FOOD

Cheese of the Week

Chase Anderson
Editor-in-Cheif

While some might cringe at the idea of a "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product" that shoots out of a can, the enlightened ones know that the good things in life are processed.

What other cheese can claim to stay fresh while sitting patiently for month on your desk? What else comes in such an ungodly-yellow can? What else is so utterly American?

Wow your friends and woo your object of affection with creative decorations om crackers, such as the one kindly shown on the can to your right. You'll have yourself a posse in on time.

For all ye who continue to dought the magic of the Easy Cheese, take a moment to compare its ingredients list with that of any vegetarian "meat" product. Now, you tell me -- which is scarier?

Food Rant

Chase D. Anderson
Editor-in-Chief

I made a rare jaunt to the school cafeteria one afternoon around 2 p.m. Of the meager scraps still remaining, the only thing that looked remotely appealing was the biscuits and gravy.

“How much is that?” I asked the woman behind the counter.

“Oh, uh, I wouldn’t recommend eating that. It’s from this morning. We usually take it out a lot earlier,” she answered

“Can I have some for free then?” I asked.

“I can give you a biscuit. We use the gravy tomorrow,” she said.

Uhhhhhhh huh… If she wouldn’t recommend eating it today, why the hell would I want to eat it tomorrow?

My lunch that day was a Snickers Almond ice cream bar. It was a dollar. Out of spite, I put it on my credit card.

Exotic meats:

Healthy food you never thought of

Carol Brocker
Webmaster

It is the best and most healthful meat you can buy. It's extremely lean and low in fat and cholesterol but high in protein.

People who decide to try exotic meats – such as alligator, turtle, elk, ostrich, buffalo, venison, and frog legs – are surprised when they learn how succulent the meat is!

Consumers are able to be much more discerning than ever before; the demand for an alternative to traditional US grown meat is exploding. People who have traveled to other countries have found delicious alternatives to US meats. When returning home they want to share these new experiences with family and friends. The exotic meat industry makes this possible.

With health care costs escalating, those with bad hearts, weight problems, and new food allergies still want to eat meat. Exotic meats are a healthy way to do just that. In Seattle we have Seattle’s Finest Exotic Meats located at 17532 Aurora Ave, near SCC.

When I visited the store I met David Pedersen, the operations/webmaster for Exotic Meats. He was very friendly and informative. I asked him about the Mad Cow problem Washington recently faced. He said that would not happen with their meats because they are never fed grain or feed that contains animal byproducts.

No hunted or trapped meat will ever be sold as exotic meats, because their source and diet can not be confirmed. The regulations are very strict. With so many unhealthy foods on the market today, it's understandable why people are turning to alternatives. These days people want to eat healthier and are watching what they eat.

Exotic meats are required to pass the following tests: Processed in USDA inspected plants, no growth promotants or hormones, no animal byproducts in feed, and farm raised naturally. Farm raised naturally means free range on farms ranging from 200 to over 2,000 acres; animals are raised in their natural environment and fed grass with natural supplements such as hay. No growth promotants or hormones are given to these animals.

US meats in order from the highest to lowest in calories/fat/mg cholesterol measured in 3.5 oz of meat are pork at 275/19/84, then beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey at 135/3/59. Exotic Meats’ buffalo has 109/2/16, and their moose and ostrich have 97/2/58. The lowest values are for kangaroo at 93/0.5/2 and turtle at 89/0.5/5.

Seattle’s Best Exotic Meats have a wide assortment of meats, recipes, sauces, and nutritional information available; just stop by the store, go online to www.exoticmeats.com, or call Seattle’s Best Exotic Meats at 206-546-4922 or toll free at 1-800-680-4375.

Some facts about these exotic animals:

Alligator: The choicest cut is the tail meat, which is white and very much like veal in texture. Alligator tastes somewhat like chicken, rabbit, with perhaps a hint of frog legs. Alligator meat can be used in jambalayas, soups, stews, and saluted.

Bear: Bear meat can be excellent when properly prepared. When cooked it is very much like pork. The flavor of bear can vary greatly depending on the animal's diet. Properly trimmed, it is relatively fat free. Bear meat is best cooked slow and should be cooked thoroughly.

Buffalo: Buffalo is similar tasting to beef, but rather coarsely textured and sweet. It has significant advantages over beef in that it is high in protein and extremely low in cholesterol. Buffalo meat should be cooked slowly, at a low heat and not as thoroughly as beef. The density of this meat provides a more satisfying portion, allowing for reduction in quantity per person.

Ostrich: You can enjoy red meat and still be healthy. Ostrich has additional flavor and is tenderer than beef and with more protein and less than half the calories. You'll be surprised at how good it tastes.