Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I worked in several different food venues in my late teens and 20's. A bakery, a deli, a couple of fast food joints as both staff and mgmnt, sit down restaurants as both a waitress and a short order cook, also a bartender in a tavern that had plate lunch specials and killer burgers. I wasn't as flighty as this seems to sound. Some of these were at the same time as others. I even competed in a bake-off at one point due to the urging of my friends. Placed second, too!

Ultimately, I was planning on having my own bakery. I went so far as to attend Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI in my late 20's as a baking and pastry arts major. The first time I donned the hounsdtooth pants, jacket, turquoise neckerchief and toque, then stepped in front of a mirror, I was reminded of the phrase "the clothes make the man." Or in my case woman, lol. Because seeing myself that way really made me excited to be part of the program, part of the culinary tradition. It was loads of fun to be in the company of other students who shared my interests. And even better, were the resources of the chef instructors.

A curve was thrown my way after my first year and I came back to TN richer for the learning experience, but sans degree. My 8 YO recently told me that she wants to be a chef when she grows up and attend J&W and that we can be roommates, LOL. She has no idea how much fun that sounds like to me (or what a drag she will think that really is when she gets of age ;-)).

I'm not so sure how to answer what my cooking level is. I guess I would consider myself a 4 out of 5 in most baking applications since I am pretty skilled in that arena, but have a few things that I have little or no experience on. But a family that prefers comfort foods with little deviation and a limited budget keep me from experimenting in lots of savory cooking. I am good at what I do make and create mostly from scratch, so 3.5 out of 5 there.

Great question, mepolo!

Hehe. I just mentioned these in my comment on JEP's thread. I keep those packs of peanut butter and crackers around all the time! Home, office, purse. They are not very good for me, BUT they seem to have just enough carbs to head off my blood sugar when it takes a nose dive. They keep/travel well and I don't have to think about them. Just replace once they are all gone. Plus, with cracker snacks, my kids won't raid them like they would a candy stash ;-)

*sniff, sniff* Hand me one of those tissues Perky. *blow* Omgoodness. I couldn't help but go and read for myself. That is one awesome man to do something so thoughtful for you.

I have many precious things that were given to me from my great-grandma's and my gram's kitchen. I love them so much for their ordinary beauty and for knowing each time I pick them up that the wear on the handle, the small dent etc is someting that happened as it was being used by one of them. I have had folks question using them at all. None are more valuable to me than the smile they bring as I heft it in my hand and remember seeing one of my family members that's now gone use that utensil to make a meal with love, usually accompanied by lots of yelling, lol.

As to your question Mrs. Moosie, I try to keep things to a minimum, but there are some things that duplicates are a boon to have (what? That sounds weird, sorry). Spoons, tongs, whisks. they usual suspects.

Sweetened Kool-aid powder. Pour in a saucer, wet finger, lick. Repeat. Used to do the same with strawberry Quik.

And much of the following that I would happily consume as a child must be on the market purely for kids, because most have already been mentioned above. Plastic enrobed american "cheese," Tang, canned pastas, burnt toast spread with mayo (WTH?), most carbonated drinks, prepackaged pudding (Anyone remember those little cans of Del monte puddings? I adored them, but now the idea of canned pudding!?!?!?! Yikes!), boxed mac and cheese dinner, hot dogs, store-bought cookies and cakes, and almost all candies except for chocolates and Necco wafers.

I like a frittata or omelette made with assorted veggies and cheese and a tossed salad. My kids love grilled cheese and tomato soup or tuna sandwiches and vegetable soup when they are not feeling well.

@JudyV........hail from PA, far NW burbs of Philly, but really boondocks here, so I understand. Sounds like moving back to DE would end something? I hope not. Appreciate your vote for turnip pie (makes me giggle just thinking about it), and my daughters would gag, too. I do love my root veggies and fruit, so maybe with apples, butter, spices? I'm not gonna try it until Mikey tastes it! Hey, Mikey......... ;-O

Raw clams. Forced to eat one by my grandfather at age 10, traumatized and unable to eat fish or seafood ever since.

Sea Urchin. Or Uni Sushi.

We ordered two pieces. I took one in my mouth and thought I was eating sea urchin waste. I smiled and told my hubby it was awesome. SUCKER. He ate the other piece and has not let me live it down since.

I see others eating it now with lemon (not how we tried it 13 years ago) so I am tempted to try it again, but ya know fool me twice shame on me...

Salted licorice. I am ambivalent about licorice; some of it is okay, like an Australian imported brand I tried once. But, not knowing any better, I picked up a Dutch brand when I was at the import store last time, since it was on sale. Popped one into my mouth, chewed... And started drooling. I could feel the saliva glands underneath my tongue squirting as I bit into this black candy that tasted like super-concentrated salt! I spit it out, after running halfway across the house to the sink, but little bits of candy were stuck to my teeth, and black drool was leaking out the corners of my mouth. Salmiakki. Nasty, nasty stuff.

Vegemite and balut.