Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I got to thinking about what @Jerzee said about putting someone out of a job with the self-service line as I went into the supermarket to get dinner last night. I went to the Express line with my three items-no one, even though the light was on. I proceeded to the other end towards the regular check out line-8 lanes apart-no one there. Guess where an employee was? At the self check out area. Go figure! I checked myself out.

Add them to a marinara sauce.

I like to add it to a caprese salad (tomato and fresh mozzerella). The drizzle of a good olive oil and a rich balsamic vinegar is a meal all by itself.

@babybokchoy I'm sure that you meant well, but yelling "Fire" isn't being well informed. More study needs to be done. @Keios seems to have read the full study that you refer to.

@edritch @belinskaya Thanks. Your comments/suggestions are a great starting point. I was considering Brabo for the convenience as well as good food. It might snow!

@andshe was is right. I had good Sazerac's all over the Quarter (I was doing it for a project...) and I liked the one I had at GW Finns the best, though the one I had at the Court of Two Sisters as second. Rye whiskey was the key for both. The area has a microbrewery just north of the lake called Abita. I don't know what you like, but if you can first get an Abita Amber (or any other of their brews) as a draft you may enjoy that. Try it in the bottle if draft is not available. I'm sure that most places in the Quarter have it.

You mentioned you would have your car. It is expensive to park and usually it is valet. So you'll be paying a daily fee and more when you take your car out and bring it back. Just a warning.

Though it is not a bar I have remembered a place on Decatur that has great muffaletta's and a decent beer selection for lunch. It's called Frank's. And if you like dives then you will LOVE Port of Call on Esplanade. They have good burgers. Esplanade is a beautiful street to walk, too.

On Chartres Street up at the Canal Street end used to be a bar that had a pig over it's door and when we stayed at the Quarter house we would get some of their jambalaya or gumbo to go. It was the best. I wish I could remember it's name, but we would come out of the hotel and turn left and it was right there.

Check out Snug Harbor off of Esplanade for some great music. You might see one of the Marsalis' there. Their dad used to perform there regularly. They have a bar and food. Just check way ahead so you can get tickets if you would like to go-they sell out quickly.

I could go on forever, but just remember that some of the best foods and experiences won't always be at the high profile places. We have been there many times and that has been our experience. Have a great time and cram as much as you can in because 3 days is a short time even in a small area such as the Quarter.

BTW, I think Casamento's is closed for good.

I have made a lasagna that is vegetarian with a white sauce and a vegetarian chili. Both great for this time of year. @Sharona Zamboni I am not a vegetarian nor is my husband :-)

@hotcookies @finsbigfan Thanks. All of your good wishes have done worlds of good. I love the people on this site.

Had the whole family over to celebrate my grandson's 20th birthday. We had chicken BBQ quesadillas with guacamole and pico de gallo and lots of homemade hot sauce. Dessert was a chocolate cake with chocolate icing.

Our day has been tinged with sadness as we have been taking turns with our dying cat holding her and mostly trying to make ourselves feel better.

I don't know about all brands and I can't remember which brand I was looking at, but I was making the comparison in the supermarket and the turkey bacon had more fat and higher amounts of sodium. I don't eat much bacon, but if I was going to I would eat the real deal for that reason.

Craig Laban from the Phila. Inquirer. Let us get a peak at his face.

@Tupper Cooks! There is help for that.

Welcome, Rebecca.

Perhaps the cookies that I make lend themselves to freezing better than some recipes, but I make 10 kinds and fudge and freeze them all. I pull them out of the freezer shortly before I think we will sit down to dinner and they are just right and delicious. I have a luncheon for my friends right after the New Year and all of the dozens cookies that I place on serving plates are gone. Though there aren't many cookies that my husband and family would turn down I am sure they would tell me if they are not fit to eat.

How you store them in or out of a freezer is imperative. There are lots of good suggestions here.