I have a garden. In this garden, I planted WAY too many vegetables… because of that, I have 8 eggplant sitting in my fridge. Tonight, I shall conquer them by attempting to make Punjabi Eggplant.
This will be my first time making an authentic Indian dish. After tonight, I could be labeled a cooking genius. Only time will tell. I’ll keep you posted on how it went, or if we ordered pizza.
I read numerous articles on food daily. Some are quite interesting, others… well, not so much. Many of these articles have ideas that can help change a community, make it stronger, healthier, and more in touch with where your food comes from. Other articles just like to tell you what foods cause cancer, or what foods make you fat. As far as I know, blueberries cure cancer, malaria, the common cold, help your digestive system, cause divorce rates in America to double, and cause people to acquire Ebola. The last part I made up, but you’d probably believe me if MSN wrote it.
Introducing the 3/50 Project. An idea, that really isn’t an idea… more so, a way of life. It’s something that you should have been aware of, but weren’t. It’s an idea so simple, so minute in detail, that you never would have thought of it. Take the pet rock as an example. In fact, I’m petting my pet rock as I type this. Impressed?
The 3/50 Project is simple. Let’s start with the 3. Pick 3 locally owned businesses. No, Walmart and Target don’t count. If those 3 local store were gone, would you miss them? If so… then stop in, say hello, and support these businesses. You are the reason these businesses are still here.
Moving on to the 50. If 1/2 of the employed population spent $50.00 each month at locally owned businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. For every $100.00 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68.00 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend it at a national chain, only $43.00 stays local.
Now, I’m not a genius… but I’m pretty sure that America was built on local businesses and communities. This idea brings everything back full circle. We as consumers need to start helping others. The end to this recession starts with you. It starts by giving back to community, and it starts by supporting local businesses that actually care.
If you’d like to know more about the 3/50 project, please visit their website here: http://www.the350project.net
I’m going to apologize. Apologize for not making you smarter about food for quite some time. I told you this blog was going to be a roller coaster, and surprise; you just paid $5.00 for a culinary adventure that you never got to enjoy. Ok, you never actually paid, but we’ll talk about you giving me money at a later date.
This is my promise to you: I will change this whole “not blogging thing!” How you might ask? Well, I’m going to make this a habit… for YOU. I’ve received hundreds of e-mails in the past month wondering where I’ve been, what I’ve been doing, and why I haven’t posted. Ok, I’m lying. It was just my mother. She always told me that I had a tendency to start things and then not finish. She used the rocketship I started to build in 1982 as an example. I told her I finished it, and quickly destroyed it so the US government wouldn’t steal my ideas. Three months later the Roswell crash happened. Coincidence? Maybe. Anyway, she never believed me. That’s why I have to finish this blog.
That’s why I have to post, and comment, and love, and eat, and travel, and… well, you get the picture. I want to prove my mother wrong. I also want to make you, the reader, the smarterest person in the world. (please don’t write me e-mails saying that smarterest’ isn’t a word. I know its not.)
Okay baby birds… I’m going to feed you. Don’t think I’m going to stand here… errr, sit here and let my blog die a slow death. By the way, random note of 2010: Who types standing up? Really? If you’re reading this, or you plan on writing an e-mail later…. and you’re going to stand up while typing, sit down. Just try it. For me. Please. It’s much more enjoyable, ergonomically correct if you will. Anyway, I digress.
The reason as to why I haven’t been posting lately, is because I’ve been busy. Yes. I have been way too busy to do any kind of recreational fun. The good news is, I have a lot to type/talk about. Most of the new topics will include, but are not limited to: travel, my garden, more recipes, drinking, and crocodiles. Not so much the latter part. I just wanted you to kinda say to yourself, “whaaa??”. This is me building you up, just to bring you down.
So sit back, and enjoy the ride. Visit often, and don’t forget to tell a friend. We here at jaredeatsworld play the friend game. You tell a friend, than I steal your friend for enjoyment… then give them right back. Don’t worry, I have way better legos and G.I. Joes than you do. If you want to keep friends, purchase better toys!
Thanks for staying tuned in! I’ll post an actual food related blog tomorrow!
Fava Beans…. 70% work, 100% amazing. Fava Beans are my favorite beans to eat. They are ready to pick in late Spring, and grow in bundles. You can normally get Fava Beans at the Farmers Market for about $1.00 a pound.
* Fresh fava beans, in the pod
* Pancetta
* Unsalted butter
* Olive oil
* Garlic Cloves – Minced
* 1 small Yellow Onion diced
* White Wine
* Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
1. First, shell the beans from the fava pods. Grab the hard end of
the pod, break it, and run the sting down the back of the pod. This
should allow you to open the pod up very easily. Scoop out the beans.
2. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil, then add salt – I
like a little more than usual. Almost like seawater. You’re going to
throw it away anyway, so you might as well flavor the beans.
3. Add the shelled beans to the boiling water and let cook for about
2 minutes, then remove from saucepan and strain. Run cold water over
them to immediately stop the cooking.
4. Once cooled, peel the outer skin off the fava’s. You should be
able to squeeze them out from one end… once the other end is cut.
5. (If you wish for your dish to be vegetarian – DON’T DO THIS STEP)
Cut the pancetta into strips and put into a skillet. Cook on Medium -
Medium High until the fat has rendered off, and the pancetta is a crisp
brown. Almost like bacon.
6. Remove pancetta from the pan and let cool. Keep some of the fat
from the pancetta in the pan. Use it for flavor.
7. In same pan that you used for the pancetta – Over medium heat,
add your butter and olive oil.
8. Then add the onions and Sauté for until translucent.
9. Add 1/2 cup of dry-white wine and reduce to half. At this point
you should have a thick “sauce” in the pan.
10. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute with the onions. Make sure
the heat in your pan is not too hot. You don’t want to burn the
garlic. If the garlic turns brown, start over. Once the garlic is brown,
it turns bitter and can ruin your entire dish.
10. Add the peeled fava beans and sauté for about 5 to 7 minutes, or
until they are done to your preference.
11. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper, serve, and
enjoy!
12. This step is optional – After cooking and mixing all the
ingredients together. Sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese. <—- That’s the
way my grandma made them! 