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The Ten Most Recent Comments By IronPlatypus

From Talk

My most seldom used spice or herb is _____

Dried dill. Not because I hate it- quite to the contrary, I absolutely love dill - but a trick I learned from my grandmother is that dill is much better frozen than dried. So at the end of every summer I get big bunches of dill from the market, wash it, dry thoroughly, chop, dump in a container and freeze.

I read somewhere that dill in tiny amounts in a dish can act as a natural flavour enhancer similar to MSG. Not a clue if its true or not, but an interesting idea.

Still can't bring myself to throw out the jar of dried dill I acquired somewhere.

IronPlatypus at 2:01PM on 01/29/08

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

Coffee

IronPlatypus at 1:48PM on 01/29/08

From Talk

The holidays are coming...what is your favorite beverage?

Hot mulled apple cider

IronPlatypus at 11:45AM on 10/24/07

From Talk

Which is your ultimate comfort food?

A really really good hot and sour soup.

IronPlatypus at 11:43AM on 10/24/07

From Talk

Meal Planning - Does anyone still do it?

My boyfriend and I never used to plan our meals, but we found that the busier we got, the less healthy we ate. So we now sit down on Sundays and plan out dinners for Monday-Thursday. The weekends we tend to just go with the flow.

We save alot of time knowing what we are going to have for supper- whomever gets home first can start cooking right away. Plus I fine we are better at using up what ingredients we have- less stuff seems to go in the garbage.

I wish we had more time to be spontaneous cooks during the week- but at least we have the weekends!

IronPlatypus at 4:59PM on 08/20/07

From Talk

Beef Jerky? white trash or actually good?

Love it! Great food for wilderness camping too- particularly if its homemade.

IronPlatypus at 9:08AM on 07/23/07

From Talk

Question of the Day: What weird things did you like as a child?

ketchup sandwiches. Wonderbread spread with ketchup. The thought makes me gag now :(

IronPlatypus at 11:23AM on 07/11/07

From Talk

Have you ever bought anything off of an infomercial?

My parents purchased a food dryer 7 years ago or so and its been great. We had been making beef jerky for wilderness camping in the oven, but the dryer takes less time, holds more, and doesn't tie up the oven for an evening. They also use it for fruit and herbs from the garden.

IronPlatypus at 2:34PM on 06/14/07

From Talk

What food do you wish you liked, but don't?

Seafood and cooked fish (but I love sushi- go figure).

IronPlatypus at 10:30AM on 06/11/07

From Serious Eats

'On Top of Spaghetti' Book Giveaway

Rigatoni with a simple marinara sauce made by simmering good quality canned tomatoes (or fresh) with thyme, garlic, shallots and butter until tastes right (I can't remember, but I think the basis for this sauce came from an Amateur Gourmet post) . With fresh Parmesan grated on top, and maybe fresh basil if I have some.

The hilarious part is that anyone who tastes it always comments on how light and fresh the sauce it, and how satisfying it is without any meat. With the butter in there it sure isn't waist-friendly. Its a good illustration of why restaurant food tastes so good- and how many calories can be hidden in something as simple as a tomato sauce.

So I just make it for special occasions :)

IronPlatypus at 10:23AM on 04/11/07

Responses to Comments by IronPlatypus

From Talk

My most seldom used spice or herb is _____

thanks brooke29!

hungrychristel at 12:13PM on 02/06/08

From Talk

My most seldom used spice or herb is _____

hungrychristel, I add some truffle oil to some pastas and to risotto, especially, mushroom risotto, it's fabulous there! Don't add too much at once though, the flavour might be overpowering to some, start with 0.5-1 tsp, stir in and keep adding until it tastes to your liking.

brooke29 at 7:28PM on 02/05/08

From Talk

My most seldom used spice or herb is _____

I'm not sure if it count as a herb or spice; but I've been struggling to find a use for my

WHITE TRUFFLE OIL

We're foodies--and we got it for a gift--you would think we would have one idea but we don't!

Anyone have any good uses for this??????????

hungrychristel at 7:05PM on 02/05/08

From Talk

My most seldom used spice or herb is _____

SavtaShayne---are you keeping your antique allspice just for the tin---ha! Yes, you hold the record:)

JEP at 12:34PM on 01/30/08

From Talk

My most seldom used spice or herb is _____

I bet I win the prize for having the oldest spice. I have a tin of Ehler's alllspice from I think the '60s. I don't think they even have Ehler's brand any longer.

SavtaShayna at 12:16PM on 01/30/08

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

I loved grappa when I drank it in Italy. Everyone else said it tasted like "fireplace."

More on the fruit theme - cutting an unripe pineapple that smells wonderful is probably one of the worst things that can happen to a pineapple-loving innocent.

I also adore chestnuts. I'm very sorry to see that they (along with brussel sprouts!?) have disappeared from the local supermarkets . . . .

KarynMC at 8:25PM on 01/29/08

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

Turkey. Maybe I just think it's gross because I'm not an American. Maybe I think it's gross because at least 50% of thanksgivings there winds up being a dry, disgusting bird on the table. Roasting turkeys smell great. Then in the end, it just tastes like turkey.
Along that vein, how about fatty duck or goose? Smells good, but every mouthful is full of greasy fat chunks. No thanks.
How about unseasoned hamburger meat? Fry it up and it smells tasty but it actually tastes totally gross.
How about the reverse? Milk smells gross but tastes just fine.

clarice at 6:54PM on 01/29/08

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

I agree with coffee (love the coffee aisle in the grocery store!) and fruit. Also, last Thanksgiving's turkey. It smelled so good and came out of the oven dry, overcooked, dull in flavor (and cold, by the time we got to eat!). By the way, I didn't cook the turkey.

misseditor at 6:29PM on 01/29/08

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

i totally agree about fruit. there is nothing worse than a sweet, delicious perfectly ripe-pear-scented pear that, when bitten into, is unripened and bland. [sigh] i hate that so much.

lexophile at 5:23PM on 01/29/08

From Talk

Which is your ultimate comfort food?

Chip Beef on toast

lukee at 1:45PM on 10/30/07