Friday, March 28, 2008

Friday Florida Food Fest (?): It's A Popeye Thing, You Wouldn't Understand ... or would you?


True confession time ... I love canned spinach.
I KNOW fresh spinach is a totally different beast, that it is better for you, that the taste, texture, and color of fresh or steamed fresh spinach is a wonder for the palate.
I know all that.
I pile my salad bar plate high with fresh raw spinach any time I find it as one of the offerings.
Down here, Sonny's BBQ gets an A+ for usually having it in abundance.
I'm just saying that canned spinach is a favorite of mine. Back in school, when all the other kids were turning up there noses at the dark green spinach region of their compartmentalized cafeteria tray, I was the kid saying, "Are you gonna eat that?"
Anyway, I just had to get that off my chest.
My name is FC and I am a canned spinach eater.
I feel better now.
In other foody news, the blueberry birthday cake I made for Emma (per her request) was nothing more than two boxes of yellow cake mix and the following additions:
Too early for my own blueberries so I took a bag of frozen berries and dumped about a cup of them into the mini food processor to grind them up into a slurry. I put that in a sauce pan on low heat with a dash of orange juice and a dash of some pomegranate/blueberry juice that was in the fridge.
One little pat of butter was added and then I just simmered it a little. I did not add any sugar as the yellow cake is way sweet anyway.
Half of that I swirled into the cake batter. I also dumped the rest of the whole blueberries into the batter.
Then I ignored the 350 degree temperature instructions on the box and baked it at 300 degrees until it was done.
The reserved sauce went over the top of the finished cake as a drizzle.
It was pretty darn yummy.
I have one more cake to bake this year ... another poppyseed cake on Mother's Day and then I can lay my spatula down for 2008.
Tomorrow predawn, we load up Chewie for the trip to the fair. The usual morning post may happen later in the day due to that adventure.
Have an excellent Friday!

17 comments:

MinorcanMeteorolgist said...

It all sounds so deeelicious!!
Wish Chewie good luck at the fair today! I hope she's gained lots of weight!! (how often do men say that??)

Rurality said...

I'm sitting next to you at dinner, so I can slide my yucky spinach off onto your plate!

I forgot to say yesterday, those curvy Bday candles are really cool. Emma sure looks a lot like you. :)

Jacki said...

When we were in college, my husband worked at the ORIGINAL Sonny's BBQ in Gainesville, with the lady who had developed most of the recipes that are still used today...ah, Miz Red - "don't ask what's in it, just eat it!" Fond memories. Have you ever been to a Fat Boy's BBQ? That was the place Sonny owned with one of his relatives before he started Sonny's.

threecollie said...

I have always loved it too. So did my brothers. Maybe because mom fed it to us all the time. My kids pretty much hate it though so we never have it...oddly Liz made a sort of omelet thing with it just the other day though. Lots of cheese, egg, spinach...really good

robin andrea said...

I've never eaten canned spinach, although I suspect some of those pieces of quiche florentine I've had over the years were full of the stuff. I can't remember the last time I ate a canned vegetable. I tend to go for frozen if I can't have it fresh. In the interest of energy efficiency though, I may have to develop a taste and talent for canning.

Good luck at the fair, and a fond farewell to Chewie.

Stacy said...

I love canned spinach, too. My dad always tried putting all kinds of things on it when I was a kid to see if he could get me to NOT like it. Guess what? It's even good with Cool Whip. (Not really, but I ate it anyway.) We never have it now because the husband and kiddos think it's vile, slime.

Anonymous said...

What's that grumbling I hear? Oh yeah, that's me. This morning I need to go to the local electronics store to get a new monitor. I kept stabbing at the old one with a fork until sparks and smoke wrecked it. Not recommended.
How many requests have you received for cake shipping? LOL
As far as canned or frozen Spinacia oleracea I like mine with a little sour cream slathered heavily over sourdough bread. Mmmmmmmmmm.

(freste)

Dani said...

I am so baking that cake this weekend!!!Yum-o

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your love of canned spinach, that's got to be awfully hard to stand up and admit to everyone. LOL!

But since you're a great cook, we'll let ya get away with it. ;)

I guess I should admit to a culinary faux of my own as well. So, here goes: I LOVE Chef Boyardee canned ravioli, straight from the can!

I'm eating it cold right now. Cold, not warmed up in the microwave. There, I said it.

Whew!
Good luck this weekend! We'll be at USF both days, I'll keep an eye out for Emma! LOL

kathy a. said...

really? you liked the canned stuff better than fresh cooked down in a saucepan, with the right bits of seasoning?

we grew up on canned veggies, mostly green beans or corn. i don't really know why my mom thought that was easier; it sure didn't taste any better. but in any event, spinach was only on the menu when my great-grandmother babysat me. a lovely food, spinach.

amarkonmywall said...

The canned spinach! The weigh-in at the fair! Bah! I'll check in tomorrow, but that's it for today.

R.Powers said...

HT,
We never say it if we're smart.
:)

Rurality,
:) over the Emma comment!
Aren't those candles cool? I stuck them in right after I drizzled the hot blueberry goo and they all started leaning over ... oops.

Jacki,
I used to love Fat Boys ... in Ocala I believe. Thanks for that history. Personally I think my pork ribs are juicier and better, but I do love eating at Sonny's still.
Love those beans.

3C,
I just toss a pat of butter into it and chow down.

Robin,
LOL.
That is so funny to me that you have never had canned spinach. How could that happen?
Thanks for the Chewie thoughts.

Stacy,
I never would have thought of Cool Whip on spinach!
I'm still having trouble picturing it :)

Freste,
Too funny, Yes, the monitor cakes definitely do not taste as good as the real thing.

Dani,
It's pretty easy (mancake) and great with coffee.

Laura,
I just felt it was time to confess.
I can't do the canned pasta thang like you, but my daughters love it.
Emma's in New Port Richey this weekend with wife's family, so I don't think you'll cross paths.

Kathy A,
No, no , not better than fresh, but I do really like canned spinach. I open a can for a snack sometimes.
I like the fresh stuff barely steamed or fresh and raw.


Vicki,
I believe I have repelled you today. Sorry.

tsiya said...

Got to have some Datil Pepper vinegar on that spinach!

SophieMae said...

I'm a huge canned spinach fan, as well. Long as I can remember, it's been one of my favourite veggies. In adulthood, I finally discovered the yummality of the steamed version, but I still enjoy it Popeye's way every now and then.

Ciao, Chewie!
Is it just me or does it seem like only a few months ago last year's pig was heading for the fair?

R.Powers said...

Tsiya,
I save that for my pilau and my turnip greens.
:)

Sophie,
Me too!
And yes,it does seem like I just posted about the 2007 fair ... blogging these seasonal events for 3 years now makes me realize how fast the calendar moves.

Jacki said...

My hubby makes better ribs than Sonny's, too, especially now that we have a Big Green Egg! But sometimes ya just gotta have Sonny's :) I like their beef brisket, which is pretty new. Have you ever looked at a piece of Sonny's garlic toast before it's toasted? Don't. It'll ruin it for you.

R.Powers said...

Jacki,
I have a feeling it would be absolutely slathered with fat.