The New Intimacy

#EdenCooks - Beef Stew OR Pho Bo - Mon. Jan 16 at 8pm EST

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Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

We've got half an hour left til meeting time, everybody!

Any early-comers should feel free to discuss:

What are your favorite soups?

Why?

Has it changed from childhood to now?
I think clam chowder is my favorite, although I'm not entirely sure why. When I was younger my favorite was the Campbell's chicken noodle. I loved it straight out of the can without any extra water or anything.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I haven't had Cornish hens for years, and that will need to change.
They're so yummy! I roast them with garlic and butter. Crispy skin, tender meat and great flavor!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Hahaha, there have been a few here and there that I either wasn't hungry or had already eaten. I scarfed some leftovers from my dinner on Thursday, and hopefully tomorrow I'll start eating last night's leftovers. My mom made lasagna for ... more
I swear everyone Ive talked to is eating lasagna today. Im so jeal. I should make one soon.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Hahaha, there have been a few here and there that I either wasn't hungry or had already eaten. I scarfed some leftovers from my dinner on Thursday, and hopefully tomorrow I'll start eating last night's leftovers. My mom made lasagna for ... more
My mom made me a lasagna when I had first moved to college... I had to cut it into six pieces and borrow freezer space in everyone's mini-fridge on my floor! I don't think my mom understood dorms...
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
Congratulations! It was not bad, but it still took a lot out of me.

And oh lord, Rossie, I love lamb. That sounds wonderful.
Awesome to hear! Glad you made it to the other side!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

So today we're doing soups and stews! Soups and stews are super comforting---partly because they're easy on the stomach and they can warm you up on a cold January day, and partly because they're ridiculously easy on the budget. Originally soups would be made from bones or leftover scraps a day after a meat course had been served. In peasant homes, soups were kind of the standard fare, because it's an affordable way to fill up the stomach.

Tell me about the differences between soups and stews.

01/16/2012
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
My mom made me a lasagna when I had first moved to college... I had to cut it into six pieces and borrow freezer space in everyone's mini-fridge on my floor! I don't think my mom understood dorms...
That's so cute and sweet! How nice.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I think clam chowder is my favorite, although I'm not entirely sure why. When I was younger my favorite was the Campbell's chicken noodle. I loved it straight out of the can without any extra water or anything.
Dude...this twin thing.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Soups have a thin broth and stews have a thicker, heartier broth.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

So today we're doing soups and stews! Soups and stews are super comforting---partly because they're easy on the stomach and they can warm you up on a cold January day, and partly because they're ridiculously easy on the budget. ... more
Well, to me, soups are more watery and liquid-y, but stews are more hearty and chunky! There can be chunky soup and liquid-y stews, but the basic feel of it is different, I think.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
My mom made me a lasagna when I had first moved to college... I had to cut it into six pieces and borrow freezer space in everyone's mini-fridge on my floor! I don't think my mom understood dorms...
Ugh, we had our own bedrooms but we shared bathrooms and kitchens and front rooms. We had suites at my school since it wasnt a typical school. I couldnt leave food in the fridge or it would disappear in the middle of the night. It drove me crazy because I couldnt afford to feed the whole building let alone myself. I was going from class to curating at a museum making minimum wage. It sucked.
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

So today we're doing soups and stews! Soups and stews are super comforting---partly because they're easy on the stomach and they can warm you up on a cold January day, and partly because they're ridiculously easy on the budget. ... more
I'm no expert, but I'd say that soups are thinner than stews. Also, stews seem to take a good bit longer to prepare than soups. I'm looking forward to learning more!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

So today we're doing soups and stews! Soups and stews are super comforting---partly because they're easy on the stomach and they can warm you up on a cold January day, and partly because they're ridiculously easy on the budget. ... more
Stew is thicker usually and more hardy. Soup is brothier. I just made up a word
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
I swear everyone Ive talked to is eating lasagna today. Im so jeal. I should make one soon.
I need to learn how to make it so that I can do it after we leave my mom's.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
My mom made me a lasagna when I had first moved to college... I had to cut it into six pieces and borrow freezer space in everyone's mini-fridge on my floor! I don't think my mom understood dorms...
Haha, my mom would have done the same thing.
01/16/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
Well, to me, soups are more watery and liquid-y, but stews are more hearty and chunky! There can be chunky soup and liquid-y stews, but the basic feel of it is different, I think.
Yeah. To me, a stew has big chunks of food and pretty thick saucy broth, while soup is essentially liquid (which may or may not contain chunks!)
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Dude...this twin thing.
Awesome, so should you ever make it out here I will know to stock fruit and Campbell's soup for you
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Yep, that's the gist! Stews are a little "heartier" because they've been thickened.


Awesome. So the easiest way to think of it is that a stew is a thickened soup. Today we're featuring both a soup and a stew, and they both get their flavor the same way. They're just finished a little differently.

So we'll be talking about them in parallel.

Have you made stews before? Do they usually turn out thicker than you want, thinner than you want, or just right?

01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I need to learn how to make it so that I can do it after we leave my mom's.
It is pretty easy. Just a lot of layering. I like putting ground beef and italian sausage in my lasagna. Give it a little kick.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Also, hello everyone and I'm sorry I'm late! I'm trying to trouble shoot my sister's internet from 1,000 miles away, lol.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Awesome, so should you ever make it out here I will know to stock fruit and Campbell's soup for you
and I know not to stock pineapple for you! Ok that was lame, but whatever.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Yep, that's the gist! Stews are a little "heartier" because they've been thickened.


Awesome. So the easiest way to think of it is that a stew is a thickened soup. Today we're featuring both a soup and a stew, and ... more
I made stew the other day. It was lovely. There was a meet sale at the store. Lots of potatoes, celery, carrots, onions.
01/16/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Yep, that's the gist! Stews are a little "heartier" because they've been thickened.


Awesome. So the easiest way to think of it is that a stew is a thickened soup. Today we're featuring both a soup and a stew, and ... more
I've never made a stew. I haven't made much soup either, but no stew at all for me! Which is weird, since I love the stuff..
01/16/2012
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Yep, that's the gist! Stews are a little "heartier" because they've been thickened.


Awesome. So the easiest way to think of it is that a stew is a thickened soup. Today we're featuring both a soup and a stew, and ... more
I don't really...cook. I'm just observing right now, haaa. I have assisted in the makings of stews. I've made soup before, but never a stew.
01/16/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
I made stew the other day. It was lovely. There was a meet sale at the store. Lots of potatoes, celery, carrots, onions.
That sounds lovely!
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Yep, that's the gist! Stews are a little "heartier" because they've been thickened.


Awesome. So the easiest way to think of it is that a stew is a thickened soup. Today we're featuring both a soup and a stew, and ... more
I've never tried to make a stew. :O I love stews though, so it's about time! Hopefully tonight's meeting will help me out.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I've never made a stew but I know that I can turn my vegetable soup into beef stew with a little bit of cornstarch and water or a slurry.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
That sounds beyond amazing. Mail me some please.
Ha, ha, I can put the simple recipe here instead!

Ingredients: A jar of Indian Hot curry paste, yellow onions, minced garlic, minced fresh ginger, beef broth, chunks of lamb for stew.

Instructions: Preheat oven at 350 degrees. In a dutch oven, brown garlic, ginger, and onions, scoop and put aside. Brown lamb, add curry paste, put garlic, ginger, and onion over the lamb, add broth. Cover and move pot into the oven and cook for 3 hours.

I usually have yogurt with diced cucumber on the side, and eat it along with naan bread.
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
It seems as if tonight's chatters are stew virgins. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Lots of first-timers, and a few old hands... and no pressure and no worries, even if you're not going to cook yourself, it's always fun to learn!


So soups and stews are both made by taking the last possible sheds of flavor from meat, enhancing them with time, warmth, and spices, adding some vegetables, and spreading it out among the whole family.

I usually prepare a stew early in the morning and let it simmer all day.

Pho, on the other hand, is a thin beef soup---and I usually prepare the broth one evening (usually while cooking something else for dinner), and make it into soup the next. This lets you separate the fat easily because it can cool overnight.


So, the timing varies a bit, but let's take a look at our meat scraps and flavor enhancers for stew and pho!

01/16/2012