Food and Ireland

So yesterday when I was talking to mom and she thought it might be fun to know what I am eating and drinking for a little under four months. I know certain people have a special interest in this having lived with me in the past and consequently knowing how rarely I cook for myself. In all seriousness, this has been a topic of conversation for some of my friends, wondering how I will actually survive. In addition, I don't have any of my beloved Kraft products to fall back on here. To sum it up, it will be an interesting four months.

For those wondering, I have used the stovetop three times to boil water but as can probably be guessed I have gone to my old standbys. The big three. Burger King. Subway. And the only one that sounds like it belongs in Ireland even though the first franchise was founded in San Bernandino - McDonalds.

I know some people like to go to McDonalds in other countries to see what special food options they have. I would say this is the reason I have gone to fast food restaurants here but I think convenience is more the reason.

For those wondering, here is how they stack up to their American counterparts, ranked lowest to highest.

3. Burger King - I ordered what was termed "chicken balls." I thought seven would be sufficient until I found out I would be getting breaded chicken the size of marbles.

2. Subway. I went for my standard meatball sub. Pro's: they gave me one more meatball than usual in the United States. Cons: They shoved the meatball over so they weren't in a straight line. It seems a small issue but I know some people (person) who would be annoyed by this. Fun facts: they sell prawn cocktail chips and the Subway has the same exact smell as the Subway in North Philly.

1. McDonalds. I ordered chicken mcnuggets and fries. The cashier apologized because "it was a little busy in here but if I told him where I was sitting, he could see if he could bring it to me." I said I was fine waiting, and he goes "Are you sure? Because it might be THREE minutes." I've never had anyone apologize to me before because it might take them three minutes to cook my food.

Some of you might be wondering (or probably not) what are the indigenous foods to Cork. According to the tourist book I have picked up they include the following:

1. Drisheen - a type of blood sausage or pudding made with a mixture of sheep's and beef blood. Heat it in milk or water, skin it, pepper and serve with bread and butter. Otherwise sliced and fried. Believed to be good for invalids, people with delicate stomach and no teeth! (Exclamation point added by them - I have a feeling the sick people feel a whole lot better real quick after eating it.)

2. Tripe - beef tripe is the most common and is the first stomach or rumen of an animal. It is cut into small pieces and cooked in milk for up to two hours. Served in a sauce with milk and onions, well seasoned with salt and pepper and sometimes drisheen.

3. Pig Offal - Bodice is the rib cage sold as cured or salted for boiling; the skirt is the diaphragm and is stewed with pig's kidneys, Crubeens are pigs trotters - boiled for three hours and popular as snack foods, often eaten cold at football or hurling matches.

4. Spiced Beef - traditionally eaten at Christmas. Marinated or cured in salt water with a mixture of herbs and spices such as all spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Then boiled.

5. Buttered Eggs- Buttering was a traditional method of preserving eggs and keeping them fresh for up to 6 months and sometimes longer. Couldn't be eaten during Lent, plentiful during summer but not so much during winter, so buttering became a way of preserving them.

6. Battlebord - Dried salted ling, a large Atlantic fish of the cod family. Cheap and plentiful food and often eaten during Lent and on Fridays. In its preserved state, it is stiff and hard. Soaked overnight to re-hydrate it and then boiled in water or milk with onions. Not as popular today as it was associated with fasting and penance.

Sooo if I'm daring enough I will try one of the above mentioned foods, any votes on which one?