Free The Animal

Well I suppose I shouldn't chastise the host of the radio show even before I'm on. See the 10:30 slot. It's a one-on-one I'm told with Rob Breakenridge. I suppose I'm going to have to work in my criticism of the "caveman" style, if I might.

So I was very pleased 'round noonish to get an email from Whitney Deane of CHQR Radio, AM770 out of Alberta, Canada. Doubtless fruit of the Maclean's piece, I'm just really grateful to be able to take part in this new semi-movement in this way.

Food for thought: how many of you saw this coming, I mean really, potentially big? My answer is that I'd not have gotten involved in its promotion, had I not seen it coming. Given the failures of nearly all diets and the only partial success of others (and major part of partial for Atkins and similar, of course), wasn't it time for something a bit radical...different, and that smacks of both egalitarian for the commies and individualist for the fascists? I jest, of course.

At any rate, before I get started -- and I'm a bit bouncing off walls right now 'cause I want to do damn good -- you might be able to catch the live stream via the website, here: CLICK. It should start at 9:30 PST or shortly thereafter.

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~ Very interesting post by Dr. Stephan: The Paleolithic Mind. I think it's worthy to consider that just as we evolved on certain foods we evolved in certain social structures. To my mind, individualist, anti-authoritarian philosophy is an attempt in part to regain our evolved social heritage, just as the various forms of "The Paleo Diet" constitute an attempt to return to our evolved metabolic milieu. Here's the comment I dropped, edited somewhat.

Wow Stephan, you've just laid out many of the reasons I consider myself anarchist, "politically," if one can even consider HGs to practice "politics" in the way modern societies do. I've often said that we evolved to account for the values and actions of about 30 individuals or so and that each person is integral to the whole group and not merely a cog in the machine. Each individual has real influence over others.

Of course, I choose to live in modern society and submit to the diktats of the Nomenclatura, but it certainly helps to understand the source of the stress it causes. [...]

Some practical ways that I escape some of the stress of being subservient to the mass collective:

- I don't vote, guiltlessly and proudly so. Not interested in getting my 1/270 millionth say in my own affairs.

- I never seek out "the news" on TV, radio or in print. The most I do is listen to NPR now and then because of their deeper exploration of the issues they cover.

On the latter point, this has been a huge daily benefit for the last couple of years....

~ Quite coincidentally I'm sure, Mark Sisson touches on some of these same social issues: Are Humans Hard Wired For A Limited Social Circle?

A British anthropologist named Robin Dunbar figured the same principle ought to apply to all primates – human and non-human alike. In 1992, using the predictive value of neocortex size, he was able to accurately predict average group size for thirty-six species of monkeys and apes. He then followed suit (abstract) for human primates and came up with a human maximum “mean group size” of 150 and an “intimate circle size” of 12. Hypothesis in hand, he then compared his prediction with observed human group sizes, paying special attention to the anthropological literature and reports from hunter-gatherer societies. The homo sapien brain developed around 250,000 years ago, so looking at hunter-gatherers was his best bet for approximating the social behaviors of Paleolithic ancestors.

I'd add just one tidbit to Mark's excellent post (and make sure to think about the implications of the new social Media Mark brings to light) and that is that before the advent of agriculture with stored foodstuffs like grain and the breeding of livestock, there was no government as we know it because there was literally nothing to steal. Of course, that doesn't mean that wealth production and accumulation is a bad thing. Indeed, is now an integral part of our continuing evolution. But how about theft?

~ Here's a group of remote people racking up some serious longevity. Apparently with more and more contact with civilization and its ways come shorter lifespans.

~ A genetic test to determine your ideal diet? Sounds somewhat plausible, I suppose. But I doubt it would work for all people in all situations. How about Real Food? Do you need to test your genes to know it'll probably be good for you, far better than processed foods?

~ Suppose you were going to start a magazine devoted to diabetics and their needs. What would you call it? ...Oh, I know: SWEET. And some of you wonder why I blow my stack...

~ Finally, my paid article in DRW Magazine went out to 40,000 print subscribers in February. The online version is here (pg. 14, though I look to be somewhat outclassed by the ad on pg. 15). Here's a PDF of the actual article which gives an overview of the paleo way as a lead-in to the no-soap/poo hoopla.

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Well one post I've been drafting just won't die, in terms of getting the thing finished and just this morning new info from a favorite source to incorporate. In the meantime, some meals. First, after Sunday's take at the Farmer's Market I got right to work on a brisket in the crock pot, along with two bulbs of fennel, a half onion, 1/2 cup of beef stock & some salt & pepper. On high for about six hours. Then I just stirred it and it broke all apart. Notably, it took up all of the liquid from the veggies, the stock and it's own layer of fat on top. It was phenomenal. As always, click for the higher quality images.

Brisket & Sweet Potato

In the background is sweet potato mash. I just backed the potatoes and then scooped them out into a pan of melted butter, heavy cream (coconut milk might be good), lots of cinnamon and about 1/2 tsp of thyme. I must say that the fennel was a welcome addition to the brisket. A couple of weeks ago we had dinner with some friends who did a similar dish (no onions, the core reason for the fennel instead), so thanks to Kevin & Joseph. The smell in the house as that crock is going is quite special.

I emailed my friend Diana yesterday about doing scallops sous vide and she'd been doing them at 135F for 40 minutes. Then I came across a number of Google hits with Europeans -- French mostly -- doing them at 49-50C. So, being adventurous, I decided on 50 (122F) for 40 minutes. Also, there was this idea about giving them an ice bath immediately after the cooking, then toast them up in hot butter. That's what I did. Beatrice loved them so much she ate more than I did, and took the three leftovers to work. I like scallops a lot, but they are far from my favorite seafood. Nonetheless, very good and the texture was quite different, sort of a firm gelatin or custard inside.

Scallops Sous Vide

Then, with a simple leafy green salad with EVOO, lemon, some salt & pepper.

Twice Cooked Scallops

Bon Appetit!

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First of all, I'm going to be blogging about a crock pot brisket & fennel. Most amazing smell as this is cooking, ever. Can't believe it. See the last post on grassfed beef.

So as I'm enjoying that smell, perhaps Rotor & Nanuka ("Nuke") are too because they're so friendly. Perhaps they're more interested in plate dregs than chicken jerky or dried liver pieces.

A coupla pics. Click for the large.

Mee & Doggies

More of Me Doggies

Maybe some rock later. No guarantee.

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I recently got an email from a reader asking that if grassfed beef was out of the question budget wise, whether a paleo dietary style still ought to include meat. Of course, a resounding yes. I think that most people will gravitate to higher quality once they experience the results of real food eating to the exclusion of junk.

So, get started and the rest will follow. Had I told my parents a couple of years ago that it had to be grassfed or nothing, they would have probably figured this dietary style was a bit too pricey for them, too exclusive and elitist. Now they go out of their way (including a 100 mile drive yesterday) to get grassfed beef. Once you know that this is the way you will eat for life, it's pretty easy to make it economical. We're talking high-value dense nutrition. In terms of nutrient density, paleo is cheap compared to the empty, sugar, flour, crap laden junk in boxes & packages.

I just got back from the Campbell Farmer's Market. Wow, it was packed to the hilt and it's a big market. Amongst a few other things like fresh sauerkraut (smoked jalapeno!), a shot of kraut juice, three fresh oysters on the half shell with my preferred vinegar & lemon rather than cocktail sauce (eaten on the spot), and some very fresh scallops I'm going to do sous vide, I stocked up on some grassfed beef from Prather Ranch. Click for the larger image.

Prather Ranch Grassfed Beef

Three pounds of 85/15 ground beef, a pack of short ribs, two briskets and two chuck roasts. In all, 13.5 pounds of grassfed goodness and with the specials factored in, it was $95 (instead of $110). That comes out to a very respectable $7 per pound of tastiness and top value nutrition.

I'm about to throw one of those briskets in the crock pot with a bit of beef stock and one, maybe both of those fennel bulbs. Maybe some onion.

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