Cusina
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Posts posted by Cusina
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Therese! You poor thing. Agony. I'm, uh, glad you posted that though. Definitely sounds like something to avoid. And I had to laugh at the way you put it too.
I'm off the band wagon for a bit. I know, very bad, especially since I'm half way to my goal. But it's our 10th anniversary this week and I just know I won't be good. Too much fun to celebrate. I'll be back in next week.
I did make a tasty meal last night though, as a last hurrah. Cubed pork, diced squash and tomatoes with a touch of feta on top. Foil wrapped and put on the grill. Polenta too, with roasted red peppers. Very simple, but Good stuff.
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This is what I wish MY grocery trips were like. How lovely. I want to be soul soothed in the supermarket.
Sometimes this serves a useful purpose, as with melons, but more often is it just a fruitless but pleasant exercise. Nice to give the chicken a couple of pats before you choose it, satisfying to pat a loaf of bread before picking it up.They all make different 'sounds'...very entertaining.
Sort of soul-satisfying in an odd way.
Unfortunately, they are usually more like this:
I teach my children how to shop by screaming at them at the top of my lungs that they are not to poke their fingers through the plastic and especially not the most expesive items in the store like $15 wedges of watermelon or $50 steaks. They are also not allowed to changes the prices by flipping numbers on those numbers that flip over and over price markers, they are also taught not to erase anything that has been written on a blackboard. And fruits liek grapes sitting in open packages are not there for sampling and then if there are free samples they are not allowed to stand there and proceed to eat all 20 pieces on the plate.My kids are never going to learn to shop because I never take them anywhere anymore...
Ha. My 4 year old son is a horrific and yet exceptionally determined cart driver and impulse purchase negotiator. I expend most of my energy preventing him from crashing into end cap displays and elderly ladies and limiting the "treats" to one or two, preferably those that don't clog the arteries immediately on contact or require a valium dose to counteract the caffeine content. I come armed with a list and I do check stuff like the eggs and expiration dates. I once bought and returned a package of chicken sausage that was SIX WEEKS past it's expiration date. Yuck. (and I taste grapes too... bad me) My time and patience is mighty limited in there. Next year he is off to Kindergarten. THEN I can shop in peace. Honestly, these days, I am absolutely exhausted by the time I get home.
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Yum, all of it sounds awesome. Especially those peaches. Must get some peaches! Do you do apple picking with your kids? We got some Macs this weekend and I'm up to my elbows in them. Good stuff.
We are having our longed for summer weather now too, awful that it hits after the kids are back in school isn't it? Too bad that we have to enjoy it on the porch with a nice morning beverage and a book instead of lugging everything and everybody plus snacks to the pool and back... what a shame. *snicker*
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This looks really entertaining. Thanks for bringing it up glenn.
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My least favorite was from a while back... Quiznos subs and the guy who was raised by wolves. Disturbing.
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I'm a sugar cone girl myself, unless they make the waffle cones right there and serve them slightly warm and the whole place smells like waffley goodness. Then, I have to have one. My family, however, seems to favor the cake cones.
What's your favorite?
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What did the grape say when it was run over? It gave out a little wine.
What did the big tomato say to the little tomato? Hey, quit being so slow, Ketchup!
What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho Cheese.
How do you make a strawberry shake? Take it to a scary movie.
Why did the chicken cross the park? To get to the other slide.
Ba dump bump...
Can you tell I live with a first grader? Oy.
Edited to say, um, duh, she is now a SECOND grader. Holy cow, how did that happen?
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You are the 1420 work Du fait de cuisine! Written by Master Chiquart for the Duke of Savoy (later Pope Felix V), you always make sure that your kitchen implements do not smell at all of garlic.
Boy, I hope my beloved spouse and kids appreciate this...
I didn't know there was a Pope Felix (let alone five of them)... somehow it just doesn't sound like a biblical name. And what's the deal with the garlic?
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Hmmm... sounds like they are still in development. Thanks for the info. I'm curious about it, I wonder if it will be sort of a "Taste of Home" style periodical or what. I'll just have to wait and find out I guess.
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* Saute shrimp in butter with a few jarred sliced roasted red peppers, pour over pasta.
* As mentioned earlier, any hunk o' fish, smeared with EVOO and lightly sea salted under the broiler for about 8 minutes is tasty. Sometimes I mix apple jelly and prepared horseradish as a glaze. Or I'll mix together a can of black beans and some jarred fruity salsa (pineapple is good) and spread that over the top of the fish before serving.
*Crock Pot... our absolute favorite is to put a pork tenderloin in there with some soy, brown sugar, garlic and ginger. Very tasty.
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uch. I hated "Morning Sickness". Mine continued through my fourth month.
Almonds helped for me; a small handful was enough to settle my stomach to be able to eat something a little more substantial. I agree with the poster above who suggested protein in small amounts all day long. But not chicken. I hate to admit that I got hooked on power bars during my first pregnancy as they could be eaten at my desk at work and required no prep. My second pregnancy I was all about fruit and yogurt and peanut butter toast. And tuna sub sandwiches... I know, weird.
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We had the same issue with our old pine floors. Sad, but we had to replace them. I guess they just don't have the endurance of the harder woods. The sealers they used back in the day just couldn't keep the water out I guess.
It is clever to place the appliances before the cabinetry. My one gripe about our kitchen is the bottleneck that happens in front of our fridge, which opens into the entry to the dining room. Ugh. We didn't build our cabinets (the former owner's son did, out of solid walnut) but I sure wish he had thought about that before he laid them in.
Thanks for the update, I can't wait to see the pictures. Happy door hanging.
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Does anyone know what the content of Penzey's new publication will be? They have an advertisement in their current catalog, but it is extremely vauge and their web page has even less info. I'm just curious if it would be worthwhile to subscribe. The first issue supposedly comes out in November.
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I was just thinking about this rehab, wondering how it's coming along. I love the sound of the bar top and the non-traditional cabinets you are hunting up. Hope you're still sane...
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One of our foil pack recipe favorites is chopped pork tenderloin and summer squash, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, onions (green or yellow) marinated in a balsamic vinagrette and topped with feta or goat cheese. Spray the foil with canola or olive oil before loading the goods in so the cheese doesn't all end up sizzled to the foil.
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Chef Mongo, welcome to eGullet.
I enjoyed the bits I read of your blog. One of the pages I read was about your wardrobe. Buying all new clothes is a challenge. My husband went through 3 full wardrobes, suits and all, while he lost 100 lbs. a few years ago. It does get spendy. He even lost a shoe size. Goodwill loved us for a while there. Funny though, we hadn't even considered that expense before we started losing weight. I'm not sure why it didn't occur to us that his old clothes wouldn't work anymore.Nanuq, it's amazing that you lost weight in Paris! I gained almost 5 lbs. during our 10 days in London this spring. ugh. Too much good food and drink (Smith's cream ale, whoo boy) and I hadn't yet found WW to help me plan things out.
This week has been an interesting food one. I found myself down another 2 lbs. at weigh in. (sorry, don't mean to rub it in to those who are plateauing) This was more than I wanted to lose, so I think I'm going to switch back to flex points. Core eating, while I learned a lot and really made some tasty recipes, worked a little too well for me. I feel better and lose at a more moderate rate while I'm on flex. At least I know that I can turn to the core plan when I need a jump start. I'm glad I experimented with it. Therese, hang in there... I'll bet you are right about your muscle mass increase. In the long run it will be beneficial though.
Thanks for posting the recipes too... Dana, that bean salad looks great. I haven't made on of those in years. I need to try it.
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I'm curious too. I've come in late on this thread, but I'm thinking that my brother in law is the quintessential hip urbanite your client is talking about. He lives in Chicago (recent Atlanta transplant), doesn't even own a car, is 29, makes plenty of $, eats out 5-7 nights per week, sometimes on his own or with a buddy, sometimes with a date.
He wants someplace casual and comfortable, nice with tablecloths but not too femminine, not too loud, but definitely not low light intimate, vivaldi on the speakers either. A wide variety on the menu. He likes both comfort food and some more adventurous things and it needs to be at least somewhat health concious as he doesn't really cook for himself much. Preferably someplace he could go to and get a table without too much of a wait and where the service is friendly, but not too gregarious or intrusive. A full bar with a good top shelf selection is an absolute must. He actually doesn't mind large portions because he can take them home and have them the next day. Actual food in his fridge rather than being entirely stocked with condiments, beer and mixers.
I wonder if the client, in thinking of the suburban generalization, actually meant family oriented. Perhaps they want a place more geared to adults? No chicken fingers on the children's menu, in fact no children's menu at all. I think many people move to the suburbs for the better schools and the play space in the Chicago area and so the restaurants there often cater to families. Just a thought.
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Leftovers are always welcome at our house, they are really another potential ingredient to work with. I even have a specific section for them in my fridge so they don't get lost and use only clear containers so that I can easily see what I have. Leftover roast meat, like a chicken, can go so many different ways. Pot pie to quesadillas. Sauces and condiments can have a new life over different meats or in salads, even over roast veggies. A few shrimp can find their way into a goulash or an omlette. Some things don't keep well, like fresh avocado or banana, but otherwise I love to use them. Simple meals work best, which is a good thing. We eat a lot of those as that suits my children's tastes.
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Sandra, does chicken chili count as chicken stew in your mind? That is a favorite of ours. Leftover roast chicken, shredded, with great northern beans, sauted onions and red peppers, cilantro, chicken stock, s&p for the base... add hot stuff to taste. Congrats on the weight loss too.
I love bean and corn salad Dana, thanks for reminding me of that. Your meal sounds great.
Betts, I spend a lot of my flex on wine too. A glass or two a day is healthy darn it. :)
This week I'm going to give myself a few more APs I think. I'm starting to feel kind of bubble headed and forgetful, which I think means I'm not taking in enough. I'm also losing at a rate that is a little faster than I'd like (not the worst problem to have, better that than gaining). It would be good if I could get this plan working so that I'm losing about 1/2 a pound a week rather than an average of 1 1/2. I'm almost half way to my goal though, which is cool. 12 more pounds to go. It seems like if I lose it too fast and then I won't be able to sustain the loss.
Did the barefoot contessa lemon juice/olive oil/fresh thyme marinade on the chicken tonight. Her recipe has a TON of oil in it. I cut it by 2/3 and it was still very good.
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I'm not sure if this counts as overheard, but it sure embarassed the heck out of me as a teenager. One night right before halloween my family went to an Italian pasta place in Milwaukee. My somewhat sheltered mother mistakenly took the waitresses hairstyle (you know the one... late middle aged woman, overly black dye job, entire can of hairspray) and heavy make up ala mary kay for a costume. I don't believe that was the case, while it was kind of scary, this was just her normal look. My mother complimented her enthusiastically several times on her "halloween getup" and questioned her about how she "got her hair to do that". I was mortified. I hope my father tipped her really well. Yikes.
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Way to go chardgirl... we really are a bunch of losers.
In the good way of course. Which of the veggie burgers do you like? Or do you make your own? I've noticed that the Morningstar Farms' varieties have changed since Conagra bought them. I'm a little scared to try a pepperoni pizza or a philly cheesesteak flavored veggie burger. Yikes. I'd love to hear good suggestions for the home made variety.I just spent a few minutes on the "food talk" portion of the WW community boards. Oh my. It's so whiny. Most of the posts are things like "Why isn't my favorite brand x cereal/yogurt/frozen dinner core?? Waaaahhhhh" This board is so much more helpful. I get great ideas from you all.
I like core too, after my first week. Good food, healthy lifestyle. I'm hooked.
The core plan seems to be much easier to adopt for those who cook than for those who rely on convenience foods. I wonder if it will have staying power with the general population?
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I haven't tried quinoa Jujube, though I do have a bag in my cupboard. I'll let you know how it goes when I do. I like the sound of what you described.
First core dinner for guests was a huge hit. Lime/garlic marinated pork tenderloin, grilled sweet potatoes, home made applesauce, asparagus with butter (one of my guests helped me make this and more butter than usual sneaked into the pan, oh well) and ice cream for dinner. Steel cut oatmeal with blueberries and evaporated milk for breakfast. Our guests are in the middle of a Midwestern road trip and they positively raved about the food. I think travelers end up eating a whole lot of fat and filler and not so much good stuff.
I meant to review the chipotle corn chowder I made the other night too. It was an interesting recipe as you cooked the potatoes first, partially mashed them, and then added the mash to the soup which was chicken broth, roasted red peppers, chipotles, sauteed onions and corn. Tasty, though I ended up adding the better part of a can of evaporated milk at the end to give it some more creamyness. Next time I'll puree half of the corn in the blender as I think that might add to the texture.
We did low carb for quite a while about 4 years ago. The GI side effects were not good. I much prefer the WW way of eating for that very reason. And the weight loss results are quite similar for me. I don't think I'd ever go back to a really low carb lifestyle. While we did lose a lot of weight (100 lbs. for my husband, 40 for me) the side effects just were not worth it.
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I like MELT. If I worked in the building I'd want to give it a try. CHEESE LOUISE is good too, though you are going to forever be asked who Louise is. You might want to make up a fictional Louise character if you go with that name. Then again you might get dubbed cheese lousy if you don't come through with good food.
how about THE BIG CHEESE? Assuming you intend to have fairly large portion sizes. That sounds like Jersey City to me.
I'm afraid my least favorite option is meltshake ... makes me think tuna melt milkshake? ew. Cheeseshake has the same issue for me. It just doesn't sound tasty. Or is it something cheese junkies get if they don't get a fix, the cheeseshakes.
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erzatz latte... that just sounds cool.
If someone does make up the vitello tonnato, please take a picture and post it. I've never run across that dish before and am having a hard time picturing how it comes together from the recipe.
WI today. Down 1 pound, which is perfectly respectable. It was a transition week for me between the plans so I even cheated a bit. I definitely feel very healthy this week. And my coat is so glossy. Heh, just kidding.
Speaking of cooking core for guests... yikes. We have suprise overnight guests tonight. I'm thrilled, this is a family we don't get to see that often, but it's pretty short notice. I'm thinking a pork tenderloin and the homemade applesauce and grilled sweet potato rounds I didn't get around to making with the salmon eariler this week. Green salad or sauteed asparagus (depending on how the asparagus looks at the market). I also read about a tart cherry/zinfandel ice cream sauce I'd like to try. Door County, just north of us, just passed their cherry harvest and I have some frozen that would be perfect for the dish. Our guests have a one year old who eats mostly homemade baby food, so I'm thinking much of that menu could easily please his palate too.
Therese I liked your comparison of the two plans. Interesting to see the differences, but it seems like you end up in basically the same place when it is all said and done.
Making Lovely Desserts Onsite, a la minute
in Pastry & Baking
Posted
This is a marvelous thread, I've gotten a lot out of it too. Just a quick idea. Cannoli filling is delicious, easy to make and can be presented in a lot of different ways with different garnishes, like in a tart shell with dark chocolate shavings and pistacios or in a crepe. It's versatile like a custard or mousse would be, but doesn't require the fuss.