sml311

I'd also recommend an 8x12 pan as well. In addition, I've found it useful to have one mini muffin pan to finish off batters (and give me something to taste when I'm making muffins or cupcakes to take out !) A pastry cutter may be useful if you're making doughs and I've actually used it for a light mash on potatoes too for soup. SML

In west Kentucky, it's all Coke to us. The lightning post was interesting. I've heard of that but never knew where it came from. SML

Anything with the words "instant" or "crystals" associated with it has to be the worst! They're only acceptable when I'm about to sever my head from a caffine headache. As far as Nescafe, it's big in the Arab world. I had Palestinian and Egyptian friends bring it back to the states (along with Jordanian dates--but that's another post ) every time they visited. They only liked whatever's sold over there. Not what's sold in Europe or South America. SML

I use hot water plus this great thing I have called the grip wrench. It's a thick but flexible piece of rubber about 16 inches long that loops to any size. You wrap it around the jar lid, feed it into the plastic holder, tighten, the pull with the handle, that works almost every time. I've used it for jars, pipes and even nail polish bottles. I bought mine at Target, I think. here's a picture on the internet: http://www.youcansave.com/grip.asp SML

My personal favorite are the family/handicapped bathrooms. First, there are the lovely stick figure children, all of which I would be proud carry around in wallet-sized pictures. Second, it's the first time I've ever seen my family represented on a bathroom door, as my mother is confined to a wheelchair and my father and I can walk. (There's usually a wheelchair with an adult and child stick figure.) As far as bathroom graffiti, I went to Duke, so basically every bathroom had "UNC diploma--take one" written over the TP dispenser. Sub in any other college rivalry you like. SML

Great link! I really enjoyed it. Although I don't know what LBJ would think about have himself associated with a drink involving kahlua. SML

Alleriges: Milk Peanuts Mint Just Plain Evil: Cilantro Melons Cheap Chinese Takeout Crispy Green Bean (green beans should always be cooked til falling apart with a lot of pork fat!) SML Edit: Oh yes, and raw cucumbers--nothing ruins a salad faster

Definitely agree with many here that the best gin depends on the drink and temp. I can't add much on the front of martinis and g&ts but I think Beefeater is the Tom Collins gin. It doesn't have that bitter aftertaste that some other gins do in a Collins. Just my 2 cents, SML

Also-How do the Mexican Cokes taste different? Thanks, SML

Has anyone else noticed that Pepsi mixes better with vodka and Coke with rum and wiskey? I'll go through Pepsi phases, but I'm generally a Coke girl. Also Vanilla Coke in a can is the worst thing EVER to happen to making vanilla Coke. Tis MUCH better to buy a bottle of vanilla syrup and put a shot or two in your drink. To me, the difference is night and day. What comes from Coca-Cola Inc just tastes fake! Also, any southerners heard of putting BC powder in your cokes? I know a few people who do that. SML

NickMach007, Definitely understand what you're saying about celebrity chefs...I just really like his show and personality and kind of hoped he was above it. That's all. SML

Which city is it? Owensboro, KY The cookbook is called To Market, To Market and it's produced by the Owensboro Junior League. It's in it's third printing. My mom was on the committee that created it and tested many of the dessert recipes in our kitchen. (All the recipes were tested by someone--even the Mustard Bear Steaks and Savory Bear with Mushrooms!) PM me if you want order info. SML

Definitely agree with many here that FTV isn't what it used to be. I still enjoy Cook's Tour, as I didn't catch all the eps first time around. I also like the Food Hunter, but good luck finding him on the schedule! Good Eats appeals to my inner geek, but isn't wearing your own apron on your show kind of like a member of a band wearing their own t-shirt to a concert? There's something wrong about that. What I truely hate (in addition to the much-bashed fuzzy guy) is the Almost Homemade Cooking woman. I mean...I don't consider taking angel food cake out of the container and putting sliced berries on it "almost homemade." Plus her personality puts me off. I always want to watch America's Test Kitchen, but the name puts me off...I always imagine unholy mixtures of food or eating torture tests! SML

So maybe I've gotten a little overenthuiastic looking up old posts I'd like to add to on here, but I have to say that local cookbooks are one of my most favorite things in the world. I deeply treasure the one from my home town's junior league that has a lot of recipes I grew up eating (and several exotic game recipes also!) My mother's Philadelphia Orchestra cookbook is a favorite that I've lifted many recipes from. There's also one called Thyme in the Kitchen (those clever, clever people--HA!) that I have found many good recipes in. I've even been given some a weddings where each member of the wedding party was asked to donate a few recipes. To make a long story short...local cookbooks are WONDERFUL! Nothing's better for comfort food.

fifi--That is the best story! I have a similar relationship with my parents in that some nights I'll call them and say, "You've had chili for dinner, right?" They have no semblance of a schedule for dinners and I'm almost always right...weird. Maybe it's my grandfather's spirit urging me towards the frog legs...he always loved them. SML

I've been craving fried frog legs for the past week. Haven't had them since I was a kid. I also get cravings for canned--not fresh--peas sometimes. And queso from a restaurant about 25 miles from where I live--and I actually make the trip! SML

I would love to have durian. I had a Malaysian roomate for a year, and they have such wonderful fruits over there. Does anyone know where to find one in North Carolina? I haven't seen one at a couple of asian groceries in Durham, but I could have just been there at the wrong time. (I'd pick one up my next trip to Manhattan, but I'm afraid I'd no longer have a couch to sleep on there!) SML

I just joined, so I'm adding to this topic kind of late, but I do have fond memories of being in college and sneaking in a quiche and a chicken soulvaki sandwich with a friend to a random suburban movie theather. We thought no one would notice but the smell was unmistakable. We couldn't stop laughing. Luckily it was an comedy so we didn't get thrown out!

I have enjoyed my two meals there as well. The only dish I wouldn't recommend is the shrimp salsa. It was a basic red salsa with popcorn shrimp in it--it didn't even taste that fresh. Everything else I've ever tried there has been amazing though. I especially remember their coq au vin as very well-made. Wish it were over here in Raleigh! SML

Oh, that reminds me, in RTP Bombay Grille is another one of my favorites. I haven't found any REALLY spectacular Indian food in the Triangle (any one know of any?) but my Indian-American best friend says it's the closest to her mother's cooking that she's found around here. A couple of years ago I had a good meal at Pasta Bella near South Point. I'm not sure if it's survived the opening of nearby Maggiano's. Plus they were selling fresh pasta by the pound as well. Also is Rockford in Raleigh still open? I had trouble finding it a few weeks ago. Thanks, SML

I would definitely second Challah-Baker's assessment of Panzanella. I have eaten there twice--the first time I had duck and it was awful. Poorly cooked, overly greasey and the flavor of the duck just wasn't well brought out or complimented. (Give me Nana's duck any day over that!) The second time I had a roasted chicken dish and that was much better, but I'm not dying to make the drive from Raleigh to eat there again. Margaret's Cantina in Timberlyne is one of my favorite places peroid to go for Southwestern food. The also have excellent margaritas--better than other ones I've had in the Triangle. I'd recomment the pulled beef or spiced cheese enchiladas, pulled beef or tempeh burritos. Also, Carrburritos not faraway has excellent salsa and fresh-made flour chips.

Also, I forgot to add Moonlite does have very good burgoo, which is the local barbecue soup made from mutton, among other ingredients. It is available by order and does a fairly good ex-pat Kentuckian business, esp around Derby time. I would recommend ordering the frozen burgoo, if you're curious and don't want to make the trip. There's also a recipe on the website as well. http://www.moonlite.com/online_store/index.htm SML

This is my first post, so I hope it's okay to reach to a topic this long ago, but as a native Owensboran (currently residing in Raleigh), I hope I might have something to add. Barbecued mutton, first, is definitely an acquired taste. Compared with other bbqs I have eaten and even Daviess Co barbecued pork, it's sort of bitter, definitely gamier than pork, and a little tough even when cooked well. (I would even say it's smokey too, even though the sauce is tomato based.) My parents have lived in Daviess Co for about 30 years and still haven't gotten the taste for mutton. It's just really different. Also, while Moonlite is certainly the most well known of the Daviess Co bbq joints, it's not the one I personally would recommend. Their pork is definitely better than their mutton, so if you're going for mutton I'd suggest Old Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q; 338 Washington Ave.; Owensboro, KY (270-926-9000). It's right off the main drag, which is Frederica St./US 431. I'd be glad to provide better direction if anyone is ever in the area and needs them . I do have a recipe for Daviess Co barbecued mutton that I guess would belong on the recipe section of the website, if anyone is interested in that. I don't have a pit here in Raleigh, so I'd have to leave the cooking of it to someone else. SML