The Cheese Stands Alone... Because It Stinks.

I don't even know where to start. Really. Scott and I had decided to try some of the less appealing recipes in the book so that toward the end of the project there would still be some pleasurable dinners. Um, yeah.

Toasted Walnut and Roquefort Salad with Toasted Walnut Dressing and Lemon-Roasted Turkey Breast with Couscous Stuffing. Here are things about this dinner that were gross:

1. Blue Cheese can be used in the place of Roquefort (they are pretty darn close to the same thing). They are both gross. There is a certain "gangrenous foot" quality to this cheese that makes any dressing I've ever dipped wings in a complete lie.

2. Walnuts are not my favorite nut, especially when on a salad... I like veggies in my salad, pine nuts if there are nuts at all. Walnuts have ruined many dishes (mostly desserts) for me.

3. Raisins are also not my favorite thing, and have also ruined many things I've wanted to enjoy. Um, I think Joon in "Benny & Joon" said it best, "They are humiliated grapes." Well, the stuffing had raisins in it.

4. For some reason I completely despise fruit and meat together. Lemon chicken? Gross. Hence, lemon-roasted turkey? I don't know people, is it just me??? Lemon is for pie or tequila. NOT meat.

Here are some good things:

1. The Jamie Oliver shaker thingie was awesome for making the dressing... it crushed up the garlic and the walnuts and made it uniform, which really surprised me... and relieved me, since I own neither a food processor, nor a blender.

2. If you skipped the outside where the lemon rub was, the turkey tasted like turkey...

3. Grated carrots in couscous? Yum.

Here are some interesting bits of dialogue from the evening:

Renee: Scott, come and take a bite of this gross salad so I can throw it out.

Scott: Okay... hey, what's this dressing?

Renee: Why, do you like it?

Scott: No, it's just oil... (takes a big bite of salad, tastes blue cheese and searches desperately for his can of Ginger Ale)

Renee: So?

Scott: Well, the turkey tastes like turkey. And the couscous is good, because I'm actually not a couscous fan, but with all the stuff in it, it doesn't taste like couscous.

Renee: Maybe we should have chips and salsa on hand, like, you know, all the time, just in case.

Scott: I think so too...

There you have it, folks. Now what? My very smart friend at work says not to waste food and money if you know you absolutely hate the ingredient, just substitute it. She says this is economically sound and in no way compromises the integrity of the experiment. Out of financial necessity and the desire to make food that does not make us barf, I agree.... to an extent. Chocolate chips instead of walnuts in zucchini bread? Yes... Ginger Ale not included.