Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I leave the crust behind. I'm a cake person, really.

Risotto. Rice and broth mixed with whatever protein/vegetable/herbs are on hand or in season. +/- just a bit of any number of fats that can be stretched this way (Like butter or cheese)

I was not as enthusiastic about Jam when I went, shortly after it opened. Perhaps because it is unairconditioned, and it was summer, and it was tough to enjoy a decent brunch while sweating profusely. I will have to give it another try and order french toast this time. Chickpea, however, was another story. Hands-down the best hummus I have ever eaten, topped with drizzles of mysterious, amazing green sauce that Suqi's mom (yep, she makes the food and chats customers up!) said she made from jalapeno, but that tasted like some sort of citrusy crack that I could eat every single day and never get bored.

I eat bananas, too, but I feel a twinge of guilt when I do. Despite the fact that they are relatively healthy, and satisfy a sweet/hunger craving, they are the antithesis of locally-grown. I am surprised more of the conversation about this topic hasn't mentioned the somewhat idiosyncratic ubiquity of this tropical fruit all over our own country. However, it makes me feel strangely better about the occasional 100-calorie pack of cheez-its that sneaks its way into my attempt at eating a generally healthy, minimally processed diet in an effort to not get too fat.
Clearly, bananas and 100 calories of cheez-its aren't the same, but I draw the parallel because they are things that are non-local foods that apparently Ed and I respectively use to manage the big picture of our food intake, and I feel better about now.

For three years in college I went as a piece of Kosher meat. This involved me and three rolls of pink saran wrap. It's a great costume (think tube top and separate A-line skirt made my standing with feet more than shoulder-width apart while a friend wraps, with a USDA sticker well-placed) but I caution you to not hydrate over the day or evening, because it definitely does not allow for bathroom breaks. However, it was a hit and it keeps you very warm if the evening is chilly. Now I am too old for those shenanigans and can't even imagine going out dressed [virtually] only in saran wrap, but if you're less than 25, why not!

We have always been big LEYE fans for reliable standbys, and while I think the larger business is on a downswing in terms of quality, Frankie's is, hands-down. one of the worst meals I have ever eaten in Chicago. The most tasty thing I consumed was my glass of water. And this after the chef came to talk to us, and we ordered some of his personal recommendations. Every single dish was flavorless and greasy. I wouldn't set foot there again.
I almost feel bad being so vehemently negative, but it was all SO GROSS!
My parents still say "Remember when you took us to that horrible restaurant in 900North...?"

The late-night eating situation only gets worse as you follow the trajectory through medical school and into being a doctor. Eating anything all night long to stay awake on call is directly correlated with increased scrub pant size requirement. Allowing you to identify better with the average American patient...!
Crunchy veggies, granola bars, trying to be less liberal with the the cookies. Trader Joe's stocks a variety of chip alternatives when you need something salty but want damage control. When all else fails, look forward to the call cocktail: one can diet ginger ale mixed with one foil-topped cranberry juice cup over copious amounts of hospital-issue ice chips.

I defrost on the counter, against the package instructions, because I am not good at advance planning. It takes much less time Just remember that if it tears, you can stick it back together with butter, because you are usually stacking layers anyway, and if you put the uglier ones on the bottom of whatever you are making, no one knows the difference--it still tastes good and gets flaky.

I only just discovered gluten free baking, as I am a traditional butter/flour/sugar/eggs kind of girl. Now with a new friend who has celiac I have been excited to rise to the occasion. Last week I made a chocolate cheesecake pie in a cashew crust, topped with toasted marshmallow. Even the gluten-embracing had seconds. Except the person with the nut allergy...

Stale candy. Specially prepared that way. Mom opened packages of marshmallows, licorice, gummis, then let them sit before consuming or feeding them to us.

Apples. So self-contained and crunchily satisfying.

With mint or watermelon.
Also, even if I don't win this t-shirt, I think as an ER doctor who cooks more than I have time to I should buy it, because I might really need to own it!