Uh oh: It's 100% grated, just not necessarily 100% CHEESE

Would you like some WOOD with that pasta?

From the story here last February, which is about when I started to wonder why I couldn't get my preferred Romano in block form anymore, only grated in bags:

Cellulose is a safe additive, and an acceptable level is 2 percent to 4 percent, according to Dean Sommer, a cheese technologist at the Center for Dairy Research in Madison, Wisconsin. Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, from Jewel-Osco, was 8.8 percent cellulose, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese registered 7.8 percent, according to test results. Whole Foods 365 brand didn’t list cellulose as an ingredient on the label, but still tested at 0.3 percent. Kraft had 3.8 percent. ... According to the FDA’s report on Castle, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, “no parmesan cheese was used to manufacture” the Market Pantry brand 100% grated Parmesan Cheese, sold at Target Corp. stores, and Always Save Grated Parmesan Cheese and Best Choice 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, sold by Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc., which along with its subsidiaries supplies 3,400 retail stores in 30 states. Instead, there was a mixture of Swiss, mozzarella, white cheddar and cellulose, according to the FDA.

Don't buy grated, folks. I don't care what the cheese is, just buy the block. It's easier to split than kindling.

Happiness is a 12-lb. Thanksgiving turkey for seven bucks at D&W Fresh Market

Gott sei dank! Thanks be to God!

Ours looked just like this, too, and was done in just three hours at 325 degrees F., because we never stuff our turkey. And was it ever delicious!

At the two hour mark we oiled the skin and baked it another half hour, then covered it with aluminum foil for another half hour.

The neck and gizzard were stewed separately for two hours, from which we made the giblet gravy.

Wunderbar!

The turkey was served with sautéed whole green beans baked for five minutes in the oven topped with french fried onions, and red garnet yams with butter and dark brown sugar.

A meal fit for a king, easily enjoyed by hoi polloi.

Happiness is one of these from Generac when the power goes out like tonight in Michigan

Here we go again: Very smart people become unhappy when socializing with friends

London School of Economics study, discussed here:

The study found that more intelligent people actually had lower life satisfaction the more frequently they socialised with friends - spending time with friends actually made them unhappy. But the researchers discovered that these highly intelligent participants actually spent more time socialising with friends. 

Which is why they are more likely to be mentally ill. The expectation that one socialize creates mental conflict, but because the expectation is perceived to be natural the conflict is multiplied because the intelligent person is fighting against "nature", resulting in illness.

As the old saying goes . . .

Happiness is the real Fats Domino on Twitter

Here.

Forget the expensive rice cooker, make easy peasy rice on the gas stovetop

Rinse 1 cup rice under running water using a fine mesh sieve, and allow to drain (I'm using Basmati from India these days).

Add rice to a 3qt. saucepan with a heavy lid.

Add two cups fresh water, 1/4 tsp. salt and a teaspoon of butter. Stir.

Bring mixture to a boil with the lid off.

Reduce heat to lowest setting, cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Fluff and serve with more butter, or Tamari sauce, or whatever.

Donald Trump's election means someone's finally going to deport my damn Chihuahua

Happiness is . . . Holy Cow! Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!

A daily egg supposedly cuts stroke risk by 12% by reducing inflammation

So says a meta-analysis, which is not at all the same thing as a double-blind study. And, consider the source.

From the story here:

The research, published in the American College of Nutrition journal, was funded by the American Egg Board.