Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I love Smitten Kitchen!

I have heard so many good things about this book already! Indian is definitely the top cuisine I've been hoping to learn, but every time I look at a complicated indian recipe I tend to shy away.

Wow, i can't believe the baby hate! I don't have babies and probably wouldn't want to dine with a room full of them, but it seems like a great idea. Babysitters aren't always practical/available, especially for a younger child. I guess the only question would be how much interest would such a thing generate? Would there be enough interested parents to make it worth the restaurant's time and effort? I suppose the age of the child also makes a difference. A restless, cranky, active three year old is a very different dining companion than a sleeping 3 month old. Still, I would love to hear a restaurant try this!

Wow, congratulations! I've been following your story the whole way, as I'm just embarking on my own weight loss plan--my first one ever. I always just assumed I was too lazy and too in love with food to lose weight, but I have to tell you that reading your story has really shown me that it is possible to love food and lose weight.

I really hope you continue to post, even after you reach your magic number. I think that's one thing I find so difficult about weight loss. How do you maintain? How do you continue to feel like you get to enjoy life and food without bulking back up again? That part is just as hard as the initial loss, I think, and maybe scarier.

Once again, congrats and than you for sharing your story. (And Happy Bday!)

There's just nothing better than bacon for a weekend breakfast. My mom used nothing-special bacon and cooked it in the microwave but it still always tasted perfect.

The pumpkin brioche bread pudding sounds really great. Pumpkin pie is good but a little bland!

My husband and I went to Border Grill in Las Vegas. The restaurant was slow that evening, which probably made the experience a bit better. The waiter was charming. He could tell we were extremely interested in the food and spent a lot of time answering our questions. He was just what you want in a waiter: friendly, VERY knowledgeable, passionate about the food, and just chatty enough to make it fun without being obtrusive. It was a romantic occasion and he totally knew when to chime in and when to lay low. He brought us a complimentary appetizer, and while that's not the reason we liked him, free food never hurts! Really, that may have been one of our most perfect dining experiences ever, and a lot of that had to do with the service.

I think it's wise to be cautious, but every woman's labor is different! My friend cleaned her house after her contractions started so she could have a clean place to come home to. Other women probably can't do so much. Nothing wrong with keeping baking as an option, but maybe not a definite plan!

Same with eating. The above mentioned friend had a steak on her way to the hospital and didn't puke at all. Another friend threw up all day until she finally delivered. Food is definitely good to help you keep up your energy if you can stomach it. Just because one woman's labor went a certain way doesn't mean all labors will go that way.

I like to use oatmeal in all kinds of dishes.

Stuffing is always excellent, followed by gravy. Of course, you don't usually eat it on it's own (though I have been known to slurp down several spoonfuls as I'm "tasting"), but it can be eaten with nearly every savory part of the meal. And to me, stuffing and gravy are the best parts because they're two foods you rarely eat outside of Thanksgiving. Mmmm....

It's funny that Zingerman's ushered in my culinary awakening too. And the Roadhouse is fantastic. Your Dad had the right idea; the grits are my favorite menu item. We recently moved from the ann arbor area, but you're reminding me of how much we desperately need a weekend back there, if only to stock up at the deli!