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@piccola ~ I love peanut butter and often make a gooey filling that can be used to sandwich cookies, spread over brownies, or frost cupcakes. Essentially, I just combine cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and a splash of milk (just to thin as needed). I've also used sweetened condensed milk more or less in place of the powdered sugar and milk. If you want a lighter, fluffier spread, try using a cheesecake-flavored pudding mix. Combine with milk per the directions on the box, then beat in additional cream cheese, pb, and powdered sugar (if it needs to be sweeter). Sometimes I fold whip cream (or Cool Whip - gasp!) into this to make it more mousse-like. Depending on what you're using it for, you can flavor it with anything - vanilla, cinnamon, honey, cocoa powder, etc. I think one time I folded mini-chocolate chips into it. I'd give you more specific measurements, but honestly it just depends how much of it you need...and generally, I just keep adjusting it until I like the taste and consistency. Hope that gives you a place to get started!

I could never pick just one. Maybe the first piece of cheesecake I ever tasted? It was a triple-layer, chocolate & raspberry cheesecake from the Waldorf Astoria. Or perhaps the warm chocolate & banana crepe I had on the streets of Paris once. Or my mother's amazing recipe for chocolate cake. This list could go on indefinitely...

I've been in Nashville for over five years and have made several places a regular stop. Some of these are slightly more sophisticated than others, but the quality of food is excellent at all of them, and none of them will break the bank, either.

Italian ~ Cafe Nonna (Sylvan Park)
Thai ~ Peter's Sushi & Thai (Brentwood)
Greek ~ Kalamata's (locations in Green Hills & Brentwood)
Carribbean ~ Calypso Cafe (locations on Ellington Ave., and in both Berry Hill & Cool Springs)
Mexican ~ SOL (downtown Franklin); Garcia's (Franklin)
French/European ~ Marche & Margot (sister restaurants in East Nashville); Provence (locations in Hillsboro Village and Green Hills)
American ~ Germantown Cafe (Germantown, close to downtown); Wild Iris (Brentwood - Maryland Farms area); Merridee's Breadbasket (downtown Franklin); Puffy Muffin (Brentwood)

Hope that gives you some new ideas!

The smell alone is enough. But beyond that, it's versatile, it adds amazing flavor and texture, and it is equally good on it's own or in something. It can make a boring dish, palatable, and a great dish, divine. When you know a dish needs something, and you can't for the life of you figure out what, it's bacon.

Try adding more to it before you discount it completely. I agree with juliebugsmama - a generous dose of brown sugar and cinnamon should help, as would a few pats of butter, a splash of vanilla or almond extract, and any kind of fruit or nuts. I personally love to stir a few spoonfuls of honey-sweetened peanut butter into it and top with banana slices.

If all else fails, there are a number of bread and/or muffin recipes that call for cooked oatmeal. You can also grind up the uncooked oats and turn them into oat flour, and then use in baking. I actually really love it in bread products - it gives it a nice texture and bumps up the nutritional value as well.

"Armed with a spoon or knife, a loaf of bread, some jam, and a glass of milk to wash it down, I am a peanut butter-eating fool."

Ed, I could have stopped at just "armed with a spoon." Believe me, you're not alone.

@KarynMC ~ Ohhh Peanut Butter & Co. The day I discovered their Dark Chocolate Dreams was one of the happiest days of my life.

I felt the same way about the salads in France - so simple, so fresh...so perfect. I always assumed it was from primarily using local produce and high quality oils & vinegars to dress. The cheese, the bread, the crepes...same story. Basic foods, basic preparation, and somehow it was just all better over there. *sigh*

I eat a lot of eggs with whatever's in the fridge thrown in too. Pasta with whatever's lying around works too, as does any type of salad green. Occasionally it's nothing more than hummus or some other kind of dip with random pita chips, flatbread, veggies, etc. And when it's dessert or something sweet, it's the jar of peanut butter with a handful of dark chocolate chips thrown in, or the occasional spoonful fudge sauce, dulce de leche, sweetened condensed milk, whip cream, etc.

Wow, I seem to be in the minority here as I would pick spring/summer produce over fall any day. There just seems to be so much more variety. I love apples and pumpkins as much as the next person, but I get tired of them faster than I do warm-weather produce. In fact, I don't really get tired of spring/summer produce at all. Although I will admit that I am very much a warm weather person - fall is nice, but I despise winter - so that very well may have something to do with it.

It's definitely cherries in the summer. Every year I wait impatiently for them to appear, buy them as soon as I see them (despite the fact that they aren't at their absolute best yet & they cost a fortune), and mourn them when they are no longer available. Blueberries have been excellent for the past few weeks, so I too have been snacking on those like they're nuts. It's definitely harder in the winter.... I tend to drink a lot of hot chocolate in the winter. It's filling, it can be made relatively healthy, and it kills my chocolate cravings, and can be either a great pick-me-up snack in the afternoon or comfort snack at night.

Definitely second the butternut squash suggestion...or pumpkin is similar in flavor and equally good - serve with a browned butter - sage sauce on top. What about spinach & artichoke? Roasted peppers with feta or goat cheese? Something with an olive tapenade or sun-dried tomato pesto?

I could never limit it to one either, but I recently had a butternut squash and swiss chard lasagna that was to die for. I also make a delicious Moroccan inspired stew that's served over couscous. Love falafel too, especially on a huge Greek salad; and another favorite would have to be Thai vegetable curry over rice.

I ate Indian food for the first time in my life just a few years ago, but to be honest, I really don't remember it all that well. I know we had samosas for an appy...and I had some kind of curry for my entree...and naan bread on the side. It was good but not great...I think part of my problem was that I really didn't know what to order, and my love affair with ethnic food also hadn't really started at that point, so it didn't blow me away. Need to go back though - I have a feeling I'd enjoy it much more now...