rooftop1000

You can all pick your own worst chain restaurant experience. Sometimes I think about the fact that at some point in history, some place in the country, this food was So Good that the owners made so much money they could expand...and expand. tracey

About 10 yrs ago my husband did some kit brewing and I recently talked him into trying again. This time we used the New Complete Joy of Home Brewing. Our first attempt was called Lovebite Weizenbier and everything went off well except that we refigerated right after bottling so carbonation has taken a looooong time, it was starting after about 3weeks and we havent opened one for another 3 weeks. Then we tried Palilalia India Pale Ale, as I was about to pour the Malt Extract into the pot I realized it was supposed to be powder, Oh well it will still be Beer right? Indeed it is, after 2 weeks in the bottles at room temp we chilled and opened one. Well, it's not Pale to be sure and it doesn't act like an IPA either. Dark red and creamy with a head you want to try balancing a coin on, lacy film down the sides and a rich Hoppy after taste that really lingers in the mouth. I am thinking it came out like a pre-mixed Black and Tan. Hubby loves it but he likes Guiness, I will stick with whats left of the Weiss and the IPA is Christmas gifts. Oh well mistakes were made and probabley will be again but this is fun tracey

Since I have started reading different Expat Blogs before I take vacation trips it is refreshing to see someone want to incorporate "native" cuisine into a holiday meal rather than make desparate substitutions. Certainely any dish that is Festive or goes with your core meal would be appropriate but I would lean towards Duck especially after having watched Christmas Story too many times. ( If you havent seen it, the family's Turkey is taken by the neighbor dogs so they have to go out for Chinese food on Christmas) Enjoy, Merry Christmas Tracey

This link goes to Project Guttenburg which is a site full of free older E-Books. I of course went straight to cook books and started looking at 365 Foreign Dishes published in 1908. I am intrigued and frightened at the same time.... http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=40360&pageno=1 enjoy the site Tracey

Chili's for price point, options, and Surprising good customer service. Which means that yes, mistakes are made but they are corrected so well. tracey

Well, I have a slicer under the tree (dont know what kind yet) and Pastrami and Bacon on the smoker. Not perfect timing but I'll take it. : ) tracey

Being from Jersey I'll weigh in on that one...My strongest memories: Italian Sausage and Pepper sandwiches, Steamed Clams dipped in butter, French Fries with Vinegar, and Orange/Vanilla twist Custard cones....and of course pizza slices the size of a small child...thats my Boardwalk But if you actually lived there - Crabs tracey

Goat Cheese?? If so how about a roasted vegetable tower or terrine with goat cheese. tracey

I will be a study partner is anyone wants to come bake my Christmas Cookies for me LOL tracey

Try a retail Party stor like Party City...they usually have a Wilton's section T

Lobster with butter. Now you can disect a restaurant meal with lobster being over cooked or under cooked but pretty much any lobster with butter is Good Tracey

Yesterday I did a loaf that I had planned to make with an Ale Barm but the aformentioned Ale was Way Hoppy... I did use the spent toasted Malted Barley that I put in the freezer back on brew day and that added a nice little crunch. Tracey

We brewed some Lemon Wheat Beer that we planned on giving as gifts, but it's almost gone. So, we made more that won't be ready 'till Christmas so maybe we will gift some of that batch. I need to find something to make that I dont like, cookies and beer are not the answer. merry happy tracey

I just got this in my email and seemed timely to add it http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/features/multimedia/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=352369 looks like fun tracey

Tomato and L'escarole soup garnished with Bacon and Croutons fried in Bacon fat tracey

I think the bacon might be harder to slice if you dont roast and chill but.... I started with the Times recipe and 4 pieces of meat, after rubbing the first one I decided I hated the way the seasoning mix smelled so I did 1 more and threw that mix out. I made a half batch of the Pink salt, salt, sugar mix and added some maple syrup and pepper and did the other 2 pieces in that. They actually both taste good, I have used the savory one on cheese burgers and the maple with French toast so far. tracey

The Malta sounds like a good idea in my local supermarket it is near the Mexican Style products although I just tasted some toasted malted barely last week and that was pretty cool tracey

There are a bunch of sources listed in this thread for the Pink-Curing Salt and here is another. I found this product at Gander Mt which is a hunting/fishing/outdoor Chain Store http://www.lemproducts.com/product/169/Cure_Ham_Curing_Kits Its fun try it Tracey

Well It was nearly dinnertime...5:30 when we snuck into Nice Matin without a reservation. The hostess said we had an hour. We opted for the Prix Fix menu starting with Butternut Squash Risotto and Escargot and moving on to the Hanger Steak served with spinach and onions rings and the Monkfish with a white bean and chorizo ragout. Delicious one and all, Snails out of the shells in a butter sauce with shaved garlic and crunchy bread crumb topping to a steak cooked a beautiful bleu. Desserts were the Creme Brulee and the dark chocolate Pot du Creme.Oh my 4 oz of what is essentially dark chocolate ganache with fresh whipped cream and 2 chocolate nut cookies...that was damn good Tracey

What if you made a soft ganache that would melt quickly with the cappucino wand? tracey

Hi all We are planning to go see the Macy's baloons being inflated Wednesday afternoon and my husband thinks a late lunch early dinner before heading up there is a good idea. I thought we would grab dinner afterwards but it is his B'day... Any ideas, casual (will be dressed for walking in the cold) probabley more Euro than Asian leaning, Brasserie kind of maybe? Mid 50s up to 80th Thanks Happy Thanksgiving tracey

If most of the items on the plate get along with gravy then pour it on, (like Thankgiving dinner). If we are talking about a steak or perfectly roasted bit of something with a pan reduction then just on the meat itself. The sides themselves will also dictate the saucing like with a great steak the mashed potaotes might be super creamy or agressively seasoned with garlic, for a gravy meal I would make simpler smashed potatoes to wallow in gravy. tracey

Just a little home cured Hickory smoked Maple Bacon....well there was French Toast too but who really cares about that LOL tracey

While I can't say I haven't shopped this week (really had to get my free turkey) Tonights dinner dinner is a pantry freezer meal of Chili and corn bread. The only problem was no eggs. I asked my husband if he was ok with rice or should a take a home brew next door to barter for an egg? He said go get an egg. So does bartering count as shopping? tracey

I recently used the Brew Bucket strainer bag ...for its designated use...and it worked very well. None of these list the actual width of the mesh, but you may be able to ask or check out a local place that sells brewing equipment http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdBySubCat.aspx?SubCat=660 tracey