American Foodstuffs

[mishagale]

As an Anglophone living outside the US, I consume a whole lot of US culture (much of which is awesome by the way, kudos), and for the most part foreign concepts can be understood easily enough from context. But there are some things we just don't have here, which can't be understood by seeing them on TV or reading about them in books. USians, help your cousins out here?

1. Meatloaf. It's... bread made out of meat?
2. Grilled Cheese Sandwich. I understand Jesus likes to put his face on them. Is it the cheese or the bread that's grilled? 'Cos if I stick a cheese sandwich under the grill, I might get toasted bread, but the cheese stays pretty much raw. For this purpose, we in Europe have Toastie makers
3. Ricearonie. I'm guessing some kind of freakish rice/pasta hybrid?

 

[101194]

1. Meatloaf. It's... bread made out of meat?
2. Grilled Cheese Sandwich. I understand Jesus likes to put his face on them. Is it the cheese or the bread that's grilled? 'Cos if I stick a cheese sandwich under the grill, I might get toasted bread, but the cheese stays pretty much raw. For this purpose, we in Europe have Toastie makers
3. Ricearonie. I'm guessing some kind of freakish rice/pasta hybrid?

1. Meatloaf...Mmm Meat baked with bread.
2. Slab of bread with cheese grilled ontop, Tasty.
3. I have no idea, I'm not American

 

[mishagale]

2. Huh, we call that cheese on toast (in Wales, it's a national dish. Don't eat out in Wales.) To me, a sandwich by definition involves at least *2* slices of bread.

 

[martin's a madman]

Canada here, Meatloaf: Baked meat.

Grilled cheese, cheese in between two slices of bread fried in a frying pan, or on a flat grill.

Uh... I don't know, I'm Canadian! Kraft Dinner!

 

[The Root Beer Guy]

1. Basically Meatballs shaped into a loaf of bread
2. Actually, it's usually made on a stove top in a pan and fried in butter.
3. Rice and vermicelli pasta. Very tasty.

 

[mishagale]

Uh... I don't know, I'm Canadian! Kraft Dinner!

Actually, that one kinda confuses me too. Isn't Kraft an American company?

 

[martin's a madman]

Uh... I don't know, I'm Canadian! Kraft Dinner!

Actually, that one kinda confuses me too. Isn't Kraft an American company?

I think it was originally German, but it's really popular in Canada.

 

[Hammer's Girl]

Also, what is the deal with American cheese? Why don't Americans eat proper cheese for crying out loud?!

Come to the UK and we will teach you about cheese that isn't a radioactive yellow colour or in a can.

 

[Betancore]

Meatloaf sounds disgusting. I've always wondered, what's a corn dog? Is it like corn in a hot dog bun or something?

 

[mishagale]

Come to the UK and we will teach you about cheese that isn't a radioactive yellow colour or in a can.

Yeah, we reserve the radioactive cheese to serve in our schools.

Meatloaf sounds disgusting. I've always wondered, what's a corn dog? Is it like corn in a hot dog bun or something?

Aren't they the ones onna stick?

 

[Virgil]

1. Meatloaf. It's... bread made out of meat?

It may be easier to think of meatloaf as being a large, bread loaf sized meatball. It's made from similar ingredients. Then you slice it up and serve it, traditionally with mashed potatoes and some sort of vegetable. Leftover meatloaf also makes fantastic sandwiches, and is very convenient because it's sliced.

2. Grilled Cheese Sandwich. I understand Jesus likes to put his face on them. Is it the cheese or the bread that's grilled?

This is very easy, and you can try it at home.

1) Get two pieces of bread (I like sourdough myself) and butter them on one side.
2) Put cheese between those sides. Works best with a soft cheese (or American cheese). For real cheese (like a sharp cheddar or provolone), I suggest shredding it. I like adding a bit of hot mustard and red pepper flakes.
3) Butter the outside of the sandwich. It's tricky, and occasionally messy. Place it into a hot frying pan (cast iron is best).
4) When the bottom side is golden brown, flip it over. Press it down firmly with a spatula. Cook until the cheese is melted.

You can also do this with a Panini press, or sandwich pocket makers. The nice thing about using a frying pan is that you get a nice crispy blackened crust on the outside of the bread.

3. Ricearonie. I'm guessing some kind of freakish rice/pasta hybrid?

It's rice and vermicelli pasta with seasonings. It's good, but I remember that it takes way too long to make properly compared to other side dishes, because you need to sautee the rice and pasta to toast the vermicelli.

Also, what is the deal with American cheese? Why don't Americans eat proper cheese for crying out loud?!

American cheese, not that it's actually cheese, doesn't primarily come in a can. It comes in pre-packaged slices. It's useful because it has a pretty good yellow-cheese flavor while also still being soft and easily meltable (which makes it work very well for cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and other similar foods). Getting other yellow cheeses to behave like that can be a pain in the ass.

 

[Jazoni89]

American cheese, not that it's actually cheese, doesn't primarily come in a can. It comes in pre-packaged slices. It's useful because it has a pretty good yellow-cheese flavor while also still being soft and easily meltable (which makes it work very well for cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and other similar foods). Getting other yellow cheeses to behave like that can be a pain in the ass.

Yeah its not cheese just a bunch of different chemicals and favouring to make it taste like cheese. Personally even though it doesnt melt too well i would rather have real cheese anyday. I don't understand america and their low standards for food they have, even their milk is got a load of shit in it. If i ever went there i would be scared to eat.

 

[ace_of_something]

American cheese, not that it's actually cheese, doesn't primarily come in a can. It comes in pre-packaged slices. It's useful because it has a pretty good yellow-cheese flavor while also still being soft and easily meltable (which makes it work very well for cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and other similar foods). Getting other yellow cheeses to behave like that can be a pain in the ass.

Yeah its not cheese just a bunch of different chemicals and favouring to make it taste like cheese. Personally even though it doesnt melt too well i would rather have real cheese anyday. I don't understand america and their low standards for food they have, even their milk is got a load of shit in it. If i ever went there i would be scared to eat.

You realize we have all the other cheeses too? It's not like we have a cheese embargo or something. Other than fast food joints most restaurants DON'T use 'American singles'.
Italian Restaurants use Mozzarella and Provolone. Cheddar is used a lot at burger places. So on and so forth. My wife moved here from France (and therefore my inlaws) all of them state how much more variety we have in food here. My relatives from Scandinavia (when they actually visit) were SURPRISED at the food here. Fast food is what most of the world associates us with and while it is true we have a ton. We have normal restaurants and even a small grocery store carries ingredients to make perfectly healthy food.

Stereotypes Are silly.

PS: My Norwegian relatives really digged a Cajun restaurant in our town. They'd never had anything like it.