SPAM and the Recession
November 16, 2008 by Bold Foodie · Leave a Comment
Hormel, the maker of SPAM, is having trouble keeping up with the exploding demand for this Rodney Dangerfield of food. While a lot of folks may chuckle at this I’m concerned that it may mean the economy really is in for some tough times.
SPAM was born in 1936 during the Great Depression and became very popular due to it’s low price and acceptance as a worthy substitute for meat. In 1937 Kenneth Daigneau entered a contest to name this new meat-like product and won $100 for submitting the name spam. Since those modest beginnings SPAM has been the brunt of thousands of jokes, kicked around like an empty can of cat food, and basically ignored by many as a viable food.
Well SPAM is making a comeback, a big comeback. Hormel can’t produce enough SPAM to keep up with current demand. Since July of this year Hormel has been running 2 shifts 7 days a week and factory workers have been getting as much overtime as they wish. Consumers are eating this gelatinous spiced ham and pork product like there’s no tomorrow. Marketed as “Crazy Taste” a 12 ounce rectangular can sells for about $2 and with the economy teetering and fear at unprecedented levels SPAM is hotter then ever.
Moose Stew
August 31, 2008 by Bold Foodie · 1 Comment
John McCain rocked foodies all over by selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate. What’s still rocking foodies is that her favorite meal is Moose Stew!
So just what is this Moose Stew?
Moose Stew
Feeds 6-82 – 2 1/2 lb Moose meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tb shortening
1/4 ts black pepper
1/2 ts Paprika
1 Bay leaf
1 ts Salt
2 cans condensed beef broth (10-1/2 ounces each)
1 cup dry red wine
1 Onion; diced12-15 sm whole white onions
3-4 carrots; chopped
10 sm potatoes; peeled
2 tb butter
2 tb flourYou’ll need at least a 2-3 gallon pot to handle this volume of stew.Saute cubes of moose meat in shortening until browned on all sides. Throw in the pepper, paprika, bay leaf, salt, beef broth, red wine, onion, and carrots. Cover and simmer for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Add the whole onions and peeled potatoes; cover again and simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables become slightly tender. Mix the butter and flour into a paste and drop this into the stew pot. Continue to cook, stirring the stew, until the moose stew bubbles and thickens up. Serve with rice or other sides of you liking.
There you have it. Oh wait… the local store does not have any moose meat. Where’s the beef!?

I found one source to buy moose meat online here: Moose Meat
If that doesn’t work out for you then I’m afraid you’re going to have to strike up a friendship with some of Sarah Palin fans up in Alaska and hopefully they’ll be willing to ship you some! Or you could always do a lil’ hunting for your own.
Group Recipes – A Foodie Social Network
March 2, 2008 by Bold Foodie · Leave a Comment
What is Group Recipes? In their own words:
Group Recipes wants to be the world’s neatest food site. From meeting other food lovers to nifty recipe predictions and taste compatibility, Group Recipes has your grub needs covered. The project’s goal is to harness the tastebuds of the masses to create a really useful resource for food lovers.
- Discover great recipes in unique ways
- Create your own food page
- Have “Roger” the Recipe Robot (aka Food Prediction Algorithm) learn about your tastes and predict recipes you will like or dislike
- Show off your personal creations and get feedback as well as honors
- Meet other foodies (aka food lovers) and see what kind of foods they are into
- Share & Discover great places to eat in your home town
- Stem the flow of boredom by using the “Recipe Stumbler” to explore recipes related to your favorite foods. (This is a great feature if you’re stuck in the office all day and need to waste as much time as possible.)
- Explore food by taste, mood, photo, ingredients, uniqueness, rating, and your compatibility
- Organize your recipe collection with the Recipe Manager
- Join/Create a Group of like-minded foodies
- Experiment and collaborate on a dish with other members
- Create your own food TV Show!
- Learn how to be a better cook by osmosis. No promises.
This site is well designed and very robust. I expect the site will continue to be one of the leading social networking sites for foodies. In fact, I’m on my way there now to sign up. Hopefully my ‘Bold Foodie’ name hasn’t been snagged yet. Seeya there!
New Onion Won’t Make You Cry
February 2, 2008 by Bold Foodie · Leave a Comment
Apparently scientists in New Zealand and Japan have been trying for some time to develop an onion that won’t make you cry when you slice it. On Friday (02-01-08) the lead scientist announced that they have finally succeeded. Using biotechnology they have figured out how to switch off the gene behind the enzyme that makes us cry.

Don’t throw those tissues out just yet however, because the discovery could take some time before it actually leads to changes in the onions you get from your local onion growers. Your excuse for crying in the kitchen is safe for a short while longer at least and perhaps longer if you buy the good old fashioned onions we all cry over.
Click here for the full article on tear-free onions.
Famous Chef Biographies
December 2, 2007 by Bold Foodie · Leave a Comment
Out of curiosity I did a search on Biography.com for ‘famous chef’ and I was quite surprised that the search resulted in 961 listings. This link Famous Chefs will generate the same search for you and you won’t be surprised to see Julia Child
heading up the list in the number one spot. She was one of a kind.
PBS put together a nice memoriam here: Julia Child Memoriam.
“Julia Child’s legacy to America is felt nowhere more strongly than at PBS,” said Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of PBS. “When it all began on WGBH, Boston’s public television station, in 1962, no one had ever done a cooking show on television. But Julia set a standard for far more than a genre that has grown exponentially ever since. She made sophisticated cooking techniques accessible while promoting the art of cooking to men and women alike. She was a funny, witty and debonair character who charmed all who knew her – even if just by her television appearances. We’re honored to have had her as part of the PBS family and we will cherish her memory.”
The video below is of an interview she gave in which she discusses her life. It’s less than 5 minutes and well worth watching this culinary pioneer.
