foodie52

If it were my last meal on earth, I'd try to eat lots of fatty and carb-laden foods, washed down with tequila and then red wine, so that, when they come to get me, I feel so awful that I will welcome death. (Yes, I've had that experience once or twice: haven't we all..)

I'm confused...how can they afford to rent downtown???? Something's going on: it's got to be a front for something else...

Silver Shred: English lemon marmalade. Why don't you have a picking party: invite your friends for potluck and let them have at the tree. You'll have stories of their creative attempts at using them to entertain you for the rest of the year!

Shoot, Mayhaw Man....and here I was planning a trip to NO to eat with y'all because you sound like a kindred spirit.. But I'd be coming from Austin...and I was gonna bring ribs.

The eggroll carts? I'm surprised you haven't heard this... About a year ago, the families who ran them were shut down and some of them arrested because they were fencing stolen goods...the whole familyl had been doing it for years around campus. Kids' stereos, etc. had been disappearing. King of a shame. I ate enough of those greasy eggrolls in my time. Two for a buck... By the way, Tom Abdenour of Tom's Tabouli is still going strong. He supplies my Central Market with his products, still, so we chat frequently. Now there's a hard-working man.

Oh my oh my oh my....I ate at St. John three days ago and it was marvellous. Well worth seeking out.

I wasn't attempting to "smuggle" the Velveeta...its only problem is that on an Xray machine, encased in foil, it looks like a nice hunk of explosives apparently. So I rewrapped it in plastic wrap, put it in my carry-on. and didn't have a problem. The queso was great, by the way.

Menudo that I tried to make myself....even the dog wouldn't touch it.

As a teenager in boarding school in England, I HATED gooseberries ( always served stewed) and rhubarb( ditto). Now I love them both when I can get them.

Mad Dog and Beans....on 24th street, before that location was gentrified into a Starbucks. Yeah: I had their shakes once in a while. They were so thick that it was hard to suck them up through a straw! UT students are missing out on great food experiences. Also, what was the name of the cafe right next door? Seems to me it had a French name? Once in a blue moon I'd go there for coffee. Couldn't afford it often. There was also, in the 70's on the Drag, a vegetarian place that looked like a shack but had great fried mushrooms. I remember them being cited by the Health Department! And talk about cheap food..there was an "Italian" place across from Dobie that served All You Can Eat spaghetti that had a disgusting red sauce. No meat. Just that vinegary sauce...Above that was the icecream place that had black walls so that you couldn't see the dope smokers...only smell them! Aaarrggghh! Somebody stop me!!

My niece got a steamer from her brother. This is no ordinary steamer. For starters, it's the size of a large rice cooker. It is three-tiered, supposedly so that you can steam various food items separately at the same time. The thought of all that steamed food at one meal makes me gag...She has yet to open the box. I have an idea....I think we need to set up an egullet swap thread. Receiver pays the postage, donor gets more counter space!!

I cooked Apaloosa beans in my crockpot yesterday: they slow-cooked in a mxture of water, salsa, stewed tomatoes and a ham hock for 12 hours but still didn't get soft enough. I had to transfer them to a pot and simmer them on the stove for another half hour before serving. I find this whole bean thing intriguing...the less liquid vs more liquid in particular. I love slkinsey's preparation!

I wonder if potato starch would work?

Rhubarb and strawberry crumble. I only make it in the winter when it's cold enough outside to turn on the oven!

Thanks, Marlena... My friend, who is British, lived here in Texas for 3 years. While here, she enjoyed queso which is a staple at parties. When she went back to the UK, she began craving things she can't get now....like queso..and margaritas...and sunlight... We also enjoyed some magnificent cheeses during my visit: there is a great cheese shop in Bath that we spent quite a few pounds at! Lovely raw milk cheeses....be assured that I sampled quite a few of them!

I've been roasting chicken for well over 30 years, and never baste it. I think I read somewhere that basting is a waste of time and oven heat. One thing you can do to crisp the skin ( and forgive me if someone has already mentioned it...I had to skim ) is to keep it in the fridge overnight, unwrapped. If I'm being efficient ( and that doesn't happen that often ), I'll brine the bird for 7 hours and then rinse and let it rest unwrapped in the fridge overnight. Mostly, I don't bother...just the brine. Lots of fresh rosemary and unpeeled garlic, a lemon in the cavity, olive oil all over the bird and a splash of white wine. Roast at 375 til done.It's usually divine.

Lovely meal at St. John a few nights ago. Started with the bone marrows, of course. Also had the dried, pressed pigs liver, which was part of a very tasty salad consisting of tiny radishes, capers, chopped cornichons and hard boiled egg with an excellent vinaigrette. The entrees we chose received mixed reviews. The pig cheeks and dandelion was excellent: the cheeks were meaty and fatty, with lovely crispy skin. They paired well with the bitter greens. Again, the vinaigrette over the greens was delicious. We also had the devilled kidneys which were split in half and served over toasted bread. It was the first time I've ever had them: they tasted slighty mustardy , but the flavor of the actual kidneys was front and center. The disappointment of the meal was the third entree of beef. To my American eye, it was prime rib, but to be honest, it wasnt' that tender. It had nice flavor and the horseradish sauce with it was excellent, but I come from Texas....enough said. My dining companions agreed that it was disappointing. Puddings....amazing apple crumble with custard that was more like a wonderful creme anglaise. We ate it all. Also a lemon posset which was tart and creamy, almost like a lemon curd, with lovely shortbread as an accompaniment. Lovely restaurant, great service...I really enjoyed it.

The Velveeta didn't cause a problem...went through security without even needing to be inspected. My tin of golden syrup, however, caused some alarm at Dallas security when I returned to the country. The young man pawing through my stuff actually raised an eyebrow when he found it in my luggage. And when he found the jar of mixed spice wrapped in my socks....well! I had to explain that I cook a lot....

Well, my Velveeta is rewrapped in see-through Saran....the Rotel is in the suitcase, as are the 3 dozen corn tortillas.... Will report back when I return!! Time to go.

One question.... When did a Full English Breakfast come to cost 16 pounds? I'm in shock....

fifi: Why don't you go to Central Market and ask to speak to the sausage maker? I bet they could make you some.

Hah! Easy for YOU to do, maybe, Jaymes darling.... Nope, I've decided to take: Velveeta, Rotel and a couple of packages of the white corn tortillas made by El Milagro. We then have the option to fry them up, or just serve them warmed. Thanks for all your suggestions!

Oh I forgot...I'm also bringing Central Market's flour tortillas to another friend.....6 dozen. She'll freeze them and eat one a day until they are all gone. I don't think you can get thin, unsalted Mexican-restaurant style chips there. I could be wrong, but I don't remember seeing them at all. Or corn tortillas for that matter. I hope somebody posts here soon and lets us know! (And NOT someone else from Texas or Louisiana!!!)

But of course! The Rotel is coming along, too. I don't think it will appear as a problem. I'm also lugging along a case of proper tortilla chips.

My husband used to be a big diet soda drinker. A couple of years ago he started complaining about forgetfulness and fuzzy thinking.....it was scary. I remembered an article I had read about artificial sweeteners and their effect on brain function. I had him stop drinking that stuff and switch to water and unsweetened tea. The problem went away after a week or so. I'm a believer....