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Debate on a plate: Obama and Romney’s favorite dishes
Barack Obama eats chili (left) over rice, a common way of serving the dish in Hawaii. Mitt Romney's favorite birthday treat is a meatloaf cake (right).
Romney Inspired Meatloaf Cakes
1 cup of seasoned croutons
1 egg
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon BBQ Sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Crush the croutons with a rolling pin or in the food processor. Transfer 1 cup of the crushed croutons to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle. Add the egg, chopped onion, parsley, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, salt and pepper. Turn the machine on low and gradually begin adding the meat until incorporated, but take care not to over mix.
Divide the meat mixture into 6 equal portions and form into tiny loaves. Keeping hands wet as you do this will ensure your loaves do not crack while baking. Place the meat loaf cakes on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
While the cakes are baking, mix the ketchup, sugar, mustard, cinnamon and cloves. After 25 minutes, increase the oven temp to 425. Brush the cakes with the sweet ketchup glaze and return them to the oven for 10 minutes. Serves 6.
Obama Inspired Family Friendly Chili
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large sweet onion
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium red pepper, chopped
Salt and pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 pound ground turkey
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
5 vine ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 16-ounce can dark red kidney beans
Cooked brown rice, cheddar cheese, sliced scallions, chopped onions and sour cream for serving
Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot over high heat until hot and add the chopped onions and peppers. Reduce heat to medium, season with salt and pepper, and allow vegetables to cook until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add the ground turkey, season with salt and pepper, and mix well. Increase heat to high and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until turkey is browned and cooked through. Drain the pot and return it to the stove over medium heat. Add the chili powder, cumin, Italian seasoning and turmeric to the pot and mix well. Pour in the vinegar and add the chopped tomatoes. Allow to cook over medium heat until tomatoes release their juices and break down. If chili seems too dry add 1/4 cup of water to the pot. Stir in the kidney beans, adjust seasoning and warm through.
To serve: place a portion of brown rice in a soup bowl and top with the hot chili. Garnish the chili with cheddar cheese, sliced scallion, chopped onion and sour cream.
Serves 8
Article Extras
Updated: November 8, 2012 9:14AM
I am a political junkie.
I am totally addicted to fact checking, fundraising and good-spirited debates. I love the competitive nature of the field, the grandstanding and even the not-so-subtle missteps every campaign inevitably brings.
But here’s the thing: I cannot wait for this election to be over. It’s hard for me to admit, but I am done with the attack ads and robo calls. I’ve grown weary hearing snide comments about 47 percent of Americans and seeing a candidate look bored and sleepy at his own presidential debate. Our country is divided straight down the center, and there is nothing fun about that.
Rather than spend the next week wearing a dour expression, however, I figured I’d better find a way to infuse this presidential race with a sense of frivolity before heading out to the polls on Tuesday. Finding the fun in this election is as simple as hitting the kitchen and whipping up a debate on a plate.
THE REPUBLICAN CONTENDER: MITT’S MEATLOAF CAKES
Mitt Romney loves anything containing peanut butter and is especially fond of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, but the GOP nominee has a soft spot for the meal his wife cooks to celebrate his birthday. These diminutive cakes are both darling and delicious. Ann Romney’s recipe calls for a healthy dose of punchy lemon juice. If you worry Mitt’s dish will leave a sour taste in your mouth, don’t — the sweet brown sugar glaze brings much needed balance to the plate.
THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT: THE OBAMA FAMILY’S CHILI
President Obama loves Hyde Park pizza and Michelle’s shrimp and pasta, but he often speaks about his fondness for chili. The Obama family breaks with tradition by serving chili over rice, but the use of both ground turkey and brown rice are a healthy nod to the First Lady’s initiatives. This chili comes together with ease, but the dish might not be as assertive as you would have hoped — be sure to serve a little hot sauce on the side.
So make them both and take a vote! When I served the debate on a plate to my family, we of course split our votes 50/50. No matter which dish wins the most votes in your house, both meals have redeeming qualities and are sure to become welcome additions to your repertoire.
