OK, I Ate Some; But Never Again

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I've never tried this with Edam, but I do make it exactly the same way with Camembert (soft cheese).

In Czech Republic there is very popular cheese called Hermelin. It is similar to Camembert - small disk (it fits on palm of the hand) of naturally ripening cheese completely covered by white mould http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermel%...%28s%C3%BDr%29
They do deep fry Hermelin, but it is considered completely different dish. Complete disk covered with mould is covered by flour, egg, breadcrumbs and is deep fried. It shouldn't be too ripe.

[Mortis]

According to Islamic teachings that I have heard (I won't go into the 4 different theologies or Madhab of Islam) there are some things that must not be eaten unless there is no other alternative.

(taken directly from the Halal Wiki)
Pork (i.e., flesh of pig)[Qur'an 2:173]
Blood[Qur'an 2:173]
Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah. All that has been dedicated or offered in sacrifice to an idolatrous altar or saint or a person considered to be "divine"[Qur'an 2:173] [Qur'an 5:3]
Carrion (carcasses of dead animals)[Qur'an 2:173]
An animal that has been strangled, beaten (to death), killed by a fall, gored (to death), savaged by a beast of prey (except by a human)[Qur'an 5:3]
Food over which Allah's name is not pronounced (or at least not in a name other than Allah)[Qur'an 6:121]
Alcohol and other intoxicants[Qur'an 5:090]

I can positively say that this is the way it is taught, but not all are followed (alcohol for instance ) I have also been told that smoking in some sects of Islam is not allowed, but that could very well be the interpretation of the Afghanistan Sunni (Very orthodox! and in my mind misguided).

As far as Shellfish go, I know all fish are ok, and that any Muslims that I know eat all types. When I asked about Sharks, being a predator, I was told it comes from the sea so it is ok to eat. I take this to mean all things from the sea are Halal.

As far as Judaism the rules are set out more specifically.

(Again taken directly from the Kashrut Wiki "Kosher")
Only meat from particular species is permissible. Mammals that both chew their cud (ruminate) and have cloven hooves can be kosher. Animals with one characteristic but not the other (the camel, the hyrax and the hare because they have no cloven hooves, and the pig because it does not ruminate) are specifically excluded (Leviticus 11:3–8).[6][7]

Please take all this information with a grain of salt, I am most decidedly NOT a religious scholar and am only relating the beliefs as I understand them.

Cheers

[teadonkey]

I hate ketchup. I love fresh tomatoes, I love tomato sauce. But I hate ketchup.

When I eat beef, by the second bite I start tasting a metallic hint. It gets stronger from there out. I don't know if that means I'm insane or what, but I eat very little beef because of it.

I'll try almost anything else except for things that I just can't wrap my head around like bugs and chicken feet. I can't bring myself to do it.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by teadonkey

I hate ketchup. I love fresh tomatoes, I love tomato sauce. But I hate ketchup.

When I eat beef, by the second bite I start tasting a metallic hint. It gets stronger from there out. I don't know if that means I'm insane or what, but I eat very little beef because of it.

I'll try almost anything else except for things that I just can't wrap my head around like bugs and chicken feet. I can't bring myself to do it.

I had the same problem with tasting metal when eating beef, it turned out to be a problem with a filling. Might be worth looking into.

Eating anything can be weird, I know many Malaysians that don't like beef, but I think this is more a question of availability, we as Westerners have been blessed with an abundant amount of space to raise cattle, sheep, pigs etc.

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by Mortis

I hate to burst the bubble about us not eating carnivores, pigs are omnivores, which means that they consume both plants and animals. I can personally attest to the fact that pigs eat anything.

As far as religious beliefs go, in Islam (Halal meaning "Lawful or Legal") and Judaism (Kosher meaning "Fit to eat" loose translations) , the reason pigs are not Kosher or Halal is because they are considered dirty but also because they have canine teeth. Any animal with canines are considered Haram/ not Kosher. Incidentally, the dietary rules for both Islam and Judaism are very similar, in fact Muslims in Canada and the States go to Kosher restaurants if they can't find a Halal restaurant.

I personally believe that pigs were dangerous to eat when these rules were made, but I have been wrong before.

I wasn't trying to start a religious discussion, but rather I was wondering what others views were about why we don't eat certain animals, I have tried many things and would try almost anything.

I thought it was because they were 'unclean' i.e. they menstruated!

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I thought it was because they were 'unclean' i.e. they menstruated!

huh!? all mammals come into estrus which gives a softening of the vulva and quite often a bloody show

[SameOldStory]

About 35 or 40 years ago I was a vegetarian for about 2 - 2 1/2 years. It had nothing to do with not harming animals. I just wanted to see if it really had any health benefits.

For some people, I truly believe that it does. But then too, some can't (medically aren’t permitted to) eat salt, cholesterol, sugar, etc. For most of us there's no problem.

Add in the fact that when you're 25 - 30 you can get away with eating anything.

The point is that after a move across country I had to stay with some friends and eat what they ate. Those who have never be a vegetarian for a significant amount of time can not believe how bad it smells to cook hamburger!

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

huh!? all mammals come into estrus which gives a softening of the vulva and quite often a bloody show

SHhhhhhhhhhhh! don't tell the Jews!

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

About 35 or 40 years ago I was a vegetarian for about 2 - 2 1/2 years. It had nothing to do with not harming animals. I just wanted to see if it really had any health benefits.

For some people, I truly believe that it does. But then too, some can't (medically aren’t permitted to) eat salt, cholesterol, sugar, etc. For most of us there's no problem.

Add in the fact that when you're 25 - 30 you can get away with eating anything.

The point is that after a move across country I had to stay with some friends and eat what they ate. Those who have never be a vegetarian for a significant amount of time can not believe how bad it smells to cook hamburger!

yeah I can. I get my meat from a very good small town butcher. when I am around other beef it smells quite literally like sh*t very often. I can practically taste the fat just smelling it cook. when I am on the road for any length of time my diet becomes much more vegie/fish, and the little beef and pork I eat I pay dearly for

[Mortis]

I've always thought ground beet smelled bad when it was cooked. But it sure does taste good after

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by Mortis

I've always thought ground beet smelled bad when it was cooked. But it sure does taste good after

Mmmmm... Pickled Beets.

[Mortis]

Doh... but you have to agree that frying beets smells nasty!

[SameOldStory]

Hay! I bet that beet chips taste as good as potato chips.

Hmmm. I never tried deep fried beets. You have to start out with thin sliced raw beet though.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Hay! I bet that beet chips taste as good as potato chips.

Hmmm. I never tried deep fried beets. You have to start out with thin sliced raw beet though.

You used to be able to get beet chips in health food stores years ago in Canada, dunno if thats still the case.

[SameOldStory]

I take it that they were, ummm, not as tasty as potato chips? Or was it perhaps the color?