Rebecca263

The homemade yogurt is done, I suppose, but none too thick and not so delicious. Although, it IS tangy. It's a bit lumpy, too. One problem is that my kitchen is very cold, and so is the rest of the house, it's the frozen North that I live in! I'll get some Greek yogurt on Sunday, and try again.

Hey! I hope that you're really doing better today!

My sister quit smoking a little over 2 months ago. Just in time for the stress of winter break! I know that it is a very difficult habit to break, and I'm rooting for you all! BTW: sis says that food tastes MUCH cleaner to her now, and she's stopped loading on the perfume so heavily, too! edit:mie speleeng iz noe gud

OK, OK, I'll cop to it. I've been stared down by people who knew me at a deli. Yes, I was. My F.E.H. traveled to Deal, NJ to accompany me as a guest at my father's wedding. I warned him, but he was American all the way, and he forgot. (He was born Jewish, but very assimilated). We were in a Kosher deli, I whispered "there's no dairy, remember" for the umpteenth time that day, and he said "I KNOW!" and promptly ordered a ham sandwich. Well, after the ruckus wore down of everyone laughing, he explained to me why... ham isn't dairy. edited to add this: I know you won't believe this, but he also tried to order turkey and Swiss a few days later: his explanation? Turkey is not MEAT.

You know, I always find that any cookie with dairy and a touch of lemon reminds me of those huge "black and white" cookies... and I finally got a recipe for them, lo, there's a tiny smidge of lemon in the recipe! Could that be it, Darcie?

I'm a secret shopper, I've been in the food business, retail and otherwise, I've been a writer for local rags, I've eaten in a lot of restaurants in my life(traveling artists, you know) AND I like to eat and cook a fair amount. So, MOO? I've eaten in restaurants with a food critic, the process of critiquing has very little in common with the job of shopping the place. And in my eyes that is the way it should be. Being a critic is a skill that is an art. It's mainly about the food, and the nuances thereof. Being a shopper is a skill that has nothing to do with art. It's completely about whatever the assignment states, and that is rarely the nuances of each dish. Unless you count the proper sides, temperature, speed of delivery and quality of service a nuance. I don't think the critic carries around a thermometer, although I've had to on some jobs. And, if I care to, I'll take my dressing on the side, thanks! The critic can have it 'with', as intended by the chef. edited by me to add this: I'm a great secret shopper, but I wouldn't presume to be a critic.

Dear DarcieB, Thank you. I think that anyone who feeds others is a good soul, and you've got that in spades! You are a SUPER baker! I must say, your photos of that coconut cake have got me thinking about us making some postcards of the best photos from blogs as an eGullet fundraiser... I mean, really, I keep going back to look at it; that is a luscious looking cake, just perfect, artisanal and soft looking! Thank you for letting us peek in on your week, and I hope that you had a wonderful birthday! PS: We're thinking warm thoughts for your new kitty, too!

On my worst days(um, thanks, Mr.FBI- You #%$@. Oh, and my health? It #$@'s, too!) I WANT to eat anything that I see. Pasta tossed with parmesan reggiano, egg, cracked pepper and olive oil, or simply tossed with blue cheese and a bit of parsley, is my crave. Of course, it's not enough, even if I've eaten 2 bowls! So... chocolate, and I don't care what kind as long as there is no DAIRY involved. Then a mixed salad with some berries, scallions, greens, garlic and anchovies, plus more cheese... FINALLY-I fumble in the dining room for whatever alcohol that I can find, and I hope that it's a really dark rum, mix the stuff with raw sugar and milk, drink it, hide under my covers, and moan. All those carbs always make me worse, later, but I don't CARE! Welcome to the mud club, dear, and I hope your visit is a short one. Or I eat some meat. Raw. I once ate a pound and a half of steak in one go. Then go for the chocolate and alcohol, then do the diving under the covers bit. I still feel awful later, but it tastes good getting there. EDITED BY ME TO ADD THIS: If I could have fresh beets prepared and served by someone who loves me, or a similarly inveigled coffee, or ANYTHING in that vein,well, I wouldn't need to be comforted, would I?

Gee, Darcie, your coworkers, family, friends, hubby and neighbors are sure BLESSED to have you in their world! Now, I am really jonesing for a coconut cake, because yours looks divine. I DO like a heavier cake for coconut myself, I prefer the way the texture of a denser cake holds up to the texture of the coconut in the topping. Now, I'm going to make a late lunch, and I'm throwing some strawberries into it, too! And, I've shown kiddle just now your blog, too. I told her the picutres of baked goods is our dessert.

I'm VERY impressed! I made ladyfingers ONCE. Well, they SUPPOSED to be ladyfingers. And, I had all of the correct equipment. After baking and attempted removal of said ladyfingers from the baking sheets, they ended up becoming very nice tasting, albeit crispy and browned, ladycrumbs. Let's put it nicely, I'm late to the baking with success game. Brownies with vitamin pills in them was not my only teenaged disaster! I hope that the kitty is OK. Our Lillypins ate an extra bit of salmon this morning, in empathy. She's a calico, and knows what it's like to have pains and problems. I'm hoping that you will remember to have a camera near when you cut into these lovely, actually devilishly scrumptious cakes!

I KNOW!!!! It's terrible, I can't get my fork through the screen!

HolyOats, I LOVE the way that cake came out! Based on your results, I've decided to ask kiddle to make me a coconut cake, but with the addition or a berry/mango/ pineapple filling that I adore. Can you tell me how much extract you added to the batter? Oh, I HOPE that she will make me this cake! Actually, you know what happens... Mommy ends up baking the cake, and kiddle ends up making the big messes, and licking the bowls. I'm going to make the filling for her, just to make it harder for her to say no. By the way, I use a coconut half for a salt bowl. Love it, and always save them for using as nut bowls, too.

That photo is beautiful.

I'm going to try this with some yogurt from the neighborhood health food shop. I'll report back after Monday. edited by me because Matt's bad spelling is contagious.

I will eat almost any yogurt, fat free, low fat or full fat. As long as it isn't fruited! Fruited yogurts MUST be special. Otherwise I want to chuck 'em. I like to use yogurt with my cereal, too. Now, I want to research making my own, I've heard that it's pretty foolproof, i.e. a doofus like me could do it.

Hmm, maybe I'd better put off putting up my next batches of cookbooks on ePay for awhile, and wait for the masses to get all hepped up?

Can we have it in Philly? I'm willing to supply some accompaniments... and none will involve 'person'.

Dear Birthday Girl, You rock! I have been thoroughly enjoying your blog, and your verite style of writing. You're an amzing home cook, and I am truly impressed by your work ethic, too. Plus, that link to the news from your hometown (Ice, ice, BABY! ) coupled with your take on the world around you, it's all been wonderful to experience! Now, please, tell us what the birthday cakes will be!!!!

Funny and brutal, as usual Matt!

No slamming needed! Sometimes a tip jar IS just a tip jar. I'm just a bit too philosophical for my own common popularity. However, be mindful, often the janitor is making 3 times what the counter staff is. My last retail job was in a department store, in a mall. I was given many kudos, often, by corporate AND by clientele. I have literally dozens of letters attesting to my excellent service during my meager 5 months of work. Guess how much I took home every day for such excellent service? 4/5 of my rent. Oh, I was at the top of the pay scale, as well. You just can't make a living at the service level in most fields, and that is a sad fact. I don't wonder at disgruntled folks in service positions. I only wish that everyone could turn off their inner turmoil during work, in the way that I can. But, that isn't realistic, is it? And, why should it be that way? Well, we're getting way off topic here, so I'll desist. Besides, talking about this has made me hungry. For a bagel.

And, yes, I DO realize that some of those workers are only looking to make a little extra, or are teenagers with an afterschool job, etc. It doesn't change the reality that a lot of labor jobs do not pay a living wage, or benefits.

I think that those cups are a necessity, because the reality is that one does not make a living by working as counter help. I think that the real issue here is, why aren't prices set more realistically? Why do we need to have-have-have that bagel over the counter (or burger, for that matter) for almost a dollar less than it should rightfully cost us? And, why does the management deserve to be 'earning' a decent life, but not the workers? Why aren't living wages a necessity of every business' operating expenses? If we paid the proper amount for food over the counter, it just might change so much in our society. Because food would cost more, we would not be so casual about repeat business where the food is not of a better quality. We would not tend to overeat as much. Because of that, lower quality food would become less ubiquitous. I've always been struck at how much more food costs as compared to incomes in almost every other society, and how that affects the lifestyle of people. I don't think that cheap food is necessarily a good thing for us in this society. I think of the French. They pay more for food, they enjoy food as a people overall, they weigh less as a rule, and their food workers make a living wage, compared to ours, especially. Back to the scenario of raising prices. More workers would make a living wage. Because of that change, more of the workers would be able to have health care and a decent home. Because of that, there would be less of a burden on our tax and welfare systems. Because of that, we would pay less in taxes. Because of that, we would have more funds to actually live with. Besides which, there would be less disgruntle among workers, and service would improve. I think it feels upsetting to be struggling, and not feel respected, because you work full time and still can not afford a decent basic life. Off topic, and perhaps simplified, but I DO think there is quite a correlation, albeit an uncomfortable one. I've been a business owner AND a worker, I've seen both sides, and I have to say, I don't think that things are right when it comes to labor and wages in general in our society. edited by me.. i KANT SPEL.

OK, dear. Send me the crusts!

Wow, beautiful! Did you make the starter from scratch?