Can we eat like Cowboys? (Week 37 America)

No, was the answer! Beans were thought of but were not on the menu, I didn’t go for the traditional ‘American food’ such as burgers etc., although my husband did insist on having peanut butter sandwiches for packed lunch – he loves them. I suggested he tried them with ‘jam’ too, which he did and although he didn’t ask for it again he could see why it could be liked. I usually associate meatloaf with America, so this is what we had along with a stew; which felt like we were out in the wilds – although maybe we should have had beans around a camp fire for that effect! We liked both the meals, and will be having them again. 


Cooked with score (out of 100):
Idaho Beef Stew………………………….………………………….86
Meatloaf…………………………………………………………………86 

Idaho Beef Stew

Serves 6
4tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
4 large carrots, thickly sliced
3lb braising steak, cubed
3 tbsp flour
1 ¼ pints beef stock
8 fl oz strong black coffee
2 tsp oregano
1 bay leaf
4oz fresh, or frozen peas


Mashed potato to serve

1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions and carrots and cook over a medium heat for about 8 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon, transfer them to a plate and reserve.
2. Add another 1 tbsp of oil to the saucepan and then add the beef cubes. Increase the heat to medium – high and cook until browned all over. If necessary, fry the meat in batches to ensure it browns evenly. Season
3. Return the vegetables to the saucepan. Add the flour and the remaining oil. Cook for 1 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the stock, coffee, oregano and bay leaf. Bring to the boil and cook, stirring often, until thickened. Reduce the heat to very low, then cover the saucepan and allow the stew to simmer gently for 1 -1 ½ hours until the beef is tender.
4. Add the peas and simmer for a further 5-10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and adjust the seasoning. Serve hot with mashed potato.
    
   Source: Around the World in 450 Recipes 

Country Meat Loaf

Serves 6
2oz butter
½ onion, finely chopped
2 garlic gloves. Finely chopped
2 celery sticks, finely chopped
1lb minced beef
8oz minced veal
8oz minced pork
2 eggs
2oz fresh white breadcrumbs
6tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2tbsp chopped fresh basil
½ tsp fresh or dried thyme
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp chilli sauce
6 streaky rashers of bacon
Salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / GM4.
2. Melt the butter. Add the onion, garlic and celery and cook until softened. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion, garlic, and celery with all the other ingredients except the bacon. Mix together lightly, using a fork or your fingers. Do not overwork or the meat loaf will be too compact.
4. From the meat mixture into an oval shape. Carefully transfer it to a greased baking tin.
5. Lay the bacon rashers across the meat loaf. Bake in the oven for 1 ¼ hours, basting occasionally with the meat juices and bacon fat in the tin.
6. Remove from the over and drain off the fat. Let the meat loaf stand for 10 minutes before serving.
    
   Source: Around the World in 450 Recipes

The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population and has the world's largest economy. The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the extreme Northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and is the largest state in the US by land area. Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states in the US (joining in 1959) and is the only one made up entirely of islands. Major cities include New York, a global finance and culture centre, and Washington, DC, the capital, both on the Atlantic Coast; Los Angeles, famed for filmmaking, on the Pacific Coast; and the Midwestern metropolis Chicago

 

The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river system in the US and the fourth longest in the world. The tallest mountain the US is Mt McKinley, located in the state of Alaska it reaches 20,320 ft (6,194 m) above sea level. Most of the world's tornadoes occur in the Midwest region of the US known as Tornado Alley.

English is the most commonly spoken language in the US, followed by Spanish and the first man to walk on the moon was American Neil Armstrong (July 21, 1969).

 

CUISINE

Fast food restaurants have grown rapidly in America since the early 1900s. Many of the major fast food companies in the world originated in America. Hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, jelly beans, doughnuts and pumpkin pie are the most familiar American foods across the world The popular drink Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta, Georgia. It was originally devised as a medicinal drink and was first marketed and sold in a pharmacy store on May 8, 1886.   The American state of Florida is the leading producer of oranges in the U.S. and the second producer of oranges in the world (behind Brazil). The state Georgia is the largest producer of peanuts in America, it supplies over 40% of the U.S. market. Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows and produces coffee. 98% of all eating grapes produced in America are grown in the state of California!   The American holiday Thanksgiving originates back to 1621 when pilgrim settlers from England established land in the U.S. They gathered food and crops and gave thanks to God for their successful harvest. The National Turkey Federation estimate that in America over 46 million turkeys are eaten at Thanksgiving, that's more than double the amount eaten at Christmas time

 

 

Source: http://www.fun-facts.org.uk/america/food.htm