Fat Enders

[secondwind]

Well actually, it was more than fun. There have been consequences. You know that bit in Amadeus where Wolfie and Salieri are eating some white gooey stuff, and Wolfie raves about it, and Salieri says it's made of cream cheese, sugar, and rum?

Well, I just tried an experiment.
Ingredients:
100 grams (half a tub) of Philadelphia Extra Light cream cheese: 110 calories (only 4 grams of fat).
Artifical sweetener to taste (say 2 teaspoons): 0 calories
Whisky to taste (say half a measure? It's up to you): 27 calories

Total calories 137.

Put cheese in bowl. Sprinkle sweetener on. Add whisky. Mix thoroughly. Put something by Mozart in the player. Take very small teaspoon and begin to eat in small spoonfuls.

It is ambrosia, my friends. Even if you eat the whole lot yourself (and you will want to), you've only eaten the same number of calories as there are in a slice of bread. It has half the calories of a Mars bar and is at least twice as delicious. As a real treat, as something to satisfy the aching sweet tooth yet which won't make any serious inroads into the calorie counting, this may prove to be my most powerful secret weapon. Though not so secret now, of course.

Hm, I've seen Amadeus at least 2 or 3 times . . . how'd I miss that recipe?  Anyway, thanks!  I'll pick up the needed supplies at the store today, then pick something out of the Big Box O' Mozart, and have a fun evening!  Dave, I'll bet any whiskey will do--probably no need to go for the high priced stuff.  I wonder how rum would be?  I wonder about the addition of a little cocoa powder. . . I wonder how it would taste on fruit? 

[Elgarian]

I wonder about the addition of a little cocoa powder. . . I wonder how it would taste on fruit? 

These exciting experiments all lie ahead of us. I'd recommend in the first instance, though, the simple three-ingredient standard recipe, a la Wolfie, for something close to the authentic Amadeus experience. From then on, who knows where this might lead us ....? The addition of chocolate may take us closer to Beethoven; fruit might lead to Debussy. Musical sweet-gastronomy starts here.

[MN Dave]

Doesn't matter. I'd have used rum (like Salieri) if I'd had any, but it was great with my whisky alternative. I used Famous Grouse, because I had some. (I don't think I'd want to use my single malts in this way!)

What about raspberry vodka?

[Elgarian]

Just a footnote. The texture is an important aspect of the experience, so go easy on the whisky - you don't want the stuff to go all runny. It should retain a stiff texture, like ice cream.

[Elgarian]

What about raspberry vodka?

Well, each to his own, Dave.  

[MN Dave]

You're saying that won't work?

By the way, I stole your recipe and posted it elsewhere on the Internet. 

[MN Dave]

This is sort of a make your own cheesecake type o' deal?

[Elgarian]

You're saying that won't work?

No. I'm saying it will be ... different. (It may taste somewhat of raspberries, for instance.)

By the way, I stole your recipe and posted it elsewhere on the Internet.  

1. It's not my recipe, it's Salieri's.
2. I have suspected for some time that you had an evil twin.

This is sort of a make your own cheesecake type o' deal?

Well personally, I don't think it's anything like cheesecake. But I've never had cheesecake with whisky in it, so who knows?

[MN Dave]

Well personally, I don't think it's anything like cheesecake. But I've never had cheesecake with whisky in it, so who knows?

I'm no cook. I was guessing. Anyway, thanks again!

[Elgarian]

Anyway, thanks again!

Wait till you've tried it Dave. It's possible that one man's ambrosia is another's yuk.

[MN Dave]

Yes, if you use the wrong composer in your recipe, I can see yuk happening.

[Elgarian]

Yes, if you use the wrong composer in your recipe, I can see yuk happening.

If you were wanting to listen to Elgar, you'd need to add a few spoonfuls of Earl Grey tea. The recipe is flexible enough to accommodate these variations. (Enigma Variations, that is.) For Sibelius, mix in a little powdered snow and pine sap.

[karlhenning]

What about raspberry vodka?

Didn't Carrie Underwood sing about a guy like you?

[CD]

I am perhaps not the only one that finds Karl making a reference to Carrie Underwood somewhat shocking. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, I am hoping earnestly that I won't be joining your club soon.

After 40+ years as a cigar smoker, I quit last week, and smoked my last hanger-on last night. All well and good, since it likely wasn't the best thing for me, and no doubt something I truly enjoyed, but good is good.

Here's the potential problem though; I quit once before, back in the middle '70's, and managed to gain 25# in the first 6 weeks. Well, I can't afford another 25#, so I am taking all due precautions to avoid, including stopping by here on occasion to let you all berate me. I'll let you know how it's going, and if I am slipping over the ledge, you give me hell!

[secondwind]

Well, I am hoping earnestly that I won't be joining your club soon.

After 40+ years as a cigar smoker, I quit last week, and smoked my last hanger-on last night. All well and good, since it likely wasn't the best thing for me, and no doubt something I truly enjoyed, but good is good.

Here's the potential problem though; I quit once before, back in the middle '70's, and managed to gain 25# in the first 6 weeks. Well, I can't afford another 25#, so I am taking all due precautions to avoid, including stopping by here on occasion to let you all berate me. I'll let you know how it's going, and if I am slipping over the ledge, you give me hell!

No, we're a friendly group, we won't give you hell, we'll just give your support .  I remember reading (when I was quitting cigarettes) that tobacco interferes with digestion in some way, so smokers can eat more than nonsmokers.  The sad truth for you:  giving up tobacco means you need to eat LESS, not the same amount, to avoid gaining weight.  Oh, and exercise more!  Still, I'm glad you've kicked the cigar habit--cancer of the lip is no fun!  Congratulations on taking a difficult step.

[Elgarian]

No, we're a friendly group, we won't give you hell, we'll just give your support .  I remember reading (when I was quitting cigarettes) that tobacco interferes with digestion in some way, so smokers can eat more than nonsmokers.  The sad truth for you:  giving up tobacco means you need to eat LESS, not the same amount, to avoid gaining weight.  Oh, and exercise more!

It's all true, Gurn, alas. When I stopped smoking I put on a stone without even trying.

But here, we will feed you delicacies worthy of Mozart himself that will not add to your weight. (See above: my fiendishly delicious low-cal alternative to the dish Salieri gives Wolfie in Amadeus).

(Has anyone else tried it yet? Or did people hate it but are just being polite?)

[MN Dave]

(Has anyone else tried it yet? Or did people hate it but are just being polite?)

I haven't tried it though I've thought about it.

I have to get mad at it again and shed some of these pounds. 

[Elgarian]

I haven't tried it though I've thought about it.

Well, that's nearly as good. (At least, that's what it says here, in my copy of the Boys' Book of Ascetism).

[secondwind]

(Has anyone else tried it yet? Or did people hate it but are just being polite?)

Okay, Elgarian, at last I have tried it!  I mixed it up according to directions, light cream cheese, sweetener, and whiskey (Kentucky sour mash). I'm calling it Salieri's Sweet and Sour-Mash Dip and I'm going to serve it with fresh fruit tomorrow.  I expect it to be a smashing success! 

Unfortunately, my exercise plan has been temporarily derailed by a cold/cough/flu/whatever that I've had for the past week.  I finally went to the doctor yesterday, who gave me prescription cough medicine (oh yea, the good stuff!), and told me to stay home for the remainder of the week and rest.  I hope to be able to run again next week, but at the moment there's no point in trying--anything requiring a deep breath brings on a coughing fit.  Sigh.  Even though I haven't had much appetite since I've been sick, I can feel pounds and flab creeping back on!