Macaroni Pizza

If I were to make a list of things I love about the internets, it would start like this:

1. If it doesn't Google, it probably doesn't exist.
2. At least one other person on the internet knows what you are talking about, no matter what you are talking about.

While avoiding responsibility (thesis: unfinished, house: a damn wreck), I found this awesome post on Chowhound - "Recipes You've Never Heard of Outside Your Family".

I expected to read some crazy shit, but instead, I encountered many of my family's own "unique" recipes. It was really interesting to read posters' descriptions of their family's wacky eats (always assuming they were an isolated experience) and then for other posters to write about the same foods. Also, people frequently talked about these family recipes as "comfort foods," and craving them when they feel ill or depressed.

In summary: food rocks. It makes me sad that people don't care as much about food as they used to, and maybe as much as they should. Food shouldn't be boiled down to carb counts and Weight Watchers points. Food isn't just nutrients; it is culture condensed onto a plate.

In addition to some of the dishes listed in that discussion, my family made this thing called macaroni pizza. Basically, the pizza crust is replaced with a bed of cooked macaroni, and topped as usual. It is super delicious, and I imagine it would be just as tasty mixed together in a pot (though we ate it cut into squares). Anyway, read through the looong thread to a) feel nostalgic about your own family foods, and b) find some awesome recipes. I just found Chowhound today, but I think we are in love.

P.S. Unrelated photo = The Be Good Tanyas. I started listening to them because my favorite musician (I really think if I had to pick one, it would be her), Jolie Holland, was once in the band. Very few of their songs are what I would call happy, but don't let that stop you.

Jolie Holland represents a turning point in my music collection. Before her, if you asked if I liked country music or bluegrass or anything except white-boy indie rock, I would have scoffed. Country, WTF? But now... at least 10% of my iTunes library consists of stuff with more than just a little twang. When I was a teenager, I sat next to this country-praising punk rocker at a Fiona Apple concert. I told him I didn't like country, and he told me it would change when I got older. Thanks, dude. You were right.

P.P.S. On the same note, check out some tracks by Rocky Votolato. I used to have one song of his a long time ago, but I'm really into him right now. His shit is heartbreaking. I think I've finally gotten over being ashamed of The South.