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vegetarian buffalo ________
I LOVE taking extra-firm tofu, draining it very well, then cubing it. Toss in a fryer or pot of hot oil and fry for a few minutes. You'll know it's done when it starts getting brown. Drain on paper towels and toss them into a bowl of Frank's hot sauce and butter! They are so addicting!!!
TSA's Traveling with Food Tips
Think of all the wasted food. I wish they would save the unopened stuff, like canned, jarred food, etc. and donate it to those in need. What is the sense in throwing out brand new food for no reason? Talk about a wasteful society!
Timing of Baking
I wouldn't bake them today. Why serve week old cookies when you can serve fresh ones? Freeze your dough in a log or disk and roll or just cut the log and bake. Trust me-cookie lovers will know if your cookies are old! Especially a ginger cookie which are not known for being chewy and moist.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
A few years ago my mother, who always got stuck doing Thanksgiving, decided to stir things up a bit. Instead of the traditional food, she ordered a TON of Chinese food and served it buffet style. It was fun and memorable. Everyone of course went home with leftovers. They even gave us a whole box of fortune cookies!
vegetarian buffalo ________
I LOVE taking extra-firm tofu, draining it very well, then cubing it. Toss in a fryer or pot of hot oil and fry for a few minutes. You'll know it's done when it starts getting brown. Drain on paper towels and toss them into a bowl of Frank's hot sauce and butter! They are so addicting!!!
TSA's Traveling with Food Tips
Think of all the wasted food. I wish they would save the unopened stuff, like canned, jarred food, etc. and donate it to those in need. What is the sense in throwing out brand new food for no reason? Talk about a wasteful society!
Timing of Baking
I wouldn't bake them today. Why serve week old cookies when you can serve fresh ones? Freeze your dough in a log or disk and roll or just cut the log and bake. Trust me-cookie lovers will know if your cookies are old! Especially a ginger cookie which are not known for being chewy and moist.
What is your stance on "tipping"?
Why do waiters and former waiters get so bent out of shape about this topic? You chose to be in the service industry where your salary is tip based. You know before taking that job that some people tip well, some tip very well, and some tip poorly. If you get angry when people do not tip what you want then consider getting another job where your salary is predetermined or working at a higher class restaurant where people have the money to tip generously. Either find a new job (just like "if you can't afford to tip don't eat out") or a new restaurant to work in. Both sides can argue using the same blanket statements.
white trash/trailer trash theme party food idea?
Peanut butter and banana sandwiches are white trash? Really? I wouldn't think fruit on a sandwich would be a white trash thing.
Pumpkin Pie Alternatives for Thanksgiving
There are other brands of canned pumpkin out there too! It's silly to think that Libby's is the one and only brand to buy. We have a regional canned pumpkin here and it is cheaper and better than Libby's. No shortage where I am either. Also, one of our grocery stores sells their own generic brand of pumpkin. Don't feel like you need to buy name brand food just because it is the most popular or most advertised (like on SE).
Eat for Eight Bucks: Chili Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Made this tonight with skinless, boneless chicken and brown rice. The sweet potatoes took 50 min. and the chicken 40 min. We drizzled extra honey on the sweet potatoes too. This was a great, simple, quick meal.
Pie Crust Advice?
Oh and make sure you bake your pie on the bottom or second lowest rack. I also put mine on a preheated cookie sheet, catches anything that may fall and helps ensure the bottom crust is not soggy.
Pie Crust Advice?
People make a big deal about pie crust and then set themselves up to fail. You don't need alcohol to make pie good or easy either. I use half Crisco and half butter. Cut your butter into small cubes and put in your freezer for 10-15 min, do the same with the shortening. Fill a glass with water and some ice, stick in the fridge along with your metal (if you can get a metal one) rolling pin. Stir your dry ingredients then, using your pastry blender blend in small chunks of the shortening then the butter until it looks like cornmeal and has pea sized chunks (when you roll your crust out you should see chunks of butter). After you mix in the water (1 tbs at a time, I only need 3-4 for a single crust) then gather the dough and wrap with seran wrap. Stick in your freezer for 30 min. then roll out between two pieces of wax paper. Take off the top sheet, flip your pie pan over on top of the crust. Then, flip the whole thing over and carefully remove the last piece of wax paper that is now on top. Super easy! Throw your fitted pie crust in the fridge until your filling is ready to go in and then straight to the oven!
Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie are my favorite!
Only the Best Hogies, Heros and Subs
The best subs are here in Western NY. 99.9% of places use Costanzo's sub rolls and nothing beats them. Whenever I travel, I notice that most places use regular bread which makes them just big sandwiches.
If you ever come to the Buffalo area get a chicken finger sub (since chicken fingers like ours can't be found elsewhere or at least I have yet to find) tossed in butter and hot sauce on a Costanzo roll or the regular turkey, ham, assorted, etc. Either way they are delicious!
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Antique/Vintage Cooking Utensils
I collect old pyrex bowls, baking pans, etc. I just wash them with soap and water and scrub with baking soda. I can't believe some people collect them just for show-they are better if put to use!
I just bought a ceramic rolling pin from an antique store. It's heavy and will get really cold in the freezer unlike the wooden ones.
Food processor feedback needed
I am 23 and using my mom's Cuisinart that is older than me. I love it- and it works perfect still.
Blueberry pie question
I always use flour. You must have some on hand since you made a pie crust, ... I hope you made one! Those store bought ones are awful and expensive.
Best Party Dessert on a Budget?
Probably too late, but get 2 boxes of dark chocolate brownie mix. Mix together with crushed Oreos and bake both boxes together in one 9x13 pan. Make sure to underbake them a little so they stay moist and fudgy. People will think they are homemade and will only set you back a few bucks.
All Your Bagel Questions Answered
Just make your own. I use the recipe from the Bread Bakers Apprentice. They're big, dense, chewy, and delicious! Also much cheaper than buying them.
Mixed Review: Pillsbury Fudge Supreme Peanut Butter Swirl Brownie Mix
I agree that brownies from scratch are easy to make. Also, the pb brownie box mix is not new, I have bought it before. When I make homemade ones I just use my usual brownie recipe then mix some pb with powdered sugar, warm it a bit and drop/swirl it into the brownie batter. Super easy and better for you-ever look at all those scientific-ingredients in the box mixes??
Cakes wont rise
Make sure your ingredients are fresh. Baking powder does not last long once opened and brands do vary on their ability to get things to rise.
Waffle Party!!!
No matter what make sure you have real maple syrup- I can't understand why people would buy the fake stuff. I vote for putting some cocoa in the batter, chocolate waffles are great with sliced banana and/or strawberries.
Dinner Tonight: Portobello Mushroom 'Burgers'
Carbs won't make you fat. You need them, your brain needs them. I am sure you know this. A lot of people (not saying you necessarily) think that carbs only come from bread and the like. But they are in dairy and more, so no need to eat those "bunless burgers" (whoever thought of that anyways?). Eat and enjoy and do so in moderation!
The Best Thing I ever Ate ...
I made this tart for mothers day this year and it was probably the best dessert I have ever eaten. The recipe came from The Art and Soul of Baking.
Angel Food Cupcakes?
Oops, forgot to add that I think fresh or frozen blueberries in cupcakes is a bad idea. Blueberries are rather large and heavy for such a light batter. Like I said, in muffins, buckles, or boiled into a sauce and put in a cake works but for cupcakes I would leave them out.
Angel Food Cupcakes?
I use frozen blueberries all the time when baking. Last month I made a blueberry buckle with frozen berries and it came out great. I have made muffins too. Last week I just used frozen berries to make a blueberry sauce that I swirled in cake batter. It was amazing! I don't do anything special with them, use them just as you would fresh.
Evan Kleiman Bakes a Pie A Day, For the Entire Summer
This article was cute. I couldn't agree more about pie being better than cake any day. My cousins wedding was void of a giant cake too. They had little lemon tarts as one of the desserts! There is something so magical and old fashion about a pie.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Once my dad tried to make a turkey loaf.
Shudders.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Converting my then-fiance's parents to brussel sprouts. I make an awesome hash that the midwestern meat-and-potatoes crowd liked. Muahaha!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Not really a memorable T-giving, but I'm secretly proud that I've reached my age and never cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving. A chicken, yes; a turkey, no. And considering my age and that I spent many years married and have children ... I think that's remarkable. LOL!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Not the best, but certainly the most memorable, and probably the family's favorite. I "started" on Thanksgiving morning. Which became the talk of the table - much to my horror - among all twelve of the guests. And now, twelve years later, I can't go a Thanksgiving without someone bringing it up and Mom telling the story, and me sitting red-faced at the table, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
My 1st Thanksgiving dinner w. my husband. We moved 2200 miles from home, so it was just the 2 of us. But we love to cook, so we made a full dinner: a huge turkey, whole pie, giant bowl of mashed potatoes, gravy, yeast rolls, green beans, asparagus, plus a full tray of veggies and dip. The amount of leftovers prompted us to invite all my coworkers over the following year- a tradition we've carried the last 2 years.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Each year, my husband always makes a feast on Thanksgiving - enough food for 30 people for the two of us. I'm not exaggerating.
We always just buy a breast since I don't eat turkey, esp. white meat. A couple years ago, he decided to do a whole turkey and bought a MONSTER turkey a day or so before Thanksgiving.
We bought a roasting pan that didn't fit the turkey, so we had to go out and get another one.
He spent most of the day before and all Thanksgiving day cooking sides.
On Thanksgiving day, the turkey was still frozen solid. We also found out our very tiny oven did not fit the enormous roasting pan -- depth and height. In fact, the oven isn't deep enough to fit a standard length cookie sheet.
Fortunately, none of the other dishes he made hinged on the turkey being made, so we ended up with sides for dinner. It was quite filling since he made up nearly 15 sides and we had 3 pies.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Discovering the wonderful Lingonberry, after returning from a foreign college exchange program in Sweden, 1981.
Far superior to the cranberry, in my opinion, but a very close relative.
The Lingonberry has been a regular guest on my Thanksgiving table now since.
Favorite Alton Brown "Good Eats" moment, was when Alton dressed up like Fried Chicken Pioneer Colonel Sanders and showed you how to make a classic "Mint Julip".
Absolutley hysterical, I could watch it over and over again and laugh every time just as hard.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Oh man. Mine would have to be the extremely hungover Thanksgiving that I spent with my then-boyfriends' (now husbands) family. I was about 19 (yeah, I know...), and we had gone to a big party at a friends' house the night before. Thanksgiving morning it took me forever to get ready, because I had to keep lying down on the bathroom floor to avoid getting sick. So, we're at dinner, and I'm so nauseous/headachy I can barely manage to sit at the table, and here are his grandmas (both of them!) prodding me to eat more. "Here, have some green bean casserole. How about some gravy? Jello salad?" UGH. I found out later that his entire family knew what was up, except the grandmas...
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
It would have to be how my mother insists on putting a bowl of peas on the table every year even though it has been 20 years since someone one put a pea on their plate . . .
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
the time my brother fell asleep face first in his mashed potatoes because he didn't want to leave the table while the adults were still talking!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The first year I cooked an entire Thanksgiving I had the worst head cold and couldn't taste a thing. Since then I make Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish with horseradish and that manages to clear me right up so I CAN taste the dinner.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Back in 1975, at 16 years old, I told my folks that I would be taking care of the holiday dinner- after some raised eyebrows and wisecrack comments, (I think my parents secretly planned to visit a friend if catastrophe prevailed) I was granted free range of the kitchen. Much to everyone's surprise, I pulled it off! Down to fluffy cloverleaf rolls and pumpkin pie. I still have the Betty Crocker and Joy of Cooking that I gleaned the recipes and knowledge from as momentos of the feat. Without fail, every year in dinner table conversation that year comes up.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The year the power went out in a state-wide windstorm....1 hour into cooking the turkey. We finished it on the BBQ and it was delicious! And no one got food-poisoning thank goodness.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
I guess the best one I can think of is when I asked my daughter to pick up the turkey from the store and she came home with a chicken! We had a good laugh over that one!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
I have 2.
One involves a turkey brined then roasted at 4 AM. We (turkey and me), took an 8 AM amtrak to Baltimore... It was well wrapped and in a black Tumi bag on wheels. Smelled good. It made Nana happy and turkey was a star.
The second: My first experience w/ Red Velvet Cake. Huge white cake arrived at the table after our huge meal. The red was shocking, and the taste, a revelation. I did not, could not stop eating it until... yep... everywhere. What do you want I was 14.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The only thing I can think of is the time I mashed the, and they collapsed. The potatoes must of contained too much water.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
not so much of a story, but the first time i prepared something for thanksgiving myself was very meaningful to me. i baked a pumpkin bread and a cranberry-walnut bread, and my family raved about both. in my opinion, they were delicious, but whether or not my family was trying to pump my ego, it felt great.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
The first Thanksgiving that I attempted to roast a turkey on my own (using AB's recipe/method), not only did I forget to take out the neck from the cavity, but my cheap, old electric oven just couldn't create consistent heat. So, my friends were treated to a half-done, plastic coated turkey! We still joke about it to this day, and it's always good for a laugh! :)
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
My favorite Thanksgiving story is from one of the first years my father decided to make the dough for the pumpkin pie. In an effort to make sure everything was cold and stayed that way he rolled the dough outside on our deck. It was record breaking cold!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
One year when I was about five, their was a bad storm and we weren't able to get to my grandmother's house for dinner. My mother went through the fridge and pantry and we had chicken (hey, at least it's poultry), some stovetop stuffing, and whatever else was around. I was very excited and asked that we could have it picnic style, and we did, on our living room floor. It was perfect!
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Last year, I was setting out to brine our turkey. We were at my in-laws and they didn't have any food grade buckets in which to brine it. So... I went to the store and picked up a cheap cooler, mixed up the brine and ice, and put the turkey in to brine overnight. Little did I know the cooler had a leak and when we woke up there was brine everywhere and the cooler was pretty much empty. Needless to say it wasn't the best turkey, but I won't forget the experience.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Two years ago we were given a pumpkin bread by my son's friend. When we cut it, we found that it had M&M's inside. We all got a good laugh out of it, but found that we enjoyed the chocolate addition. Know, if I make pumpkin bread, I include chocolate chips.
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
We waited two hours for my husband's aunt and her family to arrive. They finally showed up, angry at each other as all get out. His aunt was carrying one of those jello mold desserts, still in the bundt pan. She goes to flip it onto the plate. Her frustration and the sticky jello, shockingly, did not mix well, and the jello went EVERYWHERE. All over the buffet, the food, the people, the ceiling.
She threw the mold on the floor and they all left. Best day ever.
What is your stance on "tipping"?
I was taught to double the tax and that will tell you how much to tip
Cook the Book: 'Good Eats: The Early Years'
Probably the year my girlfriend dropped the turkey on the floor and thinking no one had seen, picked it up, put it on a plate and carried on as usual. Fortunately, Thanksgiving is the one time of the year my kitchen floor is spotless.
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A few years ago my mother, who always got stuck doing Thanksgiving, decided to stir things up a bit. Instead of the traditional food, she ordered a TON of Chinese food and served it buffet style. It was fun and memorable. Everyone of course went home with leftovers. They even gave us a whole box of fortune cookies!