FDA Warns Against Drinking Raw Milk

Dear Foodies,

As you well know, I am very strongly in favor of drinking raw milk. It seem as though the FDA disagrees with me. Again. : )

Here is an article that appeared on Forbes.com just a few days ago. I would like you to follow the link, read the article, and then come back here.

____________________________

OK. Now that you are back, I want you to remember some of the things you just read.

The agency says there were a total of 1,614 reported illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and two deaths from consumption of raw milk between 1998 and 2008.

AAHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 PEOPLE GOT SICK AND DIED FROM DRINKING RAW MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Sorry. Just had to get that out of my system.)

So, do you know how many people the flu just in one year?

According to the CDC, 36,000. Of course that figure is from 1990, when people were much less concerned about their health but...

Do you think that that number dropped to any less than 2 in the last 20 years? I mean, the only number less that 2, is 1 right? (Of course you could argue that 0 is a number but whatever... : )

Now, remember, the figures from the CDC about the flu were from a span of 10 years.

The numbers from the FDA about raw milk were also from a span of 10 years.

So now what?

"This is about raw milk, not the flu, bozo!"

Can't you see? All of these government agencies are trying to scare you into believing that raw milk is bad for you. The reason they are doing this?

Control. Control. Control.

And what we need is self control. Not government control.

Benjamin Serven, Foodie

P.S. You don't mind if I call myself names, do you?

Happy Toast

"happy toast"

by Rebecca Loomis

The Death Star?

Update: I found another one... :)

Companion Planting

Dear Foodies,

I found this interesting chart on companion plants. I think I may revise my garden plan a bit after reading it...

BJS,F

Healthy without Health Insurance

What do you think?

And the Winner is...

SALLIE! Congratulations!

Send me a note @ benjaminserven@gmail.com with your shipping address, and I will send it right to you.

Rediscovering Salsa

Dear Foodies,

Here is an interesting article on salsa from the New York Times. Did you know that salsa really just means sauce in Spanish?

BJS, F

Dinner-Spaghetti with Spinach Sauce

Dear Foodies,

Before all you spinach haters shut this window down, take a second glance. This is a favorite in my home. In fact if we don't have this sauce with our standard red sauce, dissidents abound. : )

Spinach Sauce for Spaghetti

1/4 cup Butter

1 10 oz. package chopped frozen spinach

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup milk

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

In 2 quart pan over medium heat, in hot butter, cook spinach and salt for 10 minutes.

Reduce heat to low, add remaining ingredients, mix sauce well; cook sauce until just heated through (do not boil). Extra can be frozen.

Benjamin Serven, Foodie

Review: Malachi's Harvest Gourmet Granola

Dear Foodies,

Today is a very important day.

Why?

Because today is the day I do my first ever GIVEAWAY!

I have ONE 8 0z. bag of Malachi's Harvest Gourmet Granola, to give away to ONE winner. Just leave a comment on this post to enter your name in the drawing. I will announce the winner on Friday @ noon. You have until that point to enter. One comment per person please.

Now my review.

First thoughts, lots of nuts. You know I'm a rather nutty guy... I really liked the maple taste and that the nuts were softer than normal. I also enjoyed the large coconut flakes. It brings back memories of having the same in our home made granola. We just have the small flakes now... : )

One thing that I thought was especially different was the fact that it had much less grain than any granola I have ever had before. Now I wouldn't say that is a negative at all. I actually really liked the way it was more solid than a typical granola.

There you go! My first ever giveaway/new product review. Make sure to enter before this Friday at noon.

Benjamin Serven, Foodie

P.S. You can buy your own granola directly from Malachi's Harvest here.
P.P.S. I will only be shipping to address's in the USA.

Life was easier...

Three Brothers/Old Town Serbian

Dear Foodies,

This last Friday night I was Milwaukee. Now, here is a question from the Foodie catechism.

Q. What MUST a foodie do on a Friday night?

A. A true Foodie MUST go out to eat at some unusual place, somewhere. This applies especially when not in your home town.

Nathan D. who is a good friend, and definitely a fellow foodie, invited me out for Serbian food. We decided to check out Three Brothers, a place neither of us had been before.

We started with a Serbian Salad.

A Spinach and Cheese burek (pronounced boo-rhek).

(Nathan is probably wondering how I got these pictures, because I had no camera. I just happened to find some guys who went out to the same place and got the same food and took pictures. : )

We split a Serbian Salad, and I must say I really liked the salad, although it needed more tomatoes. (Never thought I'd say that...) The salad consisted of tomatoes in small chunks, diced onions, diced green pepper, and feta cheese. It was quite delicious.

The next part of our meal we had separately. I had a Spinach and Cheese Burek (same as pictured above), and Nathan had Beef and Pork Kebabs. The Burek is made of philo dough and can be made with several different fillings, usually beef, cheese, or spinach and cheese.

Pros

Overall, the I would certainly recommend Three Brothers for an excelent meal, with great service. We were greeted as soon as we stepped in, and were seated even though we didn't have reservations.

Cons

Presentation seemed to be lacking. My burek was served on a simple plate. It kind of looked like a small cartwheel on a plate. Some might consider that to be positive : ) The place was also a bit loud and crowded by the time we left.

Our next stop was at Old Town Serbian, where we had dessert. Crepes to be exact. I had a Apricot and Walnut crepe. It. Was. Amazing. It was very sweet, but with a slightly lemony taste.

Nathan had a Chocolate crepe. There was something else in it but I just can't remember... can you refresh my memory Nathan?

Pros

This place had the coolest atmosphere. They had live music. Xylophone and Guitar. Really nice combination. Plus, there were very few people there, so it was very quiet. And, the food was fantastic! Very nicely presented. Sorry no pic...

Cons

The parking wouldn't be obvious to someone who had never been there before, but besides that...

Thanks Nathan for such a fun Serbian experience!

Benjamin Serven, Foodie

Vitameatvegamin-The Answer to all Your Problems!

Doomsday Vault/Seed Bank

Dear Foodies,

Have you ever heard of a doomsday vault? As unlikely as it may seem they do exist. The one pictured above is in Norway. The vault was opened in February of 2008. Find out more about it here. 

I am only hoping that some heirloom seeds are included in that vault...

Benjamin Serven, Foodie

100th Post!

Dear Foodies,

Aside from this being my 100th post (yay!), stranger things are happening in the world of food. It was brought to my attention today by my friends at Vesterbrook Farms. 

Get this. The state of New York is trying to make the use of salt in any form illegal in all of the restaurants in the state. 

(Bill text here.)

This is ridiculous. Anyone who needs to avoid sodium should be easily able to avoid salt simply by requesting that none should be in the food which they order. Or, they can stay home an make their own food. Again we see the government stepping in, where the individual should be exercising self control. 

The only advantage to this bill is that it would put all of the fast food locations in NY out of business! : )

Sign this petition like I did, to tell Mayor Bloomberg what you think of this bill. 

Benjamin Serven, Foodie

A joke...

A man walks into a doctor’s office with a stick of celery in one ear, a carrot in the other and a grape up his nose. Confused, the man asks: "Doctor what's wrong with me?" The doctor looks at the man and replies: "You're not eating properly!"

I'm Back! (Or am I?)

Dear Foodies,

No, I have not fallen of the face of the earth. (At least not the physical earth.)

Yes, I am very busy at the moment. (I've become a roofer temporarily.)

Yes, I hope to continue posting sometime soon...

And yes, I am again on my way to Wisconsin, the land of cheese. I should have a really cool restaurant review for you when I get back, so keep your hat on. : )

Benjamin Serven, Foodie