3 Things I Learned About Food During This Season's Hog-A-Thon

The pig-outs were arduous, hard work this season but I gleaned many lessons about my relationship with food, achieving clarity that would not have arrived otherwise.

First, I learned that while I love pancakes and waffles, those two dessert breakfasts cannot hold a candle flame to French toast, especially if the latter is made with sourdough.

Second, I learned that adding sage leaf to turkey meatballs makes the meatballs taste like the smell of dirty gym socks.

And finally, I learned that if someone presents me with lemon bars or lemon cake, no matter how masterly done, I refuse to eat lemon desserts as I would rather squander my calorie input on French toast and chocolate layer cake slathered with chocolate peanut butter frosting.

Tough lessons learned. More to come. Happy New Year. 

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Comments

[Gary]

Jeff - For some reason, I doubt that pancakes, waffles, French toast and lemon bars fall under the category of "good calories" according to that book you mentioned earlier today. I sure wish they did.

Like you, I eat yogurt (the "light" kind, with under 100 calories per can), but as a dessert alternative rather than a breakfast alternative.

[herculodge]

I guess I should clarify I rarely eat those bad calories more than once a week; however, I broke my rule during the holiday hogathon.

[Gary]

Yes, it's very hard to pass up all of the holiday goodies.

[Paul]

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[Paul]

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[Angelo]

After having severe stomach/colon problems in 2012 (will get surgery early 2013), my resolution is to keep up with a high fiber diet. After making a bigger effort to eat high fiber----I lost a good 15 pounds or more, feel 5-10 years younger too. I've had this diverticulitis issue my entire adult life probably. I've binged a little over the holidays too----though not nearly as much as past years. For the record, if the lemon treats are done well----I actually do like them as much as anything chocolate!

[jonnybardo]

French toast is somewhat more nutritious than waffles or pancakes in that there is a higher egg-to-everything else ratio. When I make french toast (usually for my girls), I use almost a whole egg per slice of bread (or it often ends up being two eggs for three slices).

So another way to look at it is if you have, say, two pieces of french toast, really what you're having is an egg and toast breakfast, along with some milk and spices (I use vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon) and some maple syrup (the real stuff, of course). That's a decent amount of bread but isn't a terrible breakfast.

As for holiday hogathon, I made a vanilla cheesecake with blackberry jam topping...it is ridiculous. I look forward to a massive slice tonight while watching Homeland with the wife.

[herculodge]

Your cheesecake sounds amazing. I have to say I stopped eating cheesecake two decades ago because in the early 1980s I worked in a wine store in Berkeley, which featured a deli. Every afternoon, I'd finish lunch with two slices of Philly cheesecake for about 3 years. I loved it, but I've lost the desire to eat it ever since.

[Ulysses]

Nothing beats French toast made with halved croissants (real ones, not 'crescent rolls') or brioche.

[herculodge]

My wife recently made croissants, one of her favorite desserts, and she said it seemed almost impossible to use too much butter. You had to keep applying butter to the dough. It was never-ending.

[Ulysses]

The nicest tasting ones can have around 30% butter in them, so it's understandable. They taste great but croissants have an unusually high GI so best only as an occasional treat.