Wanted: holiday meal ideas that don't need knives to eat

[Muse]

I use the boneless short ribs from Costco. They aren't cheap at $8.99 a pound but have a nice amount of fat and end up very tender.

This is a little OT, but want to say that I exclusively buy the cheapest very lean beef I can find at Costco, (or at Safeway), (usually top round or something, or a roast), remove any fat I can in a reasonably easy way, cut it up and pressure cook it in some fluid for at least an hour. It always comes out super tender. Similarly, the secret to a tender roast is not the cut but in roasting it for a long time... hours.

 

[destrekor]

Your color vision sounds a lot like mine. Green lights on traffic signals look fairly like an off shade of white. I also have trouble with purples vs. blue much of the time.

I have a battery charger that drives me nuts because the LED changes from red to green when the battery is fully charged. It gives me fits. I usually can't tell the difference. I just wish they could have made it red and blue!

I can say one thing, however, and I wonder if you can say the same. This:

I can NEVER EVER make a positive identification for green!!! Red, well, I am convinced that it looks different to me but I can usually make a very positive identification for it. Less so for blue, perhaps, but I see blue fine. Yellow is my "favorite color." I will miss if it has a green component, because I never pick up on green. Well, maybe I pick up on it but can never say that what I'm looking at has a green component, much less "is green."

Is it this way for you? If not, I'm more confident in believing that I have deuteranopia, that I'm not merely deuteranomalous. IOW, that I totally lack the green cones in both my eyes.

I figure I'm probably wasting my time going over to Enchroma. One day I probably will, though, but will go in there pretty skeptical.

You could be missing a cone - I mean, I can tell grass is green. Now, peanut butter I swear is brown but I'm told it's green. I can see it once I'm told, but it just looks like a light shade of brown versus a darker shade of green.

[edit: wrong, had that mixed up. PB is brown, I always thought it was green. Wish we really had strikethrough formatting, so I just shrunk the wrong text instead]

Also I misspoke earlier, or rather, I researched some more: technically you could still be a protan (and missing the red cone), BUT, when you have genes that mess with your cones, it's not directly "oh, red cone is bad or missing" but, "red cone is missing, but the green cone has a pigment that is more sensitive to red than green. So you'd have functional vision of reds because of the screwed up pigments and a perfectly functional green cone that, well, just doesn't see green that well. And this I guess is why trichromats (those with all 3 cone types) get CVD, because the cones are there, sure, but the pigments aren't what they are supposed to be.

Honestly, after reading more into it, I can't even make guesses anymore. There are a few different ways the bad genes can get inserted and/or good genes end up deleted.

See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11059/

 

[Paladin3]

Saw thread title, came in to raz the OP about not being allowed knives in the mental institution...leaving humbled and impressed at his generosity and caring for other. The world needs more good people like the OP and his wife.

 

[Chaotic42]

You could be missing a cone - I mean, I can tell grass is green. Now, peanut butter I swear is brown but I'm told it's green. I can see it once I'm told, but it just looks like a light shade of brown versus a darker shade of green.

On the very slim chance you aren't joking, peanut butter is absolutely not green unless it's moldy.

 

[ImpulsE69]

BBQ Turkey Nachos. Feliz Navidad.

 

[MrSquished]

This is a little OT, but want to say that I exclusively buy the cheapest very lean beef I can find at Costco, (or at Safeway), (usually top round or something, or a roast), remove any fat I can in a reasonably easy way, cut it up and pressure cook it in some fluid for at least an hour. It always comes out super tender. Similarly, the secret to a tender roast is not the cut but in roasting it for a long time... hours.

I've done a decent amount of stews with cheap cuts of meat and they are good, but nothing is as good as the boneless short ribs recipe. It does simmer for hours as well.

 

[Iron Woode]

Mmm, potluck.

Anyways, I was going to suggest just making a lot of meatloaf, but I like the Spaghetti and Meatballs idea too, meatballs are basically kind of like meatloaf.

yes!!!!!!!!!

I am a big booster of meatloaf and especially with butter & herb mashed potatoes.

this is making me hungry.

 

[Muse]

You could be missing a cone - I mean, I can tell grass is green. Now, peanut butter I swear is brown but I'm told it's green. I can see it once I'm told, but it just looks like a light shade of brown versus a darker shade of green.

Also I misspoke earlier, or rather, I researched some more: technically you could still be a protan (and missing the red cone), BUT, when you have genes that mess with your cones, it's not directly "oh, red cone is bad or missing" but, "red cone is missing, but the green cone has a pigment that is more sensitive to red than green. So you'd have functional vision of reds because of the screwed up pigments and a perfectly functional green cone that, well, just doesn't see green that well. And this I guess is why trichromats (those with all 3 cone types) get CVD, because the cones are there, sure, but the pigments aren't what they are supposed to be.

Honestly, after reading more into it, I can't even make guesses anymore. There are a few different ways the bad genes can get inserted and/or good genes end up deleted.

See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11059/

Here's what Enchroma emailed to me:

Strong Protan

What is a Protan?

Protans are people with protanomaly, a type of red-green color blindness in which the red cones do not detect enough red and are too sensitive to greens, yellows, and oranges.

As a result, greens, yellows, oranges, reds, and browns may appear similar, especially in low light. It can also be difficult to tell the difference between blues and purples, or pinks and grays.

I think they got it wrong, move evidence that I should regard them with suspicion.

I can't identify green... EVER! Grass does not look green. EVER. It looks like it does, no different, really, from peanut butter and TBH it's completely news to me that PN is green, I had no idea, it could have been brown. Somewhere somehow I got the notion that I'm total green blind (which I think means I am totally missing the green cones), and it may have been from a test in an office, I have done that.

 

[destrekor]

On the very slim chance you aren't joking, peanut butter is absolutely not green unless it's moldy.

Woops had that backwards!
I always thought it WAS a shade of green - I was stunned to find out it's brown. That's an ugly ass shade of brown.

 

[cbrunny]

Christmas Tacos.

 

[Muse]

Woops had that backwards!
I always thought it WAS a shade of green - I was stunned to find out it's brown. That's an ugly ass shade of brown.

Uh, OK, ... so PN is not green? I've never humored myself with thinking it had a color! It has a taste, etc.! I would never say that anything is an "ugly ass shade" of anything, reason being that being color blind I have no idea what a person with normal color vision sees in terms of color when they see anything. When the subject comes up, I am usually asked what it looks like to me (whatever it is we're talking about). It's a frustrating question because I can't answer it. I stumble with an explanation, resisting an impulse to call them out as an idiot for even asking (which I never do... I'm not that rude). How do you describe a color to someone when you have no idea how anything looks to them?! The smarter people I've talked to about my color blindness don't ask that question because they realize I can't possibly answer it.

 

[destrekor]

Uh, OK, ... so PN is not green? I've never humored myself with thinking it had a color! It has a taste, etc.! I would never say that anything is an "ugly ass shade" of anything, reason being that being color blind I have no idea what a person with normal color vision sees in terms of color when they see anything. When the subject comes up, I am usually asked what it looks like to me (whatever it is we're talking about). It's a frustrating question because I can't answer it. I stumble with an explanation, resisting an impulse to call them out as an idiot for even asking (which I never do... I'm not that rude). How do you describe a color to someone when you have no idea how anything looks to them?! The smarter people I've talked to about my color blindness don't ask that question because they realize I can't possibly answer it.

Ha! It's an ugly ass shade to me, and I'm pretty happy with relying on that. I don't have to like how a color looks because other people can see it differently than I! Otherwise it's like saying you can't say any color is ugly because other creatures see them differently too, some even see colors we cannot even imagine (like seeing in UV but also the color spectrum we know - what those brains interpret the colors to look like, who knows). Just a thought I had

Oh and I usually just answer with whatever color it is I see, I can usually put a name to it but that's partially because of learned association I'm sure. I don't bother describing the color in some fanciful way, I just go "a weird shade of green maybe?" or "looks like a light shade of gray" even if I know it isn't. I usually will say that, like "now I know what color it *is* but to me it looks like...." and I may have something to compare it to, or I may just kind of throw words together with the color to describe a shade. I've usually studied pretty hard to learn the colors that exist in objects even if I can't see them, and because I have a very visual mind and enjoy photography, I have to kind of lean on learned experience and intuitions. I've sometimes gone, apparently, overboard on photo processing sometimes and distorted the colors, but that's only because I usually actively ask a non-CVD family member or friend to help - like.. does that look natural to you? A natural shade (perhaps more vibrant or with punchier contrast, because art) of foliage, sky, etc? A little bit of that intuition, and perhaps a much "better" case than you likely have, helps me "imagine" the differences a bit.

I've definitely wanted to try the enchroma glasses, very badly, but can't justify the expense just yet. But I'm content with imaginary tears of happiness at the thought of it for now, but more especially, for the tear-inducing aspect, would be the dream of genetic therapy (CRISPR-cas9 and related methods).

Just imagine. The idea here is that you can't really fix the cones themselves because the existing genetics will just lead to degradation of any repairs. BUT, if you do the therapy, rig up the stem and progenitor cells with clean code, functional and healthy cells will eventually replace all the damaged goods. I can hardly imagine the experience of waking up from the surgery (or having gauze removed, whatever) and seeing what could practically be a whole new world!

Also: if you care to experience new colors, check out psychedelics. You don't technically "see" new colors, but your brain processes them different, begins creating visuals out of nothing. The same effects that cause fractals and other shapes and visions, also produce distorted color vision. Even color-normals experience this - it's not necessarily accurate, but you'd likely experience what is basically heightened saturation, hue, and luminosity, due to the visual messaging getting hacked. It's... illuminating.


edit:

I LOVE FOOD! Also OP you are a magnificent human being for your charity and efforts.

 

[Chaotic42]

I'd say that commercial peanut butter in the plastic jar could be the textbook definition of the color tan. As far as trying to explain colors, other than providing a mathematical reference, I can't imagine how you'd possibly describe them. It would be like trying to visualize five dimensions or having someone with synesthesia describe what the number seven smells like.

 

[Zorba]

Lasagna,

This.

I've also done Mexican roast which is great. Roast, enchilada sauce, onion, green peppers. Shred and serve with tortillas.

 

[Zorba]

I'd say that commercial peanut butter in the plastic jar could be the textbook definition of the color tan. As far as trying to explain colors, other than providing a mathematical reference, I can't imagine how you'd possibly describe them. It would be like trying to visualize five dimensions or having someone with synesthesia describe what the number seven smells like.

I've always wondered if the colors I see are the same as colors other people see. Especially because I have minor, but noticeable color shift between my eyes where my left eye see colors a little warmer than my right eye. But I stumbled on this awhile back and thought it was pretty interesting.

 

[Muse]

I stumbled on this awhile back and thought it was pretty interesting.

Yeah, that's pretty good. But when you are born color blind, when you realize it, what it means (i.e. that colors look different to you than basically anyone you are going to encounter in life), you understand these things. You have umpteen encounters with people and the subject comes up and the futility of trying to fully communicate your personal experiences becomes a given.

Peanut butter tastes good, it's nutritious, it spreads nicely, it smells good, it rarely goes bad, it's cheap. Nice stuff. What color is it? I never bothered to think about that. I'd have guessed tan, whatever the hell that is. What is tan? Dang if I know. I've heard people say such and such is tan, I've seen the object. Your tan isn't my tan. Ever. Your red isn't my red. Ever. I would never try to use peanut butter in a painting. In fact, I don't paint. I gave up on trying to establish a career in photography, no doubt in part because I'd be handicapped by my color blindness. I did specialize in black and white, but that would be a handicap. It's weird being color blind.

An interesting idea is the possibility that color blindness is actually a sometime human condition that exists because it's an advantage to the human race in its evolution. It may be advantageous for the species as a whole that some of its members are color blind. Of course, there are quite a few different kinds and degrees of color blindness, which complicates the issue. However, variety in a species can be beneficial. Color blind people have been used in the military to negate the effects of opposing armies' camouflage. Perhaps my idiosyncratic vision is an evolutionary tool, whatever else it is in terms of it being a handicap to me. It may give me idiosyncratic insight in the same way that blind people have a different world experience.