My mom and I are planning a menu based on the foods of our ancestral homelands. For breakfast we're having French toast (groan), the UK will be covered with roast beef, popovers, gravy and mash, Germany will be represented by spritz cookies and gingerbread. Incongrously, we're having Jewish apple cake for dessert (though I guess that could be German as well... we're 100% WASP).

Okay, I admit I should have been clearer in the original post that he only expected me to pay once so far. Combinged with some other rude behavior, I got myself worked up over it (though I am still pretty sure he will do it the next time in the future, if there is a next time). I did get a few chuckles imagining how some of the scenarios you all proposed would proceed! (Especially @cycorider's!)

climbhighak, thank you for raising that point. That possibility hadn't even occurred to me, and now I feel better approaching him about the whole situation.

And for the record, while we both have jobs that allow us to live comfortably, if on a budget, mine pays a lot more :-)

Just to clarify, I've only bought him dinner once, and that was to thank him for a favor he did for me (he does have a few redeeming qualities). The next time it was clear he expected me to pay again, and I just sort of let the check languish on the table until he finally picked it up. Everyone's advice confirms what I'd been thinking, that I can't really be "friends" with this person any longer. Thank you to all!

Used to be 2, but now that I'm watching my figure, it's 1. One slice of NY-style pizza can easily be upwards of 500 calories, even without the toppings (yes, I am that person now).

Rose Levy Beranbaum recommends Land 'o' Lakes or Hotel Bar. I stock up when there's a sale--Hotel Bar seems to go on sale quite frequently at my local grocery store.

Bagels and cream cheese... or cheesecake!

They are everywhere--even in my tiny neighborhood Key Food in central Queens.

She might be on the older side for this cookbook, but when I was a kid I absolutely loved this book: http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Wizardry-Kids-Kenda-Williams/dp/0812044096

I usually use 1-2 T of oil or butter and substitute yogurt for the rest of the fat in the recipe.

Fenugreek is gross. I can tolerate rosemary, but only in small quantities. My roommates sometimes take the liberty of sprinkling white pepper on my food when we eat together. No thank you.

Once I baked a chocolate sheet cake, cut it into slices, hollowed out a hole in the center of each slice, stuffed with the hole with cream cheese frosting, dipped the slice in pancake batter, and then deep fried it. A close runner-up for unhealthiest item ever would have been another item I made that same night, which was double-stuf oreos dipped in leftover chocolate cake batter and deep fried.

It was all delicious, by the way.

I used to place catering/lunch orders with FreeFoods all the time pre-recession and never had anything but exceptional service. Was Michael the manager you talked to? He's super-nice and I recommend asking to speak with him if you had a bad experience.

Joyva Corp. has been making candy for over 100 years, and they are headquartered in Brooklyn. I'm not sure where the candy is actually produced, but I think it is in NYC. I'm not a huge fan, but I know a bunch of people that really like the sesame crunch and chocolate-coverered marshmallow bars. You can find their products at Economy Candy on Rivington St.