spontaneous food review from a non-foodie

[saffronhare]

Today, I'm trying one of the Amy's Bowls -- brown rice with black-eyed peas and veggies -- for lunch. Whole grains and veggies! And none of the preservatives that I might get with a mainstream frozen lunch-type product! WIN, I thought.

Except I don't like it much. Don't get me wrong: It's perfectly decent food, and perhaps even more food than I need to feel full. But WOW. I'm probably putting an unreasonable amount of salt on it...and it's all I can do not to drizzle some beef gravy on it for savory/flavory enhancement. Not that I have beef gravy. But you get the idea.

Counter.Productivity.R.Us.
(sigh)

ETA: Just as a general comment...you guys are awesome. I really appreciate the humor and perspective you're offering -- what an unexpected harvest! Thank you. :)

Comments

[fairgoldberry.livejournal.com]

Even with various types of bouillon, there's still a significant flavor emptiness there. I've used mushroom soak water (not shiitake, though), various kinds of broth and bouillon, all manner of herbs and butter and added veggies, and the rice itself still ends up tasting like a flavor place-holder, as if to say, "Here is the space where food would be." It's like a little vacant carbohydrate space accompanied by food-flavor. I eat it because it's nourishing and I don't hate it, but when I think, "What will be tasty for dinner tonight?" I almost never think, "Mmmmm, boy, RICE!"

Y'know?

Much love,
Rowan

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

HA! I like the taste and texture of rice, so we differ there.

If I don't like a food, I don't eat it. Ever. No point in forcing down calories I hate. Luckily, I enjoy eating several types of vegetables and other nutritious things. I'd be hurtin' if all I liked to eat were pastries and hamburgers.

[fairgoldberry.livejournal.com]

I don't eat food I hate, either. But I don't *hate* rice, I'm just supremely apathetic about it.

On forcing down calories, sometimes I have to. I go through depressive phases where I get to midnight and think, "Oh, drat, I forgot to eat again today," and I need something I can cook relatively quickly to get at least a few hundred calories in me. A piece of fruit, a handful of cheese slices, and a bowl of rice are quick, require no defrosting and no attention, and get me a few hundred calories in without actual effort. And unlike potatoes, rice can live for a couple-six months in the pantry waiting for me to have an emergency.

Much love,
Rowan

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I hear you both. I've come to appreciate brown rice as a building material for a "complete meal." It holds its own pretty well with some kind of lean meat, sops up sauces very well, and gets me a serving of whole grains. Hardly ever bother with white rice anymore, really.