Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine

[HongKongPhooey]

Banana chat has guilted me into not throwing ours. Banana muffins in the oven.

Before Covid, I never made banana bread or anything really other than smoothies. I'm not finding it easy to get my hands on strawberries or raspberries with the grocery delivery service I had to switch to since Covid. Nor my fave peanut butter. So I end up with leftover bananas a lot!

 

[IceIce9]

America's Top 50 Must-Try Foods: The Best From Each State (playbuzz.com)

I love to read these lists, although I often disagree with the “must try” or “most popular.” From the states I have lived in I can comment:

Illinois: deep dish pizza- although this is mostly Chicago area. Illinois is a big state, and in other parts of the state very different foods are more popular than deep dish pizza.

A “must try” in downstate Illinois is the World Famous Horseshoe Sandwich.” Many local restaurants have their version.

Indiana: I would say Indiana is most famous for either the huge big-as-a-dinner-plate tenderloin sandwich or sugar cream pie, which is the official state pie.

Country fried steak is popular here too. Many local restaurants refer to it as “chicken fried steak” although there is no chicken among the ingredients.

Alaska: salmon, yes! Wild caught Alaskan salmon is amazing. Definitely a “must try.”

Ohio: I lived in Ohio for 20 years and NEVER heard anyone mention Swiss cheese as an Ohio “must try.” This one really puzzled me.

 

[IceIce9]

I was in desperate need of some comfort food tonight. Today is the first day that it actually feels like winter outside. After a beautiful sunny weekend, today it is a snow rain mix, overcast all day long, and strong wind gusts. It was dark when I got home from work and everything is starting to ice up outside.

So for dinner I made some colcannon, with plenty of butter and cream.

 

[acutename]

I love to read these lists, although I often disagree with the “must try” or “most popular.” From the states I have lived in I can comment:

Illinois: deep dish pizza- although this is mostly Chicago area. Illinois is a big state, and in other parts of the state very different foods are more popular than deep dish pizza.

A “must try” in downstate Illinois is the World Famous Horseshoe Sandwich.” Many local restaurants have their version.

Indiana: I would say Indiana is most famous for either the huge big-as-a-dinner-plate tenderloin sandwich or sugar cream pie, which is the official state pie.

Country fried steak is popular here too. Many local restaurants refer to it as “chicken fried steak” although there is no chicken among the ingredients.

Alaska: salmon, yes! Wild caught Alaskan salmon is amazing. Definitely a “must try.”

Ohio: I lived in Ohio for 20 years and NEVER heard anyone mention Swiss cheese as an Ohio “must try.” This one really puzzled me.

I never heard of peaches from CO either.... imagine GA would not be supportive of that. I think these 50 state things are amusing but not necessarily accurate IMO.

 

[acutename]

While under Coronavirus quarantine/shutdown, this is a great site you have linked as I don't go shopping often and my pantry gets threadbare. I just did a quick test for my bananas that are going to go bad soon lol. It's so helpful for our mental health to have this thread and posts such as yours to cope with the COVID pandemic. Thanks.

another thing to do with bananas is to make a sort of dairy-free "ice cream" out of them. I do not even like bananas, but I have been served this type of desert and it tastes great IMO. you can google recipes, but in general, the frozen bananas provide a creamy texture and then you can make different flavors if you want- vanilla, another fruit, spices, chocolate, nut butter, etc. a few years ago there was a special appliance being sold just to make this, but you can make it with frozen bananas and a blender. spoiling bananas are fairly sweet so depending on taste, you can make this without adding sugar.

 

[elliefant]

America's Top 50 Must-Try Foods: The Best From Each State (playbuzz.com)

The Vermont apple pie & cheese piqued my interest. Here in the UK we have a Yorkshire ditty: “An apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze”

 

[killarney rose]

I have a friend in Minn. that cant wait for CO peaches every year.

I never heard of peaches from CO either.... imagine GA would not be supportive of that. I think these 50 state things are amusing but not necessarily accurate IMO.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I love to read these lists, although I often disagree with the “must try” or “most popular.” ...

Thanks to you and others for responses re: America's Top 50 Must-Try Foods. Some of the foods on the list surprised me, while others seemed typical. I don't necessarily disagree with Michigan's "Coney Dog", but I would prefer to see "Detroit Style Deep Dish Pizza" as the must-try food in Michigan.

Detroit-style pizza - Wikipedia

 

[mickey2942]

Montana "Must Try" is huckleberry. I have had them, not a fan. But some people are crazy about them.

 

[IceIce9]

An Ohio “Must Try” is Buckeye candy. Peanut butter and chocolate candy that melts in your mouth...

 

[Laughing]

The Vermont apple pie & cheese piqued my interest. Here in the UK we have a Yorkshire ditty: “An apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze”

But I, when I undress me,
Each night upon my knees,
Will pray the Lord to bless me
With apple pie and cheese.

from Mealtime Prayers, Word Publishing, 1995

My opinion, for certain, and another food habit from my Dad.

 

[cujenn81]

While under Coronavirus quarantine/shutdown, this is a great site you have linked as I don't go shopping often and my pantry gets threadbare. I just did a quick test for my bananas that are going to go bad soon lol. It's so helpful for our mental health to have this thread and posts such as yours to cope with the COVID pandemic. Thanks.

You’re quite welcome. I’m so glad I could help!

 

[cujenn81]

America's Top 50 Must-Try Foods: The Best From Each State (playbuzz.com)

I figured it would be a toss up between boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits in SC and I was right — boiled peanuts!

Funny story. My DH and I dined at a restaurant known for its southern cuisine in Seattle and ordered boiled peanuts. When the peanuts arrived, the bartender (we were seated at the bar) began to explain that boiled peanuts were a bit different because “you have to shell them first.”

I was stunned because I couldn’t believe that my southern accent hadn’t already tipped him off to the fact that I lived in the southeast. And because I had no idea that boiled peanuts aren’t eaten everywhere!

I was like whaaat... how else might someone eat a boiled peanut? He said sometimes people just bite into them and try to eat them whole—shell and all!

 

[cujenn81]

I thought I’d share my favorite comfort food recipe — Scooter’s Spaghetti. It’s a really simple spaghetti dish baked with cream cheese. Although, it’s not really what you might call healthy... but it sure is creamy and delicious!

Ingredients
8 oz spaghetti noodles
1 lb ground beef
1 large jar of pasta sauce
*I typically use Ragu’s meat sauce
1 tbsp butter (softened)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 tbsp milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cook noodles and drain.
3. Brown ground beef and drain.
4. Add 1/2 jar of sauce to ground beef and simmer.
5. Coat the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish with pasta sauce; mix the remaining sauce with the noodles and stir until noodles are coated.
6. Combine butter, cream cheese, and milk; wisk ingredients until well blended
*I usually just add small splashes of milk to the butter and cream cheese (rather than measuring out 2 tbsp) until it has a cottage cheese consistency.
7. Assemble ingredients in 9x13 coated dish in the following order —> noodles, butter/cream cheese mix, ground beef
*I just sorta place evenly spaced dollops of the butter/cream cheese mix by the spoonful on top of the noodles — it melts and spreads out evenly in the oven.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

That’s it — so easy peasy! And, as weird as it sounds, I serve it with cinnamon toast. I don’t know what it is about that odd combo but it works somehow.

Speaking of odd combinations that work... I’m curious if you have any?

Others I love:
Lays Wavy Hickory BBQ chips w/ Helluva Good sour cream dip
Lance White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn and a Snickers bar (a handful of popcorn and a bite of Snickers, repeat)
And I know this one will sound really gross to most of you (and very unhealthy!) but I SWEAR that it’s good.

(I also promise that I don’t weight 500 lbs... lol.)

But... I used to melt a dab of butter on top of those Merita (now Hostess) Sweet Sixteen Powdered Donuts and eat the resulting gooeyness with a fork. I know this sounds so cringe!! I thought it did too until a friend of mine goaded me into trying it back in middle school.

 

[mickey2942]

@cujenn81 that pasta sounds fantastic! I have been so partial to comfy, homey foods, bread, pasta, cheesy dishes.

Perhaps it is just wanting "comfort". I have been making quite a bit of grilled cheese sandwiches lately. My husband is partial to marbled rye, with Swiss, and salami. I prefer white bread, with Monterey jack and sliced tomatoes. With our favorite roasted red pepper and tomato soup from Costco. Simple, and so reminiscent of childhood.

 

[acutename]

I have a friend in Minn. that cant wait for CO peaches every year.

interesting... maybe I am really missing out

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I don't have ingredients for this but will definitely plan on making it soon. Katie Lee made this delicious-looking pasta dish on The Kitchen this morning. Spinach and Artichoke Pasta Bake Recipe | Katie Lee | Food Network

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

@cujenn81 that pasta sounds fantastic! I have been so partial to comfy, homey foods, bread, pasta, cheesy dishes.

Perhaps it is just wanting "comfort". I have been making quite a bit of grilled cheese sandwiches lately. My husband is partial to marbled rye, with Swiss, and salami. I prefer white bread, with Monterey jack and sliced tomatoes. With our favorite roasted red pepper and tomato soup from Costco. Simple, and so reminiscent of childhood.

I can't remember the last time I had a grilled cheese sandwich, but it sounds like a good idea for an upcoming quick meal. We did BLTs weekly once Michigan tomatoes were available, but local tomatoes are long gone. I try to limit my dairy intake due to lactose intolerance but can enjoy cheese occasionally with my friend, Lactaid.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

New Jersey is Salt Water Taffy - Gross! Now if you said a Taylor Ham, egg and cheese on a hard roll or bagel I would be all in. Nobody I know that lives here would say Taffy.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I can't remember the last time I had a grilled cheese sandwich, but it sounds like a good idea for an upcoming quick meal. We did BLTs weekly once Michigan tomatoes were available, but local tomatoes are long gone. I try to limit my dairy intake due to lactose intolerance but can enjoy cheese occasionally with my friend, Lactaid.

It's become one of my go to quick meals during the pandemic. As a single person, I don't always have fresh bread as I cannot go through a whole loaf before it would go bad.....so I have to freeze before it goes bad. I have found that if I take out of the freezer, thaw and then toast...it's good! So I have been making grilled cheese sammiches, toasted tuna fish sammiches and all those sammiches which are good grilled or toasted with thawed frozen bread vs. fresh bread.

Ditto with the persons upthread who shared with us to freeze milk before it expires. Has been a godsend, and I have just NOW thrown out all my UHT milk that I purchased in February due to folks here in February talking about. I had in my pantry and was great for 3 months.. and then I began the trunk deliveries of milk and forgot about and now past expiration. It met my needs then though, so shout out for those that were here in February!