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My mom always used Granny Smiths because she is not too big on sugary tastes so I used those until I took a baking class in Philadelphia years ago with a pastry chef from a well known restaurant who ONLY used Golden Delicious. I started using them then and have never looked back but I do sometimes use equal Golden Delicious and Granny Smiths to even out the sweetness. Northern Spy is an interesting thought but Macs and Empires I would think would turn to mush!!!

Thanks for commenting but no those aren't the ones. These had cream cheese not ricotta.

the monkey bread from Rose Beranbaum's Bread Bible is unbelievable!!!!I had never had monkey bread before I made that. I don't make it very often since I would eat the majority of it if it was left alone!!!!

I travel alot for my job and I eat alone alot. I don't mind as long as I can read (I always bring a book) and I go to whatever kind of restaurant I want to: casual, fancy, wherever there is good food and in Boston, there is plenty. What I DON'T do is go to a sports bar and sit at the bar. Bad image for a woman by herself. I also prefer not to eat at a bar as it is just not that comfortable. That said, if one of my favorite restaurants only has room at the bar, as long as there is light, I will eat there.

Hi-we just got back from a quick trip to Chicago on Sat. Here are my takes on some places to go and not:

Gino's East-so bad I can't believe that people recommend it. Very touristy and it takes 45 mins to make a pizza that has pounds of melted but not browned cheese because they put the toppings on the crust and THEN the sauce! And the crust is not only filling but not that great. Have any of you ever had NY pizza for goodness sakes? This was incredibly disappointing!!

Another disappointment was Harry Caray's steakhouse on Kinsie. Not only bad food but very expensive bad food. Don't get me wrong-it is a steakhouse and the steaks were delicious but everything else that went with it was terrible. The vesivious (sp) potatoes were sitting in oil and limp. The salads had little on them but the lettuce itself and the desserts were just ok. Would try someplace else like the place across the street from Harry Caray's that starts with a K and I just can't remember right now. We ate there the next night and everything was delicious-especially the mashed potatoes!!!

What was great was Pierre Gourmet next to the Pennisula Hotel. They have wonderful breakfasts (which they serve all day), flatbreads, salads-their golden beet salad was so good, and delicious desserts. We went there twice it was so good.

Also great but not a new place is Cafe Spiaggia. They have homemade pastas, and everything there is delicious. It is not cheap but it is certainly worth the money. Lunch is probably cheaper and make sure you go to the cafe not the really pricey restaurant!

I also agree about Garrett's popcorn, but am not a fan of the mix. Plain caramel is just fine with me-a word of caution for those used to going to the location on Michigan Ave. It is no longer there as they are putting up another condo building (as if there aren't enough right now!). The only place to get it now is at the airport or in the loop although I have heard that Nuts on Clark is delicious.

Why is this listed under Passover recipes??? It sounds delicious but has a graham cracker crust which is NOT for Passover. I have made Rose Bernbaum's cheesecake from the Cake Bible for years for Passover as it has no crust and can be made ahead and frozen.

The filling was creamy and on its own, not very tasteful, but when sandwiched with the cookies which also were not that tasteful on their own, it seemed to work. The big pain to the filling was the heating of the sugar and egg whites to a certain temp. Think it is time to buy a different kind of thermometer.

Ina actually has a recipe in one of her books for homemade marshmallows which are DELICIOUS!!! I could have eaten the whole pan myself!!! Sorry I can't remember which book, but they are so easy and to spend anything on any of her mixes as much as I love her, it is insane!!!

Only thing-make sure you use a fair amount of powdered sugar on both the top and bottom so they come out of the pan and are easier to cut.

You have to go to the hamburger place in the Parker Meriden hotel. It is on W 57th st. Not alot of room but the line moves quickly. You won't need to eat the rest of the day if you have a burger and fries!!!

Also, an old favorite is Prime Burger near St. Patricks.

These sound so delicious that I would like to make them tonight, but I am the only one home right now and don't want to eat the batch myself. What is the opinion on freezing the biscuits-either unbaked or baked?

Agreed.

For all the puddings I have ever made, I have never used a food processor to incorporate the butter. What is accomplished with this step besides another thing to clean up? Don't get me wrong, if it greatly improves the final product, so be it, but just wondering how you came up with that step?

Thanks!

I certainly agree with most of you that there is nothing on for most of the evening. Every once and in awhile Alton Brown does something interesting but I am soooo sick of Rachel Ray and her EVOO and Yummo and her zillions of products and magazines and ditto for Paula Deen. As for Mr. Bam himself, find him too much show and not enough cooking.

I do have to say that although I am not a continual viewer, I do enjoy the Nealeys (certainly not healthy and do get sick of them gushing over each other) and Guy's Big Bite.

I consistenly watch only Ina and as someone else mentioned, they have cut her back-but with good reason. As much as I like her, some of her shows have been on about 5 times now so I am glad she will be reappearing in the fall with some new shows-apparently no coincidence that she is coming out with a new book at the same time!

And what is with all the boobs (I mean the physical ones!) Between Giada and Nigella, I really don't think they have much cooking talent, but put some low cut shirts on them and they will make everyone take a look. Wow-that sure is how I look when I cook! (NOT!)

I hope this previously good network wakes up and takes off what I think are now reality food shows and puts back on the ones that really show you how to cook a meal or some interesting tips.