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What's a good word to replace "garlicky"?
Garlicified
Garlicicent? Like magnificent.
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
Whatever my husband makes for me after my mother calls for the 15th time... :)
FN Chefs - ignoring food sanitation
@chiff- I swear this is the 4th or 5th time you've posted the EXACT same thing I was going to say! I get so gorked out when chefs handle raw meat then wipe their hands on a towel, or do a quick rinse under running water with no soap. Then they grab a knife for their next task and all I can think of is the millions of germs they're spreading! Ack!
When we taste anything in the kitchen where I work part time there are dedicated tasting spoons and they are only used once, then they're sent to the dishroom. It isn't a face paced restaurant setting but we're still under the gun to get food served when promised. I'd rather be 5 minutes late than double dip.
Perhaps FN can start adding a "Do as we say, not as we do" disclaimer to each show.
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Recent Posts
Upcoming documentary on food, its origins and effects on health
Posted by AuntJone, February 18, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Unsalted natural peanut butter- what can I do with it?
Posted by AuntJone, January 30, 2009 at 11:04 AM
The workplace potluck/carry-in: like or loathe?
Posted by AuntJone, December 18, 2008 at 8:51 AM
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Funniest Thanksgiving
One year my sister volunteered to make a pumpkin pie. It turned out great except she forgot the sugar. The only person who willingly ate it was our diabetic cousin. She was thrilled there was actually a dessert she could eat! We still razz my sister about it and I think it has been at least 10 years since it happened. Nothing like harping on past mistakes to show your love.
What's a good word to replace "garlicky"?
Garlicified
Garlicicent? Like magnificent.
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
Whatever my husband makes for me after my mother calls for the 15th time... :)
FN Chefs - ignoring food sanitation
@chiff- I swear this is the 4th or 5th time you've posted the EXACT same thing I was going to say! I get so gorked out when chefs handle raw meat then wipe their hands on a towel, or do a quick rinse under running water with no soap. Then they grab a knife for their next task and all I can think of is the millions of germs they're spreading! Ack!
When we taste anything in the kitchen where I work part time there are dedicated tasting spoons and they are only used once, then they're sent to the dishroom. It isn't a face paced restaurant setting but we're still under the gun to get food served when promised. I'd rather be 5 minutes late than double dip.
Perhaps FN can start adding a "Do as we say, not as we do" disclaimer to each show.
Slow-cooker cookbook recommendations?
I 2nd and 3rd recommendations for Stephanie O'Dea's new book A Year of Slow Cooking. I found her blog first but plan to buy her book. I've made several of her recipes with good results. A pork roast recipe was a minor failure but I think it was my beer choice- I'll make it again but will use water or chicken broth in place of the beer.
Fruit Loops served at Best Western...
@ gutreactions- are you sure you weren't in Minnesota? I swear those are the same options we had this summer...only we had to shell our hard boiled eggs. You're place was obviously swankier than ours. :)
The best "free" hotel breakfast I remember was in Skokie, IL at a Signature Inn or something in that chain. Of course we had to wait for the mom who made all 5 of her kids their own waffle (seriously? THEY'RE UNDER 10. I can guarantee not one of those kids ate an entire waffle) and hold our breath while one of the darlings piled her plate full of bacon (we weren't sure we were going to get any, that's how much she took) but it was worth it. The hotel itself sucked rocks but the food was surprisingly good.
Do you know where your hamburg is coming from?
Ah Pavlov. Always the voice of reason.
I agree with Meat Guy. People have to take some responsibility when it comes to handling food safely and preparing it correctly. Neither is a difficult task.
And for the record, my beef/hamburger comes from my father in law's farm and is processed by a local butcher shop. Occasionally I will grind up some round steak or a chuck roast if we're out of ground beef- who's to say I won't contaminate it myself with my Kitchen Aid grinding attachment if I failed to clean it properly, if I cook the meat rare, or leave meat juice on the counter where I put my salad fixings. Life is a crap shoot, people.
What's for dinner tonight - 10/5?
chili! and cornbread! with a side of antacid!
It is fall in Indiana. Time for the cold-weather meals.
Paul Deen has new talk show Mom Logic. Did anyone go to taping?
You lost me at Kate Gosselin. Will she be hosting a marital advice show next?
Happy 250th Birthday, Dear Guinness
Mmmmm...muddy water and coffee grounds! I can't stand it but the hubs and his best friend call it mother's milk. Happy Birthday regardless.
On airline food: the best passenger complaint letter ever
That is HILARIOUS. My guess for the dish on the left in the first picture was pineapple chunks with pesto over a tomato wedge. Maybe that was on the next flight's menu!
To Sirloin with Love: Stellar King of the Hill series finale.
Oh, and "You had me at fruit pie". Long live Bobby Hill!
To Sirloin with Love: Stellar King of the Hill series finale.
Thanks for providing the link. We missed the finale.
My friend and I throw around "Rusty Shackelford" frequently. I'll miss Dale's conspiracy-theory antics.
I met Rick Bayless! (And I still can't believe it)
LOL@ Wookie!
I ate at Frontera a couple of years ago and I think I enjoyed it...I didn't feel very well (a cold, not food-borne) so I don't remember much! I'd say that is a good reason to go back. I kept looking for Mr. Bayless but didn't see him. I figured he was hanging out with the "cool" people at Topolobampo!
How do you plan your meals for the week?
I also use the whiteboard method! I write down meals based on:
1. What is on hand -especially if I can use up leftovers/extras
2. What someone requests (usually the hubs)
3. What can be made quickly or in the slowcooker because The Niblet hampers my cooking efforts! I never knew a one year old could be so many places at one time...
4. Recipes I want to try- especially those that will use up pantry items and don't require another trip to the store.
5. Meals based on sale items
I use 2 online services to provide menu ideas and recipes because I don't have time to scour my cookbooks or online sites for recipes. I need to choose which service to stick with - either e-mealz.com or savingdinner.com because I don't want to pay for both. So far e-mealz is in the lead.
I've discovered that everything runs much smoother if I have meals planned out instead of trying to figure out what I'm cooking at 5:30 every night with frozen meat, no vegetables, a toddler clinging to my legs and a 6'2 teenager lurking over my shoulder asking "What's for dinner?" as he eats a bowl of cereal or peanut butter sandwich. Or both.
Just to clarify...
I'm in your camp, too. Clarified butter seems to upset my stomach. Is that even possible? Regardless, I agree that regular butter would be divine on lobster and I'd probably order it more often if I knew I could get it.
What to Eat for Breakfast at the Minnesota State Fair
Well hell. I just spent 3 days in Minnesota and the hotel we stayed at had a crappy breakfast selection. Wish I'd known the fair was still on- we would have ran up there for breakfast before the rest of our group was even up! I could do a chocolate covered waffle for breakfast, no prob.
Irritating Table
I catch Splendid Table on occasion and haven't noticed her laugh. Ina's laugh seems....slightly forced and somewhat nervous when she's in a group of people. Like she's hoping for acceptance. I could be totally wrong but that's what I hear in Ina's laugh.
Chefs & Customers Who Linger After Hours
Worst treatment I got near closing resulted in a firing. My husband and his best friend and I went into a Bennigan's near closing time (I can't remember just how close it was) and we were the only customers. The staff was hanging out around the bar. Instead of telling us they were no longer serving, they seated us. Then they ignored us. I'm not even sure if we got drinks or menus. We stayed for maybe 10 or 15 minutes then left. As we were leaving some smart ass in the group at the bar started clapping. We were pissed, of course, and made our way to the car and another restaurant.
The friend called the manager the next day and told him/her what happened. The smart ass got fired. I'm assuming that was not his first offense and sadly that kind of poor service is prolific in the Bennigan's organization, at least in my area.
I do appreciate it when restaurants post their last service time. If I'm arriving near closing time I ALWAYS ask if I/we can still be served and then get out as quickly as possible. I related it to the assholes that email me at 3:50 asking for something to be done - I'm done at 4- and invariably the task will take longer than 10 minutes to complete. Sometimes I play nice, sometimes I pretend I didn't see it and I go home.
Vacuum Sealers
I've also seen the bags at Kohl's and some hardware stores - my local ACE hardware maybe?
I LOVE mine. We got it as a wedding gift and it is the 2nd most used gift after the popcorn machine.
"I LOVE ANGEL HAIR, BUT HATE SPAGHETTI!!!" ..... WTF?!
I'll eat real bananas but nothing with artificial banana flavoring- like candy. YUCK.
I'll eat sun dried tomatoes in a salad or dish (not alone) but will NOT eat a raw tomato if my life depended on it. I can't stand the taste, smell or texture of a raw tomato or even the smell of a tomato plant. And yet I have 5 tomato plants in my yard- husband claims he's making salsa this year. We'll see.
I don't like angel hair pasta because of the texture. I want my pasta to have some oomph and angel hair is too wimpy.
Any tips for starting a career in the food industry?
I agree with eatingoutwest- there is more to the foodservice industry than fast-paced, high stress restaurant positions. Can you clarify what area you're interested in, and are you getting a certificate or a full-blown degree?
I did it bass-ackwards- I decided I wanted to be a pastry chef so I enrolled in a community college and started the program while keeping my full time office gig. I never worked in a professional kitchen until I got my internship at a local camp. I still work part time at the camp and still have my office job. I'm waiting for the right foodservice opportunity to come my way and I don't ever want to work in a restaurant. I don't want the stress or the harried pace or a chef screaming at me. So until the right job presents itself I'll continue what I'm doing- the camp job satisfies my soul and the office job pays my bills. Good luck!
Everyday Food...
Woo hoo! I hope I can find it 'round here. Thanks for letting us know!
My children are bottomless pits!
Thanks for this thread. I have a 15 y/o boy at home who eats constantly. He'll eat dinner and 20 minutes later he's making a PB&J. Then an hour later he's having a bowl of cereal. I'll have to spend more time going through this at home tonight- maybe I'll make him help me with a bulk cooking session this weekend so he can earn his keep!
Next FN Star Debuts tonight
LOL@dbcurrie- the next time my husband salts his food I'm going to wonder if I need to bathe...
I just can't get into this series, or Top Chef or any other 'competitions'. I don't know why but they don't interest me. I watched the first season of Hell's Kitchen faithfully but haven't watched since. I guess I already know how it is going to play out- the first season was a novelty but now I know Gordon is going to yell, swear, and throw food away while calling it "garbage". The contests will have various attributes: cocky, timid, out to prove themselves, shouldn't have bothered to show up...but I digress.
What floors me about the NFNS is that the previous winners have disappeared. Who is left? Was Guy Fieri a winner? Are there others that still have a show? Maybe I should make my own post. I don't want to bogart the thread from Josdean!
Funniest Thanksgiving
Late to the party on this one, but here goes... about six years ago, my mom's new boyfriend came to our family Thanksgiving for the first time with his nine-year-old son. My family is fairly uptight, so this guy had everyone's eyebrows raised with his motorcycle-ridin', rock'n'rollin' ways. We're at the feast, the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are tolerating him, and our quietly formal Thanksgiving meal is proceeding, when all of a sudden during a lull in conversation the nine-year-old goes "Hey, Daddy, remember when I found cocaine on your dresser?" Completely out of the blue. Ensue awkward silence. The boyfriend finally musters a halfhearted, "I don't know what you're talking about, son," to which the kid responds, "Yes, you do! It was in a little baggie and you said it was Uncle Dave's." The boyfriend was speechless. The entire table cracked up, and someone changed the subject, but it was never forgotten.
That was not the last Thanksgiving we had with them, but unfortunately, nobody ever told any more drug stories.
Review of the New 'M&M's Premiums': Fancy-Pants, Expensive, and Kinda Gross
I'm completely amazed that Mars would believe that M&Ms are lowbrow!
Food Tattoos?
I'm in the process of designing a pin-up (40's style) of a chefly young lady with a plate of sushi in one hand, and a slice of maki in the other, along with all of the standard accoutrement of a pin up. I already have a toqued skull biting my first chef knife tatted on my other arm, in military style. Soon I will add the words 'Death From Within' in some form with that one. I will try to post up pics when they are complete!
Funniest Thanksgiving
The night before Thanksgiving a few years ago, my husband and I went to visit his best friend and brother, who had come down from New York to visit their family for the holidays. The BF's brother had recently entered a culinary school, so he had been tagged as primary chef during the visit. Amidst numerous drinks, my husband and I went scrounging through the fridge to find munchies; we found a large container of what we were told was french onion soup, so we heated it up. Much to our disappointment, the soup was fairly tasteless, so we threw it out.
The next night, we received a rather irate call from said brother, which was when we found out we'd thrown out his duck stock for the dinner. I'm still partially mortified when he brings up the story.
Funniest Thanksgiving
I had made what seemed like a ton of turkey soup with the turkey carcass (prob 2-3 gallons in actuality). I was so proud of myself because I had started it immediately after dinner so by 9:00 pm it was ready to go into the fridge. The next time we opened the fridge to put something away, the whole stock pot came sliding out onto the floor. Gallons of turkey soup everywhere...especially nice to clean out from under the fridge. So NOT funny at the time, but now is a funny story. I didn't make turkey soup for several years after.
Funniest Thanksgiving
I once (mis-)made a turkey that when pierced with a carving knife the bird literally fell apart. A cloud of gray smoke rose as the halves of the turkey fell exhausted to each side. Only the bare-boned, over-cooked carcass was left standing. I'd only ever seen a turkey do that in the movies. But I had filled it with a deliciously-spicy, Laotian, herbed stuffing. Here's the recipe. http://ow.ly/DsOt
Funniest Thanksgiving
In the 90's my mom was wearing an angora sweater for Thanksgiving - you know the ones with little pieces of fur sticking out everywhere? While serving dinner, she leaned a little too close to the candle and lit her sweater on fire. Luckily, it burned quickly around the little tendrils, and not the sweater itself. Of course my uncle jumped up to help "put out the fire" but it really looked like he was copping a feel.
Inca Coke or Mexican Coke: Have you seen it?
We recently found Mexican coke at Wegman's. Snagged a few bottles, because we refuse to drink the HFCS stuff. The coke with real cane sugar tastes much better :)
Inca Coke or Mexican Coke: Have you seen it?
My local HEB in Texas stocks imported Coke from Mexico. It really does taste better. I don't know why, I will not pretent to know if it is healthier. But, when I'm at the grocery and I see someone about to buy Coke, I point them at the import Coke. Yep, I'm a Coke sniper :) I can't tell you it tastes fresh and spicy and have you beleive me on my word. You must try. It costs more, but it tastes better. I'd rather pay extra for something I enjoy than anything for something sub-par. I have extra seats on the bandwagon :) Aside: Poster from Canada, skip the Coke, just send REAL maple syrup. Canada seems to be the only place selling something other than that chemical crud on almost every shelf.
Funniest Thanksgiving
My father in a law, a professional chef once made giblet gravy with the gravy drippings, roux, onions etc. he commented that the gravy wasn't thickening up properly and then when he served it, we all noted the gravy was very sweet. He'd use powdered sugar instead of flour!
Funniest Thanksgiving
Traditionally, my extended family, 20-25 ppl, come to my home every Thanksgiving for a home-cooked turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I usually prepare ten to 12 dishes, all from scratch, including desserts.
Last year, as we all sat down at the dinner table to share the meal, my nephew's wife (who's own expertise at preparing a meal is pretty much limited to calling for takeout pizza), reached into her handbag, pulled out an Oscar Meyer bologna sandwich on Wonder Bread, and handed it to her 6-year-old son, as his Thanksgiving dinner.
I was a little insulted at the time, but now I laugh about it.
Funniest Thanksgiving
We always do two pies at Thanksgiving, one apple (that bakes while we're eating dinner) and one pumpkin, baked early in the day. When my dad and I went into the kitchen to fetch the pies, we found strange little markings all over the surface of the pumpkin pie - about a third of the filling was gone, apparently licked out of the shell by our cat, Pickles. My dad and I did a little cosmetic surgery and decided to serve the pie anyway... our cover was blown when the fuzzy perpetrator jumped up onto the dining table halfway through dessert and tried to have another go at the pie. At that point, everyone but my dad and me switched to apple.
Funniest Thanksgiving
My funniest Thansgiving moment was the first Thanksgiving that my parents went away to visit family and my brother, his girlfriend and I had to make dinner ourselves. The girlfriend was determined to make her dad's famous stuffing and misread the recipe, adding many tablespoons of Bell's seasoning instead of a couple of teaspoons. Yikes!!!!!
Fortunately for all of us by the time the entire meal was finally cooked we were all too tired to eat so we put it all away and went back to bed.
Funniest Thanksgiving
Do you mean like the year I made gravy stock from the turkey neck, wing tips, onions, celery, etc.? Really tasted and smelled great ~ until I very carefully poured it all down the kitchen sink while draining it for making the gravy.
Funniest Thanksgiving
While in desert storm I was a last minute adition to the KP roster. Pissed off I went and reported to the Mess Sergeant, since I was late it was determined that I would be doing pots and pans. I got even more peeved. So, dinner time came and I was dolling out peas to the masses when my buddies came up and and gave me the old wish you could join us for dinner routine with a smile. To top all of that off by the time we got to eat there was nothing left but Turkey rations out of the metal trays. After I finished I left to go back to my tent and sulk.Thats when the first soldier got sick. You see the real turkeys had thawed and refroze sometime during the trip and the turkeys became botchulism bombs. The entire camp(with the exception of the KP's who ate T rats) got sick. I couldnt help but feel like the kid on standby me who started the barfarama. That is what I call thanksgiving justice. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
My Thanksgiving cocktail of choice is called Plymouth Rocks, something I created a few years ago with what I had on hand at the time.
Fo six cocktails, stir together over ice-- 3/4 cup Maker's Mark or Wild Turkey, 1/4 cup Cointreau, the juice of half an orange, and several dashes of bitters (I use either orange bitters or Peychauds). Strain into chilled cocktail glasses and top with sparkling apple cider.
You can skip the cointreau, increase the orange juice a bit and add an ounce or two of simple syrup if you prefer.
I like Sazerac cocktails, too. They always make my relatives seem much wittier to me.
FN Chefs - ignoring food sanitation
Ha, that one guy on Chopped that double-dipped thru EVERY challenge, even after the judges called him on it! You could tell it was totally habitual, I wonder how much his business has suffered after that episode aired? I would not eat in his restaurant.
And @ deetroit, that sweating into the food thing is truly disgusting.
Plus half the time they never cover or tie back their hair - there was that one guy on Chopped that kept wiping his hair back from his face ( while he dripped sweat into the food ) and sure enough, his hair ended up on the plate.
eeeewwwwwwww
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
Love the idea of a pomegranate martini.
annieNT: how do you make your French 75? seems like there are a lot of variations
Reminds me. we could make Pomeranians!
2.0 gin
.5 lime juice
.5 St. Germaine
.5 Grenadine syrup (house made...of course)
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
French 75 cocktail
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
Apple cider with either rum or bourbon... Thanksgiving all around! Well, except for the rum part - but it goes so well...
And next day we mull the leftover cider and have spiced cider with rum or bourbon, warm. Delish...
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
Life is a comparatively dull celebration for us. My parents may be coming to my house this year (first time for the switch from everyone going to their house) and they are total lamers when it comes to booze. If anyone has a second glass, they watch that person very carefully. Unfortunately for me, it'll be one glass of wine at dinner and that's about it.
Maybe I should shock them by handing out stiff drinks when they walk in the door. Oh the disapproving looks...
@dhorst - I'm so sorry you're still not feeling well. I hope you get better soon!
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
Pomegranate martinis- they get everyone talking.
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
white wine and cranberry spritzer--may add o.j. to make it seem like I'm fighting this dang cold.
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
I'd like to go to gastronomeg's house for a lambic with a gravy chaser (or is it the other way around?)
Pre-Thanksgiving Cocktail, what's it going to be?
No booze for me until anything involving knife work is out of the way for the day. That's a house rule. I think after that we'll open a pinot noir, probably Chalone (but I might splurge on something pricier).
Recent Posts
Upcoming documentary on food, its origins and effects on health
Posted by AuntJone, February 18, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Unsalted natural peanut butter- what can I do with it?
Posted by AuntJone, January 30, 2009 at 11:04 AM
The workplace potluck/carry-in: like or loathe?
Posted by AuntJone, December 18, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Announcing the arrival of Hayden Jefferson Brown
Posted by AuntJone, September 6, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Waiter, could I get some veggies in my vegetable soup?
Posted by AuntJone, May 3, 2008 at 11:29 AM
The first time I tasted ____ it was so vile I spit it out
Posted by AuntJone, April 14, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Frozen or shelf stable meals. Do good ones exist?
Posted by AuntJone, March 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM
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One year my sister volunteered to make a pumpkin pie. It turned out great except she forgot the sugar. The only person who willingly ate it was our diabetic cousin. She was thrilled there was actually a dessert she could eat! We still razz my sister about it and I think it has been at least 10 years since it happened. Nothing like harping on past mistakes to show your love.