there's a restaurant that i worked for that always calls the menu "seasonal yum yums" I hate the phrase "yum yums" its damn good food so just say so

make some compound butters. fresh herbs (whatever you like) good on everything from fish to chicken, chipotle with honey is great on tacos and cornbread, one of my favorites is saffron and preserved lemon on shrimp. all you have to do is blend the ingredients into butter, roll it in plastic and stick it in the freezer. you can cut off rounds as you need

we have a 98 inch projector screen so buddies are coming to our house. probably potluck stuff-spinach dip, wings, pizza, etc. but sliders would make it easier on me!

tri-tip thinly sliced for tacos, or filet rare

I don't often drink coffee but my fiancee's aunt is obsessed. At her house I drink it black and strong

Either the 7" Shun for actual use, or the antique engraved sushi knife I got from a japanese friend who taught me the art of sushi making in Hawaii

rice noodles with shrimp or chicken. sauteed vegetables

My dad puts condiments on everything but usually it's just whatever he reaches first. I've see soy sauce on spaghetti, hot sauce on pretty much everything, mustard on a burrito etc.

every year, per mom's request- i make oatmeal cookies with dried cranberries, white chocolate chunks, and candied ginger. they're pretty tasty. I also like a spinach salad with feta, pomegranate seeds, tangerines, and a cranberry-white balsamic vinaigrette

My turkey sandwich epiphany comes from my stepmom: Starts with salted rosemary bread like ciabatta, next a little cream cheese and mustard, then the sliced turkey, cranberry chutney, shredded lettuce slaw.

I was a vegetarian until my first date with my now long time boyfriend. In the glow of love I didn't care what we ordered and he chose to share a stuffed pork chop. Pig epiphany! Oh I'm not vegetarian anymore...

Ok might not be as sophisticated but when I was really poor and cold in Wyoming a staple chili was a can of black beans, chicken stock, a jar of salsa, and maybe chopped chicken and tortillas. Cumin and cilantro are a great addition but when you're 17 in -5 degree weather sometimes you cant get that stuff...

Definitely get a whole roasted chicken and make meal of it for dinner, with maybe roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach or whatever. Then, take off the rest of the meat for chicken soup or chicken tacos or stock; whatever's left. This also works with anything you'd think of as chowder