Where Can I Get One?

Ever since the last episode of Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt (the one where he crashes and breaks his clavicle), the internet chatrooms have been clamoring for the lunchbox cooker he picks up at a truckstop and cooks a meatloaf in while driving through Los Angeles.

Well, you can pick up a Koolatron 12 volt Portable Stove at Roadtrucker.com for $29.99, the cheapest price I could find online. It plugs into a 12 volt cigarette lighter and cooks and warms your food to 300°.

Roadtrucker.com in fact carries a complete line of 12 volt portable cooking appliances for your vehicle.

How Unethical is Your Supper?

Joanna Blythman examines a short list of unethical foodstuffs in an article for The Observer, but not in your typical fashion. The only item in this list that I have in my normal diet is the Pink Lady Apple:

A hybrid of Golden Delicious and Lady Williams, the UK's fastest-growing apple variety is colonising our shelves. But it sets a sinister precedent - the first trademarked or patented apple. So although it has been created using material from the natural world's genetic 'commonwealth', the hybrid is now the property of a profit-driven company. Anyone wanting to plant Pink Lady has to pay for the privilege of growing it. Critics say this is 'bio-piracy', the privatisation of our planet's biodiversity.

Corpse Flower Stuffed with Herbed Cheese

Stinky | Originally uploaded by Lady Macabea.

This recipe* was created in honor of Baby, the Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) that is blooming at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Ingredients:
1 Corpse Flower
10 lbs of ricotta, drained
10 lbs of goat cheese
4 cups of minced chervil
4 cups of minced chives
4 cups of minced flat-leaf parsley
2 cups of minced shallots
24 lemons
16 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour
8 cups of cornstarch
3 dozen eggs, separated
5 gallons of cold beer
20 gallons of vegetable oil (for frying)
salt and pepper

Method:
Using a deep-fry thermometer heat the vegetable oil in an extra large deep fryer to 375°

Sift the flour and cornstarch into a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the beer and chilled egg whites together. Stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Add salt to taste. There should still be some lumps and that's ok. Place the batter in the fridge to chill.

In another large bowl mix the goat and ricotta cheeses with the egg yolks, minced shallots and minced herbs. Add the juice of 16 lemons. Season with salt and pepper.

Trim and wash the Corpse Flower blossom. Pat dry with bath towels. Pry open the blossom and gently remove the stamen. Discard the stamen. Spoon the cheese mixture inside the blossom and gently twist the top of the blossom to close. Secure with toothpicks as needed.

Pour the chilled batter into your bathtub and stir it once. Lay the stuffed Corpse Flower blossom into the batter and roll it around making sure to coat all sides. Carefully lower the battered blossom into the hot oil. Fry until crisp and golden brown, about 55 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with kosher salt while still warm and garnish with any remaining fresh herbs and lemons wedges.

Makes 220 appetizer servings.

*This recipe has not been tested; results may vary.