Monday, March 2, 2009

Dishes Best Served Cold

When I started getting hungry at work this afternoon at around 3:30 or so all I could think about was eating a fork full of the leftover chicken and noodles I made this weekend - cold from the fridge.

Not that my chicken and noodles aren't dandy tasting when they are hot and fresh the day that I make them, but there is something quite satisfying to me about eating them cold from the fridge.

There are many other foods that are meant to be served hot but I don't always heat up the leftovers because I enjoy them so much cold. Some people (like ones that I'm married to) are grossed out by this so I usually keep this type of information to myself and reserve my cold food dining for moments when some people aren't around.

Like tonight for instance.

Some people have fancy important jobs and occasionally have to wine and dine certain big-wigs from out of town at fancy-schmancy restaurants on their expense accounts. While others of us are left home alone and don't mind a bit because they have looked forward for weeks to having an evening alone so a big dish full of cold chicken and noodles can be happily consumed in peace while guiltlessly watching last weeks episode of What Not to Wear on the DVR.

Tonight it's just the chicken and noodles, but here are some of my other favorite cold foods:
  • Pepperoni (but not sausage) pizza
  • Fried chicken
  • Dressing (like the kind made from breadcrumbs left over from Thanksgiving) in a sandwich (wheat bread) with cold turkey gravy

  • Mac and cheese (but only homemade because cold Kraft mac & cheese tastes like ass (not that I would know))

  • Tuna noodle casserole

  • Cherry pie
Hungry yet?

Please make me feel less freakish and tell me about your favorite cold foods.

20 comments:

... said...

Cold lasagna rocks my socks. I like that it stays in one place.

Cold pizza of course is awesome. Reheating pizza is a sin. It gets all gross.

SkylersDad said...

I am right there with you on chicken.. Nothing better than a cold breast right out of the refrigerator!

(feel free to comment on that softball I just lobbed up right there)

Gwen said...

Steak. When I have steak I love to keep a little piece and eat over the kitchen sink right before bed.

I also sometimes don't heat up canned green beans. They are great right out if the can with salt and pepper.

Anonymous said...

Pizza for sure. And I make these kick ass little mini bacon and cheese quiches that are HEAVENLY cold. Yum.

Anonymous said...

I also prefer fried chicken cold.

Dale said...

I used to eat cold Chef Boy Ar Dee ravioli straight from the can but now can and will eat cold pizza, meatballs, sausage, fried chicken and I'm sure a few other things. But you? You're weird!! :-)

The Lady Who Doesn't Lunch: said...

boredmando - ooh lasagne, that's a good one and I totally see your point about it staying together

Skydad - cold chicken and beer - yeppers. (I'd go for the boob joke ordinarily, but under the context it's a bit Jeffrey Dahmer for my taste so to speak)

Gwennie - foods that taste best eaten over the sink deserves a post all it's own.
I do the same thing with green beans, but only the French style ones.

Veg - I'm on the fence about cold quiche, but I'm willing to give it a try, but only because you said so and there's bacon involved.

Frenchie - seems to be a trend.

Dale - cold Chef Boy Ardee straight from the can is such a stoner thing... I once cut my tongue licking the lid of that shit (it was quite awhile ago).

- said...

i agree with every one of those cold foods. this is the REAL reason why i like you.

something i really like, which can either be cold or not, is next day lasagna. it is much better than first day lasagna. lasagna is my favourite food, but straight from the pan it is a little messy. the next day when it has congealed, it is perfect for a cold or warmed leftover lunch!

*NOTE: in an attempt to make the lasagna as Day 2-like as possible on Day-1, i strain the sauce throughout the preparation process. twice. that way there's less sauciness and it is therefore better. y'all can try it if you want! i'm giving you permission!

Pyzahn said...

I make this fabulous lemon pudding cake (the cake's on top, the bottom half stays smooth like pudding) which is supposed to be served warm. Yes, it's great that way. But if you eat it cold out of the fridge, that tart lemon flavor rocks you to your bones.

Linka72 said...

MMMM!!
I too like cold pie..hot pie,(or any hot "baked good" for that matter) gives me the runs..ok I'm sharing too much...
Strangely, I have an aversion to smelling cold food like tuna casserole..yeck.
If someone in my office opens a cold dish from home, I swear, I can smell it a mile away..and I gag..but I'm weird.

Churlita said...

I like cold peanut butter noodles. I also like cold cheese tortellini with pesto sauce. Mmmmm.

Anonymous said...

Crap, I just wrote a comment and Google went wonky again. Anyway, my favorite is cold spaghetti. Oh yeah, cold cheesesteak. But the best is spiral ham ripped right off its cold, refrigerated carcus. Too much huh?

Jess said...

cheese pizza and any type of pasta in vodka sauce.

dmarks said...

I once had some pizza in Germany that was better cold the next day than it was hot the night before.

Unindicted Co-Conspirator said...

My fave cold food is pizza, but the real surprise is that we both seem to know that sausage pizza isn't so hot when it's cold. Another imponderable mystery of the universe.
BTW, Kraft Mac&Cheese not only tastes bad hot, the International Orange color resembles nothing remotely cheese-like.

Renaissance Woman said...

Pizza...cold pizza is the BEST! As for other foods...I can't really think of anything that I would rather eat cold. So I'm going to focus on the pizza.

Claire said...

I don't like most leftovers cold, but I agree with everyone who says that lasagna is MUCH better warmed up after a day or so in the refrigerator. Homemade chicken noodle soup is the same...sometimes I make it at night and put it in the fridge to reheat next day because it's WAY better reheated.

Coaster Punchman said...

You evil woman, now I have to go raid my fridge. I may enjoy me some cold swiss chard cheese bake I made earlier.

Tara said...

Fried chicken is my favorite food served cold. In fact I just ate some a few minutes ago.

Also, yes, cherry or any other type of pie is good cold and macaroni and cheese. Thanks, now my stomach is grumbling. :)

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Sick as it sounds I love me some cold Chinese takeout right outta the box...now I'm needing some chinese to eat.