First the good stuff. It was surprising to see how simple it is to make candied ginger. Although, it is very easy to find candied ginger, making it probably is much better. And I do love to eat it. So, a plus!
I loved the scene with the oven cam shot when the gingerbread man popped his head in next to AB. The rest of the scene was so funny when Alton made the big gingerbread man and it came to life and ran into the street only to be crunched by a car. That was probably my favorite scene in the whole episode.
The ginger cookies are somewhat similar to the ones from "I'm Just Here for More Food," which I love. So I can say those cookies are probably just as good.
The ginger ale was also amazingly simple. I will be attempting this recipe without a doubt.
Okay, the not so favorite parts. There was something about the episode that just didn't win me over. I can't quiet put my finger what it was but something. A couple of things that stuck out:
Wouldn't a ginger grater be a unitasker? Can it grate garlic too or something else?
Seriously Alton, what's with the gadgets in this episode. I know the show typically has some funny and outrageous props, but either I wasn't in the mood to see them or there were too many in the episode. The laboratory pulverizer and vomitron were just a little over the top to me.
And using dried ginger, one more difficult to find item... great. I've had a hard time finding several of the spices used in AB's recipes. It makes me want to tell him to think about those of us who do not live in metropolitan areas where these things are readily available.
Overall the episode was good but I can't say it was a favorite. Maybe if I rewatch it several times. There were three nice recipes and I'm excited about making that ginger ale.
Sorry for the lack of scene pix, my tivo decided to tune to a non existent channel instead of FN. :(
Get the recipes from "Rise of the Rhizome."
I'm giving the episode 3 1/2 gingerbread men.
12 comments:
I have access to a foodie town (Charleston, SC) and I've never seen dried ginger. In fact, didn't even know such a critter existed.
AB mentioned it once in the fruitcake episode. But, its something I probably won't be able to find locally
Alton was this time and is usually always clear about heading onto the internet if you can't find some of his ingredients locally. Dried ginger yields hundreds of results on a quick "Google Shopping" search, and it (along with most everything spice-wise) can be purchased in bulk on eBay.
Hi, thanks for stopping by! :)
I know Alton mentions to buy spices and other things on the Internet. My quibble is that he often selects items where you have no other option but to purchase online.
I'm very leery of purchasing spice items from places like ebay because you can't see what you are getting and you don't know who you are dealing with. Its like the old saying "a buying a pig in a poke." Plus, say you want to make something using on the of spices, you can't just run down to the old mega-mart to pick it up. You have to order it and wait for it to be sent to you.
I will buy things from Pentzys and King Arthur flour online, but some times I wish Alton would be a little more aware that not everyone has these things available to them or wants to purchase online.
I can understand where you're coming from. I'm within a half-hour's drive of several Whole Foods so I should probably have some more perspective.
Personally, my main scruple with Alton is more with the machines than the ingredients. He nonchalantly directs his viewers to pull elaborate mixers and odd-shaped pans out of their cupboards.
Granted, I'm a novice in the kitchen - but it's still pretty funny.
Remember on some older episodes when Alton would be shopping at random stores for equipment, to better educate the viewer on what to look for? The funny skits with the Asian woman and what not.. do you think he cut those away to dedicate his full half hour to straight cooking? Those segments were helpful.
Regardless, I've been buying what I can along the way in efforts to 'Altonize' my kitchen.
Thanks for the welcome, by the way. I may be a fixture!
Hey Luke I certainly hope you do continue to read and make lots of comments! I love hearing everyone's perpective! I'll have to bump up the readership to 7 now! LOL
Your availablity to Whole Foods is something I'd love. There are none where I live. That lack of shopping selection often a big issue for me. This little conversation is making think of a post topic. Thanks!
You mentioned the gear/gadget selection, I think that may have been what I was missing in the ginger episode. He didn't go through why a ginger grater is needed.
I'm still "Altonizing" my kitchen too. :)
Glad I could help kickstart a new blog!
I just hopped over to your profile and noticed you live in WV. I actually lived there too for the better part of three years not too long ago. Half my time spent in Huntington and the other half in Fairmont. Have you been to the Mountain People's co-op in Morgantown? Lots of good bulk stuff there, but it is a shame there is no access to places like WF or CostPlus World Market. Beautiful part of the country though, I miss it.
That's to cool :)
Yep, pretty scenery but lacking in other areas. I'm in the Charleston area. We have an Amish bulk foods place. I get a lot of spices there.
I rarely go to Morgantown, but if I go up that way I'll look for it. Thanks for the tip. :)
I'm a little late on watching Rise of the Rhizome. I totally loved the episode. Unfortunately, I have never cooked with ginger. I totally love the taste, but I just didn't know what do to with that freaky looking thing. :) Knowledge is power!
My husband is a super gingersnap junkie and now I have been given inspiration on a Valentine's day gift for him! yay!
hello,
big fan here too. One thing I didn't quite get was how Alton grated the ginger. He used a micro-plane grater and a sheet of cling wrap, and the grated ginger was conveniently left on the cling wrap. Did anyone get that? I tried it, but didn't work quite well. Any details on that trick would be appreciated. Thanks, Franco
(PS. making the ginger ale)
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