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From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

If you wanted to get witchy about it, you could perform a white sage smudging ritual to purify the house. Then bake two loaves of french bread.

From Talk

Living on the Edge: Gas Station Junk Food

If I'm at a gas station in Idaho at 3:30 in the morning, chances are I'm looking for the witness protection program. Then I'd likely get some coffee and Munchos.

From Talk

Has anyone tried making fried goat cheese?

I do too. I do the standard egg/panko crust prep, and then freeze for about a 1/2 hour, just like @mmmmmm said. I oil the pan well and fry at fairly high heat to get them to brown quickly. Even if the middle starts oozing out, it's still delicious.

From Talk

Search It!

Someone told me to think of website, blog or any social media as being present at a cocktail party ... starting or contributing to conversations between like or similar people. This is how I select which websites to comment on. I don't think anyone would flippantly remark to another person to "Google it" if they speaking in person about recipes, or food-related topics. When the comments become distasteful on a blog or website I frequent, I move on. I make the assumption that it's not a group of people I'd want to be in a living room with.
I believe the majority of commenters here are food savvy and really have a strong interest in sharing the love. One expects a few naysayers. When they outweigh the good, I just go away. This probably makes everyone happier.

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From Talk

Food Nicknames

From Talk

If this pan could talk ...

From Talk

Bacon Flavored Vodka

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I still remember my first bite of ...

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

If you wanted to get witchy about it, you could perform a white sage smudging ritual to purify the house. Then bake two loaves of french bread.

From Talk

Living on the Edge: Gas Station Junk Food

If I'm at a gas station in Idaho at 3:30 in the morning, chances are I'm looking for the witness protection program. Then I'd likely get some coffee and Munchos.

From Talk

Has anyone tried making fried goat cheese?

I do too. I do the standard egg/panko crust prep, and then freeze for about a 1/2 hour, just like @mmmmmm said. I oil the pan well and fry at fairly high heat to get them to brown quickly. Even if the middle starts oozing out, it's still delicious.

From Talk

Search It!

Someone told me to think of website, blog or any social media as being present at a cocktail party ... starting or contributing to conversations between like or similar people. This is how I select which websites to comment on. I don't think anyone would flippantly remark to another person to "Google it" if they speaking in person about recipes, or food-related topics. When the comments become distasteful on a blog or website I frequent, I move on. I make the assumption that it's not a group of people I'd want to be in a living room with.
I believe the majority of commenters here are food savvy and really have a strong interest in sharing the love. One expects a few naysayers. When they outweigh the good, I just go away. This probably makes everyone happier.

From Talk

Eating quirks

I eat popcorn one delectable, buttery, salty morsel at a time.

From Talk

100 (okay, 50) Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

@iaspire - Years ago, in Chinatown, I ordered the wrong thing. The waiter kindly informed my boyfriend that I had just ordered Blood Soup, and felt I probably wouldn't like it. He was right, and I was spared. I don't think your server meant to insult you. He was likely reacting to a previous incident involving tartare, which did not turn out well (for him or his patron).

From Talk

100 (okay, 50) Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

#12 is the prize. We all take our risks when dining out, no?

From Talk

What's your food therapy?

I had a manic moment and needed to make a roast.

From Talk

What do you use maple syrup for?

A tablespoon of pure maple syrup after a night of heavy wine consumption is near-miraculous for helping to settle the stomach.

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'

To be perfectly honest, SE is the only food blog I have in my "favorites" section. I've never entered a cookbook giveaway, but this gal seems so have some serious fire.

From Talk

What's your spice aversion?

I don't care for celery salt, especially if it's around the rim of my bloody mary.

From Talk

Gravy out of thin air?

It's not often that you see gravy and thin in the same sentence.

From Talk

Bad Host: Invited to dinner and asked to PAY! Would you?

If I have dinner with friends or neighbors and something is ordered (as opposed to prepared on site), I usually offer some money anyway.

I can't stand cheap people. If they have to argue over $13, then they obviously need it more than me. I'd give it up and learn a lesson. I have a cousin like this, so been there many, many times. When I'm at her house and she gives me a cookie or glass of wine, I often feel like I should leave $5 on the counter. It ain't right.

From Talk

Your Clever SE Name

I have an impossibly small kitchen. If I ever have a huge and impressive kitchen, I'll change my name to "finally" and leave it at that.

From Talk

Lost appetite

Lost appetite? I am not familiar with this adjective-noun combination.

From Talk

Tuna Fish Salad WITHOUT the Tuna

Solid white in water
dijon mustard
onion
feta cheese
apple cider vinegar
dill pickle
pesto
cracked pepper

Truly better than it sounds.

From Talk

THE PERFECT DISH... DOES IT EXIST?!

Culinary perfection happens every time you satisfy a craving; every time you flavor a dish impeccably; every time a smile appears after just a taste.
It happens every day, everywhere, and at any time. It happens to novice cooks and trained masters.

From Talk

Befriending Chefs/Restaurant Staff

Seems logical to eat there regularly so that they get to know you. Stalking them from the alley is rather creepy IMHO.

From Talk

what to do with Grappa?

If you buy a perfume atomizer and fill it with grappa, you can spray it on the tongue with your dessert course. It is a divine way to experience the taste (and thrill) of grappa, without feeling as though you're swallowing jet fuel. It will also go a long way and keep you from a morning of Tylenol and ginger ale.

It's fun to give your guests a quick spray of grappa or two, if not solely for the talking points the next day. Don't know how long a bottle of it lasts, so I'd store it in the freezer.

From Talk

Iron Chef fantasy match

Just for fun: Neely v. Neely
Those two make me smile.

From Talk

Funeral Food, Update

Your grief buffet was beautifully and thoughtfully written, CatBoy.
May your aunt rest in peace.

From Talk

"dinner" vs "supper"

I think it depends on what's served. We have "chicken dinner," "lasagna dinner," "steak dinner," "breakfast for dinner," "chili supper," spaghetti supper," "soup and salad supper." "Lasagna supper" just doesn't sound right.

From Talk

"dinner" vs "supper"

I have lived in Missouri (St. Louis) all my life. We always called the second meal of the day "Lunch", and the last meal of the day, "Supper". Although Dinner and Supper could be used interchangeably My husband's family did the same thing.. I notice my older siblings are now calling it "dinner" when they invite us over. I have always used the word Supper unless we are going out to a formal meal, then I will call it Dinner.

We have always used the word soda. My uncle used to call it sodie.

From Talk

What's your food therapy?

I like to reduce onions to sugar in a skillet of butter. Add mushrooms and I am slap happy.

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

The slow-cooker suggestion above is a great one (a nice chunky chili or stew), but I'm all about the apple pie, or homemade lasagna or mac and cheese. I like the roast chicken idea too.

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

Homemade bread, good butter and/or olive oil, assorted cheeses, grapes, apples and salami, prociutto to nosh on through out your evenings as you settle in. Then roast a chicken for your first sit down meal. Congrats!

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

One of my go-to meals is also a comfort food for me.

Spaghetti with marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, a little wine, a salad, some bread.... light some candles....heaven. It's a little sexy, simple and feels like home and tastes so good. (Of course, this is coming from the queen of carbs...)

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

Congratulations! I second the whole chicken with veggies and potatoes and a nice bottle of bubbly!!

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

For the first morning anyway...I'd make a nice pot of steel cut oats and plunk some pumpkin in there to give it a warm autumnal feel. Top it will pecans, brown sugar and nutmeg and you've got a super cozy start to the first day in your own place!

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

My first memorable meal in a new place is always a few days into the move. I usually can't be bothered to cook on the first day (hello pizza), haven't bought groceries the second (takeout), and am busy exploring the town on the third. So I corrupt my apartment with ramen and coffee before making a truly memorable first meal.

Actually, one of the first things I make in a new home is stock, because I love to have it in my freezer and fridge. And I can let it simmer while I unpack my books and assemble my flatpack stuff.

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

I agree with the above posts that it should fill your home with great smells!

Of course with all of the moving and painting you'll want the least amount of cleanup...

Apple Pie, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, pot roast...

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

Congrats on the new digs!
I think a batch of chocolate chip cookies would be yummy and make the house smell great -- plus, a plate of those on the counter will be a great welcoming treat for all the friends and family who may be stopping by to help your "house warming".

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

When you buy a new house the first thing you make is love.

Afterward you eat some cheese and olives and drink a bottle of wine.

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

Congratulations!!!! How exciting for you. There is no feeling like putting the key in the door of your first home for the first time.

I'd go with an easy thing like an apple crisp with LOADS of cinnamon. It's unstructured, unfussy and smells like what Heaven must smell like.

All the best to you in your new home.

From Talk

First Home! What Should I Make First??

I definitely agree on the smell factor ... but personally, nothing smells better than a whole chicken roasting in the oven to me! You can surround it with veggies and potatoes while it's cooking and have an easy no fuss balanced meal :)

From Talk

Eating quirks

I use to dissect my pizza pops. With toothpicks. I'd carefully make incisions all on one side, then peel that layer/top off and eat it. Eat the insides. Then devour the rest.

I also eat my PB&B sandwiches a certain way. It's almost ritualistic how I prepare them too...Top-crust, side to side, then around the bottom eating the rest of the crust and eating the by then gooey-middle.

When ever I eat cashews, peanuts, etc...I pick through and eat all the seperated/broken bits. Then take the bag, shake it up, and pick through again. I'll eat the 'whole' ones last.

From Talk

Eating quirks

kitkats and coffee crisps are chocolate first and then the layers. reeses i like to play differently - eating inside or outside first. cadbury eggs are bite a hole, lick insides, savoring and slowing the sugar-shock.

also, when i was a kid i used to love pulling out the white center of rolls at restaurants and smooshing them into bread wafers and eating those.

From Talk

Eating quirks

TurkeyandPickles - I do the Swiss Cake Roll thing too! I think the frosting just comes off easily and tastes better by itself :)

From Talk

Living on the Edge: Gas Station Junk Food

on a long road trip, im looking for salt &vinegar chips or cheese popcorn and some high caffeine drink.

From Talk

What's your spice aversion?

CUMIN... after 3 weeks in India a few years ago, i developed an aversion to cumin after a whole week straight of eating food seasoned with cumin. Everything tasted the same.

Now, I can't even smell it at the supermarket.

From Talk

Living on the Edge: Gas Station Junk Food

nachos. with the gooey cheese and jalapenos.
I could go for some right now- must be lunch time soon!

From Talk

Living on the Edge: Gas Station Junk Food

Pretzel rods, if I'm driving. Cheetos if I'm a passenger. Twinkies if I want something sweet. Cheerios, if I have no other choice.

Recent Posts

From Talk

Food Nicknames

From Talk

If this pan could talk ...

From Talk

Bacon Flavored Vodka

From Talk

I still remember my first bite of ...

From Talk

Hard Boiled Eggs

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About smallkitchen

Website:

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

About: I have a ridiculously small kitchen: no counter space, no storage, no dishwasher. It's a laughable cluster when I want to cook big. This handicap is not my biggest obstacle; my culinary skill is. While complimented often, I am forever a novice home chef.

Favorite foods: Pasta, olives, bread, cheese, shellfish, lemons, lamb, almonds, steamed or raw vegetables, garlic, red wine, soup, creme brulee, gingerbread, sweet Michigan cherries, Italian, Lebanese, Mexican, and Asian foods. I don't eat organ meats.

Last bite on earth: My man's neck.