Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

What a great idea, I just had to join in on this list of 100 things every good omnivore should try.

Here are the instructions:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

I have also added a few notes next to some items and thanks to the lead of Chocolate and Zucchini Blogger Clotilde Dusoulier, where I actually found this list, and stared some of my favorites.
I was missing 24 items. Not bad considering I have so much traveling I want to do and I have not been cooking all that long.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison*
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros- I made this a few times for Robby for breakfast
4. Steak tartare- On honeymoon in Paris, it was much better than I expected
5. Crocodile- I don't know if it was crocodile or ailgator but I have had it a few time in Florida and also unfortuantly in Scranton, PA. Don't ask why.
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue*
8. Carp
9. Borscht- After a 3 day juice fast that included beet juice I really can't stand anything with beets in it anymore. To bad.
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari* I used to only like it fried but the grilled Calamari at Kali's Court in Fells Point is amazing so now I look for it grilled everywhere.
12. Pho*
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses*- I love pretty much any cheese.
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes- I worked in the wine indrustry for almost 5 years, I have tried some pretty crazy wine.
19. Steamed pork buns- Only in America, I can't wait to get to Asia.
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries*
23. Foie gras*
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters*- I made myself like them and now it has turned to love.
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut- Another Juice from the juice fast, but I still like it with Sausages.
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar- Although I prefer Armenac
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo- Bu tnever a great one, I still have time.
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk- My daughter Aveline drinks this instead of cow's milk.
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala- really good at the Himilayan House in Locust Point
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut- fresh and hot is best
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal- not a fan of the beef at McDonald's but unfortuantly I do like the chicken nuggets. I only let myself ge them about once a year.
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini*- Robby makes a great martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine- Can't wait to get back to Montreal
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores- I just made some last weekend with Peanut butter cups instead of chocolate while camping in PA.
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu- Robby loves it at the Korean resturant
77. Hostess Fruit Pie*
78. Snail- Too many in Paris
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef- Only the American Version never the realy stuff.
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab- I eat them whenever I can.
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano*
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta- I really want to learn how to make it the right way not the intant stuff.
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Monday, August 11, 2008

Blueberry Jam Picked and Preserved by Renee


















Saturday was a beautiful day in Baltimore and since my hardworking husband was putting in overtime I took my daughter Aveline to a pick your own farm. We picked blackberries, blueberries, and over 20 pounds of peaches. By Sunday morning the blackberries were gone but I was determined to make the blueberries last so I made jam out of them. What a great idea because it intensified their flavor and I have preserved them in jars so they will last. As for the peaches, if I can hold back on eating all 20 pounds minus the two I have already consumed then they also might be giving me great happiness in January in the form of jam, chutney, preserves, or maybe ice cream thanks to my friend Coralie who has lent me her ice cream maker.

The blueberry jam could not be easier. I used 5 cups of cleaned and picked over blueberries to 3 cups of cane sugar. I mashed up the berries with my potato masher and cooked it all together on low heat for about an hour or until the mixture thickened.

Then using my new canning book I followed the instructions for cleaning the jars and lids, filled them with jam and sealed them in the hot water for about 20 mins. I am planning on doing this with some of the peaches and giving them away at Christmas.