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From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

ROFL! I loved that. Loved it. But then, I work with middle school kids. I think I appreciate potty humor!

From Recipes

Meat Lite: Lamb Falafel Burgers

@atammal: I think because the patties are cooked on the stove and finished in the oven, it should cook entirely in the oven and not be raw, I believe. Of course, I didn't write the recipe, but it seems safe that way.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

I don't get it. If I was fearful of doing my job, I sure wouldn't tell anyone. My boss is not interested in my personal fears when it comes to ensuring that my job is getting done. I have a sympathetic boss, but "Well, I was just too nervous" isn't an excuse that's going to cut it. And considering that a place like a restaurant could lose their liquor license if they serve to underage drinkers, I would make sure I carded whoever needed to be carded to make sure that 1) it wasn't my fault that the restaurant is losing revenue to a suspended liquor license and 2) so I have a place to work.

And sure, if you can't tip, don't eat out, go to restaurant, etc--or make sure your bill is small enough so that you can leave a decent tip. But asking someone about their tip? I don't know, that seems a bit rude.

@blitzie

You said:

"Don't mind the harshness. Internet is rife with asshats. Just keep writing."

I'm a writer myself. And despite the harshness of some of the comments, a writer needs to actually listen to their critics. "Oh, I loved it" is the most useless criticism. Maybe the harshness didn't have to get personal, but this piece was a little...um...boring. If I wrote something boring or something that could use help, I would want to know.

From Talk

What temperature do you like your food?

Lol! This is the first time I've ever posted to Talk and I'm so surprised that I'm not the only one thinking of this!

For example, last night I made peanut satay chicken over rice and my boyfriend was playing Resident Evil 5 and picked at it during the cut scenes, but said it was awesome.

@chardonnay: I agree about eggs! Yicky on the cold eggs. I wait for no one when it comes to eggs.

@lambowner: Yes, soup must be hot. I reheat soup if it gets even a little cool. And lukewarm soup at a restaurant? Totally wrong.

@radley24: Hmmm...I've done my share of disordered eating (all good now!) and I can't see how hot food would fall into that category. Weird.

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Recent Posts

From Talk

What temperature do you like your food?

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From Recipes

Meat Lite: Lamb Falafel Burgers

From Serious Eats

Mixed Review: Milk & Cookies Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Mix

From Serious Eats

Blogwatch: Foodbeam's Caramel and Milk Chocolate Peanut Tarts

From Serious Eats

Girl Scout Cookie Sales Start This Month, Or Make Them At Home

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

ROFL! I loved that. Loved it. But then, I work with middle school kids. I think I appreciate potty humor!

From Recipes

Meat Lite: Lamb Falafel Burgers

@atammal: I think because the patties are cooked on the stove and finished in the oven, it should cook entirely in the oven and not be raw, I believe. Of course, I didn't write the recipe, but it seems safe that way.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

I don't get it. If I was fearful of doing my job, I sure wouldn't tell anyone. My boss is not interested in my personal fears when it comes to ensuring that my job is getting done. I have a sympathetic boss, but "Well, I was just too nervous" isn't an excuse that's going to cut it. And considering that a place like a restaurant could lose their liquor license if they serve to underage drinkers, I would make sure I carded whoever needed to be carded to make sure that 1) it wasn't my fault that the restaurant is losing revenue to a suspended liquor license and 2) so I have a place to work.

And sure, if you can't tip, don't eat out, go to restaurant, etc--or make sure your bill is small enough so that you can leave a decent tip. But asking someone about their tip? I don't know, that seems a bit rude.

@blitzie

You said:

"Don't mind the harshness. Internet is rife with asshats. Just keep writing."

I'm a writer myself. And despite the harshness of some of the comments, a writer needs to actually listen to their critics. "Oh, I loved it" is the most useless criticism. Maybe the harshness didn't have to get personal, but this piece was a little...um...boring. If I wrote something boring or something that could use help, I would want to know.

From Talk

What temperature do you like your food?

Lol! This is the first time I've ever posted to Talk and I'm so surprised that I'm not the only one thinking of this!

For example, last night I made peanut satay chicken over rice and my boyfriend was playing Resident Evil 5 and picked at it during the cut scenes, but said it was awesome.

@chardonnay: I agree about eggs! Yicky on the cold eggs. I wait for no one when it comes to eggs.

@lambowner: Yes, soup must be hot. I reheat soup if it gets even a little cool. And lukewarm soup at a restaurant? Totally wrong.

@radley24: Hmmm...I've done my share of disordered eating (all good now!) and I can't see how hot food would fall into that category. Weird.

From Talk

What's So Weird About That?

Dry cereal. Everyone thinks it's weird.

From Talk

I don't go there, because I can't eat the food

I am COMPLETELY guilty of leaving food out after dinner and getting up the next morning to put it away. =| But only during cold months. And we never got sick...

From Talk

25 Random Things about Food and Me

I'll do five...

1-When cooking, I tend to stand like a flamingo, with one leg up. And when doing dishes.

2-I made the best butternut squash soup on accident and keep making it now.

3-I once took on a cake job I shouldn't have and it was the bane of my existence. I hate fondant.

4-I'm too poor to bake like I used to. No one seems to think of this when they request baked goods.

5-I eat tofu, but I'm an omnivore.

From Talk

A Request ... (For A Veg Liaison)

My only addition to this conversation would be to actually have a vegan AND vegetarian section. I have two friends, one who is vegan and one who is vegetarian. I can feed the vegetarian vegan food, but not vice versa. I would hate for either the vegan or the vegetarian camp to be over-represented--having two camps would be cool. They are very different worlds, really. Oh, right...you all probably know that.

And it would really be great to build on the "almost meatleass" recipe column that has been living on SE for a little while...

Okay, so all I'm saying is, YAY! Go SE!

From Talk

What is your all time cookbook? Just one. What would it be?

I'm surprised that The Fannie Farmer Cookbook isn't on this list yet. I grew up on it and have given it as a gift before. I think I love the pages that show where each cut of meat comes from and how to substitute som ingredients. I recently made crepes from it (like, Monday night) and one of my friends called me today telling me that he was angry at me--he could STILL taste the crepes (angry in a funny way, as in, now he can't stop wanting them). So Fannie is my girl. =)

From Serious Eats

Served: No Sick Days in the Restaurant Biz

I've been a waitress--and when I was hospitalized with a severe infection, I was darn sure I wouldn't have a job when I got out. I did, but I got stuck with the crappy shifts for weeks...

From Talk

Am I the only one on the planet who dislikes ___, or loves ___?

I love Vienna sausages and blood sausage.

=) Yes, I'm a Puerto Rican!

From Serious Eats

'Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade' Magazine Hits Newsstands Today

Oh, dear. How many children will grow up thinking that the only way to make a cake is to buy a box (or already made!) and add your own sprinkles (or, in the case of the Kwanzaa cake, destroy culture and your taste buds in one fell swoop?)? You know there will be a whole section dedicated to "tablescapes"? I might just buy the magazine to line my kitty litter box, but I think even my cat has better taste. =)

I almost feel bad about being mean--but then, it's Sandra Lee!

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Food Giveaway: Russ & Daughters

I've never properly brunched in New York, but I REALLY like bagels and lox, with chive cream cheese and capers, with perhaps some very thinly sliced red onion.

Oh, now I'm hungry.

From Photograzing

Chocolate Malted Whopper Drops

OHHHH! These are the best cookies ever--I have yet to find a man that turns them down. They were part of my Winter Cookie boxes. I *heart* Dorie Greenspan. She is hands down my favorite baking recipe writer. Nothing has ever turned out bad--in fact, everything is a crowd pleaser. I would love to be her BFF. BTW, I love the skewer. I've never been able to get a great photo of these and this one rocks. Much sugar love!

From Serious Eats

If We Eat Less Meat, Can We Save the Planet and Ourselves?

Eating less meat means eating less meat, not cutting it out completely, and that sounds reasonable. In fact, I started buying locally, grass-fed beef since this summer and pretty much refuse to buy it from the grocery store anymore--beef is one of those things that's not necessarily seasonal, and so can be acquired at the farmers market all year. Since it costs more at the market, we just eat less of it--and it's been just fine, actually.

I have to agree that we could just eat less in general. A lot of restaurant portions are ridiculous; we've switched to eating at sushi places or tapas restaurants when we go out, mostly because the portions are a lot more manageable. Yeah, not cheap either, but we only eat out fancy-like every couple of months (birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions).

I don't think we need to eat as much as we do, particularly meat. I think American culture thrived on the bounty created by industrialized meat (and food in general), when it first started out. But we've taken that to an extreme in a hedonistic way, almost. So the fact that there are repercussions and that, in a capitalistic society, it continues to be lucrative (and cheap for consumers), are both not surprises.

I think of farmers in the past eating--they had true cause to eat heartily, considering they were caring for an entire farm--and I think they would be a little shocked at how much we eat. Overeating, to me, is a little like drinking too much--for special occasions or times when you've managed to bring together a large group of family and friends. Should we drink too much every day? No. The occasional over-indulgence (and the inevitable "oh that sucks" moment the next morning) keeps us in check--or should.

This isn't me shaking my finger at people, but with people shaking their fingers at how little I eat (I'm five feet tall and wanted to lose weight, and am now maintaining--so my portions seem just fine to me), I wonder if they should examine not how little I eat, but how much they do. Yeah, a small sandwich does look pathetic next to a steak and cheese on a humongous grinder roll--but it's not so pathetic if you add a salad, some ingenuity and a few more years on my life.

Wow, I didn't realize I had so much of an opinion on this...

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: D'Artagnan Heritage Smoked Ham

Oh, good smoked ham with a slice of cheddar on "pan de agua"--a crusty bread sold at the bakery in the plaza near the beach my family goes to (and I used to go to when I was a kid) in Puerto Rico. There was always a little crunch from the grains of sand that got flung into the sandwich, no matter how hard my mom tried.

Of course, I love a good Cuban any day and you can't just use any old crappy ham--the good thick stuff is best.

From Talk

The Mini Pie Revolution (The Blog Event). With a prize!

Oh, this sounds awesome...

I will definitely try my hand at this. We'll see!

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club

Crispy, thick.

I like it cooked on a rack in the oven (less mess, less twisty shapes that don't cook right).

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: A Year of Chocolate

It totally depends on what I'm using it for...

Milk chocolate is yummy in a lot of cookies...
Dark chocolate lends a sophistication to a lot of cakes and pies...

And just for munching? Both will do, although I like to trick myself with dark chocolate's "healthy" features...

From Serious Eats

Seriously Delicious Holiday Food Giveaway: Russ & Daughters

Bagels and lox...come on, that's pretty easy.

But what I remember most about my stints in New York (which I was usually on vacation for, as I live in CT, so keep this in mind) is sharing half a dozen fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts with friends, followed up with our first Corona of the day (it was vacation!).

From Serious Eats

Thank You, Cows, for Giving Us Cheese

I just want to mention that if anyone is in Connecticut, Beaver Brook Farm cheeses are very good. They specialize in cow and sheep's milk cheese. I've sampled most of the ones on their list. Their cow's milk feta is great, but the best I've had is the Pleasant Cow cheese, which I'd like to think of as a hint of Gruyere, a cheddary texture and melts deliciously well, but holds up on a cheese plate for say...the five minutes it takes people to figure out how phenomenal it is. I purchase it at the New Haven farmers market on Saturdays, run by Cityseed. The Pleasant Cow cheese earned a mention as one of the top cheeses in America by Saveur a few years back, and the Cityseed market is one of USA Today's top ten markets that encourage local and organic farming. They also have a market, I believe, so if you live closer to the farm, that's an option. I recently made mac 'n' cheese with it and it was incredible.

Does anyone know of any other good cheeses in CT?

From Serious Eats

A Case for Ice Cream in Winter

I run an after school program and we just recently acquired an ice cream machine (nothing fancy) through donation, for our cooking club. The odds of my impatient kids waiting until spring for ice cream is unthinkable. I just about jumped out of my skin when I saw it, too, knowing that The Perfect Scoop was recently out and talked about.

Long story short, we will be making ice cream this winter. And maybe I'll turn my KFC loving kids into little gourmets.

Three cheers for ice cream in the cold!

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: Apple Pie

I sort of have to agree with a few comments above--I love my apple pie. In my rebellious teen years, I protested my mom's "buy a pie" philosophy at Thanksgiving and demanded to be allowed to use the kitchen for pie-making the night before the grand event (with three sisters and two brothers, dinner is a grand event in general). I made a big fat mess and Fannie Farmer Apple Pie. I was thwarted by the crust for awhile, but I learned and I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing--unless put up against a grandma. Grandmas must make the best pies, from experience alone (having Puerto Rican grandmas means that I reveled in their flan, not their pie).

From Talk

A Request ... (For A Veg Liaison)

It took a while, but we found someone to cover the vegetarian field for us: Michael Natkin of Herbivoracious. And, yes, we're calling it Seriously Meatless.

From Recipes

Meat Lite: Lamb Falafel Burgers

Do you think these would freeze well? If so, should they go in the freezer before or after cooking?
Thanks!

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

Hey, late to the party, but I have to say, the original of what J would say - "Hey, was everything okay?" (paraphrased) made me sit up and think of all the times I could have used that. What you wound up saying gives me pause if only because you directly say "Is this all you meant to leave?" which can put people on the defensive... otherwise, bravo!
PS Carding people made me uncomfortable initially as well. Eventually I got to know the signs of underage drinking fairly well, and if I did card you, it was a signal to the boss that there was an issue... We had to throw a guy out who seriously looked like he was going to reach over and punch me (!!!) for carding his - I SWEAR SHE LOOKED 12 and COULDN'T be more than 16 at most! - mistress. It was really disturbing because he was like 35 or 40 - not OLD, but uncomfortably old to be dating a girl who not only look to be just entering puberty but apparently was under 21 as she did not have ANY ID on her. Ick.

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

How sad does Pop n Fresh look without his hat?

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

It's been a long time since I've seen this video!

Gross and so funny! HAHA! ewww

Croissants are such stinkers.

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

Must admit, this gave me the best giggle I had all day.

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

Wow, that's, um, graphic. Hilarious, though.... I replayed it over and over, I'm ashamed to say.

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

Oh, yuk. That was not a great sight to stuff inside my head going into the weekend.

From Serious Eats

In Videos: 'How Croissants Are Made'

I could have been spared a lot of heartache at a former job if only this was how it was really done. . .

From Recipes

Meat Lite: Lamb Falafel Burgers

@atammal, not a dumb question at all. No pre-cooking required. The burger gets good and hot and completely cooked with the pan sear/oven bake. I tested with just a longer pan sear, too (about 5 min per side). Also a success, yielding a more "medium" temp for the lamb. I took the temps of the center of the burger with a meat therm in all cases and you are guaranteed in the clear! (think meatballs)

@lgwapnitsky I intended for these to go on the grill initially, but changed course when it was too bloody hot outside to stand aside a grill. Unlike the Beef Bulgur Bean burgers in Almost Meatless, which head straight for the grill, these are a little softer in texture, and benefit from the sturdy surface of the pan. If you do try grilling, I'd suggest cutting back a bit on the bulgur, or letting it dry some before forming the patties. Have fun experimenting!

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

@Duncan 1205...what happened then???!!! Fill us in...

From Serious Eats

'Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade' Magazine Hits Newsstands Today

justpassingthrough:


It has excellent recipes and decorating ideas. There is a middle ground between Julia Child and McDonald's.
Yes, but this ain't it. Shlepping a bunch of BLAND processed food home and mixing it up almost at random is ... well, a step below McDonalds. And decorating ideas - well, I don't really want my house to look like Barbie's Dream House ca. 1975, thanks.

I cannot believe how many negative comments were entered. What a bunch of snobs.

What's wrong with stretching your brain a little bit and learning things you didn't know before that will make you LESS reliant on the packaged food industry and save you money?

Meat guy:

So, the Food Networkand publishers should only cater to self important Food snobs rather than teach people to overcome their fear of cooking in Baby steps?
Yes, there are a lot of good souls who are afraid of their kitchens. For those folks, two words: Mark Bittman. I've been cooking for about 40 years, taught by a mother who adored Julia Child and that crowd - but I learn something new from him almost every day.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

I think the time has come for waiters and waitresses to get paid a salary instead of having to 'beg' for tips. And don't tell me restaurant owners don't make enough money to support doing this. I know what the markups are. Instead of telling customers not to dine out if they cannot afford tipping, tell restaurant owners to close shop if they cannot afford to pay their staff!

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

@minonda, i would like to know what, specifically was mean-spirited or petty about my comment. Furthermore, i would like to point out that volunteer firemen (as many of them are) do not get a regular salary, benefits, or vacation days. I am *much* more grateful for the service they provide than the person who takes my order and brings food to my table. I would argue most people would agree with me on that.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

Federally Mandated %10% WHAT??? I have been in the biz 30 years and have never heard of this. If that were true, half the country would be in jail. Any links?
IMHO, the risk of upsetting/embarassing/infuriating a customer is not worth the reward of an extra 3-5-7 bucks on one tip.
Regarding the folks who don't see asking for ID as a courageous thing, let me assure you it CAN be. 98% of everyone, even the just turned-21 crowd, is OK with an ID check. The other 2% can have a reaction ranging from open hostility to violence. I have witnessed shouting matches, threats and more over a simple ID check. Some people carry the attitude "I don't have to show my damned ID to anybody, now get me a drink!" Witness how many shootings occur because someone was denied entrance to a bar or restaurant. A guy I knew fairly well was killed here in Las Vegas in the mid-1980's who worked as a host for a bar/restaurant/nightclub place and it was over an ID check. One guy in a party of about 5 did not have an ID; his friends were going in anyhow. He gets mad, goes to the car, gets his 38 and kills the host. (Interesting this chap, who turned out to be 24, had his gun handy, but not his driver's license.) The point is when you ask for ID, some people get REALLY offended.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

WOW. There is a lot of pent up anger over the tipping debate, but I would have to agree with Hannah on this one. Servers make a substantial amount LESS than other fields and regardless, they are there to SERVE you. Take your order, bring you food or drinks, grab the check, etc. This is usually what I base a standard 15-20% tip on. If the server is exceptionally friendly, fun or even throws in something useful (a round of drinks, great info about local happenings, etc) then I up it to 25-30%

Nothing pisses me off more than when people talk down to servers, boss them around, stay on their cellphones while ordering, or expect incredibly high demands without paying for it. Servers do not equal servants.

If you can't afford the tip, just don't want to pay up, or take the menu the way it comes, stay home.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

If the customers had made an error and tipped too much, would you have brought that to their attention as well?

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

@wannabetvchef I'd like to know where you heard of this "federally mandated 10% gratuity" because I have never heard of it and it smells like BS. Links, please.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

@mh330 - out of all the mean-spirited and petty comments that this post has elicited, yours has to be the meanest and the pettiest. Sure, people in other lines of work work harder and more is asked of them in terms of physical effort or risk, and education or some other qualifier, but please recall that these other people are compensated fairly and receive benefits such as paid vacation, holidays and health insurance. Servers get none of this, and if they are to get any kind of decent wage, must rely on the whim of whoever they serve, sort of like a seller on ebay needing good feedback.

I don't really support what Hannah did, because she said herself, the big tips even out the loss of the small ones, and generally a server does not get that many poor tips. But your cold response, and your attitude toward servers, makes me cheer for her and all the others who have to serve people in order to make a living.

People like you make me glad I'm no longer a waitress. And I got great tips.

From Serious Eats

Served: The Ballsy Waitress

My husband will tip every waiter/waitress - even when they don't deserve it. If you don't have to ask for anything, that's an automatic 20-25% tip. However, the one thing that my husband absolutely hates is the phrase "Did you need any change?" when paying the bill in cash. To him, that is an automatic deduction, no matter how good everything went.

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From Talk

What temperature do you like your food?

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