FistFullaRoux

And now that I think about it, doesn't the process for making bagels involve lye in some form?

Cereal, preferably a kid kind of brand. Captain Crunch or Apple Jacks. or Grilled cheese, if I have everything on hand.

Well I'll be damned. Click here for FDA regulations on ketchup And evidently there are such things as food-grade hydrochloric acid and food-grade sodium hydroxide (lye)...

I so cannot wait for this to air. I've cleared the schedule, and even went and bought new blank video tapes. (Hopefully my VCR still works - it's been a while since a TV program made me want to tape it) I know most of the show is made in post production, but I will be really disappointed if this falls flat...

More info as found. Take with as many grains of salt as you feel necessary. This site suggests that the seasonaings are cinnamon, cloves, mace, cayenne pepper, and allspice. Supposedly, as this site claims: "In fact, the ingredients we expect to find in ketchup are so widely known, that the FDA does not allow anything to use a ketchup, catsup, or catchup label unless it has the following ingredients: Cooked and strained tomato sauce Vinegar Sugar Salt Flavored with onion or garlic Spices; such as cinnamon, cloves, mace, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, and cayenne" That's more thought than I have ever put into the stuff. It's one of those things that is so well done, inexpensive, and common, that I never thought about trying to recreate it. It's like butter or olive oil. You can make your own, but for what real purpose?

Well, I did find out the following: HK contains no animal products at all. All ingredients are plant based. It's Kosher. It is gluten free. I was unable to find any allegy information on HK except for the above mentioned tomato sensitivity. Therefore, it does not contain dairy, it does not contain gluten, and only contains plant products, not including wheat, soy, or nuts. Or triggers for any other common allergy. From that point, you are on your own. At least we have eliminated the anchovies. Edited to add: Food Network Unwrapped episode includes a Heinz factory tour. I don't know if it is for the ketchup, however. Maybe someone can glean a few details from the large box o stuff that they dump into the vat... Last showing was on the 14th. I haven't located any other scheduled showing.

I'd skip the salad, have a steak and a baked potato, and a variety of 20 or 30 pastries and chocolates. Glazed donuts, cream cheese danish, plain old yellow layer cake with buttercream frosting, Kit Kat bars, Twinkies, oatmeal cookies, or whatever they had on hand or were willing to track down. A 12 pack of cold Pepsis and a gallon of cold milk. And some peanut butter.

Or instead of dipping, make (or find) a mold that has inside dimensions that match what you need. Fill with chocolate, wait a few seconds, then dump out the excess. Let it cool, then pop out a perfect looking box. You can decorate the inside of the mold, if you like, than that pattern will transfer to the outside of the chocolate box. This way, you will have a consistent outside appearance, but the inside may be a bit iffy. If you are filling with a sem-solid creamy type filling, no one will even notice.

That's all fine and wonderful, but that tattooed produce is going to feel mighty silly when they get old and wrinkled.... Same thing my mom told me, at least. Personally, I think it's a great idea. You come up with a solution for tracking green onions, and you'll be my hero.

Try roasted chicken. Wiggle your fingers under the skin over the breast and down around the thighs and legs. Stuff the basil leaves in there, along with a few really thin slices of lemon. Salt and pepper on the outside, add whatever else you'd think you'd like, and pop the bird in the oven until it is cooked to you liking. Serve with a little butter and garlic pasta, and dinner is done.

And I learned something else interesting from that site. Evidently, you can't put a sticker on a cucumber. I did not know that. That will be used at my next opportunity to regale someone with my awe-inspiring knowlege of trivia...

Hell, pick a weekend between now and December, and there will be a festival in south Louisiana. Admittedly, the food isn't as varied as Jazzfest, but you won't go hungry. A not quite complete Louisiana festivals list

In a pinch, I use turkey smoked sausage. It's a different texture, but the smoke level is about right, and adds no extra fat to the pot that has to be scraped out. But pretty much any smoked meat product would work, as long as it is not cured. (Yes, I have seem meat that was smoked and then cured. Not needed, but it is done) I've even used smoked turkey legs, ham hocks, and smoked ham. Smoked + not greasy = workable. At least enough for Australia.

Wow. Way to harsh my mellow. Sorry, dude. Like I said, it just struck me this morning. It's just that kind of day. I'm off to the vending machine to see what kind of sugar rush I can put myself into. Sorry all...

You know, we've been jesting about on the subject, but I think we can all agree on the real food in hell. Moldy sacks of rice, flour and grain that have been shuffled through various relief agencies and warlord's hands, being reduced in size and/or contaminated along the way. The grain is mixed with dirty water, and served in a dirty bowl. And that's all there is. There isn't enough. You have to share it with a couple of thousand people in the same shape you are. That room temperature milk I was talking about would cause a riot. The rare duck would be a blessing. Don't know why I woke up with this thought in my head this morning. It's going to be that kind of a day, I guess.

er? FYI, I'm not down there right now. I'm in Birmingham for a bit, but I do make regular trips back home. I'm still trying to figure out why we would be related... I confuzzled It's 2:30 am I guess I should sleep now.

And I just noticed that you did specify places. Pardon the dain bramage... Cafe Des Amis is overrated. I mean they charge 10 bucks for a bowl of couche couche. It's cornmeal fried in a little oil and served with jams or something else fruity. Douse it with milk. Unless they are using some completely exotic fruit that I've never heard of, a $10 bowl of couche couche is for the tourists. And that's breakfast. Usually breakfast is the least expensive meeal of the day. Catahoula - Good food, but it's yet another place that the food does not match the price list. I don't mind paying a lot for something that's great food. I do mind paying high prices for pedestrian grub. That's just me. This may very well suit you. But I wouldn't go back unless someone else was picking up the tab. Prejean's - From the menu "Fresh Louisiana crawfish in a delicate Rotel cheese sauce, rolled in flour tortillas, baked and topped with a delicious crawfish sauce. Served with eggplant & okra Creole casserole, dirty rice, and a fresh, garden salad." I dunno about you, but I'd never order anything advertising Ro-Tel tomatoes as an ingredient in a mid scale restaurant. I bet it's delicious, but they seem like they are trying too hard. Everything is in pirouges of bread and has other overly cutsey names. The food is pretty good despite the names. It's one of the pitfalls of the area. Tourism is so big, that these types of places exist only to give a false example of "Cajun cooking." And overcharge for it. The other places I've suggested are more authentic, real food places. Except for Nash's and Woods and Waters, neither of which claim to be authentic anything. Ultimately, it's up to you. I grew up on this food, so it's sometimes hard for me to remember that not everybody else has been exposed to this. That's why I tend to recommend places that are closer to authentic and reasonable in price, because once you realize how basic most of the food is, you'll never want to pay 10 bucks for something you can do at home for 75 cents.

Sorry it's taken so long to get back to this. Looking back at the thread, I think I'vr recommended enough for you purposes plus about 5 days, but I have one more to mention. Randol's on Verot School Road. This would be a good place to get the feel of the area, even if it is a bit touristy, and not truly authentic, but it's fun. You gotta like a restaurant with a dance floor... If you have specific questions about a place, let me know. I'll try to help. Hope you enjoy the trip. Write in again to let us know how it went...

Then tell me why I never see Kobe burgers? What do they do differently?

If you really want to incorporate duck flavor in a gumbo, please use stock instead of duck fat in the roux. SImply put, the duck fat will burn long before you get the necessary color. For duck, you should be using roux that is a 1 to 1 mixture of oil and all purpose flour and the color of unsweetened chocolate. This is flirting with "burnt" which is not a flavor to strive for. Save the duck fat for another dish, and stick with plain old vegetable oil or peanut oil for a dark gumbo roux. Make sure your ingredients are already cut and measuered before you even put a pot on the stove. Once you start making the roux in a clean pot, do not leave. Never stop stirring. When you have a consistent dark chocolate color (and it might smoke - and it acts like napalm - Don't get it on you) add the chopped celey, onion and bell pepper (already prepped) and begin adding the liquid. The little yummies at the bottom of the pan you browned the duck in can be incorporated by deglazing the pan, then adding that to the broth. Again, any kind of animal fat is not going to work in a dark roux. At least dark enough to be usable in gumbo.

This is the key. You're eating "Certified Angus Beef® Brand" beef. Just because you're eating "Iowa Pride®" brand pig, doesn't mean it's from Iowa or that anyone's actually proud of it. It's just the brand name. It's all marketing! Actually, that's not quite true, the way the label is done. You could be wiping up the dog's drool with "Certified Angus Beef® Brand" paper towels. It's like Grape Nuts® cereal, which contains neither grapes nor nuts.

Now, post-holiday candy should not be a secret shame... Well, maybe you're right. I found Dove chocolate eggs. Last night I destroyed almost the entire bag watching the tape of Sunday's Trading Spaces. I'm eyeing the peanut butter eggs now.

In Foley (which in nearby, but a bit farther inland, there is Lambert's - Home of "throwed rolls". Yes, they throw them across the room. It's a basic "meat and three" place, and the staff wanders around with buckets of vegetables, looking for an empty spot on a plate to put some down. Not the greatest food, but if you have kids, it's a real hoot, it might encourage them to eat their veggies, and gives them something to do besides look for the playground. Mobile is a bit of a trip, but there is a better selection of places. Gulf Shores is known as the Redneck Riviera, and dining options reflect that sort of thing. If you are lucky enough to get a condo with a stove, consider cooking in. If your accomodations will allow outdoor grilling, go for it. Besides, there's far more to drink in Gulf Shores than eat.

Very reminicent of the South Park episode where the young 'uns attempted to become contemporary Christian pop stars. The goal was to change the lyrics of love songs from baby to Jesus. My favorite song title? "I Want to Finger-bang You, Jesus" You know, it has to be comfoting to know you are going straight to hell. No purgatory, no indecision. It's like Sam Kinison used to say, "If you are going to miss going to heaven, MISS IT!! Don't leave any doubt. Don't wait and find out it was the pack of gum you boosted when you were 8 that's going to keep you out." That's what Parker and Stone have waiting for them.

Every meal would be cold. No heat. No microwave. All canned or preserved ingredients, and salt content would be doubled. No pots. Dining would be a selection of opened cans, with no utensils. The ony beverage? Room temp milk. On it's expiration date. I would be the only smoker a room full of former smokers. Note: There is a major difference between nonsmokers and former smokers. Dinner music? A wide variety, all performed by the inimitable William Hung and a 5th grade tonette band. I would be made the dishwasher every night. And everything you could not make yourself eat would be shoved up your ass.