The recipes behind common kitchen staples

[bestofour]

You can starve to death on just peanut butter though. It is an incomplete protein by itself. But mixed with another grain it becomes complete. So crackers or something (even your squishy white bread) will complete the needed aminos to make it better and something your body can use.

It's obvious by the looks of me that I'm not starving anywhere near to death.

[Tina]

I know but most people look at pb and think 'protein'. And it is not a complete protein on its own. Like beans are not. You need to mix them with an alternate grain too. Then the protein is something your body can use.

[bestofour]

Johnny bought a bunch of stuff for our pantry today.  $213.00 worth to be exact while I was taking a nap.  I took most of it to the church because we don't eat most of it.  I can't figure his brain out.

[Tina]

This is lovely, Sheri, even though pricey. The food pantry will love him. Save a few cans in case of that emergency situation that worries me so. Then donate the rest.
I think he is sweet for trying to please at least. Much better than marrying a grinch  (believe me!).
Everything I bought for Ted for Christmas I bought two of (except one last minute thing), one for donating to the fire stations for the needy.

[duh]

My doctor recommends pb for the diabetes if i need a quick pick me up.  She said it was a complete protein.  I guess the doc got it wrong.

[Tina]

It is not bad for you, Tammy. It is just incomplete. If you tried to live on it long term as your only protein you would slowly starve to death because your body cannot live with it alone.
My favorite example is Native Americans. They learned to grow beans and store them over winter so they would not starve when meat was not available. But they came out on the other end of winter sickly and under-nurished no matter that they had beans left over. Then they learned to grow and dry corn as well and ate them together, succotash! They thrived
And there are the other things traditionally eaten together to complete them, beans and cornbread or with tortillas, Beans and rice. People learned through history before science came along and broke it down to the reasons for it.
You can grab a spoon and dig into your PB for a pick-me-up. But on bread or crackers, it is a little longer lasting nutritionally.

[bestofour]

Probably the doc meant as an emergency pick me up to eat peanut butter.  We mostly say a peanut butter cracker but if a diabetic doesn't have a cracker handy eat the peanut butter until you can get something else.

Tina, I used to think stuff like that was sweet too but now I'm tired of it.  After many, many requests not to go off half cocked buying stuff, wait for a list, ask me what I need, I don't think it's sweet anymore.  I returned or gave away all of my Christmas presents because I wanted a camera case and he thought he knew better.  Even Shelley asked this year why does he keep doing it.  It gets aggravating after a while.  When a person prefices handing a person a gift with "I know you don't like me to buy things without asking but...."  you just know something is going to be wrong.

[Tina]

I agree, Sheri. It would be very aggravating.

[bestofour]

I straightened out the pantry and am going to the store myself today.  Maybe.  The food pantry people at church were happy last night to get the food Johnny bought yesterday.  I won't keep a lot of food, not nearly as much as some of you, because we won't eat it, but I will keep green beans, rice, mac and cheese and a few other things.  I will still have to shop if I cook because I can't bring myself to eat frozen meat so if I have to put together a meal in a pinch it will have to be meatless.  Guess I need to tell my friends that if they plan on dropping in for dinner to bring the beef.

[Tina]

Any packaged meat besides tuna, Sheri? I am not fond of canned chicken myself but I keep a little on hand for emergencies. I also have some packaged beef.
That is a good list of pantry items.

[bestofour]

I guess you'll eat whatever is available if you're hungry enough. 

[duh]

That is sooooooo true.  I know what you mean about gifts that just miss the mark.  I always get stuck between telling someone to check with me first and hurting their feelings or just taking the gifts gracefully.  Now, I just tell them thankyou and move on from there.  When I then look at the item I know they tried their best and that does count.

[duh]

Taco Seasoning Mix

2 tsp instant minced onions
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp crushed dried red pepper
1/2 tsp instant minced garlic
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground cumin

Mix all ingredients together.  Use 2 Tbsp of mix with 1 lb of hamburger and 1/2 cup water.