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The Ten Most Recent Posts By Christina

From Talk

Almond Butter-- what to do?

I have a jar of delicious organic almond butter hangin' around.
What should I do with it?

I'm mostly on the look out for
low-fat recipes that don't use much in the way of eggs and dairy,
or recipes in which you can easily make substitutions (because
not only are eggs and milk a little expensive for a poor college student
but also because I'm lactose intolerant and dieting). I know
that I could substitute it in for some other nut butter, but I figured
Serious Eaters out there might know some recipes whose flavors
play well with almond. :)

From Talk

Caffeine Addiction

If my day doesn't contain at least 12 oz. of coffee, it immediately contains a headache! What do you recommend doing or eating to break a caffeine addiction?

From Talk

Spelt cookies and goods

Over the past few months, I've been trying to change my diet to incorporate more whole, organic grains. I bake frequently, and I've added rye and spelt flour to my arsenal of ingredients. However, I've never baked with spelt before, so I'm not sure how to handle it just yet, besides knowing that it's low in gluten (and acts accordingly). Also, most recipes I'm finding on the internet call for enough butter or sugar to make any health benefits of spelt moot!

Do you have any delicious recipes that call for spelt? Bread, cookies, crackers, I'd love to hear it.

From Talk

Apples Galore: What to Do With Them?

I've bought some really delicious Gala apples and I'm not sure what to do with them. I live in a college dorm, so my supplies and equipment are limited, and I don't want to make apple pie, crisp, or applesauce. Any suggestions? :)

From Talk

Restaurants in the Red Hook/Tivoli/Kingston NY area...


Know any and feel like sharing?

From Talk

Favorite Bread Recipes

Recently, if I don't make bread, we simply don't have any. I'm really not an experienced bread maker, but I'm willing to try! I'm looking for good, semi-easy loaves. I'm having a lot of fun experimenting with different combinations of rye, whole wheat, and white flours.

One of my favorite recipes is the no-knead recipe from the Times (Sullivan), and Nigella Lawson's Essential White Loaf recipe. Anything by Marion Cunningham is pretty great too!

What are your favorites? =) Post the recipe!

From Talk

Good canned artichoke hearts

I haven't been a fan of artichoke hearts until a very good salad I had recently. I was so excited, I decided to buy some canned artichoke hearts and whip up a salad to go along as part of a Mother's Day dinner for my mom. To my dismay, they were -very- salty, even allowing for the salt in the brining fluid, and so mushy that they fell apart. Not really the thing at all. :( Still, I'm determined to try again!

Is there a recommended brand, or method of preparation? Or some other way of getting artichoke hearts that doesn't involve gutting dozens of fresh artichokes?

The Ten Most Recent Comments By Christina

From Ed Levine Eats

New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe

Looks way delicious.

From Required Eating

Individually Wrapped Cashew Is Full of Fail


I think individually-wrapped cashews are full of a very painful WIN. They're hilarious but, as simon wrote, very wasteful.

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...


Unfortunately, there's several hundred miles between my mother and I. Usually MD was a chance for me to wow her with some fantastic breakfast recipe and we would spend the day just enjoying each other's company--going to a movie, etc. We rarely, if ever, went out that I can remember. Anyway, this year I sent her some quince de membrillo, which I know she will love, and called. It's not the same, but I think the expression of love and appreciation, however you do it, is what counts the most. It's not a black and white 'restaurant or home-cooked meal question'.

From Talk

Funny remarks you can re-use


When I was a kid, if I wanted something, my mom would say, "It's good to want." and leave it.

From Talk

Take to work lunches!


I second wraps. A wrap with lettuce, thinly sliced apples, cucumbers, walnuts, and goat cheese is delicious, nutritious, and filling. They're very easy to make vegetarian and very easy to make healthy.

When I packed a lunch for school, I brought two slices of good, thick bread, some wedges of Laughing Cow cheese, and some sliced fruit/veggies, with a cookie or something. Overall I'm an advocate of bringing clean, easy-to-eat things that won't leave a strong odor either in your cafeteria (or wherever you eat) or in your mouth.

From Required Eating

Photo of the Day: Soup Dumpling In Spoon


YOM YOM soup dumplings!

From Talk

Surprise romantic picnic - ideas needed!

What a great, lovely idea! I hope your friends appreciate it, especially if you include a single one of the delicious sounding ideas above.

From Talk

Is chocolate creme pie really the #3 most popular pie?

Ew, chocolate creme pie. I'll take apple, berry, lemon meringue, key lime, peach or almost anything over that.

From Talk

What did you have for dinner?

Processed PB&J on whole grain bread and an orange. Hurray college.

From Talk

Lunch at Whole Foods

I love the local names. The Austin ones are pretty hilarious (and the Austin store in general is gigantic and almost monstrously luxe). I haven't much liked their pasta salads to go or anything, but the sandwiches are good, the Indian food and sushi is good, and I too like getting a hard roll and something to stuff into it.

Responses to Comments by Christina

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...

Yea, you make a good point. We wound up going out to eat this year and the service wasn't the best. Not only that but the person who liked her food the least was mom, so that was sad. Maybe next year I'll try and cook....She can't hold me to a high standard. :)

Hillary
Chew on That

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...

My brother and I always take mom out for MD b/c we do not own our own homes yet and Mom / Dad would feel obliged to cook/cleanup in their homes. THey are very particular( read OCD) and would have more stress if we prepared the meal because they like things done their way. We went out for a 4pm early dinner reservation to a high end restaurant and treated mom. There was no cleanup to worry about so we were in no rush. The food and servicer were superb. Mom said it was exactly what she wanted. THis is my only goal on MD!

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...

I thought about this thread as I was eating a pretty average buffet lunch with my mom and wishing there was some place a little nicer we could have gone. When you're 100 miles from anywhere, Applebees sounds pretty fancy. The cafe was where Mom wanted to go and that's what counts. I drove up (about 80 miles) to go to church with her and spend the day. As I said, lunch was so-so, but the day was beautiful and it was nice to have time for just the 2 of us. Mom's 87 and pretty amazing. She just bought her first pair of blue jeans as well as a 42" flat screen HDTV. One of the best things for me was channel surfing and coming across a replay of the KU-Memphis game. Watching the end of that game on the big screen was great!

From Talk

Take to work lunches!

I had just finished school myself, and I was in the same situation. (so clueless) The best turn-outs for me (I feel that satisfaction, nutrition, and taste make these my favourites):

1. tuna wraps - whole wheat flax tortillas, tuna, sweet onion dressing (kraft or your very own), feta cheese, and some spring greens and scallions
2. sometimes on a lazy week i make one giant tray of veggie lasagna with beans (it can be re-heated all week and the taste only gets better!)
3. consomme with sprouts, carrots, beans, spinach and tofu (don't even cook anything; just heat up the broth with all the veggies in it)
4. green bean salad with a basic viniaigrette, chives, dill, red onion (beware the onions though--and I usually eat it with whatever protein I ate the night before)

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...

@wookie - I agree. For special occasion dining, high-end is the only way to go. Not just because I am the "Queen for a Day" (heehee) but also because they are able to accommodate busy services without a problem. You do get what you pay for, in this as in anything.

@liwinegirl - This may sound self-congratulatory, but I do agree with you - on other people's children. I have felt so sorry for kids whose parents are screaming at them to behave when they have clearly never been out and have no idea what is expected of them.

Having said that, all three of my children (ages 10, 7, and 2) have been out to "grown up establishments" and done fine...but that is because they go out to dinner with us on a regular basis and know what is expected of them. The 2 year old gets wiggly, but we know this and take turns taking him for a walk (in the parking lot if necessary). We did this with our older children when they were little and they now LOVE restaurants and can order for themselves off a menu.

We don't, however, take them out way past their bedtimes, or ignore them in restaurants, which is what I have seen many parents doing. No wonder the kids act up when they are overtired, hungry, and no one is paying attention to them. I get a little cranky under those conditions as well. =)

From Talk

Take to work lunches!

I brought leftover quiche lorraine today (reheated really well on power level 7 for 1:31) and a snack size baggie of black olives (leftover from weekend pizza-making - satisfies the salt craving but healthier than chips).

I also get the frozen panini style sandwiches at the grocery store when they're on sale.

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...

It's just mom and me on Mother's Day so whatever she wants is what goes. If she wants to stay in and have me cook, if she wants to go out, heck if she wants to cook - it's her day. This year we went out for dim sum. No reservations. We were seated immediately, even in the middle of the lunch crush, received attentive service and ate delicious food. Then we spent the rest of the day walking it off!

From Talk

Take to work lunches!

Everyone has such great ideas!
I too usually bring leftovers of some sort for lunch....today it's leftover pulled bbq chicken & spring pea soup - interesting combo...huh? It's what I had in the fridge this morning. I also bring hummus or some type of dip w/pita chips to snack on during the day...last week it was tzatziki. I bring fresh fruit & yogurt to eat for breakfast at my desk. I have an insulated cooler bag w/a flat frozen gel pack I put in the bottom & pile my goodies on top....everything stays cool throughout the day, and I don't have to work about refridgeration.
We are lucky enough to have an ice machine here, so I usually brew myself tea & ice it during the day to drink so I stay away from the sodas!

From Talk

Mother's Day and the Restaurant Experience...

@brittj8585- I feel your pain! While I can't say all of the customers were an issue yesterday, there was an unusual excess of screaming children and, I work at a wine bar. Young children who go out on these holidays typically don't know how to behave on account of the fact that they don't go out very much at all. In some cases, I think this is why parents can be unequipped to control them. The majority of adults had a great deal of patience because they know it is busy on a holiday; the minority complained about the children and under-tipped for not having a "perfect" experience. Not sure if it applies to your restaurant, but children simply don't belong in grown up establishments and holidays should not be an exception.

From Talk

Take to work lunches!

I've been obsessed with the Bento/Laptop Lunch groups on Flickr and there are always good ideas on how to/what to pack lunches there. Today I brought cold tortelloni from last nights dinner (no sauce), 4 dates, green pepper slices with a little bit of ranch for dipping, and 5 melba toast crackers with a little hunk of St Andre for speading. I eat SO much better when I actually pack my lunches. Much better than bringing those frozen meals...

@Cassaendra: I'm always stuck behind the same person at the microwave! Except mine will always turn around and say "Oh, guess I beat you today" and proceed to putter around the office kitchen while their meal will take 10 minutes to cook. I've been tempted to pour my split pea soup over their head when they say that.