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Where to find the best coffee in Seattle...
I like Cafe Ladro for the espresso drinks and Cafe Vita (Queen City Blend) for the beans to take home.
Bad dining experience?
I think I know where you're coming from fuuchan. I don't think you're "picky", but knowing good food, you expect it to taste a certain way when you're out dining. I think sometimes the restaurant just isn't capable of putting up a dish as we expect it and I'm not sure commenting to the wait staff about it would help. It's like when you ask someone to recommend a great restaurant and they advise a certain place, saying it's fabulous. You go there and realize it just isn't. Some people just don't have high food standards. Of course that sounds snobby, but as I consider myself a fairly decent cook and savvy diner, I guess that's just the way it is.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
When I was young (back in the 60s) Sunday dinner was either fried chicken or roast. Soooo good.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Mixed Review: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix
All this talk of Bob's Red Mill makes me homesick. Up until a year ago, I lived a mile from Bob's and could go in and buy most of their products in bulk, getting just what I needed at the moment
Where to find the best coffee in Seattle...
I like Cafe Ladro for the espresso drinks and Cafe Vita (Queen City Blend) for the beans to take home.
Bad dining experience?
I think I know where you're coming from fuuchan. I don't think you're "picky", but knowing good food, you expect it to taste a certain way when you're out dining. I think sometimes the restaurant just isn't capable of putting up a dish as we expect it and I'm not sure commenting to the wait staff about it would help. It's like when you ask someone to recommend a great restaurant and they advise a certain place, saying it's fabulous. You go there and realize it just isn't. Some people just don't have high food standards. Of course that sounds snobby, but as I consider myself a fairly decent cook and savvy diner, I guess that's just the way it is.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
When I was young (back in the 60s) Sunday dinner was either fried chicken or roast. Soooo good.
What's your spice aversion?
Fresh parsley. It just tastes so awful to me. I wish there was a good substitute. Any ideas?
Chris Kimball's NY Times Editorial
I think they are becoming a bit desperate at Cook's Illustrated. Yesterday I received a CI cookbook in the mail that I did not order. It came with an invoice and letter said I could send it back postage free if I didn't like it. They have my address because I'm one of those dummies who pays for access to the CI website. After CK's comments and then the cookbook issue, I'm about ready to call it quits with CI.
Cook the Book: 'The Craft of Baking'
Coconut Cake from almost anywhere
Cook the Book: 'Gourmet Today'
My received my first cookbook when I was around 7-8 years old back in the 60s (yes I'm old :), It was Betty Crocker's Cookbook for Boys and Girls. I can't tell you how many recipes I made from that book. My dad would eat my concotions all up like he loved them, even though some were probably downright nasty. I still have the book and look through it every once in a while. I love the English Muffin with Bacon, Tomato and Cheese recipe.
Grilling: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Aleppo Pepper
oops...guess I should have read the comments first. Someone already posted the Penzey's idea. Guess I was excited about a recipe that uses Aleppo pepper :)
Grilling: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Aleppo Pepper
If you want to pay the postage, you can get Aleppo pepper from Penzeys.com. That's where I found it when I wanted to make a Roasted Clams recipe.
Grilling: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Aleppo Pepper
If you want to pay the postage, you can get Aleppo pepper from Penzeys.com. That's where I found it when I wanted to make a Roasted Clams recipe.
No-knead bread question???
The Cook's Illustrated version of the recipe has the bread rising on parchment paper in a round skillet and then picking up the parchment paper with the dough and putting the whole thing in the pot. Works great for me.
Cook the Book: '100 Best Vegetarian Recipes'
I found a recipe a while back from a local mushroom farm for Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Black Bean Fajitas. So SO good.
Cook the Book: '660 Curries' by Raghavan Iyer
I was a little late to the Indian cuisine party. My daughter wanted to go to an Indian restaurant for her birthday quite a few years ago. I had butter chicken and naan and couldn't believe what I had been missing out on for so many years.
What are you? Recipe Follower or Recipe Deviant
I am constantly trying new recipes and will usually follow the recipe as written the first time around unless there is an ingredient I don't particularly care for and then will sub with something else. After the first time, however, it's fair game.
I hate greens...HELP!
Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone! I just picked up my CSA and it has rainbow chard in it again so I need to get to work on some of your ideas.
Cook the Book: 'Canal House Cooking, Vol. 1'
Veggie dinner consisting of fresh green beans, vine-ripe tomatoes, cantaloupe and cornbread.
Weekend Cook and Tell: Picnic
This past week we headed up to Walter Dacon Winery in Shelton, WA for a little picnic on their patio. Bought a bottle of their fabulous Viognier and enjoyed Crab Rolls I made from Cooking Light (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1197155) and brownies from a free mix I received from King Arthur.
best seattle eats?
Steelhead Diner right by Pike's Place Market...delicious!
Garlic Scapes
This vinaigrette is so good. It came from the farm where I get my CSA
Balsamic Maple Vinaigrette
Recipe By: Helsing Junction Farms
Serving Size: 6
1 garlic scape
1/4 cup olive oil
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 to 3 tablespoons red wine or lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 big pinch salt
Very finely chop garlic scape into small pieces. Add to a jar with a tightly fitting lid along with remaining ingredients. Shake well.
NOTE : I chopped garlic scape in small food processor bowl, added remaining ingredients and processed for 1 minute.
Weekend Cook and Tell: Burgers
I made the hamburger buns from last week's NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/dining/011brex.html
If you have a stand mixer you will never buy a store bought bun again. They were that good and that easy.
Cook the Book: 'Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries & Shakes'
Mushroom and Swiss with a garlic butter on the bun. No other condiments or veggies.
Weekend Cook and Tell: Play Sommelier
Maryhill Winery (Washington State) makes a decent red blend, so I decided to try their Winemaker's White Blend. It was 8.99 at the local market. I had butter lettuce, herbs and onion from my CSA that I needed to use so found Pork Top Loin Roast With Asparagus, Spring Onion and Butter Lettuce below:
Both the wine and the dinner were pretty tasty.
Dear Food Network, Please Stop
Seems everyone here wants the same thing...more cooking shows by talented chefs/cooks and less crap like cake competitions. Are we really in the minority or is FN just not interested in what their audience wants??
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
I love pot roast with roasted potatoes, onions, and carrots. YUM!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Spaghetti and meatballs always goes over well here.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
My family would be happy if I'd make them chicken and dumplings at least once a week. (And it's so easy!)
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
My family did roast chicken dinners every Sunday when I was growing up. Can't beat grandma's cooking!
Where to find the best coffee in Seattle...
When I first moved to Seattle the coffee in some of the restaurants was so amazing I had to ask what it was and every single time it was Cafe Vita. Pricey beans but worth every penny.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Spaghetti with meatballs and chunks of Italian sausage in a smooth garlicky red sauce, caesar salad with homemade garlic croutons, warm crusty Italian bread with butter, a nice barolo, and lemon cheesecake for dessert.
Where to find the best coffee in Seattle...
Stumptown on Capital Hill
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
fajitas, hands down.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Layer sauerkraut in a casserole dish, place pork chops on top and season (I use cracked black pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika), cover with lid or seal with foil, bake in 400 degree oven for 45 minutes. I like to make mashed potatoes with it, but have also just done steamed veggies on the side.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Grandy's roast beef, carrots, and mashed potatoes
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Mom's from-the-Campbell's-can versions of Chicken a la King and Beef Stroganoff!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Mom's homemade lasagna, bread, and apple pie.
Mixed Review: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix
Of course Celiac disease exists and other people have gluten sensitivities to a lesser extent, but that doesn't take away from the fact that other people buy gluten-free items because they see it as the next healthy trend. Because some people have problems with gluten, other people connect the wrong dots and decide that gluten in general is bad, and they avoid it, even though they, themselves, have no sensitivities.
And people who latch onto those sorts of bogus health claims make it difficult for people who do have sensitivities and allergies. Because they sit back and say, "I've cut out all gluten and I feel 100 percent better" while eating something that obviously contains gluten. As a result, people who do have the sensitivities are taken less seriously.
And I know some people who are gluten-sensitive who attempt to diagnose everyone else into having gluten issues. I understand that when you find the thing that has made you miserable, it's a wonderful thing and you want to share your knowledge. But it's a little much when it becomes a vendetta and you tell everyone that they should also avoid that food. And when people jump on that bandwagon for no reason, it does become a health fad.
Mixed Review: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix
@Brownie - ".....minimizing the real health-toll it takes on those of us who get truly ill from eating even a little bit of it."
Lucy wrote:
"but there is no denying the facts: as many as three million Americans have celiac disease, and the number of gluten-intolerant people is even greater—about one in 133. That means they cannot comfortably digest gluten, the main protein found in wheat, rye, and barley."
firmly stating the facts is not minimizing anything, although it may not have come with the dramatic adjectives you were looking for.
so, she stated the facts and statistics concurrent with your post. maybe you're disappointed because they didn't come belabored with
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Coming from a Turkish household, my favorite family dinner is mercimek çorbasi (lentil soup) with köfte (ground beef/meatball-like patties), domatesli pilav (tomato rice), and yogurt.
What's your spice aversion?
CUMIN... after 3 weeks in India a few years ago, i developed an aversion to cumin after a whole week straight of eating food seasoned with cumin. Everything tasted the same.
Now, I can't even smell it at the supermarket.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Favorite family dinner would have to be my childhood birthday meal of Earl Abel's fried chicken and black bottom pie.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Sauerbraten and homemade sides.
Bad dining experience?
To pick up on dbcurrie's point - as customers, we get coached on how to make a valid, intelligent complaint but I think restaurants (and all businesses for that matter) should know how to field a complaint.
If a patron complains, 9 out of 9.5 times, the restaurant did something the patron is NOT imagining to warrant this complaint. Do NOT defend. This is a lame attempt to deflect blame and it never works. Accept that the customer is not happy, take away the offending item, and make it right.
I went to an awful wedding last year. The venue was beautiful but everything went downhill fast. The "catered" food was a small, miserable array of exactly 4 items. It seemed more like a prison feeding line than a wedding buffet. But insult was about to be added to injury.
A fellow guest and good friend found a long hair in his food. His wife, having worked in restaurants, approached the manager about it. The manager came to the table and said this: "All my servers have short hair so it must have been cooked into the food back at the catering kitchen." WTF???? You don't defend your servers by throwing the catering company under the bus - it does nothing to rectify the situation. Here's what he should have said: "I'm sorry about that sir, may I assemble another plate for you from fresh trays of food?" One sentence. The manager would have a) accepted the blame, b) given the guest a workable option and c) rectified the situation. Not rocket science.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Really anything, as long as it's accompanied by family and laughter. We often have shrimp scampi in the summer and a roast with Yorkshire Pudding in the winter....mmm.... :)
Bad dining experience?
LOL@ Banana Monkey! I know my comment might have sounded like one made by a person who would complain like a small nuclear device but I don't do that anymore. (Did in my younger years...)
A well-worded complaint includes a) the reason a person was unsatisfied; b) a personal opinion (nicely!) and c) what could have been done to make it right. You'd be surprised how many places actually pay attention to customers' concerns that elaborate enough to make sense to the person reading the complaint. Simply saying, "The food sucked," isn't quite enough and will likely be disregarded.
Mixed Review: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix
I get a little upset when people say that we, without celiacs, are turning gluten free diets into a fad. Both my mother and I have had horrible sinus infections for years - antibiotics, steroids, so many different types of meds. Then we both went off of gluten for a month... I love bread and cookies and pasta, etc but without them all of the sinus infections are gone and when I eat something with it (sometimes that doughnut just calls to me) they come back with a vengeance. I have had multiple food allergy tests due to another digestive disorder, and doesn't show an allergy, but the allergist says that the exclusion diet shows that I have one. So if it makes you feel better, do it, and have an extra gluten free cookie!
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
Our favorite family dinner is Homemade Lasagna with a green salad and homemade yeast rolls.
Thank you so much for the chance to win.
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
spaghetti and meatballs
Cook the Book: 'New Classic Family Dinners'
We called it "chicken and glop", but it was chicken and rice. How did my mother put up with us?
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About kalajo
Website: http://None
Location: Washington State
About: I'm a passionate foodie who loves to try new recipes.
Favorite foods: A crisp waffle, A good burger, A great steak, Walter Dacon Syrah
Last bite on earth: See above :) plus a big slice of coconut cake

All this talk of Bob's Red Mill makes me homesick. Up until a year ago, I lived a mile from Bob's and could go in and buy most of their products in bulk, getting just what I needed at the moment