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From Talk

Unsalted natural peanut butter- what can I do with it?

My recipe for getting rid of this peanut butter:

Grab spoon. Scoop peanut butter. Drizzle with honey. Eat.

Repeat once or twice a day until gone. Or if you're like me, repeat until half of the peanut butter is gone in one sitting and you feel sick.

From Talk

Serious Efforts: Oily Mac n' Cheese

I've never ever had my mac n cheese become oily when reheating. Actually mac n cheese should be better as leftovers.

My only guess is that you picked up some oil based cheese rather than whole milk.

From Talk

Serious Efforts: Solution to Thin Alfredo Sauce Dilemma?

I'm confused, the sauce itself isn't thick or the cheese isn't incorporating nicely? For the sauce are you using equal portions of butter and flour to thicken (1 Tbs of each for each cup of cream or milk used)? If not, that should solve the thickening problem. Don't forget to bring the sauce slowly to a bowl to start the thickening process.

If it's a cheese issue you just have to add it at a low heat and whisk until completely incorporated. I use pecorino and it takes a little work to get it in, but I've never had an issue with parmesan either.

The good thing about cooking alfredo sauce is that after all of that whisking you don't feel as guilty about eating the glorious amounts of butter, cream, and cheese.

From Talk

Recipe Request: Chili

Use flank steak and slather it in a little adobo sauce before cooking. That'll knock up the heat factor a bit. Super hot chili calls for chopping up some of the chipotle peppers and adding it to the main pot.

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White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

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Filet Mignon With Tarragon Pepper Sauce

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Raspberry And Hazelnut Brownie

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From Talk

Unsalted natural peanut butter- what can I do with it?

My recipe for getting rid of this peanut butter:

Grab spoon. Scoop peanut butter. Drizzle with honey. Eat.

Repeat once or twice a day until gone. Or if you're like me, repeat until half of the peanut butter is gone in one sitting and you feel sick.

From Talk

Serious Efforts: Oily Mac n' Cheese

I've never ever had my mac n cheese become oily when reheating. Actually mac n cheese should be better as leftovers.

My only guess is that you picked up some oil based cheese rather than whole milk.

From Talk

Serious Efforts: Solution to Thin Alfredo Sauce Dilemma?

I'm confused, the sauce itself isn't thick or the cheese isn't incorporating nicely? For the sauce are you using equal portions of butter and flour to thicken (1 Tbs of each for each cup of cream or milk used)? If not, that should solve the thickening problem. Don't forget to bring the sauce slowly to a bowl to start the thickening process.

If it's a cheese issue you just have to add it at a low heat and whisk until completely incorporated. I use pecorino and it takes a little work to get it in, but I've never had an issue with parmesan either.

The good thing about cooking alfredo sauce is that after all of that whisking you don't feel as guilty about eating the glorious amounts of butter, cream, and cheese.

From Talk

Recipe Request: Chili

Use flank steak and slather it in a little adobo sauce before cooking. That'll knock up the heat factor a bit. Super hot chili calls for chopping up some of the chipotle peppers and adding it to the main pot.

From Talk

NYC: Great Brunch or Lunch Near Union Square?

Save and hit up Union Square Cafe at some point, it's worth it.

For cheaper eats I highly recommend Paquitos on 3rd Ave. The Maria Burrito will be your new favorite item.

The Thanksgiving on a Roll at Chat n Chew is fantastic. Good homestyle southern cooking there. The mac n cheese used to be among the best in town, but the recipe changed years ago. Still worth a bite though.

The Gramercy Cafe on 3rd and 14th is also worth a lunch stop. It's a diner, so you get what you expect. But i've had more good experiences there than not.

Joe Jr's is great for breakfast.

And then there are always the places like Chipotle and Heartland Brewery. I go to Heartland when I just want to sit with a beer and some chicken tenders.

From A Hamburger Today

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

@zEli173 - ordering your burger below what you really want isn't that bad of an idea if you're someone who knows what properly cooked meat should be. A lot of your average restaurants cook their steaks to higher temps than what most of us do at home (often going by the USDA guidelines). I've been told to cook a medium steak to 145-150 degrees before (as in pull it off the heat at that temp, not let it rise during the resting period). You take a 6 oz 1/2 in sirloin cut to that temp and you can bet that by the time it hits the table it will be close to well done.

For me a nice medium is around 135-140 when pulled off the heat, it'll go up the final 5 degrees or so before being consumed.

From A Hamburger Today

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

I don't even know what I'd like to say to this question. I find when at work the majority of recooks sent back are for people who wanted well done, but got medium or medium well. Overcooked meat is, I would imagine, a lot less common.

there's really no excuse for it, so when food is sent back I'll recook it with no problem. I may whine and moan, but it's my job to provide the perfect steak, chicken, fish, etc.

Recently my parents took the family out to a decent place for a holiday dinner. I ordered a mid-rare strip and received a mid-well steak. To add insult it had a little flag stating it was "mid-rare." I ended up not sending it back, but when asked how it was cooked I told the waitress I'd be able to eat it. I wasn't a complete liar, I made it about halfway through before the leather flap on the plate destroyed my blood craving soul.

From Talk

Bread tips and recipes

@chiff - Wow, that is some fantastic tippage right there. Thanks! I'm actually excited to start delving into baking in the next year now.

I think I might try a couple recipes out in the next week to see what I like. And if I can I'll post a follow up while we're in Sundance. At the least I'll do a week in review of the food consumed during the trip on my blog.

thanks again to everyone for the great tips. Now I understand why everyone says the Talk section of SE is one of the best places to get cooking and baking tips.

From Talk

What was the best thing you ate in '08?

I'm currently blinded by the incredible fish tacos I had from Alto Cinco here in Syracuse the other night. Normally I'd scoff at cabbage in my taco, but it fit perfectly and gave a very satisfying crunch.

I was also able to finally procure a Magnolia cupcake this year, and it was indeed a fine treat. not mind blowing, and it only sticks out as a memory because my wife and I waited in line for 45 minutes just because we could.

The topper was the finest filet mignon I prepared all year long. Seasoned with just salt and pepper, cooked to a perfect medium rare...and cuttable with only a fork. My wallet wasn't happy when I left the store, but my mouth and stomach were satisfied enough.

From Talk

What to do with leftover arborio that's NOT risotto

First, don't give up on risotto! Give it awhile before trying the dish again, but it's a sad life to live without some risotto now and then.

other ideas:

rice salad
rice pudding
lamb fajitas/burrito/taco...etc
use the arborio in your meatballs instead of bread crumbs

Or do what we always did as kids with any leftover rice. Put it in a bowl with some milk, a little sugar or honey, some butter and heat up. Instant, and delicious, breakfast.

From Talk

What's your favorite simple sandwich?

2 slices Wegmans whole wheat bread
2 slices bacon, fried
2 eggs beaten, seasoned with salt, pepper and smoked paprika
bit of cheese (cheddar usually, but whatever good melty cheese i have on hand works)

actually...now I'm hungry and would like to be eating in 5 minutes. So sandwich time it is.

From Talk

Half a jar of...

I hate to admit that I throw things out, but it sometimes happens.

it really depends on the cuisine or food item. if it's italian it'll be gone in two days in any case. Same with asian foodstuffs, except the really exotic items. I bought hoisin sauce a month or two ago and my wife asked me what the heck I planned to do with the rest after I used the measly 2 tablespoon for our stir fry dinner. I shrugged and said things will come up. Today I have less than half a jar left. It may come to the throwing out point, but on this one I gave a good fight.

My question is why can't I just get exactly the amount I want when I need it. Whenever I buy stock it seems that I use almost the entire container, but not quite. Honestly I don't need that entire can of chipotles for my chili.

It can also be fun to explore the ingredient you have and try to use it up. Especially if it's not a normal purchase.

From Talk

Clink! Celebrate with me, foodie friends!

Congrats!

I worked for no pay for 6 months before getting paid for writing, and there's nothing more satisfying than getting that brief moment when you're doing what you love...and uh, they want to pay you. And every column in every newspaper had to start somewhere.

And the fun stuff can indeed pay enough...but the tradeoff is - as dbcurrie stated - you have to work really hard at it. it gets disheartening when you produce thousands of words in a month only to realize you're making like $8 an hour.

Doing what you love is also addictive. I've now launched my own thing and while i have the guidance of people who've become a success at it, I find myself overwhelmed on nearly a daily basis. And yet I just cant stop myself.

The wine and beer is gone, but I'll raise my smoothie to toast to your good fortune now and ever increasing in the future.

From Talk

I eat ____ because it's good for me (but I don't really like it)

Never.

The only time I eat something that may be healthy I don't like is when I try something for the first time. Other than that, why am I bothering to eat food I don't enjoy?

From Talk

trying to change eating habits

There's a lot of great advice here. And one thing I really think is important is to not impose this as a family "diet." I absolutely do not believe in any diets. I think they are a waste of time, and more often than not are marketing tools to get you to buy crap.

So with that...Take the suggestions above (I think the majority of stuff has been covered) and stick with it. Make the changes necessary for what you know your family will enjoy, but never put it into the mind of your family members they're on a diet. All that's happening is you're changing the way you eat.

And remember the cardinal rule of food: eat what you love and what tastes great.

From Talk

If you were to subscribe to one food magazine, it would be _____

I get magazines for two reasons: to get story ideas and keep up with random stuff that slips through the cracks when writing for the TV section of an entertainment site, and to have something to do in the bathroom. I'd say it's focused 95% on the latter.

My food reading is almost always contained within books. Although I do like photography, so Bon Appetit and Saveur are my favs if I have to make a choice.

From Talk

Team Mascots: We're the Syracuse Orange. Other food mascots?

@dhorst - Nice to see someone else from Syracuse around here. I'm still prone to calling the team the Orangemen.

Technically the Buffalo Bills are another local food mascot. I'm thinking a dish made from that would taste like failure though.

From Talk

I just cleaned my kitchen...

I have the major issue of a small apartment kitchen with little to no counter space. Add on to that little cupboard space and I have my stand mixer, spice rack, cooking utensil holder and cutting boards on the small counters. Plus our kitchen is the entrance and it seems to be a dumping ground for keys and pocket paraphernalia.

At work I can't stand having a messy work area. Everything is clean and organized at all times. If I have to go away and return to a mess I'll clean before getting cooking again.

The one thing I have to do before cooking at home is the dishes. We have one small sink and no dishwasher. If the sink isn't clean I have nowhere to deposit dirty pots and pans as I go.

And by the way, the dishes are NOT DONE until the sink itself is clean.

From Talk

What to do with stew meat... besides stew

You could always do a beef bourguignon. The long cooking time will get it to not be so tough.

Quick recipe: coat beef in flour. fry up some bacon in a large saucepan. add steak, minced shallot, sliced onions and fry up. Splash in some cognac and flame on! Toss in 2 cups red wine and some stock. Salt and pepper the mixture, toss in some rosemary and thyme. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Thicken at the very end with a paste made of flour and butter (beurre manie)

From Talk

Dorm Food?

It's been awhile since college for me, but I do remember a stir fry concoction a group of us used to make. Rice, Steak-umms (do they even exist anymore?), frozen corn, woozy sauce, A-1, whole grain mustard. It was offensively salty, and downright delicious. I probably wouldn't eat it now, but it beat eating mac n cheese or ramen noodles every day.

From Talk

making my own smoked salmon

I'd recommend curing the salmon first. Salt, brown sugar and peppercorns are an easy classic (and you'll probably have all of that on hand as it is).

As for the smoking process, do a hot smoke the first time around. Actually that's the only way I smoke salmon at home. As long as you have something enclosed to put it in you're fine. Just keep the temp inside the smoke box at the desired doneness temp, about 150 degrees. It works a little like poaching in that way.

The salmon should be nice and dry on the surface before you begin smoking.

From Talk

Pecan Pie with no corn syrup?

I always make my pecan pie with homemade caramel sauce, I'd suggest that. Although the brown rice syrup sounds like something I'm going to have to try.

From Talk

NYC - Manhattan's Best Chocolalte Chip Cookie?

I don't know, sometimes you just get lucky. I picked up a cookie with my breakfast bagel sandwich at a place on 6th Ave years ago that was surprisingly good. You could simply luck out.

Or try the established hot spots as mentioned in the above posts. I've made the Jacques Torres cookie and it is pretty great.

From Talk

What is your must have kitchen equipment or tool?

Easy

1. Global Chef's Knife
2. Olive wood spoon I bought the wife in Epcot last December
3. 12" saute pan

See more comments by phenosteve »

Recent Posts

From Photograzing

White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

From Talk

Bread tips and recipes

From Photograzing

Filet Mignon With Tarragon Pepper Sauce

From Photograzing

Raspberry And Hazelnut Brownie

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About phenosteve

Website: http://www.munchmonster.com

Location: phenosteve

About: Professional cook and amateur home gourmet.

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