Talbot's two-week session here is under way, which means this is our busiest time of the semester. Last week, we had two guests in from Talbot West — Dr. Dirks, dean of Talbot, and Mike Brady, who works tirelessly to administrate the program from the California side. They were such wonderful and thoughtful guests! For example, Mike showed up to every meal with a new present for Dietrich. We really enjoyed our time with them ... but ...
While I love to welcome guests into our home, I think it makes me a little crazy. I get so, so nervous that I will accidentally food poison someone. Nearly every time we have guests, I ask Eric to smell SOMETHING to make sure it hasn't gone bad. On a normal day, I very rarely do this, but put another place-setting on the table, and all food becomes suspect.
This time was particularly bad. I made a huge pot of potato cream soup, but I let the bacon thaw on the radiator for two hours, so I got nervous about the bacon. I did a little research and determined that YES, the bacon certainly COULD have a hidden, non-smelly, non-slimy bacterial explosion that wouldn't be killed by vigorous boiling. So, I pulled chili out of the freezer instead.
Later in the week, I bought a rotisserie chicken, intending to make chicken pot pie. I stripped off the meat and put it in the fridge, only to freak out 30 minutes later when I opened the fridge and decided it smelled "too strongly" of chicken. We ran out, got another chicken, and enjoyed a yummy pot pie. I left the first chicken in the fridge. Curiously, by the next day, it smelled normal. Perhaps it un-spoiled?
I know the rule is supposed to be "when in doubt, throw it out," but when we have guests, I'm in a constant state of doubt! Am I alone in this? Any advice from you seasoned hostesses?
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8 comments:
Actually I'm very amused at your phobia!
I grew up in a house that everything was fine in the fridge for at least a week if not more (raw or cooked). If it's in the fridge and the fridge works, there should be no reason to worry about spoilage. You should only worry if meat has been sitting out at room temperature for a long time. I never once got food poisoning growing up and I only have had it twice and both from restaurants.
Oh yeah, I also look things up on the internet if I'm really not so sure! I can usually get good advice somewhere! =0)
Hi Josie, it's fun to read about your food phobia. I think it's just representative of your heightened awareness of everything when you're having guests. Also, because you have a food allergy, maybe you always kind of worry when you eat at someone's house. I just personally never worried about it, for the reasons Gretchen mentioned. I do remember throwing things away though, if there was any off smell at all, or if I thought it was a little too elderly.
I think I was always most afraid that there wouldn't be enough food. One time we actually DID run out of food... I'd made a cold chicken salad with a whole chicken, grapes, etc. and a whole chicken was always enough to serve quite a few people! And this was only 4 people. But I think since it was the main ingredient and there wasn't much else with it, it just didn't make it! Oh, that was bad.
I managed to never poison anyone in Ukraine, America or anywhere, but I did cook everything to death. Wait... I take that back... don't leave any of those delicious tortes on the counter overnight - I did poison poor Mark the next morning as he devoured what was left for an exotic breakfast!
You're a grrrrreat hostess Josie, I want to stay at your place again.
I'm with Bonnie... don't worry too much about it. I say just do your best and yeah - cook the dickens out of anything you're not sure about. You are a good hostess, Josie.
Awww, the food sounds good, don't worry too much about food Josie!
I tried to send you an e-mail but it got bounced back and I got a server message that your e-mail box is full. Please clear some space!
Is it difficult to get from Borispol airport to your place? I'm looking at some flights that arrive at Borispol at 9:50 p.m., and that leave Borispol at 6:45 a.m. (So I imagine we have to be at the airport at 5:45 a.m.?) Are these times doable if we come visit or should I look for other flights?
For some reason, I always freak out about chicken. If I defrost it and the texture seems off, or it's a little bit slimy, or if it has any odor at all, I usually end up tossing it, company or no. It's just too unappetizing to contemplate eating it, even if I know it's probably fine. It's only happened to me a handful of times, but it feels like a lot because it seems so horribly wasteful to just dump it.
Wow. I must be a total deadhead. I don't think that much! I'm fairly certain I haven't poisoned anyone yet. I guess there's always a first time. It's hard to confess this in public (no one will ever eat at my house again!) but I have almost always cooked it and not looked back. But then it never smelled suspicious to me, had a funny texture, or anything else of that nature. I do have a pretty bad sense of smell, though!
It's nice that you're conscientious. And you're a great hostess.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Donna
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