eJulia

This is just so sad... I know more parents are working outside of the home, but my basic cooking instruction came from mom. She worked outside of the home, but we still had to eat! I learned basics like browning ground beef (and the need to drain off the grease, and how to do it with a tilted skillet and a tablespoon - don't forget it doesn't go down the drain!), creaming butter and sugar as the start of every cookie recipe, how to read the abbreviations in a recipe (and where to go if you weren't clear!), etc. Don't let milk boil hard, always preheat the oven (and why), don't overbeat batters after combining the wet and dry ingredients (and why), how to prep all kinds of veggies for salads and sides... all lessons learned in the family kitchen. Just like the Food Network commercials say, when you learn to cook, you are learning math, fractions, measures and weights, language/vocabulary skills, teamwork, patience, and more. Now my mom was no chef - we ate plenty of hamburger helper and other convenience foods, but she gave me the foundation to explore more complicated cooking/baking if I chose. And I'm still learning everyday. What will it take for parents to invest in their kids???

I am curious... when Emeril opens his "Emeril Live" show, he enters wearing what appears to be a suit coat over his chef's whites... I have never seen another chef do this - and it seems sort of illogical. Aren't chef's whites made of a relatively sturdy (read thick) fabric? It seems they also have somewhat loose wrists - not cuffed and buttoned like dress shirts... would this not make it difficult to pull such a suit coat on? My question to the chefs and experts out there is... does anyone else sport this fashion? I can understand an overcoat or jacket for venturing outside, and obviously not wearing the suit coat in the kitchen, but do chefs/exec chefs wear this ensemble to business meetings or to media interviews/photo ops? Or... is just an "Emeril" for the purposes of TV? This thread is NOT intended to endorse or provide a forum for Emeril bashing or adoration... please restrain yourselves!!!

Thanks for the kitty pics! They looked like a "matched set" - all solid colors.... sure makes it easy to tell them apart and they're OH so chic!

Ah, that accounts for the naked ankles on the finished product! (I guess we've decided they DO have ankles!) Thanks for passing on the tip...

All I can say is "Thank God! Finally a reason to turn down all those offers of squirrel, rat and feral pig brains!!!"

These may be "cheesy", but I'm not sure what your biggest challenges are: EZ Carry Handles for groceries Potential one handed utensils? Quick Chop Note these are all "As seen on TV" website, so they could all be crap. The suggestions from Athena above are good - many of them are "products" you can find for big $$$$, but it looks like Athena has experience with making them up at home - clearly a $$ saver.

JAZ: That chicken looks delish! What about just using thighs? I really don't like legs.... ETA: I forgot to tell you that I am loving this Blog - thanks for your efforts!

Some really good suggestions above... wish I'd thought of them! In the eCGI course on cooking with disabilities, LoveBenton0 mentions using manual choppers, a rotary-style pizza cutter instead of a knife and/or kitchen shears to assist in cutting food safely. Two other ideas may not fit for you. It's a shame you or someone local to you can't organize a "cooking party" ala Dream Dinners in your own home. You could plan the dishes (hopefully ones that freeze and reheat well), organize recipes and shopping lists and supervise a bunch of friends putting up several dishes (multiple servings) - it'd be fun for a group of food nerds..... any eGulleters close to VW up for the challenge? One other choice (although expensive) is using a personal chef on a one or two time basis - don't know if that is an option for you or not, given that you're probably up to your eyeballs in bills or expected costs of the new baby. I'll keep looking.... you keep mending! And if there is anything I can do from Portland, please don't hesitate to ask!

Can't wait to see the rest of your blog! It's a bit bittersweet, since I called my two boy cats "the boys" for years.... since I am now in non-pet housing, they have since been relocated to loving homes - but I still miss them so much it hurts! At any rate, SF is one of my favorite towns - I went to undergrad in San Luis Obispo, so a weekend trip to SF was always a "trip" - in those days, literally!

My kitchen timer is a Sunbeam, which I couldn't find online, but it is very similar in function to this one: Acurite kitchen timer It lists itself as a BBQ timer, but if you read the description on this page, I think you'll find it works well as an all-purpose kitchen timer. I especially like that it has three ways to display it - magnet (for fridge or oven), clip (for clothing if you're going to be outside) and a little easel thing that works for the counter. Note it counts up and down and can be used to count down increments of time (like every 15 minutes) for stirring or turning. Please note, I am not advocating this website as the cheapest or best, I just thought it's description was most complete. Hope this helps!

Brooks: Thanks again for a moving and vivid account of a truly historical Mardi Gras. I was wondering about you this past week, and which side of the "should N.O. have Mardi Gras celebrations this year or not" fence you were on. I should have known that you'd embrace your beloved traditions and GO FOR IT! Hope you know that while some may have stopped thinking about you and your neighbours, I doubt many of them are eGulleters! eJulia

You all have made me a TJ junkie! I stopped by a Lake Oswego, OR store on my way from Salem to Portland, and only spent $45 because I had to avoid frozen food. I never liked it becuz of the shrink wrapped produce and the lack of a warm-blooded butcher to talk with. But based on this thread, I focused on jarred and bagged goodies... and what goodies I found! Thai Lime Peanuts Mini Savory Crisps Eggplant Tapanade Olive Tapanade Marinara with Vodka Spicy Walnut halves Simmer Sauces Galore! And my fav.... "Simply Cashews, Almonds and Cranberries" - a trail mix that will forever be served at any and all cocktail parties! YUM! I can't wait to find a local store so I can begin investigating the frozen department. Most of the food I could make from scratch, and usually do, but having that bounty in the pantry sure makes a quick, delicious meal a reality on those nights when you don't have any other choice.

Kathy: I'm new to the Portland area, living in corporate housing... look me up when you get here! The Farmers market is awesome, the produce - well you won't miss So. Cal (Where I grew up and went to college) and the green outside is awesome (even if you have to enjoy the rain to make it so...) We have several Trader Joes, a Whole Foods, several New Seasons (my new favorite!) plus many neighborhood stores that will knock your socks off and probably keep you out of the "big name" stores!! I'll be looking to see you blog once you get here and discover your own favorites! Julia

My parents let their decorator pick theirs out - what a disaster. The table was pretty enough - cherry wood, substantial. The decorator paired the table with fully upholstered chairs sans arms... but failed to test them first at the table. The table had a piece of wood running all around the table that came down 4" or so. The chairs were too tall, did not have casters..... so first you had to figure out how to shimmy the chair in close enough for dining comfort, then once you banged your knees on that damn piece of wood, you didn't have enough room to cross your legs under the table! I don't know why they kept it, unless it was some kind of "final sale" (no returns). I hated dining at their house - it was so uncomfortable! I am a fan of side arms and casters - casters may not be as attractive, but how easy they make it for you and your guests to get up and down from the table comfortably!

I am so frustrated by all this "raw chicken" paranoia.... who of us over the age of 35 grew up with separate cutting boards for poultry and constant handwashing? Did any one of us get sick from mom's chicken helper dishes? If I was a restaurant owner, I may be more careful, but as a home cook, enough is enough. I practice hygenic cooking practices, and believe that that protects myself and my guests. I dare you to eat my cooking and claim illness!

Thanks for indulging us (me) with kitty pics - they all look so similar - even Diana! Magnificat (great name!) looks like she doesn't miss many meals... (BTW, that's a compliment... I don't look like I miss many meals either!) I've been pet-less due to living circumstances for two years, and while my two "boys" are in good and loving households, I miss them to distraction some days. Again, thanks for the kind indulgence! Best of luck!

OMG.. that is so funny, I still have tears streaming down my face!

Malawry: I just finished re-reading your blog on cooking school... it's really amazing to see how much you've grown. I had to chuckle at all your references to maintaing a vegetarian kitchen at home, given that Erin is now doing low carb! I totally understand the transition... I kept to a strict VEGAN lifestle for almost three years... in a midwestern town, no less. It just was too difficult. I added dairy (some) and it got a little easier, but once my eGullet days began, I got so interested in some of the subjects discussed, I just had to start experimenting. I still have a number of veggie favs I make on a regular basis (eg. eggplant parm, ratatouille, hummus plates, crostini with olive tapenades/other veggie toppings, certainly a number of soups (although I often use my homemade chicken stocks.)) Thank you so much for blogging again. If your fellow eGulleters have not read your previous threads, they should do so without delay - but a warning!!! They are addictive! Best of luck on Colin's arrival, you know we want to see pics of mom and baby as soon as you can manage! (If you're comfortable with that, of course!)

Rochelle: Just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying this blog, and how much I am impressed by your stamina! I say, let your hubby and mom work more to let you work less! I loved your self portraits, and would love more kitty pics.... or hubby pics or... classroom pics. Pics of anything you want! eJulia

Fat Guy: I don't know how Chris will rule, but I'd love to see some picks of that!!!

Chris: I too am amazed no one had mentioned Barkeepers Friend... it rocks! I used in on my old stainless sink and it looks like new. I then cleaned every pot and pan, and it looks like I have all new cookingware!!!

To all the quitters and quitters to be: Congrats on your life changing decision.. best of luck!!!! Doug: After I quit, the first real taste revelation was over a glass of Rodney Strong Merlot (don't remember the year). I was out with some pretty sophisticated wine drinkers, took my first sip and exclaimed "OMG, can you taste and smell the cinnamon!" It was probably the first time I really got a strong side note without being "coached" by wine reviews or fellow non-smoking imbibers. What a kick! Looking forward to hearing of your wine tales as time goes on... Julia (Celebrated 7 years smoke free on 1/1/06)

My guess: Roast Chicken 101 Simple tomato sauce 101 Hard boiled eggs 101 Strawberry shortcake for dummies But I hope your pantry has garlic, evoo, sugar, salt and if they're lucky, you bring some fresh herbs (basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme) to the party.

On a bit of a lighter note.... I grew up in So Cal, and my mother (a native of the midwest) was terrified by earthquakes.... with good reason, we lived through a couple of doozies. She quickly organized earthquake suitcases in several closets throughout the house. Among the "normal" items, each had a pack of cards (to have something to do while waiting for rescue) and a bottle of gin (presumably for the same reason). What she didn't know was that my brother and I used those bottles of gin for immediate pleasure, always carefully refilling each bottle with water... heck, we figured that in the event of a catastrophe, there would be more to worry about than our theft! We confessed after we reached adulthood and replenished their supply!

Malawry: I'm so thrilled you are blogging again! Your Diary of a Cooking School Student was one of the first threads I found on eGullet, and I inhaled it in it's entirety, much to the detriment of work! After the sorority blog, I feel like I knew you.... and now that you are documenting this new phase of your life, it's great to feel a "part" of that too! Blog on and thanks in advance for your hard work!