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James Harrison Eats People

February 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

"Brett" and "Hines"
I had originally written an article about the fervor of Steelers fans and their unabashed idolatry, but I decided against it. Nobody wants to read another article proclaiming that Steelers worship is a modern version of patriotism or religion or whatever. We got it. You love the Steelers. So do I. Like the sunrise or our imminent doom, we can take this fanatical fandom as fact.

I do want to take some time to consider modern day traditions and how we experience a communal event like the Super Bowl. Like many people in Pittsburgh, on Sunday I will gather with friends at a local watering hole and drink about a million beers and eat some kind of awesomely disgusting sandwiches (ahem, I’m lookin’ at you, Primanti’s!) On any other day, I would hate this whole scene. Picture a short, brunette version of Larry David scoffing at the boozed-up jagoffs at every house and pub in Pittsburgh. But, Sunday…Sunday is SUPER BOWL SUNDAY and the PITTSBURGH STEELERS are playing for their 7th ring! I couldn’t possibly care any MORE about something that has absolutely ZERO lasting effect on my personal life. Sports are funny like that.

So, I want to know, what are your favorite football traditions? (Please, ALL football fans are welcome to answer…not just Steelers fans.) Do you go to Grandma’s house and eat home cookin’ for the game? Are you the type to DV-R the game and watch it later without the hours of commercial breaks? What’s your go-to brew? What are the best sports bars in the city? I’d really love to hear your thoughts about your football traditions. The comments section below would be a great place to offer up your thoughts on what makes football America’s real favorite pastime.

As for me, I’ll be one of thousands in the masses in the Southside this Sunday. There’s something invigorating about the energy of so many people hoping for the same thing (no matter how seemingly trivial that thing may be.) I’m looking forward to seeing friends that I haven’t seen for a while, and being able to eat and drink and laugh together. At the risk of sounding sentimental, isn’t that what your favorite memories are about?

It’s going to be a great weekend, and with any luck, next week we’ll all be able to watch our team soak up all that love in a victory parade downtown. Here’s hoping! Here we go!

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Raising Kids Who Eat Well

November 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Raising Kids Who Eat Well

I’ll admit it. I used to hear about parents who made their own baby food and I always thought I’d never be one of “those people.”

But then I had a revelation. It happened after I played a rather ill-advised game of “guess what the food is” at a baby shower. The game is simple in its grotesqueness. You’re required to taste food from unlabeled baby food jars–the person who guesses the contents correctly wins a prize.

I didn’t win any prizes. But I did leave with the knowledge that my kids would never eat anything that tasted like that stuff did.

So I bought books on making baby food and read a ton online. And then I realized something. Babies like the same foods we do. They like different flavors and colors. They just need them in a form they can handle.

Enter the food processor. Place a scoop of what you’re eating and a little fresh water into the processor and puree. It could be anything from grilled chicken to blueberries. Depending on the age of your child, add more water to soften the food into a more desirable consistency. And if you add too much water, just stir in some baby cereal to thicken it back up. When your baby is older, whiz together frozen fruit or vegetables with a little water–the crunchy frozenness keeps the food from totally pureeing, adding some texture to the meal.

Be sure to avoid egg whites, seafood, and honey if your child is under one year old. And use good judgment–it’s unlikely any child would want pureed pickles.

Store unused food in the fridge for up to three days, or freeze it in ice cube trays and pop out portions as needed.

Voila! You’ve just saved money, created a nutritious meal without (many) preservatives, and started your child on the path to eating more diverse foods. I found that from about 8 months on, my kids really seemed to like an added pinch of salt or Cajun spice in their food. My son, still not a year old, gobbles down pureed Indian Palak Paneer. His older sister will ask specifically for pink sea salt on top of her chili.

It makes me feel good to know exactly what they’re eating. But it feels even better to get a sincere high five from a 2-year-old who has learned that every food is worth trying.

Written By,

Rachel Handel

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Happy 4th of July!

November 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Happy 4th of July

Dear Pittsburgh Hot Plate Readers,

Tonight I made a nice salad with green leaf lettuce from my garden; summer is finally here! If you have a garden, you too will be able to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits during the summer months. Try finding a local farmer’s market if you don’t have somewhere to plant vegetables; they’re abundant this time of year! Fresh grown produce and fruits have a quality to them that is absent in store-bought fruits and vegetables; the rich taste and purity is something that you and your family will surely enjoy! During this time of the year spend time with your family and friends- eat well, and shoot off some fireworks if you have them… just be careful!

Happy 4th of July to all of our readers!

Sincerely,

Chef Chuck, Katie Lane, and Carolyn

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