Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Yeeeaah...I have to say, I caught one and I am not a fan. Having caught the ads during The Notebook the same as an above poster, I was curious. While I was not thrilled, I might have reserved further judgment, EXCEPT, there was a tease during the show re: a food review that was foreshadowed as if it would be resolved after the next ad, but then was carried over to the next episode. While I get the reasoning behind teasers, it just bugged me enough to change my mind. Anyone else feel this way??

I left out the funny questions/looks over the different kinds of sugar and salt.

I had a friend who called me a few weeks ago asking if I had any shake and bake she could borrow. I told her no but that I had flour, dried herbs and seasonings. She turned up her nose, politely, but still. In retrospect, it was just too complicated for her. Then I needed flour one night (how did I run completely out of AP flour???) and I called her. And she told me she didn't keep flour in the house. I was gobsmacked. She did not run out like me. She just doesn't keep it in the house. Unless she has a special item and she will get rid of it after. I guess I know which crazy camp we both belong in now. But I still like her!

@dbcurrie~Well said. That cheesecake mix and the seasoned/breaded meats sound like the premelted chocolate or the pumpkin soup mix mentioned above by one of the posters where you add the pumpkin and water. If you have to do that much to a "convenience" item, then it's not really a convenience. Maybe what those things are is more of a crutch for folks who aren't too sure of themselves in the culinary arts?

I buy instant mashed pots and use them in bread, too. I also use them in a pinch to thicken a few things.

@dbcurrie~Yep, those things are understandable. I sometimes do some of the very things mentioned above, like the potato and the (hanging head in abject shame) pbj pockets. Those were while we were moving and everything was packed and my little girl loves pb and j. She had been begging for them for ages and I saw no long-term harm in that indulgence.

Your "pre-made boling water" made me LOL. :-)

@hmw0029~I have actually been guilty of purchasing one of those. I was gonna be alone at home for the week and I didn't think I would use more than just that one for a particular meal and didn't want/need a whole bag of spuds.

@Cassaendra~I've heard raves about Stouffer's from different people, but I have never tried it either. If I want mac and cheese, I want the comfort of making it, too.

If not for time constraints, I would love to make everything from scratch, but that's just not possible. There are times where I have to either take some help from the store or else cop out and visit a drive thru window. :-P And homemade with some help seems better than the bad-for you fare from most quick serve places. At least it TASTES better. Not baggin' on convenience items, but some things just look wrong somehow to me.

1. Most potlucks I have been to are work or church related. At these functions, each dish is generally put with the others as everyone arrives. When I have a party at my home and people bring items, regardless of whether it is an actual potluck or if folks just want to contribute to the meal or bring a token to say thanks, I always lay out whatever has been brought. Always. Usually with a flourish, as in, "Wow! Everyone look at the pretty flowers/nice bottle of wine/delicious dessert Aunt Martha brought" If it is a food item and it's great, they get their due. If not, then at least noone thinks I made the offending dish. ;-) No matter how terrific or awful their contribution, it is not in me to be anything less than grateful.

2. I think you hit all the high pints on this one. In my mind, potluck=ready to serve when arriving or soon thereafter with the exception of garnishing or cutting into serving sizes. If it needs to be kept cool or warm that should be addressed by the person bringing the dish.

3. Since it can be life threatening, I think the hostess must tell anyone bringing a dish if she knows of any allergy issues. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I never direct much as to what anyone brings. I decide on a menu and unless I am sure someone is skilled at one of the dishes I have decided on or specifically says they would like to make that one dish, I generally make everything and let everything else that is brought just fit in as it will. Probably a little loosey goosey for some, but it works for me. And it has never been a problem.

4. I don't think there is a limit. If each person or family group brings enough to feed at least themselves, it will all work out. I usually plan to bring one main, one side, one dessert and may add in a bread and/or a drink, especially if there is any doubt as to whether that will be provided. There are usually five of us and I know what we like and will eat. So if nothing else is very good, then at least my dishes will suit my bunch. I usually cook substantially more for my church because I never know how many guests might drop in and I know that everyone at my church really likes my cooking and doesn't hesitate to go back for seconds.

5. Plates/cups/napkins/utensils/drinks/ice/coolers and chairs to use for the event/even activities for the kids are SO made for the culinarily challenged.

@fin~Yeah. Gotta love that homemade bread, ya know? Ever since I got my KA mixer, I have loved it prolly too much! It's so easy and sooo good.

@sadie. Those are all good ideas. I love the idea of a citrus cheesecake. If it's very cold when I pull it from the fridge, it will stay that way for long enough in the shade to be doable. Now my mouth is watering thinking about lime/lemon/orange/ cheesecake. Yum!

Good idea. I hadn't thought of making buns for the ham. I could go home and start the dough tonite and be letting the happy little yeast do its thing in the fridge until early Sunday morning. Fruit salad and watermelon are nice ideas, too. Baking is not a prerequisite, just something I love. Thanks!

Many faves already mentioned, including the fresh corn dogs, fried pies (especially apricot!), roasted corn, italian sausage with peppers and onions, and the ubiquitous chicken on a stick. I don't know what the big deal is either, but I sure do love them!

Gotta add fried cheese curds, fresh lemonade, taco salad or "walking taco," tater twirls (this is one potato cut in one continuous strip then fried), and frozen chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. This is like the best Eskimo Pie EVAR! I'm drooling just thinking about it and August is A LONG WAY AWAY :-(

Guess it's a good thing I go with 3-5 people and we all share bites of each different thing or I'd weigh approximately 7,000 lbs!

Mom's mom thought (talkative) kids belonged anywhere but in the kitchen. So I learned rather quickly not to draw attention to myself by talking, but I would quietly observe and learn lots. Not always about food, sometimes about the latest gossip around her little town, but....(shrug) So I suppose that lesson is the value of observing with my mouth closed.

Dad's mom would always make the effort to cook one thing she knew each person coming to her house would love to eat. Main course, side, dessert, 30 people coming for dinner, didn't matter. There would be one thing she knew you loved on the menu. I remember once mentioning to her that I had never had warm apple pie and ice cream. I was about 10 years old @ the time. This was only about an hour before dinner. After dinner, the mythical dessert appeared before me. So I learned from her that cooking and love are intertwined. And I have no higher aspirations in my kitchen than to show the ones I love that I LOVE them. Now you all know why my family is fluffy!!! LOL

There isn't much I can say I outright detest. But @chisai~I am with you on the tomato not being anywhere near tuna. Hurlworthy is right, yikes! The tomato makes the tuna taste like dirt to me somehow. Matter of fact, I do not enjoy most fish/seafood and tomato combos. Most don't bother me as much as tomato/tuna, but still.