Daniel

I have often heard that being white leads to behavioral problems..

Cant look into Popeils eyes.. They are hypnotic.. I cant look away, must submit to his will.. The conclusion to this story is I didnt go with the Ronco's.. What the girl and I decided on was that she would go to Macy's and get a knife sharpener so we could sharpen the crappy knives we already had.. It turns out the diamond knife sharpener she wanted was not the 30 bucks she told me, but 180 or something.. So she was at the counter at Macy's being told that the sharpener was too expensive, when a women was comming back to return the Tools Of The Trade Knife Set... Aparrantly, there was a misprint and the block set didnt come with the cleaver as promoted.. So the women returned the item, my girl bought the set she returned for a reduced price of 22 bucks.. So now I have this set of knives. The only thing I can say is, what a world of difference.. These knives are a below average set and I am in heaven.. I cant wait to get myself a really good set. Last night I deboning fish, cutting vegetables, with ease.. Tonight, I will be especially greatful for my knives.. I will be butchering a pigs head... So thank you for opening my eyes everyone..

Hey Abra, Cant wait to read your post.. Washington is a State I know little about, cant wait to get the grand tour..

Yeh, I dont really see this anti-child culture people are talking about.. I do see the Family being highlighted and praised.. From all the Amusement Parks, to Family Fun Centers, the largest chain restaurants are family oriented.. Having kids meals and menus where only children exclusively can order from.. I sometimes would like a smaller portion and have been denied from ordering off of the kids menu.. I have never seen a wedding invitation that says no children.. So I dont really think you are being accurate by depicting all of America by the things you have seen.. I also dont think its the right of the guest to be critical of the person paying for the party.. For instance, if someone is getting married, they might not want to pay for the children.. I, as a child have been invited to birthday parties where my mother and father werent invited.. And did not claim discrimination..

Wow.. Do we get to see photos of what the kitchen of a sub looks like.. How have you had to adjust cooking times? Anything works better or worse Under Da C.. Would love to hear more about it..

Thanks Peter.. I am definately considering this... Another idea was just given to me by a friend of the family.. Also the provider of the pheasant. I think he gave me some great advice.. Its an old P-Dutch Recipe.. "First, get a large Pa. Dutch crock, just big enough to get the critter into. Then fill to the brim with Wild Turkey bourbon, completely covering the head. Let it soak like this for 24 hours. Then throw the head out and drink all the bourbon. "

Wow gorgeous stuff everyone.. Well yesterday I went to the Italian Market in the Bronx so we have just been living high off the hog.. I really just was so happy to be able to really experience the market with my new found cooking skills... We started out with an assortment of meats, cheeses, and things.. Basically, I told the counter guy at Mikes Deli I was serving dinner for eight people and wanted to have a meat and cheese spread to start.. There were three of us tonight.. I figured I would live off it for a week or so.. Right going counter clockwise.. Mortadella,salami,prosciutto,bresola.. On the either side is sliced sweet dried sausage, in the middle is spicy sopressata.. All these meats are incredible.. Some of the best you can get.. The sopressata was spicier then a commercial brand would ever market.. THe plate under the platter is fresh ricotta salata.. Amazingly creamy.. We also had fresh olives, aged provolone, anchovies in vinegar, big hunk of aged parm.. Parm and provo.. Next fileted and deboned a bunch of fresh sardines I got at the market near bye..Dipped in flour and cayenne. For pasta course I had made ravioli with some of the fresh ricotta Mikes Deli makes.. With a butter sage sauce and some fresh grated parm on top.. It was rich and I tried to really just appreciate the ricotta.. For fish course I put a branzino in a salt crust.. Baked it for about 20 minutes.. Fileted it and served.. It was absolutely delicious.. The crust really added a moistness and awesome flavor.. Had the fish stuffed with garlic and lemon.. Salt crust was a mixture of six eggs whites and a cup and half of kosher salt.. Slather on both sides stuff with lemon slices and garlic.. Do it immediately.. Done when it looks like this: Meat course: Provided and wrapped by the expert butchers over at the Arthur Avenue Market .. Pork wrapped in pancetta stuffed with spinach, cheese,roasted red peppers and love.. Outstanding.. Booya Booya booya... One last shot.. Bought this seedless baby watermelon.. Added some seeds with balsamic reduction.. Working to the best of my price range.. Made Alice M. ultimate chocolate flourless cake.. Pic to come..

Yeh.. I think my camera needs a lot of help..multi road trips and too many meals.. I think there is a thin layer of grease over the lens.. Anyway.. Made onion frittatas with balsamic, oregano, and grated parm more so for taste then texture.. It was really good..

Nice!!!! Moby, Did you post Any photos anywhere? Please feel to post them here, if not.. If I go this most likely route, I will take your advice to the letter.. Daniel

Thank you for the suggestion Peter.. First and foremost I need to get the head into water... Now, what do you suggest to do with the tongue.. And special consideration or just combine with the rest of the meat.. How about the ears? Edit to add: Another good reason to get it into a pot.. When going to grab a beer, it scared me half to death.. I completely forgot about the pig.. The guy was peaking at me..

Went to Arthur Ave today and picked up some things for tomorrow.. Got some great Braciole, fresh ricotta, ricotta salata.. Baked it with ziti,salami, and a pink sauce.. The meat was stuffed with parsley,cheese, ham, and a ton of garlic.. Fried it for a while... Awesome.. So garlicky.. Baked Ziti Instead of the bite, tonight i will go with the doormans dinner shot.. I am low on the ricotta salata otherwise I would have made him a gratin..

That is funny Fifi.. That definately is a great story to have hanging over someone else... In terms of roasting , I of course want to try something a little tricky my first time using this meat.. I want to get into the carving of it.. I want to serve the ears maybe in a salad.. Do something special with the tongue.. Brain sauce perhaps? I promised a couple of buddies of mine a pig festival.. They had one last year and hired a chef to make them a special pork filled dinner.. Since I havent seen them in a while, I invited them to my place in a few weeks.. This is a trial run for the pork fest..

I just purchased a frozen pigs head down at the Market on Arthur Avenue.. Unfortunately its frozen.. I was hoping someone could help me decide the best way to defrost it.. As of right now I am using the french laundry approach.. I was hoping someone has made it.. Or would have a better suggestion.. Thank you..

That funny cathryn.. Actually, the butter was put on the hot biscuit for the photo.. I took the shot and a normal amount of butter had melted so I put the rest on the side.. Forgot dessert.. Its a lemon sponge thing.. Lemon juice and zest is added to yolks.. Beat the egg whites and mix with sugar.. Bake in a water bath.. It was really refreshing,.. Soupy at the bottom airy at the top.. Mix the two and its just great..

Lamb chops, creamed spinach, baked potato with bacon, chedder, sour cream and chives.. Tried Pilsbury Biscuits.. They are not too bad..

Me either.. Its just expensive and average to me..

Me either.. Its just expensive and average to me..

Bergerka, Again on your rec.. We went to A.. It was lovely.. If someone doesnt beat me to starting a thread, I will post my thoughts and photos by tonight... Either way, another solid place.. Respect.

Hest, When you plate family style.. Is there a special bowl or story behind the pot you use.. Or anything special about what you cook.. What type of food do you make.. Whats the thing you make that gets the best compliments

Wow Bryan, I checked out those knives.. They are exquisite.. The african ebony handled k series were ridiculous. They are like faimly heirlooms. To see those blades slice through fresh fish must be beautiful..

In terms of making your own pasta, it really is such a great thing to do.. I cant recommend it enough.. For a quick spaghetti or ravioli, its really simple.. The dough = 2 eggs and one cupe of flour.. Roll it out, cut it up.. I can have 2 servings of spaghetti or a bunch of simple ricotta stuffed raviolis by the time the water starts boiling..

"Careful, plates hot, hot plate coming through" This was a skit on Saturday Night Live and will get a laugh out of me from my girl for the rest of my life.. In terms of the Melting Pot. I went there on a date in college.. One thing I remembered was hating the oil smell that soaked into my sweater.. Another was the price.. It was a really expensive meal for me at the time.. Which I was not expecting from a Fondu Place.. It was below average..

Patrick.. Have you ever made a ganache in the microwave..

I really just dont get how anyone could use these things passed heating liquid, or melting liquid.. My girl sometimes makes a ganache in it.. For me, there is nothing more disgusting then using a microwave.. I recently drove a total of an hour for some pizza.. I went to my girls Mother's House on the way home.. I made the mistake of bringing the pizza into the house... I felt obligated to offer her the remaining pizza.. As I handed over the perfectly charred coal oven pizza, I knew she was going to put it in the microwave.. I begged with her, I made her promise me, I even pre-heated her oven while I was standing there.. She took the pizza and put it in the microwave after I left.. Never again! Obviously, I didnt let on to the girl or her mother the pain it caused me, but I was legitemately upset by this..

Haha.. I didnt know if crazy rice or happy noodles were going to be a good thing... I was thinking, "Wow, I have never had crazy noodles before.. What makes them so crazy"