Library Lady’s Profile
Recent Comments
Chemo-"therapy" foods
When my mom went through chemo, she could hardly eat anything. Not because of nausea but because the chemo made everything taste metallic. She completely lost her appetite. The foods she craved were cold/sweet things like cut up melon or fruit smoothies. She wouldn't eat much, so we would try to pack as many calories as possible into her at one time. For smoothies, we used full fat milk and yogurt with frozen blueberries, some sugar and a dash of vanilla. My mom is doing great now, no more cancer after 2 years. Best of luck to you.
Wings and Dings
A native of Buffalo, I grew up eating wings. Franks is an excellent choice for the hot sauce. I don't have a deep fryer, so I make wings by par boiling them for 10 minutes. When drained, I toss them with a little vegetable oil. Then we grill them until they are very crispy, but not burned! Toss them with the sauce and eat! Mmm.
Bloody Mary Bar
I like to rim the glass with a mix of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. This may be heresy, but I really like Mr. & Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix.
See more comments by Library Lady »
Recent Posts
Do you subscribe to a CSA farm? Please share your experience!
Posted by Library Lady, April 28, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Best books / web sites for a real newbie of a cook?
Posted by Library Lady, August 21, 2007 at 10:10 AM
See more posts by Library Lady »
Recent Favorites
Library Lady hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
Library Lady hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
Library Lady hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Boudain
Just this past weekend, I picked up some smoked boudin, made locally. Last night I made a little soup by sauteeing onions and garlic and then adding chicken broth, cubed potatoes and turnip greens that I had frozen earlier this year. When those were cooked, I topped it with slices of the smoked boudin. It was heavenly.
Chemo-"therapy" foods
When my mom went through chemo, she could hardly eat anything. Not because of nausea but because the chemo made everything taste metallic. She completely lost her appetite. The foods she craved were cold/sweet things like cut up melon or fruit smoothies. She wouldn't eat much, so we would try to pack as many calories as possible into her at one time. For smoothies, we used full fat milk and yogurt with frozen blueberries, some sugar and a dash of vanilla. My mom is doing great now, no more cancer after 2 years. Best of luck to you.
Wings and Dings
A native of Buffalo, I grew up eating wings. Franks is an excellent choice for the hot sauce. I don't have a deep fryer, so I make wings by par boiling them for 10 minutes. When drained, I toss them with a little vegetable oil. Then we grill them until they are very crispy, but not burned! Toss them with the sauce and eat! Mmm.
Bloody Mary Bar
I like to rim the glass with a mix of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. This may be heresy, but I really like Mr. & Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix.
Southern Food - What's your favorite?
I like John Currence's version. He spices up the grits real good.
http://www.recipelink.com/mf/14/24825
Southern Food - What's your favorite?
I'm a Yankee living in Mississippi. I recently cooked turnip greens for the first time and they were divine! I've had plenty of turnip greens at restaurants, but the ones I made were the best. Another favorite of mine is cheese grits. I don't need them topped with anything even though they are good under grillades or shrimp. Oh, and homemade pimiento cheese made with homemade mayo is yummy.
What are you canning this season?
This year, I'm not doing so much canning. I did get 13 lbs of cucumbers from our CSA, so I made some dill pickle relish. I've also canned a tomato-jalapeno salsa. I may make a batch of our secret family recipe, Black Catsup. It's super spicy and yummy. Sorry, I can't tell you what is in it. I've been thinking about doing some jam from local peaches. But that is all!
In Videos: Kids Eat Salty Yogurt in Fake Commercial Casting
This is just plain mean. I don't understand why people are laughing.
Do you think that you are a 'Supertaster'?
Sometimes I think my teenage daughter is a supertaster. She seems to be able to detect atomic sized particles of onions in anything. She also can't stand most cruciferous vegetables. She will only eat broccoli if it is roasted to the point of resembling a broccoli chip.
But she also has a ferocious sweet tooth and will eat sugary treats that make me cringe to even think about them.
Maybe she's just picky!
Eggplant Overload
I also suggest caponata. If you have a pressure canner, you can make a big batch and can it in mason jars.
Fried Okra -- Give it some serious love!
I'm a yankee expat living in Mississippi. I came back from our local farmers' market this weekend with a bag of tiny okra to fry. I only buy them when they are very tiny so that they are tender. The big, tough pods do nothing for me. I love this time of year when I can have a supper that includes fried okra and a tomato salad (yes, the tomatoes are in).
Help me identify this pan
Are the wells shallow? Could it be a shortbread pan?
Creole mustard??
I use Zatarain's creole mustard whenever I make deviled eggs or potato salad. I don't think it has any horseradish in it. It's a medium bodied coarse-grained mustard.
Crazy delicious and creative hot dog creations?
My son and I recently went to a place called Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford, MS, John Currence's latest establishment.
On his menu is something called either a Dirty Dog or the Pylon. (Both names have appeared on the menu at various times.)
It is a big waffle topped with a fried, open-faced hot dog, chili, coleslaw, cheese, pickles, onion, jalapenos and .... oyster crackers.
My son kept saying it was weird, but he at the whole thing.
Cook the Book: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper
John Currence
Q. What's for lunch?
Guerilla Gardening
Um, so why are guerrilla tactics necessary? I would think that most any municipality would welcome the assistance of volunteer gardeners.
aphorism for the day
Never use your thumb to pry up the lid on a can that your crappy can opener did not cut properly.
That one hurt for a long time.
Office/School Birthday Treats
Oh, I would much prefer noodles to cake/cookies any day! What fun!
6 months of terrible cooking--- please help!
I recommend 101cookbooks.com very highly for fabulous ideas and recipes for cooking with vegetables. I recently made this vegetable laden pasta salad and it was divine! I substituted easy to acquire whole grain tortellini for the ravioli and added a good dose of garlic. I had peas and spinach from the farmer's market and asparagus from the grocery store. Heaven!
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001568.html
Eats for a Sunburned Moron?
We just got back from the beach where my teenage daughter used a "protective" tanning lotion instead of the SPF 85 sunscreen that I brought along. She has lobster legs.
In addition to the topical remedies like aloe gel, you need to make sure that you are not dehydrated. I've been forcing gatorade and clear fruit juices on my daughter. All she wanted to eat was some cold fruit for the first day afterwards.
Oh, and vinegar temporarily takes the sting out of sunburn. And it makes you smell like salad!
Cold Soup?
Borscht and chlodnik are often served cold. Then there is the classic Vichyssoise. My all time favorite, though, is gazpacho. I can't wait for tomatoes to be in season!
Neo Soul Food
One of our local restaurants serves an appetizer of very small catfish cakes (made like crab cakes) with a black eyed pea "salsa" (peas, onions, garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, lime, etc.) It's good!
Snapshots from Italy: The Queen of Porchetta
Oh my goodness!! About 4 decades ago, I used to babysit for a woman whose mother made porchetta. They used an electric rotisserie and stuffed a boneless pork roast with garlic and dill. It was sublime. For many years, I've made my own version on a rotisserie charcoal grill using either pork or lamb with either dill or rosemary. I will definitely try it with fennel!
You call that healthy?
I used to think that a diet with a lot of pasta was good for me. Ha! Now I try to eat only whole grains. Cutting out the carbs from white flour products really has made a difference for me.
Does Anyone Really Love Pumpkin Pie?
I love pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, and I will eat butternut squash right out of the rind once it's roasted. I bake pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie in autumn, not really for the holidays so much. I generally love squash. I once made pies from a squash in Peru just because it was a novelty. These squashes/gourds are so big it takes two people to carry one. It's important to remember that pies aren't just a desert - they are often the main course, filled with meats, vegetables, and spices. My family usually has pumpkin pie around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we also get tired of traditional holiday foods. Frequently, for Thanksgiving or Christmas, we will decide to have something different at the table. Last year we had an incredible Italian dish that my father prepared for Christmas, and I smoked chicken and baby back ribs for Thanksgiving. It didn't change the spirit of the holidays at all for us. So, I guess the important thing is that you enjoy what you cook and eat during the holidays.
Do you blog? What's your URL?
Cocina Savant
http://cocinasavant.blogspot.com/
Weekly pictures, recipes, and thoughts from a husband and wife who love books and cooking for each other.
Does anyone else put bechamel in their lasagna?
I make a mushroom and tomato lasagna with Bechamel sauce; it is my very favorite; so different and so good!
http://vinolucistyle.com/2009/09/lasagna-with-tomatoes-mushrooms-and-bechamel-sauce/
Southern Food - What's your favorite?
I am surprised that only @Divadog mentioned banana pudding - my, my, how well I remember my first taste in South Carolina - would love a real recipe - up here in Canada one can get banana cream pie, but it cannot touch southern banana pudding.
Also, hush puppies, not the mass produced ones, but the lovely crispy, fluffy ones produced in small restaurants - bliss.
Frogmore stew or Brunswick stew - I have seen it called both, but I have reproduced it in Canada to rave reviews - I had to buy my Old Bay seasoning stateside, though I believe if you shop around in specialty stores you can find it now.
Deep fried okra, biscuits, shrimp & grits - need I go on - our vacations in the South necessitate a great deal of restraint.
I have mentioned before how lucky people in the South are, to have both sweet and non sweet ice tea available at almost every restaurant you enter. There is absolutely nothing nicer than to walk in from the torpid heat and humidity and have a large, cold glass of tea!
Southern Food - What's your favorite?
I'm a southern girl..born and raised in Texas.. and my favorite southern style foods are chicken fried steak, biscuits and sausage gravy, real texas chili (no beans) it's gotta be meaty, bbq brisket, cornbread and pintos, hush puppies, ambrosia, pecan pie and I like an occasional crawfish boil :) And I love sweet tea :)
Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us 2: Bacon-Wrapped Fried Mac
I wish people would lighten up on Paula. She's more an entertainer than anything else, and a darn good one for people who enjoy and appreciate Southern culture and cooking. As I once heard her comment, followed by that charming cackle of hers, "Honey, I'm your cook, not your doctor."
For those who want a healthful emphasis, there's certainly no shortage of personalities, ideas and resources out there (so let's enjoy Paula for what she is). Personal favorite on the healthy side:
Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us 2: Bacon-Wrapped Fried Mac
WHERE can I get the recipe for this?????
How do you build the perfect breakfast sandwich?
For my supreme sandwich I use 1 whole plain bagel, 1 egg, and 6 pieces of salami. First toast the bagel about medium. Then fry your egg, (not scrambled.) Once done take your 6 pieces of salami and cook them for about 5 minutes till some brown appears. Then in order put bagel, 3 pieces of salami, egg, 3 pieces of salami, then bagel. It is delicious and you should try it!
3.14 pie day
I can't believe I missed this!
arghhhh... oh well there's a fairly good chance I had some pie on this date anyways as I just about eat it everyday!
I go through stages... but my current favorite is Mrs Sullivans pies.
As far as a commercial, mass produced pie goes - they are the best.
Check em out below...
I love pie!
Appliances in a dorm room...
@HeartofGlass - Exactly! Surely most dorm fires are caused by candles, incense, and smoking. Toaster ovens are great, but the only problem is that unless you get a really pricey one, they tend to get hot all over rather than just inside, which in a crowded dorm room could cause problems.
The college in question here caused their own issues by not providing a microwave, toaster oven, or any other kitchen appliances in a designated shared area. When I was living in the dorms, you had to be on the meal plan, but there were never enough vegetables (and the ones they had were often overcooked) - and quite frankly, you get tired of eating the same things over and over again. And what happens when you're being a responsible student and you're up late finishing an assignment, after the dining hall closes? We had shared kitchen areas, and they were essential.
It's ridiculous for a school not to provide common areas with basic cooking appliances, so in this case the OP is highly justified in circumventing the rules!
Appliances in a dorm room...
Wow. I am completely and totally shocked how moralistic this thread is--I had 'illegal' cooking stuff, such as a coffee pot, in every dorm situation I have ever lived in, including when I spent time in college dorms as high school. The only fire situations I have seen in my dorm life were because of incense and tapestries and cigarettes. Because of frequent room inspections, most people were very careful about using the appliances carefully and storing them away, unplugged when not in use.
I would say, be smart--don't leave a bag of microwaved popcorn in the microwave for 30 minutes unattended instead of 3 minutes. Unplug the appliances when not in use. I might question the toaster, given that even in a house, setting off an alarm with a smoky piece of bread is a possibility, which could get you busted and I have seen cheap toasters catch fire--I would think a toaster oven would be better.
However, to stop a fire, above all do not smoke, and I would gently suggest that even if you do meditate, not having the entire room hung with gauze and filled with aromatic candles and incense is a good idea.
Appliances in a dorm room...
@BreakRules, "It is the smart kids who are getting accepted into college, right?" - You'd like to think so, but no. There are plenty of stupid kids (or even smart kids who lack common sense) who get accepted into college, too. And all it takes is one person to accidentally knock over a hotplate or somehow turn one on w/o noticing and then leaving the room to start an accidental fire.
I'm not trying to rain down on anyone's parade. If someone is determined to break the rules and bring in a banned appliance, then there's really no changing their mind. Hopefully they'll be smart enough to have a fire extinguisher as well.
(However, there's a reason why students who live in dorms are almost always required to buy a meal plan. If you or your parents are already paying for it, then for goodness sake, use it.)
Appliances in a dorm room...
To all those who are against breaking rules: way to be sheep. Safety concerns are valid, but one should be practicing safety when within his own kitchen as well. It is the smart kids who are getting accepted into college, right? So, to reiterate, you sheeple should all just chill out.
Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us 2: Bacon-Wrapped Fried Mac
I agree with some, I have to say although it is a heart-attack and stroke waiting to happen; It looks good to me! I wouldn't dare eat it often, but every so often it wouldn't kill anyone. Southerners have survived for years and to old age having eaten fat-filled fried foods; just as health-conscious people have dropped dead at a young age! You never know. I say we must enjoy life also. Try it every so often if wanted, and if not, there's no reason to trash the likes of Paula, the Neeleys, Big Daddy and others as I've heard many times. Stay away from Southern cooking if you don't like it.
Snapshots from Italy: The Queen of Porchetta
"k" sound, like in Chianti.
Kale: The Leafy Green Monster
I just tried kale for the first time this weekend, in the form of the kale chips recipe that's making the rounds. It was good, though these also DO NOT SHRINK! I made a full baking pan of it, because I expected it to be like cauliflower when roasted - 1/2 a head shrinks down to 2 small servings. This didn't, so there was lots extra. Since I still have half a bunch left, I'll be trying it parboiled and sauteed with bacon.
Michael Pollan's Twelve Commandments for Serious Eaters: Can You Live By Them?
Great post, so nice to see all of the rules lined up in a row, on one easy to digest (and print) page. Thanks!
Does Anyone Really Love Pumpkin Pie?
mmm pumpkin pie is fabulous and should never be forgotten especially on thanksgiving! save the pumpkin pie! :)
Cook the Book: Country Fried Steak
I believe Lilla is correct; country fried is in a skillet, and chicken fried is deep fried in a deep fryer.
Your best gourmet burger recipe?
Bulgogi burgers and meatballs are really good when small/thin and browned but horrid when huge in size or tenderly baked without browning. The meatballs taste better than the burgers.
Surprisingly, it tastes better with 75% vs >85% fat free ground beef. Just serve with vegetables (mild peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, carrots) and red pepper/bean paste over your favorite starchy food (ie bread, rice, noodles). May add lettuce or sesame leaves to a sandwich or as a wrap.
Theodore, Alabama: Bayley's
Many fine meals had at this location when I was growing up..Many fond memories!! The West Indies Salad and the Crab Claws were always on my plate. I am a child of the 60's..and was always a special treat to go to Bayleys!! The ironed white table cloths..and the wait staff. There were 5 in my family, and always 2 waiters/servers to insure our meal got served all together. We would enter through the kitchen....a rare treat, as we would see the staff.
Captains Wafers and real butter..along with bread and butter pickles..I could go on forever! Dang, I miss BAMA!
Gawd, I MISS THOSE DAYS OF MY CHILDHOOD!
Tasty toast toppers....
our faves- 1. pbj 2. pb and banana
3. butter, sugar and cinnamon
4. butter and apricot preserves
5. beef hash
6. pb and mayo
and 7. best favorite- take 4 slices toast and spread on
warmed shredded bbq chicken eat with fork ,delish.
Pimento cheese...what's your best recipe?
i remember reading a wonderful piece in gourmet by james villas some years ago about his mother's pimiento cheese. i believe he referred to the kind you buy in the grocery store as congealed insecticide.
Pimento cheese...what's your best recipe?
I happen to like mine with some minced peppadews mixed in. I love the tangy sweet-hot bite they add to the mix.
Recent Posts
Do you subscribe to a CSA farm? Please share your experience!
Posted by Library Lady, April 28, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Best books / web sites for a real newbie of a cook?
Posted by Library Lady, August 21, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Plain or fancy? How do you like your deviled eggs?
Posted by Library Lady, May 29, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Recent Favorites
Library Lady hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
Library Lady hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
Library Lady hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Just this past weekend, I picked up some smoked boudin, made locally. Last night I made a little soup by sauteeing onions and garlic and then adding chicken broth, cubed potatoes and turnip greens that I had frozen earlier this year. When those were cooked, I topped it with slices of the smoked boudin. It was heavenly.