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Mixed Review: Harry & David Key Lime Dessert Squares
Yes ... yes to Krusteaz. I've tried several of their mixes. I find different selections at different stores. No store seems to carry the whole lineup. The lemon bar box has a variation with cream cheese - always a hit. Every time I've made them I've had requests for the recipe. Everyone seems to think they're from scratch.
Our Groceries Are Quietly Shrinking
I've noticed the difference for quite a while, especially when the cans and packages started changing shape. Some older recipes are based on the original sizing which is irritating. After being the primary grocery shopper and cook in our household for 45 years, the companies aren't fooling me in the least.
ice box pie
Try Anna Ginsberg's "Cookie Madness". She has four listed under Ice Box Desserts. I like the looks of the first two and plan to try the first one this month for a luncheon. The second one features white chocolate and strawberries.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
When I arrive in CA I always look forward to The Habit Burger Grill. Burgers aren't exactly large; however, everything is nice and fresh - hits the spot. I like their fries and shakes too. Quick service and never been disappointed. I think I now prefer them to In-Out. Tried Tommy's twice and can't recommend them. Tried to buy a coupon book from Tommy's for a family member and that was a total disaster. Corporate office was incompetent at best.
Mixed Review: Harry & David Key Lime Dessert Squares
Yes ... yes to Krusteaz. I've tried several of their mixes. I find different selections at different stores. No store seems to carry the whole lineup. The lemon bar box has a variation with cream cheese - always a hit. Every time I've made them I've had requests for the recipe. Everyone seems to think they're from scratch.
Our Groceries Are Quietly Shrinking
I've noticed the difference for quite a while, especially when the cans and packages started changing shape. Some older recipes are based on the original sizing which is irritating. After being the primary grocery shopper and cook in our household for 45 years, the companies aren't fooling me in the least.
ice box pie
Try Anna Ginsberg's "Cookie Madness". She has four listed under Ice Box Desserts. I like the looks of the first two and plan to try the first one this month for a luncheon. The second one features white chocolate and strawberries.
Market Scene: Spring in San Francisco
Divine strawberries - huge and oh so red - artichokes - absolutely huge and so fresh. The produce at the local farmer's market in CA last weekend was incredible since it was locally grown nearby on the coast - and the prices so low compared to the chain stores. How I longed to take it all back with me to the east coast. And sadly .... noone buying that day.
Photo of the Day: Mini Condiments
Well - since our favorite 32 oz. mayonnaise jar has now become 30 oz. for the same or higher price - can we expect to see this size at our regular market next?
Western Avenue: The Real Tastiest Street in Chicago
Thanks for the memories. I lived on Western Ave. when I was a small child - married at age eighteen - and moved away. I haven't been able to make it back to visit - other than to fly in/out. However, I do remember some of the spots we ate and shopped at. A city with lots of ethnic diversity.
Cook the Book: The Sweet Melissa Baking Book
Black forest cake - prepared by others (my husband won't eat it) or mother's lemon pie. It's a very old recipe made with orange flavoring as well as lemon and is a bit creamy - divine. It's the best I've ever tasted; however, my husband grew up with packaged pudding mix and thinks that's the only way to make lemon filling. Ugh!
Essentials: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Just finished the recipe I had wanted to try for awhile. My husband insists that sauce have peppers, so I added a little red and green in with the onions and garlic. I bought a really nice Chianti import and I had a loaf of sourdough bread just baked, so I ended up using that for the larger crumbs. I also had to rush so baked the meatballs - there were lots - at 400 degrees, then added most of them to the sauce to finish up. Because I baked the meatballs, I sauteed the vegetables, then added them to the wine and tomatoes, therefore missing out on the browned bits this time. I cooked the sauce down, tasted, and added just a bit of sugar, then added the meatballs. My husband said he thought tasty and I thought worth the extra time to prep and cook. There will be enough meatball for hot subs another day - hooray.
Spring Chicken
As I write the April Food & Wine sits on the table beside me. Thanks for letting me know what awaits. However, until I try this recipe - I roasted a lovely, fat-breasted chicken just yesterday. I seasoned it very simply - salt & pepper, paprika, and olive oil - roasted it at 325 degrees, and we enjoyed it with a highly seasoned cornbread dressing. I guess I'm old school but I like to roast low and slow. It still browned nicely and turned out moist and delicious.
Sunday Supper: Sloppy Joes
I'd long ago given up the canned variety (and especially the packaged)when it's so easy to prepare from ingredients in my kitchen. I control the sodium and I much prefer knowing exactly what's gone into the mix. Here's to a good "Sloppy Joe" - as missbhavens said - 'the' saucymeat sandwich.
Cook the Book: Nigella Express
I plan my meals and shopping list for the week using featured items that can be used for more than one meal. I buy less and use up items while they're still fresh.
Essentials: Spaghetti and Meatballs
My very Italian friend always makes a huge pot of sauce and a lot of meatballs. She soaks her breadcrumbs in milk and bakes the meatballs in the oven. She always browns some kind of pork product; i.e., sausage, piece of pork roast, chops) before making the sauce and leaves it in to flavor her long-cooking sauce.
I love her meatballs, but prefer my sauce. That's what makes the world go round.....
Sunday Supper: Sloppy Joes
Just made this tonight and it really tastes like the bought stuff; added in s&p, garlic powder, chopped dill stacker, diced and about 1 Tbs. of pickle juice, plus couple of tbs. of diced green pepper. For some reason I didn't need to add the flour ~ was thick enough without it. Good recipe, thanks.
Essentials: Spaghetti and Meatballs
definitely soak the bread in milk and do not use seasoned breadcrumbs!
ever, ever ..... nona never used seasoned breadcrumbs.
i pop my meatballs on a cookie sheet and bake them in the oven 375 to get a nice color on them before adding them to the sauce.
such a heavy meal...... good once in awhile, though.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
The Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills has one of the best if not the best burger in LA. Yes I know it is pricey and the shoe string fries are extra but if you are looking for a burger that is made to be eaten rare (black and blue) then this is the place.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
We used to say that if you wanted to enjoy a serious case of indigestion, go to Tommy's. A must before or after any home Dodger game. But beware the after effects. When I visit now from the Northeast anywhere in California now it seems, I hit In n' Out. I have always found their ingredients fresh, the hamburgers cooked to a slightly crispy outer layer and tender inside, second the vote on the toasted buns, and real vegetables unlike other places cited in this review. The shakes are excellent and the fries so-so. I think the fries have a good, honest beginning in the potato but not a good finish in the frying.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
The grilled cheese at In-n-Out Burger is a favorite of mine. I get it "animal style" which is everything the cheeseburger has but without the meat. Very tasty! Check out the In-n-Out Burger website to find their "secret" menu.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
I used to be in socal every 2 or 3 weeks, but haven't been out there in 4 years now, but I always bounced between In N Out , and Farmer boys, that farmer burger with all the bacon, cheese, and fresh avocado is KILLER!, would also always try to hit tommy's, love there chili!
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
Bob's Big Boy is definitely worth a trip, especially to the Burbank one that still has the classic look and feel. I find their burgers to be a bit greasy, but in a way that tastes really good while I'm eating it (if I try hard not to think about my arteries closing up).
Father's Office is a must-try. The new one in Culver CIty seems to be a bit easier to manage than the original in Santa Monica. It's an eccentric take a on a burger that I find tasty but, to me, doesn't really match the flavor profile I associate with "burger."
If I'm in the mood for a sweet-and-salty caramelized onion/blue cheese/ground beef sandwich on a french roll with a great draft beer, Father's Office is the place. But if I'm looking for pickles, ketchup or any other kind of cheese - which is more often the case - I head elsewhere.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
Surprised BBB (bob's big boy) didn't make the list. They were one of the pioneers and are still popular with locals. I hear Jay Leno is a regular. In-n-out is good, but they have a hard time living up to their hype. It's still fast food, afterall. What I'd like a tip on is where to find good sliders.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
Dino's Burger is awesome!! The place is kinda sketchy looking but the cheeseburgers are pure magic. Just go eat one.
Dino's Burgers
2817 N Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 223-1843
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
lets not forget though....in terms of overall burger....regardless of stytle...the best burger in CA is supposed to be FATHERS OFFICE.
I've never been....how is fathers office burger?
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
"If I end up flying to Los Angeles instead of Berkeley"? You mean if you fly into LAX instead of BUR?
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
And I'm totally with your take on Fatburger. I didn't even consider it for my best of list but I had one about a week ago(!) at 2 AM (now open 24 hours, at least in Sherman Oaks) and it hit the spot, good combo of ingredients.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
http://www.eatdrinkordie.com/blog/posts/2789
Here's my Top 11 burgers in LA list from May -- plus Honorable Mentions because there's so many great burgers in LA right now.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
I don't get it. My boyfriend went to college in CA and is in LOVE with in n out, so he took me when we were out there recently. Sure the bun is tasty, and the sauce is good, but..... that's not why i eat burgers, is it? The flimsy tiny patty is a joke, especially since i like my burgers medium-rare. You can't get a med-rare tiny patty, and so you always get a hockey-puck patty. And i think most of us can agree that over cooked meat is the WRONG way to eat meat. On that principal alone, i don't understand how a serious eater can endorse a southern california style burger.
Essentials: Spaghetti and Meatballs
This is a very good recipe. It hits all my grandma notes. Only thing is I brown meat often and put it in the sauce. I make the meatballs with whatever bread I have. I brown them then they go into the sauce. They will never be dry because they were braised in sauce. They will always be tender. Tonight I made lasagne. My sauce has a beef short rib, 2 pork chops and the ground beef, pork veal mix.
Ilike to brown the meat first it seals in the juices, a good sear gives meat flavor. Then into the sauce.
This is not rocket science. Everyone should be able to make a good pasta meal. I taught Husband in about 4 tries.
Essentials: Spaghetti and Meatballs
My late husband's grandmother, an old Italian lady, whose family came from Tuscany never fried her meatballs, nor did she use milk and bread, yet her meatballs were wonderful. She cooked her sauce (home made from scratch) , she did fry sausage, then added it, and the uncooked meatballs to the sauce. She never served it the day she made it, but after sitting in the fridge overnight, the fat would have solidified at the top, where she could easily skim it off.
Mixed Review: Harry & David Key Lime Dessert Squares
I will add my vote to the Krusteaz as well. Their lemon bars have this alternative recipe on the box that is practically magic, you put the crust over the curd stuff, and when it bakes the curd stuff rises. Fun to bake with kidlets.
Mixed Review: Harry & David Key Lime Dessert Squares
I'm a fourth (or fifth) to Krusteaz....I've even used the crust and added my own ingredients (did one with cream cheese/powdered sugar and blueberry extract with canned blueberry pie filling on top!...YUM!) can't beat it if you need something that tastes like it's from scratch!
Sunday Supper: Sloppy Joes
BARBECUED HAMBURGERS (SLOPPY JOES)
5 lbs. Ground beef
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 large onion, chopped
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 cups celery, finely chopped
1 tbs. Salt
1/3 cups vinegar
1 tbs. dry mustard
1 cup catsup
¼ tsp. black pepper
Brown ground beef, onion and celery in large skillet. Drain off fat. Combine vinegar, catsup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix well and add drained ground beef, onion and celery. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serves several, depending on appetites. Serve on hamburger buns.
Also a recipe for 4 servings
BARBECUED HAMBURGER FOR 4
1 lb. Ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
¾ cup catsup
½ cup finely chopped celery
1 tbs. vinegar
1 tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
Again the same directions.
These come from Mother in Laws cookbook (out of publication)
Our Groceries Are Quietly Shrinking
I've also noticed a similar trend with our bakeries around town: cookies and muffins remain the same price but are much smaller than they were a few months ago. So it's not just limited to grocery stores....many local food merchants are feeling the pinch of food prices and passing that along to consumers.
ice box pie
Lemon Ice Box Pie
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (really good with lime, too)
1 graham, vanilla wafer, shortbread or other cookie-type crust
Whipped cream
Combine ingredients.
Pour into cookie crust.
Refrigerate several hours until set.
Top with whipped cream.
Serve.
Note -- the acidity of the lemon juice eliminates any remote possibility of salmonella from the uncooked egg yolks.
Our Groceries Are Quietly Shrinking
I wondered why I no longer get 2 rounds of homemade mac-n-cheese out of a box of elbows...now I know. =P
Our Groceries Are Quietly Shrinking
The thing that has always bothered me more is the reverse: when they enlarge the container and claim 15% more FREE! I often don't want or need more of the product and I hate wasting it.
ice box pie
Go to epicurious and search for Tennesse Williams lemon Icebox Pie. This is an old southern favorite. I made 2 at Easter and the family gobbled them both up.
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When I arrive in CA I always look forward to The Habit Burger Grill. Burgers aren't exactly large; however, everything is nice and fresh - hits the spot. I like their fries and shakes too. Quick service and never been disappointed. I think I now prefer them to In-Out. Tried Tommy's twice and can't recommend them. Tried to buy a coupon book from Tommy's for a family member and that was a total disaster. Corporate office was incompetent at best.