Mr.Ifyoucookit and I got a Sodastream for Christmas. We just cracked it open over Superbowl Weekend and tried some of the flavors...
I can't say I was a huge fan of any of the flavors we tried. I'm a Coke fan and the Coke didn't do it for me. The other flavors we tried were so, so sweet. We are going to try halving the amount of syrup but I'm wondering--What do you do with your Sodastream?
Do you have a favorite ready made mix or syrup...do you mix yours with fruit juice or other mixers? I don't want this thing to just sit around and go unused (and I love bubbles) so I want to give it a good shot....
Any thoughts SE community?

I am looking for some help! I need a buckeye recipe. My husband had these as a kid and requested them for the Xmas season. I have seen several recipes, including the one from this site, but none of them seem like the right ratios to me. If anyone has a tried and true recipe I'd appreciate it.

My FIL always makes fried turkeys for Thanksgiving. The great part is no hot kitchen, no getting up at the crack of dawn and no hogged oven. The down side is no drippings and no stock. Has anyone ever made stock from the bones of a deep fried turkey? I wouldn't use the skin or meat, but I'm wondering if I used the bones if it would make usable stock.
Any input would be appreciated. Happy Turkeying!

I've been baking professionally for 5 years and I baked for friends and family for several years prior to that. That being said no matter how many times I make meringue style buttercreams (and I make them up to 12 times a week) my throat always catches when it curdles and I watch in wonder as it churns back to smooth, silky, delicious buttercream.

Do you have something that makes you throat catch and brings a smile to your face?

(By the way my husband thinks this is very funny..."you know that's going to happen"...)

Ok, I know Thanksgiving seems a long way away, but I start planning early (our Thanksgiving gathering are big) so I can take my time shopping, cooking and preparing. We always host a night before dinner and this year I've decided on a soup buffet.
Problem is I don't have enough bowls...I'm doing a few types of soup so I'd like people to be able to get smallish bowls (8-10 oz maybe) of the different soups. I've been looking for decent disposables but have had little luck. I want something sturdy that's not totally horrible and is affordable.
Worst case I can go get some inexpensive bowls from a local warehouse, but I really don't want the work!
Thanks in advance!

Need a good source for vanilla beans (via the web)...i have bought lots of food items on the web, but I don't have a good source for beans (other than Penzeys please). Thanks!

I bought some juicy, aromatic fresh Georgia peaches from a roadside guy the other day and eatting them has caused me to Jones for more fresh foods!
Our farmer's markets are slowly heating up (as is my garden) but I'm impatient for tomatoes, zucchini, blue berries...even onions! We eat very seasonally so I am missing my favorite fresh foods...what are you salivating for?

I run a small bakery/catering business. I sell at farmer's market, by order (Sept to Dec is my busy season) and teach cooking and baking in peoples' homes (and starting in August I'll be in a commercial kitchen) or mine if it's more convenient.
Anyway I need some baking inspiration. I've been in a rut of the same old same old and I'm anxious to shake things up. I've been asking my customer's what they'd like, though they're a loyal bunch they're not terribly imaginative. I need suggestions! I don't want anythiing too crazy b/c I don't want to get stuck with it, but I'm going to go crazy selling chocolate chip cookies and banana bread!
Just to give you idea of what I normally produce: oatmeal kitchen sink cookies, rocky road brownies, coconut corn muffins, strawberry cake, snickerdoodles, pies, almond chocolate chunk cookies, french bread, sticky buns etc...
I need items that will hold without refrigeration. Thanks for any inspiration and ideas you can give me!

Tonight is the Mad Men season premiere. Are you making anything special to enjoy with your dose of glamor and intrigue?
Tonight we're going to be dining on "Shake and Bake" style chicken, macaroni and cheese, ice berg wedge salad, and chocolate mousse with raspberries! I think some friends are bringing a jello type salad and deviled eggs. We'll see what other surprises show up. We love any excuse to make some themed food and chow down as a group!

I cook big meals on Sundays, usually in my crock pot or dutch oven (though not always) in my crock-pot or dutch oven; something that will give me leftovers and requires little attention. I've hit a brick wall. I have no inspiration! Help!
Our weather her in TN has been shifting, so some of the heavy foods or hearty soups don't seem spring inspired and appropriate.
Here's an idea of what I've made lately...red sauce and meatballs, Mediterranean chicken, sausage and lentil soup, chicken and dumplings, chicken pot pie, pot roast, roast turkey breast, split pea soup....
I need inspiration! Help! Whatever I make needs to reheat well in the microwave for the hubby's lunch.

It's been such a mild winter here in TN that I've decided to get a jump start on my spring cleaning! I was looking through my cabinets trying to find somewhere to put my new crock pot when I realized how much kitchen stuff I have. I do use most of it, but I was sure there's some things that could find a good home.
So I've put myself to the task of getting rid of 10 kitchen items. So far the pile consists of...an ugly pie plate (it was a gift, but I'll never use this hideous thing), my old crock pot, a very old, beat up and scratched Calphalon sauce pot and my old deep fryer (which i didn't realize was in there hiding deep in the dark corner)...still have to find 6 items though...I can do this!
If you had to make space what would you get rid of?

So I love popcorn; we typically pop ours fresh, but for xmas I'm putting together a box of movie snacks for my sister in-law and her family( they live in chicago and stay in a lot during winter). Theywouldn't pop their own, so I need a great microwave brand. Also as a bonus if anyone has any other movie snack ideas I'd love to heae them.

I have been hunting for a traditional, creamy, smooth pecan praline recipe to no avail. I have found one from paula that looks like it has potential. I'm just hesitant to try out a recipe from just any old blog with such an expensive ingredient. Does anyone have a road tested and well love pecan praline recipe they wpuld be willing to share?

So for Christmas this year I would like to create a cookbook to give as gifts. I'm always being asked for recipes and though I'm reluctant to give out some recipes (if you know me you know I'm a caterer) to protect my business and my super secret family recipes, most I'm willing to give out. I thought this would make a great gift, but I'm not having a lot of luck figuring out the best way/place to create said book.
Can you help me! Is there a program, website, service etc...that is user friendly and relatively inexpensive? Oh yes, I would also like to be able to include color photos!

So Mr. Ifyouookit and Baby ifyoucookit and I are joining his family for vacation in Myrtle Beach.
I am looking for food recommendations for our stop over in Augusta (dinner and breakfast please) and Myrtle Beach recommendations. We eat everything and everything! Thanks in advance.

I know there was a post on blenders in February and it helped to some extent, but I'm going to be slightly specific in my blender requirements.
We had a yard sale today, and my husband sold my blender :(. It's been getting progressively louder for some time now, and apparently he didn't like my smoothie/baby food making at 6AM on Sunday mornings.
So, I'm in the market after almost 10 years. I use my blender DAILY to make baby food and smoothies (without ice though) and to make lots of soups in the winter. I do not want to spend more than $75, and I would like a blender that doesn't sound like an airplane taking off. I prefer a glass pitcher b/c it sits on my counter.
Does anyone have any blender recommendations? I'm looking at a Waring Pro perhaps, but they are almost $100--a little steep for me at the moment.

I am in the middle of my yearly summer stock up. This year is extra crazy because I'm trying to put up enough for my family and for my small catering company!
So far I've put up roasted tomatoes, lots of sliced and diced peppers of several varieties, peach puree, green beans, blueberries, roasted garlic, pickles and pickled peppers. Next week is jam week....oi, jam.
What is everyone else preserving for the winter?! I love hearing about it and getting some new ideas!

So, we're re-doing our kitchen (I say re-do and not renovate b/c the bones are the same, we replaced the floor, replaced/added mouldings, repainted cabinets, new backsplash etc) and we're to the point where it is safe, once again, to put things out onto the counter. I don't keep a whole lot out (I'm lucky enough to have a large pantry which I've converted to a butler's pantry....it's a thing of beauty) and I started noticing all the logos!
I never wear clothing with company's names printed on them. I can't stand advertising for people when I'm buying a product--no purses with logos stamped all over them. Well all my kitchen appliances have it etched right into the front. Kitchen Aid, Kenmore, Cuisinart, Black and Decker etc...I mean I am PAYING for these items. I just finds is ruins the continuity of my carefully crafted vintage design!
Have you ever noticed this...does it bother you too...or is it just me?

My husband and I are finally taking our very belated honeymoon in October. We are going to go for one week sometime during the first three weeks in October.
My husband and I love to eat (and I love to bake and cook!) and we would like to go somewhere that we can eat well and have plenty to do. We're not 'lounge on the beach' type people.
We'd like to stay within the US or Canada. We have no preference as to where within these places. If we go somewhere in the South East or North East we will likely drive. If we go anywhere else I would like to be able to utilize public transit so we don't have to rent a car.
Other things we want: great accommodations, great seafood, festivals, museums, street food, specialty shopping and/or spas would all be great pluses. We are also not opposed to making several stops.
Please help us Serious Eats community! We have looked at so many options we are having a hard time choosing--where have you been that has been a great vacation in the fall.
(Just FYI some of the things we have thought about are New England, specifically Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod, Philadelphia, San Fran, DC--but we are open and want great new ideas that have been road tested and approved!)

So today officially marks the beginning of grill season and I started unloading my possible burger condiments and realized maybe I had a feeww too many, including (but in no way limited to) 6 kinds of mustard mustard, 2 kinds of ketchup, 6 kinds of pickles, a slew of chili type sauces and various other things like roasted peppers, roasted garlic, olive tapanade etc....Some storebought some homemade
How many condiments are in your fridge? Do you buy them or make them? And what's the one you couldn't live without?

I went grocery shopping on Saturday and brought with me 8 reusable bags, one of which was a stand up freezer bag. I bought lots of heavy items this week (good sales and needed to stock up on a few things) such as 3 large bottles of juice, a carton of OJ, a jug of lemonade, a bunch of frozen veggies, pita etcc...
When I was checking out the bag boys were arguing about whose turn it was to go on break (why it takes 2 ppl to bag groceries I'm miffed about) so I finally get sick of listening to them and tell them I'll bag my own groceries, though they were pretty much through, I find they put 4 containers of juice in one bag and out of allllll the stuff they had placed ONE bag of frozen peas in my freezer bag and they had TWO empty bags....SERIOUSLY!! I am a small person and I can tell you I would have had a hard time lifting these bags out of the cart so I proceed to start taking things out of the bags to redistribute the weight and the manager had the audasity to come over and tell me I was holding up the line! Well she got an earful and I am now taking my grocery business elsewhere.
I might add this is not the first time this has happened at this Kroger...they seem to like to make the bags as heavy as humanly possible.
Do you have a problem with the bag persons? I have voiced my pref. to bag my own groceries here before....def. still prefer that.

So I am a food tv junkie (but I am a despiser of all things Rachel Ray) and I spent last week laid up in bed with a cold and spent much of it watching food TV. I happened to watch a few minutes of a few episodes of RR (what can I say, it was the meds) and OMG her serving sizes for a portion are INSANE. It also got me thinking about some other TV personalities. ina can sometimes make huge servings and I know I've seen others do it as well.
I'm sure it's just for TV, but isn't think just contributing to the gluttony of America? I sometimes find that I get double the number of servings out of a recipe. What do you think...makes for good food TV or just contributing to our obesity as a country?

I am looking for a way to type and store recipes. I currently just use word, but would love a standardized system. I'd love to spend as little as possible but wouldn't mind shelling out some cash for a good product. A free Internet product would be good too so I could access the information from anywhere. Thanks for the input everyone.

I am a new, for the time being, stay at home mom with a 3 week old. I have been a dedicated cook for many years; it wouldn't be unusual for me to spend a few hours in the kitchen, when time allowed, preparing a meal. I worked in a restaurant, cooked and baked in much of my free time--and now I find myself without any free time! I am juggling a newborn, a household, a part-time from home job, a husband, 5 animals and my ambitious garden--not to mention finding a few minutes a day for myself.
Soooo...bottom line is I need some help with some healthy, easy prep, meals. Grilling is great, crock pot, dutch oven or steamer meals are wonderful. I don't mind the recipes requiring long cook times or a good ammount of prep--the prep just needs to be left at a moments notice. ie I don't mind a lot of chopping or what not b/c I can put the knife down and go to the baby...I cannot stop in the middle of stirring risotto or deep frying etc...
One last thing I am breast feeding so nothing with too much spice please!
Thanks in advance for all the great serious help!

I'm getting close to my due date and I have heard tell that certain foods can help encourage labor- anyone eat anything that worked a labor inducing miracle?

Did anyone else watch The Simpsons episode tonight titled "The Food Wife?" I was wondering what everyone thought about their dry humor and inclusion of various celebrity chefs. Personally, I thought that it was hilarious. It puts a lot of... More