“You’re a bit subversive, aren’t you?” said my husband with a twinkle in his eye when I told him about my plan to hold Bisquick Day.“Who? Moi?” I said in disbelief.
Well, maybe a little subversive. But I’ve got to say it stuck in my craw early in January when a West Coast blogger made a crack about Rachael Ray using Bisquick on another site.
Now, let me say that I am no big fan of Rachael Ray. I don’t even know if she uses Bisquick. But it was a slap in the face to a third blogger and a not-so-nice comment all around.
I don’t like that. I always cheer for the underdog. Don’t mess with the underdog in front of me.
(Let’s get one thing straight about Rachael Ray, too: I might not cook the way she does. Well, I might sometimes. But I would never say EVOO instead of extra-virgin olive oil. I used the term “yum,” but never “yum-o.” I give her credit for teaching people that good-tasting food need not be hard to make. End of subject.)
As for Bisquick, it has saved my derriere more times that I can recall. When I was a very poor college student, holding down several jobs and struggling to pay the rent and go to a Big Ten university, I always kept Bisquick on hand for the days before payday, when I had no money for baguettes or bagels. (Those were my heavy carb-eating days). I made biscuits and that got me through.
My husband makes dumplings with Bisquick so we always have some around. From time to time, I use it, especially for quick desserts.
March 15: Le Jour de Bisquick
In the comments following yesterday’s post, we’ve sort of joked about having Bisquick Day, a day when we make something using this 77-year-old product, photograph it and share the recipe with readers.
I hearby declare March 15 Bisquick Day. Your challenge, fellow bloggers, is to make something either up-market or down-home with Bisquick (or any other pre-made mix, even one you mix yourself).
If you want to participate, e-mail me by March 10 and I will prepare a post on March 15 that offers a link to your sites. Specify which category — up-market or down-home — your recipe falls into. You can share the name of your recipe if you like, or it can be a surprise.
As for moi, I plan to find some way to incorporate Bisquick into a classic French recipe.
Or, maybe I will make something I can stack and tie.
31 comments:
Oh my goodness, well, I guess if you must you must. Maybe I'll work on some homemade qeez-qweek...
I cannot resist a challenge, Tanna.
I think I should be able to participate.
I remember that comment, it was pretty stupid to say in that forum. I stopped reading that west coast person's blog after that.
Me, too, Paul. A pity.
I will count you in!
Love it, love it, love it! I'm in! It reminds me of what I called WOBAT on my blog: weekend obnoxious but amazingly tasty recipes. And I agree with you. There's a time and a place for everything in life. There's not reason to be a big snob. In my heart I love Paula Deen as much as I love Emeril or any of the other "real" chefs. They're just different with different styles and different styles of food. It's all about plenty of time and room in life to experience and enjoy everything.
I've seen some of your recipes, Glenna, they are so cool.
Good, I'll count you in, too.
Yeah, what ever happened that "Different strokes for different folks stuff?"
Paula Deen is cool. I'm really coming to love The Barefoot Contessa, too.
Ooooh la la...the bisquick chicken pot pie on the side of the box is delectable....
Mimi,
Doesn't Bisquick have trans fats in it? I don't keep any around so can't read the label. If it does, I'll have to bow out of this otherwise very fun sounding event.
And good for you for defending Ms. Ray. She's hard for me to watch, but she's sure done a lot to help change America's (bad) eating habits.
The stuff I use is called Bisquick Heart Smart, which is supposed to be lower in fats.
The regular stuff does have 1.5 gr per 1/3 cup. But I've never used a recipe that called for tons of the stuff. Maybe a half cup at a time?
All things in moderation.
I just want to add here that any pre-made baking mix is acceptable.
We're not touting Bisquick.
Just having some fun.
I love you Mimi. I have to admit this makes me laugh because I'm pretty sure Bisquick is one of the things I cooked with when I was a little kid. Everytime I see it I think of that. And I also think of this Michael Chabon article in Details about the time we started our blog that said the same thing about him. So carry on, I'm right with you!
You'll do one, H?
Too cool. You and W have some of the best pix around!
Many thanks! You won my heart when you did Tater Tots.
Only with Heinz!!!!
Well, Mimi, you have thrown down the gauntlet! I'll have to check my pantry and see if there's any Bisquick lurking about!
Remember, you can use a generic mix, low-fat mix, healtfy alternative or a home-made baking mix.
The idea is not to promote Bisquick but to debunk the myth that such things have no place in the kitchen. And to have fun.
Mimi- You rock! I love your attitude and your outlook on the underdogs-you know, I have found in France, some packaged flour based concoction, that I believe, was not too far from bisquick! Distant cousins!I will see if I can locate it again. Nevertheless,it is a staple in many Americans kitchens, still today.I'll find sometime to create a dish or two and send it your way. With all the bashing in the world today, I can't understand why I see these people and their shows on t v. and not the" bashers"- hummmmmm.A little respect is indeed due to some of these t.v. personalities who have daily shows-Many of the bloggers aren't scheduled yet-count me in........
Thanks, Jann. I am sure I saw something very similar in France, not at the specialty shops, of course, but at the supermarkets. I was amazed at all the convenience foods I saw.
I try not to use them, but sometimes. . .
Anyway, I heartiliy agree, what's the point of bashing someone for something? So much easier to accept differences!
Vive les differences!
Mimi I had to search for 'bisquick' to make sure I knew about the product- we have many similar here in UK. I will actually be away March 10-17 but would have loved to take up the challenge. Contrary to what my food bloggy daughter says/ may wish to remember we did use baking mixes such as scones, fairy cakes, and pizza base.
Should I manage to prepare something in advance to post on that day I will.
Very clever! I hate food blog snark!
Oh Chris, feel free to make something in advance. I'll bet you make some wonderful baked goodies.
This is gonna be fun!
I'm with you, Rachel! Down with snark. Are you in?
Oh how fun! I wholeheartedly agree Mimi. Some of the snobbery out here in the blogosphere is just mean-ness in a poor disguise. I happen to have something delightful in mind for Beez-Qweek Day, although I will likely use Jiffy Baking Mix instead.
Any kind is fine! There are many, many baking mixes out there.
In fact, I'll have to chaneg the name to baking mix day. LOL.
The Ides of March: Beware Baking Mix Day.
I use the lowfat Bisquick, it makes tasty and quick dumplings for my beef stew.
Mimi--I bought my Bisquik heart healthy today!!!! I did look at the other mixes but they all have transfats in them. Now I can go play!
We love Bisquick dumplings, Eileen.
Trans fats should be outlawed everywhere.
Good for you, Glenna! This will be fun!
Eileen, wanna play?
I'm in. I missed the whole RR/Bisquick blog discussion, but as a mom who sometimes has to throw things together on a budget, Bisquick (or the homemade mix equivalent) has been known to come in handy. Especially for those yummy cheddar biscuits. Love those!
I'm so glad you're in, Kristen!
Maybe, I have to see if it is on sale some where or if I can borrow some. I hate to buy a whole box if I am not going to use it again!
I'm going to post some links to homemade mix recipes later today. No need to buy a whole box!
I am way in! Confession: When I was a kid and there was nothing around to eat, I used to mix up Bisquick, a little sugar, and a little milk or water in a teacup . . . and just eat it. And a Bisquick coffee cake (recipe on side of box) may have been the first thing I ever cooked.
I will make what was my father's favorite: beef stew with Bisquick dumplings on top.
Oh, and—I was saying "yummo" long before Rachel Ray was a gleam in her mother's eye. But I don't mind her borrowing the word. :)
LOL, Lisa, I'm glad you're in!
The way I see it, participating does not mean an endorsement of a particular product.
It's more of a challenge — and it ought to be fun.
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