viva

Once you go lard, you'll never go back. I'll line up on the lard side of the lard vs. peanut oil chip smackdown any day.

God bless you. I apparently drank some stupid juice tonight, and foolishly chopped two habaneros (and seeded them with my bare fingers!). I tried the oil, tried milk, tried lotion - all to no avail. Then remembered this thread - and the vinegar suggestion. Instantaneous indeed! Now, of course, my hands smell like cider vinegar, as that was the closest on hand.

Wow! I wonder how much water he uses to rinse the cubes? Enough, say, to fill a cube's worth in an ice cube tray? My cats get on the counter while I'm cooking too - they're not interested in my food, they just want to know what's going on up there. They don't stay long. Plus, it's a stopping point to one of their favorite napping locations, the top of the kitchen cabinets (countertop to refrigerator top to cabinet top). I figure my cats' paws are probably cleaner than most people's hands, including mine. Edit: see one of said cats in my avatar, on top of the kitchen island, chewing on a plant.

It's unfortunate? Is that a common conception? Are you talking when rendered and used on its own (I've never done that) or just in general? I've always thought it was pretty damn tasty when I've been eating my lamb chops (especially when they've got a nice dusting of herbs and salt, maybe grilled with a little mustard glaze, and I can pick the whole chop up by the bone and eat it with my fingers... that, my friends, is heaven). You are right though... I don't see a lot of lamb in stores, and I definitely don't see the local producers at the farmers' markets selling lamb (if anyone knows of any in the Raleigh-Durham area, please point them out!!).

Can you get Edy's in the Bay Area? They've got a slow-churned sugar free with Splenda that isn't too terrible.

Yeah, I bought five "local" peaches on Saturday at Earth Fare and they were gone by Sunday afternoon. They were definitely cheaper than their other "organic" or "donut" or whathaveyou peaches. If I've got juice running down my chin while eating a peach, that's a good sign. I'll have to go back and see where they're from. I might just do that tonight. Edit: They're from SC. Monetta, SC. I don't know that I'd call 270 miles away "local" - but they're good nonetheless. And, I might add, only $1.49/lb.

I have not seen any peaches at the farmer's market yet (I hit the Saturday Durham market). I have seen "local peaches" at the Earth Fare, not sure if NC or SC. They were mighty fine, however, and wonderfully fragrant - a little bruised, but I'll take flavor + bruising over no-flavor + no-bruising. The blackberries have been phenomenal. I've eaten 3 pints since Saturday. <urf>

Local milk is top choice (regardless of organic vs. non). As local as possible, I should say... I (in NC) have been enjoying Homestead Creamery which is from VA. Organic non-local is second choice. Like others have mentioned, the organic tends to compensate for the lower fat milk. Non-organic non-local is last choice. For lower fat milk, these seem to be the most watery.

I've got to go with Jackal on this... Neat. If it's too rough, then a couple of drops of water. No more. If I can't drink it that way, then it ain't worth drinkin'.

I'm probably like Rebecca. Gelatinous/slimy things in general don't get a thumbs up from me. Anything in aspic? Yesh. Why would anyone choose jelly over jam? Why *is* the jelly so mobile when you put in on the peanut butter? Jam stays in place. I don't mind a little tapioca pudding or a little Jello every now & then...but I don't want to... drink it. Drinking something chewy would remind me of spoiled milk with chunks in it. Bleh. From the calorie counts indicated above, looks like this is not a mental hurdle I need to get myself over, either.

And lard! They're fried in lard! That's a chip worth loving. If I could get the Kettle guys to fry their chips in lard, I'd end up on the "Big Medicine" show on TLC.

Those Grandma Utz's Hand-Cooked are nice. Near perfect level of salting and a nice crunch.

Exactly. I just scrape mold off of bread/cheese as long as it's confined to a relatively small area. Toast that puppy and you're good to go.

Me too. I thought this thread was going somewhere entirely different!

I'm in this camp too <knocking on wood>. I let pizza sit out overnight and eat it happily the next day, leave pots on the stove overnight, etc. Only been sick (well, non-alcoholic-related sick) twice in my life - once in Peru (in Aguas Calientes which had been without power for 3 days) and once in Cambodia (which I think was more of a water-based illness vs. a food-based illness, which cleared up overnight). That which does not kill you makes you stronger

This thread is making me hungry for Caprese. Spatchcocked chicken (a Smart chicken... very tasty little guy) martinated with oregano/garlic/red pepper/olive oil then roasted & finished under the broiler. With corn cakes & salsa verde and sliced tomatoes. I never made corn cakes before... surprisingly straightforward. Sorry for the camera phone pic.

Okay - I've been using my pork confit a lot like this picture: Browned the confit until crispy, with radish/lettuce and hot sauce on a crisped corn tortilla. I really enjoy this (the vegetables vary, but the concept remains the same), but the Butt confit is never-ending. Any fresh ideas for the rest of it? Rillettes? Anything else creative?

This thread got me off my duff to thaw the muscovy in my freezer, render the fat, confit the legs (confit in progress), and sear the duck breast as per the instructions above. Loved it - sliced the duck breast over hoe cakes with a savory cherry-bourbon sauce (and broiled tomatoes on the side). A pathetic picture from my camera phone:

As far as what an ABC store in NC stocks is concerned, it's at the county level, so I wouldn't expect another Wake County store to have a better selection of kirsch. ← Gah. Maybe I'll map out a close ABC in Durham or Chatham county and see how the selection differs in general. Pulled from the NC ABC pricing website: Is an 80%+ markup competitive?

I disagree. I am perfectly aware that the label "Madagascar Bourbon" does not imply that the extract was made with bourbon. However, I've chosen to make my batch with bourbon nonetheless, as I am particularly fond of the flavor combination of bourbon and vanilla and use it in many desserts. And I've chosen not to use Jack, because Jack isn't a whiskey that I care for (being from Tennessee and all).

True - as a new transplant to NC I just verified this the hard way. I thought I had made progress in moving to NC from Pennsylvania when I saw the independently-owned wine stores and beer/wine for sale in the grocery stores. I was happy, feeling secure in the consumer choices that only capitalism can provide. Then I found myself in need of bourbon on a Sunday. The lady at the wine store chuckled at me and directed me to the ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control Commission) store. Which, of course, is not open on Sunday. I managed to get there on Monday, and must say that the Wake County ABC I went to is just about the most dismal liquor store I have ever been in. I was also in need of some kirsch... and the one brand that was available did not look fit for human consumption. Maybe some ABC's are better than others. @% Communism! The State should not be selling goods. Where is Milton Friedman when I need him?

My wake up call came two years ago after playing a game left me with three bulging disks and an inability to stand upright for 3 weeks. My doc did the usual - prescribed the drugs for pain, got me into physical therapy - but at the end of our session said that if I wanted to keep it from happening again I needed to lose at least 50 lbs to keep the pressure off my disks. I was blushing and embarrassed at the time, but I'm glad she did it - her bluntness was the wakeup call that I wasn't getting from family, friends, or elastic-waisted pants. I've lost 45 of those 50. Still could stand to lose a few, but my focus is shifting from the number on the scale to exercising the muscles that I need to support my back and stay healthy. I think this site is a wonderful resource for people trying to learn how to eat in a balanced & healthy way. It has taught me to remember to seek out really fantastic food and to savor it, rather than stuffing myself with unsatisfying crap that leaves me wanting more.

Marionberries! On my last trip to Oregon Wine Country I had the best marionberry pie. My two friends and I ate the whole pie in lieu of dinner, it was that good. It still makes my mouth water thinking about it.

Recent scores: 10" cast iron skillet, nicely seasoned ($20) big-ass stock pot ($5) - put to use immediately for chicken stock (with chicken feet!! I love it when I get chicken feet for stock) wooden rolling pin with green painted handles ($3) flour sifter, cream colored with little red painted apples ($5 - overpriced but I liked the apples) blue glass Ball jars ($1 each) - one of which is currently holding my dill pickles-in-progress I love weekend flea markets. (Non-food related but still a huge score was the teal velvet armchair I got for $30!!!)

You have. I just ordered a pound of Madagascar, and bought a bottle of bourbon pending arrival of the beans. Between this thread and the recipe for Bourbon Vanilla in Fowler's New Southern Kitchen, I figured the Cooking Gods were telling me that I needed to make my own vanilla.