Escapism Cooking, In One Sense

When I got The Art of Escapism Cooking by Mandy Lee, from our library (this is not a book you want to buy without checking it out first) I thought, my word, what amazing looking recipes!  What wonderful photography!

Then, I realized that these recipes were for very involved, not to mention strange, concoctions.  Pages of instruction and hard to come by ingredients, many incorporating unique sauces, which needed to be created first, before using, in meals entitled for instance, Spelt Jianbing with Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Clams Over Oatmeal, Chewy Layered Paratha, Korean Pork Belly Tacos with Pear on Sticky Rice Tortillas, and Semi-Instant Risotto with Pork Fat Crispy Rice Cereal.

This is not merely fusion cooking people, but more like Double Extreme Fusion!  And Lee gives her readers a few tirades on that subject, for example her rant on pizza: 

"Pizza has the potential to be Italy's ramen, a democratic arena of creativity, progressivism, and tolerance, if only the Italians could just chill the fuck out about it.  Is it really pizza?  Who says so, and who cares?  Neither the tomato itself nor baking stuff on top of a fermented dough was an original Italian idea, and if the Italians from a few hundred years ago were dumb enough to give a shit about that, then there wouldn't even be such a thing as pizza today.  All the dishes we eat today were fusion at some point in history.  And to say that this progression should stop and freeze at an arbitrary point for the sake of national pride is both dangerous and dumb-sounding."

From the Publishers:

"In this inventive and intensely personal cookbook, the blogger behind the award-winning ladyandpups.com reveals how she cooked her way out of an untenable living situation, with more than eighty delicious Asian-inspired dishes with influences from around the world.
For Mandy Lee, moving from New York to Beijing for her husband’s work wasn’t an exotic adventure—it was an ordeal. Growing increasingly exasperated with China’s stifling political climate, its infuriating bureaucracy, and its choking pollution, she began “an unapologetically angry food blog,” LadyandPups.com, to keep herself from going mad.

 Mandy cooked because it channeled her focus, helping her cope with the difficult circumstances of her new life. She filled her kitchen with warming spices and sticky sauces while she shared recipes and observations about life, food, and cooking in her blog posts. Born in Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, she came of age food-wise in New York City and now lives in Hong Kong. Her food reflects the many places she’s lived. This entertaining and unusual cookbook is the story of how “escapism cooking”—using the kitchen as a refuge and ultimately creating delicious and satisfying meals—helped her crawl out of her expat limbo."

Did I mention, she is a very entertaining writer?  There is tongue in cheek humor, and an incandescent way of describing the tastes of various foods. However, it was still a bit difficult finding something I truly wanted to make, and when I did, the instructions were off-putting.  Then, among her exotic sauces, there was one that seemed useful, as the main ingredient was growing in our garden: Makrut Lime Leaf Oil (Kaffir Lime to some). Only 2 ingredients needed, the lime leaves and oil.
Simple instructions: Puree well.

Then there was Lee's intriguing Semi-Instant Risotto with Pork Fat Crispy Rice Cereal, mentioned above, with the advantage of using day old rice. It actually turned out to be quite good, and Bob liked it as well.  A salty, crunchy, bacony topping contrasts beautifully with the creamy, cheesy risotto.  I used the rice blend we had left over, one I normally prepare - white Basmati, brown and wild.  Just used a bit more broth and cooked a little longer.  Also, I subbed in thick cut bacon for the guanciale.

 I served this dish as a dinner course, with a salad of green beans and slivered toasted almonds on the side.
All of which led to a final position of wanting to buy this book. For perusing on bad days.  When trying to find something to take my mind off reality. Something different, outside the normal.. Escapism in other words.

I'll share my thoughts and food with Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking event and with Heather on her February Foodies Read Challenge. Check out some good recipes and books on both sites.