CaliPoutine

Robin found me a hard cover copy of Maggie Glezer's Artisan Baking Across America for .25.

I think of the word " cook" as derogatory. In my job( cooking for Seniors 2x a month at a church), I'm called a "cook" and my uniform is a medical scrub top. Would a "chef" ever wear a scrub top? I doubt it. This is neither here nor there, but I think only people in the medical field should wear scrubs. I asked if I could wear my "chef" jacket and was told I could. But, its HOT and there is no A/C in the summer. Such a double edged sword.

Pardon my ignorance but what is a timtam? ← Its a really great cookie from Australia. Its made with pure cane sugar as opposed to high fructose corn syrup. You can get them in the US at Cost Plus world markets. They're sold under the brand name of Arnotts.

This is a sweet/salty cake from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking. Omg, amazing cake. Yesterday was my spouse's bday so this was Thanksgiving dessert too. The filling is caramel and the frosting is a whipped caramel ganache. The frosting was BRILLIANT. The top is sprinkled with fleur de sel( there is also a tsp of salt in the caramel).

Jeff. Beautiful and PERFECT rolls.

I just pulled these from the oven.

I cooked some this morning too. I've had it for 2yrs and it was perfect.

Here are the fluffy dinner rolls from Cook's Country. You can make them ahead and freeze them. I just made them this morning. I ran out of time this week.

My ex-pat Thanksgiving. a Mango chutney cheeseball coated in cashews We're eating later since its not a holiday in Canada. I dont want ppl to eat too many apps and fill up. Herb/butter turkey mashed potatoes( I'm making that tonight w/ cream cheese)( bake off tomorrow) stuffing apricot/ginger cranberry sauce freezer green bean casserole( I made it a few days ago and put it in the freezer. It bakes right from the freezer. No CANNED SOUP either!!) Sweet potato casserole fluffy dinner rolls another veg brought by eG member Pookie pumpkin pie, apple pie sweet/salty bday cake for spouse.

The latest issue of Saveur has an article about different punches. Regent's punch is featured.

Pollo Loco is really good. I remember when we lived in Tucson, there were concerts in the park each Sunday evening. We'd swing by Pollo Loco and pick up enough chicken, salsa and tortillas for our crowd and any friends we had invited along. Magical evenings, due in no small measure to Pollo Loco. If you'd like something at least similar before March, there's a thread somewhere here on eG about how to make that grilled chicken at home. And then some salsas and tortillas, and your pollo can be loco, tambien! ← Thanks, I'll have to look for that thread. El Pollo Loco was the restaurant that got me eating corn tortilla's w/ butter. I used to always get flour until the 1 time I ordered corn. Now I have to buy my corn tortilla's in MI as I can't get there here in my small town.

I always picked taco bell in S. Cal too. Dont know why, when there are so many great mom and pop taco stands. Here in Canada, Taco Bell sells fries. You can get them loaded( I always leave off the meat). The last time I got them, they were topped with dried chives. Horrid!!

Do you bake with a digital scale? ← Did you put the scoops of cookie dough on an already hot cookie sheet?

Thanks for the report. I always buy too much when I go home to S. Florida, because Jewish bakeries where I live are non-existent. The freezer is my friend : )

You're welcome. If anyone else wants the recipe, feel free to PM me.

I can't wait till I go back to Cali in March so I can eat at Pollo Loco. When I lived there, I ate it at least 2x a week. I also love Charro Chicken, but there arent too many of those.

I'm going to make these fluffy make ahead dinner rolls. They're from Cook's Country( part of Cook's Illustrated). You make them, fully bake them and then freeze them. They're supposedly even better when reheated( as opposed to fresh).

Too late now as they wouldnt sell them to me. Check out Big Lots, you'll probably be able to find them there.

How about a traditional cesear salad? I'm not big on bacon( I know its a Canadian thing though), but pancetta is nice instead of regular smoked bacon. Or, a nice winter salad with segmented oranges, toasted pecans, dried cranberries and maybe a spring mix or some radicchio.

I'm still waiting for the pics!!

I totally agree. Btw, did you ever see that episode of Wife Swap( a couple years ago) where the entire family ate raw( including raw chicken). I was naseuous just watching the show.

Thats what I've been told too.

I saw these today at Big Lots in MI. They were 3.00 a package. They had fennel, black pepper and rosemary. I was going to buy one, but they expired on Oct 21st!!

I think 100% cranberry juice w/ added sugar might be better. Not sure about the jelling part. Maybe something like sure-jel( pectin)

I remember those from your foodblog!!