Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.

https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH

koko

--

Food is our common ground, a universal experience
James Beard

On Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:07:33 -0800, koko > wrote:

>
>Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
>Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>
>https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH

I was going to make a veggie bake (with a little bacon) tonight but I
might do this instead. I have no capicola of course, but might
substitute with some bacon. Thanks Koko, looks very nice.

On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:

> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>
> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>
> koko

Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
really excellent!

"Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
...
> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>
>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>
>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>
>> koko
>
> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
> really excellent!

I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato I
have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make us
buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>>
>>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
>>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>>
>>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>>
>>> koko
>>
>> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
>> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
>> really excellent!
>
How else would she make them? Potatoes, butter, milk or cream is pretty
much the recipe for mashed potatoes.

> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>
All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
costly. Butter was reserved for holiday dinners. These days butter
often costs less than margarine and it sure as heck tastes better.

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>
>> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>>>
>>>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
>>>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>>>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>>>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>>>
>>>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>>>
>>>> koko
>>>
>>> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
>>> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
>>> really excellent!
>>
> How else would she make them? Potatoes, butter, milk or cream is pretty
> much the recipe for mashed potatoes.
>
>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>
> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
> costly. Butter was reserved for holiday dinners. These days butter often
> costs less than margarine and it sure as heck tastes better.

We never had butter when I was growing up. I don't know if it was because
my mom had to eat it as a child and they churned their own or they really
thought margarine was better for us. My mom only ever bought Blue Bonnet.

You might think that butter is the only way to make them but if you keep
kosher, you likely wouldn't make them that way. Not if they are to be
served with meat anyway. Olive oil and broth can be used in place of butter
and milk/cream.

I tried them with cream cheese once and, yuck, yuck, yuck! It was a highly
rated Crock-Pot recipe that claimed they would keep for many hours. And
they did but we didn't like the taste of them.

On 12/11/2014 5:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>
>> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>>>
>>>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed
>>>> with
>>>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>>>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>>>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>>>
>>>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>>>
>>>> koko
>>>
>>> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
>>> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
>>> really excellent!
>>
> How else would she make them? Potatoes, butter, milk or cream is
> pretty much the recipe for mashed potatoes.

I've had mashed potatoes where they replaced the butter and milk or
cream with chicken broth. THAT was a waste of time.

On 12/11/2014 8:15 AM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:
> On 12/11/2014 5:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>>>>
>>>>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed
>>>>> with
>>>>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>>>>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>>>>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>>>>
>>>>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>>>>
>>>>> koko
>>>>
>>>> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
>>>> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
>>>> really excellent!
>>>
>> How else would she make them? Potatoes, butter, milk or cream is
>> pretty much the recipe for mashed potatoes.
>
> I've had mashed potatoes where they replaced the butter and milk or
> cream with chicken broth. THAT was a waste of time.
>
Sure sounds like it! I'd take some chicken gravy on those mashed taters
but don't skip the butter and milk or cream when preparing them.

Jill

On 12/11/2014 8:21 AM, wrote:
> On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:15:47 -0600, Moe DeLoughan >
> wrote:
>
>> On 12/11/2014 5:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>>>>>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>>>>>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>>>>>
>>>>>> koko
>>>>>
>>>>> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
>>>>> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
>>>>> really excellent!
>>>>
>>> How else would she make them? Potatoes, butter, milk or cream is
>>> pretty much the recipe for mashed potatoes.
>>
>> I've had mashed potatoes where they replaced the butter and milk or
>> cream with chicken broth. THAT was a waste of time.
>
> I saw that suggested somewhere and thought yuck. It is true, if you
> are diet conscious, that the spud is not too bad - it's what you do
> with it and put on it. However so long as you're not eating them
> three times a day gussied up with cream and butter, once in a while
> does no harm
>
+1

Jill

On 12/11/2014 8:18 AM, wrote:
> On Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:07:33 -0800, koko > wrote:
>
>>
>> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
>> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>
>> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>>
>> koko
>
> Looks great but I think I would skip the capicola, perhaps use bacon
> instead.
>
I wouldn't be able to find capicolla without really hunting for it. I'm
not apt to do that. I'd use bacon and call it good.

I haven't baked any potatoes lately. I should put large russets on my
shopping list.

Jill

jmcquown > wrote in news:ceteb0F5omlU1
@mid.individual.net:

> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
> costly.

Remember the white margarine in the clear plastic bag with the little
orange pill? I always got recruited to knead the bag into a butter-colored
result. I wonder how many families without kids bothered to buy and knead
this?



--
You know it's time to clean the refrigerator
when something closes the door from the inside.

On 12/11/2014 9:38 AM, KenK wrote:
> jmcquown > wrote in news:ceteb0F5omlU1
> @mid.individual.net:
>
>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>> costly.
>
> Remember the white margarine in the clear plastic bag with the little
> orange pill?

Sorry, I'm not that old. I remember my mother talking about adding the
food colour to oleo. This was in the 1930's and 40's.

I always got recruited to knead the bag into a butter-colored
> result. I wonder how many families without kids bothered to buy and knead
> this?
>
Wasn't butter rationed during and after WWII?

I don't think kids were necessary for squishing in the dye packet. If
you didn't add it you were left with ugly white stuff to spread on bread
and vegetables. Yellow oleo looked more palatable.

Jill

On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:01:23 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:

>On Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:07:33 -0800, koko > wrote:
>
>>
>>Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
>>Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
>>topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
>>oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>>
>>https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>
>I was going to make a veggie bake (with a little bacon) tonight but I
>might do this instead. I have no capicola of course, but might
>substitute with some bacon. Thanks Koko, looks very nice.

Thank you, it was pretty darned tasty

koko

--

Food is our common ground, a universal experience
James Beard

"Ophelia" > wrote in message
...

> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato I
> have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make us
> buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing

True, I haven't bought oleo in many years.

Cheri

koko wrote:
>
> Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
> Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
> topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
> oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
>
> https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
>
> koko


looks great - twice baked potatoes are a special treat

I finally learned not to mix too much stuff in with the scooped-out
potatoes, or else you won't be able to cram it back in ... I ended up
with extra stuff a couple of times because I thought the shells might
fall apart if I put it all in there.

On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:

> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to
> make us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing

And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and
butter really *IS* better for you.

It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:38:56 +0000, KenK wrote:


> Remember the white margarine in the clear plastic bag with the little
> orange pill? I always got recruited to knead the bag into a
> butter-colored result. I wonder how many families without kids bothered
> to buy and knead this?

Just like Jane kneading the gelatine football of orange food coloring
into the oleomargarine. (Rufus M., Eleanor Estes. I love this book. Love
the picture of Jane on page 222.)

https://books.google.com/books?id=ul...4&dq=margarine
+football+rufus
+m&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uDOKVIPcB8agNrfrgtgK&ved=0CCYQ6AE wAA#v=onepage&q=margarine
%20football%20rufus%20m&f=false

http://tinyurl.com/kesn6fs

Tara

On 11/12/2014 7:38 AM, KenK wrote:
> jmcquown > wrote in news:ceteb0F5omlU1
> @mid.individual.net:
>
>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>> costly.
>
> Remember the white margarine in the clear plastic bag with the little
> orange pill? I always got recruited to knead the bag into a butter-colored
> result. I wonder how many families without kids bothered to buy and knead
> this?
>
>
>
The dairy lobby was behind such an abomination!
Graham

On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:00:29 -0700, graham > wrote:

>On 11/12/2014 7:38 AM, KenK wrote:
>> jmcquown > wrote in news:ceteb0F5omlU1
>> @mid.individual.net:
>>
>>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>>> costly.
>>
>> Remember the white margarine in the clear plastic bag with the little
>> orange pill? I always got recruited to knead the bag into a butter-colored
>> result. I wonder how many families without kids bothered to buy and knead
>> this?
>>
>>
>>
>The dairy lobby was behind such an abomination!

And good on them too.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:05:44 -0800, Oregonian Haruspex
> wrote:

>On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:
>
>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to
>> make us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>
>And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and
>butter really *IS* better for you.
>
>It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.

It is, since they're clueless about nutrition.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:17:09 -0400, wrote:

>On Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:05:44 -0800, Oregonian Haruspex
> wrote:
>
>>On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:
>>
>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to
>>> make us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>
>>And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and
>>butter really *IS* better for you.
>>
>>It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.
>
>Not to mention eggs, but I had ignored 'them' anyway

Speaking of eggs, I had an awesome breakfast this morning in
Launceston. Two poached eggs on top of some smoked salmon, wilted
spinach and hollandaise sauce... and I forget what else was included
at the moment. Very nice anyway.

"Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
...
> On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:
>
>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato I
>> have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make us
>> buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>
> And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and butter
> really *IS* better for you.
>
> It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.

It makes you wonder! They did the same thing with eggs too! Apparently
someone put the point in the wrong place and look how many years we were
warned about them. I never took any notice of that either! Common sense
can be a good guide.


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

> wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 12 Dec 2014 11:24:21 -0000, "Ophelia"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
...
>>> On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:
>>>
>>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>>> I
>>>> have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>>>> us
>>>> buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>
>>> And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and
>>> butter
>>> really *IS* better for you.
>>>
>>> It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.
>>
>>It makes you wonder! They did the same thing with eggs too! Apparently
>>someone put the point in the wrong place and look how many years we were
>>warned about them. I never took any notice of that either! Common sense
>>can be a good guide.
>
> I adhere to the doctrine of a little of everything and everything in
> moderation. They have completely reversed that butter and egg idea,
> now it seems they don't like margarine (because of the colours) but
> feel it's okay to have marge made with olive oil.
>
> When eggs were the forbidden item, they also said babies should not be
> having eggs at all. I went to collect a granddaughter from her other
> grandmothers and waited while she finished giving her a boiled egg. I
> laughed and said to her I thought we were not supposed to give them
> eggs and she pointed out, she couldn't talk yet, so who would know

Well ... wise lady As I said, use common sense as I think that lady was
using)

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Ophelia" > wrote in
:

>
>
> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:
>>
>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed
>>> potato I have never believed the stories about it when they were
>>> trying to make us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the
>>> real thing
>>
>> And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and
>> butter really *IS* better for you.
>>
>> It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.
>
> It makes you wonder! They did the same thing with eggs too!
> Apparently someone put the point in the wrong place and look how many
> years we were warned about them. I never took any notice of that
> either! Common sense can be a good guide.
>
>

I foolishly bought into it and cut back to two a week. I'll probably
continue from force of habit.



--
You know it's time to clean the refrigerator
when something closes the door from the inside.

On 12/11/2014 9:00 PM, graham wrote:
> On 11/12/2014 7:38 AM, KenK wrote:
>> jmcquown > wrote in news:ceteb0F5omlU1
>> @mid.individual.net:
>>
>>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>>> costly.
>>
>> Remember the white margarine in the clear plastic bag with the little
>> orange pill? I always got recruited to knead the bag into a
>> butter-colored
>> result. I wonder how many families without kids bothered to buy and knead
>> this?
>>
>>
>>
> The dairy lobby was behind such an abomination!
> Graham

http://mentalfloss.com/article/25638...tory-margarine

Jill

On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:

>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>
> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
> costly.

My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
saying.

nancy

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>
>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>> costly.
>
> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
> saying.

Cheapness was a big factor in those days, and sometimes in these too.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 12/12/2014 10:25 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>
>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>> costly.
>
> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
> saying.
>
> nancy
>
I wasn't knocking my mom, either. She was on a budget and she bought
margarine because it cost less. Also pretty much because it's what she
grew up with herself.

I remember asking here about Benecol and such many years ago. Mom had
cholesterol problems and underwent surgery for blockages in her leg.
Her doctors started recommending those sorts of butter substitutes.

Personally I don't use enough butter to worry about it. I don't eat
toast every day. I certainly don't eat baked (twice or otherwise) or
mashed potatoes every day. When I do eat those things, yep, I use
butter. When it comes to cooked vegetables I rarely add butter. (A big
exception would be baked acorn squash.) A little butter goes a long way
in my house.

Jill

On 12/12/2014 11:12 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 12/12/2014 10:25 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
>> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:

>>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>>> costly.
>>
>> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
>> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
>> saying.

> I wasn't knocking my mom, either.

Of course not. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't offending
someone else without intending to.

> She was on a budget and she bought margarine because it cost less.

My mother is well into her 80s and still self sufficient, she
doesn't need money from us to survive. Being cheap might have
been a hassle when I was a kid, but my brothers and I can be happy
we don't have to chip in to pay her expenses now.

nancy

"KenK" > wrote in message
...
> "Ophelia" > wrote in
> :
>
>>
>>
>> "Oregonian Haruspex" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 2014-12-11 11:23:38 +0000, Ophelia said:
>>>
>>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed
>>>> potato I have never believed the stories about it when they were
>>>> trying to make us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the
>>>> real thing
>>>
>>> And now they're telling us that they'd been wrong for 40 years, and
>>> butter really *IS* better for you.
>>>
>>> It's probably best to just ignore doctors altogether.
>>
>> It makes you wonder! They did the same thing with eggs too!
>> Apparently someone put the point in the wrong place and look how many
>> years we were warned about them. I never took any notice of that
>> either! Common sense can be a good guide.
>>
>>
>
> I foolishly bought into it and cut back to two a week. I'll probably
> continue from force of habit.

I don't see any problem if you are doing it voluntarily


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Ophelia" wrote:

>
>
>"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
>> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>>>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>>
>>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>>> costly.
>>
>> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
>> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
>> saying.
>
>Cheapness was a big factor in those days, and sometimes in these too.

It's also regional... in Italy no one uses butter or margerine, they
use lard and olive oil... in the US deep south bacon greeze rulz!

On 2014-12-12 2:51 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:

>>> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
>>> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
>>> saying.
>>
>> Cheapness was a big factor in those days, and sometimes in these too.
>
> It's also regional... in Italy no one uses butter or margerine, they
> use lard and olive oil... in the US deep south bacon greeze rulz!
>

You are partly right. Cooking is regional. There are different types of
cooking in the different regions of Italy. They don't use much butter
in southern Italian cooking. They did not have large herds of beef
cattle. They had some milk production for cheese. There is a lot more
butter and dairy used in northern Italian cooking.

"Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
> "Ophelia" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
>>> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>>>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed
>>>>> potato
>>>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to
>>>>> make
>>>>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>>>
>>>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>>>> costly.
>>>
>>> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
>>> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
>>> saying.
>>
>>Cheapness was a big factor in those days, and sometimes in these too.
>
> It's also regional... in Italy no one uses butter or margerine, they
> use lard and olive oil... in the US deep south bacon greeze rulz!

That's just not true!

On 12/12/2014 2:51 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> "Ophelia" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "Nancy Young" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>>>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>>>>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>>>
>>>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>>>> costly.
>>>
>>> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
>>> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
>>> saying.
>>
>> Cheapness was a big factor in those days, and sometimes in these too.
>
> It's also regional... in Italy no one uses butter or margerine, they
> use lard and olive oil... in the US deep south bacon greeze rulz!
>
I don't save bacon grease. I don't cook with bacon grease. Sure, there
are traditional recipes that call for it. But hey, I don't cook fatback
or hog jowls, either.

Lots of people who post here say they save and cook with bacon grease.
My point is not everyone in the South cooks that way.

People talk about schmaltz... there's an idea I can't wrap my mind
around. No thanks to saving chicken fat for cooking.

Jill

"Ophelia" wrote in message ...



"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> On 12/11/2014 6:43 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 12/11/2014 6:23 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>>> I have always used butter in many things, and always in mashed potato
>>> I have never believed the stories about it when they were trying to make
>>> us buy pretendy butter instead. Nothing beats the real thing
>>>
>> All through my childhood my mother used margarine because it was less
>> costly.
>
> My mother totally bought into the healthier thing, but knowing her,
> the cheaper thing was a big factor, too. Not knocking her, just
> saying.

Cheapness was a big factor in those days, and sometimes in these too.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

____________________

Cheap was the reason my parents used margarine. I hated it. When I
visited my grandmother, I didn't ask for cookies, but bread with real
butter. When I was newly married, my parents dropped by as we were
finishing supper. Mom looked at our table and said with raised eyebrows "
you use butter?". Lol I've never used margarine in my home.....Sharon in
Canada

jmcquown wrote:

[snip]
>
> People talk about schmaltz... there's an idea I can't wrap my mind
> around. No thanks to saving chicken fat for cooking.

I've fried potatoes in chicken fat -- much better than canola oil!

jmcquown wrote:
>

> > People talk about schmaltz... there's an idea I can't wrap my mind
> > around. No thanks to saving chicken fat for cooking.

Save yours for me, I love it.

When I make chicken soup (or pie) I use the fat from the stock to sweat
the vegetables in.

Janet UK

On 12/13/2014 12:37 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
> [snip]
>>
>> People talk about schmaltz... there's an idea I can't wrap my mind
>> around. No thanks to saving chicken fat for cooking.
>
> I've fried potatoes in chicken fat -- much better than canola oil!
>
I can't remember the last time I fried potatoes. It was probably about
eight months ago when I fried some cubed potatoes with onions (home
fries) to go with breakfast. Saving chicken fat for such rare occasions
wouldn't really work for me.

Jill

On 12/13/2014 1:03 PM, Janet wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>
>>> People talk about schmaltz... there's an idea I can't wrap my mind
>>> around. No thanks to saving chicken fat for cooking.
>
> Save yours for me, I love it.
>
You may have it.

> When I make chicken soup (or pie) I use the fat from the stock to sweat
> the vegetables in.
>
> Janet UK
>
I don't cook chicken often enough to save the fat. I generally buy
skinless thighs; there's no rendered fat to speak of. I do buy chicken
leg quarters (thighs + drumsticks) sometimes for chicken stew or chicken
& dumplings but I only make that a couple of times a year.

Jill

On Wednesday, December 10, 2014 10:18:30 PM UTC-6, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:
> On 2014-12-11 03:07:33 +0000, koko said:
>
> > Dinner tonight was twice baked potatoes. The potatoes were mashed with
> > Parmesan cheese and butter, then stuffed back into the shells and
> > topped with crispy capicola and scallions. After a trip back into the
> > oven for a few minutes, it's time to eat.
> >
Is there anything you won't nasty up with scallions?
> >
> > https://flic.kr/p/qnpauH
> >
> > koko
>
> Good real butter is just awesome in twice baked potatoes. My wife has
> started whipping it into mashed potatoes as well as some cream - it's
> really excellent!

"Started"? All butter is both "good" and "real." Anyone who refers to
margarine as butter is a slob, and isn't fit to be fed like a human.

--Bryan