[Sca-cooks] Chuck vs Bottom Round

[Kerri Martinsen]

Serena:
First -- HUGGS

I have 2  kids:  6 and 1 yr.  Without my husband to help watch them I would
go insane.  I get nothing done before bedtime (which is a firm 8pm).  You
listed so many things that would make cooking difficult for a "normal" cook,
much less a mommy cook.  Kudos to you!

Vitha


On 4/29/08, Barbara Benson <voxeight at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >  What did you use/are you going to use for "Grape Juice"? Concord
> >  grape juice isn't going to do, either flavor and origin-wise. Non-
> >  alcoholic wines are generally horrible and neither they or wine are
> >  going to taste like grape juice. Have you found some non-fermented
> >  grape juice from the right grapes?
>
> I am afraid, at this particular point, that niceties like the correct
> grape and such cannot be a significant part of my concern. As we have
> been discussing, food prices are going crazy, gas prices are going
> crazy, everything is going crazy.
>
> I have several restrictions on this particular feast.
>
> 1) I have $6 a head to plan this feast. when taking into consideration
> the rise in food costs I estimate it is equivalent to attempting a
> feast at $4 a head in my previous mindset.
>
> 2) I was originally cooking for 80 people and due to the scheduling of
> an elevation of a popular fighter at a competing event the number has
> been reduced to 60. Because of this I have no economy of scale and
> cannot buy things in cases for case prices.
>
> 3) I am doing this feast for a group that is not my own, the group
> that is sponsoring this event does not have any cooks at the point
> where they are ready to step up and cook. Because of this I have been
> attempting to mentor a potential cook who lives 6 hours away. I have
> met her once and all other communication has been via email.
>
> 4) This is the first feast I am attempting to plan having had a child
> (currently 16 months old) who has proven to be a Klingon, and my
> husband has been traveling extensively over the last 4 months, leaving
> me little time for planning, testing etc... precooking has been out of
> the question.
>
> I have been in the unfamiliar position of having to go and check
> prices, figure out what I can afford to cook, and then go look for
> recipes that will fit the ingredients as opposed to the way I am
> accustomed to planning a feast. Which is doing research, figuring out
> what is correct and appropriate and trying to do my best to make it as
> period as possible.
>
> So, the answer to your question regarding grape juice is the cheapest
> kind I can find. Which will undoubtedly be Concord Grape. Am I happy
> about that? No. Does the finished dish taste good? Yes. Is the recipe
> from a period source? Yes. Are all of the ingredients authentically
> period? No, the grape juice is a problem as you have pointed out. I
> guess I should also be buying grass fed beef to closer approximate
> period beef and make sure that I grow my own herbs so that I can
> ensure that they come from a period version of the plant.
>
> OK, that last bit was sarcastic and uncalled for, I am sorry. I am
> very frustrated, as I think many of us are. While I would love to be
> able to do things completely period what it comes down to for me is
> that this is a Feast. My primary concern is that it is Tasty, Safely
> Prepared and Served in a Timely Fashion and comes in on budget. The
> "customers" are the most important aspect of this endeavor. It is a
> Feast and not an Arts & Sciences competition entry. My wants and needs
> are not foremost.
>
> And while there have been many excellent suggestions on how to cut
> feast costs bandied about, many of them are completely unrealistic for
> many people. If you have an existing garden, then yes planting foods
> might be an option. But for me to get my backyard up and running as a
> functioning garden would cost hundreds if not over a thousand dollars
> and weeks worth of man hours.
>
> The simple task of driving around to more distant food sources to try
> and find better prices is impractical considering the cost of gas. The
> extra .20 per pound I might save is eaten up in my gas prices. And I
> am afraid that I cannot put travel expenses into my feast budget.
>
> What most of the suggestions involve is an investment of time in place
> of money. And of all of the commodities that are scarce in my life
> right now, time is the most valuable. It has taken me over an hour to
> write this missive because I have had to stop to remove the following
> things from my offspring's hands: and empty soda can, a hanger, a
> styrofoam cup, bunny poop and a box of altoids. I have also had to
> change a diaper and extricate from behind a piece of furniture because
> he has not figured out how to go backwards yet. Mind you, I am not
> complaining, I am simply illustrating my point.
>
> I know that there are many, many of you out there that have managed
> many children and learned how to juggle all of this - and I applaud
> you. I am simply on the bottom end of this learning curve. ;).
>
> Well, I am sorry if I have bored the tar out of many of you, hopefully
> you quit reading when I got to the pity party part of the program. And
> Stefan, please know that I in no way intended to attack or offend you
> - your question simply set me off on a tear. You have excellent points
> and I wish I could answer them with a more positive answer.
>
> OK, gotta feed the baby,
>
> --
> Serena da Riva
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