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From Talk

Lobster or King Crab Legs: Which do you prefer?

A properly steamed, uncleaned, whole, female lobster.

YESSSSS! When I buy lobsters I ask for females and my shopping trip usually turns out to be a lobster anatomy lesson.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

I think if you were really crazy about this person, his food habits wouldn't bother you as much.

It would eventually chip away at her patience, no matter how much she cares for him. You can only overlook something for so long before it ends up being part of an argument that goes, "Yeah, and another thing..."

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

Being with someone who starts out a picky eater but eventually decides to expand his horizons is not the same as being with someone unwilling to budge. One is a victory that opens up a whole new world of flavors - the other is a huge pain in the ass.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

Just cut out the middleman and look for someone whose eating habits are not so astronomically different than yours. "Compromising" every so often and having pizza when you want ribs is one thing. Having food habits that are polar opposites is a big thing to overcome. The person who cooks is never afforded the pleasure of watching a significant other enjoy a meal without dissecting it. (I hate this and anyone who does it is not likely to be invited to my home again for food.) The picky eater wants a house full of ramen or some other food over which they obsess, and this will drive the cook crazy. A visit to a "favorite" restaurant turns into a war. It's a big world with lots of people and there is no need to hammer a square peg into a round hole.

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When did you know you were...

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From Talk

Lobster or King Crab Legs: Which do you prefer?

A properly steamed, uncleaned, whole, female lobster.

YESSSSS! When I buy lobsters I ask for females and my shopping trip usually turns out to be a lobster anatomy lesson.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

I think if you were really crazy about this person, his food habits wouldn't bother you as much.

It would eventually chip away at her patience, no matter how much she cares for him. You can only overlook something for so long before it ends up being part of an argument that goes, "Yeah, and another thing..."

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

Being with someone who starts out a picky eater but eventually decides to expand his horizons is not the same as being with someone unwilling to budge. One is a victory that opens up a whole new world of flavors - the other is a huge pain in the ass.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

Just cut out the middleman and look for someone whose eating habits are not so astronomically different than yours. "Compromising" every so often and having pizza when you want ribs is one thing. Having food habits that are polar opposites is a big thing to overcome. The person who cooks is never afforded the pleasure of watching a significant other enjoy a meal without dissecting it. (I hate this and anyone who does it is not likely to be invited to my home again for food.) The picky eater wants a house full of ramen or some other food over which they obsess, and this will drive the cook crazy. A visit to a "favorite" restaurant turns into a war. It's a big world with lots of people and there is no need to hammer a square peg into a round hole.

From Serious Eats

The Food Lab: Turkey Brining Basics

I've never experienced a texture issue so radical as the one you describe - to have fresh turkey resemble "deli" turkey. The texture is plump and juicy and exactly like a regular turkey breast except the moisture is not cooked out of it. If you'd like to try brining, grab a supermarket chicken and have a go at it before the big day.

From Talk

Help! Ideas and New Recipes for Thxgiving Radio Cooking show?

You must not text because "thx" is a very common abbreviation for "thanks."

From Talk

Greek Yogurt - Recommendations?

I stumbled upon this thread and wanted you all to know that Costco now sells Fage!

From Talk

Help! Ideas and New Recipes for Thxgiving Radio Cooking show?

Two words - Alice's Restaurant. You need to play the song or snippets from it.

T-giving guest philosophy - do you invite non-family members? I always invite people who are expatriates or people stranded in town due to work or school and can't get to their hometowns.

T-giving food philosophy - do you allow guests to contribute a dish? I generally don't allow sides but encourage bread, wine and dessert. While Aunt Millie's marshmallow honey maple syrup potatoes might have gone over like gangbusters at your house, it really doesn't go with my food.

T-Giving leftovers - do you share with guests or hoard them? I provide disposable plastic containers and encourage guests to take food home. I have plenty for my own leftovers but I feel it's horrible if you don't have that T-Giving sandwich or reheated turkey on T-Giving Friday. If you don't host, you shouldn't go without this traditional day-after-T-Giving treat.

To brine or not to brine? (Definitely.)
To stuff or not to stuff? (Definitely not.)
Historically treasured sides? (Corn pudding, bread stuffing, candied brandied sweet potatoes.)
T-Giving traditions? (I saute the turkey liver and my dog and I share it in the kitchen.)
Happiest T-Giving memory? (Too many to name.)

Turkey Gravy
(Measurements estimated)
Pour off the liquid from the roasting pan. Reserve ALL liquid, allow the liquid to separate. (Assume about 1 1/2 to 2 cups roasting liquid.) Finely dice and saute giblets, reserve.

3 shallots, finely diced
3/4 cup flour (you may need more or not all of it)
1/2 cup white wine
2-4 cups chicken stock
S&P to taste

Set the (now empty) roasting pan over 2 burners set to med/low. Ladle about 1/4- to 1/3 cup of the fat that has risen to the top of the turkey juices into the pan. Add the shallots and stir with a whisk. This accomplishes 2 things, sautes the shallots and raises the fond (brown bits) from the pan. Continue sauteing and whisking until the shallots are transluscent, about 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking, to combine. Whisk in the wine and as it thickens, whisk in the chicken stock, then the remaining juices from the turkey. Cook this mixture over medium heat, whisking the entire bottom of the pan, till thickened and bubbly. Stir in the reserved cooked giblets. Taste and adjust seasoning with S&P to taste. (If gravy is too thick, add more chicken stock. If too thin, take 1 tbsp. butter and with a fork, press into the butter 2 tbsp. flour. Whisk the beurre manie - kneaded butter - into the gravy and continue cooking until desired thickness is reached.)

Some additions to gravy -

* Chopped sauteed mushrooms
* Tiny cooked pearl onions
* Caramelized onions

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

I pity picky eaters. So many times, it's the symptom of a very boring childhood, cuisine-wise. But as adults - there's no excuse. They're old enough to embolden themselves by at least sampling new foods to break out of that "I-only-eat-3-things" mentality.

From Talk

Your Experience with Gaggenau stovetops/ovens?

We just got a Frigidaire 5 gas burner convection oven. O. M. G. I love this thing. We got it at a local HH Gregg for under $1,000. I am even MORE excited about T-Giving now that this beast lives in my kitchen.

Do you belong to Consumer Reports' website? That might be a good place to look for product reviews (in English).

From Talk

Lobster or King Crab Legs: Which do you prefer?

I love them both but for a main course, I like whole stuffed lobster. (I make it with a stuffing based on jumbo lump crabmeat.)

As an app or first course, nothing beats a ginormous king crab leg with lemon and cocktail sauce. (Prefer them cold as opposed to hot with butter.)

From Recipes

Pumpkin Pie Brûlée

I've made pumpkin creme brulee and to have PIE CRUST included - adds another dimension of yumminess.

From Serious Eats

Should We Keep Chocolate Milk in Schools?

@omnomnom... Woo hoo! Your mom's badass!! Falling out of a tree? Holy Hanna.

I even use milk instead of water to make my oatmeal. Why not beef up the nutritive value of oatmeal while I'm at it?? Milk is an excellent source of calcium and it enriches many foods.

Think it's tough to get kids to drink milk? Try getting them to eat kale. Barbed wire would probably be more palatable to kids.

From Serious Eats

Should We Keep Chocolate Milk in Schools?

I'm not going to try and convince anyone that we need milk because if you believe otherwise, nothing I have to say will make a difference. We will all perpetuate our beliefs to the next generation and let the chips fall where they may.

But this I know...

My brother and I not only drank oceans of milk as kids, my dad worked for Polly-O Dairy AND we're Italian so cheese factored into our diets quite regularly. Milk (unflavored) was my beverage of choice until I was 12 years old and then I switched to diet soda - then water (fizzy or flat).

* My brother has never broken a bone (and he's quite active).

* I have never broken a bone (and I'm quite active). I'm 50, workout regularly with cardio and do weight bearing exercise. I've played sports on and off throughout my entire life. I sit up straight and I stand up straight. I have never broken a bone.

Do I still drink milk? You better believe it.

From Serious Eats

Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 93: Can Pizza Be Diet Food?

It's all about how much you eat and the toppings. A thinner crust is less carbs but holds a lot more topping so you'd have to beware of cheese and meat content.

A thin whole wheat crust with a ton of sauteed spinach and garlic, a sprinkling of mozzie and parm sounds pretty tasty and healthy to me. I make my own spinach pie but I'm a bit thicker on the crust.

But tomato sauce has always been my friend. Give me a saucy, sloppy slice and I'm a happy girl.

From Serious Eats

Should We Keep Chocolate Milk in Schools?

Seems to me that the school system (any cities that want to participate) is big enough to negotiate a deal with Ovaltine and a milk company to produce a vitamin-fortified, Ovaltine-like milk that can be used by schools. It won't just be milk, chocolate flavoring and sugar - there will be even more nutritive value to the milk.

From Serious Eats

Should We Keep Chocolate Milk in Schools?

The biggest mistake perpetrated by the school system was to abolish phys ed. The second was to allow soda machines in schools. WTF were they thinking???

From Talk

Coke=Stroke

I must admit that when I read the name of this topic, the first thought I had was "Crack is wack." Then I saw a drug-riddled Whitney Houston defending Bobby Brown. And now I have to work all day to release THAT image from my head.

In any case, I stopped listening to "studies" back when I realized they were something like home appraisals. The end result is dictated loooong before the study participants are even assembled and whoever pays for the study will win the day.

From Talk

Pate de Fruits preservation?

Once the fruit is rolled in sugar, is it required to be chilled?

Trying to do this recipe with any fake sugar may be risky as the two flavors are fruit + sugar. When the sugar plays a major role, it usually can't be replaced.

Reminds me of the time my X tried to "brulee" splenda on top of a custard. Result = Smelly, chemically, smoky odor and when the flame hit the splenda, it looked like a tiny, nanosecond-long wildfire.

From Recipes

French in a Flash: Braised Lamb Shanks with Lemon Confit and Sweet Pearl Onions

Lamb shanks have to be one of my favorite "meat" meals. The richness of lamb after a looooong braise simply cannot be beat. Not crazy about lemon with lamb but it's a whole lot better than the ubiquitous mint jelly (gag).

From Serious Eats

Should We Keep Chocolate Milk in Schools?

If it's skim milk and can be minimally sweetened, I would not object to chocolate milk in schools. What makes it different than soda and juice is that kids rarely need "incentive" to drink either of those drinks and milk's redeeming qualities make it worth "incentivizing."

From Serious Eats

Alton Brown Says No to Stuffing the Turkey

"Food safety? C'est la vie..."

Don't you mean C'est la guerre? (Or as Bugs Bunny says it: "cest la gwerry.") Let's face it, there's an ongoing battle against dry turkey and sick stuffing.

From Serious Eats

Thanksgiving Foods We Love to Hate

Cans of thick slop and sludge never get anywhere near my cooking. As a matter of fact, Campbell's cream "soup" line is single handedly responsible for making crock pots the biggest laugh in the kitchen. (The crock pot was later de-throned by Sandra Lee as the biggest laugh in the kitchen - ironically a chronic user of cream soups.)

From Serious Eats

Should We Keep Chocolate Milk in Schools?

the days they ran out of chocolate milk before I came through the line were the days I didn't drink any milk at school.

I did sometimes drink plain milk at home, generally with ice cubes, because really cold was the only way I could stand it. (Or, over cereal. Mom bought only unsugared things like shredded wheat & grape nuts, but we were allowed to add sugar or honey. so, yum.) the milk at school was never cold enough for me.

My weight gain didn't begin until I was nearly 20 years out of school. When I no longer habitually drink cow's milk.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

it sounds as if the problem is as much how his pickiness presents itself Vs the actual fact of the pickiness.
you need to negotiate how he goes about tasting and reacting. instead of filling his plate hiding the uneaten, he should take a bite only, then only take more of what he will actually eat. He also must accept that if he rejects what's for dinner, he makes his own substitute.

You, OTOH, have to deal with adjusting your daily cooking to reflect some of his opinions. Cooking can be fun, but the day in day out feeding of your partner & family isn't so much about the fun for you as about the fact that people need to eat. Plus, if he rejects your food in favor or cornflakes or PBJ for days on end, you can't be hurt.

if you someday are having kids, he needs to have learned to reject in a low-key fashion so as not to 'teach' his pickiness to them. I won't go so far as to expect him to sometimes noticeable eat something he is known to dislike, to model polite behaviour. But it would be handy.

PS I was in a relationship in which we had very different food cultures. our inability to appreciate each others standards was but one of many problems. But 3 times a day one or both of of us being annoyed or mad or disappointed sure didn't help. If you cant fine some way to enjoy meals together, some compromises, then hang it up now.

From Talk

Thanksgiving Dinner: "The Letter"

Ok, do you guys have big families? I mean big families. This stuff makes sense if you have foil lids you can't stack in the refrigerator. The no serving spoons is obnoxious and hard to deal with when you got 20 kids bumrushing the fruit salad. And if you've got two turkeys and a ham in the oven there is no way Aunt Julie gets to put her uncooked casserole in oven. My mom is the oldest of seven with spouses, I have 12 cousins, so we had friends, SO's, inlaws relatives, and great relations.
When I was little it was insane . There wasn't enough room for the people let alone the food. You got assignments, specific assignments about was to be brought and how. They always wanted to make sure everybody could have some of everything. They made a special bowl of potato salad cause an uncle was "alergic".
So I'm pretty sure they got phone calls that went a lot like that letter. So I wouldn't bash her. I may print out the letter so I can use it for the next family gatering and use it like a blueprint.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

We all have our food preferences. I don't like fruit mixed with foods that are supposed to be savory, savory stuff with raisins, or chocolate mixed with fruit (though separately, I love them both). Other than that, I'll eat anything at least once, maybe twice (I believe it second chances for everyone and everything). I think the thing that bothers you the most is that he doesn't share your passion for food and he doesn't want to even try. The point is: can you live with this? or will it be a thorn in your side that digs deeper with time? If you can't make peace with yourself on this, then walk away. If you can deal with it and have it not affect your dignity and self-worth, then I don't see that it's a real problem.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

My first wife hated eggs, bananas, mustard, my watermelon fruit salad, my top secret recipe 6 grain pancakes, didn't like breakfast in general. Of course, I'm more of a breakfast cook, but her idea of cooking is heating up canned soup (mac and cheese was a highlight of her cooking skills). In fact, when we first got together, the only thing she ate was McDonald's cheeseburgers and fries. (I did get her to eat fresh cut up strawberries.) So when we split, I vowed that I would avoid dating picky eaters.

So of course, my last (I'm planning it that way, anyhow) wife is a great cook - an amateur chef IMHO, but she's vegan (and I'm allergic to the entire legume family). We have great fun trying to create dishes that we can both eat (the entree is always veggies, the protein ends up a side dish for each of us), and she has decided that fried rice with eggs is ok (she is having trouble getting enough protein in her diet). And as a bonus, she loves my pancakes (which I modify by substituting coconut or almond milk for sour milk and/or yogurt), and never complains about my potatoes.

So, as to your problem, drag the bum into the kitchen now and again and make cooking a shared activity - fun-shared, not chore-shared. If he is a good kitchen companion (maybe not entirely his cup-o-tea, but as a special activity), then it will lessen the anti-everything you seem to interpret from him right now, and some of his ideas might end up being useful in figuring out how to feed him when you are cooking without him. If you two can't get along in the kitchen, I'd have to vote for a quick exit strategy.

From Talk

My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...

@julea
I'm with you - all my friends know that I'll be bringing the "shape of the can" - it has become a minor competition to see who can dump the cranberry sauce out in perfect "can" shape. However, my favorite part is the other thing no one else I know likes but me - mincemeat pie.

From Recipes

French in a Flash: Braised Lamb Shanks with Lemon Confit and Sweet Pearl Onions

Somewhere, some time ago, the "King of Braising" (friend of Bobby Flay) did lamb shanks and a "secret" addition was a little bit of salted anchovies.....just passing this along.

From Talk

Your Experience with Gaggenau stovetops/ovens?

Thanks therealchiffonade...I'd check it out, but I can't get a Frigidaire unit here (in Denmark) without importing it, which would be crazy expensive :(

I did belong the the CR website, but didn't renew, because the models that they sell in the US and EU are not the same.

From Serious Eats

The Best Chocolate Chips for Cookies

Chew on that, I'm happy to share with you the site for Jacques Torres's chocolate disks (or feves): http://www.mrchocolate.com/detail.aspx?id=58

Also, here's his recipe for the NY Times chocolate chip cookies: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html?_r=1

After reading all these delicious comments, chocolate chunk, chocolate chip, Valrhona, Ghirardelli, Guittard,.... I WANT A WARM CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RIGHT NOW!!!

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

Every person you meet and get along with very well isn't necessarily your mate. Food is something you will be sharing with this person for life, 3 times a day plus snacks. Not to mention favorite holiday treats... that adds up to a lot of things you won't be sharing, possibly even arguing about. You love to cook, and may see food as love. His constant rejection of your offerings and likes may over time wear like water dripping on stone and erode love and respect. A very long list of verboten foods is a whole different thing than not caring for a few things. Stay friends if possible but think long and hard about developing more intimacy.
BUT- utimately it's your life, your choice.

From Talk

Inca Coke or Mexican Coke: Have you seen it?

We recently found Mexican coke at Wegman's. Snagged a few bottles, because we refuse to drink the HFCS stuff. The coke with real cane sugar tastes much better :)

From Talk

Inca Coke or Mexican Coke: Have you seen it?

My local HEB in Texas stocks imported Coke from Mexico. It really does taste better. I don't know why, I will not pretent to know if it is healthier. But, when I'm at the grocery and I see someone about to buy Coke, I point them at the import Coke. Yep, I'm a Coke sniper :) I can't tell you it tastes fresh and spicy and have you beleive me on my word. You must try. It costs more, but it tastes better. I'd rather pay extra for something I enjoy than anything for something sub-par. I have extra seats on the bandwagon :) Aside: Poster from Canada, skip the Coke, just send REAL maple syrup. Canada seems to be the only place selling something other than that chemical crud on almost every shelf.

From Recipes

Pumpkin Pie Brûlée

Making dessert is not my forte. I always feel like I should be wearing a 50's housewife apron. But using a blow torch ups the testostorone level back up.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

I think if you were really crazy about this person, his food habits wouldn't bother you as much. And, vice-versa, he would make an attempt to be more adventurous.

My husband was a picky eater when we first started dating. Over time, he's broadened his horizons food-wise, and I save the things he really won't eat to savor when I'm having a meal without him. A good compromise, I think.

From Talk

Is dating a picky eater a dealbreaker for anyone?!

I married a picky eater-- not quite as picky as yours, but some of my faves are the things he hates. Over the last 4 years, it's been easy to "cook around him": to use ingredients he likes, or just make sure the stuff he hates is in large chunks so he can pick it out and give it to me. I kind of like have double the mushrooms in my coq au vin! The thing is, for me, there was no consideration of not getting married to him because of his pickiness-- because it was SO obvious that we were meant to be together in every other way. So now I have artichokes when I go out, not at home, and I make a side of kale for just myself, and it's no big deal.

I have another friend who passionately loves her hubbie of 20 years, but they eat separate meals-- hers are gourmet feasts, and his are pizza, hot dogs, and pancakes (he has a severe food issues).

So it can be done! But it sounds like there are many other things that make you unsure... trust your instinct on this!

From Recipes

Pumpkin Pie Brûlée

I could eat nothing but pumpkin pie for the rest of my life and be happy. But now that you mention brulee...

From Talk

My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...

Stuffing(!), cranberry sauce-- don't hate me, I love the canned stuff--, pumpkin pie, pearl onions, and of course, a little turkey is mandatory.
Everything else is meh.

What I REALLY love is the leftover turkey/cranberry sauce sandwiches.
Godly.

From Talk

Can we call them something different?

Thank you! It is a peeve of mine up there with "veggies" which marginalizes the most important part of out diet.

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 Recipes

Pumpkin Pie Brûlée

sounds tasty--and easy. And a good excuse to buy a kitchen torch.

From Talk

My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal...


Another creative leftover suggestion: pumpernickel bread, cream cheese on bread, avocado, mashed and spread, thin slices of breast, stacked and lettuce. This was the best sandwich I ever had. LA, 1978 at some restaurant. They had named it The" Martha Raye" , after the actress.

From Talk

Lobster or King Crab Legs: Which do you prefer?

A properly steamed, uncleaned, whole, female lobster.
There is just nothing to compare with the tomalley and roe in one properly done.

From Talk

Lobster or King Crab Legs: Which do you prefer?

bareneed, I am surprised by the answers here too so far. Although I enjoy both, I thought lobster would turn out a clear winner...eat and learn.

From Serious Eats

Alton Brown Says No to Stuffing the Turkey

I work in a public kitchen (a non-profit) and we get all types of people volunteering and one thing that I know is that most people have no real idea of food safety and for the most part it is an act of G-d that they have not killed themselves.

On a lighter note what you can always do is 30 mins before the turkey is done remove the stuffing and put in rough cut veggies and some of the stuffing on the outside just for looks. Return the turkey back to the oven to finish. With the stuffing just put in in the oven until it cooks also. You get the best of both worlds

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About therealchiffonade

Website: http://www.facebook.com/chiffonade

Location: HOTlanta! (Or CHILLAnta lately!)

About: I frequently refer to myself as a "One Trick Pony," that trick being cooking. I also love Alternative Rock and hanging with my dog and BF.

Favorite foods: Depends on the day, the season, the mood.

Last bite on earth: Italian Sunday Gravy, just like my mom made it, preferably a meatball.