CaliPoutine

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner at the Bellagio. It was the buffet, but it was stellar. We did wait 3 hrs in line( we got in the line at 4:30pm) which I'd never do again.

*bump* I'm catering a wedding( just the apps/desserts) in Sept so I pulled out the heart shaped bread tube to give it a try. I'm serving a large cheese platter and I thought some heart shaped toasts would be nice. I used a tube of the Pillsbury breadstick dough that I rolled in a mixture of Italian seasoning( Garlic Plus for the Canadians) and grated parm. I'd never use these for the assorted canapes I'm serving though. Eg member Tino is baking all the breads for those( and coming up from OH to help me). I sliced off 2 to show, but it really needs to cool down more.

My spouse picked up this set of periwinkle fiestaware. She paid 5 bucks for everything We currently use Fiestaware as our everyday dishes so we'll probably keep the plates/bowls and sell the rest. She also picked up this ice-crusher. We'll be selling this. She paid $1.00 I shudder to think how she'll be in the WINTER when there are no more yard sales!!

The power of suggestion eh? We went to MI last night and I *almost* bought some too. I had no clue what I was going to do with it, it was just a good bargain. I didnt buy it though because our kitchen reno is starting soon and I've been given strict orders to use up what we have.

I can think of two reasons why a small box of Velveeta costs $7 or $8 here. 1) The Milk Marketing Board controls all dairy production in Canada. Each cow has a quota price of $80,000 just to be in a herd. 2) Kraft seems to have a strangle-hold on the mass market cheese. Are they also that powerful in the U.S? Thankfully cheese from sheep or goats can be more reasonable. There is more of this in Canadian Feta now, because the cheesemaker can get away from the cow-milk quota that way. ← I'm curious though, What is the percentage of milk in Velveeta. It seems to be mostly other ingredients with a low percentage of actual dairy.

Ro-Tel is a brand of canned tomatoes with green chilis...they sell both whole tomatoes and chopped. Look for the white label, it will stand out from the other tomato products and their red labels! It is not available in all markets, either. ← Sadly, its not availble in this part of Canada. I pick it up in Michigan if I ever need it. Btw, our local market( Independent, off-shoot of Loblaws) does sell Velveeta. They usually have it in the refridgerated section and it only comes in one size. Its A LOT more expensive here than in The States.

=Mark's Mustard BBQ sauce!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Is this the one from Weddings?

Hi, Thanks, but I'm looking for one that is more like a bread rather than a cake. I need to serve tarragon chicken salad on top.

Hi All, I'm looking for a date bread recipe from Martha Stewart Wedding book. Does anyone have the book? I have a catering job coming up next month( I'm just doing the apps and desserts for a wedding). I was planning on a taragon chicken salad on date bread. I've made this bread before( at a previous job) and the texture is very sturdy and its not that sweet. Its more like a bread than a cake.

This is the Hot fudge sauce I use. Its great!!

Fig Jam!! Its wonderful with goat cheese on crostini or any cheese really. No pectin needed!!

I used to use wax paper/shallow bowl until I bought these breading trays. I love them!!! I used seasoned flour, egg with a touch of water and panko( with garlic plus) or seasoned bread crumbs.

I forgot my camera so no pics This meal went over well. I changed a few things because I felt I had too many "white foods". I ended up warming up the hams I bought at Easter. I used 3 hams that I got for 1.49lb. I thought the texture looked strange after they were defrosted, but I had no complaints. I bought 3(5lb) containers of Macaroni salad( Reecers brand). I paid 15.00 total. I used 4 English cukes( probably only needed 2), 4 bags of baby carrots .99 ( 2 or 3 would have done it) and 3 bunches of celery( 99 cents each). I bought 2 bottles of Ranch dressing( 1 dollar each). I was going to make my own but while I was shopping with Egullet member Pookie, she talked me out of it. She said the Seniors wouldnt know the difference and I'm sure she was right. I bought 8 boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix at Wal*Mart in Port Huron. (.33 each). They just go wild for these muffins. I made Watergate salad and bought a gorgeous seedless watermelon. For dessert, I made Cooking Light's Texas Sheet cake. It was really hot so I bought Tea Bags for Ice tea. I thought they would love it, but not so much. I saw one lady pour herself a glass, take one sip( I think she thought it was juice) and then walk into the bathroom to dump it out. Oh well. The next meal I cook for 3 programs( Tues, Wedn and Thur), they're all having the same thing. I got pork butt roasts on sale for 1.99 each. They're already seasoned and I'm going to slow cook them and make some BBQ sauce. I hope they're not too spicy. I'll make potato salad and waldorf salad and corn on the cob. I havent decided on dessert yet.

I've been looking for a standing mixer for the church where I cook for the Seniors and I havent been able to find one. Are you finding these at Value Village? ← You might consider joining a Freecycle group in your area. It's free and I have given away several mixers (and a lot of other stuff) to people in my area. One of my friends, who now lives in Niagara, scored a Kenwood mixer to use at her school, via Freecycle. Some in Canada have been renamed Full Circles Network ← Thanks Kerry, next time we see each other, I'll take it. Andi, I belong to the London Freecyle( full circle), about 6 months ago, I put my membership on hold( London gets so much email) and now I can't remember my password for Yahoo. I'll have it reset and rejoin. Thanks!!!

We went to a pot luck bbq last night. Omg, there wasnt one thing( except the dish I brought) that I could say was delicious. Everything was either cooked in a crock pot with the same looking/tasting sweet/sour sauce or coated in miraclewhip or bottled salad dressing. How Effing hard is it to make a viniagrette? Jaysus!! I brought a watermelon/feta/scallion salad( similar to what Torakris made for the Heartland Gathering) and hardly anyone touched it. I heard many comments from people thinking it was tomatoes. I said " Its watermelon feta salad and one guy said " thats just wrong". I said "Whats wrong about it? Holy god. I knew I shouldnt have brought it, but I had half a watermelon to use up. I'm pissed I wasted good feta on those people. Almost all of the salad was leftover. Why do so many people eat such shit food? I'd rather eat nothing.

I've been looking for a standing mixer for the church where I cook for the Seniors and I havent been able to find one. Are you finding these at Value Village?

I can't wear these at work because they don't have a closed back.

The 12% would be closest to the half and half I buy. ← Kerry is correct. Half and Half in Canada is marked 10% on each package. You could probably make it yourself, but it might be difficult( for me anyway, I suck at math) to come up with the right percentage.

I love my crocs( endevour, no holes) but was just told I can't wear them at work anymore. We have to wear shoes with a closed back. Pisses me off, because my crocs are so comfortable. I just dont know what to wear now.

I usually order the pad thai, the singapore noodles or a curry shrimp dish. I dont eat red meat or like the taste of dark meat chicken so my choices are limited. I wouldnt call it a vietnamese restaurant per se, its more a fusion type place. They have a huge menu.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was just reading an old Bon Appetite magazine and there was an article by Gary Rulli. I saw Larkspur and I said Oh goodie!!

Oh wow, yummy. I miss NY style pizza a lot!! I was born in NY, but grew up in Ft. Lauderdale where every other pizza place is NY style. I wish I would have known about this place a few short weeks ago. Robin and I coming up for a weekend in October so this will definitely be on the list!!

My Spouse and I will be staying with friends in San Raphael on Sept 11-18th. While I assume we'll be heading into SF most days, I'd like a few recomendations in case we just don't feel like making the trek on any particular day. Nothing too expensive. We're mostly looking for Italian, Mexican, Chinese( or other Asian cuisines) I'd like to find a good bakery too.

Pookie and I ate at Taco Del Mar tonight. Its a Mexican fast casual chain out of the US. They're known for big fat burritos and fish taco's. Its at 607 Richmond. There is also a schwarma place further N on Richmond called Pita Pita. Its a few doors down from Sebastian's market. There is another Vietnamese place that Christine( Pookie) and I visit. I can't remember the name but its at Huron and 2nd street.