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TOURIST FOR THE DAY in PUERTO RICO

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Julia Child's "Chick Flicks" (and SOS!)



A Peep of Chickens: Smith Graduate,

Mrs. Julia Child, gives us an amusing -and quirky-lesson!

Presenting Miss Roaster of the Year!!!

[Note: Just in case you actually wanted to view a selection of Chick Flicks -click here to view recent films]


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Oasis Remembers: Recipes



Grandma Alice- my French maternal grandmother-had her own ideas about how to approach cooking.
Cooking is serious business!!!

Pardon et moi





Grandpa Al likes to cook! He is my 100% Polish maternal grandfather-a fisherman for fun...and a baker in the Navy and Merchant Marines.

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I wonder what Grandpa Al thought of Julia Child?

I remember when he gave me a lesson (one of many) on how to make poached eggs on toast. I can see him now in my mind's eye, he would gently lift the egg out of the boiling water and lay it atop the toast-then he'd ladle over the egg a generous portion of a white colored sauce, which I later discovered was a roux based sauce. (Click on the link for an excellent photo based lesson on how to make a roux.)

Grandpa Al was a born teacher-though that was not his profession. (He retired from General Motors.) Often, he would combine the breakfast cooking demonstration to include creamed chipped beef on toast. He had definite opinions on the correct presentation and quality.

What is chipped beef? It's dehydrated beef-or more specifically a smoked and salted meat product. (Is it actually beef? What part is it from?) I'm sorry about your (and my) delicate sensibilities but our creamed chipped beef on toast was once a food popularly know in military slang as SOS or 'shit on a shingle.' My grandfather occasionally used this reference (with a chuckle) but my young ears had no idea what he was talking about. The "shingle" (as in roofing tiles-rhymes with piles) would be the toasted triangles, which are white bread with the edges cut off-and you can figure out the rest of the reference!!

Julia was also exacting in her opinions. A dinner part for 300? Julia suggests making the flat French omelet-NOT puffy.




And that was the recipe my own mother used... Bon Appétit!

21 comments:

  1. I love your family stories!
    What an exotic background you come from.
    Do hope all is going well with you.
    Your grandmother looks quite a character.
    Happy and peaceful weekend.

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  2. hahah love the SOS.I remember my fatherinlaw telling me it was an army term for dried beff and flour and milk.Oh ugh my husband used to like that too.yuck.lol.When he was living I think he had that noticed I said HE lol.Maybe once twice a week.
    As far as Julia goes I guess she was a great chef.But you know everytime I saw what she was making I wasnt impressed.
    Enjoy the weekend!

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  3. that was beef not bff,typing fast isnt my thing ha!

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  4. Oh, I feel so entertained! The fish cracked me up for some reason. Thanks for the great post!

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  5. Julia was amusing. I love that photo of your grandpa with all the fish. Congratulations on your POTD below – well deserved.

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  6. I am new to Julia Child as I come from the UK. I understand she was a great influence on the folks of the USA to encourage Fench Cooking. She is wonderfully eccentric! Brilliant.

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  7. Julia Child is one person I would love to have dinner with when I get to the other side.

    I love stories about family chefs. And I have eaten some delicious SOS!

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  8. Great stories. Nothing beats these personal connections to food and family rituals.

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  9. I love food stories related to our pasts, they make the continued use of receipes so precious when we know who they came from.
    xx

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  10. now that's what family does... creates beautiful memories. but please excuse me, it's time for a snack....

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  11. Until I read about Meryl's latest film I'd never heard of Julia Child (Phil - you're not alone) but having seen a trailer for the film I can see what a good job La Streep has done.

    Cyn, haven't you got an exotic background?. My grandparents were from Russia and Bellarusse and I've always enjoyed not being a typical 'English' person. There is also nothing typical about you, my dear - you are a one-off in the best possible way.

    (I still feel a bit rotten about that time I went on a bit about my little French Fancy award - sorry again)

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  12. Thank you all for your comments. You make my day when they arrive in my email at work...my computer is out again. I'm borrowing a mini computer. It's a challenge.

    French Fancy...thanks my the praise...what a delight to be considered unique. Don't worry about the award...your a dear with strong ideas...I like that about you. <3

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  13. I will not eat the SOS, but reading you is tasty. :0)

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  14. Ha, ha, ha!!! My dad used to make sos too and called it the same thing!!!! I love all the interesting tidbits you posted here!!! Hope you are doing very well. :)

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  15. Oh gosh I LMAO reading about SOS...we grew up on that. Coming from a family with 6 kids sometimes called for economical meals. I hope with todays economy as it is... this dish doesn't make a comeback!

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  16. I grew up on dried beef gravy on toast. Haven't thought of it in years.

    The pics of your grandparents are priceless!!!

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  17. love the SOS.I remember my fatherinlaw telling me it was an army term for dried beff and flour and milk.Oh ugh my husband used to like that too.yuck.lol.When he was living I think he had that noticed I said HE lol.Maybe once twice a week.
    As far as Julia goes I guess she was a great chef.But you know everytime I saw what she was making I wasnt impressed.
    Enjoy the weekend!
    Web hosting india

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  18. Shit on a Shingle. Comfort food at its best. It was Julia Child's guilty pleasure.

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  19. What a fantastic story! I loved those snippets of your life. SOS, brilliant acronym.

    Greetings from London.

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  20. Thank you all for the comments. I soooo enjoy your feedback. See you soon with a new Saturday post. <3

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