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Small Wedding Picnic
Remember to pack PLENTY of ice packs for cold foods and chafers/sternos for anything hot. Nothing should be kept out for longer than 4 hours, and only if it is the proper temp. I would be hesitant to serve anything with seafood if it will be sitting out for a long time. The last thing you want on such a special day is someone coming down with a food born illness!
Grad party ideas
I'll pipe in with some Queens bakery ideas. Artopolis on 31st St in Astoria makes unbelievable cakes---they did the wedding cake in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Martha's Bakery (Ditmars Blvd in Astoria and another location in Forest Hills) makes great cupcakes, which might be nice for the high school crowd.
Congrats to the grad!
Extremely Low Calorie Foods
@Giasbash6260 - Your search for "extremely" low cal foods makes me a little nervous. As someone who struggled with an eating disorder for years and knows this well, swapping good, healthy food that gives you energy for celery sticks and pickles just isn't healthy. Why don't you try to make your meals more filling by choosing foods with higher satiety if you are worried about snacking? Or you can bump up your exercise a little bit to compensate for extra snacking if you're trying to lose a few pounds. There's never a quick or easy fix to lose weight, but there are definitely smart ways to do it!
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Snapshots from Greece: Nescafe Frappe
Take the N out to Astoria and check out the sidewalk cafes. You are guaranteed to have frappe sightings! They are too strong for me, but my boyfriend loves them---light and very sweet. Try Lefkos Pyrgos (23rd Ave. and 31st St, right by the Ditmars stop on the N) for old Greek men drinking frappes and eating delicious pastries.
Small Wedding Picnic
Remember to pack PLENTY of ice packs for cold foods and chafers/sternos for anything hot. Nothing should be kept out for longer than 4 hours, and only if it is the proper temp. I would be hesitant to serve anything with seafood if it will be sitting out for a long time. The last thing you want on such a special day is someone coming down with a food born illness!
Grad party ideas
I'll pipe in with some Queens bakery ideas. Artopolis on 31st St in Astoria makes unbelievable cakes---they did the wedding cake in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Martha's Bakery (Ditmars Blvd in Astoria and another location in Forest Hills) makes great cupcakes, which might be nice for the high school crowd.
Congrats to the grad!
Extremely Low Calorie Foods
@Giasbash6260 - Your search for "extremely" low cal foods makes me a little nervous. As someone who struggled with an eating disorder for years and knows this well, swapping good, healthy food that gives you energy for celery sticks and pickles just isn't healthy. Why don't you try to make your meals more filling by choosing foods with higher satiety if you are worried about snacking? Or you can bump up your exercise a little bit to compensate for extra snacking if you're trying to lose a few pounds. There's never a quick or easy fix to lose weight, but there are definitely smart ways to do it!
Tell Your Asparagus Story
Eggs scrambled with asparagus and a little goat cheese is dinner at least once a week. On my list of favorite foods EVER, asparagus has to be in the top 3.
And I have to admit, I don't mind the asparagus pee....it's like a daily reminder that my body is doing what it's supposed to be doing. I have asparagus for dinner, and 20 minutes later, it's like, woohoo! All the bits are working properly!
Turkey Meatballs
When I use ground turkey breast, I grate some zucchini and saute it with some chopped onions, garlic, and dried herbs, then mix it in with the meat and an egg. Sometimes, I mix in a little feta or goat cheese too. I've also had luck making a florentine-esque turkey meatball with grated parm, egg, a little bit of bread crumbs, and chopped spinach. That one is great with a nice red sauce and some pasta!
i'm going to otto...what should i get?
The eggplant caponata and the salted caramel gelato. And a doggie bag that you can drop off at my apartment on your way home.
What Condiments Really Need To Be Refrigerated?
Actually, mayo does NOT need to be refrigerated once open. Manufacturers recommend that you stick it in the fridge for food safety concerns, but mayo is perfectly shelf stable for up to a month on your counter.
That being said, I'm sure we'll all keep our mayo right where it is, but it's an interesting fact!
Cook the Book: ''Wichcraft'
Sourdough toast, thick cut bacon, heirloom tomato, arugula, Hellmann's mayo, and a sunnyside-up egg....mmmm.
Carrot Cake Recipe
@mandoopandoo - That's my go-to recipe too! My boyfriend swears it's the best carrot cake he's ever had. I actually prefer it to Dorie's (which says a lot, because Dorie=Baking Goddess in our abode).
Kielbasa in NYC?
Adam, you read my mind! My family has been going to Jubilat for over 40 years. Kris, the owner, actually bought my grandmother's house when she moved out of Brooklyn. They're friendly, and the have the freshest and most authentic Polish meats in NYC. Definitely try the double-smoked kielbasas, and don't forget to get a big bag of Polish pickles. I make the trek from Astoria at least once a month, and I always have a kielbasa in my freezer for "emergencies".
Just a caution...don't go the Saturday before Easter unless you're willing to wait at least an hour!
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Blues
Thanks for the input! I consider myself pretty savvy in the kitchen, but after working all day, I just haven't had the energy to pull new recipes lately. The boyfriend loves chicken and requests it often---I appreciate having some new inspiration for quick weeknight meals.
If I have time, my preference is to roast 2 birds on Sunday and have leftover meat for sandwiches, salads, enchiladas, etc. all week long.
Slow going on Food Network website
Same here! I never use it anymore.
Question of the Day: What's the best food song?
A second vote for "Cheeseburger in Paradise!" It's my dad's favorite song---I've always told him we'll dance to THAT at my wedding!
Food Careers
I work in customer development for a major foodservice manufacturer. I spend most of my day in professional kitchens, speaking with chefs about our products and showing them how to use them. It's a great job---I really enjoy meeting new people every day, eating fantastic food, and doing the cooking demos. I graduated with a marketing degree but have always been a foodie at heart, and I knew I wanted to put my education to use in a field I love. My culinary knowledge has really come in handy, as I've been able to close some big deals by showing operators how to create several dishes by adding one or two extra ingredients to a basic prep. (It doesn't hurt that some of the brands I represent are frequently mentioned on SE as "the only brand I buy"!)
Quinoa - Now That I Bought It.....
I just bought (and made) my first bag of quinoa over the weekend! I made it with chicken stock, then tossed it with halved grape tomatoes, diced zucchini, scallions, feta cheese, fresh dill, and a lemon vinaigrette. The longer it sits, the better it gets!
I'm going to try another salad with dried fruit and nut oils next. Still trying to find the perfect recipe, but it's definitely my new favorite grain!
bean dip
I make a white bean dip with artichoke hearts, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Sometimes I add a little bit of roast garlic or some herbs, sometimes not. The key is the lemon juice, which wakes up everything.
I wouldn't give up eating ___, even if I was allergic
Over the past year, I have developed a bad allergy to a certain type of shrimp, or possible a chemical used in freezing them. I break out in hives from head to toe, and my throat gets all scratchy. My allergist has never been able to determine what sets the reaction off or what I should avoid, so I keep an Epi-pen (which I've never needed) and Benadryl with me at all times and eat shrimp with wreckless abandon. It's happened at 2 restaurants and twice at home.
During the allergy testing, my allergist did determine that I am MILDLY allergic to nearly everything, including dairy, peanuts, soy, and wheat. This explained why I have gotten 2 or 3 hives almost daily, but with no other symptons, since I was a kid. I can go on eating whatever I want, so long as my reactions don't get any worse.
What's So Weird About That?
I've thought of more! When I was a kid, I used to love peanut butter and cheese sandwiches. Nothing like a good dose of saturated fat to get you moving! I also loved cottage cheese with cheddar goldfish crackers as a snack.
Peanuts and Coca-Cola
Haha, did you just read The Secret Life of Bees?
What's So Weird About That?
I used to count down the days until Thanksgiving so I could eat the turkey neck. My grandfather used to love it, and I idolized him, so while everyone else was chowing down on slices of honeydew melon for their appetizer, we sat and picked the neck meat out from in between the vertebrae. Mmmm....deliciously disgusting.
I also loved lima beans, brussells sprouts, cream cheese and salami sandwiches, and cottage cheese on toasted English muffins. I HATED anything that was food you couldn't chew, i.e. pudding, yogurt, jello, etc.
How do you make your egg salad, tuna salad, ham salad...
My favorite tuna salad is solid albacore, cannelini beans, halved grape tomatoes, capers, arugula, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and lots of pepper. I've been known to stick all sorts of leftovers in my tuna salad, but that is my standby. I often make chicken salad with chicken that I poach in a little stock, white wine, and herbs, then toss with a little mayo, whole grain mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and lots of fresh chopped herbs (dill is a favorite).
The bf's Midwestern family swears by a ham salad recipe using 3 parts pressed deli ham, 1 part bologna, dill pickle, and lots of Miracle Whip. Not my cup of tea, but it's such a treat for him on some smushy white bread.
Salsa Verde Potato Salad
Thanks for the input. It doesn't have to be vegetarian, so I'm still considering the chorizo. Right now, I'm leaning towards the chorizo, jicama, scallions, queso fresco, and cilantro. Yum?
Am I the only one on the planet who dislikes ___, or loves ___?
Alright, so we have to narrow these down to unusual likes/dislikes. Here goes...
Like: Horseradish on ANYTHING. (I'm Polish, thus it's in my blood.)
Hate: Parsley, blue cheese, the insides of bagels (crust only!), and bananas. Do you know how many recipes include parsley before serving for "freshness"? I feel as if I am sorely missing out on some fresh taste sensation in my meals, but God, I hate the green stuff.
What did you end up eating or serving for the Super Bowl?
Sunday is my day to get a head start on dinners for the week, so we had lots of odds and ends and turned them into dinner. I roasted a chicken in the afternoon and shredded the dark meat for a BBQ chicken pizza (the bf's favorite, with spicy BBQ sauce, red onions, chicken, and fontina). The chicken breasts will reappear on a busy weeknight. I used the last of some homemade tomato sauce, along with the mushrooms, zucchini, and arthichokes leftover from a minestrone and a tuna salad, and made a veggie pizza for myself. We also had some guacamole (because I love it) and some white beans with cabbage and ham (because I made too much of it), all over the course of several hours. We're grazers.
God, that sounds like a terribly unappetizing combination... It was delicious!
Pepper Mill? or Pepper Shaker?
Pepper must be ground before use, lest all those lovely volatile oils escape... BUT if you don't want to waste the shaker why not use it for something else? Home-made garam masala? Chili pepper flakes? Another type of salt???
Snapshots from Greece: Nescafe Frappe
I have to disagree with your love of Nescafe frappe foam! I was in Greece last August, and as much as I wanted to enjoy it as a nice cool beverage (in the 105 degree heat), I could not get past the instant coffee bitterness floating in the puffy bathtub foam. I contented myself with old-school Greek coffee (same as Turkish). Not refreshing, but still delicious and cafeinated!
What Is Kraft Doing to My Salad Dressing?
The kids had this and only this at their house when I went there for dinner... talk about crap! ( in their defense, it was inexpensive)
I made them a batch of ranch, honey mustard and 1000 island dressing before I left.
What Is Kraft Doing to My Salad Dressing?
I wouldn't know. Ranch dressing is nasty anyway, and real mayonnaise is better than that crap Miracle Whip.
Small Wedding Picnic
That should be Tomato Tart, not Toma Tart. Grr. Sorry.
Small Wedding Picnic
@curlycook--okay, I get it now. I so would have loved to have done something like that for my wedding. Ina Garten has a Roasted Shrimp Salad recipe that is so good! Keep in mind that she added the citrus dressing to the shrimp and vegetables so as not to overdress it. It would be lovely in lettuce cups lined ramekins or tea cups. This Oven-Dried Toma Tart with Goat Cheese and Black Olives would be a nice side along with green salad and rolls or baguettes and also fit right in with your wine, cheese and fruit.
i'm going to otto...what should i get?
If it's just 2 of you I highly recommend eating at the bar with either Dennis &/or Frank. Those two are extremely friendly know their wine, and will always steer you in the right direction.
When you sit in the dining room it's not uncommon to feel rushed by the service as the turnover is rapid. The bar is a much more relaxed and rewarding experience.
As for the menu, always check out the daily specials. Some staples that I highly recommend which never disappoint, especially when sharing are below:
Salad: Escarole & Sunchoke Salad
Veg: Asparagus & Pecorino, Radishes with Bagna Cauda
Fish: Octopus/Celery/Lovage, Anchovies/Breadcrumbs/Scallions
Pizza: Vongole, Prosciutto Arugula
Pasta: Rigatoni con Sausage & Escarole, Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Gelati: Hazelnut Stracciatella, Pistachio
Buon Appetito!
Turkey Meatballs
i used to be anti turkey and only ate ground pork and beef. but i gave this recipe a shot and let me tell ya, it was SO much better than beef/pork. by sauteing the veggies before molding into a ball keeps the meatball SO moist. Give it a shot and let me know what you think. i PROMISE, you will NOT be disappointed.
-with marinara
http://foodisluv.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post.html
-swedish meatballs
http://foodisluv.blogspot.com/2009/06/swedish-meatballs.html
Grad party ideas
Joe's Sicilian Bakery in Bayside is great - 212-16 48th Ave, about a block or two from Bell Boulevard.
Some other ideas:
Ina Garten's recipe for Penne With Five Cheeses from Barefoot Contessa Family Style is super easy to make in advance:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32177,00.html
Ina also has a great recipe for Chicken With Tabbouleh from Barefoot Contessa Parties!:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_28775,00.html
Lasagna is always good, and the Green Lasagna recipe from the first Silver Palate Cookbook is a delicious take on a make ahead favorite:
http://www.feedmethat.com/recipe.php?id=28364.htm
So is Martha Stewart's Baked Mushroom Linguine:
Emeril's Andouille & Chicken Jambalaya is another great make ahead:
http://www.emerils.com/recipe/2854/Andouille-and-Chicken-Jambalaya
Martha Stewart's Cheddar Biscuits that you can make in advance and pop in the oven area a good match with Jambalaya:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_28775,00.html
Ratatouille or Caponata are also great for sides or spreads, and prepared in advance
Have a great party!
Grad party ideas
It's not really foodie, but if you want stuff that can be totally done before (and it will be hot) do a really fancy sandwich buffet--lots of fancy breads, cheeses, cold cuts, and so forth, so everyone can make their own sandwiches. Have lots of marinated salads, veggies, and so forth. Kind of like an antipasto thing. You can also have cold chickens and hams if that doesn't seem like enough. The adults would love fancy marinated mozzarella and such, and the kids can chow down on subs and cold fried chicken.
Grad party ideas
I made some baked brie for my little brothers graduation. Buy a wheel of brie cheese. Shave the rind off the top and saute up some garlic, onions and sun dried tomatoes (soaked in hot water for 15 minutes) Add some balsamic vinegar, herbs and spices. Top the brie with this and bake at 300 until its done how you like it. I like mine super melty. Serve with some crunchy melba toast. Delicious!
Extremely Low Calorie Foods
What @nosillak and @dmcavanagh said. Drastically lowering your caloric intake is only going to slow your metabolism down to starvation (read: store more fat!) mode. How about instead of that, trying to get the most nutritional bang for your buck in most everything you eat? Like, whole grains instead of refined, etc.
Extremely Low Calorie Foods
Google negative calorie foods...they're all healthy as hell and you can eat an unlimited amount.
Extremely Low Calorie Foods
dbcurrie, you stole my answer. :)
Extremely Low Calorie Foods
I,m with nosilak, no calories mean no energy to drive the human engine. A head of lettuce will fill you up with very few calories, but does it give you any satisfaction? Food is fuel for the body. Eat wisely, not trendy.
Tell Your Asparagus Story
Asparagus is fantastic pickled, preferably with a goodly amount of red pepper flakes. Like Suzzane, we find wild asparagus growing along irrigation ditches and it is a whole different animal than the commercial kind---much nuttier in flavor. While I would never eat store bought asparagus raw, I use the wild variety as snack food.
Tell Your Asparagus Story
@Swampyankee: to the best of my knowledge, that's correct. Aspargine is an amino acid common in many foods, but first isolated in asparagus. The characteristic smell associated with asaparagus urine is a result of sulfuric byproducts from the breakdown of the amino acid.
Certain studies have shown that the ability to detect the odor varies from person to person, but the studies' results are not definitive.
Tell Your Asparagus Story
Growing up, my family was very diverse in our taste for asparagus. My mom loved it, my brother loathed the stuff and the rest of us were somewhere in between. But my brother's hatred spawned a family inside joke involving asparagus dipped in chocolate. If you want your kids to eat their vegetables, you gotta do what you gotta do!
Hillary
Chew on That
Tell Your Asparagus Story
@miskadventures: You're most welcome. But you should know that I'm prone to typos. I definitely need an editor.
@lisetted: I've never had white asparagus, either. What's wrong with me?! Also, you probably don't need to buy asparagus from Whole Foods if asparagus is in season at a local farm. I get good asparagus from two local farm stands here in PA. I don't know where you are located, but check Local Harvest. It'll direct you to places that sell local produce. You'll likely get fresher, more robust asparagus there.
Tell Your Asparagus Story
Remember my dad picking wild asparagus, hated it then. But when I got older I love it. Have to watch it though (gout), but love it roasted, grilled or steamed with a little butter and salt.
Tell Your Asparagus Story
Anyone ever had the pleasure to eat white asparagus? They are so delicious!! Simply boiled, with some hollandaise sauce, hard boiled eggs and sliced ham...in season in Holland (& Germany) every year for about 6 weeks right now..I am Dutch, grew up with it and so want to jump on a plane to get them, fresh from the farm. The only veggie i really get excited about. (pls dont tell me that Whole Foods sells them, those tiny stalks from Peru are pathetic!)
oh btw, they are white but have the same effect...;o))
Tell Your Asparagus Story
For those who live in metro Detroit, you MUST visit the Long Family Farm in Commerce Township. Their asparagus is fresh-picked daily, absolutely the best I've ever had, and usually around $1.50-$2/lb! Get there right at 3:00 pm, though, or it'll sell out before you can blink. Visit their website!
@Susquehanna: as an English teacher, I love, love, love that you followed proper MLA format for your citation! It absolutely geeked me out to see it. Thank you!
Tell Your Asparagus Story
I still remember my first asparagus sandwich... I could not believe that they were made of something so foreign to me at the time. I was a convert right then and there. Now I also love them grilled with a squirt of lemon on top
Last month, via I introduced my godaughter and her brothers to asparragus via these sandwiches... the face on the oldest one was precious when he learned what they were made of. I love to surprise them with new ingredients they would not otehrwise have tried.
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
Turkey Meatballs
I use turkey for meatballs quite often and I always cook them in the sauce or broth, the one trick is that you need to keep them small so they dont fall apart. I always use fresh herbs and parm on mine which gives a lot of flavor. If you are looking for good recipies check out Giada she uses turkey in most of her meatball recipies.
Tell Your Asparagus Story
Just bought some yesterday - it was looking pretty measly at the stores until then! I bake mine at 350 for 20-30 with some salt, pepper, and olive oil. Then I top it with balsamic syrup (I can't make my own for the life of me so I just buy it!). Yummy goodness...then asparagus pees ensue. I really didn't believe they existed when a friend told me, but lo and behold...
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Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts Looking for Loving Companion
Posted by nosillak, January 14, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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Take the N out to Astoria and check out the sidewalk cafes. You are guaranteed to have frappe sightings! They are too strong for me, but my boyfriend loves them---light and very sweet. Try Lefkos Pyrgos (23rd Ave. and 31st St, right by the Ditmars stop on the N) for old Greek men drinking frappes and eating delicious pastries.