Lasagne seems to be popular this year. I am making one (hubby loves it) and so is my aunt who has lots of cousins visiting. Dessert will be canoli's.

Erin Zimmer, any idea where to get that nice wooden salt holder?

My local farmers market is in Ithaca NY. They have a very nice selection of local fruits and veg. The farms must be within (I think) about 50 miles of Ithaca. I don't see any imported stuff. The local community is very "green" oriented and prone to prefer organic, which provides a good customer base for the area farmers.

I really liked Chuck's Day Off. Interesting food and very unpretentious. Can't wait for Julia Child!

"No white foods" is just a general guideline to eating low glycemic food which doesn't immediately turn to sugar in your body. It means avoiding potatoes, pasta, rice, flour and sugar.

What works for me is the no-P's diet; meaning no pasta, pizza, potatoes, and potato chips.

I really like Julia's the Way to Cook. It is very instructive and has lots of recipes that are basic and then built upon to be more complicated. So you can learn basics very well.

I bought CIA's professional chef and almost never use it; for one thing the recipes are for 10 portions each and you have to have your calculator nearby for conversion for a family meal.

Love them! I was at the famous Galleries Lafayette food hall in Paris and guess what I saw prominently displayed at the front entrance? Old El Paso pre-made tortillas in a box, cans of refried beans, and salsa. Amazing!

I remember an episode of the TV show "Coach" where Kristine cooked a meal for Harden Fox and he was so happy, he said "Meat and potatoes, no vegetables, my favorite meal!" ;-)

This is a fun topic. My husband thinks I'm crazy. For me, it's really sharp Japanese knives. I have way more than I need. Hubby says I have more better knives than most chefs. But I use them!

For you cookbook collectors out there, do you specialize or is your collection rather eclectic?

I loved the show. Marco Pierre White is just about the most serious chef in our lifetime and he takes what the contestants do very seriously. I am sick of cooking judges that don't know food from a hole in the ground - yes like Padma, who has probably thrown up everything she's ever eaten and never even worked in a restaurant. Ted Allen on "Chopped"? pulease!

Plus Marco has that ravished, evil genius look that is so amazing! Yes, he's doing a bit of following the pack on food TV - but you have to respect his history, being the first British chef ever to win 3 Michelin stars, and who nourished a whole new generation of fine chefs in England.

Saving parmesan rinds in the freezer and using them in home made soups; sure makes the soups more delicious.

My husband and I have been known to cook Thanksgiving tacos and Christmas enchiladas. But then no one comes over! There are Thanksgiving foods I love, but many I hate like creamed onions, turnips, and brussel sprouts; all foods I was practically forced to eat as a child.