Cat Food

[bluesilverkdg]

I covet this $450 cat tree: http://cj.shop.com/All_in_One_Kitty_Care_Center_3_Seater_for_Litterbox%2C_Feeding_Play-48134239-p%21.shtml?trk=3

My God, this thing has it all! They can play! They can eat! They can climb! They can poop! All in one convenient, fun location. That pull-out litterbox drawer is just about the best thing evar. (Although the "Perfect Poophaus" has it beat on the name.)

One of these days, when I win the lottery, my babies are getting this. They totally deserve it.



Also, I've been doing a lot of cooking inspired by Indian, Middle Eastern and Asian flavors and spices. My mom bought me a mortar and pestle recently, so I've been grinding my own spices and making some pretty interesting and tasty mixes. I've also really gotten into all sorts of rices and grains. Anyway, I was recently lamenting how you don't see cheese very much in Indian cooking (perhaps because it comes from cows? I dunno.) Paneer is the only one I'm familiar with, and it's more like cottage cheese than just cheese-cheese. So I was doing some reading on an Indian recipe site, and found an online store where you can buy spices, condiments and other things. I saw a tab for "cheese" and clicked it excitedly. Their offering? Kraft Pasteurized Processed Cheese. So basically Velveeta.

WTF?

Comments

[aamusedinatx.livejournal.com]

When I was in Nepal I found Nepali cooking was very, very similar to Indian. Cheese is not a big staple in their cooking, but I found that Yak cheese was actually quite tasty. At first I tried it as a joke--when in Rome--but surprisingly I really liked it. It's very tangy almost sour/sweet. I think it'd make a great substitute for Paneer.

Velveeta does not count as cheese not in any language :D

(though I still love this horrible/delicious cheesy beandip I've made since I was about 12 with rotel tomatoes, cheesewiz and frito lay beandip!)

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Oh, I make the same dip, only I use Velveeta for it. So horribly good!

Hmm, I'm wondering if they sell yak cheese at Earth Fare. Must remember to look next time, and try a bit of it. I'm always up for new cheeses!

[theldara.livejournal.com]

A guy at work gave us a really big cookbook in PDF for Indian foods. I should send that too you.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I'd love to see it! Somehow, I can't see anyone giving you an Indian cookbook. Kara yes, but not you. ;-)

[plantmom.livejournal.com]

I think the point is that refrigeration is not common or easy in that part of the world. So, one goes from milk to paneer, but not to anything that has to be aged. That takes cool, dark areas like caves, and there aren't very many of them in India. Farmer's cheese is about the same consistency as paneer, but it's really incredibly easy to make real paneer, using whole milk, boiling water, cheesecloth and lemon juice. I don't do it anymore because of cholesterol, but I'm probably mistaken thinking it has that much. I've got a recipe if you want it.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Hi! Yes, I would actually love a recipe. I got really interested in cheese-making a year or two ago, but then sort of gave it up. But an easy recipe would be much appreciated.

I kept seeing you on Terri's friends list, so I added you, if that's OK?

[plantmom.livejournal.com]

Absolutely okay to add me.

Recipe sometime tomorrow if that's okay.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Sounds great, and feel free to add me back!

[pfy.livejournal.com]

The cat tree is an interesting concept. I suppose the human equivalent would be a multi-gym with a built-in toilet and dining table. Maybe I ought to patent that idea before someone else does.

I love Indian food in general. The lack of cheese is probably, as others have said, because it doesn't keep too well in a hot country. Food and drinks involving fresh dairy products are a bit more common. I am particularly fond of mango lassi, which is not only utterly delicious, but also works really well for cooling your mouth if you're eating something very spicy.

[madbax.livejournal.com]

Hey, what is the name of that Indian dish with cheese curds and creamed spinach. I bought some once at an Indian deli and it was awesome. I tried googling some recipes, but without a name to narrow it down it was frustrating. It might be something the local Indian grocers whipped up to satisfy the typical SouthEast Texans palate's but I am hoping it is something more traditional.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

Could it have been saag paneer?

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Or might be Palak Paneer. http://www.sailusfood.com/2006/08/02/palak-paneer-indian-cheese-spinach-curry/

Does that look about right?

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Ha...I'd never thought of that on a human level, but it...could work? Or maybe it would work better as a design for kids.

I love Indian food, too, and I am totally getting into all the spices. Is a mango lassi something that can be easily made at home, or is it better to get in a restaurant? I think that you might have mentioned this before, but I'm curious to try one now.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

It should be pretty easy - all versions of lassi are basically just milkshakes or yoghurt drinks. I think I have a recipe somewhere, so I'll have a look when I'm at home, but if you have yoghurt, milk, and mango pulp then you've got pretty much all you need.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Crap, I think I'm fresh out of mango pulp! ;-P Is this something that you buy, or do you have to make your own pulp? We have a couple of Indian restaurants (and an Indian grocery store where I get my henna and spices.) I may try one at one of those locations and see what I think of it. While I'm a bit more open-minded about my fruitage, I'm still not that adventurous.

[pfy.livejournal.com]

I would just buy fresh mangoes and put the insides through a blender. But then, I have a Turkish grocery store near me that sells mouth-wateringly sweet, ripe mangoes for a ridiculously cheap price. Canned mango would also work, although canned fruit is never quite as tasty as fresh.

There are tons of recipes on the Web, but they all involve sticking yoghurt, mangoes, milk, a little sugar, and (optional) a pinch of ground cardamom in a blender. Then you chill it or mix with crushed ice, and serve with a sprinkle of ground pistachio nuts on top.

It turns out the recipe I have at home is actually titled "mango sherbet". It seems to be a similar idea, only without the yoghurt, so I will send it to you anyway.

[cheeze.livejournal.com]

i have to say i'm disturbed by the idea of cats pooping in the playcenter. it's like taking a crap in the ballpit!!

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Did you look at it though? Since it's all closed off, and the litterbox is sort of in a trunk-like apparatus, I guess it's not really the same thing. I actually like the idea of having the litterbox close at hand, yet not openly accessible. It just looks like one more perch for them to play and climb on, but unbeknownst to everyone else, it's actually the Perfect Poophaus.

[cheeze.livejournal.com]

perhaps it's better than it looked at a glance.

i love your icon here.