Lean Cuisine Seafood Selections = Good!

[MrAngryFace]

Lots of big shrimp, tastes like SOMETHING, and its cheap. Booyah. 260 calories, 5gs of fat.

http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/SeafoodSelects.aspx

[Fragamemnon]

Looking at the nutrional facts, I'm pretty impressed. That's not bad at all-certainly better than those tv dinner ribs you were talking up a while back.

I had zucchini curry soup and a toasted whole wheat dinner roll for supper tonight. Was very good, I replaced the ho-hum yogurt the recipe called for with light coconut milk and it was like twice as good as it usually was.

[MrAngryFace]

Haha, i've changed my ways for the most part. I have one 'splurge' day a week right now where I just get a burger and fries and a small soda at wendys or something, but most fo the time its oats oats oats and light stuff like that.

[tiesto]

We need to have an EB meetup with Frag as the chef, every time he makes reference to something him and his wife have cooked I end up drooling.

[Fragamemnon]

We need to have an EB meetup with Frag as the chef, every time he makes reference to something him and his wife have cooked I end up drooling.

I'd actually LOVE to have a dinner party with EB folks. That would be hella fun. Though I am pretty sure that COhen is still the board's alpha chef. We should do Iron Chef: Evilbore with the secret ingredient being something like scotch!

Tomorrow night's dish is a lamb tangine (with tomatoes and green beans) I pulled out of a budget moroccan cookbook and heavily modified for MOAR VEGGIES like usual, bulgar wheat pilaf with fresh red currants, and a baked apple a piece. Heavily spiced food, so a Columbia Valley Reisling ( Columbia Winery's Cellarmaster is my staple favorite, though Covey Run is even cheaper and is still good) is paired with the dish, and it'll last two days since there are going to be leftovers (Yet ANOTHER reason why you should never have children-not only can you make crazy good stuff instead of eating what the little bugger wants, there is plenty left over for the next day w/o contorting the recipe).

Cooking is one of the few ways I stay rooted in the creation of physical things since I am inept with hand tools and artistically bankrupt. It's awesome and the years I've spent practicing and failing in the kitchen have really paid off now that I'm married to a European with a lovely high standard for cuisine.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

yeah, no offense to Frag, but I think Cohen would win the Iron Chef battle, probably through his audacious wine pairings

I would like to compete as well, though I am but a child next to you all *sniff* I could get it together for a competition, at least.

I don't cook nearly as much as I should, living by myself and being overworked and lazy.

I'm making kimchi pork fried rice tonight, though, so, uh, take that. Actually, most of my cooking is Japanese and Korean, so maybe I could compete with Frag and Cohen on certain levels.

[Cormacaroni]

Mr Singh >*

Also:

(Image removed from quote.)

Lots of big shrimp, tastes like SOMETHING, and its cheap. Booyah. 260 calories, 5gs of fat.

http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/SeafoodSelects.aspx

You could make this yourself in about 10 minutes, with the big shrimp and everything!

[Rman]

That sounds delicious, Frag.  I had some dry aged strip steak seared on the stovetop and finished in the oven and some mashed potatoes.

[Fragamemnon]

I'm making kimchi pork fried rice tonight, though, so, uh, take that. Actually, most of my cooking is Japanese and Korean, so maybe I could compete with Frag and Cohen on certain levels.

Yeah, you'd whip my butt there. I've pretty much punted on getting skilled at any Asian cuisine other than Thai, which I have become decent at. Well, I've got some killer Indian dishes I've almost perfected, but that's not really "Asian" in my book, but uniquely Indian!

My current obsession, though, is North Africa and the Middle East. The multitude of lamb dishes, the ease of cooking (much of it is one-pot style stuff), and the allure of going through saffron threads like it's a sort of foodie blow are too appealing.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

when are we holding EB Con? it's going to be the best cheffed con ever

[tiesto]

Both Frag and Patel have me Love Kimchi and lamb tajine (although I have limited experience with the latter - had it once at a Moroccan restaurant in NYC but loved it all the same).

EB con cookoff MUST happen! (I don't cook but I would make an apt judge )

[MrAngryFace]

Mr Singh >*

Also:

(Image removed from quote.)

Lots of big shrimp, tastes like SOMETHING, and its cheap. Booyah. 260 calories, 5gs of fat.

http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/SeafoodSelects.aspx

You could make this yourself in about 10 minutes, with the big shrimp and everything!

Why would I do that? I dont want to eat a lot, and I dont want to do dishes.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

omg, the fried rice turned out so good

at the last second I decided to cover the rice with Sriracha and sear it in because I figured that cooking the kimchi, while improving its texture, would reduce its spiciness.

THIS WAS THE CORRECT DECISION

[Smooth Groove]

Put Rman in the contest as well.  He's had lots of culinary training. 

My current obsession, though, is North Africa and the Middle East. The multitude of lamb dishes, the ease of cooking (much of it is one-pot style stuff), and the allure of going through saffron threads like it's a sort of foodie blow are too appealing.

Too bad you live in the South.  We could be best friends.  Food is one of the few things I enjoy more than upgrading my PC. 

Moroccan cuisine is I wish there were more Morocaan restaurants in SoCal. 

I'm not as crazy about Middle Eastern cuisine although I love chicken shawarma.  Is it possible to make that at home?

[Cormacaroni]

Mr Singh >*

Also:

(Image removed from quote.)

Lots of big shrimp, tastes like SOMETHING, and its cheap. Booyah. 260 calories, 5gs of fat.

http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/SeafoodSelects.aspx

You could make this yourself in about 10 minutes, with the big shrimp and everything!

Why would I do that? I dont want to eat a lot, and I dont want to do dishes.

Ladies love a man that can cook shrimp alfredo, I thought this was well-established.

[demi]

I made a ham sandwich

[Crushed]

you know what're REALLY good

those contessa and bertolli frozen meals that come in the bags, that have everything separated, really good italian and asian

[Van Cruncheon]

cooking is for the hired help

[MrAngryFace]

I dunno, after a long day of work and driving the last thing I have energy for is dinner-for-one

[Cormacaroni]

I dunno, after a long day of work and driving the last thing I have energy for is dinner-for-one

Well, to me it's a hobby so it's its own reward. I'm sure Genghis, Frag, Patel etc would agree with me here. I find it quite relaxing to think about something so completely removed from work etc. Even if I've had a shitty day at work, I can turn it around by making something awesome out of fridge-leavings.

[MrAngryFace]

Yeah but I dont like cooking. I mean im not putting you guys down, but I just dont wanna cook.

[cool breeze]

As someone who really enjoys cooking and all that, sometimes it is nice to be lazy and just nuke something up and be set for the night.

[MrAngryFace]

I dont even like doing dishes. I just have plastic forks n crap. Some nights when I get home I spend an entire hour just laying on the floor. I take lazy to new levels my friends.

[cool breeze]

Some nights i am so lazy that after I bend down to turn on my 360, I just sit on the floor and play instead of sitting on my big comfy recliner.  I do have carpeting, so it isn't too bad.

you know what're REALLY good

those contessa and bertolli frozen meals that come in the bags, that have everything separated, really good italian and asian

Yeah, those ones are really good.  I think some versions also come with frozen bread, which ain't bad.

 

[MrAngryFace]

The floor is awesome; it's cured my recent insomnia and I also, like you, find it more comfortable than the chair some nights.

[Cormacaroni]

As someone who really enjoys cooking and all that, sometimes it is nice to be lazy and just nuke something up and be set for the night.

oh, i do this all the time too. but with leftovers. i don't eat *any* processed or frozen foods (well...except maybe ice cream but that's not what i'm talking about). Damn near everything i eat these days is made from scratch.

[demi]

i have picked up one of these... meals

[cool breeze]

oh, i do this all the time too. but with leftovers. i don't eat *any* processed or frozen foods (well...except maybe ice cream but that's not what i'm talking about). Damn near everything i eat these days is made from scratch.

Same here for the most part; at least in the past year the only microwave meal I ate was a prime rib thing recently (it wasn't frozen).  Back when I was in high school, or even in my dorm room, was when I would eat a lot of frozen food.  I also don't make my own bread or anything like that.  I mean, I'm not Alton Brown who hates everything pre-packaged and still can't enjoy a Pop Tart or boxed Mac and Cheese.

Thinking back to my dorm life days reminds me of how much I hated the food situation there.  It was either the most unhealthy cafeteria that smelled like there was a fuel leak and served stale food, or one of the various take out places near or on campus.  It didn't help that we couldn't cool anything in our rooms, and even microwaves were one per 'community'.  Just thinking about fourth meal at 2 am and getting chicken tenders, cheese steak, a waffle, some cereal, a hamburger, and some stale fries to last me a day makes shiver.  Eventually I found a good Asian place that had really good food, but I ended up eating the same thing for almost every meal.

[Greatness Gone]

Oh gyllengod no. Fucking horrible. Just horrible.

[MrAngryFace]

i have picked up one of these... meals

[demi]

whats so funny. is this a trap thread? i really did buy one. i bet i get the shits because of it.

[MrAngryFace]

No its pretty decent actually

[demi]

i was at the store and i saw these so i figured... let's get dangerous

it was either this, or throw a potato in the microwave

[MrAngryFace]

I think a solitary potato would be even more lazy haha

[demi]

ok i ate it

pretty filling, was fun watching my sickly blue shrimp turn into red edible shrimp in under 3 minutes

i would give it a 9

[MrAngryFace]

I need a better microwave, its hard to watch stuff cook

[demi]

well i didnt stare in the microwave... but it was like a magic trick zomg its red now

[Cormacaroni]

I need a better microwave, its hard to watch stuff cook

Shrimps also change color when you cook them in frying pans. Who knew?!

Edit: is the plural of shrimp 'shrimp' or 'shrimps'?

Surely some of the shrimping experts here can oblige me.

[cool breeze]

Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it. 

[MrAngryFace]

I need a better microwave, its hard to watch stuff cook

Shrimps also change color when you cook them in frying pans. Who knew?!

Edit: is the plural of shrimp 'shrimp' or 'shrimps'?

Surely some of the shrimping experts here can oblige me.

Why would I cook stuff in a frying pan?

[muckhole]

I'll eat anything I can make in under five minutes. I don't have the patience to cook. I don't think I've had one of these yet, though.

EB con cookoff MUST happen! (I don't cook but I would make an apt judge )

Nonsense. The only worthy judge here would be my stomach, which now has it's own north and south pole, and an equator.

Winners would be allowed to rub it for luck, and losers get a steamroller.

[Mupepe]

i want to learn how to cook better

[Howard Alan Treesong]

i want to learn how to cook better

as I think Julia Child said - if you can read, you can cook

just get some good cookbooks and follow the directions in the recipes

don't go for flavor-of-the-month Food Network celebrities, get a huge classic like Julia Child or James Beard or Fannie Farmer. these books usually do a good job of explaining the processes and philosophy behind the food, so you learn as you cook. those are all traditional America/French cooking, though. if you want to cook more ethnic, not sure what books to recommend.

the more you cook, the less scary new recipes will be!

[Fragamemnon]

I think the best cookbook to learn basics from (if you must self-learn, seriously one night a week in a vocational tech school cooking class will do wonders) is this one from the America Test Kitchen people. It actually takes into account stuff like A) not wanting to spend forever in the kitchen-shortcuts are encouraged, B) using a minimum number of separate ingredients to make shopping lists easier to manage, and C) avoids using a lot of the heavier ingredients and refined stuff that has fallen out of favor in modern American cooking.

It has a good deal of actual cooking science to it as well to actually help you understand why they do what they do in a recipe.

[Mupepe]

nice!  thanks guys.  I figure I'll start small with one or two decent meals per week.  I was going to start a thread asking for advice.  think i should?  i figure some other people might be on board too and it can be one place for good advice.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

if you like, sure

it's good to remember that:

- a lot of good, traditional cooking is made with four or five key ingredients. a lot of recipes that throw in a dozen kinds of arugula are just showing off. it's not hard to cook well, not every meal has to be made to look good on the cover of Gourmet magazine.

- cooking can take a while, but you'll make that time back with leftovers throughout the week. good cooking with real ingredients also reheats well, unlike lousy take out.

[cool breeze]

First thing you should learn to make is a good steak.

[MrAngryFace]

Cooking only takes time. Microwaving dinner takes the same 3-4 minutes every day.