WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

Culture War Cookbook: Drinks For Two

The divide between creationists and evolutionists is wide and woolly. But surely there is something the two sides could agree on.

Perhaps they could agree on two sides. Or two entrees. Or two drinks, for that matter.

In an attempt to find commonalities, we are pulling together recipes for The Culture War Cookbook. If folks from both sides of the issue can appreciate each other's victuals, maybe they can eventually learn to appreciate each other's viewpoints. Here then are two recipes — one from a creationist perspective and one from an evolutionary perspective — followed by brief commentary from Emory University anthropologist George Armelagos.

Almond Milk

From The Creationist Diet — Nutrition and God-given Food According to the Bibleby Gary F. Zeolla (2000)

1 cup raw almonds

4 cups water

1 tsp vanilla

Honey to taste

Put all ingredients in a blender for 2 or 3 minutes.

Acceptable substitutes: cashews, sunflower seeds or walnuts for the almonds.

****

Dandelion Root Coffee

From Paleo Cooking from Elana's Pantry: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free Recipes by Elana Amsterdam (2013)

6 cups water

2 tablespoons finely ground roasted dandelion root

2 tablespoons finely ground roasted chicory

2 cinnamon sticks

"In a saucepan over medium heat," according to the cookbook, "combine the water, dandelion root, chicory, and cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the grounds, then serve."

****

Armelagos, who has written of the diets of creationists and evolutionists, says this about the idea of bringing the two groups together: "After the issue of who will say grace, I doubt that there would be much dispute about the food ... until they started to discuss the food. Words, as you know, are powerful, and words to symbolize food will imbue the food with significance beyond their nutrients."

Creationists and evolutionists "have such fundamental differences, I doubt that they would sit together until they finished the meal," Armelagos tells NPR. "Each would provide food for thought that the others would find indigestible."

There is one possible bright note: The Paleo suggests a certain "sweet and creamy" addition to enhance the taste of the dandelion root coffee – almond milk.

The Protojournalist: A sandbox for reportorial experimentation. And innovation. @NPRtpj

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Linton Weeks joined NPR in the summer of 2008, as its national correspondent for Digital News. He immediately hit the campaign trail, covering the Democratic and Republican National Conventions; fact-checking the debates; and exploring the candidates, the issues and the electorate.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info