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The Ten Most Recent Comments By IndyGal

From Talk

Buying Produce for One

We should all shop in Italy!
http://www.seriouseats.com/required_eating/2008/04/snapshots-from-italy-ten-reasons-why-i-love-shopping-in-italy.html

I also shop and cook for just me or at most 1-2 more people. I'm becoming a master at cooking "just enough." Some things, like soups, I don't mind having more than what I/we will eat at one meal. Most things, however, I don't want leftovers.

I've found that by keeping parsley in a glass of water at room temperature it keeps the best. Change the water every couple of days. I'm wasting much less now.

IndyGal at 11:45AM on 05/03/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

I'm using it more and more as a bread box. I've never been thrilled with the microwave for cooking or defrosting and use it some to reheat. I agree with those who have said that food doesn't stay warm as long after being heated in the microwave as by more conventional methods. I've never been thrilled with it.

IndyGal at 7:30AM on 04/02/08

From Talk

Has anyone developed an alternative for "cream of --- " soups?

The problem with using substitutes for "cream of _____" is that the dish you're trying to recreate doesn't taste the same. Green bean casserole, for instance, made with another sauce instead of cream of mushroom soup may be good, but it's not the traditional green bean casserole. I think the solution is to avoid those things or make them infrequently.

IndyGal at 12:50PM on 03/30/08

From Talk

What should I make from Bittman's "How to cook everything..."?

I also have HTCE and HTCE Vegetarian. They aren't the books I go to when I want to figure out "what should I have for dinner?" They're the books I go to when I have an idea of what I want to cook, but don't know exactly how to do it or want ideas for variations of a dish. I use them more for reference and "how to."

When I'm trying to determine what to have for dinner, I prefer his Minimalist cookbooks, now published as Mark Bittman's Quick and Easy Recipes from the New York Times as well as some others.




IndyGal at 11:18AM on 03/29/08

From Required Eating

Weekend Book Giveaway: 'The Fortune Cookie Chronicles'

Mine made me burst out laughing. It said: "Your life will be in service to others." I'm a nurse.

IndyGal at 6:22PM on 03/08/08

From Required Eating

Eating for Two: Of Cheese and Anxiety

I'm so thankful I didn't know most of this when I was pregnant. I drank wine occasionally and ate anything I wanted that sounded appealing.

IndyGal at 10:32AM on 03/07/08

From A Hamburger Today

Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 4: Bacon, Doughnut, Egg Burger

With this she served baked garlic cheese grits, yogurt parfait, and chocolate chip pancakes with cinnamon (whipped) cream.

IndyGal at 1:00PM on 03/05/08

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

I'm a sucker for the blue box every now and again.

I made Ina's mac n' cheese last night, minus the bacon and the blue cheese. It was good, but not as creamy as I'd like. Afterwards I started searching my cookbooks. Found one from Pam Anderson in The Perfect Recipe that I think I'll try next. She uses evaporated milk, egg, and milder cheese, cooks it for less time at a lower temperature -- and stirs during the baking time.

IndyGal at 12:29PM on 03/05/08

From Required Eating

Michael Ruhlman: 'Fear Not Salt and Fat'

A few years ago I realized that people who were healthy (and slim!) ate lots of vegetables and fruits, minimized the use of or avoided processed foods, exercised daily (often just walking or biking and other activities in the course of daily life) and were moderate in their habits. They didn't use low-fat this and no-fat that or artificial sweeteners or low-carb this or that. They ate everything; they just didn't eat everything daily.

I can verify that what Mr. Ruhlman says about salt is true. I have CHF and my cardiologist told me he wasn't concerned about the salt I used in cooking or at the table, but to watch out for processed foods. He didn't mention restaurant foods, though, and I've found the food at chain restaurants (fast food and sit-down restaurants) to be the worst. If I have to eat out all day, I'm guaranteed to have problems late that day and the next day.

I've also discovered that for daily meals, what I cook is far better than anything I can eat at a restaurant.

IndyGal at 9:01AM on 02/29/08

From Required Eating

Stately Scoops: What Ice Cream Flavor Represents Your State?

Following JEP's lead -- maybe Caramel Corn Crunch for IN, although it probably wouldn't take too much to make sugar cream pie into ice cream.

IndyGal at 7:01PM on 02/28/08

Responses to Comments by IndyGal

From Talk

Buying Produce for One

Just a quick geek moment for preserving spinach and basil and like leaves:

Pop them into the plastic bag, blow air in, and seal it while it's puffed up.
The herbs survive better in a CO2 environment.

Also, never store apples with the rest of your fruit..... :p

jazzinx at 1:39PM on 05/03/08

From A Hamburger Today

Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 4: Bacon, Doughnut, Egg Burger

Ellios: It's Ramsay, not Ramsey.

Adam Kuban at 9:12PM on 04/21/08

From A Hamburger Today

Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 4: Bacon, Doughnut, Egg Burger

P.S. Paula Deen stinks, the best chef in the world is Gordon Ramsey.

Ellios at 7:50PM on 04/21/08

From A Hamburger Today

Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 4: Bacon, Doughnut, Egg Burger

I have to say I LOVE burgers, all kinds of burgers. Cheese, chicken, turkey, pizza, anything! Burgers with onion rings, burgers with bacon, even burgers with mash potatoes like the new one at BK! But this is not a burger. A DONUT? A FRIED EGG? That is disgusting, especially the donut part. Theres some foods you dont mix and this is the best example of that.

Ellios at 7:46PM on 04/21/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

BBCNEWS.com ("Cancer Risks in Microwaved Food")
CambridgeUniversityNet ("Health Risks and Dangers of Using Microwaves in Food Preparation")
Mercola.com("Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking")
Guess it depends if the convenience is worth the risks.

Ceinwyn at 1:53PM on 04/15/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

I could probably live without it at home. I use it in the mornings for my oatmeal, but I could always use the stove. I will use it to soften butter for a baking recipe or reheat food on occasion. But I frequently use the microwave at my office for heating up leftovers - otherwise I'd spend a lot more money on lunch!

woodenspoon at 12:37PM on 04/04/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

@chari - same here. I steam vegetables, cook potatoes and squash, melt butter and chocolate, defrost meat, boil water, reheat leftovers and cool coffee and various other things not coming to me at the moment. One thing I never do is pop popcorn. That is best done stovetop. I would sorely miss my microwave if someone were so cruel as to take it away. I use it at least 5 times a day, which is more than my coffee maker, toaster oven, mixer, food processor, dishwasher, oven. Only my sinks gets comparable use. Microwaves RULE!!!!

PerkyMac at 10:14AM on 04/04/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

As a college student, I can vouch that there certainly is life without a microwave!

Ash at 9:47AM on 04/04/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

No one seems to mention my favorite use - steaming vegetables and making baked potatoes. Is there some reason - did I miss a major health warning or something? I also like to buy artisan bread on the weekends, then freeze it and defrost it piece by piece as the week goes along. Also prevents binging on bread!

chari at 8:28AM on 04/04/08

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

Mine caught on fire; the internal electrical failed and burst into flames while my daughter was using it and I'm just glad I was there as she had no clue what to do other than scream for me (I always unplug the toaster too because one day in my mom's kitchen I noticed the cozy on hers was smoking... and if I hadn't been there her house wouldn't be now).

Well, that was months ago and except for a few fleeting things and a minor adjustment time of a few days (while I was trying to figure out which one to buy as a replacement), I really haven't missed it and I love the extra space. It's amazing to me how much better food is when we don't have the option of the microwave. In fact, 5-7 minutes for pizza slices in the oven gives them a lovely browning but I actually like most roasted veggies cold the next day (they seem to have more and richer flavor).

It was perfect timing as I'd been hearing/reading a lot about how the waves change up the food and the plastics (and other chems used in micro-friendly foods) just aren't good for us.

I'd much rather have really good pots and pans (and I do) that are easy and fun to use and clean up pretty easy (and they aren't non-stick just worth every penny) than a microwave. Though we did invest in a few inexpensive aluminum pie pans to put something quickly in the oven. They clean as easy as a plate.

Speaking of easy cleaning, no more contortions scrubbing out the inside of the box after splatters and explosions because truthfully, only one person ever bothers so none of the rest worry about the mess they're making.

Sieseye at 2:42AM on 04/03/08