (and I leave then for someone else to eat and go for
the Monte Carlos and the shortbread ones). If that is the sort of
'cookie' that they thing is good, then Mr Arnotts could make a
killing exports his duller packs to the US.

When I first had Oreos, I thought of the chocolate cream bikkies in the
arnotts package which people would leave as less desirable than the others.

You described it much better than I did, but that is the Arnotts biscuits
the (thanks for the correct spelling) Oreos remined me off. Made me wonder
why it seems to feature so prominently in every bit of popular American
Kulture that I see/read. I really thought it must be something really
special.

Post by ant
thsi is about the best they've got. This and the soft boring Chips Ahoy.
Any of our biscuits murder theirs. Our chocolate bars murder theirs. Hell,
our chocolate murders theirs, and this is not difficult. It is very hard
to overstate the awfulness of their food. If in the southern half, at
least you can ferret out where the mexicans get their food and and buy
there. fresh and bright food, and usuallyl cheap. But aside from that,
it's a wasteland. Yet they go on about it like it's something good. well
it's bloody well not!
I made a pasta sauce tonight consisting of little else but tinned Coles
italian tomato, bubbled for a bit. (that, soem salt, pepper, some fresh
basil leaves torn off the plants, and some peeled parmesan). Lovely
flavours. You just never taste that in the US. Ever.

But how is it possible to stuff up tinned tomato?

[Bigbazza]

Post by AusWendy

Post by ant
They are incredibly lazy. Sorry, but I've lived and worked with the
buggers for years. At work they're inefficient, and generally anything
hard is left to mexicans and other cheap labour.

I have given up using their recipes. Just about every casserole recipe
has cans of onion soup and cans of other soups in it. Don't they make
anything from scratch?
And all their weird stuff - cans of dough and this bisquick stuff not to
mention half and half lol.
Most of the recipes I've seen are too full of short cuts and seem too bland.
One thing I had a chuckle at was when some were talking about what to have
on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned cookies!!! Come on
cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a tiramisu not bloody cookies
lol.
Aus Wendy

Post by ant
Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating. Most
things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got home from
the US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of things and I
was worried, but some months later everything was back to normal. Not
good.
--
ant

Hey, Wendy & Ant, Sheldon may hear about these comments that are being made
on this thread, and you know what you'll get from Sheldon..And he'll use new
phrases that you didn't know existed..LOL

--
Bigbazza

[Craig Welch]

Post by Bigbazza
Hey, Wendy & Ant, Sheldon may hear about these comments that are being made
on this thread, and you know what you'll get from Sheldon..And he'll use new
phrases that you didn't know existed..LOL

Sheldon is a mindless, abusive little nothing. An American Rod
Speed. His 'expertise' on cooking mattes is confined to
google/copy-paste.

[Jeßus]

Post by Craig Welch

Post by Bigbazza
Hey, Wendy & Ant, Sheldon may hear about these comments that are being made
on this thread, and you know what you'll get from Sheldon..And he'll use new
phrases that you didn't know existed..LOL

Sheldon is a mindless, abusive little nothing. An American Rod
Speed. His 'expertise' on cooking mattes is confined to
google/copy-paste.

Sounds like Lucas.

[Craig Welch]

Post by Jeßus

Post by Craig Welch

Post by Bigbazza
Hey, Wendy & Ant, Sheldon may hear about these comments that are being made
on this thread, and you know what you'll get from Sheldon..And he'll use new
phrases that you didn't know existed..LOL

Sheldon is a mindless, abusive little nothing. An American Rod
Speed. His 'expertise' on cooking mattes is confined to
google/copy-paste.

Sounds like Lucas.

They have much in common. They both fill the position of 'village
idiot' in the newsgroups they frequent.

[FarmI]

Post by Craig Welch

Post by Bigbazza
Hey, Wendy & Ant, Sheldon may hear about these comments that are being made
on this thread, and you know what you'll get from Sheldon..And he'll use new
phrases that you didn't know existed..LOL

Sheldon is a mindless, abusive little nothing. An American Rod
Speed. His 'expertise' on cooking mattes is confined to
google/copy-paste.

And he lieks Spam!!!!!! How can anyone who claims to know or like anything
about "food", like a substance like Spam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FarmI]

Post by Bigbazza

Post by AusWendy

Post by ant
They are incredibly lazy. Sorry, but I've lived and worked with the
buggers for years. At work they're inefficient, and generally anything
hard is left to mexicans and other cheap labour.

I have given up using their recipes. Just about every casserole recipe
has cans of onion soup and cans of other soups in it. Don't they make
anything from scratch?
And all their weird stuff - cans of dough and this bisquick stuff not to
mention half and half lol.
Most of the recipes I've seen are too full of short cuts and seem too bland.
One thing I had a chuckle at was when some were talking about what to
have on the buffett table for Christmas and they mentioned cookies!!!
Come on cookies???? what about a trifle or a pav or a tiramisu not bloody
cookies lol.

Post by ant
Finding "normal" ingredients in a grocery shop is very frustrating. Most
things have been altered or enhanced in some way. When I got home from
the US this year, my stomach wouldn't tolerate all kinds of things and I
was worried, but some months later everything was back to normal. Not
good.

Hey, Wendy & Ant, Sheldon may hear about these comments that are being
made on this thread, and you know what you'll get from Sheldon..And he'll
use new > phrases that you didn't know existed..LOL

Unfortunately Sheldon is the sort of blow hard, knuckle dragging Yank that
gives intelligent Americans a bad name. Sometimes it feels as if they are
as rare as hen's teeth on usenet but those that I have found are real gems
and I can only sympathise with them for having to put up with many of their
fellow citizens. I've read Sheldon and argued with him for years and am
singularly underwhelmed by him on so many levels that I can't even count
them. His only value is that he makes me laugh (not that he intends this of
course).

[FarmI]

Post by ant

Post by FarmI
I have just been over reading in rec.food cooking. Sigh!
Like most ngs, it's American dominated and I really have to stop
myself from posting and asking things whihc i know will result in an
avalanche of insults descending on me. I must be turning into a wuz
in my old age.

Yeah, you have to bite your tongue/fingers when in a very US room. It's
irritating and sometimes one has to cut loose, but they don't like it.

:-)) I have the scars to prove it :-))

Post by ant
rec.skiing.alpine is funny. If someone comes on and asks a question about
skiing in europe, or Japan, or anywhere not US/Canada, they are often told
to go to a different newsgroup, like rec.resorts.europe. Yet it doesn't
strike them as wrong that a non country-specific group has been hijacked
by north americans.

I post in misc.rural and have struck the same thing there. However there
are a few of us who have been there since year dot so we give as good as we
get.

Post by ant

Post by FarmI
For some time now, in a whole raft of different threads, there has
been discussion of things being cooked for Christmas and I'm simply
gobbsmacked.

cooked, heated up more like. that's what passes for "cooking" over there.
Getting stuff out of packaging, and warming it up.
One place I lived over there, the kitchen consisted of a giant fridge,
microwave, sink, and stove. There was barely any bench space... it was
mostly for putting things you'd taken out of the fridge on. Utensils and
cookware was very hit or miss. Frustrating.

Post by FarmI
As a quite normal, dull, country cook, I would cook any number of
these things they write about as a part of our normal lives but it
seems that it is a once a year thing for the Americans who post on
r.f.c. I keep wondering why they bother posting? Are they bragging
or is the cooking of these things so unusual that it's note worthy?

What are they discussing?

Fruitcake is one example. I cook my husband and an elderly friend of his a
boiled fruitcake once a week (it used to be fortnightly till we discovered
his old mate loved fruitcake and has no-one to cook for him so now he has to
get half of each one cooked). Fruitcake got much discussion, bought vs
cooked and the cooking seemed to be a once a year thing. Then there was
'baking' - lots of things that I would descibe as bread and not particulalry
unusual but it was being doen for Xmas gifts. And 'cookies'! How difficult
is it to do a batch of them.

Post by ant

Post by FarmI
I really can't work Yanks and their daily lives out.

They are incredibly lazy.

:-)) A leaf blower instead of a rake type lazy???