Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Raisins and American Cheese. It's probably a similar flavor to the aftore-mentioned apples and chedder: a sweet-salt thing. I didn't know omlettes were made any other way until I was an adult. I actually used to grab a little bowl of raisins from the yogurt bar at college and hand them to the omlette line cook to put in the omlette. He laughed every time.

In the summer I love making potato salad - I used a sweet potato salad recipe with apples that I got from this site (http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/05/sweet-potato-salad-recipe.html) and it was a repeat request! In the fall when potlucks consist of apple-picking picnics, Thanksgiving, and several holiday parties, I usually roast root vegitables with seasonal herbs, onions, and olive oil. My favorite combination is carrots, beets, and parsnips, although sweet potatoes, turnips, and other potatos work well too. It's hearty, warm, and super nutritious.

hit the wrong button. Rolled Dough Delicious is very simple. Take one slice of white bread (heavily milled wheat would work too, but nothing with bits or nuts), and cut off the crust. Butter bread heavily and sprinkle sugar ontop (non-purists add cinnemon, but the original RDD was a diabetic's nightmare of processed ingrediants). Starting with a corner, squeeze and roll the bread piece into a ball shape, with the buttery goodness side on the inside. Place ball into toaster oven at 300-350 degrees (depending on size of toaster oven) for about 5-10 minutes. RDD should be golden-toasty on the outside, sugary-butter super on the inside!

I was taught to make a margarita when I was 11. It's a family tradition - we called it the Aubin Margarita. I've since found out that it's also a "Jamacin Style Gold" margarita to bartenders in the North East. It's just tequila, triple sec (or cointreu for people with money) and lime jc, either fresh or the sweetened kind (NEVER sour mix!). I wasn't introduced to pre-fab mixes until Appletinis and Cosmos started getting popular, and I'm not a huge fan. If I want juice and booze, I'll make a screwdriver. However, I've made some yummy punches using the Stirrings mixes - pairing with flavored vodkas and champagne or soda.

If you live in NH, where the state-run liquer stores are like the Big Rock Candy Mountain and located next to just about every grocery store, you can get a mixed case for a 10-15% discount, plust they often have 20% of their wines on specials or clearance, so you can save as much as 25%. I had a toga party with a wine fountain once and got a case with pinot noir (for the fountain) and reisling (for the non-red drinkers) for something like $80.

Hannah,
Was great to hear about your hostessing experience. When I lived in NYC, I hosted at the now defunct Veg City Diner (formerly at 14th&6th). Let me tell you - hostessing at a diner STINKS! There was no where for people to wait for tables, so they kinda stood in the door, alternately glaring at me, then the diners at tables, then me again. My favorite part was when I could get away from the front and take phone orders or run coffee on busy weekend mornings.

I would like this if it had the following capabilities:
1. to take my shopping list and search local flyers from grociery stores and other for the cheapest place to purchase my items, and have coupons ready to print from it.
2. I input my favorite recipes and it helps to creat shopping lists.
3. suggests recipes and foods I might like based on what I already buy (like Amazon does)
4. could actually upload and purchase my shopping list for either pickup or delivery where available.

I get a "to go" container at the start of the meal and put half (or more, if it's a huge plate) into the container before I even start eating. Bringing hungry folks with you is a good idea. But the best thing you can do, since your job limits you limiting your caloric intake, is exercise. Seriously. Walk places, do a workout video, take dancing lessons, swim, join a social sports league, whatever makes you burn some of the calories you HAVE to eat for your job. Plus, if you find something you like, its an awesome bonus! Eat yummy food, do fun things!

I recently made the sweet potato salad with apples and green peppers that's appeared a few times on this site - it got rave reviews from both my timid-eater friends and my foodie-family.

Also - get those disposable zip-loc (or other) containers. Pack up portion-sized leftovers and send it home with the guests. This way your leftovers don't spoil, you're not left eating pulled pork for 6 days, and your guests leave with something tasty, home-made, and wonderful in hand! Plus they'll have a yummy reminder of their time with you.

Enjoy your weekend!