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Randi

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Everything posted by Randi

  1. hehe...this was one of the 2 recipes I snagged that use cardamom! They look gorgeous!
  2. Randi

    China 46

    Anyone happen to know if C46 will be open and serving their brunch on Sunday, January 1st? Yes, I know, I can call tomorrow and ask, but I'm impatient! P.S. See that line crossed out on their Brunch menu? That was my fave - the little shrimp dumplings. wah!
  3. I am planning on making cookies that call for 1/4 tsp of cardamom, but I was only able to find the whole pods. I am wondering if I use my mortar and pestle to grind the seeds - will they be stronger in flavor and should I cut back on the amount I use in the recipe? I am new to cardamom, so any advice would be welcome.
  4. Ekaterina, Just saw your reply. The mint-infused milk sounds really yummy. I think I will try that next time I make them! I think it would be a much fresher taste. But for now, I am already home from the store with the extract and without the fresh mint. Thanks for the idea!
  5. Thanks everyone for the replies. Happily I did find the peppermint extract today - but now I am eyeing my creme de menthe and wondering...! K8, thanks for the reminder to keep the minty goodies away from the others. I knew that, but most likely wouldn't have thought of it with all the goings on. Now I am wondering if I'll ever have a need for the mint extract I got (not the peppermint). Maybe I should make home made toothpaste!
  6. I am making a recipe that calls for "peppermint extract" which I couldn't find at my local grocery stores. I bought "mint extract" instead and it smells like mouthwash. It contains both peppermint oil and spearmint oil and I don't think it's the right flavor for the candy. (I am making mint marshmallow filled chocolate cups) I don't have much time to run around looking, so I will try a couple of other stores nearby and hope to find peppermint - but was wondering what might substitute if I can't find it. Can I do something with fresh mint? (would that taste like peppermint, tho?) or maybe creme de menthe, or peppermint schnapps? Any suggestions?
  7. I'm really disappointed that I never made it to Melt. Here's hoping you do reopen, and if you do, I will make it a point to travel there!
  8. They discontinued one of my favorites too - the balsamic chicken breasts. Tasted like it was made on a charcoal grill. Had the grill marks and everything (could they have been fake?) Either way - it was terrific. They replaced it with some other (not as good) prepared chicken breasts. And then they pulled those because of some problem with a threat of food borne illness (story here)
  9. I have 2 new addictions - the Maître Pierre Tarte d' Alsace - it's a french style tarte with ham, carmelized onions & gruyere cheese. DELICIOUS!! And the Trader Ming's hot and sour soup (it's in a jar). Way too much sodium but man it's good!!!! I tried their peppermint chocolate cake but found that the fondant layer on top tasted too much like it was flavored with mouthwash. However the cake was very chocolatey and moist and the chocolate ganache piped around the edge was wonderful. Anyone else have any new finds at TJs?
  10. That reminds me - the same couple who left the chicken out to defrost for 2 days also would leave pizza (with meat toppings) out overnight and eat it the next day at room temperature. *gag*
  11. Randi

    Bacon Candy?

    Did anyone ever determine if bacon candy would hold up for a potluck if made the night before. Some folks above didn't think it would work...but does anyone know if that's an absolute? I have a potluck to prepare a dish for...
  12. Daniel, You missed the most important question! Do they have scrapple??
  13. These are great!! I am going to pass this link on to family and friends. Thanks for posting!
  14. Please, give them to us all! We're willing to schlep! I am always looking for new places to try in this area (I am in Colonia).
  15. Metuchen is the hole of the donut which is Edison. (geographically speaking, that is). On Oak Tree Road in Edison, I recommend Moghul. Further down, it actually becomes Iselin (not Edison) which is the "Little India" area. Lots of good info in this thread.
  16. Wendy, call your local Boston Market and check their hours. Mine is only open until 6 PM. This thread made me feel better too!
  17. I think there are some great places in Metuchen! Some threads are below: Good restaurants in the area Dick's Dock Sawadee Thai A produce place The Metuchen Inn Just to name a few!
  18. Wow, so many good ideas, you've really got me thinking about what would be most enjoyable! The "spa" idea - sounds glorious! Really fun. Gourmet foods? Also great - as is buying the part of the turkey I like best and just cooking that. (do they sell the SKIN? ) Seriously, I considered making turkey wings but then realized one of the things I want to do is avoid the grocery stores for the next couple of days. Takeout Chinese? no no, that's CHRISTMAS Day! I do like to have traditional Thanksgiving foods on T-day. Wrangling an invite? That's not something I am comfortable with, and TBH I don't know many people locally (except co-workers, and that would be awkward). My family isn't nearby, and I don't like imposing on other people's family celebrations. Volunteering? I really like that idea - I might try to find out how to get more info on where I might be needed that day. And yes, foodie, it would be great to meet more people locally! Carrot Top, my inadvertant day alone seems like a piece of cake (or is it pie?) after reading about how the day brings up those feelings about how your family has changed. Your Pranksgiving idea sounds like just the recipe to make it special! FabulousFoodBabe, I am in Central NJ. I called Boston Market and they are open Thursday. I think what I am probably going to do is...sleep in, then run to Boston Market for turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans and stuffing. I will watch Alice's Restaurant. And catch up on shows I've taped on my DVR (mostly food shows. ) It's funny, this post wasn't just about what *I* should do on Thursday, I really was curious about what others would do. Thanks for the great responses.
  19. The planning had been going on for a couple of weeks. Saving ideas and recipes from the folks here, recording Thanksgiving shows on the Food Network. Making lists. Testing a recipe or two. Then my roommate tells me she has made other plans, knowing that my boyfriend was coming and thinking it would be nice for us to be alone (he lives 1200 miles away). Then it turns out my guy's job has gotten crazy busy and he really can't leave right now (they are in crisis mode.) Suddenly - I find myself alone on my favorite holiday. I have mixed emotions. Part of me is kind of relieved that I don't have to shop and cook. Since I have a roommate, the idea of having the house to myself actually sounds good. I am glad she has something fun to do, and I completely understand that my guy can't risk his job by flying in right now. So intellectually I am totally fine. But the past couple of days it has gotten to me emotionally. I am feeling sad. I am wondering what I should do - should I buy some basics and cook anyhow? Should I get one of those "just heat and heat" complete meals from the local grocery store or Wegman's? Or perhaps the Boston Market drive through with their turkey and all the fixin's? (I am leaning towards that...) What would you do if you found yourself alone on Thanksgiving? Would you cook, get takeout, or try to wrangle an invitation from a friend or family member?
  20. Edison, Woodbridge, Clark area. Ever since Edison's "Elite Sweets" went under (10+ yrs ago!) there is no bakery near me with heavenly cakes. I want real buttercream!
  21. One 4th of July I visited friends in PA and they were going to have a barbecue. They had lots of chicken - it was defrosting -sitting out in their un-air conditioned kitchen...for 2 days! It wasn't even cold - I suggested they put it in the fridge, but they said there was no room, and not to worry. Needless to say, even tho the final product - beautifully barbecued chicken - *looked* good, I was afraid to eat it. I wanted to warn the other people who came for the bbq - but didn't know how do tactfully do that. No one got sick (that I know of), which of course just confirmed to my friends that I was neurotic about the chicken being left out too long. I guess I wouldn't go so far as to wish someone had at least gotten an upset tummy, but at least then they would have been more aware of "chicken safety" going forward.
  22. I grew up in Margate (just south of AC) and no, none of the sub shops in Margate, Ventnor or Atlantic City used vinegar on their subs, just oil (and salt, pepper and oregano). When I left home for college, I was surprised that all the sub shops near Rutgers used oil and vinegar. I got used to it, and came to like it. Now you can get vinegar if you ask for it in the AC subshops. But if they are still made in the tradition of the 60s and 70s - they only use oil unless you ask. I have never had a sub as great as those subs of my childhood. I miss them!
  23. Randi

    David Drake

    I think the parking deck was only $1 for 2 hours. Not positive, since my friend paid, but it was about that. Not much different than a parking meter. And there is a guard there. Also, I don't think I would feel 100% comfortable walking much further than the parking deck at night. I know the area is improved, but to me, they still have a ways to go.
  24. I've been wondering what it would be like to put a drop of vanilla extract in some diet cola...to see if it would be better. Not curious enough to *try* it, of course. But wondering if anyone else ever has.
  25. Randi

    David Drake

    They are open for lunch during the week. Expect a PM from me
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