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Post by auntieannie on Mar 21, 2010 14:40:45 GMT
K, I suspect that unfortunately, these outdated rules are the only thing that make that religion in the eye of the not very pious/ poorly educated "customer" of their (any) religion?
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Post by lagatta on Mar 21, 2010 15:47:54 GMT
Well, personally these days I wish the Catholic Church would abolish its absurd priestly celibacy rules...
Alas I see a return to religious rules, in many faiths. I have a secular Jewish friend in Paris whose adult children keep kosher. Drives her batty.
A secular Muslim friend (of Moroccan origin) here had her daughter wanting to fast for Ramadan some years back - influence, and even a bit of bullying, from fundie classmates. Friend said, "well fast then". Fortunately the daughter got over it quickly.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 15:48:15 GMT
I suppose you are right, but I always thought that religions should deal with living a good life in terms of other people and not worry about what is on your plate. But I guess that since the people in charge of religions most appreciate the power they have over the weak and uneducated, it is much easier to just make them follow rules about what to eat and how to dress without even thinking about it. How about that for going off topic?
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 21, 2010 15:55:18 GMT
I plead guilty.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 21, 2010 20:33:54 GMT
Take it to Charting a Course, kids! ;D
Seriously, the concept of self-denial and self-discipline is a good one for exploration, don't you all think? I already see several thoughts you all have put forth with which I variously agree and disagree, plus would love to expound upon in my wordy manner.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2010 11:44:46 GMT
Totally new food for thought?
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 1:45:47 GMT
And speaking of thoughts, here is the totally new food I tried today:
I ate at my regular Abastos market place, a stand that sells goat meat tacos, consomé (like a thin vegetable soup w/goat base) and masita. The masita (sometimes called masa) is cracked corn that slowly cooks in the juices dripping off the roasting meat. I love it.
Anyway, I'm sitting there eating with the bin holding the meat next to me on the right. A lady ordered a sesos (brains) taco and Maestro Jesús, whose pet I am, grabbed a skull and whacked it with the knife once, whereupon it fell neatly open. I was admiring his deftness and idly watching him spoon out some of the cranial contents onto the tortilla, when he suddenly swooped upon my now empty bowl. "Here, you need to have some of this so you won't be left with the desire", he said, shaking smushy head stuff into my bowl. Well, that was okay, since I was sort of curious about it. Gag-o-rama! It was super soft and tallowy and I could barely swallow the small bite in my mouth. When he wasn't looking, I put it into a bag I had with a bone for Ginger. (Ginger liked it a lot.)
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Post by cristina on Mar 24, 2010 2:09:11 GMT
"Here, you need to have some of this so you won't be left with the desire", he said, shaking smushy head stuff into my bowl. ... I put it into a bag I had with a bone for Ginger. (Ginger liked it a lot.) I love that quote! Maestro Jesus has your best interests at heart. However I am happy that Ginger enjoyed the spoils...
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 2:33:03 GMT
Thanks, Cristina. Believe me I have no "ganas" to try it again. I realized as I was sitting there horrified with the stuff in my mouth that it's what makes me dislike beef head tacos so much -- the icky tallowy taste in them must be the (mad cow?) brains.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 6:45:59 GMT
The consistency of brains is quite similar to marrow. Love both of them.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 7:20:04 GMT
I disagree. Brains are much denser than marrow, with a strange sort of soft-sand texture.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 8:41:48 GMT
Strange Mexican brains! I've only eaten lamb, rabbit and calf brains and they were all quite similar.... mmmm... fried in butter with capers.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 15:09:02 GMT
I was surprised I disliked them so much, as I'm generally receptive to new foods and willing to give them more than one chance. This stuff really repelled me, though. Oh well, there had to something along the way that I wasn't going to like.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 15:22:17 GMT
I think your cow had cancerous cysts riddling the brain. At least you are not left with the desire.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 15:43:10 GMT
I am left with the desire for you to show better reading comprehension. It was a goat.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 15:49:11 GMT
Ha ha, they said it was goat.
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Post by lagatta on Mar 24, 2010 15:55:17 GMT
Well, if she SAW the butcher crack open the skull, she'd scarcely confuse a cow and a goat. Not exactly the same size or shape.
I've had brains (calf, no doubt) and don't like them very much. I like marrow. Not the same texture at all.
Glad Ginger was able to benefit!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 16:00:28 GMT
Ginger says thanks, gratified to get such a generous comment coming from una gata.
It was really hot and sunny yesterday, so I cut through a part of the covered market I usually avoid because it's so cramped. It's mostly poultry vendors and bread stalls, with a few meat stalls, one of which was selling hooves (common) and cow nose (a new item to me).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 17:39:22 GMT
The African butchers sell a lot of those things close to my neighborhood. Even though I have started going over there for oxtail, the hooves and facial parts have not appealed to me.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2010 18:24:16 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Mar 25, 2010 0:18:45 GMT
Maghrebi (North African) butchers hereabout like to sell calf hooves. kerouac, you mean the West African butchers near Château Rouge?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 6:25:42 GMT
Yes, particularly all of the places in the Marché Dejean.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 25, 2010 15:57:55 GMT
I'd heard of this stuff, but didn't know it was anything other than a type of tea. Has anyone tried it? Story here --> KOMBUCHA
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 16:33:23 GMT
I'd heard of this stuff, but didn't know it was anything other than a type of tea. Has anyone tried it? Story here --> KOMBUCHAYes indeed!,my friend and helper Luke makes it homemade,has been selling it to 'believers' for a couple of years now. He has big glass (former pickle jars) of it fermenting all over where he lives.The moldy looking culture is strange looking indeed,like a blob. I have drank it a couple of times in very small doses.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 16:46:46 GMT
Bixa,where do you think one would go to get the calf's foot around here for the Dianna Kennedy recipe? I'm racking my brains out trying to imagine where.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 25, 2010 18:03:00 GMT
So what is kombucha like -- is it thick? I am imagining something like pulque, which I've only tried once and found it to be sort of sour and rather slimy. About the calves feet -- check out stores catering to the Latin American population in N.O. This article can point you to some of them. (great title, too) Also, try googling 'meat markets new orleans'. If you can find a meat store with a real meat cutter, he would probably be able to order the feet for you. Langenstein's should have a meat cutter, for instance.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 25, 2010 18:30:28 GMT
I hear that Kombucha is a wonderful thing to drink but not so pleasant to look at...never mind...I don't know where to acquire it in england....but my swiss friends culture it. Peoples - take care not to grow it in glazed pots.....otherwise you can die from lead poisoning.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 21:52:31 GMT
No,kombucha is not thick at all. It's a tea like liquid,and,it tastes a little like apple cider,on the tart side,effervescent. Occasionally,there will be a strand or two in it,but,generally it's pretty clear. It really should be brewed in clear glass for sure (or so Luke tells me). It's incredibly popular with the age range mentioned in the Times piece (20-30) although,Luke has some much older customers as well. I'm not crazy about it myself. Oh,and THANKS Bixa, for the resource stuff on the calf's foot! I'm going to scope it out for sure!
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Post by lagatta on Mar 26, 2010 0:05:10 GMT
Yes, I've had kombucha and lived to tell the tale. Never at my own behest. Once though it was served to me with a "raw food" meal that made me sick for days afterwards. As a result I can't touch it, though I'm sure the kombucha wasn't the villain. I much prefer normal tea - and normal cider. And yes, lovely article. Even those who don't speak French can google "Marché Dejean" and find many colourful images of this "Black African" market in the 18th arrondissement near Château-Rouge métro. The whole Goutte d'Or area is largely African, but as you walk south to Barbès-Rochechouart métro, you'll find the area becomes more North African (of Muslim Arab and Berber and Sephardi Jewish origins). Though it is always a mix. There are beautiful fabrics and garments in evidence as well. www.visions-de-paris.com/galeries/18/pages/paris-18-marche-dejean-007.html
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Post by imec on Apr 22, 2010 17:21:31 GMT
Here's a third party picture of a dish I shared with lagatta at one of her favorite restaurants yesterday which, despite living for 3 years in the middle east, was totally new to me - Muhamarra. The principle ingredients are roasted red peppers, breadcrumbs and Walnuts - what makes it special though are less common ingredients such as sumac and pomegranate molasses - sensational!
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