bettyjoan’s Profile
Recent Comments
Cook the Book: 'Simple Fresh Southern'
I love stuffing/dressing of any kind, but it's tough to choose between that and a good green bean casserole. More, please!
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
Mmmm, smoked oyster sticky rice sounds awesome!
Store-Bought Chicken Stocks, Reviewed: Which Are the Best?
This is a great "consumer report." I make homemade stock whenever I can, but sometimes it just ain't gonna happen.
See more comments by bettyjoan »
Recent Posts
bettyjoan hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
bettyjoan hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
bettyjoan hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
bettyjoan hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
I just love that my family incorporates food traditions from years past. For example, we don't eat turkey--my late grandmother hated it. She was more of a red meat gal, so we have a standing rib roast. Though I miss all of the traditional turkey accompaniments, I love that we do things differently in homage to my grandmother. We also make her famous bundt cake.
Cook the Book: 'Simple Fresh Southern'
I love stuffing/dressing of any kind, but it's tough to choose between that and a good green bean casserole. More, please!
Win a Free Organic D'Artagnan Turkey
Mmmm, smoked oyster sticky rice sounds awesome!
Store-Bought Chicken Stocks, Reviewed: Which Are the Best?
This is a great "consumer report." I make homemade stock whenever I can, but sometimes it just ain't gonna happen.
San Antonio Restaurant Recommendations?
I really enjoyed the original Rudy's--great fatty brisket. And creamed corn! Yum.
For fine dining in downtown San Antonio, I really enjoyed Citrus. Delicious, seasonal, and pretty inventive.
Eat For Eight Bucks: Paprika-Braised Chicken with Chickpea Puree and Crispy Shallots
What a great feature! Can't wait to make this dish and see what you have in store for future posts.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Edible Chocolate Box from Charles Chocolates
A super thick chocolate shake, or a warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookie.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks
Ribeye or hanger. Mmmmm, steak.
Cook the Book: 'The Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook'
Either soft tacos (fish or chicken) or "fried" chicken, with this chili sauce/pineapple juice/breadcrumb topping.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks
Ribeye or hanger. Drool.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: D'Artagnan Boneless Heritage Ham
Swiss or gruyere cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and honey mustard. YUM!
Five Guys' Fries Make Me Weep with Happiness, Burger Is Not Bad
I never understood the Five Guys burger madness--there are many other fast food burgers I prefer. You're right about the fries, though--awesome.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Edible Chocolate Box from Charles Chocolates
Williams-Sonoma peppermint bark. A wonderful holiday treat, but I wish it was around all the time!
Cook the Book: 'How to Cook Everything, Revised Tenth Anniversary Edition'
The stock tip (haha) was invaluable to me, particularly after I figured out that making stock is easy!
Seriously Delicious Holiday Food Giveaway: Russ & Daughters
Lox, cream cheese, tomatoes, and red onions on a garlic or everything bagel. Good breath afterward, too!
Cook the Book: 'Giada's Kitchen'
Mmmm, I love a good vodka sauce.
Cook the Book: Bobby Flay's Grill It!
I would definitely invite Alton Brown--not only could we gab about food, but we could talk Georgia football!
Cook the Book: 'Mario Batali Italian Grill'
Just salt, pepper, and worcestershire sauce--works like a charm!
Serious Easter Artisanal Chocolate Egg Giveaway
Cadbury Cream Eggs--seriously, the best candy ever.
Cook the Book: 'My Last Supper'
Hawaiian pizza, garlic breadsticks, and some cold beer.
Cook the Book: 'Roast Chicken and Other Stories'
I roasted my first chicken about 1-2 years ago, and I have never been so proud of something in my life. I used an Ina Garten recipe, and it was pretty basic, but it came out BEAUTIFULLY. It was citrusy, salty, and richly meaty all at the same time. I served it with caramelized shallots and french green beans, and it was a huge hit. Hmm, maybe I'll have to try another recipe this weekend--roasted chicken sounds very comforting in this cold weather!
Weekend Book Giveaway: 'Secret Ingredients, the New Yorker Book of Food and Drink'
I love Anthony Bourdain, but I'm also a fan of Jeffrey Steingarten.
The Best Black and White Cookies? Half-Moons? Amerikaners?
This post just made my day--as a native New Yorker who has spent her last 20+ years in Atlanta, Knoxville, and DC, I had all but given up on the simple beauty of a great black and white. Thanks for all the tips--I may have to have some shipped ASAP!
Cook the Book: 'Techniques of Healthy Cooking'
Black beans, brown rice, corn, and fresh salsa. If I need extra protein, I'll throw on some grilled chicken or salmon.
Serious Sandwiches: Chick-Fil-A's Chick-n-Minis
I appreciate the fact that food isn't just food anymore, and that people care about the social issues surrounding the culinary world. However, if you truly want people to be informed, don't say that "the chick fil-a founder is a religious wing nut" (your exact words, and certainly not factual in nature) and give people proof that is based on documented evidence. You say that "employees are required to [go to] church"--where did you get this information? I knew many people who worked at Chick-fil-a, and they did not have this requirement. You say that "chick fil a is open about firing gay employees"--where are the lawsuits? If they are, in fact, open about this policy, where can I find it written or stated? I know that the Cathy family is very conservative and religious, and I'm not disputing that fact or saying that everyone should agree with their beliefs (for the record, I don't). My point: we should certainly engage in discussions about the important issues surrounding food, but we should strive to do so intelligently and responsibly (rather than with vague contentions and scare tactics).
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Not so much one story as an ongoing saga of the tale that is thanksgiving. We eat with my dad's side of the family. Its kinda scary though. I think that they're afraid to EVER try anything new or remotely different from the norm. I can list off everything that everyone will be bringing from the greenbean casserole to the type of mashed potatoes. Not to mention the fact that I don't think anything is seasoned at all. I'd like to change things up but I've been overruled by my mom already on more than one occassion when I've offered to cook something that isn't "traditional." I guess its good for a laugh at least.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
My grandmother's stuffing is a highlight of Thanksgiving. I make it now, but I remember as a kid, at her house, she's have a small casserole dish of it on the stove and she'd pick at it all throughout the meal preparation. It was her little treat!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The thanksgivings I made a turkey...all by myself at the age of 13.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Thanksgiving day, 1965. That morning, a neighbor had brought my dead kitty to us in a cardboard box on a little red wagon. I was devastated. That afternoon, the parents of the guy my older sister was going with (and would later marry) took our family out to T-day dinner. My future brother in law's father sat next to me, and poured me a glass of red wine to have with dinner. I finished it, and said I liked it. "That's burgundy!" He said. I still like it.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
One year all the food was brown or beige. After that we decided we really needed to think about presentation a little bit more!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
We got a frozen 18 lb turkey for free one year... but didn't anticipate how long it would take to thaw! We ended up having to wait for our thanksgiving dinner for an extra day so it would get up to temperature. When we asked other people what they did, they decided to stick their turkey in the shower!!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Going down south to visit my family. We don't do that anymore and we should
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
My very first brined turkey has to be my favorite food memory for thanksgiving.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
My mother makes my grandmother's bread recipe every thanksgiving. Everyone in the family looks forward to my mom continuing this baking tradition. It also serves as the best toast the next day!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
I think my family was a bit non-traditional in a lot of ways and frequently this was shown by what was on the table for the "major" holidays. (My family arguably celebrated EVERY holiday whatever the denomination) One Thanksgiving my mom decided she didn't want to go through the trouble of preparing a turkey...so instead she spent the day making stuffed clams, crab legs and sushi. How is that easier?!?! It was an awesome dinner nonetheless!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Once my dad tried to make a turkey loaf.
Shudders.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Converting my then-fiance's parents to brussel sprouts. I make an awesome hash that the midwestern meat-and-potatoes crowd liked. Muahaha!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Not really a memorable T-giving, but I'm secretly proud that I've reached my age and never cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving. A chicken, yes; a turkey, no. And considering my age and that I spent many years married and have children ... I think that's remarkable. LOL!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Not the best, but certainly the most memorable, and probably the family's favorite. I "started" on Thanksgiving morning. Which became the talk of the table - much to my horror - among all twelve of the guests. And now, twelve years later, I can't go a Thanksgiving without someone bringing it up and Mom telling the story, and me sitting red-faced at the table, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
My 1st Thanksgiving dinner w. my husband. We moved 2200 miles from home, so it was just the 2 of us. But we love to cook, so we made a full dinner: a huge turkey, whole pie, giant bowl of mashed potatoes, gravy, yeast rolls, green beans, asparagus, plus a full tray of veggies and dip. The amount of leftovers prompted us to invite all my coworkers over the following year- a tradition we've carried the last 2 years.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Each year, my husband always makes a feast on Thanksgiving - enough food for 30 people for the two of us. I'm not exaggerating.
We always just buy a breast since I don't eat turkey, esp. white meat. A couple years ago, he decided to do a whole turkey and bought a MONSTER turkey a day or so before Thanksgiving.
We bought a roasting pan that didn't fit the turkey, so we had to go out and get another one.
He spent most of the day before and all Thanksgiving day cooking sides.
On Thanksgiving day, the turkey was still frozen solid. We also found out our very tiny oven did not fit the enormous roasting pan -- depth and height. In fact, the oven isn't deep enough to fit a standard length cookie sheet.
Fortunately, none of the other dishes he made hinged on the turkey being made, so we ended up with sides for dinner. It was quite filling since he made up nearly 15 sides and we had 3 pies.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Discovering the wonderful Lingonberry, after returning from a foreign college exchange program in Sweden, 1981.
Far superior to the cranberry, in my opinion, but a very close relative.
The Lingonberry has been a regular guest on my Thanksgiving table now since.
Favorite Alton Brown "Good Eats" moment, was when Alton dressed up like Fried Chicken Pioneer Colonel Sanders and showed you how to make a classic "Mint Julip".
Absolutley hysterical, I could watch it over and over again and laugh every time just as hard.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Oh man. Mine would have to be the extremely hungover Thanksgiving that I spent with my then-boyfriends' (now husbands) family. I was about 19 (yeah, I know...), and we had gone to a big party at a friends' house the night before. Thanksgiving morning it took me forever to get ready, because I had to keep lying down on the bathroom floor to avoid getting sick. So, we're at dinner, and I'm so nauseous/headachy I can barely manage to sit at the table, and here are his grandmas (both of them!) prodding me to eat more. "Here, have some green bean casserole. How about some gravy? Jello salad?" UGH. I found out later that his entire family knew what was up, except the grandmas...
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
It would have to be how my mother insists on putting a bowl of peas on the table every year even though it has been 20 years since someone one put a pea on their plate . . .
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
the time my brother fell asleep face first in his mashed potatoes because he didn't want to leave the table while the adults were still talking!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The first year I cooked an entire Thanksgiving I had the worst head cold and couldn't taste a thing. Since then I make Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish with horseradish and that manages to clear me right up so I CAN taste the dinner.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Back in 1975, at 16 years old, I told my folks that I would be taking care of the holiday dinner- after some raised eyebrows and wisecrack comments, (I think my parents secretly planned to visit a friend if catastrophe prevailed) I was granted free range of the kitchen. Much to everyone's surprise, I pulled it off! Down to fluffy cloverleaf rolls and pumpkin pie. I still have the Betty Crocker and Joy of Cooking that I gleaned the recipes and knowledge from as momentos of the feat. Without fail, every year in dinner table conversation that year comes up.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The year the power went out in a state-wide windstorm....1 hour into cooking the turkey. We finished it on the BBQ and it was delicious! And no one got food-poisoning thank goodness.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
I guess the best one I can think of is when I asked my daughter to pick up the turkey from the store and she came home with a chicken! We had a good laugh over that one!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
I have 2.
One involves a turkey brined then roasted at 4 AM. We (turkey and me), took an 8 AM amtrak to Baltimore... It was well wrapped and in a black Tumi bag on wheels. Smelled good. It made Nana happy and turkey was a star.
The second: My first experience w/ Red Velvet Cake. Huge white cake arrived at the table after our huge meal. The red was shocking, and the taste, a revelation. I did not, could not stop eating it until... yep... everywhere. What do you want I was 14.
Recent Posts
bettyjoan hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
bettyjoan hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
bettyjoan hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
bettyjoan hasn't taken any quizzes yet.

I just love that my family incorporates food traditions from years past. For example, we don't eat turkey--my late grandmother hated it. She was more of a red meat gal, so we have a standing rib roast. Though I miss all of the traditional turkey accompaniments, I love that we do things differently in homage to my grandmother. We also make her famous bundt cake.