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Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
Also, I'll probably get slaughtered for this, but I LOVE instant pudding and...... *cough cough* hate from scratch pudding. I have a problem with the texture, in the opposite way that most people do, I suppose.
Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
Not sure where else to suggest this, but my vote for next Mixed Review (if there is any voting to be had) is for Trader Joe's new Beer Bread Mix. It's pretty darn good for a mix, especially with excellent beer. :)
The Big Carl, Now Available at Carl's Jr.
I'm not going to pretend that Big Macs are fancy fabulous cuisine or anything, but something about their combination of flavors really works for me. Just enough sauce, not too much lettuce, and not overpowering cheese.
I was excited to try the Carl's version (because at Carl's I can get fried zucchini instead of fries). Sooo disappointed. Too much burger, not enough sauce, and the cheese is so.....strong I guess is the word for it. It comes nowhere close to a Big Mac.
Nice try, Carl's/Hardee's. But your burger tastes like fail.
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Recent Posts
McClure's Spicy Pickles: anyone know what type of pepper?
Posted by amanda0730, May 14, 2009 at 7:12 PM
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Dinner Tonight: Jacques Pepin's Crusty Chicken with Mushrooms and White Wine
Posted by Nick Kindelsperger, August 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Photo of the Day: Circuit Board Made of Candy
Posted by Robyn Lee, July 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Grilling: Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Portobellos
Posted by Joshua Bousel, May 8, 2009 at 8:00 PM
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
I'm gonna be that terrible person that I always get irritated with, but I can't help it:
I think you may mean Viognier grapes, not Viognet.
:) I mean it in the nicest way possible. Also, I need to get my hands on those pocket things.
Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
Also, I'll probably get slaughtered for this, but I LOVE instant pudding and...... *cough cough* hate from scratch pudding. I have a problem with the texture, in the opposite way that most people do, I suppose.
Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
Not sure where else to suggest this, but my vote for next Mixed Review (if there is any voting to be had) is for Trader Joe's new Beer Bread Mix. It's pretty darn good for a mix, especially with excellent beer. :)
The Big Carl, Now Available at Carl's Jr.
I'm not going to pretend that Big Macs are fancy fabulous cuisine or anything, but something about their combination of flavors really works for me. Just enough sauce, not too much lettuce, and not overpowering cheese.
I was excited to try the Carl's version (because at Carl's I can get fried zucchini instead of fries). Sooo disappointed. Too much burger, not enough sauce, and the cheese is so.....strong I guess is the word for it. It comes nowhere close to a Big Mac.
Nice try, Carl's/Hardee's. But your burger tastes like fail.
Cook the Book: 'What We Eat When We Eat Alone'
I usually snack, but in a very "balanced" way. If I have hummus and naan, I have some yogurt and fruit with it so I'm eating all my food groups.
I also try out recipes, as above. :)
Taste Test: Milk Chocolate Bars
Milka chocolate from Germany. Fell in love with it when I took German in college. I'm not a fan of milk chocolate most of the time, but Milka and Trader Joe's brand are my go-tos.
Seriously Italian: Farfalle with Zucchini and Gorgonzola
I made almost this exact recipe last week for dinner, except I used crumbled chevre instead. Different flavor, certainly, but I too loved how the cheese coated the pasta and zucchini almost like a sauce. Mmm....now I have to try the Gorgonzola. :)
Gadgets: Wusthof Knife and Scissors Sharpener
Using a steel will help extend the life of your knife, but most steels don't sharpen, they hone. And while it's important to have a straight edge, I'd say you should still sharpen your knives once a year. That being said, I'd recommend this gadget, or even sending them out to be sharpened, over any sharpening stone. You can really mess up your knife by not getting the right angle. And most people don't remember that German-style knives have a different angle than Japanese-style knives.
Xie Xie: An Asian Sandwich Shop (What a Concept)
I want those mini Steamed buns! What a cute idea for a party. They look so fluffy and tasty. :)
Breville Convection Oven
I can't give you an unbiased opinion, since I work at W-S, but I will tell you I've used it and I love it. I think my favorite part is that it saves your presets so that if you always use a certain temp or time, it will remember. Our Cuisinart rep even said she preferred the Breville. I'm not trying to sell you on this one, but it's the best I've seen.
What's Your Favorite Food Court Stop?
Used to love Orange Julius, but I work in a mall, so it gets old. My favorites in our mall are Hibachi-San and Red Mango. I'm sure I could eat Red Mango forever.
'Top Chef Masters,' Ep. 5: Junk Food, a Big Dinner, a New Way of Looking at Panna Cotta
The point of the show wasn't to get amazing chefs and have them cook amazingly.....they do that in real life. The point was that when those amazing chefs were guest judges, they sometimes didn't appreciate how difficult the stupid challenges were. Some of them thought "hey, we could do better." Voila! Bravo has a show.
The Joys of Unnaturally Flavored Sodas
@RegrettableFoodie - I was just going to mention that. I LOVE Fresca, and the Fresca/gin combo is my very lazy person's Tom Collins. Sweet, citrusy and fizzy - check, check and check!
McClure's Spicy Pickles: anyone know what type of pepper?
Thanks guys!
@caramel: no, it just says "peppers".
@Erin: that was my guess, but I didn't think someone would put such spicy peppers in pickles. I guessed wrong. ;)
@finewinendine: if you like heat, get these. Such good flavor, and the heat really settles in your chest and throat.
Making Cake Batter ahead of time-bad idea?
My vote is for baking tonight and freezing or wrapping in plastic. Batter definitely deflates and gets gummy as it sits overnight.
And I'll second HeartofGlass: cookies would be a better idea. Cookie dough definitely gets so much better if it sits for a day.
Served: New York Is Not the Only Place for a Restaurant
It's not like the post has some descriptive title or anything to warn you that "New York is not the only place for a restaurant". How could one discern what this post is about without reading it fully, then ranting about it? Also, it's not like anyone on here has ANY interests whatsoever outside of food-related articles. Oh wait...
Love the posts, Hannah! Keep 'em coming...no matter what you choose to write about. :)
Serious Grape: Rhône Wines and Good Times—the 2009 Hospice du Rhône
HdR is an amazing event. Volunteered there two years in a row. The Grand Tasting is so amazing! And HdR makes a good weekend trip: Grand Tasting and dinner on Saturday, leaves your Friday afternoon and Sunday morning open so you can go tasting in Paso Robles. :)
McCafe: McDonald's New Fancier, Pricier Coffee
I'll second rheods and say we've had McCafe in Cali for over a year now. Love the lids, but they've had those for drip coffee for a while. And all of the non-drip drinks (cap, etc.) seem low on espresso and high on everything else. Vanilla latte was more like warm vanilla milk with a splash of espresso. Most aren't terrible, if you don't love espresso. Overly sweet maybe, and sometimes burnt.......ok, so it's not great coffee. But if you don't care, $2 is pretty cheap.
'Food Network Magazine' Lists the Best Burgers in the Country
No way In-n-Out would beat out Taylor's in Cali. Sorry, Taylor's Refresher has some of the best burgers in the country.
Are Himilayan Salt plates reused?
I heard that the salt kills a lot of the germies. You just wipe it with a damp cloth, like simon said.
$10 gift card to Sur La Table
Get a spider if you don't have one. So useful for getting veggies out of blanching water.
One Dozen Trader Joe's Eggs, Each with a Double Yolk
We've had this happen too, and it was Trader Joe's eggs. Hmm....
Cook the Book: Balsamic Onion Marmalade
Yep, W-S stocks three of the 'wichcraft spreads: this one, tomato relish, and olive tapenade. It's pretty similar to homemade, and for people who don't cook well or often, a good idea in my opinion. I make my own onion relish, but this one is easier if I don't have the time.
I love this book, btw. The fried egg sandwich is my favorite.
Trader Joe's Practices Refreshingly Good Grammar
The sign is like this at the TJ's further from us, with the express lane. The closest one to us doesn't have one.
Serious Grape: Women and Wine
I'm sure that out of 33 percent of women, at least half drink wine in the bathtub because movies say we should.
And the past three times I was at an upscale restaurant, the initial taste of the bottle was offered to a women, even with two other men at the table.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
haha this is great to see as a texan! and one from houston, too.
shipley's sausage/jalapeno kolaches are ALWAYS good. they're simple but incredibly satisfying. also- shipleys has the best donuts i've ever tasted in my life, hands down. their donuts are to die for. there are tons of great kolache places all over texas, just jump on I-10 or 290 and you're bound to run into a family owned kolache shop on the side of the highway.
and i think i know where to go for dinner on my birthday now- bryan caswell's restaurant.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
"Migas are another great Texas food trend that started in the Austin area. They're basically scrambled eggs with corn tortilla strips, jalapenos, cheese, and cilantro in the mix. I'm hungry just thinking about them!
This article makes living away from Texas even more difficult! I miss it!"
Actually, you just described chilequiles, not migas.
Migas is just eggs, and corn tortillas, ala mexicana if you add chile, onion, and tomato.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
Shipley's is fantastic! I am a student at Texas A&M, and my analytical chemistry professor regularly brings in Shipley's donuts for our class. Of 50 people. I guess he likes us. Well, we like him too, thanks in large part to the donuts.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
Ohhhhhhh, Weikel's. I live in Austin and I'll drive to Weikel's just for kolaches. But if I don't feel like it, there's a Shipley's right by my house in Austin that has pretty good kolaches and even better donuts.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
Weikel's -- the best Kolaches. Period. It's the reason we take I-10 to 71 to go to Austin instead of 290. Also have to buy a loaf of bread and a puffed rice/marshmallow and TOASTED PECAN treat. Heaven.
My question: Does anyone know where there is a good taco pizza? The above photo lured me in but was deceiving.
Dessert Gallery and Three Brothers Bakery. *daydreaming*
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
There is a Kolache Factory in the Indy area (Fishers) if that is closer than Texas for any of you. I used to live right down the street from it and picked up a few almost every weekend. All of this Houston talk makes me think of barbecue....so much better than anything available up here.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
Anyone traveling from Houston to Austin on 71 must stop at Weikel's bakery. Not only are their kolaches wonderful, they have the hands down best cinnamon rolls in the state. Save some money for one of their wonderful meringue pies too! You can get everything 'to go' or grab coffee and sit out at a picnic table. Weikel's is just across from the McDonald's on 71. It is a Shell station too (no kidding). I have no financial interest. The family is the nicest on the planet having taken me, my mother and dogs in during the epic Rita evacuation a few years ago when I arrived in LaGrange too tired to drive on and they didn't want us sleeping in our car.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
I'm going to have to go try out these places now! I'm pretty sure Stella Sola is Italian, not Spanish for Lone Star.
@Lyra: The dessert thing is so true. I've been meaning to try out the cupcake places as well. I heard Crave Cupcakes in Uptown Park is delicious! I've also been meaning to try out Dessert Gallery as well. And there's always House of Pies =)
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
please, stella sola has been open for all of four days. let's give it a least a week until we decide it is a food trend. i ate there friday night, and it was just okay. the warm market salad was pretty lackluster, and the bucatini carbonara with pancetta and crab meat was extremely salty, which is saying a lot for me, since i am a salt freak.
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
The donuts at Shipley's are also to die for...
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
Migas are another great Texas food trend that started in the Austin area. They're basically scrambled eggs with corn tortilla strips, jalapenos, cheese, and cilantro in the mix. I'm hungry just thinking about them!
This article makes living away from Texas even more difficult! I miss it!
Unique Food Trends: Houston, Texas
@amanda0730: Thanks! The post has been updated.
One Dozen Trader Joe's Eggs, Each with a Double Yolk
We bought a flat (20) last week from a local organic market and had the same thing happen. All 20 eggs were double yolked. It was the weirdest thing.
One Dozen Trader Joe's Eggs, Each with a Double Yolk
Whoa - I want that dozen of eggs!!! The yolk is my favorite part!
In Gear: Flour Sack Kitchen Towels (An Old-Fashioned Staple for Modern Kitchens)
My girlfriend buys these in bulk from crafting stores and embroiders them for gifts. I received the "Happy Kitchenware" pattern, featuring dancing plates and cuddling spoons. She also found a pattern called "Tropical Babies". It's wonderfully/horrifically un-PC.
Breville Convection Oven
I'm interested in the answer as well. I just bought the Breville and am wary of trying to clean the pans that came with it. However, I have some vintage copco enameled cast iron quiche pans I got from ebay that fit perfectly. I just don't know if it would be safe to use them.
Also, I would think parchment paper in such a small oven would be dangerous, wouldn't it?
Xie Xie: An Asian Sandwich Shop (What a Concept)
Oh man, I'm so embarrassed that I haven't been here yet. Angelo is a sweetheart and a seriously talented chef. Great photos, Robyn!
Store-Bought Chicken Stocks, Reviewed: Which Are the Best?
everyone see that "top chef" is using swanson stocks for most of teir challanges???
Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
ryushin... yeah I posted about scratch pudding. But only because the cooked mixes are HARDER to cook than scratch. With cooked pudding mixes you have to endlessly stir to prevent sticking, and carefully use gentle heat. It sucks!
Someone could make a pudding mix where the starch was separate from the sugar/flavoring. But until then, from scratch is much quicker and easier than any cooked pudding mix.
No reason for pudding mixes to have anything artificial, it's just sugar, flavor (coca powder for chocolate) and starch. They do need a modified food starch for instant pudding so that it sets up without heating (I don't think any natural starches have that characteristic).
Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
@peekpoke: the series is called "Mixed Review:" because...why?
*ding* *ding* *ding* *ding* *ding*
It reviews MIXES! You get a "T" for being a troll! ;-)
@pooch: "instant" mixes will forever contain "chemicals", i.e., artificial flavorings, colors, etc. if you detest eating chemicals so much then by all means please stop reading Mixed Review. :-)
Not a fan of chocolate+mint combination so I guess I'll stick with the vanilla or, as suggested by other posters, the cookies and cream versions. :-)
Mixed Review: Jell-O Instant Pudding
The cookies and cream flavor is pretty darn tasty, but the cookies get really soggy after about a day in the fridge. They also have a chocolate flavor with either butterscotch or toffee flavored chips, but that one fell flat for me. It pretty much tasted of only chocolate.
Xie Xie: An Asian Sandwich Shop (What a Concept)
I had the Vietnamese BBQ Beef and added a Vietnamese BBQ Beef salad, because the meat was sooo good and I was still hungry. You can have all the sandwich recipes in salad format, a nice touch that doubles the list.
My friend had the Fish Cha Ca La Vong: good, weird, definitely worth a try, but my vote goes to BBQ Beef. I will try the other sandwich on the list, I am in the neighborough. But definitely worth a visit and you have to spend some minutes at the soda fridge (you cannot believe what weird sodas and beers they stock... just pass the Pear cider, too sweet in my opinion).
About the name: I have been in Shanghai and they definitely say it like "shyey shyey" with the second "y" very shortened and the "e" accented.
Breville Convection Oven
I just purchased the Breville oven. I live in a basement on a lake. The site is beautiful but the kitchen is more like a ship's galley. I'm sure I have less space than ANY studio apt kitchen.
The unit sits perfectly on top of the refrigerator. Plenty of ventilation there and out of the way. I bought a small fire extinguisher, not that I'm afraid it will catch on fire, but to appease the landlady living upstairs.
I made a frozen pizza last night. ONe by AMY's, which is kind of higher end brand.
It came out perfect... I mean perrrrrfect.
I think the only thing I lack now, is some kind of one or one or two burner element, probably electric.
HERE IS MY QUESTION: What other kind of cookware can you put in the Breville? I understand that you are not to use any glass or ceramics? e.g corning ware or Le Crueset? Can you put a small wrought iron skillet in there? You're also NOT supposed to use any aluminum foil e.g. to wrap fish in? In fact, do you ever cover the food? Is it smart to cover your cookward with parchment paper for cleanliness and to avoid sticking etc?
Is ther anyway to do popcorn?
Has anyone bought any of the accessories?
Lastly, can any of you share any of your recipes i.e. what has worked the best. I'm going to try a 4lb leg of lamb this weekend. I'm doing a pork tenderloin roast tonight.
Dinner Tonight: Pan-Fried Fish Tacos with White Sauce
you can puree jalapenos in adobo sauce with mayo and ketchup for a fine fish taco sauce. Add a few slices of avocado to the taco too, and then thank me quietly....
Recent Posts
McClure's Spicy Pickles: anyone know what type of pepper?
Posted by amanda0730, May 14, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Recent Favorites
Dinner Tonight: Jacques Pepin's Crusty Chicken with Mushrooms and White Wine
Posted by Nick Kindelsperger, August 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Photo of the Day: Circuit Board Made of Candy
Posted by Robyn Lee, July 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Grilling: Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Portobellos
Posted by Joshua Bousel, May 8, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Blogwatch: Ricotta Pancakes with Figs
Posted by Grace Kang, March 16, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Cook the Book: The Serious Eats Chocolate Lover's Library
Posted by The Serious Eats Team, February 11, 2008 at 4:45 PM
'Settlers of Catan' Board Game Inspires Hexagonal-Shaped Foods
Posted by Erin Zimmer, January 26, 2009 at 4:00 PM
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I'm gonna be that terrible person that I always get irritated with, but I can't help it:
I think you may mean Viognier grapes, not Viognet.
:) I mean it in the nicest way possible. Also, I need to get my hands on those pocket things.