Since my wife and I seperated last month, I have been working on streamlining the chores around the house and save some money also. One result has been plates that don't need to be washed, without the cost or waste of paper and actually taste pretty good to boot. After watching a program on the History Channel about sailors using large pieces of hardtack as plates, I researched the subject a little further and found where pioneers and cowboys were known to use crouton style stale bread as plates. My modern solution to this was to bake a loaf of bread in my machine, then slice it lengthwise about 3/8 inch thick. Next press in the center to form a bowl in the slice and put them on the dehydrator to dry crouton strong. After about 5 hours, I have 8 edible "plates" that can be set in a wicker bread basket on a cheap paper napkin that I process through the worm bins. Works good on every thing but soup ( and maybe a little egg batter could solve that :>). Some may think this "crazy", but before you say that consider the types of bread you could use or when you had a taco salad in edible shell and how much fun washing dishes really is.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 04, 2002

Answers

Beer cheese soup in a bread bowl is a great favourite of mine. Bake some type of a french type bread in a boule shape, cut the top 'lid' off (sort of like with a jack-o-lantern), scoop out enough of the inner bread and pour in soup. Save the torn out bread to dip in the soup as you eat it.

If you too love beer cheese soup and don't elect to eat the bowl along with the soup, doubtless the worms would take care of it, just be sure to provide them with tiny little lampshades to put on their heads while they dance around afterward.

So you have become a trencherman, eh? (The coarse bread baked for use as plates as you describe were known as trenchers, and the diners were not expected to eat them, but they were commonly collected after a meal and distributed to the poor.)

This practice goes back to the Dark Ages as far as I know. There is also a story concerning the loss of a kingdom somewhere in the Italian penninsula and a prophecy that the ruler would not return to power until he had been humbled and impoverished to the point where he would eat his own plate. He continued to strive and war, and was constantly fleeing the opposing forces. One day, the hard pressed camp cook served food the only way that he was able as they were constantly on the move, with it piled on top of a piece of quickly baked bread. The deposed monarch discovered that he was indeed eating his plate, and presently did return to his kingdom in triumph. That concoction was the precursor of modern day pizza. (well, it's a nice story, even if it is rather murky in facts)

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), January 04, 2002.

Sounds like a lot more fuss than washing a dish.

-- Nina (ninasinthegarden@aol.com), January 04, 2002.

How about baking the round bread, take out the middle and put soup or stew in it. That's very common.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.

How about fried taco shells? You deep fry tortilla shells with a coffee can in the middle.

-- Julie Britt (jbritt@ceva.net), January 04, 2002.

Nina,

Its no "trouble' at all as I bake bread and roast coffee beans every day to give my house that old world aroma and now all I'm washing is glasses and utensils. Of course my worms are beginning to have to live off greenhouse veggies and fish flake since the kitchen scraps are way reduced. Guess I'll have to buy them a cheap cut of beef with the money I save on dishwashing liquid :>)

Julie,

Yes, I remember the program did call them trenchers. Works for me. Today, I think I'll try baking a few in stove ball loaves and try the beer cheese soup if you would post your favorite recipe for it.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 04, 2002.

We had some high class, wealthy friends over for dinner a few weeks ago. I served homemade soup in round pumpernickel loafs. They thought that was just the cutest little country thing they ever did see! :) Then again, my friend also thought it was brilliant of me to use an old shovel handle as a perch for pigeons. All things are relative, aren't they!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 04, 2002.

Jay,

I knew it was you before I even scrolled down to see. :-) At our home tortillas are commenly used for breakfast burritoes (anything cooked with eggs and rolled inside), as well as the most unusal pizza made from actual pizza dough, but more often bread dough divided into three, and flatted and baked with just about anything from stir-fry to "real" pizza toppings on top. (It helps if you bake it 2/3's of the way before adding toppings). My mom used to make bread bowls by dividing a loaf of bread dough into 2 or 4, then shaping them over an upside down mug or glass and baking. It cooks both sides enough to hold soup without leaking too. (Just don't bake it as long) Of course, if you stop using paper products, what will you use for your worms??? I can appreciate your creativity.

-- Marty in KS (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 04, 2002.

Corn tortillas, a can of tuna, some diced celery and or onion and a liitle mayo makes for a good no plates dinner. They sound gross, but really are good.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), January 07, 2002.