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It is disappointing that Andrew left last week and Dale this week and Lisa and Spike are still there. But that is what the producers want, crafting, shaping the drama as the show is entertainment. I think the producers made the decision that Andrew and Dale were ultimately not finalists and that drama was more important than talent. It would have been interesting to see Andrew there instead of Spike. Spike cooked nothing and is just a master of sucking up to the producers. I think the producers are infatuated with Spike this season the same way they were infatuated with Sam from the other season, and I still don't get it. Or if Lisa was gone and Andrew was there, I think Spike's lack of talent would have stood out like a sore thumb. And in this episode Dale did all the cooking and Spike cooked nothing, in previous episodes people have been sent home for not cooking. But I really don't care for the nasty attitudes and really wanted to see some fresh ideas and earnest cooking. Unfortunately, that is not what the show is about. Yeah for cooking blogs!!!!!!!!!!!

These comments have been helpful to me because I recently bought the book. I ,too, like to read cookbooks and I let ideas from them simmer away. But I love hearing about most loved recipes, so I will try the potatoes, the kale and the risotto.

Mousse made with dark chocolate

I can't believe it is 08 and I can't believe when I went to college the Moosewood Cookbook had recently come out and the classic recipe I made all the time for groups and still do, is her Spinach Lasagna and the other was the Cream of Spinach Soup recipe.

Does a vegetable stir fry(baby portabella's, onions, broccoli, pea shoots, eggplant, bean sprouts, spinach, leeks,and peppers)count? I honestly could not live without some version of a veggie stirfry in my diet, no matter where in the world I am.....

Ed...great story...keep it up, you are truly inspiring to all. For more information on restaurant portions and their respective caloric/nutrient values you can visit menucoach.com. Keep it up and good luck.

If they were so sure you didn't like the food, surely they should have offered you your money back?!? The food is yours, who were they to tell you no.

@huneybumper.........that's outrageous! I hope you called for the manager or the owner.

I prefer the large portions because extra meals make the high price for the meal more worth it on my budget. I can justify the price when I know I'll get at least 2 meals and won't have to cook. I never have a problem reheating or reworking the ingredients into another tasty meal. The hardest part is resisting the urge to eat my leftovers as a bedtime snack.

I don't know if most restaurants that people eat at on a day-to-day basis would be willing to serve small plates this way. It's rare to see places that even offer half portions. I'd go for it, though! Eating half or selectively is another good tactic, boxing up a portion of your meal as soon as it hits the table so you're not tempted to eat everything on your plate.

Many people have been focusing on eating half, but another tactic that can be useful with hugely-portioned meals is to change the components of the dish you eat most of. For example, as a vegetarian, my only option is often pasta with marinara or something similar. I'll eat some of the pasta, usually less than half, and virtually all the vegetable sauce. Then I'll take home the leftover pasta and either resauce it or incorporate it in a pasta frittata. Anyway, my point is, almost any calorie-dense ingredient can be stretched out further than any relatively low-calorie ingredient. And doing so makes for more healthy meals.