There's a hole in the wall Mexican grocery/restaurant in the neighboring village that I pass weekly on my foray to Hannaford to stock up on provisions. Every time I went by I said, I gotta stop there and check it out. There is always a hand written sign in the window with the day's offerings. Kept on going by until today when I stopped and went in. Well, it was about time! The gracious lady proprietor made two beef tacos to order, and they were just what I wanted. Tender beef, chopped onion, cilantro and spicy salsa -- yum, a perfect snack before grocery shopping. I'll be going back next week to try something else on her menu. Is there a nifty place you finally went to and keep going back to?

My best friend's daughter (9 going on 10) loves to be in the kitchen, so Rebecca has decided to put together a cooking camp through her local 4-H group. They can use the community church kitchen, and Rebecca expects 8-10 kids. She will do five days of half days, sometime in July. She wants my help -- ack! I don't have a lot of experience with kids! What recipes would you recommend? I don't want to dumb it down for them. Any ideas much appreciated.

Did anyone else wake up hungry this morning?! I was ravenous, so I had a piece of onion tart that is among the leftovers. The chicken carcasses (two free range) are in the soup pot, so I'll be making soup tonight. I think lunch might be mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts; today is even better than yesterday! I hope y'alls Thanksgiving was wonderful.

I just got back from the Dutchess County Fair (NY). It's my chance to eat sinfully one day a year. The best thing I had today was fried pickles with horseradish dipping sauce -- what a treat! I hope the guy comes back next year. John's Famous French Fries were darn good, too. What do you like to eat at the county fair?

There's a place a few miles from me, behind a gas station and next to a bait shop. It looks like a dump. Major potholes in the parking lot. A friend tried for over a year to get me to go there, so finally I went to get her to shut up. I am forever indebted!! Gawd, the food is so good . . . steaks, chops, seafood, pizza, pasta . . . I can't wait for out of town friends to come so I can take them there to see the look on their face. I have to duck to get through the door. There are only twelve tables, a pellet stove (so cozy in the winter), and a tiny bar. They finally patched the hole in the floor in the far corner. There's a blue marlin mounted on one of the walls. One waitress works the room and some nights it feels like one big raucous family. My favorite place outside of my own kitchen!

I'll be spending 5 days/4 nights in New Orleans in May. Where should I go to eat? I really want to maximize every meal opportunity. Where do the locals go? I've never had crawfish, and I love boudin! I don't want to miss anything special.

My family has a dinner-table tic: whether we’re at a restaurant or at home and especially good bread is served, someone always says, “You know, I could just eat bread for dinner. This is all I need.” When my father... More