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Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I love cereal, but unless it's oatmeal, I won't eat it for breakfast. Dinner or a snack, sure. Lunch, occasionally. Breakfast, nope.
Cook the Book: The Southern Italian Table
Warmed white beans with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and rosemary. No idea whether it's authentic (there are no Italians in my family), but it sure is cheap and good.
Hot Apple Cider near Central Park?
If you want that spiced-cider taste from Starbucks without all the gloopy stuff, ask for steamed cider with a pump or two of chai syrup in it. The chai has all the good spices and a little bit of black tea bitterness, which cuts the sweetness of the apple juice nicely.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Vegetarians, How Do You Do Thanksgiving?
Just wanted to add that vegetarian gravy is ridiculously easy to make if you have a good veggie broth or stock. Just make a roux (you can even use olive oil for a vegan gravy) and whisk in the broth, then season the crap out of it.
I'm no longer vegetarian, but when I was, I unabashedly went the parade-of-sides route. Green bean casserole was a must for me, along with stuffing (with apples!), roasted spiced sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. My vegetarian ex-husband, on the other hand, would just mix corn and stuffing into his mashed potatoes and call it a day.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I love cereal, but unless it's oatmeal, I won't eat it for breakfast. Dinner or a snack, sure. Lunch, occasionally. Breakfast, nope.
Cook the Book: The Southern Italian Table
Warmed white beans with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and rosemary. No idea whether it's authentic (there are no Italians in my family), but it sure is cheap and good.
Hot Apple Cider near Central Park?
If you want that spiced-cider taste from Starbucks without all the gloopy stuff, ask for steamed cider with a pump or two of chai syrup in it. The chai has all the good spices and a little bit of black tea bitterness, which cuts the sweetness of the apple juice nicely.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Amaretti cookies, the kind you buy in the red tin.
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 81: A Frank Chat with Frank Bruni on Being 'Born Round'
I have mild gastroparesis, so eating too much—of ANYTHING—makes me feel really, really sick. The last time I seriously overate was back in March when my boyfriend took me out for fondue for my birthday. We were sharing and we only ate half our entree, but even so, I felt so terrible the next day that I now approach the very idea of fondue with some measure of trepidation. So if the definition of binging is eating too much, for me it's right out.
On the other hand, if you define binging as eating too many calories, I definitely have those days. The other night I was in the middle of eating a clam roll when I realized that I had been up a couple of pounds and really should have picked a healthier dinner. But the clam roll was ordered and sitting in front of me, so I merrily proceeded and just watched my calories especially carefully the next day. Some days... you just have to eat the clam roll. So to speak.
Cook the Book: 'What We Eat When We Eat Alone'
I eat scrambled eggs with American cheese on toast constantly. I also love to slice a Gala apple and eat it with peanut butter. And occasionally I'll make ham or turkey sandwiches with Seville orange marmalade or lingonberry preserves rather than mayo.
Sunday Brunch: Louisville Hot Brown Sandwich
Does the onion go into the cheese sauce? It's in the ingredient list, but I don't see it in the recipe.
What makes you feel better?
@lemonfair Spanakopita for me too!
Also egg noodles with butter and salt, Italian bread with butter or roasted garlic, rice pudding, peanut butter and honey on toast, strawberries sliced and tossed with a little sugar, or Dannon coffee yogurt (there can be only one).
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 75: Can (and Should) I Give Up the Flavored Liquid Habit?
I think the answer to the flavored drink question depends on what you're substituting the flavored drinks for. If you're having one when you're craving something sweet, and drinking it makes it easier for you to avoid a higher-calorie dessert, I don't see the harm. But if you're drinking them instead of water, that's not as good. It's all about what they do to your net calorie intake.
I'm not that worried about the possibly carcinogenic qualities of artificial sweeteners, but to me they just taste icky and are a little creepy (I'm not a big fan of artificial flavors in general). If you're having a beverage instead of a brownie, you can afford to have half seltzer and half juice, or maybe an Izze or one of the flavored Pellegrinos (mmm, Aranciata on a hot day). I always pour my carbonated beverages over a giant cup of ice. Makes 'em feel more satisfying.
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 74: Can My All-Pie Fourth of July Diet Work?
I'm afraid you're going to end up with the sugar crash to end all sugar crashes if you pursue the all-pie plan. Forget weight gain—if I did that I would feel absolutely awful the next morning, if not by the end of the day. I'm hypoglycemic, so I watch sugar particularly carefully, but I think insulin is too touchy a thing to mess with that much. I would think even a mostly-pie day would be fine, but make sure you eat some protein at some point.
Served: (More) Lessons Learned
It means "we made a lot of money."
How do YOU make a tomato sandwich?
Mine's like an Italian hoagie without the meat and cheese: a good crusty sub roll with mayo, lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced onion, oil and vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano. It was back in my vegetarian days that I discovered that I like this sandwich just as well as the meat and cheese version.
I also like an everything bagel with cream cheese, tomato and red onion, but I don't think of that so much as a "tomato sandwich." Delicious, though.
If I had to get all minimalist, I'd just do white toast, mayo and tomato.
Who Makes the Best Vanilla Ice Cream?
I've always loved Breyers specifically because of the icy, light texture. It's suffered a bit since they started using some kind of gum (all natural, I'm sure) to make the texture creamier. The super-premium ice creams taste like butter to me. I find Haagen-Dazs vanilla tasty, but suitable only for topping, like whipped cream—I can't eat it straight.
My Baby Blues BBQ in West Hollywood
Google doesn't think lincolnberries exist. I don't either. Also, the combination of what are presumably lingonberries with mustard and bleu cheese sounds just awful.
What Do You Put on Your Biscuit?
Blackcurrant or elderberry jam on a hot biscuit, or a sliver of Smithfield ham and a smear of sweet butter on a cold one.
Guilty Food Pleasures
Food Lion brand marshmallows straight out of the bag. That powdered Suisse Mocha coffee stuff that comes in a tin. Grilled cheese sandwiches with Kraft American cheese (NOT singles, those are gross) on white bread, dipped in ketchup.
'Top Chef Masters' Contestant Line-Up Announced
I had no idea they were doing this, but it sounds like a great idea to me. I'm really excited for the new season—now I just wish I didn't have to wait two months for it.
Good food in Western Mass?
I haven't been there in ten years, since I left Mt. Holyoke, but back then my favorite places to eat were Amanouz Café in Northampton (which taught me that iced green tea with honey, lemon and mint was not, in fact, too many flavors in one glass), Tailgate Picnic in South Hadley (great sandwiches), and a brunch spot in Northampton that is now called Sylvester's (I can't remember what the name was back then). I'm going to be back in the area visiting this weekend and am looking forward to hitting all three! Also, the Haymarket Café in Northampton has an awesome juice bar, though I've never had the food.
New Starbucks Breakfast 'Pairings' for $3.95: Better Than Airplane Food?
Nicola, I agree. I'm also from Pittsburgh, and I've always found the reduced-fat coffeecakes to be the better ones (and I'm really not a fan of reduced-fat stuff generally). The cinnamon one is very cinnamon-y. I miss the old blueberry one that they got rid of back in 2004-2005 sometime, with actual blueberries throughout as opposed to a weird blueberry jam swirl. The orange one was pretty good too.
How Does the FDA Warning Against Peanut Butter Affect You?
I'm taking their word for it that jarred peanut butter is fine. I'm also assuming that the peanut butter crackers I've had for over a year are okay. Does anyone know how far back the supposed contamination goes?
Recession Grocery Shopping: What Are You Doing Differently?
I live alone and have a very small appetite, so overbuying has always been a concern for me. I've been drawing down my stores of nonperishables as much as I can (not quickly enough for my taste, though) and buying perishables more carefully and in smaller amounts. It takes way longer to grocery shop because I have to put a lot more thought into it, but I actually enjoy cooking more because it's all part of my plan, and I don't have to worry about what I'm going to do with the product. And I invested in some extra tupperware so I can freeze leftovers and avoid waste.
I've also cut out the daily coffee as well as casual lunches and dinners out. I try only to go to restaurants that I know will be really fantastic or ones I haven't tried before. I make sure to carry a Luna bar or some peanut butter crackers with me all the time to avoid "emergency" stops for food. I find I actually eat more (which is a good thing for me) if I prepare the food myself. And of course I pay substantially less.
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 38: Embracing My Inner Bok Choy
What are your thoughts on napa? I actually have to stay away from cabbage most of the time because of a stomach condition, but I can't control myself around napa stir-fried in garlic sauce.
Cook the Book: 'The Cook's Country Cookbook'
Pea and beet salad. I actually don't know quite what's in it (other than frozen peas and pickled beets), but it's delicious, and since I've only had it in western PA, it says "home" to me.
In desperate need of a strawberry buttercream recipe!!
I've made insanely delicious strawberry buttercream by mixing one part softened butter and one part strawberry puree (just berries in the Cuisinart), and then whisking in powdered sugar until it's the right consistency. It's strawberry-licious and there's no mystery to it.
Vegetarians, How Do You Do Thanksgiving?
I don't like most faux-meat products, but I live and die by Quorn's Turk'y Roast (http://www.quorn.us/cmpage.aspx?pageid=462&productid=146). It's not vegan, but it IS delicious.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
@wunami: Toushe. I was wondering if someone would catch that. Maybe I'm delusional, but I believe the Special K with Berries flakes are more coated (ergo more protected against sogginess) than the normal Special K flakes. So I bumped them up to the other category. Does that make any sense?
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
So happy about this post. I, like many people who commented, have had to endure endless ridicule for using water. Obviously it's not as yummy as milk, but in a pinch it works! My personal favorite is Honey Nut Cheerios. Hooray to Ms. Zimmer for making water and cereal ok!!!
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
- Avoid the flake family. (Honey Bunches of Oats, Frosted Flakes, etc.)
- Yes on clusters, freeze-dried fruit, and other chunky additions (Special K with Berries, granola, etc.)
Um...isn't Special K in the flake family? How does adding dried fruit make it okay. The flakes are still going to be unpalatable after getting soggy with the water instead of milk.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
The original post doesn't say anything about giving up milk due to calories. Only that it was too much milk. Since anyone who isn't of European descent (any many of us who are) shouldn't have cow's milk, I imagine it gave her digestive problems. My partner stopped having gastro-intestinal issues when she gave up cow's milk. I've noticed health improvements, too.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
Bravo, Rhetor. Bravo.
My cereal mishaps have never had to do with the liquid (I won't use anything but non-dairy milk) but one time I was out of cereal, so I crumbled up granola bars and popcorn into the milk and ate that instead. Mmmm. Soggy starch.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
when I was 13 or 14 I was visiting my dad, and he had almost nothing to eat in the house, (I think once I even ate expired bacos and cheese for dinner there) and I needed breakfast. I was starving.
there was cheerios, and the only liquid in the fridge was beer, so I ate cheerios and beer for breakfast. it was actually pretty good.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
@mtgall - well what else was she going to do with it? :p
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I once saw a lady pour diet coke,
on her cereal...AND eat it.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I like almond or hazelnut milk on cereal sometimes myself. My sister swears by Crispix and hot cocoa.
Miss Cheesemonger (http://misscheesemonger.com)
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
Yeeech. Unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk (http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/coconut_milk_beverage.html) would save a lot of calories (either will be 40-50 calories per 8 ounce serving) and taste a whole lot better.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
manufactured cereal: gross
manufactured cereal + water: grosser
Does the milk not have more nutrition than the cereal? (okay, manufacturer-added vitamins, maybe, but you could eat anything and take a vitamin pill just the same)
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I like my cereal soggy and with milk. If there's no skim milk available, I'll use a little bit of whole milk mixed with water. But it MUST be soggy. And never for breakfast.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I used to commute on the train every day and there was a guy who ate his cereal with apple juice...
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
@Deeberry: I do the ice cube thing too! I started putting frozen fruit on my cereal and after that, cereal without always seems horribly warm. So if there's no frozen fruit around, I have to toss in a couple ice cubes.
when my dad was a kid he saw the picture on the cornflakes box of a bowl of cornflakes with peaches in it and thought the peaches were chunks of margarine. After this he went through a phase of insisting on eating his cereal with spoonfuls of margarine in it, no milk (you couldn't see any milk in the picture)
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I hated eating breakfast when I was little, so my mom concocted a yummy breakfast in a bowl that I'm still loving 25 years later:
Grape nuts + plump raisins (none of those chewy old raisins that you find in a cereal box) + milk + (secret ingredient:) a little chocolate syrup.
Not the healthiest breakfast once you've added the chocolate syrup, I know. But it's better than going to school without eating the most important meal of the day. I've now turned my boyfriend and my best friend onto this weird combo. Try it! I guarantee you'll love it!
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I eat cereal every morning with the exception of weekends when I have time to make a hot breakfast. I have a nice rotation of high fiber cereals going in our pantry and then throw in some steel cut oats every so often. I always add milk whether its hot or cold cereal. If we buy "junk food cereal" then that's a Saturday morning treat, not an everyday food.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
you all sound so healthy (except you, rhetor, well done)... in addition to wheaties + wheat beer, the scary favourite of mine was always cocoa krispies with cherry coke. so much sugar your teeth hurt. also, probably the loudest breakfast possible.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I can not even begin to point out how flawed the logic of eating cereal with water is. Does she think she is doing herself a favor by not eating the milk? I am not sure how much cereal she actually consumes, whether it's two bowls or four, but unless they are mixing bowl sized, the milk is not going to make her fat, the cereal is. And if she actually has a compulsion to eat four bowls of cereal a day, then she should get some counseling.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
I stopped having milk in my cereal at age 3 - decided it was gross. I tried juice for a bit when I was 4, but then found dry cereal. I've been eating it that way for over 20 years and I can't understand why people put liquid in their dry cereal no matter what liquid. I'll add fruit sometimes - berries or chopped apples or stone fruit, but that's for taste not moisture.
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
Coming home drunk and, ahem, otherwise chemically altered one college evening back in the late 70s, I had a nasty case of the munchies. Being a college apartment though, my choices were limited. I settled on the dubious combination of Rice Krispies and Sloe Gin.
Not bad. Though for the life of me, I cannot recall if Messrs. Snap, Crackle, and/or Pop slurred their respective utterances.
Cook the Book: The Southern Italian Table
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Cook the Book: The Southern Italian Table
My favorite is ribollita
Cook the Book: The Southern Italian Table
rigatoni is my favorite
Cereal with Water and Other Cereal Compulsions
Milk bothers my stomach. I don't like lactose free milk very much. I find soy milk isn't that great, and almond and rice milks are too darn sweet.
Sometimes I eat my cereal with protein powder drink mixed with water.
Cold cereal isn't all that compared to a hot breakfast!
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Just wanted to add that vegetarian gravy is ridiculously easy to make if you have a good veggie broth or stock. Just make a roux (you can even use olive oil for a vegan gravy) and whisk in the broth, then season the crap out of it.
I'm no longer vegetarian, but when I was, I unabashedly went the parade-of-sides route. Green bean casserole was a must for me, along with stuffing (with apples!), roasted spiced sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. My vegetarian ex-husband, on the other hand, would just mix corn and stuffing into his mashed potatoes and call it a day.