Kim Shook

I had a really disappointing experience last night. I made this cake by Ina Garten. It has received rave reviews on the Food TV website and other websites I've been to. The cake is beautiful: But I really didn't care for the taste or the texture. The lemon taste is very pronounced, but there doesn't seem to be much other flavor. And the cake is a little heavy with an almost chewy texture. Here's a shot of a slice: The only change that I made in the recipe was to use fat free yogurt (the store didn't have full fat and I didn't feel like going to the Mediterranean Deli). Has anyone made this cake? Or, looking at the recipe, does it seem like it should be better than it was? I was wondering about the oil as the only fat in the recipe. Thanks, Kim

I need some help. Daughter is graduating from college in May. She had originally said Indian food, but has changed her mind. We finally got together regarding the guest list and it was much larger than either of us anticipated! It will probably be about 70 people. So I am looking for something to feed that many people that will not be terribly expensive, fairly festive, not overwhelmingly 'fancy' and not 'fiddly' (I will be about 6 weeks away from carpal tunnel surgery on my hand - I had the other hand done in January). I do want to cook it myself – not cater, if possible. Daughter didn’t have any ideas the last time we talked and we are getting together tomorrow to exchange ideas. So I need some ideas to throw at her. Hope you can give me some help! Ta, everyone! Kim

Oh, God! We don't have any little girl relatives/friends/neighbors anymore. I'll have to start driving by the grocery stores to check for the sales. Samoas, Thin Mints and Tagalongs. Did I mention Samoas?

I do this all the time. I never, ever eat cereal in the morning. That would require me actually putting milk in my "morning mouth" <gag>! But I love cold cereal, so it makes a great bedtime snack.

Honestly, I am a little tired of this topic. And I think that it's interesting that on a thread about manners some of us (on both sides of the issue) are showing so few of them. Reading many of these posts I keep wondering if the people who defend the OP's right to not eat anything and feel ok about that would have felt the same if this situation had taken place in another country. In other words: if MargyB had been an American and her in laws had been Thai - would you have all said that she wasn't being rude to refuse to eat? Sometimes I think that "culture" has to be foreign in order to be legitimate. Different groups/generations/religions in America have 'cultures', too - and I think that, as long as doing so doesn't violate truly important values, we can be as respectful of those 'cultures' as we would in other countries.

Ann - beautiful, beautiful hamburger buns ! Marlene - your Potatoes Dauphonaise look exactly like I always want mine to do, except they never seem to. I also always have trouble with my potatoes getting cooked enough. I have given up making them for company because there is always some embarrassing delay while I futz around with the microwave . Shaya - I had never heard of Sambousak before so I had to google it. MMMM. They are beautiful! Actually, every single thing in your post is something that I wanted to immediately sit down and tuck into. But that Tangerine Peel Beef is something else !!! Do you have an actual recipe that you have worked out? I don't think I could decipher one myself from the thread. Tonight was lazy night. I am still recovering from my re-injuring of my hand and Mr. Kim is sick. So I re-ran last night's salad: And fixed up a store-bought pizza with some Philly deli pepperoni someone sent us , red onion and olives (yep, plain old California black olives - I love them - (no shame)): Dessert was some more of The Blissful Glutton's Peach-Cherry Crisp: Edited to add: Notice the old school McCormick's red pepper flakes bottle in the pizza photo? I think that I have been refilling that bottle since we got married (25 years ago this month!).

Yay! I just picked this up at the library. Can't wait to dive in!

Truth be told, is anyone else thinking about trying this? ← OK, I admit I was intrigued when I read that.

Irrelevant, your honor. The guest had already accepted the invition. Further, expecting to negotiate the place at which your host choses to dine with you is presumptive in the extreme. It is a social occasion, not a business deal. I'm always curious because I'm as much a food snob as anyone, yet I get by without rude comments and name calling. The occasional "ewwww" but you, know that's going to happen if you order tripe. Perhaps going along brings about a little getting along, as the saying goes. And the making an issue of the whole "I will not have *anyone* dictate my behaviour concerning food" thing when the "anyone" in question is an elderly relative who asks little more than that you join her in lunching seems a little...I don't know... I agree with you 90% and have even entertained non-drinking vegetarians in my own home (HAH -- a joke of course, she drinks like a fish). Forcing something which someone doesn't consume "on principle" is unacceptable. But, if you eat fish, for example, they are allowed to try to get you to try a new and ickier version of fish -- like for a moment or two. But... The original poster accepted a invitation to lunch. "Foisting" did not occur. It was a voluntary decision and once entered into certain obligations follow, like being polite.Let me be clear. It's not a federal case. On the scale of rudeness it's less than elbowing an old lady out of the way so you can grab a taxi on a rainy afternoon, but more than picking your teeth at the table. (Actually, I think we should all draw electronic straws and everyone write to a different advice columnist and see what they say. ) ← I had a whole reply thought out and then I got to this post. All I need to say now is: WORD.

Thank you so much for the additional info Megan and tupac! I think that I will be making adjustments in my list until the day before we leave. Not sure yet how much time we'll really have in the city. Definiately all day the 20th, maybe a couple hours on the 21st before we leave and possibly some time on the 19th depending on what time our out of town friends arrive for the memorial service that night. We'll try to fit in everything that we can! Tupac - don't worry about giving me too much info - I need all I can get. Thanks so for mentioning DiPaulo's in Little Italy. My daughter had mentioned it after her last trip to NY and I had completely forgotten it. I am very glad that I got my crocs for Xmas! I am going to be doing a lot 'o walking!

That was hilarious! I just cracked up at the first sight of the finished sandwich.

Best. family. motto. ever. I am so stealing this.

Love it. Smelling, eating - all of it. Try to find some of the corn on the cob variety - the smell is heavenly. Nothing is more drool inducing than the smell of popcorn in a microwave and nothing is worse or more pervasive than when it burns!!

Klary, that salad looks fantastic. And the croutons are gorgeous - are they deep fried, shallow fried or baked? Kim

Two Little Red Hens & Lilac Chocolate are now both on my list. I just have to say that it is so nice to show my list to someone and not have them say, "are you actually doing anything besides eating?" Even Mr. Kim looked a little askance when he saw it. BTW St. Patrick's is his suggestion . Kim

Tonight was leftover shrimp salad, leftover "Spanish" orzo, a nice new salad I tried with butter lettuce, sectioned oranges, candied walnuts, marinated red onions and balsamic vinagrette. Dessert was The Blissful Glutton's amazingly delectable and wonderously easy Peach-Cherry Crisp. Just.like.crack.

Museum of Food Anomalies

Ta, y'all (as you can see, I am bilingual )! I have taken your advice and made adjustments to our 'itinerary'. Just to be clear - Little Italy is just somewhere I'd like to wander through a bit (I've only dashed through on my way somewhere else) - not trying to eat there - don't think we'll go hungry ! Kim

We have decided some things and are set for dinner and hotel. We're doing Degustation for dinner (thanks, Megan!) and staying at the Omni Berkshire (thanks Amex points ). We are going to Pegu after dinner for drinks - anyone want to join us there? We'd love to meet some egulleteers! Our dinner reservations are for 7:30 - don't know how long that should take, but we'd go over to Pegu from there - how about it?? I'm going to post our tentative plans/ideas. We won't get to see all (or even much of them), but they are things we are interested in. If you have time, please look them over and let me know your thoughts/reccomendations/warnings. Thanks! Kim NYC Trip 3/20/2007 Dinner – Degustation 7:30 239 E 5th St (212) 979-1012 Drinks – Pegu Club (212) 473-7348 77 West Houston Street, Hotel 3/20/2007 Omni Berkshire 21 East 52nd Street at Madison Avenue (212) 753-5800 Places to see/eat: Chelsea Market Food Stores - Citarella 1313 3rd Ave Little Italy Fries – Pommes Frites 123 2nd Ave. (2nd Ave. between 7 & 8 St.) St. Patrick’s Broadway Panhandler - (212) 966-3434 - 477 Broome St Jacques Torres 350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston) La Maison du Chocolat 1018 Madison Avenue 212 744-7117 Kee's Chocolates 80 Thompson St just south of Spring – sounds like the most interesting Breakfast ideas – Teresa's 103 1st Ave 6th/7th 212-228-0604 Lunch ideas – BALTHAZAR 80 Spring Street 212.965.1785 Pizza – Arturo's - (212) 650-1358 - 1617 York Ave Sal's & Carmine Pizza (212) 663-7651 - 2671 Broadway China town - Dim Sum - Jin Fong 20 Elizabeth Street Dim Sum Go Go 5 E Broadway Dumplings – Fried Dumpling at 99 Allen Street between Delancey and Broome Dumpling House at 118 Eldridge Bakeries/Pastries - Cupcake Café 522 9th Avenue (at 39th Street) BOULEY BAKERY m-th 7:30am - 10pm 120 W Broadway Make My Cake 103 Central Park N., 110th St. Sugar sweet sunshine 126 Rivington Street between Essex & Norfolk. The closest train is the F to Delancey. Financier 62 Stone Street 212 344 5600 Payard Patisserie & Bistro 1032 Lexington Ave. Between 73rd and 74th Sts 212-717-5252 Lady M Cake Boutique located at 41 East 78th Street (off Madison Avenue) Patisserie Claude - (212) 255-5911 - 187 W 4th St

Krispy Kreme is in trouble??? I guess my Grandma was right; Yankees are crazy. I am joking, but serious, too, about the surprise. Our KK is always busy - especially when the sign is on & I have to argue with my own self about stopping every time I drive by. A whole wheat doughnut sounds so not KK! Actually more like DD - I never have gotten the appeal there - dry & only the toppings are sweet - it's like eating froting on toast - blah! Our DD (only a mile or so from KK) had to add an ice cream shop to stay open and they don't even bother to stay open late at night anymore.

Ditto here, too. Plus, my super cheap Costco pre-filled sea salt grinder is adjustable and will shower my nightly bowl of popcorn with soft, powdery finely ground salt. mmmmmm

Marcia, I have a good recipe that uses these: Red Pepper Jelly Cheesecake Kim ← I'm so glad you like that recipe! It's one of my favourites to serve as an app. I think you're right and just about any jelly would work well, it just depends on whether you want heat or sweet I think. I like the red pepper jelly because it gives a nice sweet/spicy balance to the mix. ← Marlene - we love this stuff! I don't think I have ever used a recipe so much or been so glad that a recipe was posted! I make it a lot and everone who tastes it loves it. Mr. Kim & Wildchild request it a lot - even for tailgating! I had a cranberry/horseradish preserve at Thanksgiving that was amazing in this! Thanks, again for posting this originally!! Kim

Thanks so much for posting, Bob! I know that Mr. Kim will love this! Now, about me - just how hot is this? Because I am a very sensitive Supertaster. Do you think that I should cut back on the peppers? How much? Because I really want to be able to eat this luscious looking dish!!

Glad I noticed this discussion. I just requested this book from the library! I am dying to try the manly meatballs. I sometimes suspect that I am culinarily transgendered. Kim

Marcia, I have a good recipe that uses these: Red Pepper Jelly Cheesecake Kim