Cusina

Funny, I had the opposite impression. I only saw honeycrisp for sale once last year at an apple orchard. This year they were at the orchard in larger numbers, at the farmer's market AND in the regular grocery. I think they are getting to be more popular.

They grow the honeycrisp here in Wisconsin as well, and they are delicious. We often buy them at the Saturday farmer's market and even occasionally see them in the grocery. Of course our apple season is long past. Have to eat applesauce and wait for next September for the local ones.

I like this one Man, I'm a wreck, I do all of the above. I use mastercook, and print recipes from there, taking notes afterwords. I also have a binder with plastic pages full of family recipes. I guess I like having them in the original handwriting and can't seem to part with that system. My grandmother was a model of efficiency (some of you remember this from my blog). She had an index card box separated by category. The most used recipes have little plastic sleeves on them. I own this now and the simplicity of the system appeals to me. Sometimes I'm tempted to reverse my ways and just buy a stack of index cards, but then I think of all that illegible handwriting and the dozens of one time only recipes... Nah.

Hey, I'll buy your book! (some of us take a while to pick up on those subtle hints) We have the same deal with the garbage, but no limit on recycleables. I've gotten very good at recycling and compacting. The worst is christmas. All that wrapping paper isn't recycleable. I'm tempted to wrap most of our presents in butcher paper this year and make the kids color it... nah.

There is a nice white table cloth kind of place in my town that plays what I can only describe as B grade 80s porn soundtrack in the background. Generally, it's low enough not to be heard in the dining room, but it gets louder in the bathroom. Makes me laugh and think of big hair and purple eyeshadow. Don't even ask how I know what bad 80s porn sounds like.

My favorites are wheat beers, usually micro brews pubs stumbled across while playing tourist on a hot day. Crop circle wheat in Madisons' Great Dane is mighty good, for example. My least favorite are the berry beers. They taste too contrived for me, though maybe I just haven't had a good one.

Mmmmm. Homemade potato chips. Do you fry them or bake them?

I just made this shortbread this morning. Woah. Delicious!

Ask for a side of parmesan and you are given a green can. Dirty windows (gack) Ask for the wine list and the response is "we have chardonnay and mer-lott".

I love chili and when the weather gets cold it is a staple at our house. Part of the beauty of the dish is that there are so many variations. What's yours like?

I'm curious about european style butters. This is the brand available to meorganic valley, unfortunately Pleugra just isn't in our stores. They have both a traditional unsalted and a european style "enzyme treated" butter. I'm wondering what enzyme treated means and what the difference will be, flavorwise in my baked goods if I use the european style butter. I would have to hunt down the european style, is it worth the effort?

Katie, this is hilarious! Sluttony. I agree. The "sin" gluttony implies depriving someone else in search of your own pleasure. How do you tell a gourmand from a glutton? I guess in my mind a gourmand is into his or her food for the entire experience: the company, ambiance, the sights, smells, tastes, textures and most of all the pleasure in the understanding of the ingredients and effort put into the food in front of them. A true glutton would have none of those appreciations, just a selfish desire to have what others do not. Very interesting questions. I'll look forward to reading more posts.

Wow, I might be a legitimate child after all. Break out the Champagne and salt cod!(?) ew...

To the best of my knowledge, cusina isn't a word at all. I mixed cuisine, cucina and casa to come up with my eGullet nickname. I'm just dorky and like to play with the way words overlap.

Thought I would post this as it seems pertinent. I've been meaning to try them; they sound delicious and got very good reviews on another cooking site. Cabernet Truffles Edited to say that the reviewed recipe also included 1 tsp. of vanilla.

Wow, what a drama. And all on tape for you to cherish always. Sounded like a great meal happened at your house despite it all. You deserve some sort of medal for all that perserverance. Food Valor under in-law duress. The last minute pumpkin pie would have sent me through the roof.

I'm glad you got the tag this week. I've been reading your threads and am very much looking forward to having an in depth look through your blog. I had the pleasure of visiting a dear friend in Des Moines, attending the Iowa state fair and a sweet corn festival in a cute little town square (gosh, I can't remember the name, Adel? maybe?) this past August and now know first hand the glories of Iowa food.

Thanks very much for that thanksgiving week blog. Loved seeing a bit of Vermont through your eyes. Now pardon me while I drool over the paella. It's gorgeous!

Holy Giant looming turkey batman!

Dark Chocolate falls into this category, I think. I love the stuff, though I don't usually like bitter tastes. My husband, however, who will drink the darkest, most robust coffee, can't abide by dark chocolate.

I've dug this out of the past hoping for some more goodies! This year I'm planning to do a biscotti (lemon ginger) and our traditional not very complicated M&M cookies and a few new things yet to be determined. I'm especially looking for things that will freeze/travel well. What will you all be doing this year?

So what went right? My sweet potato/winter squash side was awesome. My favorite this year, though the bird was a close second. Beautifully juicy and delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all too. GG, Not sick of your voice at all. It's a great monologue. Thanks for providing it! I'll look forward to the full turkey day disclosure on Friday.

Nice flock... I also liked your menu. Sounds delicious. I made a cheesecake today too, nice change from pie. That cranberry relish sounds excellent. Do you serve that up with the bird too or is it more of a relish tray appetizer?

One, two perfect pears brilliant summer memory blue sky, sweet juice, joy Gotta love haiku, low barrier to entry. (thus, here I am) I especially like guajolote's. A toast to most excellent poetry!