Since I have given up trying to resist the awesome power of the Rachael Ray Vortex, I find myself shopping for all kinds of unusual ingredients. What cute little Rachael fails to tell her viewers is this: 1) You might have to drive 83 miles to find broccolini, and 2) for what you spend on one meal, you could feed the entire population of Papua New Guinea.
Naturally, I learned this the hard way, which is the only way I learn things. My son, Mr. Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget, enticed me into watching Rachael make her Cheese and Carmelized Onion Pizza. We both decided that it looked pretty durn good, so on my next trip to Dallas, I purchased the ingredients.
Instead of using gorgonzolla cheese, I opted to get some of Rachael's staple, parmigiano reggiano. Here is the actual 1.5 pound wedge that I purchased.
Now, study that photo carefully and see if you can guess exactly how much that innocent-looking block of cheese cost me. I'll wait....
Ready for the answer? Here it is:
Yes, you read that right. $10.27 per pound, for a grand total of $16.74. After I recovered from nearly fainting into the refrigerated cheese display, my next thought was that this cheese must have some kind of magic powers. I rubbed the shrink-wrap vigorously, hoping that the Cheese Genie would appear and grant me three wishes. Then I wondered if eating this cheese would, fairy-godmother-like, turn me into the Pixley-Hooterville Dairy Princess. (Neither one has happened, so far.)
You have to wonder about the cows which supplied the milk for this stuff. I'm speculating that they live in an air-conditioned barn; that each cow has her own iPod with Pavarotti on the playlist; that they're hand-fed organic buttercups; and that they drink Perrier bottled water.
Well, I have to admit the pizza was pretty durn good, even if it did cost more than NASA's budgeted amount for rocket fuel. But, Husband, if you're reading this, I have an idea. Next time I need parmigiano reggiano, let's book a flight to Italy, tour the wine fields, eat pasta until we explode, and pick up a 40-pound wheel of cheese to bring home. It's got to be cheaper than getting the stuff here in north Texas. Oh, and that $8 cigar you wanted? Go ahead and get it. I won't say a word.
Now you've made me homesick for when we lived in Germany. My father is Italian and I love cooking Italian, just ask any of my guests who typically get homemade lasagna, fettucini alfredo or chicken parmesan when they came to dinner.
The cheese is what makes the dish, but the BEST parmesan cheese is wonderful eaten all by itself!!! When we took one of our trips to Italy, my requirement was to go to Parma Italy - where Parmesan cheese is made. I was in heaven, and told hubby he could leave me there and come pick me up before time to move back to the states. The reason quality parmesan is so expensive is because it is aged for a very long time. That is what makes the cheese more flavorful. When we went to Parma we bought cheese that had been aged 36 months...and it was about 38 dollars for that one block...but it was SO worth it.
I totally miss it now! The stuff you get in the store is good, but NOTHING like what we bought in Parma. Even hubby couldn't resisit putting it on everything and eating it plain...
Anyways, if you really want to do a cooking tour here is one I tried to save money for...One site I found had a wish list, you sign up and send a list to all your friends, then they can donate money to the your cooking experience!!!
http://www.theinternationalkitchen.com/parma.htm
Now, you've made me hungry and I'm off to the kitchen to slice off a bit of the block I have in my fridge! Marie
I doe-know...
9:01 PM, Mar. 6, 2007
.. Posted by Anonymous
I was thinking about stopping being Dutch and becoming Italian.... larger than life, confident...
but I'm just too frugal and my eyes are blue. ~sigh~
if cheese cost that much I'll just stick to tulips.
They don't taste good but they make Spring look so good.[ I'm ready for Spring].
LadyMother
That's some cheese! Perhaps you should find another mentor for cooking. I've never watched Rachel but she evidently isn't feeding growing kids, who can eat their weight in pizza.
....that the Pope puts on his nachos. I can just see the little Italian milk maids with velvet mittens singing arias as they empty the udders of these pseudo-celebrity cows. If this is what you purchased for the cheese on your foo-foo pizza, next you will tell us that the onions were from given massages on their private jet from their origin in the Peruvian outback, no?
(I can send you a coupon for a 2-gallon jug of bright orange nacho cheese juice at Stuffmart. It will cost you a buck ninety-nine and tastes good on everything.)
Sorry to burst your bubble.
1:15 PM, Mar. 7, 2007
.. Posted by SnowWolf
Thats one pricey pizza.
Unfortunately, that imaginary home for those cows only exists in your mind.
In reality, the cows are all packed as tight as possible together, being trampled by their neighbors, slipping on the grime covered floor, being injected with dangerous hormone drugs and living their entire lives inside this hell-house without ever seeing a ray of sunlight or feeling a single breath of fresh air.
This is called a factory farm and its where the majority of America's dairy produce comes from.
But there is hope, there are still small local farms that sell safe, humanly raised meat and dairy. Organizations such as NoNais.org are fighting day and night against this concentration of our food supply, while supporting small farms.
Its your own right to know where your food comes from.
...please notice that the label says "NEW JERSEY." So you see, it just supports the fact that all high quality, rare, and desirable things come from that Garden State.. present company (and you) included. Aren't you proud????
I enjoy watching Rachel's show on occasion, but didn't realize how expensive it could be to cook her stuff. Yikes. Makes me wonder what my relatives did with those Rachel Ray cookbooks I got them for Christmas!
As I was cracking up over your post, my son came in the room. He wanted to read it too. Then we read the next one. He wanted to keep reading your blog, but he had to go to bed. He loved your posts.
Rachel Ray
9:43 PM, Mar. 7, 2007
.. Posted by Anonymous
I have been know on occasion to watch Rachel Ray....and when I want to try a recipe of hers it's like searching the most foreign grocery stores sometimes......
I loved this post!
Blessings
Crystal (www.candlebabe299.blogspot.com)
Party
10:53 PM, Mar. 7, 2007
.. Posted by Anonymous
I found you thru the Party. Love your blog. I would have died too if Cheese cost that much!
I also don't care about the decline in napkins ;o(
And I too LOVE Apolo! Isn't he the best! And he's from my hometown, so we're really big on him. Well, actually, I live near his hometown. So I know all about him.
Esther
http://www.crownedwithlaurel.blogspot.com
I don't understand the "Rachael Ray Vortex." I've heard of it, seen the books, seen theChikin-in-a-Biskit crackers with her picture on the box, and even seen her on YouTube. But I have yet to understand the mystique.
Real parmigiano reggiano cheese is one of the few things we have indulged on, but never for pizza. It's hard and salty, great for snacking on. And a little goes a long way.
