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The Ten Most Recent Posts By mainegirl

From Talk

French picnic food ideas/recipes?

I am going to a potluck party, and the theme is "French Picnic". I have been asked to bring some sort of hearty salad - all I can think of is a french lentil salad. Any thoughts/ideas/recipes for "french" picnic salads?

From Talk

How to store champagne?

My husband and I received a bottle of 1998 Dom Perignon on our wedding day in September. Things have been a little busy since then, and I just realized that the bottle has just been sitting in our fridge for the past couple months. We would like to open it on our first anniversary, but I'm not sure how to store it until then. I've been told that the basement might be the best place, but can it go from the fridge to basement? I'm clearly a novice when it comes to champagne. any thoughts?

From Talk

Anyone have a good mulled wine recipe?

I feel winter coming on.... Last Christmas, I had mulled wine for the first time and it was delicious and warming. Anyone have a good recipe?

From Talk

Pressure cookers....do you use one?

We just received a Fagor Duo 8-quart pressure cooker as a wedding present. I have never used a pressure cooker and I have only seen the old-school models in use - steaming, spitting, and rattling on the kitchen stove. But, I am excited to give this one a try. Do you use a pressure cooker? If so, what's your favorite thing to make with it??

The Ten Most Recent Comments By mainegirl

From Talk

I am getting married - but I need a menu

I had a similar wedding reception last fall - a casual party with a combination of passed "small plates" and appetizers, along with a few food stations scattered about. It was really fun, and everyone commented on how nice it was to be able to mingle and relax. The passed food included mini crab cakes, skewers, small cups of chowder, lamb meatballs, etc. We also had stations with pasta, fruit and cheese plates, etc. For the late night crowd, they brought out big plates of fries and chips and salsa. The best part of this type of reception is that you don't have to worry about seating arrangements.

From Talk

French picnic food ideas/recipes?

wow - such great ideas! you serious eaters are the best!

From Talk

I want a soft focaccia bread recipe

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

Apparently my link above didn't work, but you can go to "recipesorangette.blogspot.com" and look for the french-style yogurt cake.

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

For dessert....I like the idea of a lemon pound cake with fresh berries/berry sauce, or try the French-style lemon yogurt cake from Orangette http://orangette.blogspot.com/2004/08/slow-roasting.html.

There are also some good looking lemony desserts in the new issue of Bon Appetit. Good luck!

From Required Eating

Stately Scoops: What Ice Cream Flavor Represents Your State?

I grew up in RI and would have to agree that Coffee Ice Cream is the perfect flavor for that state. And blueberry for Maine, although there is a local ice cream shop that serves Lobster Ice Cream!......

From Talk

Has anyone received the Cook's Illustrated test recipes yet?

I haven't received any recipes yet either.

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

unsweetened chocolate. I remember taking a big bite of baking chocolate I found in the cupboard when I was a kid. blech.

From Talk

What’s your favorite quick fix dinner?

Ling Ling vegetable potstickers with some frozen edamame or Annie's mac and cheese with fresh broccoli or frozen peas are some "convenience" foods we turn to in a pinch. Otherwise, a frittata with whatever veggie and cheese we have on hand makes a tasty, quick meal.

From Talk

Dining in Quebec CIty

Annieli, I'm glad you posted this. I will also be going to Quebec City in February. My husband and I usually go for winter carnival, and it's hard to find restaurants that aren't geared toward tourists during that time of year. I'm interested to hear the suggestions. One of our favorite breakfast spots though, is called Le Petit Coin Latin on Rue Sainte-Ursule. We go back to this spot every year. Delicious food, coffee, hot chocolate, and a great atmosphere.

Responses to Comments by mainegirl

From Talk

French picnic food ideas/recipes?

What a coincidence! I just did a French picnic feature for my blog last week. It has recipes for a cold "Soupe au Pistou" Pasta, renovated Pan Bagnat, and watermelon salad with raspberries and rosewater. All great for a picnic...

http://frenchrevolutionfood.blogspot.com/2008/06/le-picnic.html
(for the recipes)

or just go to www.frenchrevolutionfood.com and search for "le picnic" in the blog archive...

From Talk

French picnic food ideas/recipes?

The celeri remoulade is a great idea! Clotilde's grated carrot and beet salad is also super French.

From Talk

Food related wedding favors

This is an old topic so although I am late to this party I thought I would pass on the information anyways :). I was just recently at two weddings that had food/drink related favors. One of them was these elegantly wrapped packages of toffee. The stuff was absolutely delicious (I'm the pig that opened it and ate it at the reception) and was really displayed nicely. It was made by a company called Truly Toffee as their label on the bottom had a plug to their website.

The second wedding I went to had little packs of coffee packaged in like a burlap sack. It was cute too. The toffee one was by far the nicer of the two (the nicest I have ever seen to be honest) but after doing my research the coffee was a little cheaper. I think it was like 4 bucks for each favor for the toffee and like 3 for the coffee.

They were both really nice though.

From Talk

I want a soft focaccia bread recipe

Rosemary Tomato Focaccia Bread

Ingredients

1 10 oz. tube refrigerated pizza crust
1/4 C. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbs. fresh rosemary, crushed
2 fresh tomatoes, sliced
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 C. minced fresh parsley

Directions


Roll out pizza crust and place on a greased baking sheet. Combine olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and 1 Tbs. of rosemary and spread over pizza crust. Top with remaining rosemary, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and parsley and bake for 10-15 minutes at 425 degrees.

Hillary
Chew on That

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

Chelley - your life over the last 72 hours sounds like a bad e-mail forward! Kudos to you for keeping your sense of humor!!

Hang in there, sistergirl. {{Hugs}}

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

snicker....giggle....chuckle....

7 inches of snow last night. (insert shaking head, sigh, snickering, bitching about the weather, more shaking of head and snickering here _________.)

Im going to trudge out to a managers meeting at 10. I might make it to the grocery store to actually buy food for the dinner I am planning!

I loves me some serious eaters....at least you guys accept my dry, sarcastic humor! Anyone want to come shovel? Bah ha ha ha!

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

Oh my gosh, Chelley, I am wishing you all the best on your survival weekend. It sounds like you're really up against it.

The easy-peasiest dessert I know (short of store-bought lemon sorbet with berries and Cointreau) is a clafouti. Simple custard, poured over the fruit of your choosing, baked briefly. NO reason why you can't use canned or frozen fruit!

Here are a bunch from Epicurious:
http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?search=clafouti

Good luck!!

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

@linzi - Big guffaw on that one!!

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

Lemon sorbet with fresh raspberries on top and those really thin gingersnaps on the side. Mini-chocolate cadbury eggs in a bowl on the table. No baking, got the lemon AND chocolate in, a little fruit and you're done!

From Talk

the next 3 days suck....Easter Help PLEASE!

Aww ChelleyD01 I feel so bad for you, here's what to do for dessert. Melt a big bar of chocolate in a huge bowl, pour in rice crispies, stir, and hand each of your chocolate-demanding guests a spoon. Then retire to bed with a large Martini, you deserve it!