Confessions of a Foodie #2

Alright. Tomato sandwiches are great, but their consistency as a menu item around here has left me with very little blogging material. Plus I'm just not up to the picture-uploading thing right now. Plus it's Sunday. Time for a confession.

I like hot dogs. I'm a little ashamed of publishing this. Especially being a person who calls herself a "foodie". My table should only be graced with the most wholesome of foods prepared with fresh, local ingredients and presented in the finest taste. Right? I'm supposed to shun so-called "foods" that contain a long list of obscure and un-pronouncable ingredients such as (hang on, let me find a highly processed food that's lurking about . . .) "thiamin mononitrate" and "sodium aluminosilicate"*.

But the fact is I don't have such a pristine criteria for what I consider "food" or even "good food" for that matter. I suppose I can chalk some of this up to sentimentalism. The family gathered around a crackling campfire. Forest sounds reverberating beyond our circle's cheery glow. A piece of unappetizing processed "meat" sizzles and spits as it cooks over the flames . . . Substitute "A lump of processed sugar substance puffs and goldens over the flames . . ." and I've explained away my craving for a nice toasted marshmallow too. It could be the association with good, family times that sends me into a downward hot-dog-craving spiral.

Or, I'll admit, it could just be plain "poor taste." (har, har). Pass the relish and mustard please.


*Ingredients culled from a (now-empty) "Cheez-It" box and container of "French Vanilla Coffee-mate"

Confessions of a Foodie #1

I cannot make iced tea.

Without a recipe. A recipe! For iced tea!

Mainly, the problem is that I get the tea steeping then promptly forget about it for the next thirty minutes. This means that my tea turns out bitter. Then I never know how much sugar and water to put in. Because of the bitterness I almost inevitably put in too much water. Weak, bitter tea. Not refreshing.

So, in the sweltering 90's two days ago, I went in search of a recipe (this is rather embarrassing). I found this page with basic instructions on amounts of tea (bagged and loose), water and steeping times. Very well. I did all that, remembering to use a timer to remind myself when the tea should be done steeping. Okay so far.

Then. How much sugar? I did some quick calculating*. My mom used 2 cups, but I was only making a 1/2 gallon. So I did the right thing and cut it back to only 3/4 cup. SWEET! Too sweet. No problem. Add some water, and viola! Refreshing iced tea. It only took a few recipes and a small blow to my ego.

I wrote a recipe card for future reference:

"Iced Tea
4 cups boiling water over 8 bags (or 8 tsp.) tea

-steep 5 - 6 min.

Strain out tea and dissolve 1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar in concentrate

Add 4 cups cold water to make 1/2 gallon tea"

Pour over ice and enjoy!


*I actually did quite a mis-calculation. My mom would put 2 cups of sugar in two gallons of iced tea. For half a gallon I should use only 1/2 cup maximum!