Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Don't use a food mill for grinding, it spreads the fat too much. Don't know where you are, but a lot of people here in self-grinding land [Idaho] have grinders from Cabella's. My grandpa uses one of theirs[as well as one of their casing stuffers], and gave me his hand-cranker, which works great. It's also 50 years old, so the construction is a lot tougher. Antique stores are a good resource for those...depending where you are, I suppose. After that, if you have a nice butcher, grinding is free for whatever you buy [I live with a nice butcher] - and since they work in a cold room with cold equiment, there's no fat melting, which is a big issue for people who don't like to grind outside in the winter - though it's a good idea :)

The cubano, of course! nommmmmmmmmmm

My boyfriend's mom made this last year.... I could have died and gone to heaven - but I'm lactose intolerant, so I just died and went to the bathroom, instead. Seriously, though..... this is one of those insano things everyone should make once [and fast for a week after].

Beaver's Sweet Hot and plain ole Grey Poupon for sandwiches

Pommery Cognac mustard [it was a gift!] for BLTs .

French's yellow mustard for dogs, burgers and fry sauce.

Beaver's Stone Ground for sausages.

Truth be told, I have no less than 9 different types of mustard in my fridge at the moment - it's my favorite condiment - I have a friend who collects strange local mustards for me when she travels [most recently, a sweet Maui Onion] - mmm mmm.

boo for wanting a veggie sandwich. if you only served 5 expensive sammies, would you waste time with tofu or seitan. I think not.

First time was at home - I made naan and lentils, for lent, no less! I've been into the flavors ever since... oh, so so so so good! :D

with lots of butter and marmalade - and plenty of hashbrowns on the side. maybe I'll make that for dinner. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I traveled to Hong Kong while living in Japan to meet my boyfriend at the time but ended up alone on account of a typhoon. I stayed in a windowless hostel in Chunking without any bedding and a moldy loaf of bed in the cupboard - on the day before Thankgiving 2005.

I went into the street at midnight, to prevent myself from crying, looked left, looked right, and went into an Irish pub [yes, in Hong Kong - I was only 22]. I met a kind Irish family man who taught me about rugby, bought me plenty of Guiness, and paid for my Thanksgiving dinner the next night [I was also very broke], took me out on the town, and kept me from feeling homesick. My faith in the kindness of strangers has yet to fail me and despite the negatives, my trip to HK was interesting and educational, for sure.

My boyfriend's boss held a potluck: store-bought 'Italian bread' slathered with 1/2 an inch of mayo, garlic powder, and dried parsley, then baked til burnt. At the same party, a bowl of cans of undrained kidney and pinto beans, a bottle of italian dressing, and cubes of velveeta all tossed together dubbed a "bean salad". Ouch.

weevil cherry pie. skimmed. that's all I need to say.

Time's up!! I'm steaming the little guys in a tart Spanish white with some butter, shallots, pepper flake and a bitty bit of tarragon - with crusty bread, of course - I'll report the results. Thanks, everyone!!!!!

They ARE jewels, no!? I'm getting incredibly hungry.... only 1.5 hours to go until my own private clamfest!! [the butcher does not like clams... but he likes me :)]