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WTF was that Good Eats last night?
I have to admit, when I saw the hype about the live show in Atlanta, I had thoughts about going -- even going so far as checking airfare. After seeing the show last night, I'm glad I didn't go. Alton may be great when he's doing his show, but that thing last night was just awful, awful, awful. And I agree -- he lost enough weight to remind me of Steve Jobs before he took his sabbatical.
Serious Cocktails: Rediscovering Calvados and Other Apple Brandies
I bought a bottle in my late teens when I read about it an article in Esquire (or some similar mag). I brought it to my brother as a housewarming present, and we cracked it open. Way too potent for me back then. For all I know, I bought a lousy brand.
I'm still intrigued by it, and though I'm not much of a drinker, I have since developed a sometimes taste for Courvoisier, I'd be really interested to hear from others what I should look for next time I'm in the liquor store.
Video: Little Gordon Ramsay Is Sick of Hydrogenated School Cafeteria Sausage
Yeah, I kinda wish they didn't make that kid curse like a sailor. No one, child or adult, should be able to get away with behaving like that, whether there's a camera on them or not.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
I still make my mom's "slumgullion," a mixture of ground meat, macaroni, onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. She made it with ground beef, but I make it with ground bison and whole wheat pasta. It's my ultimate comfort food.
WTF was that Good Eats last night?
I have to admit, when I saw the hype about the live show in Atlanta, I had thoughts about going -- even going so far as checking airfare. After seeing the show last night, I'm glad I didn't go. Alton may be great when he's doing his show, but that thing last night was just awful, awful, awful. And I agree -- he lost enough weight to remind me of Steve Jobs before he took his sabbatical.
Serious Cocktails: Rediscovering Calvados and Other Apple Brandies
I bought a bottle in my late teens when I read about it an article in Esquire (or some similar mag). I brought it to my brother as a housewarming present, and we cracked it open. Way too potent for me back then. For all I know, I bought a lousy brand.
I'm still intrigued by it, and though I'm not much of a drinker, I have since developed a sometimes taste for Courvoisier, I'd be really interested to hear from others what I should look for next time I'm in the liquor store.
Video: Little Gordon Ramsay Is Sick of Hydrogenated School Cafeteria Sausage
Yeah, I kinda wish they didn't make that kid curse like a sailor. No one, child or adult, should be able to get away with behaving like that, whether there's a camera on them or not.
In Memory of The Silver Palate's Sheila Lukins
66 seems so young. Was she a smoker?
Alice Waters' Startup Story
Poor Alice. People are so jealous of you. I wonder if you care?
Look Who's Talkin': Comments, Quips, and Tips We Have Known and Loved
Thanks for the shout-out, AK.
Frozen Shrimp: To Use or Not to Use?
Yeah... all shrimp is frozen. On the boats that catch them, I think, so even if you live on the beach, unless you net them yourself, you're eating frozen. I think maybe the question is about whether they're cooked and frozen...
And there, I'm not so sure. Freezing anything twice is bound to be bad for taste and texture.
Whole Foods CEO Criticizes Health Care, Some Shoppers Boycott
I like the quality of their produce, fish, and meats. I like the prepared foods, too. I am lucky enough to be able to afford shopping there occasionally. I disagree with a lot of what he wrote, but I am willing to let him state his position. I think either he's crazy to have not considered his editorial wouldn't piss off a lot of his customers, and he decided to go ahead with it anyway. Well, good for him in that regard. That takes cajones. I think it's ironic that for every one on the left who is boycotting them, there appears to be someone on the right who are willing to shop in their place. And it's also interesting to note that the value of their stock has been at year-long record highs during the whole boycott.
Fresh Food on TV: Weekend Edition
I'm a big fan of Ida Garten, but I have to admit, I think she's run out of recipes. I know I've seen her make macaroni and cheese with lobster. And she's made some sort of greek style salad every show for the last couple of shows. Enough with the feta, already.
Alice Waters' Startup Story
A lot of people seem to automatically resent Alice and everything she does. While it may be true that she treats her staff may not scale to a larger organization, that really doesn't matter. It works for her and her organization, and she chooses to be generous.
Alice Waters' Startup Story
Isn't her restaurant booked weeks in advance, and has been for decades? I imagine she turns a tidy profit on each patron, too. I bet she can afford to be angelically generous.
Pressure Cooker Phobia?
I use an electric pressure cooker, and I think it's great.
I've written a couple entries about my experiences with it on my blog. Here's one where I describe the pressure cooker
Here's one about a recipe for 1-hour chili (without soaking the beans).
And here's one for a really great grilled lamb and tuscan bean soup I came up with.
Finally, I even wrote an entry about why people seem to be afraid to use a pressure cooker.
A 'Guide' to Understanding the Food Network
Insulting Alton AND Ina? Pfft. Someone needs to send a ninjagram.
'Word of Mouth' Taste-Tests Reverse-Engineered KFC Recipe
I made the GFC version of the recipe ... including a marinade in milk overnight, followed by poaching the chicken in the milk to insure complete cooking. Then I mixed the herbs and spices they listed with 2 cups of flour. I was really pretty disappointed. It wasn't half as good as the recipe for fried chicken I worked out a while ago dry brining the chicken, then marinating in buttermilk and onions.
Video: The Ross Sisters Sing About Solid Potato Salad
@redhead : Here's an article that talks about the Ross Sisters, how they'd be in their 80's now, and how this clip if from a movie called "Broadway Rhythm," and dates back to 1944.
Cook the Book: 'Rustic Fruit Desserts'
My favorite is blueberry pie with a nice flaky crust, with lemon zest baked into it.
No, wait... peach pie, with a shortbread crust, and a big dollop of vanilla ice cream.
No, wait ... gooseberry, no, blackberry, no, strawberry-rhubarb... aw, do I really have to pick just one?
Daniel Craig Popsicle
I wonder what he tastes like.
Regional Fast Food Chains
That's great news, chanterelle -- for everything but my waistline. I like the watermelon cream smoothies the best, but their burgers are top-notch, too. When I was in Huntsville, recently, I brought my brother to one for lunch, and he couldn't believe the carhop service with the rollerskates.
@BobbieAnne : I miss, miss, MISS Arthur Treacher's--do they exist anywhere anymore? I have one not more than a mile away from my house, on Rt. 1 in Alexandria, VA. I've only been, maybe, twice in the last 10 years though. It's just can't justify a meal where everything is deep fried anymore.
Regional Fast Food Chains
There are a couple of local chains -- very small, like 3 or 4 outlets, -- that are here in the DC area that are worth mentioning.
Crisp & Juicy is a peruvian chicken place that marinates their chickens in some marvelous elixir before putting it on a rotisserie. Then they serve it with your choice of great sauces. Judging by the awards posted on the wall, they were more popular back around 2000, but I suspect that the novelty of peruvian chicken has just worn off since -- that, and a local competitor might have stolen a bit of the thunder of the one I go to in Arlington. I tried them last weekend, and they are just as good as they ever were. They only have a handful of outlets in Virginia, DC, and Maryland.
Another like this is Ravi Kebab. They started out as a little hole-in-the-wall in Arlington, VA, and now I think they're up to their 3rd or 4th place. Their boneless chicken kebab is moist and flavorful. I especially like their chickpeas and rice that they offer as a side, though its spiciness tends to be a little variable.
Regional Fast Food Chains
Potbelly is apparently open in only a few states (mid-atlantic, midwest, and Texas). They're pretty great.
My wife loves White Castle, tho there aren't any around here, which is probably pretty lucky. I've never really understood the attraction of the slider. Seems to mostly be about the damp, oniony roll, if you ask me.
I wish we had Sonic's here in northern Virginia. We only seem to get to go when we visit the in-laws down in Tennessee. We do have Checker's, though. Not sure how widespread they are.
And we used to feel special about our nearby Krispy Kreme, but they've become so widespread in recent years, that their rapid expansion is threatening to undermine them in this crappy economy.
A new place called Z Pizza opened up near us. They offer unusual, handmade pizzas.
Nashville Eats?
I was recently in Nashville and the best place we ate was out at the Loveless Cafe. Downhome family style, all the biscuits you can eat. I'm told that some locals don't like it as much as they used to, but if that's the case, it must have been heaven before, because it's pretty close to that now.
Making Butter at Home
Like Micheal Z, I have made butter before, but not on purpose. Aside from the academic, I can't really see much point in making butter. It's certainly not any cheaper. Compound butters are where it's at.
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes with lobster this year. Yum.
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Sounds perfect! Yukon gold potatoes have the best flavor & a little garlic... yummy! It sounds like I'll be skipping the turkey and having 2 helpings of potatoes!!
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
ooo!! this looks like a tasty classic.
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
We, too, love mashed potatoes as our favorite Thanksgiving side and as pure comfort foot. I use a ricer for the smoother consistency, and also use heavy whipping cream. I must say, though, that the sour cream sounds like a great alternative. We'll have to try that.
Secret Supper Clubs, Foodie Speakeasies, Underground Restaurants
For anyone that runs an underground restaurant, do you require your guests to sign a waiver or release form? How do you protect yourself from a lawsuit say if someone were to get sick or have an allergic reaction after eating your food?
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:
quack
rebeccadiamond
Ron Manley
Monelle
lucylucy
Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Wild rice soup. Creamy and comforting.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
My favorite family dinner is veggie lasagna
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
My mom would make a dish with country ribs and sauerkraut that was so good! I'm glad I finally learned how to make it.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
peruvian chicken with rice and green beans
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
One of our favorites would be roasted turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, butternut squash, green bean casserole and homemade biscuits.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
I've always loved stew that's cooked all day in the slow cooker paired with a mixed green salad and freshly baked bread.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Our favorite dinner meal is Lasagne, baked potatoes, Caesar Salad, Garlic bread and cherry pie. garrettsambo@aol.com
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Definitely meatloaf and mashed potatoes
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
When it gets cool, the husband likes to make turkey chili and I make the honey cornbread. So good!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Our fav meal is an oven roasted chicken with sides like green beans creamed potatoes and a nice dessert like cheese cake
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Deep fried breaded chicken breasts make with homemade super crunchy breadcrumbs :)
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Cold weather is chili time! Made with fresh tomatoes, chunks of steak and some diced habanero for a little extra kick. A big bowl of chili, caesar salad, and cheddary potato rolls are a truly memorable and satisfying meal.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Mom's homemade shrimp creole night is a big family favorite year-round, followed by Mom's holiday time cookie bake-a-thon. Yum!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
A big bowl of steaming hot noodle soup!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
chicken and biscuits!!!!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Old fashioned turkey dinner does it.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
I love my Mom's boiled chicken and a big bowl of soup she makes with the stock!
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About DaveFaris
Website: http://cookingmonster.com
Location: Alexandria, VA
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I still make my mom's "slumgullion," a mixture of ground meat, macaroni, onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. She made it with ground beef, but I make it with ground bison and whole wheat pasta. It's my ultimate comfort food.