Log Book for January 24, 2011

Cook's Report

Virgiliu Pop Reporting



1a) Today was
- a cooking day

1b) Was today a special day celebrated at the main meal with special food or activity?
- Yes. On January 24th, 1859, Wallachia and Moldavia entered into a personal union under Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, paving the way for the birth of the modern Romanian State.

2) List the foods served at today's main meal (usually the evening meal), giving full names of each.
- Morning meal: Omelette from dehydrated eggs, with a serving of processed cheese, with mushrooms and bacon (courtesy of Iulia and Betty), accompanied by bread made at the bread making machine, courtesy of Haritina.
- Lunch: The captain and Haritina remained at the Hab, while the remainder of the crew went on an adventurous EVA. The two home-stayers ate the following: the captain, some bacon and bread, with a desert of dried prunes; Haritina ate only the desert. The away-team took with them a huge helping of "rabdari prajite" ("fried patience") - a Romanian specialty dating from Communist times, having the same recipe as a North Korean lunch. Basically, they ate nothing.
- Evening meal: "Mamaliga Cuza" (Polenta Cuza)

3) List any main meal foods not finished by the crew (leftovers stored for later use or discarded) (Example: 2 servings potato soup stored; 2 servings rice burned/inedible, discarded)
- None

4) Recipes for anything more complicated than following package directions exactly, or rehydrating.
- Polenta Cuza. Hydrate one cup of diced onions, and fry them in ghee, with salt or soy sauce according to taste. Hydrate two cups of roast beef, then add them to the onions; mix well, and let them fry on very low heat. Meanwhile, make gravy out of two gravy packs; once it is made, mix it with the onions and beef, add some black pepper, and let it simmer. Make some polenta out of cornmeal and water, boiled on low heart. Separately, hydrate some cauliflower. Serve hot.

5) Comments/questions for Kim and Jean, the food study investigators
- Freeze-dried foods and ingredients inventory performed.