Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Food and people go together. Can't really talk about food without talking about people. People cook the food, people eat the food, people enjoy the food. Serious Eats is about food, therefore also about people.

This post was about food AND people, so I don't see the problem.

I find it wholly appropriate and completely true.

gorgeous! I can't wait to try this (probably about ten times before I get it right)

Yikes. I was about to come to this crazy woman's defense, until I actually saw the recipe! In my mind I was envisioning more of a fried carrot-cake-icing-desert situation. Nasty, sure, but who could say no to tempura battered cream-cheese icing (I have a vivid imagination)! But then I saw the picture...seasoned bread crumbs? Huh? Then II saw the butter-to-cheese ratio! Is she insane? Two sticks of butter to two spoonfuls of cheese? Christ, it's a miracle she's not already dead!

Sheer genius!!!!!

Oh, I'm familiar with this tale of woe. And brunch, too? The very worst shift of all shifts. The Shift of Death.

What kind of ass asks for more bacon? Oh wait! I know! The kind of ass who declines to order a beverage but then asks you for a glass of water, four lemon wedges and some sugar! Or the kind of ass who doesn't order a salad ("...what do you mean it's not included with my entree?") but orders a side of lettuce and tomato for $1.75 (you know, the kind served on the side for those who don't want to order deluxe burgers) and then whips out packets of dressing from her purse.

The restaurant biz is brutal.

Boxes, baby!

Boxes!

Mmmm...bourbon...

I haven't touched the stuff in ages (bad Christmas party experience 2004) but ooooh, when I did? Double it up! Two sugar cubes, two dashes bitters, two orange slices, two cherries and I want those maraschinos muddled, too! Add the bourbon (NOT doubled!) and enjoy.

I used to tick off bartenders all over the city by requesting this strained into a martini glass. I finally realized the error of my ways and stopped.

Obsolete? Never! My favorite books to read in the world are cookbooks! I love the inexhaustible supply of them, the photos and the little anecdotes thrown in by the author. I have shelves crammed with them; admittedly, I turn to Epicurious often and no longer subscribe to cooking magazines because there's more than enough to be found online. But my cookbooks still see a lot of action! I turn to my old trusty Joy whenever I forget how long it takes to soft boil an egg or when I'm curious as to what aspic is for. I make all my heavy country dishes from my Farmhouse Cookbook and my cherished Junior League books. Healthier fare can be found in my handy Moosewood "recipeasel" and I find home-cooking from many nations in The Brooklyn Cookbook.

Cookbooks. There Is no Substitute.

Favorite to watch and learn stuff from? Alton Brown. But for usable, accessible recipes that I actually cook I'd say it's a three way tie between Ina Garten, Jamie Oliver and Dave Lieberman. I used to cook like Paula Deen, but you just can't eat like that all the time because it will eventually kill you. I loved watching Mario make those glorious dishes, but some were too esoteric for my daily life.

I miss the more old-fashioned cooking show. Where there was just a chef and a kitchen. Maybe a shot of food shopping thrown in for good measure. I have no desire to watch Ina actually feed her guests. I don't really want to see Jamie Oliver serve a giant fried breakfast to a bunch of models.

I miss The Frugal Gourmet.

I want Rachel Ray eliminated from television altogether. Permanently.

I grew up with my Aunt calling me her "little cabbage", too! My fiancee calls me "Peanut" and always in a Southern drawl that does not belong to him.

Oh. My. Lord.

That's just...wow. Eeewww! And I am a lover of anything corn-dog or pig-in-a-blanket related!

But I couldn't eat that...

It comes in Chocolate Chip? Yikes.

Zaterains Cajun Seasoning. it's like Lawry's, but with more of a kick.

(and also strong black coffee does wonders to deepen the flavor of chilis and stews)