Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Cook the Book: 'L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook'

I live in LA and would absolutely love this book. My favorite LA farmer's market is the hollywood one (sundays), and my favorite vendor sells avocados and passion fruit - it's the passion fruit that does it for me, I absolutely adore it and haven't found anywhere else to buy it outside of HI.

emisara at 12:55AM on 06/24/09

Cook the Book: 'Modern Spice'

Currently, I'm working on Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and and Vietnamese. I'd love to add Nepalese to that list - I've adored the food at the Nepalese restaurants I've been too. I haven't even started exploring Mexican or Central American or South American cuisines, but am definitely interested.

emisara at 6:22PM on 06/09/09

From Serious Eats: New York

Cook the Book: 'Endangered Recipes' by Lari Robling

dessert! my best friend and i would each get a fruit roll-up or fruit leather, and we'd compete to see who could make it last the longest. i ALWAYS lost.

emisara at 11:13AM on 05/27/09

Illy Espresso Machine Giveaway from 'Edible Brooklyn'

I don't live in NYC so I'm not sure if I'm eligible, but I had a really lovely cup of coffee near little italy. man, i wish i could remember the name of the place!

emisara at 2:59PM on 04/22/09

Cook the Book: 'The Asian Grill'

mmmm, bahn mi. . . .no grilling mishaps though, except for the occasional vegetable falling into the fire.

emisara at 12:44AM on 04/14/09

Cook the Book: ''Wichcraft'

a really perfect bahn mi . . . how i miss those pickled carrots. . .

emisara at 5:44PM on 04/06/09

Secrets of Minetta Tavern's Black Label Burger

oh man, that looks AMAZING

emisara at 10:55PM on 03/17/09

Cook the Book: 'Beyond the Great Wall'

the first time i left north america, age 13, i went to london with my parents. coming from california, i was amazed at how OLD everything was. here, a building 100 years old counts as old. almost all of london is so much older than that!

emisara at 4:27PM on 03/17/09

Cook the Book: 'Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating'

I love Mark Bittman - have two of his cookbooks, fabulous ideas. I like the way he has a basic recipe and variations.

emisara at 10:57PM on 03/10/09

Cook the Book: 'Kneadlessly Simple'

challah!

emisara at 8:17PM on 03/02/09

Served: Recession Waitressing

For what it's worth, in CA servers DO get the full minimum wage - $7.50ish an hour, here, plus tips. If I weren't so lazy I'd go look up what other states require that servers get paid min. wage.

emisara at 8:43PM on 02/23/09

Spiced Rum: It's Not All About the Captain

I've made flavored vodka. a couple flavors failed, most were okay - none were great.

emisara at 8:06PM on 02/11/09

From Serious Eats: New York

Valentine's Day Giveaway: Macarons from Itzy Bitzy Patisserie

cookie: hazelnut
filling: mocha (so, chocolate and coffee - definitely dark chocolate and not too sweet, the coffee flavor predominates)

mmmmmm. wish i lived in nyc!

emisara at 1:17AM on 02/10/09

Fast-Food Oatmeal: The Good, the Bland, and the Goopy

good to know, as there's a jamba juice on my way to class.

still, i think i'd rather just make it at home - even thick-cut oats can be made in the microwave. and my new favorite is thick cut oats soaked in boiling water for a while (usually 30+ minutes, sometimes overnight), stirred into yogurt. the texture is awesome.

emisara at 1:10AM on 01/28/09

Store-Bought Chicken Stocks, Reviewed: Which Are the Best?

Thank you, thank you. This is one of the most useful food articles I've ever read.

emisara at 8:41PM on 01/21/09

Serious Eats City Guide: Los Angeles

oh MAN i would be so excited if there was a Serious Eats LA!

emisara at 12:46AM on 01/16/09

Served: Waitress Fantasy

@daemon, how about being friendly & mildly flirty - but polite, and not too personal - and then leaving your number with a good tip? That avoids any awkwardness, and allows the server to contact you on her terms if she also felt a connection.

emisara at 7:30PM on 01/15/09

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Edible Chocolate Box from Charles Chocolates

hazelnut praline with medium-dark chocolate. yummmmm

emisara at 4:46PM on 01/04/09

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack

GREAT post!

I tried doing this on Friday night, and got some outstanding results.
Ground up the meat w/ my Cuisinart, and came out just fine. Just gotta make sure you keep an eye out so you don't get beef puree.
Used my trusty cast-iron skillet, and really digging that smash-n'-scrape technique.... thanks!

NYCRockstar at 3:51PM on 11/03/09

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack

This post is awesome. You sir are a sandwich engineer!

ssandwiches at 1:47PM on 11/01/09

Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 87: Do Weights Help You Lose Weight?

to those who suggested mark rippetoe and stumptuous - these are great sources for beginning weight lifters! smart, sensible and no-nonsense weightlifting advice with a focus on technique. i haven't read starting strength but i've meant to.

as a sort-of-new weightlifter, i've found rippetoe's youtube videos for basic exercises (squat, deadlift, etc.) invaluable! i also really like the way he talks, incidentally. he has the cadence of a really good, perceptive teacher. it's weirdly soothing to me.

frenzels at 5:09PM on 10/23/09

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack

I love this post. Your efforts are much appreciated.

LHSK12 at 1:19PM on 10/22/09

Does one need a microwave?

Microwaves very effective at blowing up chestnuts. First they spin like tops and then BANG! Awesome fun.
Or eggs, but they don't spin as well.
If you get the thing set high enough, you can make butter foam fountains.
If you have an old microwave, putting in a plate that has a pretty gold rim is pretty entertaining. Zap! Zap!
Flies are smart enough to hide in the corners.
For culinary application that requires a molten center and frozen exterior, then the microwave is perfect.
As a book case, I find it too small for anything but trashy paperbacks.
And it makes a terrible doorstop.

Perhaps I should get a TV?

Judith klinger at 10:07AM on 10/21/09

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack

How will a Keating Miraclean griddle, Hobart grinder and a APW Wyott toaster improve this recipe over home-made results ?

bubasla at 3:00AM on 10/21/09

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack

Adam, no joke i most definitely must say that JOY Burger blows shake shack!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Townnut at 9:52PM on 10/20/09

charm city cupcake at 7:58AM on 10/20/09

Does one need a microwave?

Mark Bittman wrote an article on this in April 2008 - you can find it here.

You don't need a microwave, but it sure does make life easier. And it does a bang up job on eggplant - soft, tender, and way less oil than stovetop cooking.

Does one need a microwave?

It's the best thing I've found for steaming a whole fish, Cantonese style. I don't have the BTUs for a wok and a steamer rig, so the microwave is awesome. And since that was my favorite dish growing up (thanks, Dad!), I will assert both to "needing" my microwave, and to maintaining whatever might exist of my foodie credibility (whatever that means).

shoneyjoe at 1:46AM on 10/20/09

Does one need a microwave?

So call me "crazy." I melt chocolate on the stove in a make-shift double boiler. And I don't use a food processor either (I enjoy slicing/dicing/dhopping with a knife).

SavtaShayna at 4:43PM on 10/19/09

Does one need a microwave?

This topic has cycled through before so let me just reiterate the same points I made a year and a half ago:

We were renting an apartment years ago that had the microwave over the stove. When it died we just did without it, never requesting a replacement from the landlord and I don't recall it being a hardship. When we later bought a place the kitchen of course had a brand spanking new stainless steel microwave over the stove.

We use that baby multiple times a day from breakfast to dinner and I honestly don't know how I was without one for those years way back when. I know I did it and it wasn't a big deal, but I use mine constantly nowadays. We still cook our hot cereal on the stovetop everyday out of habit from those years, but while the cereal is cooking, we make eggs in the microwave. I often defrost something for dinner and I can't imagine roasting spaghetti squash in the oven when cooking a half squash only takes 6 or 7 minutes in the microwave (think about the energy saved!). I keep frozen cubes of homemade stock in a freezer bag and usually melt these in a coffee mug with some water so that I don't have to add "ice" to something cooking on the stove. And all these folks who eschew the microwave and would rather melt chocolate in a double boiler seem crazy to me!

I guess I don't cook many things in the microwave from start to finish, but if the stove is crowded, I certainly don't mind making fresh broccoli or asparagus in the microwave. Plus there is less cleanup as you can usually serve right from the cooking dish. I know that I could do without one, but I just find it too helpful and convenient. Anything done in a food processor or stand mixer could be done by other means as well, but what's the big deal in taking advantage of convenience? I say no big deal either way.

Otabenga at 4:14PM on 10/19/09

Does one need a microwave?

Buy a new one. Fuses within the equipment usually only blow if there is an internal power problem. If you did not get a surge in the house that took out other devices, there may be a greater issue than the fuse. I came to the conclusion that most small appliances should be treated as disposable as the repairs usually cost more than a new machine, especially electronics like a microwave. Oh, and the screwdriver trick could be fun in another way, if the amperage is too high, or the screwdriver is a cheap metal, you can weld the screwdriver to the frame while discharging the capacitor. If you try it, where rubber gloves to insulate as well as the insulated handle, can't be too safe.

With kids in school and the running around it requires, the quick reheat times make it invaluable for reheating meals to get to conferences, games and other activities when every adult in the house works. Left over arroz con pollo tonight.

Meat guy at 3:51PM on 10/19/09

Does one need a microwave?

sorry, germane not "germain"..... whew.... I need a beer!

Pavlov at 3:03PM on 10/19/09

Does one need a microwave?

@dmcavanagh, What @BiereBeer was referring to is called a Capacitor, most all microwaves have one, and It works like this:

The capacitor is an invention that was used to store up an electrical charge (like a battery), and then discharge it into a circuit. This can be used to smooth out electrical impulses, or turn a constant electrical flow into a series of impulses. Capacitors hold electric currents even when not connected to any power source.

So you see, If you do not discharge the capacitor correctly, you may get shocking results when trying to replace a blown fuse in the microwave.

In case @ BiereBeer is interested here's how to discharge a microwave capacitor:

A capacitor is discharged by creating a short circuit between each of the two capacitor terminals, and between each terminal and the chassis. The chassis is the metal mounting (bare metal surface) of the capacitor. Read these directions thoroughly before you proceed.

With your microwave unit unplugged, touch the blade of a well insulated screwdriver to one terminal. Gently slide the screwdriver forward until it reaches the other terminal, holding it there for a few seconds. Be aware that this often results in a loud and startling 'POP'.

Repeat this procedure in order to create a short circuit between each capacitor terminal and the chassis (bare metal mounting plate surface). This same method can be applied to a capacitor having three, and not two, terminals.

Sorry, I know this was a bit off topic, but thought it germain to the discussion.

Pavlov at 3:02PM on 10/19/09

Cook the Book: Pumpkin Baking

Thanks to all who participated, and congratulations to our winners:

hungrylikethewolf
ekenyon
etirv
amylou61
amy_i

Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.

Caroline Russock at 12:07PM on 10/19/09

Cook the Book: Pumpkin Baking

I love ravioli with a pumpkin cream sauce. Great fall comfort food!

lesakt at 12:02PM on 10/19/09

Cook the Book: Pumpkin Baking

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake. A few years ago, we had a two pumpkin desserts at our Thanksgiving dinner -- a pumpkin pie a la Mom, and a pumpkin gooey butter cake made by my daughter. The Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake one hands down. It is decadent, but it is Holiday-worthy!

edenxpress at 12:00PM on 10/19/09