Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 6, 1993 TAG: 9301060027
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TONI BURKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
TASTES HARDEN AT EARLY AGE
Guns and dolls aren't all that separate boys from girls. Sharp differences in food preferences are evident, too, according to surveys taken by the Manhattan youth-marketing research firm Xtreme.Pizza, for instance: In the 8-to-12 age group more than twice (45 percent versus 20 percent) as many boys as girls list it as their favorite food.
"Boys like pizza because it's portable, it's hot; no knives and forks required; girls are a little more formal," explains Xtreme president Irma Zandl, who adds that girls are more adventurous as well, developing a strong taste for ethnic cuisines at an earlier age than boys; 10 percent of girls ages 13 to 15 list ethnic food as a favorite food, compared to 4 percent of boys.
One in eight girls 8 to 12 said sweets were their favorite food, but as much as girls consider sweets a favorite, they are more inclined than boys to say fruits and vegetables are preferred foods; 8 percent of girls ages 16 to 18 said vegetables were their favorite food, but boys the same age didn't mention vegetables - not even French fries. - The Washington Post
\ HELP!!! DEAR SOS: I have more than 200 cookbooks and have yet to find a recipe for crab imperial, a rich, creamy crab dish served au gratin. - ELIZABETH
DEAR ELIZABETH: Glad to help. Versions of the classic crab imperial were often used at the turn of the century in holiday menus and casserole dish suppers. Crab imperial 1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. chopped celery leaves
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1 garlic clove, minced
Dash cayenne pepper
1 egg yolk, beaten
1 cup soft bread crumbs
2 Tbsps. dry sherry
1 tsp. minced onion
1 tsp. minced parsley
1 lb. cooked crab meat
1/4 cup buttered crumbs
Paprika
Melt butter in large saucepan. Add flour and blend well. Gradually add milk, salt, pepper, celery leaves, thyme, garlic and cayenne. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened. Add some of the sauce to beaten egg yolk, then stir egg yolk into sauce. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add soft bread crumbs, sherry, onion, parsley and crab meat, mixing lightly. Pile into crab shells or shallow baking or gratin dish. Top with buttered crumbs and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 400 degrees 10 minutes or until crumbs are lightly browned. Makes 4 to 6 servings. - Los Angeles Times
\ EASY DOES IT Your crockery cooker simmers this hot and hearty sandwich filling all day long, while you're out or busy doing other things. Add the ingredients to the cooker in the morning and by dinnertime, you'll have juicy teriyaki steak. Spoon the saucy filling into crusty French rolls and serve with your choice of toppings. Teriyaki sandwiches 2 to 2 1/2 lbs. boneless beef chuck steak
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
4 tsps. cornstarch
2 Tbsps. cold water
8 individual French loaves, split
4 Tbsps. margarine or butter, melted
Toppings - shredded Chinese cabbage, pineapple rings, sliced green onion, plum sauce or sweet-and-sour sauce (optional)
Trim excess fat from steak; cut into thin, bite-size slices. In 3 1/2- to 4-qt. crockery cooker, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and garlic. Stir in meat. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 9 hours or on the high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours.
Use a slotted spoon to remove meat from juices. Pour juices into a measuring cup; skim fat. Measure 1 1/2 cups juices (add water if necessary); place in a saucepan. Stir together cornstarch and the 2 Tbsps. water; add to saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in cooked meat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more.
Meanwhile, brush rolls lightly with margarine or butter. Place, cut side up, on unheated rack of a broiler pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly toasted. Top bottom halves of the toasted rolls with meat mixture and desired toppings. Cover with roll tops. Makes 8 servings. - Associated Press
\ RX What to do about heartburn? The folks at Prevention magazine suggest eating rice pudding. It absorbs excess stomach acid.
To fend off a migraine, they say, try coffee. The caffeine restricts the blood vessels that dilate during migraines.
And for a chocolate attack, Prevention actually recommends a McDonald's shake. Seems that of the 320 calories in the drink, only 5 percent come from fat.
- Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
\ SIDE SALAD A sweet potato dish is a natural partner for baked ham, pork roast or braised chops. This one makes a delicious go-along. Sweet potato saladi 1 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes (4 to 5 medium), peeled, diced and cooked
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced pineapple
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup toasted walnuts
1 tsp. fresh minced ginger
1 tsp. finely minced orange peel
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp. white pepper
Combine all ingredients and mix well. If possible, refrigerate for a couple of hours to allow flavors to develop. Makes 8 servings.