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the best cookbook for beginners
I always recommend "From Amish And Mennonite Kitchens" by Phillis Pellman Good. They are easy recipes, nothing too fancy, and so delicious!
Easter 2009: What are Your Plans?
Haven't quite decided yet...Easter isn't a big holiday for us. We might hit up the Top of the Hub (in Boston) for their Easter Brunch or we just might skip it, save the money, and have a nice meal at home.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
I was just down there for Mardi Gras and I highly recommend you hit up Mr. B's Bistro down in the French Quarter. Absolutely fabulous food!!
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Road Trip Snacks to Pack
When my best friend and I go on road trips together, a large package of Twizzlers are a must! Not necessarily the healthiest thing to bring with...but, it's a road trip. Who says we have to be good? ;-)
the best cookbook for beginners
I always recommend "From Amish And Mennonite Kitchens" by Phillis Pellman Good. They are easy recipes, nothing too fancy, and so delicious!
Easter 2009: What are Your Plans?
Haven't quite decided yet...Easter isn't a big holiday for us. We might hit up the Top of the Hub (in Boston) for their Easter Brunch or we just might skip it, save the money, and have a nice meal at home.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
I was just down there for Mardi Gras and I highly recommend you hit up Mr. B's Bistro down in the French Quarter. Absolutely fabulous food!!
Old Fashioned Recipe Cards?
This woman on Etsy has some really cute ones (I personally like the 'Bite Me' ones, haha):
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5512874§ion_id=5689868
Also, you can get a personalized stamp to use on index cards, from this artist:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5180519§ion_id=5138882
Anyone cooking up Mardi Gras?
I'm actually heading down to Mardi Gras on Friday for five whole days! My friend's parents have been kind enough to let us stay at their house and his dad will be cooking for us... Yum! I can't wait to get my hands on some of that jambalaya!
Jello Salad: a regional thing?
The only ones in my family that made Jell-O salads would be my grandma and her sister, both who grew up in the Chicago area (though my grandma now lives in Minnesota). It has been years since I've actually had any though. It was always canned fruit with Jell-O. And I think I vaguely remember a green colored Jell-O ring with some sort of slaw mixed into it...or maybe it was just shredded carrots....
Heading to New England, looking for serious eats! Advice?
Cap'n Cass in Rock Harbor, MA (out on the Cape) has the best fish 'n' chips ever!!
Food Blogs?
I second the ThePioneerWoman blog:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/
I also frequent SmittenKitchen quite often:
http://smittenkitchen.com/
Pinch My Salt has some pretty good recipes as well:
http://pinchmysalt.com/
Spam Experience
Occasionally, when visiting my grandparents when I was younger, my grandma would slice and fry up Spam and serve it with scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. It was rather tasty...I might just have to make it this weekend - it's been years since I've had it. :-)
What would your last meal be?
I'd have to say a huge serving of jambalaya or chicken e'touffee, prepared by my college friend's dad. And a good beer to accompany such a great meal!
What to wrap in bacon?
Scallops, green beans, olives, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, apple slices....the possibilities are endless! :-)
How do you make your egg salad, tuna salad, ham salad...
@Cassaendra - I love Tony C's! It's such a staple in my cooking that I don't know what I'd do without it. :-)
How do you make your egg salad, tuna salad, ham salad...
My tuna salad is pretty boring...tuna, mayo, and a spoonful or two of pickle relish.
Movies on Food
By far, my fav is Chocolat...though No Reservations is cute.
Cook the Book: The Essence of Chocolate
During my freshman year in college, the girl who was in the dorm room next to mine (and now one of my best friends) received a care package from her mom in Texas - filled with homemade chocolate fudge! She was kind enough to share and it was like heaven! The. Best. Fudge. Ever. I'm still trying to get the recipe from her. :-)
Potatoes in a Greek Salad?
I've never had a Greek Salad with potato served in it or with it. Even when I was living in Greece for a month, never saw it. It's always been served with purple onion, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, green peppers, and kalamata olives.
Am I the only one on the planet who dislikes ___, or loves ___?
Love: spreading peanut butter on my pancakes and topping it with a little maple syrup
Hate: brussel sprouts. hamburger pizza.
What is your all time cookbook? Just one. What would it be?
Nothing fancy, but I'd have to go for "From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens" by Phillis Pellman Good and Rachel Thomas Pellman. It was a staple in our house when I was growing up and had to buy my own copy once I got my own place. :-)
It ain't as good as my mama's!
@gentlyferal - she makes it with a whole lot of water, dried fruit, and then adds a tsp or tbsp of tapicoa and some other ingredients I can't think of at the moment. I've made it a few times now and it's close to what her's tastes like, but there's just something...it's just not the same. :-)
Monte Cristos, anyone?
I second the Bennigan's suggestion...I use to live in Minnesota and almost always got the Monte Cristos when we went there.
Here's an article about their closings: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121734771456393641.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
It ain't as good as my mama's!
It's my grandma's Swedish Oatmeal Cookies and Swedish Fruit Soup....ooooh so good!!
And my dad's Minnesota Chicken Wild Rice Soup, just the mention of it makes my mouth water!
What kind of Candy or Cookies do you make for Christmas
@Ilovepankes - those bourbon balls sound really good!
What kind of Candy or Cookies do you make for Christmas
We always make sugar cookie cutouts that we then frost and peanut butter kiss cookies were staples in our house when all us kids were still living at home. As for myself, I also love making the kiss cookies but have also started making molasses cookies:
Chewy Molasses-Spice Cookies about 36 cookies
2 ½ c all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 ½ c sugar
12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
¼ c molasses
Preheat oven to 350˚F. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place ½ c sugar; set aside. With mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until dough forms. Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tbsp. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat. Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges are just firm, 10-15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
* I find that keeping the dough refrigerated keeps it from getting too sticky to work with.
Freezable Meals
Thank you all for these wonderful suggestions...I can't wait to get my oven going and creative juices flowing! As for dietary limitations, there aren't many, except my Gma can't stand mushrooms and neither can eat really spicy foods. Thanks again for all your help!
the best cookbook for beginners
Well I just married 2 weeks ago and I bouth the book Taste of Home cookbook I love it. It gives you picture for every recipe and give you "how to" and "why". Every recipe that I have tryed has been great.
Cheap Meals!
Since pasta and beans are so cheap try combining them. In a tablespoon of olive oil slightly cook about 3 cloves of garlic. Add one or two cans of pinto beans and chopped up broccoli and serve over a pound of short pasta (penne or rigatoni). As always puts some parmesean cheese on top. $4 total
Cook about 4 cloves of garlic and 2 or 3 whole pepperoncini (probably about 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes) in a half cup of olive oil, serve over pasta. $3 total
1 Onion cooked in half a stick of butter, add a can or 2 of tuna and serve over pasta. $5 total
3 cans of tomatoes (15 ounces each) cooked with either garlic or onions (not both), basil, salt, pepper, a dash of red wine vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar. $4 total
Throw some Edam or Gouda cheese in with pasta and nothing else. $5 total
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
It's pop. Done. Unless it's a brand name.
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
Growing up in northern NY (not up state) it was soft drinks. Here in central NY ('cuse) it's soda.
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
@cybercita--that made me laugh out loud!
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
I lived in southern california my whole life and always referred to it as soda but after moving to Ohio ant age 23 I am getting sucked into calling it pop...
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
Soda. The stuff I don't drink.
Coke is only for Coca Cola and Cocaine.
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
i come from berkeley, where we called coca cola "the black waters of imperialism."
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
pop. and im curious... i live in the pittsburgh area, where we say pop, and pepsi has billboards every where just saying "pop". Where those of yousay soda, do they have "soda" billboards? every time i see one i wonder...
Soda, cola, pop, coke, etc.?
I live in california. Have lived here nearly all my life, and have always refered to it as coke no matter what I am drinking. I live in Riverside, CA but have also lived in San Diego, CA growing up and we called it the same in both places. Not sure who calls it soda sounds strange. But my cousins come down from Virginia and they call it Pop. Thought they were talking about those little pop rock candies the first time they asked for a pop. lol.
Spam Experience
lol this is hilarious. I too grew up eating Spam and love it, though yes there are a lot of people that think it's disgusting. It definately got me through four years of college!!! I just posted a reciepe of what I used to make for breakfast every weekend. I still do actually - best cure for a hangover! It's basically cheese rice with spam and egg. Add a little hot sauce or ketchup and it's money!
www.happilyeatingmywaythroughlife.blogspot.com
Road Trip Snacks to Pack
An air-conditioned stretch limo with driver.
Road Trip Snacks to Pack
one bourbon, one scotch and one beer....
Road Trip Snacks to Pack
Peanut-butter filled pretzels, homemade granola bars, mini reeses, and homemade empanadas. Yummm!
Road Trip Snacks to Pack
I agree with all the above, but no matter what pack a few surprises for the kids. There's nothing like a treat to pick up a grumpy kid.
Another few non-food ideas though: a good book on tape is fun for everyone and makes the time go by. Your local library should be able to suggest something that will be entertaining for everyone in the car.
ALSO, my parents used to play the quarters game with my sister and me when we went on long car rides. Each of us got a few dollars worth of quarters (usually $2, I think) and everytime we wanted to ask "are we there yet?" or "how much longer?" we needed to cough up a quarter to the front seat---worked like magic at keeping us quiet.
Have FUN!
Road Trip Snacks to Pack
Goldfish crackers or other animal-shaped crackers are tasty and entertaining.
Road Trip Snacks to Pack
Once you hit the Carolina line stop for some boiled peanuts.
the best cookbook for beginners
Go to Amazon and get a copy of "Joy of Cooking" from the 1960's; then a copy of Beard's "American Cookery" and, of course, Harold McGee. You can get a feel for the quality of any cookbook by the size of and the details in the Index.
All three of these have HUGE indexes..
Easter 2009: What are Your Plans?
We made reservations, and it is all good!
Easter 2009: What are Your Plans?
@JerzeeTomato: The recipe looks amazing! But I don't understand (maybe because I am not a baker) what you use the lemon curd for? As a substitute for the lemon buttercream for the filling?
the best cookbook for beginners
If you're looking to bake the basics - cookies, brownies, bars, muffins, etc.. The Impatient Baker has a simple approach - uses pantry staples and most recipes are made in 1 bowl - quick, easy and good!
the best cookbook for beginners
Julia Child: The Way to Cook
the best cookbook for beginners
In my family, I give younger cousins Betty C.'s 1969 version--which all our our moms use-- with notes on post-its for the common family recipes, i.e., "Aunt Rachel's famous cookies." It might be worthwhile to find out what her mom's cooking bible is, then find the same edition. I also have organized cookbooks or boxes of recipe cards made up of recipes submitted by and friends of the newlyweds.
the best cookbook for beginners
Many folks are going to stick up their nose at this book, after all it's not any grand and famous chef but when I was a child growing up I used my mother's Betty Crocker, the big orange one and then when I left for college and was going to have my own apartment an aunt gave me my own copy. Even over the years I have gone back to that book for a fair amount of things even though I have dozens, literally, of all sorts of famous chefs. Busy people don't always want or need complicated fussy recipes. This book served me VERY well. In fact, the recipe for cream cheese cookies out of this book has earned me MORE compliments than almost anything else I've ever made. The recipes are fairly simple yet many are suitable for entertaining. It's a great book for a beginner who wants simple yet still makes a nice presentation. It doesn't use all these odd and unusual ingredients that so many use. Just look at the Barefoot Contessa and her macaroni and cheese, truffles! I don't think there is a place in my entire country I could find that or truffle butter which she uses. I love many of her recipes but this is not the sort of thing a beginning cook needs or wants. Best of luck to her, however, 27 is getting started rather late. I truly and honestly believe every parent should teach ALL children, not just girls to cook.
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When my best friend and I go on road trips together, a large package of Twizzlers are a must! Not necessarily the healthiest thing to bring with...but, it's a road trip. Who says we have to be good? ;-)