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| Saturday, May 25, 2013 |
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All you need is a standard funeral potatoes recipe and a box of brownie mix and all your worries will be over. |
E- People like you are why I like other people to do public cooking. I wish I had your easy-going way. |
I love the interesting food–the Couscous, the Perogies, and the Hummus. Your hummus-hating bishop sounds like a real treat. Honestly, though, an easy dessert that tastes good and isn’t too exotic for the boring people is a box of brownie mix, like E suggests. Preferably Betty Crocker. Cheap, simple, fast, tasty. It might not be healthy, but so what. As far as health foods go, if it looks like taste was sacrificed in the name of health (whole wheat crepes, etc.), I’ll stay clear. But I’m always a fan of tasty-looking salads. |
I imagine people stress over what to bring you, too….I wouldn’t. Because I know you like “regular” food, too. Were I you, I’d pick up some bagged salad, throw in some grape tomatoes and call it good. I LOVE to cook for people! Once, I took rib-eye steaks and potatoes to a new mom, because I knew she needed red meat. My generation of friends go all out when we take in meals because we’ve been on the receiving end, but I have noticed that the younger girls are not as uh, I can’t think of a word that’s not insulting. Well, maybe they don’t cook as much because they work and have a lot of stress. Although…when Sarah had the baby, those girls in her singles ward brought some really great food. Food’s often the only thing you can do for others. I hate potlucks, because the people in the front of the line get all the good food. Funny story: Once we had a potluck soup deal in RS and I took a bite of one of the soups and the girl across from me remarked “isn’t that soup awful?” I grimaced and said “yes! who brought it?” She answered with a laugh “I did!” We both laughed at her “gotcha” moment, but she knew it was awful soup. We had a potluck soup dinner after stake conference—it was a high council thing. I made the BEST seafood bisque and put in lump crabmeat, scallops and big shrimp. They scraped the bottom of that pan and I felt hugely superior to a friend with whom I have a love/hate relationship because she brought clam chowder and nobody liked it. She’s a diet food person. I’m a Julia Child and Paula Deen butter and white wine in everything kind of cook. You know, LIZ, you could buy stuff already made and put it in your own pan. Feed them processed food! I bet I could make hamburger helper cheese macaroni and bring down the house. |
Potluck is good for food even the missionaries wouldn’t eat. As long as it looks pretty, everyone will give it a try. Personally, I don’t donate good food to potlucks. Thus, Betty Crocker cooks it all for me. |
Thanks for the perspective, El eso, very good point |
annegb, you already know I love your cooking. After my second child was born the RS assigned, or asked for volunteers to bring food. I got pizza…PIZZA? I can do pizza…then my friend called and said she had been busy running around all day and didn’t have time to make anything is it alright if she brings over pizza. I told her no because we had pizza the night before. PIZZZZZA? REALLY? A lady I visit teach just had her baby and I’m waiting at least a week before I bring some food over, and you know what I’m making? Pot roast with red potatoes and whatever the other VTsister wants to add. I hate getting food my husband can easily run into to town to get. Potlucks are tricky. If it looks appetizing I will try it, but sometimes even that doesn’t help. I would have eaten the humus, and the couscous because I know what they are and they taste good, but trying to serve healthy things at a Mormon function– forget about it. People are weird… We had our ward chili cook-off not to long ago and I made a white chicken chili. I was worried that no one would eat it because it looked more gray than white, but I won 4th place. Annegb, you must sit by me at our next ward eating function… I’ll show you how it’s properly done. After the prayer is said — bam– I’m in line. I hate waiting. I’m just not a patient person. Oh and I love butter, white wine, and anything fattening. Okay, so I love food….food glorious food. :D |
This year I did the food for our ward campout. For Friday dinner, we had salad (mixed greens, red peppers, green apples, seasoned chicken, blue cheese, cranberries, candied almonds and raspberry vinaigrette dressing), fruit, and pies. For Saturday breakfast, we had pancakes with toppings (banana/almond, blueberry/ricotta, chocolate chip/almond, mixed berry, chocolate chip/almond) and fresh fruit. For Saturday lunch, we had wraps (tortillas, cream cheese with green onions, cucumbers, seasoned chicken, greens, red peppers), grapes and chocolate covered rice krispy treats. There were lots of colors and relatively healthy. It was a big hit. I think we get stuck too often with boring, unhealthy food. For instance, Christmas is around the corner. How many wards will have ham, funeral potatoes, green beans or bag salad, rolls and cake? Instead, consider something like the following: * Taco bar — corn tortillas (not shells), pulled pork and/or grilled chicken, salsa, queso fresco and cilantro. Orange slices. Chips/salsa. Key lime pie with berry toppings. * European combination — German spaetzle (irregular cut noodles) with steak, onions and mushrooms and sour cream. Candied carrots. Apple/cranberry salad. Apple tart drizzled with chocolate sauce. |
Ah, the ward pot luck. Wife made the worst chili ever…won first place! Worried about a ward poisoning? There is a fast food joint right down the street. Ten bucks worth of Jack in the box tacos goes a long way and you wont have to worry about 1st place! |
I got food poisoning from a ward chili cookoff once. Threw up for 24 hrs straight. To this day I can’t stand the sight of chili. But I really don’t worry much about it, and I don’t think you should either. Potluck and ward service projects are not the time for exotic food. Keep it familiar and boring. |
#8 – Steve – Exactly. You are the kind of people I want have at my ward potluck. |
” my friend called and said she had been busy running around all day and didn’t have time to make anything is it alright if she brings over pizza. I told her no because we had pizza the night before. PIZZZZZA? REALLY?” “I hate getting food my husband can easily run into to town to get.” I guess beggars can be choosers. |
I was going to say the same thing as Peter. We have provided pizza for families struggling with illness and they seemed to love it. I have found that especially families with kids would much rather have a good pizza than some home-cooked meal that is unfamiliar. Kids are picky and pizza is something they will always eat. It’s not much help if you bring something the kids won’t eat. You should have been thrilled and grateful to get the pizza. Even two nights in a row. Heck there’s more than two kinds of pizza. |
It seems those who don’t understand what is wrong with ordering pizza for a recovering mother have never been one. Pizza is A) stupid. The whole idea of making food for someone is so they can enjoy homemade food. Not fast food someone else paid for. B) incredibly unhealthy for a breastfeeding woman and newborn. Just because it’s considered a vegetable now does not make it appropriate. |
Just saying something is stupid does not make it so. Sunshine didn’t say she was breastfeeding, you’re just assuming that. Her only objection was that it was something she or her husband could have picked up themselves. Now you are inventing new objections. I was talking about providing food for a family whose mother was ill or incapacitated in some way. The family would most likely love it. And good pizza is not necessarliy “fast food” or unhealthy, even for a breastfeeding woman. There is excellent vegetarian pizzza available now, and with the variety of toppings, good pizza should never be dismissed by anyone as unhealthy or thoughtless. |
Pizza is A) stupid. The whole idea of making food for someone is so they can enjoy homemade food. Not fast food someone else paid for. B) incredibly unhealthy for a breastfeeding woman and newborn. Pizza isn’t the real issue here–a lack of gratitude for the sacrifices of others and a misplaced sense of entitlement is–but since you mentioned it, I’m happy to respond. A. I am sorry if your experience has been limited to unhealthy fast food, but where I live and dine, including at home, pizza is awesome. Which brings me to B. Homemade pizza is one of my breastfeeding wife’s favorite foods. Dough made from scratch, topped with tomato sauce made from scratch, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, homemade pesto, fresh mozzarella di bufala, roasted pine nuts and fresh basil–what’s not to like? |
Peter, your wife’s pizza sounds delicious. That’s not what was being offered here. It’s interesting that men are condemning Sunshine…..you guys ever actually taken a meal? There’s much more at play here than pizza. Peter, take that word beggar out of your vocabulary. It’s incredibly denigrating and belies what should be an attitude of service and giving. The Good Samaritan didn’t throw some bread at the person he helped because he was in a hurry. We take meals because it’s usually all we can do to acknowledge that people are going through something huge and we care. The lack of thought and pure tactlessness communicated in Sunshine’s example is appalling. Here’s what she should have done: when Sunshine said they’d had pizza yesterday, she should have asked her what food sounded good–KFC? French Dip sandwiches? Chinese? And then killed the fatted calf and brought the takeout with trimmings. Lest you two guys are having convulsions at the cost involved, I submit A. Taking an economical and delicious meal would have taken planning and thought–NOT afterthought B. Sunshine’s friend chose to communicate to Sunshine, who’d just GROWN A PERSON IN HER BODY that serving her and her family was a burden and not a privilege because she loved them. I suspect she was one of the young women I’ve criticized. I would have penciled Sunshine in the minute I agreed to serve and planned accordingly. It’s not rocket science, but it does involve looking outside yourself. |
you guys ever actually taken a meal? Yes. I always ask about allergies and what not, but if someone failed to do the same for my family the last thing that would occur to me is to condemn them. Peter, take that word beggar out of your vocabulary. Mosiah 4:19 The Good Samaritan didn’t throw some bread at the person he helped because he was in a hurry. And neither did the man he helped complain about the food and lodging received. it does involve looking outside yourself. Indeed. But what’s good for the gander is good for the goose. |
Don’t give me Mosiah, Peter, you were putting Sunshine down, referring to her as a beggar. And the man the good Samaritan helped had nothing to complain about, because he (said good Samaritan) went the extra mile and ministered. That “beggers can’t be choosers” is a pretty good way to blow off insensitivity. I once heard that a worker in a bishop’s storehouse said to a general authority, when asked about the quality of a product “it’s good enough for who it’s for”—-he lived to regret that. When we serve others, we should, like the Good Samaritan, give our best. And your last sentence makes absolutely no sense in context of this conversation. MAYBE you’ve actually prepared and taken a meal into someone, but you are by far in the minority. I think what you and Mcq were objecting to was Sunshine’s tone…..but I too, take umbrage when I feel that service rendered is begrudged. It was incredibly awkward and insensitive of the woman who agreed to bring dinner in that night to Sunshine and her family to make that phone call. I suspect Sunshine didn’t respond to her as she reportered her feelings here. She probably said something lame like, “No that’s okay, we’re fine. Don’t worry about it.” Again—-and I say this as someone who served THREE terms as compassionate service leader—-service given in the spirit of true giving (ie charity?) is not being taught to young women (sorry, FMH, I always called the wives) properly. I’ve had some pretty crappy meals brought in and always responded gracefully, but then, I’ve been on the receiving end of wonderful service, like when I had my last baby, or when my son died. Food is how we show our love and again, Peter, most often is the only thing we can do when others are recovering from life’s ups and downs. If we, like the friend in Sunshine’s story, don’t give a crap, don’t plan, call and say “can I JUST bring pizza?” how is the needy person to respond except “sure, thanks” or “thanks, but don’t worry, we’re good.” You’re putting all the responsibility on Sunshine and that’s not fair. True service, cheerfully rendered from the heart, is incumbent on the server taking care of the needy’s feelings, not the other way around. I know, I’m old-fashioned (and also just old), but crap, we as a people are straying from the concepts of taking care of one another and instead opt for a quick “let me know if you need anything” on Facebook! Sure, kids will eat pizza two weeks in a row, but they would feel and appreciate the spirit of generous giving that’s embodied in a well-prepared, well thought out, wonderful meal that says “I love your family enough to put time into this.” |
Sexist much annegb? |
Oh probably. But is it sexist if its true? |
It’s not true. I have taken many meals. You are trading on an outdated stereotype. When men do that about women they are rightly condemned as sexist and out of touch. I guess women are not immune from that disorder. |
I wish you could see my face, Mcq. Bill’s taken many meals, too. He didn’t make them, but he delivered them. Think of me as a smart-aleck 14 year old right now saying, with a smirk “I’m so sure.” |
This male/female conversation reminds me of the years my son was in Boy Scouts and they had an annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. Every year the mothers would go shopping for ingredients, then cook it and deliver it to the church. The boys/men would charge the same parents $8 a plate for the food they cooked. Then the following Sunday from the pulpit, the Boy Scouts and leaders would be congratulated on their fundraising efforts. |
So are you saying men can’t cook? I cook every day as well as making a full dinner every Sunday. I make spaghetti or some other pasta dinner at least twice per week. If I deliver a meal, it’s because I made it or bought it. |
And your last sentence makes absolutely no sense in context of this conversation. Ok, I’ll ruin it by explaining myself. The original idiom goes “what’s good for the goose [female] is good for the gander [male].” I trust you know what this means. Your suggestion that I [male] need to “look outside myself” is sound advice. However, I also believe Sunshine [female] would benefit from doing the same, i.e., taking the situation of those who serve her into consideration rather than howl in protest about what unprofitable servants they all are. So I reversed the familiar saying to indicate that yes, what’s good for a male [who allegedly has no idea what it's like to serve someone who JUST GAVE BIRTH!!!] is also good for a female, since that’s what you’re making this into. MAYBE you’ve actually prepared and taken a meal into someone, but you are by far in the minority. Right, because it’s women’s work/the RS’s responsibility, right? As it happens, I live in a small, far-flung ward where for better or worse, the unwritten order of things does not apply. Look, if “pizza” is being used here as Intermountain West shorthand for “lazy” then I can see how we’ve been talking past each other. I’m not advocating that we disregard our neighbor’s needs, or even desires, when we serve them. However, I maintain that we are not in a position to demand service of anyone, judge their offerings, or fart in the general direction of the hand that feeds us. To do otherwise is to stake out an entitlement that is not ours for the taking. I commit to serve you, you commit to serve me. Period. |
Ha ha ha ha ha…. I’m so controversial. A couple of points: 1) I didn’t beg for dinner she offered unbeknownst to even the RS presidency. It was a busy day for her and when she realized she was running out of time she called me to see if it was okay to bring pizza. I said no because she was a friend and as a friend I would expect, and allow my friend to be honest with me as I was with her. 2) It was over 10 years ago. 3). I read through my statement and I can see how what I said could be construed as…um.. self righteous as I did boast about what I was going to take a sister in my ward. It did make me think to contact this sister and make sure that they even like pot roast because if they don’t I’ll find something else. And annegb is totally right. I wish people loved food, and loved to prepare food as much as I do. Food is awesome. MCQ, in the church there are more men that don’t, or won’t cook than can or will, especially when it means taking a meal to a family. My son, however, loves food as much as I do and we have spent many a day preparing some nice meals. I think there should be more men that cook and more men that would be willing to take meals it. That would be AWESOME! |
Yes of course that’s true. That’s why the stereotype exists. That doesn’t excuse annegb, however. Just because there is evidence to back up a stereotype does not allow you to apply the stereotype to everyone. When I take a meal, it’s not because I was assigned to do so or I put my name on a list at church, it’s because a friend or neighbor or hometeaching family was in need and I wanted to help. By the way, my specialty is chicken cacciatore. By which I mean to say: I don’t take pizza every time, but I do take a lot of italian food. |
It’s always convenient when service and vanity are served at the same time. If bringing in a meal to my family is just an opportunity for you to pat your own back by displaying your totally awesome cooking skills and superior taste you can blow your cooking horn for someone else, I’ll take the takeout pizza. |
“Just because there is evidence to back up a stereotype does not allow you to apply the stereotype to everyone.” True, very true. There are a lot of stereotypes that I wish would no longer existed. And, seriously, Italian food? Yummy. You can bring dinner in to me anytime. :) Actually, it is interesting that this side thread has a lot to do with LIZ’s original complaint, or worry, or point she was making. Good healthy food isn’t always accepted well in Mormon circles, nor is good food healthy food generally prepared. I was simply agreeing. Have I eaten take out pizza–ya, and we generally eat that when I’m to tired, to busy, to burned out to cook anything else. KLC, I’m not really sure what you are implying. If your are calling me out you might have to do it by name and be a lot more specific. I don’t read well into snide drive by comments. |
No, he’s calling me out and it’s appropo. However you spell it. I was braggy about it. But mostly when I take a great meal, I’m squirming with glee anticipating the family’s enjoyment. Peter, you’re a smart guy and I appreciate what you wrote. Kind of nails it. Mcq, Bill has never made a meal for compassionate service assignments–I have never asked a man. In fact, you |
I have a new phone……………. Cont….in fact, you and Peter are the only men I’ve ever heard of taking meals in. Really. Who knew? My calling was a RS calling and I only called women. It was actually kind of unthinkable that I’d ask a man. I’m not sexist, I’m just a prisoner in a cave! On the other hand, Bill has gone into a lot of homes and shoveled out messes, moved people, chopped, split and stacked wood. I didn’t mean to imply men don’t serve; I was speaking solely from the viewpoint of RS compassionate service. |
Sunshine, I’m not implying anything, I’m stating that there is often a fine line between self-aggrandizement and service and that some of the comments I’ve read on this thread look like they are crossing it. I’m also not sure what a drive by comment is. Since I’ve been reading and occasionally commenting at MM matters since DKL started it, ie long before you ever showed up, does that mean I’m parked here and not just driving by? Am I calling you out? Not specifically, I didn’t have any one comment in mind, but if the toque fits… |
I’ll cop to self aggrandizement, KLC. I was feeling quite prideful. Still, if your wife had a baby, you’d LOVE those rib-eyes with mushrooms and baked potatoes. (And I would feel aggrand…) |
