Yesterday, my husband came home with two things. The first--an order from the doctor to shape up. Seems like just about everything was slightly elevated (blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol) and with his family history, in the coming years, he could be...well...history. He needs to cut out salt and fat, get on an exercise program, and cut down on those martinis he loves so much. Fat chance.His idea of watching out for his health involved switching from butter to margarine, something half of the world (the female half) knows isn't going to mean a thing because they are BOTH equally bad for you.
Did I mention the second thing he brought home. Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. He thought we could cook some healthy meals together. Let me tell you, there is almost nothing in that cookbook that doesn't involve cream or butter or both. Let's talk heavy sauces, egg dishes, tarts, and rendered pork fat. Every soup has a healthy dollop of whipping cream. Think black butter sauce, a la cream, cheese gratines browned with cheese, eggs sauteed with chicken livers and sausages, even a simple steak is served with a hearty topping of flavored butter.
My husband wants to make Boeuf Bourguignon like in the movie, Julie & Julia. First ingredient = 6 ounce chunk of bacon. Although the 3 cups of young red wine sounds lean and lovely. We will serve it with haricots verts a la creme (page 445) with (surprise) softened butter and 2 cups of whipping cream and top it off with some kind of custard that involves (can you guess) butter and cream.
The poor guy! He doesn't have a clue.
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5 comments:
LOL Deb. Julia Child's cookbook is DEFINITELY not for those looking for reduced-fat recipes. I remember years ago when Julia Child was all the rage on television. Later, my husband and I bought the book and started doing several of the recipes. They were super delicious and lots of fun. But in those days, it was easier to lose weight. I was running three miles a day. Now that I'm no longer in my 30's, I have to watch what I eat even though I'm still working out. Sigh. Save those recipes for special occasions.
Deb,
Land of Lakes makes a light butter in a tub which only has 5 grams of fat per tablespoon instead of the 11 regular butter has in it. It tastes like regular butter to me. I don't use butter that often, but I have used it cooking and it seems fine. I don't know if you could use it for baking.
Julia Child lived to a healthy old age. So do the French (and they stay thin!)
It seems that almost everything is bad for you, and you can find a study to prove it. We are biologically predisposed to like sweets and fats, because millennia ago those things were hard to come by, so we gorged when they were available.
I think the only solution is moderation in all things. So eat small helpings of good French food.
Oh funny! Julia is like Paula Deen--lots of cream and butter!
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
You had me at butter!
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