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The Ten Most Recent Posts By smallblondemom

From Talk

Is there life without a microwave?

Posted by smallblondemom, March 31, 2008 at 11:27 PM

I recently read an article about getting rid of clutter in one's life. One woman mentioned that she took all the appliances out of her kitchen. Now that's not going to happen in my house but I was struck by her decision to get rid of her microwave altogether. When I thought about it, I rarely use my microwave. Occasionally I will melt chocolate or butter in it but honestly the timer function is the most used part. Do I really need a 3X2 foot box for this? What do you think--if there life without a microwave?

47 Comments | Tagged: kitchen appliances, microwaves

From Talk

Refrigerator-freezer advice needed:

Posted by smallblondemom, January 20, 2008 at 10:18 PM

We have a vacation home which is used heavily but sporadically during the year. It goes from one to between ten-twenty people at a time and is occupied for about four months of the year. So the fridge gets heavy use for weeks at a time and then is unopened for a period of months. We like to keep it on since people drop by when they can and without much planning. And for me, I travel halfway around the world to get there and want a cold glass of wine and something I can defrost and eat when I finally arrive!
We have a Jenn-Air fridge/freezer which has been pretty much of a failure. I am looking to replace it (YEAH!!!!) and was hoping for advice. Actually I have two questions:
1) What are some good websites for reviews of major kitchen appliances, and
2) What do you look for in a fridge-freezer and what would you recommend? (Think large!)

4 Comments | Tagged: appliances, freezers, refrigerators

From Talk

Something new in Cranberry Sauce?

Posted by smallblondemom, November 7, 2007 at 7:57 PM

My family loves cranberry sauce. Not the awful stuff from the can but the real thing simmered on the stove and passed through a mouli to make it smooth (although there are those who argue for the whole berry sauce). If I could only get these traditionalists to move on! Does anyone have a good recipe for cranberry sauce which takes it to a new place?

20 Comments | Tagged: cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving

The Ten Most Recent Comments By smallblondemom

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Smallblondemom. Sorry I am really, really late but we are moving house and country again. I am 53, mother of three tall, dark haired, beauties (hence the handle), married and became an expat 27 years ago. Lived in Paris for 4 years (1 baby), moved to Hong Kong for 7 years (two more babies), then to London for 6 years (picked up two cats along the way), then to Singapore for the past 10 years (and added a beagle and another cat). Now the whole package is getting moved back to the USA. This should be interesting. I love to cook and have been lucky enough to explore some of the greatest cuisines in the world right in their hometowns. Along the way I have discovered that the art of substitution is essential! Now I am excited to be going home and exploring what has become, for me, another new country

smallblondemom at 10:44PM on 04/25/08

From Talk

Comment Notifications?

That would be nice but I would just settle for it opening up a new window when viewing comments--I always forget that I have to navigate back, click on close and then have to load the site again!

smallblondemom at 10:41PM on 04/12/08

From Required Eating

Cooking with Kids: Fine Dining Boot Camp

We started a program like this at for students in our middle school here in Singapore a number of years ago. Essentially parents enrolled the children and we had three classes--by grade. The kids had to dress appropriately (a struggle for some of them who only owned sneakers!) Once a month they would have a sit-down dinner with parent chaperones followed by a dance class. At the end of the year we would throw a "ball" for them. It sounds stuffy but it was always over-subscribed and ten years down the road many of them thank us for having taught them the rules of the road!

smallblondemom at 3:56AM on 04/08/08

From Talk

Signature ingredient -- and is it a flaw or fav?

I don't know how he does it but almost everything my husband makes tastes the same--he does always reach for tabasco so maybe that's it!

smallblondemom at 3:45AM on 04/08/08

From Talk

Fast food regional items - do you try?

McD's in Singapore has had rice cake rolls for their burgers and Thai chicken spice burgers. I haven't tried either--I haven't eaten a fast food burger in something like 20 years. The Subway at our school makes these things called "Pizza Subs" which are awesome and not available in the USA.

smallblondemom at 7:18AM on 04/07/08

From Talk

Crumble

Peaches! I love crumble, especially hot with yogurt topping for breakfast.My daughter, on the other hand, wants hers with custard. Blueberries make a good crumble too

smallblondemom at 10:10PM on 04/04/08

From Talk

Music & Cooking

Absolutely music in the kitchen. I crank it up real loud and sing along to whatever hits my fancy!

smallblondemom at 11:00PM on 04/03/08

From Talk

Danger in the kitchen!

One winter I was flambeing a duck breast and wearing a cotton sweater. The sweater had a lot of little "hairs" sticking up. Somehow the "hairs" caught fire and the fire literally ran up my arms and around my back (my husband beat it out). I wasn't hurt and neither was the sweater (amazingly). But now I always roll up my sleeves!

smallblondemom at 10:52PM on 04/03/08

From Talk

Danger in the kitchen!

One winter I was flambeing a duck breast and wearing a cotton sweater. The sweater had a lot of little "hairs" sticking up. Somehow the "hairs" caught fire and the fire literally ran up my arms and around my back (my husband beat it out). I wasn't hurt and neither was the sweater (amazingly). But now I always roll up my sleeves!

smallblondemom at 10:52PM on 04/03/08

From Talk

So, how likely are you to make those Sloppy Joe's?

My husband created a variation on this which he calls "Minced Mess" (mince being Britspeak for hamburger). Essentially you cook hamburger and onions in a saute pan until done then throw on some cheese and melt it under the broiler. Then serve it on toast. You would think this would taste like just a badly constructed hamburger but it's a completely different thing. It doesn't do a lot for me for me but my kids absolutely love it!

smallblondemom at 11:43PM on 03/31/08

Responses to Comments by smallblondemom

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

I'm Rosezilla (named for my three year old daughter and the giant lizard thing that stomped Tokyo...it's what I call her when she's being...how you say...willful). My real handle is Mandy. I live in Santa Barbara County again after growing up here, but lived for 11 years in western Sonoma County...home of fabulous food and wines. It spoiled me rotten, to become an adult surrounded by all of that luscious produce and foodie opportunity. I managed a microbrewery's kitchen for 6 years, and have SERIOUS opinions about ales, should anyone care for them. Now I'm a home cook primarily, although I do a little catering here and there. My daughter's favorite foods are salmon and broccoli, so I feel as though I've triumphed a bit over the three-year-old beige-food diet. We do, however, eat at McDonald's every Friday after school...it's our little Happy Meal indulgence...and those tiny cheeseburgers are SOOO good. I live with and cook for my mother, as well. I am dating a high school band director, who has actually LOST weight being with me, as he's eating more asparagus and less fast food. I think that size 14 should be the new size 6. I am curvy, healthy, happy and active...and think that excellent foods should be part of everyone's diet. I am active in the "S'Cool Food" movement here, which tries to bring local and sustainable healthy food into school cafeterias. And I love, love, love this website.

rosezilla at 1:31PM on 05/09/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

@alacto-- I grew up in Williamsburg! If you're still there, I'm quite jealous of your accessibility to Aroma's. I was a slave at the Cheese Shop for a few years, and while I can't stand the house dressing any more, oh the cheese and wine selection....mmmmm

machellebelle at 11:47PM on 05/01/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Bro recently made these avocado eggrolls for a party. They are wonderful. We didn't use a sauce - no one noticed :D.

Whip 'em up and bring 'em down to the party!!

chiff0nade at 6:06PM on 04/30/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

@kfarrel3: Hope you're enjoying Florence! I miss Antico Noe sandwiches so much :(

LiveToEat at 5:50PM on 04/29/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Mrs. L, a, ahem, 40 something (at least for two more weeks) who is just learning to cook and dealing with the fact that I own over 500 cookbooks (over 400 that have never been cooked from!). I live in San Jose CA and I see dead people for a living (no really, I manage a cremation business). I love serious eats to help me find out what's going on in the food world and to make me feel even more behind cuz I cook recipes I see here rather than open up one of my many cookbooks!

hkydiva at 5:47PM on 04/29/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

@NC Terry - I looooooooooove Zingerman's! Love love love! You have the best job.

CookiePie at 2:40PM on 04/29/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Hi,

I just found this wonderful site -- I found a link at FoodNetwork.com. I live in New Hampshire, love cooking and experimenting with new types of dishes. As a cook, I've gone from a repeating 15-20 dishes to new dishes everyday (or so).

I'm particulary found of Ellie Krieger's Healthy Appetite, Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa.

I also collect cookbooks - and my favorite right now (non-FoodNetwork) is Gordon Hamersley's Bistro Cooking At Home. Gordon owns a local Bistro in nearby Boston.

Looking forward to a long association with you all!

chapmanca at 2:23PM on 04/29/08

From Required Eating

Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 3

Don't eat the damn food if you don't like the content! You are not being forced to make these recipes, nor eat the food. YOU eat what YOU like and the rest of us mature adults will eat what WE like. I am sure that you have eaten a hamburger, french fry or doughnut in your lifetime....well, guess what, you have just eaten a fried cheese and butter ball. It's all the same thing, just a different flavor.

Remember, it is people like you and me who made her famous, not to mention her scrumptious recipes. There is no harm in eating food like this if you ingest in moderation.

alieizhere at 11:37AM on 04/29/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Whewps... I forgot to mention we live in rural Oklahoma (about an hour away from Tulsa and Fayetteville, Arkansas).

jymbrittain at 10:37AM on 04/29/08

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Hola! I'm Jym Brittain, I dont hide behind a screen name, so I use jymbrittain. I'm both a doctoral student and a college instructor/administrator. I'm 43. I've been happily married for 17 years. I'm the father of a very active 4 year old boy. My wife would agree that I do about 90% of the cooking and she's grateful. I've been cooking since I was 7, learning first at the elbow of my Mom and my Nana (grandmother from Malta) then through the cooking shows on PBS and now the FoodPorn channel and PBS.

My passion is bringing a plethora of flavors, styles, techniques and dishes to the dinner table to share with family and friends. Having lived in 4 different states and having traveled to a few different countries helps with this. Culinarily speaking I'm probably best known for my take on Chicago deep dish pizza with Chourico and for trying to form a dinner club in my rural college town.

jymbrittain at 10:29AM on 04/29/08