# It's freezing cold, so the only rational thing to do is to cook something. Whatcha want? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343 "2015-01-08T20:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/1 "2015-01-08T20:32:38Z")
Assume for the sake of this discussion that I’m doing all the work, 'cause I like cooking for its own sake, but you’re invited to, I dunno, bring some booze or whatnot, and also that my larder is infinite in extent and variety. (Only real-world ingredients, though. Anyone who suggests lembas with be ruthlessly mocked and possibly beaten with a live chicken.) For obvious reasons roast ham will be the central dish, but I’ll allow you to nominate one dish. What do you want, and what are you bringing? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/2 "2015-01-08T20:40:14Z")
[Senate bean soup](https://www.google.com/search?q=senate+bean+soup&biw=1280&bih=635&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eOquVPCOJYuayATOsoCABA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_). Or if you are very dedicated [Pot au feu](https://www.google.com/search?q=pot+au+feu&biw=1280&bih=635&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=z-quVNf4F4n2yQSky4C4BA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ). Both are great cold weather dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/3 "2015-01-08T20:42:42Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > [Senate bean soup](https://www.google.com/search?q=senate+bean+soup&biw=1280&bih=635&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eOquVPCOJYuayATOsoCABA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_). > > Or if you are very dedicated [Pot au feu](https://www.google.com/search?q=pot+au+feu&biw=1280&bih=635&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=z-quVNf4F4n2yQSky4C4BA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ). > > Both are great cold weather dishes. You forgot to bring a beverage and are in danger of having 175,269 bees unleashed upon you. :mad:😃 ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/4 "2015-01-08T20:47:08Z")
Stu. Some sort of stu. Lots of winter root veg. Meat optional, though I suppose if it were going to be there, lamb or mutton would be suitable. I can bring some Rheingeist Truth IPA, fresh from its birthplace here in Cincy. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/5 "2015-01-08T20:48:36Z")
Chili - it’s what we do when it is cold outside. I am not a big drinker, but beer seems appropriate. Why don’t I stop off somewhere close to your place and grab something local? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/6 "2015-01-08T20:55:36Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/7 "2015-01-08T20:59:40Z")
Please make Southern style grits, creamy and full of real butter and so bad for you and sooooooo good. YUM. I’ll bring a bottle of dessert wine for those of us who don’t really like strong alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/8 "2015-01-08T21:14:13Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You forgot to bring a beverage and are in danger of having 175,269 bees unleashed upon you. :mad:😃 My bad. I will gladly bring a Bordeau, a 12-pack of Sam Adams and a bottle of Blue Sapphire for proper martinis. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/9 "2015-01-08T21:14:15Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Please make Southern style grits, creamy and full of real butter and so bad for you and sooooooo good. YUM. I’ll bring a bottle of dessert wine for those of us who don’t really like strong alcohol. I would have thoughts grits was implied by the fact that it was me cooking. Anyway, grab some shrimp while you’re at the store.[Goes well with the grits](http://allrecipes.com/recipe/old-charleston-style-shrimp-and-grits/). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/10 "2015-01-08T21:23:12Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I would have thoughts grits was implied by the fact that it was me cooking. Anyway, grab some shrimp while you’re at the store.[Goes well with the grits](http://allrecipes.com/recipe/old-charleston-style-shrimp-and-grits/). I don’t eat shrimp. ☹ I am really allergic. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/11 "2015-01-08T21:27:36Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > For obvious reasons roast ham will be the central dish, but I’ll allow you to nominate one dish. > > What do you want, and what are you bringing? I want Southern fried chicken. (I’m tired of ham.) I’ll bring jambalaya. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/12 "2015-01-08T21:28:57Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > (Only real-world ingredients, though. Anyone who suggests lembas with be ruthlessly mocked and possibly beaten with a live chicken.) I don’t even know what a lemba is (some kind of ferret maybe?), but can I just eat the live chicken? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/13 "2015-01-08T21:34:35Z")
Someone else is cooking for a change? Ooh, my chance to have something that’s usually too much work… Lasagna! And I’ll bring a keg of American piss-brew, Budweiser or Pabst perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/14 "2015-01-08T21:37:30Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t eat shrimp. ☹ I am really allergic. :eek: Poor baby! What did you do to see offend Athena? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/15 "2015-01-08T22:32:56Z")
Red beans and rice, with plenty of Frank’s Red Hot squirted on top. I make mine with a big meaty smoked pork shank. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/16 "2015-01-08T22:33:23Z")
Shepherd’s Pie, please! And I’ll bring a bottle of mead. Make that several bottles. And maybe some cider. Hmmm…I wonder how a cider/mead cocktail would taste? Let’s find out! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/17 "2015-01-08T22:44:33Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Red beans and rice, with plenty of Frank’s Red Hot squirted on top. > > I make mine with a big meaty smoked pork shank. That’ll work with the fried chicken and the jambalaya. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/18 "2015-01-08T22:49:02Z")
I’ll bring the shrimp for ya’. Also some St. Elmo’s famous cocktail sauce. Everyone other than **Skald** don’t read this next paragraph. Since your the host I’ll let you know that it is really (I mean really) hot from fresh horseradish… just don’t tell anyone else and we can laugh at the expressions on their faces with the first bites. It is delicious though as long as you know to use it in moderation. Ok, the rest of you can start reading now… just had to ask where the bathroom is. > [@](#): > > I’ll bring a bottle of dessert wine for those of us who don’t really like strong alcohol. I’ll bring a nice single malt for those of us who do. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/19 "2015-01-08T22:52:40Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I’ll bring the shrimp for ya’. Sorry. Everybody knows \*\*Mika \*\*is my favorite, and she’s allergic. If the rest of you desperately want something that mildly inconveniences her, it’s out. 😉 > [@armedmonkey](#): > > I don’t even know what a lemba is (some kind of ferret maybe?), but can I just eat the live chicken? Don’t make me get the throwing axe. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343/20 "2015-01-08T22:56:24Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Don’t make me get the throwing axe. You could get out the Dwarf bread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-freezing-cold-so-the-only-rational-thing-to-do-is-to-cook-something-whatcha-want/709343.md?page=2)