kitchen stadium

I sound like a broken, but really, my consistency with blogging has been shameful. I've been thinking of topics lately and sometimes it takes me a while to feel I have anything to offer to cyber space. And I am expecting a submission from a special guest, but for now, here we go.

As I type, I am watching a show that I don't normally watch but the secret ingredient is Parmigiano Reggiano. Iron Chef America aka Kitchen Stadium!

I do love cheese. I love all cheeses, although some soft cheeses and even sometimes brie I don't really care for. But hard cheeses, semi hard and blues--I just love. The sad thing is, I am committed to losing weight and getting in better shape in 2010 and I gave up cheese because it is in fact "the devils food." It is delight, but soooo fattening.
I miss it.

Anyway, I am a good cook. I just don't do it a lot. Which means I'm probably not actually that good. I took four years of Foods in high school. My classes earned me a vocational seal on my college prep diploma....that makes me laugh. However, I did in fact learn all the basics and learned great principles. What is sad about that is the fact that I then went to UGA and didn't have to cook a meal for 3 years.....thanks to the delicious UGA Food Services and Barbara and Otis at the Tri Delta House aka the Delt.

So present day, here I am living alone for roughly 6 years and being a person who, generally speaking, doesn't like left overs (there are exceptions to that) I don't cook often.

I want to do more cooking. And I do want someone to cook for. I've got a ton of great cookbooks and inspiration. I just need to find the time and get with it. I want to practice for the future. Because surely one day I'll need to cook more often. There is a fear of failure.

I really enjoy baking. I do need to really pay attention to the measurements and instructions since I am a bit out of practice. Fish intimadates me. And I don't have a grill. I am good at various versions of baked chicken and sauces. Certainly know and am confident about doing vegetables in all sorts of ways. I need to get more inspired to do casseroles, but they just seem old school.

There are things I hope to per-fect that my mom and grandmothers cook(ed): roast beef (mimi), mac and cheese (gangi), chicken salad (gangi), Squash casserole (mimi), chicken and dumplings (mom), country fried steak (mom), cornbread (gangi and mom), and cowboy beans (mom). there's many more, but I can only think of those for now.

I also have fantastic neighbors who are amazing foodies and great cooks! they are teaching me so much. although I think secretly their goal is to make me fat. ;)

so all that rambling leads me to conclude with a simple salutation and in the words of Paula Deen "Best Dishes, from my kitchen to yours"

the battle of the chicken sandwich

McDonald's Chicken Sandwich

Looks can be deceiving.....

I was asked by my most loyal reader to blog about the original Chick-fil-A Sandwich "the Chick" vs. the 'johnny come lately' McDonald's Southern Style Chicken Sandwich. So I rose to the challenge and did my own taste test. Well, seeing as how I've never actually had the McDonalds version......I mean why would I? I live in Atlanta, GA!.....so I went to purchase the McD's Southern Style Chicken Sandwich and a Sweet Tea (large in a styrofoam cup). Mmm. things looked familiar. Chick-fil-A uses styrofoam cups. Sweet Tea tastes its absolute best in styrofoam....regardless of it not being so environmentally friendly. So anyway, I received my chicken sandwich in a box and served my own tea (which I like because I'm very particular about the amount of ice I like--a lot!). Ok, I keep digressing. So I proceed to open the box and eat the sandwich....which I did with an open mind and open tastebuds. At first bite, it was decent. Not seasoned like the "Chick" nor was the bread as good. The bread almost tasted doughy and was too white bread mushy. The chicken breast seemed not as fresh and flatter than the Chick. I will say, I was impressed at the crispness of the pickles, they weren't mushy like on the Chick. But then again it may have been because the packaging of McD's didn't allow for the delightful steaming that takes place in the Chick-fil-A foil/paper wrapper bag. I fully believe the "Chick" tastes better after it's steamed in the bag for a few minutes. YUM. I will give McDonald's props for stellar tea. Sometimes Chick-fil-A's tea is overly sugared. But this cup of McD's sweet tea was just right. Plenty of dark tea that taste like tea (not brown water) with the right amount of sweetness.

So to McDonalds, I say, nice try. But you'll never ever ever be as good at the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich! Stick with Big Macs, McD's. they are yummy in their own right! BUT, for those of you that sadly live in areas where Chick-fil-A hasn't debuted yet, it's an ok alternative. Just know you're not getting the best! oh and for full disclosure, McD's sandwich has 400 calories, 150 calories from fat, 17 grams of fat and 24 grams of protein. Chick-fil-A's has 410 calories, 140 calories from fat and 17 grams of fat and 27 grams of protein.

In conclusion, I will stick with Chick-fil-A for all my quick service meal needs. :)

Gosh, I'm starving!!!!