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Pigman's BBQ - milepost 9.5 in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Many have been said already - mise en place, knowing how to control the heat on the stove, and salting while cooking (and never at the table). Hard to think of much else.

Maybe off topic, but on the topic of burgers and cheese and CT - don't forget to stop by Shady Glen in Manchester, CT... they are locally famous for cheeseburgers with extra cheese that gets fried along the edges by the grill... can't explain it, you just have to eat it.

Obligatory "First Thanksgiving I ever cooked, didn't find the giblets" story, unfortunately. Was the first one, and I didn't get the bird thawed enough before cooking (couple days in fridge just not enough, decided to just cook the thing anyway). Found the neck in the body cavity (took me half an hour to wriggle it out, frozen and all) - but could not figure out where the giblet package had gotten to, as the skin over the neck cavity was still frozen. Found 'em after we roasted the thing. (Yes, we ate late. But it was yummy anyway.)

Had some smoked bleu at a restaurant that's supposedly from California - would love to try that one again. If I have to shop the local megamarts, then Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar for me (artisanal? probably not, but it's yummy anyway).

Really thought Jamie was good for the win this week, but Tom's blog on the Bravo site made a good point -- while the cameras showed the viewers what went on the kitchen with the 'borrowed' team, the judges didn't have that information. The team presented a united front, with no one taking credit for the concept, so the judges rewarded the best item on the plate, as they saw it. If Jamie wanted the win so bad, she might have gotten it by pointing out it was her idea.

Fabio is adorable, but he's starting to wear a little thin (although he appeared to charm the nylon stockings off of the ladies at the shower) - he's going to need to get back to the fantastic cooking and away from the charm and the good looks to win this thing.

Honestly, I'm not surprised. The unnatural process is the farming to begin with - we mess with the system by putting any fertilizer in the soil that wasn't there to begin with... or even planting (adding plants to an ecosystem that weren't there before).

This is especially true when we use animal byproducts for fertilizer - we're using a substance (manure, guano, etc.) that were waste products for some living being.. and then we concentrate all those cast off substances into one place (where they wouldn't be naturally).

Let's face it - most of things humans do aren't "natural" and have an effect on the environment... the trick is to assume we'll have an effect and figure out how to minimize it.

Easter brunch (family tradition, rather than dinner) - runny eggs, bacon, sausage, and even a few sinful doughnuts.

And black jelly beans :)

Dark (but milk or white are just as welcome in my house...)

Dark! Milk occasionally :)

Dark. Occasional milk chocolate splurge, but usually dark.

Dark chocolate definitely - especially combined with fruit (dark chocolate covered cranberries sound fantastic right now)....milk chocolate every once in a while