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What do you miss? (to: expats and others!)
American who was an exchange student to Australia and still seriously misses (even decades later)...
Vegemite (don't hate me for that!)
Milo drink mix
Cadbury's Violet Crumble
meat and mushroom pies
homemade sticky toffee pudding or syrup pudding
Arnott's biscuits (any and all of them!)
What’s Your Favorite Weird Snack Combo?
Oops, forgot to mention...Nutella sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies (preferably homemade) and dunked into cafe au lait.
What’s Your Favorite Weird Snack Combo?
Crisply fried bacon crumbled into GrapeNuts cereal that is sprinkled with white sugar or brown sugar and soaking in half-and-half.
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Long Flights - BYOF?
Due to stomach surgery, I must take my own food because airport and airplane food is LOADED with salt, sugar and carbs. Luckily, I have a letter from my surgeon (on a page from his prescription pad) explaining my situation. I generally pack small snack baggies of meat, cheese, and nuts. So far, the only thing TSA has confiscated was a ready-to-drink can of protein drink. (This was before they changed the guidelines to include medical/nutritional beverages, like Ensure or protein drinks.)
What do you miss? (to: expats and others!)
American who was an exchange student to Australia and still seriously misses (even decades later)...
Vegemite (don't hate me for that!)
Milo drink mix
Cadbury's Violet Crumble
meat and mushroom pies
homemade sticky toffee pudding or syrup pudding
Arnott's biscuits (any and all of them!)
What’s Your Favorite Weird Snack Combo?
Oops, forgot to mention...Nutella sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies (preferably homemade) and dunked into cafe au lait.
What’s Your Favorite Weird Snack Combo?
Crisply fried bacon crumbled into GrapeNuts cereal that is sprinkled with white sugar or brown sugar and soaking in half-and-half.
What's Your Take on Cake Ice Cream?
I saw this in the ice cream section at the local market but haven't had the nerve to buy it. I do heartily wish they would bring back Half-and-Half, a swirl of dark chocolate ice cream and stout ice cream. Now THAT was some smooth "comforting" after a ragged week.
Guilty Food Pleasures
How could I forget Cinnamon and Brown Sugar PopTarts, or Apple Cinnamon PopTarts...frosted, of course. Good thing I'm not grocery shopping right now...my cart would be full of sugary goodies.
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 62: What Does a Serious Eater Do with Restaurant Leftovers?
Due to surgery, I cannot consume anywhere near a full restaurant meal so I always box or bag up the extra food before I start eating, and then I do as others here have posted and give it to someone homeless or leave it near a dumpster. Someone gets a nice, fresh meal and my leftover dilemma is solved! :-)
Guilty Food Pleasures
Burrito Casserole...frozen burritos (the cheaper, the better) in a baking pan or dish, pour a can or two of enchilada sauce over it and top with lots of grated cheddar cheese, then bake in the oven until it's bubbly and heated through.
So embarrassingly "not gourmet."
Also, "mock mousse" pie...Prepare a box of instant pudding mix according to directions, then fold in a thawed container of non-dairy topping. Spoon this concoction into a cookie "pie crust" that has been smeared with jarred chocolate sauce or caramel sauce. Keep this in the freezer or the fridge.
I blush to admit I actually serve this to my friends and family.
My personal "hide in the closet while consuming" guilty pleasure is chocolate chip cookies (preferably Pillsbury) sandwiched together with Nutella.
How to Make S'meeps: S'mores Plus Peeps
I have been 'waving Peeps for decades...it is a great stress reducer. Now I'm teaching a new generation the joys of watching Peeps expand in the microwave. Just be sure to have a warm, wet washcloth or a spray bottle of warm or hot water handy in case you wait too long to stop the explosion ;-) I send these sugary gems to my nieces and nephews to enjoy exploding during finals weeks. Not very expensive so think of it as "CHEEP THRILLS" ! LOL :-)
Seriously Italian: Spaghetti All'Ubriaco
This sounds absolutely divinely delicious! I must try this dish soon. I wish I had known about it several years ago when I was making pasta almost nightly. This would have made me feel so rich, as if I were in the lap of luxury!
the best cookbook for beginners
I heartily recommend The Taste of Home Cookbook...good range of recipes, easy-to-understand directions, and nice binder-style format. I also enthusiastically recommend any cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good. Her recipes and directions are superb!
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
You can sometimes buy the Mexican Coca-Cola here in northern CA at Costco but it is about 5 dollars more per case. That plus the CRV makes a big price difference to my wallet, so I seldom buy it. If the Throwback versions become available in my small town, I will definitely stock up!
Eat for Eight Bucks: French Onion Pastina
I was drooling as I read this. This sounds dead easy and my DH loves a flavorful, filling soup during the cold days. This should fill the bill! I don't mind spending extra time if the result is as good as this sounds.
Liberté Yogurt: My Holy Grail of Dairy Products
Brown Cow Yogurt, Cream Top or Lowfat type...I love to stir in a spoonful or two of honey or maple syrup into the plain yogurt...smooth, not-too-sweet,creamy yogurt nirvana. :-)
Oh crap, the dog ate the....
My beloved, late, dainty and ever-so-ladylike Siberian Husky adored wine and coffee. A wineglass or cup of coffee on the table was not safe...mind you, she never knocked over a glass or cup and never spilled a drop. We took to placing wine and coffee on the top of the rolltop desk in our living room. Her Spaniel-Poodle cohort, on the other hand, was "he-of-the-cast-iron-stomach", ingesting anything and everything he could find. My stepmom's dog would eat jalepeno peppers straight off the plant with no ill effects.
Dinner Tonight: Bubble and Squeak
These are definitely a treat, especially with the fried egg! I became a fan of Bubble and Squeak when I was an exchange student in Australia many moons ago. My host moms made this with whatever leftover veg was in the fridge. Very yummy!
This Thanksgiving I am going to try something new and it is.....
I will be attempting to make a sweet potato pie and a shoofly pie, just for something new and different. :-) Might make them as minis for the sake of ease.
Why don't professional chefs use a garlic press?
Ok, I admit it! I do own a garlic press which I use when my husband the sous chef isn't available at home. I am not the most graceful user of knives so I try to leave the chopping and mincing to him, but sometimes that is not an option. Yes, knives are better but safety is also a factor when I cook. :-)
What do you put on pasta?
If it is comfort food (AKA a "don't-talk-to-me-don't-even-look-at-me" day), I boil it up al dente and toss it with liberal amounts of crisply fried bacon or ham if it's available, whatever cheese is available and a dose of cream or whole milk and a dash or two of pepper sauce. If I am fixing supper, I love to make a tetrazzini or mushroom and cream sauce with plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
Is it OK to make a birthday cake for yourself?
Definitely make your own cake! And make it your favorite flavor! I've made my own birthday cake for years, because I enjoy baking so much.:) The flavor is different each year but at least it is the birthday girl's fave.;) This year I plan to bake a luscious spice cake (no raisins, please!) with lots and lots of cinnamon-cream cheese frosting!
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
When I grew up in the city, we were not allowed to eat so much as one piece of candy until it had all been "properly" inspected by our parents and x-rayed at the local hospital. We only went trick-or-treating at houses on our street so how "dangerous" could the treats have been?? We live in a farming area these days and kids mainly go to "safe" parties or Harvest Festivals (can't even call it Halloween anymore...boooo!). We have already been warned by the parents association at the local schools that fresh fruit and homemade cookie and cupcakes will be thrown out so don't bother making them. Wow, we really trust our friends these days don't we? On topic, the only "worsts" I disaree with are the fun size candy bars and the toothbrushes. Strange as it sounds, the kids around here actually like the toothbrushes because it is something different, and the small candies mean you get a great assortment.
Waffle House Wedding in Georgia
Very lowkey and romantic in a non-sophisicated way. I agree with carriebwc. It was their style, they are happy, and they sure didn't end up in debt up to their eyebrows. Best wishes to the happy couple! Long may they live and love!
Okay now that Fall is around the corner....
This is when I start putting the holiday fruits and mincemeat (apple-raisin, no meat) to crock so that I can bake some serious brandied or rummed chocolate fruitcakes and whiskey-raisin cakes which by Christmas and New Year's will be well aged and divine!
Foods We Loved as Kids, Maybe Not as Adults
PEEPS...my stepmom sends me a package each Easter specifically so I may have the thrill of microwaving those neon-colored chicks of sugar death. I am not a violent lady by nature but watching those things expand and explode is FUN! Just a suggestion...spray the inside of the microwave oven with a very thin coat of cooking spray or something like it, because you'll be using every ounce of elbow grease you possess to clean it! LOL Although cleaning it up would be good exercise...:-)
Eating for Two: Lasagna with Eggplant and Chard
So I'm guessing the tomatoes stuffed with all-pepper sauce and rice is definitely out? (Just joking!) Seriously, though, I never even considered the garlic and spice issues when I made casseroles and such for my expectant family and friends. Would some chicken marinaded with fresh lemon and lime juices be okay, they could just add the seasonings they like, and maybe some homemade macaroni and cheese or zucchini bread? Oh, and a great cookbook I came across for new parents is "The One-Armed Cook." The author's name escapes me just now.
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
I disagree about a lot of the candy items mentioned here.
I, for one, LOVE the fun-sized (or mini, if you prefer) candies. It's a tiny bit of something insanely tasty, enough to give pleasure without causing tummy pains. When I was a young'un and I went trick-or-treating, one house gave out mini Clark bars. Yum-o-delish! I polished those off first.
I think the chewy peanut butter kisses taste absolutely divine.
Candy corn, I think is plenty of tasty, as are the candy pumpkins made of candy-corn base. Think little dollops of hardened cake-frosting.
As for apples and raisins, those I didn't mind in the least.
However, some items, I do agree about.
Toothbrushes -- a boring reminder
Religious pamphlets -- disappointing and WEIRD to boot.
Packages of "normal" food -- oh, for crying in Manhattan, what kid wants to receive a can of baked beans or a box of oat bran in his little plastic jack-o-lantern.
One time I received cough drops -- and not the Ludens or Pine Bros or Smith Bros or F&Fs, which are tasty and could pass as hard candy (as can the Ricolas). These were nasty little green pellets that were -- and tasted like -- MEDICATION. Like I said, for crying in Manhattan! For crying in Manhattan, Chicago, and San Francisco
Oh well. At least I didn't get a ROCK
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
If I didn't live in an apartment building with no kids in it I'd be giving out and full sized candy bar AND a red bull to every kid. HAHAHA!!! HALLOWEEN IS FOR KIDS! SUCK IT PARENTS!
In Gear: Flour Sack Kitchen Towels (An Old-Fashioned Staple for Modern Kitchens)
My girlfriend buys these in bulk from crafting stores and embroiders them for gifts. I received the "Happy Kitchenware" pattern, featuring dancing plates and cuddling spoons. She also found a pattern called "Tropical Babies". It's wonderfully/horrifically un-PC.
the best cookbook for beginners
Well I just married 2 weeks ago and I bouth the book Taste of Home cookbook I love it. It gives you picture for every recipe and give you "how to" and "why". Every recipe that I have tryed has been great.
Liberté Yogurt: My Holy Grail of Dairy Products
having tried different liberte flavors- I have something slightly blasphemous to add: I might prefer Liberte's yogurt over most ice creams.
What’s Your Favorite Weird Snack Combo?
I used to go to the LA Reader office on Friday mornings to collect my mail, then I'd stop in the chain drugstore nearby to pick up a piece of beef jerky, and a package of vanilla creme sandwich cookies, which I'd eat while driving to my day job. Not together, just back-to-back. Can't remember if I ate the jerky or the cookies first, nor why I thought those would make a good breakfast.
Eat for Eight Bucks: French Onion Pastina
I make parmesan crisp "bowls". Yummy and impressive looking. Simply increase the diameter of cheese spread in the pan. It should be less dense as well- when finished they almost look like lace. Invert melted cheese over a small bowl and voila! (I use rounded metal bowls and put them in the 'fridge to expedite the process.) It makes a lovely (individual) salad bowl -- will use next time I do (French onion) soup and salad.
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
Our local Publix tells me that Pepsi Throwback will soon be off the shelves, being only a summer item. Is that true?
Seriously Italian: Spaghetti All'Ubriaco
I studied in Florence for 4 months this past spring. This meal at Osteria de'Benci was the best of the semester. I did not find the staff rude at all. My other two guests enjoyed their dishes as well and the casa di vino rosso was very very good.
What’s Your Favorite Weird Snack Combo?
Frosty and Fries (not weird)
Dunking Chocolate chip cookies in Orange juice... YUMM!
Seriously Italian: Spaghetti All'Ubriaco
can no one give me any hints on how to improve my dismal outing with this dish? THANKS!
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
Something I forgot to say (>.
The change from saying "Sugar" on the label to "Sucrose" is probably due to a recent change in regulations that states that the manufacturers have to use the scientific name for the ingredient. Drinks with added vitamins have ingredient lists that look horrifying until you look them up and discover that it's just the vitamins. :)
here's a list of common vitamins if anyone's interested
http://www.pubquizhelp.com/sci/vitamin.html
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
Sucrose or table sugar is obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets.
Sucrose IS real sugar :) heh.
"Sucrose is made from glucose and fructose units: Sucrose or table sugar is obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets." - www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/546sucrose.html
I know a lot of people that travel to mexico regularly, some of whom lived there for many years. Everyone always says mexican coke is better, now i know why.
So that awful nasty taste in coke and pepsi is the sweetener? =/ Eweh.. The only soda i really like is Root Beer...
Looks like I missed my chance to try this throwback stuff but I'm not sure I really care that I don't like soda :) Better for my bones and fat cells. Hehe.
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
Are they REALLY stopping the Throwback sodas on June 13? Are they crazy? BTW be VERY wary of Passover Coke. For the past two years they have NOT used sugar - they have used SUCROSE. They simply will do whatever they can to avoide spending any extra money on sugar. They stink.
Eat for Eight Bucks: French Onion Pastina
Hey everyone,
I didn't make the Parmesan crisps.
Eat for Eight Bucks: French Onion Pastina
Good tip on using the mandoline, howlandwolfe.
I substituted shortened strands of whole-grain spaghetti in place of acini di pepe (or other small pasta like orzo), added a bit of water to deglaze and started pouring in beef broth without measuring. I used one onion, whereas the recipe calls for two large for two servings. And I probably threw in too much pasta. Anyway, this is a savory way to use spaghetti away from the tomato-based sauces. The beef stock gives it some heft and Parmesan, well, that just makes many foods better. Slurp the spaghetti, coated in the beef stock, which has a little flour and dried thyme mixed in. If you can find a good-quality beef stock, all the better. It might not be the most visually-stunning, or exciting-sounding dish, but it tastes good and it's a recipe that could feed a group.
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
I found the Pepsi singles in the convenience store in our building at 1600 Smith, Houston, Texas.
What's Your Take on Cake Ice Cream?
Reading these comments has been interesting. When it's all said and done, it comes down to personal preference. I love Cold Stone’s Cake batter ice cream with extra cookie dough mixed in. You’re right a70wilson that is key! So far, nothing in a local grocery store has come close to replicate the taste. I’m scared to try Ben & Jerry’s version.. Too many nay sayers. My research continues!
Guilty Food Pleasures
In public I have a reputation of being a health-conscious eater with sophisticated tastes. But in private, I'm actually a crap-eating junkie. Here's my list of sinful indulgences:
Chef Boyardee's Beefaroni with mozzarella
Kraft's powdered cheddar cheese
Ikea's Swedish Meatballs
Campbell's Condensed Mushroom Soup mixed with rice (I like to refer to it as a poor man's mushroom risotto, lol)
Hungry Man's Salisbury Steak dinner
McDonald's Sausage McGriddle, Big Mac, fries, and chocolate/vanilla soft serve ice cream
Burger King's deep fried apple pies
KFC's Original Fried Chicken, potato and macaroni salads, and honey roasted chicken (I first tasted it back in the 90s during a trip to Saratoga Springs. OMG, it was the best chicken from a fast food place ever. Are these still available in the U.S.???)
Jell-O Pudding
Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookies
any Pizza Hut pizza (love the greasy crust!)
Red Lobster (all the ones in Montreal closed over 20 years ago. I miss those garlic cheese biscuits!)
canned sardines with French's mustard
canned liver pate spread with Miracle Whip on white bread
Cherry Coke
and a Canadian product: McCain's Triple Chill desserts
http://www.mccain.ca/framework/builder.aspx?page=SubCategory&lang=en&partition=1&category=3&category1=5029&selected=5029&marker=CMF_LEVEL_TWO_MARKER:Category;
God, I feel like such a fraud...
Pepsi to Use Real Sugar in 'Pepsi Throwback' and 'Mountain Dew Throwback' in April
Has anyone beenable to purchase the throwback. I have tried my local Shoprite and Stop and Shop to no avail. Help I want to try it before the deadline.
Long Flights - BYOF?
I always BYOF, and it is almost always sushi. Handrolls individually wrapped in plastic wrap are your best option. Watch the soy sauce and wasabi packs - as liquids, they need to go in your 1qt baggie for security. I put them in a soft cooler. But no, you cannot bring ice or gel packs. It will be fine for a couple hours, don't sweat it.
One of my employees tried to bring a 1 Qt container of hummus. Bad idea. Security did not like that. You have to put it on a sandwich (it is considered a liquid)
Long Flights - BYOF?
why don't laws against price gouging count in an airport, esp. since "9/11" regs make every carry-on thing subject to scanning and fingering by any number of TSAs. Anyways... I make a huge green salad with lots of veg & some protein garnish. I usually freeze something like grapes to keep grilled chicken chilled. I feel marinated and thoroughly cooked is safer to sit at room temp than just cooked meat. Make the toppings juicy & flavorful, so I don't need dressing. Pack garnishes in zipper bags so TSA fingering is minimal. I bring fork saved from Delta flight, so I know it's TSA-OK. Air travel in particular is so hard on the body & mental state, so I try to be good to my gi.
Long Flights - BYOF?
Fly First Class, it's a vacation save up a bit more $$$ and treat yourself and you significant other if you got one. Then food isn't an issue snack on what you want some 1st class food is actually edible What are you going to do save it to pay more taxes. If I fly coach [ most a the time ] I take bottled water if allowed and fast maybe a small energy fiber snack for my type-2 Diabetes but travel constipates me and takes a few days to get it going again so fasting is best for me. Who amongst us could do with missing a meal or two on occasion.
Long Flights - BYOF?
A few years ago, my son and daughter were visiting us from LA. We had a White Castle here at the time and they had'nt had White Castle burgers so befofe their flight back we picked up a couple dozen sliders, put them in an insulated zipper bag and they took them on the plane. Halfe way there, they desided they wanted one so they got the bag down and with in seconds you could smell cooked onions all over the plane, Everyone was drooling!
Long Flights - BYOF?
Fuck what other people think! Hopefully your own food won't give you swine flu or food poisining for one thing. I'm vegan so if I want something I bring my own eats.
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Due to stomach surgery, I must take my own food because airport and airplane food is LOADED with salt, sugar and carbs. Luckily, I have a letter from my surgeon (on a page from his prescription pad) explaining my situation. I generally pack small snack baggies of meat, cheese, and nuts. So far, the only thing TSA has confiscated was a ready-to-drink can of protein drink. (This was before they changed the guidelines to include medical/nutritional beverages, like Ensure or protein drinks.)