Let’s raise a glass to making the world a better place in 2009.
…oh, and also to this:
cakeaustin
debunking the american food myth, one bite at a time
Posted in December 2008 …
On a Cinnamon Roll
Four Hands on a Soft Dough
After over twenty years of making her trademark cinnamon rolls, counted upon by many a west Texas family for holiday cheer, my mother realized this morning that by leaving the dough uncovered on the counter for a bit (post-rise, of course) that it’s much more stable and easy to manipulate – not to mention less gooey and sticky.
My sister and I were left to our own devices a few years back when Mom had to go and stay with her mother in the hospital – and fell guilty to visiting vs. concentrating and lumpy, crunchy potato-based dough and cinnamon-less “cinnamon rolls” (which I refer to now as sweet rolls) – but we’re fairly certain the throngs of expectant Tall City-dwellers were none the wiser.
Finished Product with Citrus-Sugar Glaze
And Miles to go Before I Sleep
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union…Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. -Susan B. Anthony
I ask no favors for my gender… All I ask of our brethren is that they will take their feet from off our necks. -Sarah Moore Grimké
Gather Round All You Clowns
I adore this song. I was just thinking this clip is a good companion piece to the famed footage of the Lennon-Dylan showdown in the car. Lennon admired Bob Dylan so much it hurt – very like what he felt for Brian Wilson. As evidenced in Dont’ Look Back and numerous other accounts, it must’ve been such a dressing-down for Lennon to match wits with his intellectual equal. You can practically see sparks flying through the air. Whenever I get down over the Brits being culturally superior, particularly in the realm of music, this picks me back up again.
Eau de Boeuf
I managed this exact project for my national pizza chain client four years ago – right up until it was time to pull the trigger – and they (correctly) decided it was classless, hokey and would be panned (!) by the media as a cheap publicity stunt. Leave it to BK to arrive at the lowest common denominator via their marketing decisions – as usual.
I was already incensed by this earlier in the month, followed closely by the FoxNews faceoff between goddess Frances Moore Lappé and BK CMO Russ Klein. Note the journalist’s attempt to grasp at any praiseworthy aspect of the campaign…”Well, it’s…CREATIVE!”
Go on, BK, have it your way. With the entire planet.
Patel & Pollan on Vilsack
…Raj Patel and Michael Pollan aren’t particularly pleased with the appointment either. The point Pollan makes in his npr interview about the lack of acknowledgment on the part of Vilsack about “food” or “eaters” is deeply resonant. In light of Obama’s secretary of energy pick Steven Chu, a staunch critic of corn-based ethanol, Pollan’s right in that we may be in for some political fireworks.
Vilsack It Is
COMFOODERs are blowing up at today’s announcement of Tom Vilsack as Obama’s Secretary of Ag. As some are saying, however, it could have been worse. He originated the seed pre-emption bill in 2005 which many Iowans fought “because it took away local government’s possibility of ever having a regulation on seeds- where GE would be grown, having GE-free buffers, banning pharma corn locally, etc. Representative Sandy Greiner, the Republican sponsor of the bill, bragged on the House Floor that Vilsack put her up to it right after his state of the state address.” [from Organic Consumers Assoc. Nov. 12 post, "Six Reasons Why Appointing Monsanto's Buddy, Former Iowa Governor, Vilsack, for USDA Head, Would be a Terrible Idea"].
Corn and soy biofuels are very much a part of Vilsack’s agenda, but we all might have predicted this back when our president-elect voiced support for them as well. Can anyone honestly say they thought we’d get a more progressive, sustainability-attuned Secretary of Ag than this? Still, let’s count our blessings. It could’ve been Dennis Wolff.
HFCS Ad Parodies
I posted a rant a few months back about the insidious HFCS ads depicting families and friends in social situations expressing shock over others’ concerns about the danger of the corn and chemical cocktail. In case you haven’t seen them, there are a few spoofs on YouTube the likes of which I wish I’d had time to participate in, as they’re spot-on.
iTunes’ Complimentary Winter Wrist-Slap
Nothing says Christmas like a jolly reminder from your own iTunes account which interrupts your holiday mix-making with the popup: “REMINDER: iTunes tracks may only be burned to cds for your own personal use.”
Really? That’s funny. Because I can assure you I didn’t just pay you money to lecture me. Maybe the 99cents includes a free consumer counseling session? I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt. As I make holiday gifts from the music I’ve bought in lieu of going to a big-box to buy useless junk my friends don’t need or want anyway.
Fast Food Gaining Ground in Down Economy
Don’t remain silent as our food choices become less and less democratic and our nation’s health is ravaged.
People struggling to remain afloat financially may eat less – but more likely, they will succumb to the siren song of “Dollar Menunaire” and eat MORE calorically-dense processed food. If you doubt that this is happening, I submit to you today’s financial headlines citing a 7.7% increase in global sales for McDonald’s.
On a side note, I respected Motley Fool for its sound advice and plain-speak when first it debuted years ago, but I’m disappointed in its recommendation of fast food stock picks as “sound” and “a real winner for investors” today. MF’s website tagline is “To Educate, Amuse & Enrich.” Those among us with the benefit of an education are neither amused nor enriched by socially irresponsible investments.
Tales of apples, salads and ballerinas debuted in 2007. Too little. Too late. Too lame.
