Carrot Top

That's a rather broad assumption you've just made there, Robyn. But I guess it's your right to think that way. Why do I have a sudden urge to sing the song Ebony and Ivory right now, I wonder. Haven't thought of that song in years. (P.S. Actually I think that was the only batter-fried fish I've had in about two years. Goodness knows the dining upon it has put me in a certain uh . . . "class", hasn't it. )

When X costs less than $20 and leaves one wiith an experience such as I wrote of below, I can't see how that is really a problem. I know how to estimate food cost, labor cost, and overhead and can't say the price of this meal was off in any way. Generally the X and half X situations occur in higher-tab places. Certainly I've had meals that cost $400. plus tip for two where I felt the way you describe. Again, as far as the fish being a grouper or one of the fish that closely resembles a grouper in taste and texture, it doesn't really matter to me. I'm reminded of Ray Johnson:

I thought this toaster/eggpoacher was adorable, so I bought it for a friend for a Christmas present last year. I don't think he's even taken it out of the box it came in, honestly.

I've received some responses to my question above, through my private e-mail. Several comments were in common. One: Don't write for free. (As Sandy noted above.) Second: If you decide to write for free, it's easier to blog than to wait for a response from someone else (blogging was mentioned by Janet and several other people, I think, above). Third: Generally places that publish writing done for free are happy to give a yes or no answer within a week or two. If it is longer than that, then they are likely yanking your chain for some reason, or have internal difficulties that will get in the way of a "yes" or "no" answer in a prompt manner. As I've waited six weeks for a yes or no answer, and still nothing forthcoming, I've decided to blog. At least. Problem solved. And thanks, from me, to those that sent me e-mails.

I knew before taking a bite of that sandwich that it was unlikely to be grouper, Danny. And I still don't feel put-upon or ripped-off in any way. I've read Alan Davidson encyclopediacally ( ) on fish and realize that even the "experts" often use different names for the same fish. If the fish had been expensive, or if the fish had not tasted good, then I would have. It tasted local, tasted very fresh, and the preparation was perfect, for what it was. The amount of slightly or purely false advertising in the world is huge. To fight it all would be to fight shadows on a never-ending basis. Buyer beware, yes. But buyer enjoy if buyer can.

Strangely enough, it is end-of-winter in Virginia, and the best tasting fresh fruit available in the grocery store is strawberries.

I'm down to five on the countertops and none in the cupboards.

My earlier answer was spaghetti bolognese. I'd like to change that, please, to hummus and pita.

I'd like to add "The Settlement Cookbook" to this list.

Two years after your suggestion I finally got around to this. I got one from a booth that makes homemade fresh roast peanuts. Mine says "Eat Redneck Peanuts" on it. They did charge me for it, but I thought it worth every penny.

Instant coffee granules in certain meat or poultry or bean based stews, soups - with some Texas Pete at the same time. Adds richness, depth, heat, in an indefineable punch.

I have a question for you all who have done this in a serious and considered sort of way (which I have not really, to date, done). How long is it usual to get an answer on a submission? I realize that many places have different policies on this. The few times I've submitted things, I got positive answers within the week (four times, small journal, unpaid); twice within two weeks (slightly larger yet still small journal but with a more focused readership , unpaid); once within three weeks (local newspaper). Is there a usual "wait time" for these things? Does it differ between types of journals or outlets? Does it differ if you are offering pieces you will be paid for, as opposed to those you are doing for free for the experience of it? Just curious. (I ask because there is one place I've submitted that at times has not responded at all to my queries, and at other times has quickly and with positive thoughts, and then again at other times seems to just not have the time to read and time sort of goes on with no answer, which feels like a stall to me. I really would like to move on and do something else than just "wait". This outlet does not pay for writing. Maybe if it were a "real paying job" I would feel differently. So I am looking for thoughts on this.)

Thank you, Rebecca. I didn't think of that. You are absolutely right. Next time I see them I shall carry a thermometer and medic kit. These viruses must be stamped out, for the good name of Ladies Lunches and aliens both.

Yes, I've gotten rabbit from live poultry markets. Very good flavor, eons away from the frozen stuff.

I had a Ladies Lunch recently which I was really looking forward to, after all the lovely posts and fine thoughts. Reality did not reach the fantasies, though. The two other ladies wanted to go to Macado's. I persuaded them to try Thai, an elegant little place, with lovely food. Each one chose the very least expensive, smallest thing on the menu. I think actually, they were fearful or something, for they are not lacking in funds. The conversation went well enough, through the dull ache in my heart. It really felt as if something had been done wrong, by their choices of "cheapest and smallest". I simply could not overcome this feeling. I don't get it. Going from the idea of Macado's - huge portions of fat dullness, to my mind - to the smallest measly things at this lovely place. I do not believe they were ladies. An alien spirit must have taken over their bodies.

I can and have written my own recipes (and have been paid very well for it, too ), and still enjoy convenience foods sometimes. Just for the *convenience* of it. You may be right. In my case, I seem to have lost my Presbyterian cap somewhere, the one that kept me from being lazy, the one that hints that well-being is reached through struggle. Maybe someday I'll find it again. It's been a while since I milked a cow or made my own soda, too. Why not frozen ravioli? If it is delicious and if it serves your purposes, should there be any guilt involved? And therefore, within the structure of the "traditional family" they were a form of men's liberation, too. For no longer were they responsible for the sole financial support of the family. And today, as more men take to the home kitchen, they might be thought to be a form of liberation for them, also. If it was good enough for MFK's kitchen, well. I agree. Good enough for mine, most likely.

If only they could get two of a smaller breed and name them Snack One and Snack Two. It's snowing outside at the moment, Suzy, otherwise Bunny (see, now his name's capitalized, the crafty creature) would be outside. No fenced yard, though. But I'm thinking "playpen". ............................................... Bunny's fate has probably been finally sealed, yes. This morning he kissed my finger when I gave him his carrot. How can you eat a bunny that has kissed you? I realize it was probably only the salt we humans have on our skin, not being covered with fur like he is, but anyway. Sly Bunny. ................................................. It's interesting, though, where we draw the lines and how we draw them, on what we will eat or not. P.S. Suzy - The Easter Bunny must have received a religious deferrment or something, in my mind. He is the Sacred Bunny.

There are more bunny references I did not add to my bunny icon list, too. Mostly because they are rabbits, not bunnies, though they are white. And rabbits are more serious things than bunnies, so the emotional appeal is missing. Plus I had no thesis, and if I started in on this stuff, I'd have to *find* a thesis. There is the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, always wondering what time it is. There's the song from the Jefferson Airplane "White Rabbit". On the other hand, it seems to me that both Glenn Close and Michael Douglas look peculiarly like white rabbits. Too scrawny for my taste, though, and the lack of emotional appeal makes them unappetizing to me. If I needed something to eat, and had to find something, and had to make a choice, I'd still have to choose , grass-eating symbol of sweetness ( and symbol of all that is wrong with society, in *this* house ), and hope that a bunny-like gentleness would imbue me. While hoping the bunny I chose to eat was not Bunnicula.

Remiss of me. Do you know, Milagai - I tried to watch that movie once and could not. It was too ugly.

I'll probably be spending too much time petting bunny between his ears through the wires of his cage to be able to cook anymore, SB. So. You are a lover of furry creatures but not feathered creatures? You would get along wonderfully with my cat. The only disagreement between the two of you would be that she thinks bunny a good thing to eat, too.

A bunny is something that most cultures consider dinner. It's hunted in the woods, in the fields, or is grown in small cages (as we do here with chickens) as a decent-tasting protein, not too difficult to butcher or to grow. No diminution of the name "rabbit" to the idea of "bunny" which makes the creature adorable-sounding to start off with. But here, in the US, we have a food item that has been made into a pet, made into an icon, really, of an image. Most of the ways we think of bunnies are not as food. We think of bunnies and in our minds rise the images of Bugs Bunny, a part of childhood Saturday mornings spent sprawled before the TV, rather than spent tending the garden or doing chores as children in earlier times or other places might do. Those with access to parents who read aloud, or to libraries, take into their hearts for all time our dear bunny cousin from across the pond - Peter Rabbit, plus memories of his mother, family, and assorted friends tucked around MacGregor's farm. Sometime later we meet Roger Rabbit, who is of course loved by Jessica. How could we think of him in a pie? Impossible! And to top it all off, we have Playboy Bunnies, the cream of the crop of sexually desirable young women who stick a furry white tail on their behinds, add floppy silk headbands with huge bunny ears attached (the better to hear you with, my dear), and put on a skimpy costume designed so that their mammary glands always seem just about to pop out at any moment, an agricultural food-product thought (not). Or maybe it is for some. A little white bunny entered my home. He (she, it) invaded my son's room, because my son wanted it to. And everything that seemed wrong about Western Culture seemed to invade my house, all because of a food item that wasn't. Generally I can persuade Drew to keep his room neat. This is something I insist upon, because these kids have so much "stuff". But the bunny, a cute little animal, was simply too much. Generally he keeps the door to his room open, but now it was closed, for the bunny needed to run and there is a cat in the house. The bunny started chewing cords, even though Drew had wrapped them in duct tape. This is a room with a *lot* of electronics, electronics being another dropping our culture often leaves in its trail. I had images of room and boy and bunny all exploding into an electrical explosion after one particularly good bite of a wire. And since bunny, the thing most cultures eat, was not yet trained, he (she, it) was shitting all over the floor, pissing on the carpet. Etc, etc. The thing that most people around the world eat, was eating us. And then it tried to electrocute me. I have cooked rabbits before, and it seemed to be quite a good idea for this one. But then again, we can not eat our friends, and this thing that most people eat had become Drew's friend. What to do. What we did, was peculiar, but it is us. I re-did Drew's room for bunny and Drew to exist together better. Carpet removed (thank goodness I do not believe in wall-to-wall carpet, so that was not too very difficult), excess electronics were removed and all cords re-wrapped to an excess of duct tape. As Drew seemed to be developing sinus problems, I removed the bunny cage from his room, as probably living with hay in his room was the cause. Bunny now lives in an alcove outside the living room. Ridiculous, I know. Now everyone that visits our home can know and love bunny. Drew is allowed to take bunny into his room to play for short periods of time. Since bunny needs intellectual stimulation, I told Drew to go into the basement to find some cardboard boxes, to fill them with this and that, as the instructional Bunny Link directed. I am not sure what happened, but when he climbed up the stairs to the kitchen he was calling "Help, Mom". I opened the door to the basement and was faced with a boy carrying a three and a half foot tall cardboard castle with turrets and small boxes coming from the tops and sides of the larger box at the bottom, all nicely prepared for bunny. The castle is in a corner of his room now, complete with flag stuck on top with a wooden skewer from my kitchen drawer, a skewer that is used for shish-kebobs. Bunny, the thing that most people eat, has become a Duke (or a Duchess). And everyone knows one can not eat a Duke or a Duchess. Their meat is stringy. I've loved each one of your helpful responses, and if I missed answering any, I hope you will understand and forgive me. It is almost time for elevenses, and the Duchess needs her tender celery leaves prepared just so! Celery gives good flavor to rabbit. One can always dream.

Or the Chinese cleaver of Karen. She (he? it? I haven't poked around to find out and do not intend to ) looks more like this, SB. Rather scrawny specimen for the pot, yes. Ah. That's why back-of-house stays late some nights, Katie. After all the FOH folk go home. Then of course, one can say that it was the suppliers that did it. Just a fun way of letting off some steam. Wheeeeee!

What a good doggie. Yes. We kill things in the back of the house and smile winningly in the front of house. .............................................. Ah, well. Some things have transpired in the past day, since all these lovely responses to my cry for help, and I've made my decision. Will the bunny hit the pot or not? I'll have to tell you tomorrow. I'm quite worn out.

I love what 4-H does. Someday I might try to join. No idea what my project would be, though. Isn't there a peculiar and specific way that a snapping turtle has to be cleaned in order to not smell like that? I seem to remember something like that from somewhere . . . (you see my vagueness with these matters - 4-H will have a time with me I'm sure ) (I guess I'm going to hell along with you, Sheena Greena. What shall we wear? )