Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Way! Way! Way! Unfortunately, my husband hates it.

Mix cream cheese into Italian sausage as you cook it. Then use the mixture to stuff the mushrooms. Easy and yummy.

OK, I don't know if this counts, but I hate cleaning the floor. It has to get to a disgraceful stage before I clean it. Otherwise, anytime spent in the kitchen is FUN!

The most exotic is probably rambutan - I lived in Kuala Lumpur as a kid. I actually like mangosteen better but it seems less "exotic" since I've been reading about people buying it in Canada. Does the US embargo it for some reason? Does anyone know?

Well, I made the cookies with half ww flour and half white flour and they tasted better than usual! The texture was fine, too. Just thought I'd let you know! Thanks for the suggestions.

I, too, love butterscotch pudding and looked for a recipe about a year ago but to no avail. Can't wait to try out yours!

Lucca's delicatessen on Chestnut Street in the Marina is Great. Go there, assemble a picnic lunch and then walk over to the beach by Crissy field and marvel at the beauty of the Bay: the blue water, the GG Bridge, Alcatraz, the sail boats, etc. Can't beat it.

I made pickled shrimp for a cocktail party last summer. They were great but the recipe came from a neighbor's cookbook (Houston Jr. League circa 1975) so, unfortunately, I don't have the recipe. Wish I had kept a copy because I would make them again.

Well, I live in Davis - 11 miles from dowtown Sac. and I can make a couple of suggestions. The Davis Farmers' Market is on both Saturdays and Wednesdays. Since you're probably not in town on Saturday mornings, take yourself to the Wednesday evening market. It starts at 4 and several local restaurants set up booths. If you like Indian food, try Khatmandu Kitchen. The Mustard Seed is also the best restaurant in town so their booth is a good bet. Or just go to the Mustard Seed itself. It's small, quaint and the food is very good.

In Sacto itself, Zelda's (a bar) has excellent Chicago style pizza. You have to pay cash. Skip Bibad's; way overrated. Ernestos is good for Mexican food. The Waterboy is OK but expensive. Spataros is good, too. Hope this helps!

Grilled (broiled) tomatoes. Mmm Mmm Mmm.

I am 45 years old and am feeling quite cool to be in the company of so many 20-somethings. I have two boys, ages 7 and 4, and one hungry husband. I live in Davis Calif. where the University of Calif. had its original 'farm school.' Food is a big deal here - lots of CSA, organic, local food - but strangely no great restaurants.

I lived in Kuala Lumpur as a kid and have traveled throughout most of southeast Asia and through western Europe. I love Asian food (am still searching for the right marinade for satay) and French, and Italian, and ...
well, you get the picture.

I am trying to keep our diet as healthy as possible - so no prepared foods (well, OK, I don't bake our bread and I buy pasta). I feel very lucky that my kids are adventurous eaters (they love mussels and tonight we had linguine with white clam sauce which they gobbled up!). I love food and look forward to meals all day long. I also love variety so I like to cook food from many different cultures. Wonder what will be on tomorrow's menu!

PS I wish Jerzee Tomato would post here - I love reading her comments!

Radishes are great in a salad dressed with Ranch dressing. Other than that I've struggled to find them yummy. I've heard the French eat them on bread with butter but haven't tried it. Has anyone else?

cherries, cheese . . . but not together!