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The Ten Most Recent Posts By MelsDiner

From Talk

Did I Miss the Haagen Dazs Preview Winners?

I checked the Haagen Dazs giveaway thread from last week to see who the winners are (and enjoy the insightful and funny comments that garnered the prizes) but didn't see a posting announcing winners. Did I miss something somewhere or am I being an impatient goob? Thanks for any info.

If I did miss the announcement, congrats to all those greeted by new Haagen Dazs flavors every time they open the freezer door. What a treat!

The Ten Most Recent Comments By MelsDiner

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

Neither is a deal breaker for me.

Intolerance, snobbery, bigotry, narrowmindedness, lack of compassion, rigidity...all deal breakers.

From Ed Levine Eats

Sugar Rush: The Retro Ice Cream Man Cometh

Is he flexing in that one picture??? Maybe my eyes are seeing things. (No, it's not wishful thinking!)

@Karen, the ice cream patrons in the upper floors of Manhattan's buildings probably appreciate that he parks his truck. But yeah, the scene you described was definitely part of the charm of the ice cream man's arrival on the block. That, and seeing the kid next door drop his half-eaten ice cream bar on the ant-ridden sidewalk, pick it back up and proceed to devour it after the truck had departed the neighborhood. :)

From Recipes

Essentials: Floating Island

Robin, humidity could have been a factor in your meringue making endeavor, if Houston is as humid as I remember from two visits there.

From Recipes

Sunday Supper: Quick Beef Stew

I'm 40ish and my mom's been gone nearly half my life so I like to get out a "mom" recipe now and then to remember how good it felt to have one of her home-cooked meals. Some of her dishes remain unmatched all these years later (I'm still on the quest to replicate her potato salad, the best ever) and some dishes were probably tastier in memory than in actuality, but it always feels good to take my taste buds back in time by preparing something she used to make for me.

A nice tribute to your mom to post her recipe. :)

From Talk

Funny remarks you can re-use

@chiff0nade, looks like great minds think alike (your mom and my relatives).

From Talk

Smithsonian Sustainable Seafood Website

kjgibson, I was going to post the same website. They update their lists periodically so it's good to check back every few months and download the latest information. It's handy to have for your wallet or purse when you shop for seafood or dine out.

From Talk

What are you known for?

Christmas dessert packages. Tins, boxes, baskets, or whatever filled with all kinds of desserts: cheesecake, cake, brownies, bars, cookies, pie, cupcakes in assorted varieties and combinations. To borrow from Forrest Gump, they're like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get.

Kinda mundane, I know, but everybody looks forward to their goodies even if some protest about being on a diet.

From Talk

Funny remarks you can re-use

I just gave my husband a take-out suggestion and he said "Let's not and say we did," which my grandmother said a time or two.

"Roman noodles" for ramen noodles.

From Talk

Funny remarks you can re-use

The Shrek remark made me laugh out loud!

I think there's a country song that says "we'll burn that bridge when we get there." A friend of mine used to play that song in her car all...the...time. I just googled the lyric and it's by Brooks & Dunn.

How about "Always the mermaid, never the bride"?

In the eating genre, family members of several generations like to say, "My eyes are bigger than my stomach."

From Required Eating

Photo of the Day: Canine Prewash Cycle

Ahhh! That picture made my day. Thanks.

Responses to Comments by MelsDiner

From Talk

Smithsonian Sustainable Seafood Website

@kjgibson, i have a mac and i've never had a problem using the seafood watch site w/safari, although i only use the site to check out the fish shopping guides.

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

Neither is a deal-breaker unless the person is fanatic about it, or tries to convert me to their ways. Same goes for just about anything -- religion, politics, milk-or-sugar -- whatever. I'm perfectly happy to have a reasoned discussion about whatever it might be, and I'm just as willing to let the topic lie undisturbed, but I'm not fond of people who insist that I should change who I am to suit them.

I'm actually more interested in people who are unlike me than those who could be my clones. I like learning about other people's cultures (including foods) and beliefs. I might not agree with them or embrace them in my own life, but I find it interesting on an intellectual level.

Things that are deal breakers are unkindness and ill manners of all sorts. Some ill manners I might excuse in a friend or relative that I wouldn't accept in a mate, however. Luckily, that choice is already made.

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

@Luna; LOL!!!! Report back after the gift has been delivered!

From Ed Levine Eats

Sugar Rush: The Retro Ice Cream Man Cometh

Next, Bungalow Bar?

From Recipes

Essentials: Floating Island

The meringues were cool by the time we ate them, but for some reason I thought they were supposed to be very light and crisp throughout, like a meringue kiss cookie. Maybe I have just never eaten a proper meringue?

That is interesting about the poaching...I only looked at 2 recipes, Ina and Julia Child. Ina bakes them in individual dollops, Julia bakes the whole mess up in a casserole dish and then carves it into chunks. The Larousse Gastronomique recommends cooking the egg whites and sugar in a bain marie. I think I definitely would have liked the taste of the meringues better if they had been poached in sweet milk.

Has anyone made/had zuppa inglese? This is another custard treat I want to try.

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

I agree wholeheartedly with Karen Resta, while I love both food and books, I am of the opinion that the heart and soul of a person determines their worth.

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

I have had people refuse to date me for both reasons. One guy who thought of himself as a "writer" dumped me after 3 dates when he found out I read trashy romance novels. Another person ( who I wasn't even interested in) told me in straight up "I can not have a pork eater in my house" He was muslim though...so that was understandable. On the flip side though I don't think I could give up pork for a guy.

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

I am a pescetarian married to an omnivore, but we have had few problems since we do both love food. And we are both readers. While I don't worry too much about WHAT he reads, the fact that he DOES read was important. The previous boyfriend didn't read newspapers and was never in the middle of a book. 'Twas a deal-breaker, for sure.

From Talk

What is more of a 'deal breaker'--food or books?

@ Butrflygirly: The stabbing. Oh God, the stabbing...

From Ed Levine Eats

Sugar Rush: The Retro Ice Cream Man Cometh

The early 60's Ford Pickups used the 292 cid V8 engine. It wasn't too bad on gas.