New Source of Protein

[Salty]

I've been thinking about this for awhile. It's halfway tongue in cheek.

I've always thought a good cook does taste tests on what they cook. I haven't done any research on this, yet, because I don't want to taste test it.

However, I've been considering that BarBQ sauce would help it.
There's also lots of different spices, with which I could prepare it.

What I'm talking about is shelling and delegging cockroaches.

They're plentiful; in no danger of extinction if we start hunting them; and are ever present anywhere.

They could be deepfried for "poproaches"; they can be baked for roach puddings; they can be canned for dips; and they can be prepared so many different other ways, that the idea just doesn't leave my head.

I need a taster. Volunteers?

[sarongsong]

Ah, but can you get it past PETA? :)

[ravens_cry]

I need a taster. Volunteers?

I would do it.

[tdvance]

I'd rather eat the cockroaches indirectly--by eating something that that grows from fertilizer made from cockroaches, for example.

[Neverfly]

They smell bad.:neutral:

[ravens_cry]

I'd rather eat the cockroaches indirectly--by eating something that that grows from fertilizer made from cockroaches, for example.
Everything has been eaten by everything. Without that fact, the world would have run out of life long ago. That and the fact it gets 'recharged' by sunlight by plants.

[ABR.]

Speaking of eating cockroaches (http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/38449/story.htm)...

Here's a picture to give an idea of the critters in question.
Madagascar hissing cockroach (http://a.abcnews.com/images/Technology/ap_hissing_roach_080410_ssh.jpg)

Not what I would consider tasty, but they make great pets!

[ravens_cry]

Well, they DO look rather cute, but I have eaten lamb and rabbit, so fire in the hole!

[ABR.]

I forgot to mention that the Madagascar hissing cockroaches sound like Sleestak, thus adding to their inherent cute-ness!

[ravens_cry]

I forgot to mention that the Madagascar hissing cockroaches sound like Sleestak, thus adding to their inherent cute-ness!
Aww, how adorible! I wonders what they taste like with some chili powder, cumin and garlic, mashed up with some lentils, formed into patties, and fried in a deep skillet.

[ABR.]

Aww, how adorible! I wonders what they taste like with some chili powder, cumin and garlic, mashed up with some lentils, formed into patties, and fried in a deep skillet.

Probably like all those ingredients but crunchier. Actually, I'm told that most insects have a nutty flavor. In any case, if you experiment with this, be sure to post your results here (http://www.bautforum.com/off-topic-babbling/69717-post-your-dinner.html).

[tbm]

What's "protien"?


tbm

[ravens_cry]

What's "protien"?


tbm
It is like protein, but spelled wronger.

[Paracelsus]

It is like protein, but spelled wronger.

Heehee!

Your stomach is much stronger than mine. I have a great fear of insects; I'd have to be very, very hungry or very, very drunk to consciously eat one.

Also, I think if you shell and de-leg the roach, there will not be much left to eat. The legs and shell will have to stay, I'm afraid. Chitin is an excellent protein source, I hear.

BTW, where is Gillianren? She normally posts something corrective when bad spelling and/or grammar pops up.

[HenrikOlsen]

But she mainly does so when it's a misspelling that influences the meaning of the sentence.
Spelling fixed

[ravens_cry]

Heehee!

Your stomach is much stronger than mine. I have a great fear of insects; I'd have to be very, very hungry or very, very drunk to consciously eat one.

Also, I think if you shell and de-leg the roach, there will not be much left to eat. The legs and shell will have to stay, I'm afraid. Chitin is an excellent protein source, I hear.

BTW, where is Gillianren? She normally posts something corrective when bad spelling and/or grammar pops up.
Even if they one had to eat them, no one said they had to be eaten WHOLE.I have no idea what they taste like, so my idea was to mince them up, and saute them, then fry them up in some kind of patty or fish cake. Of course, who says you have to eat just one? There isn't much meat on a shrimp, but few people eat them shells and all. They just eat a lot of them.

[Salty]

Ah, but can you get it past PETA? :)

Aiiieeeee! How could I have forgotten? Well...maybe nobody will tell. Or, maybe I could bribe PETA with a nice spicy roach dip, with a huge bag of Lays potato chips; challenge them to eat just one.

[Salty]

I would do it.

Well...umm...now, I have to find some roaches. I won't use poisoned ones.

[Salty]

I'd rather eat the cockroaches indirectly--by eating something that that grows from fertilizer made from cockroaches, for example.

I have found a similar sentiment, in my mind. That's why I'm having a hard time bringing myself to a taste test.

[Salty]

They smell bad.:neutral:

I never noticed an odor. Of course, I haven't shelled one.
So, have you shelled one, then?

On the other of course, since I smoke, my sense of smell could be dysfunctional.

[Salty]

Speaking of eating cockroaches (http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/38449/story.htm)...

Here's a picture to give an idea of the critters in question.
Madagascar hissing cockroach (http://a.abcnews.com/images/Technology/ap_hissing_roach_080410_ssh.jpg)

Not what I would consider tasty, but they make great pets!

Thanks for the links, I went to each one.

Looks like I'm way behind the times. People eat the big ones, without cooking them.

Now, there's a cockroach. The biggest ones I've seen around here are up to 2" to 2 1/2". Only, these have wings. More to shell.

[Salty]

Aww, how adorible! I wonders what they taste like with some chili powder, cumin and garlic, mashed up with some lentils, formed into patties, and fried in a deep skillet.

Now, you're on my wavelength. Why don't you cook up a batch, like you just described, and let me know how it went? Remember, shell and deleg it, first.

[Salty]

What's "protien"?


tbm

Protien would be the nutricious part of an animal, insect or plant. I'm not sure of the chemical blend. But, I'm sure it would contain fat, fiber and calories.

[Salty]

Heehee!

Your stomach is much stronger than mine. I have a great fear of insects; I'd have to be very, very hungry or very, very drunk to consciously eat one.

Also, I think if you shell and de-leg the roach, there will not be much left to eat. The legs and shell will have to stay, I'm afraid. Chitin is an excellent protein source, I hear.

BTW, where is Gillianren? She normally posts something corrective when bad spelling and/or grammar pops up.

I, too, would have to be very very very hungry, to eat a live and whole coackroach.
I'm stubborn. The soft stuff in the abdomen of the bug is what I was after. I could still shell and deleg it. Sell soft stuff prepared different ways, and sell chitin parts as chocolate covered crunchy chewy snacks, like chocolate covered ants.

[Salty]

Even if they one had to eat them, no one said they had to be eaten WHOLE.I have no idea what they taste like, so my idea was to mince them up, and saute them, then fry them up in some kind of patty or fish cake. Of course, who says you have to eat just one? There isn't much meat on a shrimp, but few people eat them shells and all. They just eat a lot of them.

Hey, my only volunteer, maybe you could R&D this, for me. I really have an issue with gooey stuff on my hands.

What have I started?

[ravens_cry]

I will check my local pet shop to see if they have any. After all, they sell crickets and mice for consumption, right?
Edit: I already found a recipe.
Simmer cockroaches in vinegar. Then boil with butter, farina flour(cream of wheat), pepper and salt to make a paste. Spread on buttered bread.

[Salty]

I will check my local pet shop to see if they have any. After all, they sell crickets and mice for consumption, right?

Right.

However, I don't expect you to spend money. You might check trees and shrubs in your area. Some really big cockroaches hang out in trees and such.
Always go for the freebies, when you can. Cooking will kill all the germs.

That's the whole reason, for cooking them, I thought of wild roaches. For a free source of protein.

[ravens_cry]

Well, it won't be free then, because I will have spent two of the three currencies in the world, time and effort. (I don't think there is exactly much risk.) For the taste test, I think I will go retail, then see if it is worth it to go scrounging.

[Ivan Viehoff]

Eating insects isn't very different from eating crustaceans, especially smaller ones like prawns. They are all arthropods. I would certainly try locust/grasshopper if offered, if they were nice big fat ones. Various chelicerata (spider/scopion/etc) are eaten in some places.

But in the same way that brown rat is not one of the vertibrates commonly eaten (various other animals called rat, such as bamboo rats in SE Asia, are eaten, but in general I don't think they are closely related to the vermin type), and we eat wood-pigeon in preference to Trafalgar Square pigeon, I'm not sure common cockroach is going on the menu.

Other phylums of animal commonly eaten include molluscs (squid, many shellfish, snails), echinoderms (such as sea slug and sea urchin, though I didn't like sea slug) and cnidaria (such as jellyfish, which is about as interesting as eating plastic bag). Some annelids (worms) are also eaten, but I'm not getting excited about that.

[Paracelsus]

Always go for the freebies, when you can. Cooking will kill all the germs

It won't get rid of the pesticides, though. There are no doubt several wild strains of insecticide-resistant roaches out there, and individuals of these strains may be carrying a significant body-burden of chemicals that may prove to be very toxic to a human.

Besides which, you'll want to eat premium cuts of cockroach, otherwise why bother? Go for the specially-bred guys that have been pampered all their little lives to give the juiciest abdominal goo possible--Kobe cockroach, anyone? :D

[ravens_cry]

Well, I found out that pet stores DO keep cockroaches as live food for pets, and not just as pets. In a few days I will be off to see if I can score some and try out that recipe I found.

[Ivan Viehoff]

Are the ones the pet stores keep one of the common pest species, or something that would be less annoying if it escaped?

[ravens_cry]

Are the ones the pet stores keep one of the common pest species, or something that would be less annoying if it escaped?

Well, the ones I found online are wingless, but they are fast breeders, so if thats the kind I find at the pet store, I am keeping a lid on them, and only buy them shortly before dinner. I am not starting an epidemic because I got the munchies.

[ABR.]

Might I suggest using chocolate....Ferrero Roacher anyone?

[ravens_cry]

Well, unfortunately the local pet store doesn't have roaches. They do however have mealworms and crickets. This may violate the law of the test, but I think it follows the spirit. Any objections from the OP?

[Neverfly]

Well, unfortunately the local pet store doesn't have roaches. They do however have mealworms and crickets. This may violate the law of the test, but I think it follows the spirit. Any objections from the OP?

Objection from the floor.

Mealworms aren't bad. But crickets stink like skunks of the insect world.

You might prefer to make a meal outta the worms...

[ravens_cry]

Objection from the floor.

Mealworms aren't bad. But crickets stink like skunks of the insect world.

You might prefer to make a meal outta the worms...
Yeah, but people have been eating locusts and other grasshopper like critters for millennium. They are even kosher. Though I do plan on eating the mealworms first, the recipe I found for them sounds much more delectable then the one for crickets.

[Whirlpool]

I've been thinking about this for awhile. It's halfway tongue in cheek.

I've always thought a good cook does taste tests on what they cook. I haven't done any research on this, yet, because I don't want to taste test it.

However, I've been considering that BarBQ sauce would help it.
There's also lots of different spices, with which I could prepare it.

What I'm talking about is shelling and delegging cockroaches.

They're plentiful; in no danger of extinction if we start hunting them; and are ever present anywhere.

They could be deepfried for "poproaches"; they can be baked for roach puddings; they can be canned for dips; and they can be prepared so many different other ways, that the idea just doesn't leave my head.

I need a taster. Volunteers?

I'm reminded of the Fear Factor TV Show.

:eek:

Nope .. Nope..Nope...

[ravens_cry]

I am going to be using this recipes, because it seemed the best way to try this out, though it feels a bit like rabbit horse stew. But who can resist a chocolate chip cookie? Not me that is for sure. I am going to have to shop for more then just mealworms however, as I don't generally keeps eggs in the house.

* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 cup all purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 cup oats
* 1/2 cup chocolate chips
* 1/4 cup mealworm flour

Cream butter well, then mix in sugar, egg, vanilla flour, salt, baking soda, chocolate chips, oats, and mealworm flour. Drop batter by the teaspoonful on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees farenheit. This recipe doesn't have much in the way of palpable insect content, but is an excellent way to introduce others (or yourself!) to entomophagy. Even many rather squeamish people will try mealworm cookies, since the cookie format doesn't look "gross" to most people, and since it is rather difficult to actually taste the mealworms, though they enrich the cookie with a somewhat nutty flavor and extra protein.

To make insect flour:

Spread your cleaned insects out on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Set your oven 200 degrees and dry insects for approximately 1-3 hours. When the insects are done, they should be fairly brittle and crush easily. Take your dried insects and put them into a blender or coffee grinder, and grind them till they are about consistency of wheat germ. Use in practically any recipe! Try sprinkling insect flour on salads, add it to soups, your favorite bread recipe, on a boat, with a goat, etc.

[Neverfly]

Try sprinkling insect flour on salads, add it to soups, your favorite bread recipe, on a boat, with a goat, etc.


Don't tell your dinner guests.

[ravens_cry]

Don't tell your dinner guests.
Hee-hee! I am gonna make some for my RPG club.:D

[Delvo]

Might I suggest using chocolate....Ferrero Roacher anyone?When my parents were in their lower 20s, the town they lived in had a place that served chocolate-covered grasshoppers. Those were pretty popular with the college students at the time. It started as a gimmick or gag for most people, but some kept eating them after that first shock wore off, just because they liked them.

[Salty]

Well, unfortunately the local pet store doesn't have roaches. They do however have mealworms and crickets. This may violate the law of the test, but I think it follows the spirit. Any objections from the OP?

Well, guy, I think the crickets would fall within the parameters of the OP.

[Salty]

I'm reminded of the Fear Factor TV Show.

:eek:

Nope .. Nope..Nope...

That's why I asked for a volunteer.

[Salty]

I am going to be using this recipes, because it seemed the best way to try this out, though it feels a bit like rabbit horse stew. But who can resist a chocolate chip cookie? Not me that is for sure. I am going to have to shop for more then just mealworms however, as I don't generally keeps eggs in the house.

* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 cup all purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 cup oats
* 1/2 cup chocolate chips
* 1/4 cup mealworm flour

Cream butter well, then mix in sugar, egg, vanilla flour, salt, baking soda, chocolate chips, oats, and mealworm flour. Drop batter by the teaspoonful on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees farenheit. This recipe doesn't have much in the way of palpable insect content, but is an excellent way to introduce others (or yourself!) to entomophagy. Even many rather squeamish people will try mealworm cookies, since the cookie format doesn't look "gross" to most people, and since it is rather difficult to actually taste the mealworms, though they enrich the cookie with a somewhat nutty flavor and extra protein.

To make insect flour:

Spread your cleaned insects out on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Set your oven 200 degrees and dry insects for approximately 1-3 hours. When the insects are done, they should be fairly brittle and crush easily. Take your dried insects and put them into a blender or coffee grinder, and grind them till they are about consistency of wheat germ. Use in practically any recipe! Try sprinkling insect flour on salads, add it to soups, your favorite bread recipe, on a boat, with a goat, etc.


Now, that's a good way to eat roaches; and, anything else.

[doc holiday]

hi
i met an 80 year old chinese man, who was working the streets during the jap occupation of his country... he was dealing in vegetables and cigarettes [ the jap soldiers had the latter, he could get the former ]
he told me how an old chinese man, allowed to keep his gold shop as part of the 'black market ' etc etc, taught HIM how to survive on cockroach shells, cooked in the gold shop , at night, using the ' burner ' and a metal plate.
I looked it up - and cockroach shells are not made of protein but chitin, which is a polysaccarride and can be broken down into simple.....SUGARS !
HE also told me of his sore feet, and how they had now been cured by his son buying him a pair of Nike runners....and he was happy to carry on WORKING at age 80 , running the elevator in my little hotel..
hope this has been of interest
doc

[Whirlpool]

Wow Doc . That's a nice story .

Welcome to Baut .

But ..umm.. I still won't eat nor taste those .... :sick:

[Salty]

Hi, Doc,

Welcome to BAUT.

I never expected people eating the shells, but it makes sense.

What I had in mind, was the inner meat, for the protien. You know, the stuff that goes "squish" when you step on the roach.

Raven's Cry came up with a good recipe for mealworms, which might also work for roaches.

[mugaliens]

Aww, how adorible! I wonders what they taste like with some chili powder, cumin and garlic, mashed up with some lentils, formed into patties, and fried in a deep skillet.

With all those healthy ingredients, why would anyone want to spoil the mix by adding cockroaches?

As for shelling and de-legging, it's a lot easier to simply pinch the abdomen and squeeze their insides out their backsides.

I still wouldn't eat them unless it meant the difference between living and dying: Parasites. You might eat the cockroaches, but the parasites might eat you.