Kim Shook

@CantCookStillTry – I would very much like you to pack my lunch. 🍽️ We went out at lunch today to pick up raw peanuts from one of those little neighborhood candy and nut stores that used to be in every little town, but now barely exist. I wish I’d taken my phone in because they still roast their peanuts in the store in a beautiful old Planters roaster. You can get classic candies, ice cream, and fresh popcorn, too. We had a parking lot lunch at a new BBQ place in town. It is unusual for VA in that it is pork-free (though not Kosher because they do cheeseburgers): Mr. Kim got a very, very good sliced brisket and Brunswick soup (as opposed to stew): The soup was very obviously house-made and really good. It was looser than a stew, which big chunks of potatoes and lots of chicken pieces. I got a big, honking bologna burger with a tangy BBQ sauce on it and excellent mac and cheese:

Thank you for posting this @chromedome! I love illustration art - books, ads, etc. And I grew up on Red Rose. It was the only tea available in the US that my English stepdad and stepsisters thought drinkable. By the time PG Tips became common, they had gotten used to Red Rose completely. I remember the little pottery figures, too. My stepsister's mom collected them and I'm betting they are still somewhere in her things (she's not much for clearing out 😉).

I watch a lot of food tv shows and I'm constantly astounded at the easily corrected mistakes and miss spoken lines that don't get fixed. I don't know if it is a lack of care or a cost-saving thing.

As anyone who has known me for more than a year knows, we normally do our big blow-out Xmas celebration on Xmas Eve. That is, of course, out this year. So, it will be just the three of us. Which feels deeply weird. It is the first time in my life without a significant gathering on Xmas Eve – in my mom’s family this gathering goes back over 100 years. It will also be my first Xmas without my mom being in the world. I’ve already had a few weepy moments already, but that’s to be expected. Having said that, we are still going to make things special – our tree is up and decorated. Mr. Kim has begun bringing boxes of house decorations home from our storage locker. And the three of us have decided on menus for Xmas Eve, Xmas morning, various goodies and Xmas night. Pared down to some extent. Xmas Eve: SV Pork Loin Roast Gravy Sweet Potato Latkes (Jessica) Fruit Salad Broccoli Gratin w/ Streusel Garlic Mushrooms (Jessica) Cornbread Compound butter (Jessica) Xmas Morning: Quiche Sausage rolls A sweet roll that my MIL makes Bagels and cream cheese Xmas Night: Relish Tray - pimento cheese, celery, olives, pickles, pickled green tomatoes Turkey Challah Dressing (Jessica) Gravy Cheese potatoes Sweet Potato Souffle Shredded sauteed Brussel sprouts Cranberry sauce Rolls Xmas Goodies: PB cookies Sugar cookies Pecans Peanut Brittle Sponge Candy & Happy Accident Candy Lemon chess tarts Turtle candy Toffee I’ve ordered the pork roast from our rock star (winner of Chopped on Food Network) lady butcher. It will be skin on so that I can get some crackling – I’ll be asking for advice on the SV thread soon. The gravy and cheese potatoes for Xmas night were made when I did them for Thanksgiving and are in the freezer. Put this out for all the delivery drivers – I saw this being done last year and thought it was a good idea, but it seems especially right this year with all of the internet shopping we’re doing: I made the cranberry sauce Monday. I didn’t have Grand Marnier, so I used Blue Curacao: LOL – luckily, it blended in when the sauce was finished: I did the mini quiche yesterday:

Thank you so much for coming here and giving us this news, Miles. As you can tell, your dad was so influential and admired here at eGullet. Back when I joined Brooks, along with @Jason Perlow and Steven, WAS eGullet for me. He was one of the folks here who was obviously a real writer and someone I looked forward to hearing from. It didn't matter if what Brooks wrote was about something that I was interested in before I read his take; I was interested as soon as I read it. I am so sorry for your loss and hope that knowing how much your dad was valued and loved will comfort you all.

Another leftover pancake from the deli, gussied up with bananas and served with sage sausage:

LOLOLOL! To be honest, like many Americans, I wouldn't eat heart, tripe or stomach. If they can be manipulated into something I actually enjoy eating - fine by me! 😁

I didn't know that about the oxidation, but I have tried them and liked them very much. I use apples in my fruit salad for Xmas dinner - I'll add "Opal" to the shopping listing for apples.

No. It's just a ground pork patty. Not the greatest product - no better or worse than a McD's burger. Not at all mushy like Spam - very firm actually. No bands of fat - like a burger, the fat is incorporated in the meat.

Went out in search of frozen mini tart shells and this time...we remembered!!!!! 😄

Breakfast this morning was a leftover pancake from our favorite deli: With some IP hard cooked eggs that peeled so beautifully that I nerded out and took a picture: These were aged IP eggs. Got my mojo back this time, @Shelby! Try again! 😁

@Shelby – I love that you served your chili over pasta! Mr. Kim objects, but I grew up with elbow macaroni in my chili. I’m guessing back then it was an economy, but I still love it. I love your cornbread, too – so nice and craggy. @robirdstx – love the pot pie! I’ve got your recipe and need to make one soon! @liamsaunt – love the Chinese food! I made some char siu by @Dejah's recipe and am planning on a family egg roll-making session. Hope mine look nearly as nice as yours! I made some Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice soup last night: Topped with a little paprika oil. Served with mayo/mustard slaw and crusty bread:

We FORGOT! We even stopped by McD's drive thru and grabbed a couple of cheeseburgers and fries to share. We were starving and about to stop at Aldi's and Mr. Kim just pulled into the McD's next door. We were sitting in the parking lot eating our burgers when I suddenly remembered. I said, "Sh*t! We forgot to get McRibs!" LOLOLOLOL

Our new favorite way to do them is to slice them (small ones in thirds, large ones in fourths), sauté them in ghee, sprinkle with pepper and drizzle with saba. Salt if needed. I grew up on them steamed and then split and sautéed in butter, but I like this MUCH more.

Welcome, @ChefSPC! Your specialties sound exciting to me. I'm looking forward to seeing your contributions.

Thank you! The only kind the stores here sell is Saco. It's been fine for me.

I agree with @ElsieD! Nice to "see" you. I use the buttermilk powder a lot and I think it could be added to the dry cornmeal and then heated without any problems. After all the powder is heated in the muffins eventually, right?

Mr. Kim and I have two inexplicable fast food loves and McRibs are one. Today is the big shop for Xmas food and the last of the gifts (fingers crossed) and I'm hoping for one for lunch.

I'm betting BBQ with a little cheddar powder thrown in.

I vehemently hate this one. I'm fine with "riced cauliflower", but not "cauliflower rice". I run a tight ship.

That's a lot of lettuce! 🤣😉

LOL – I know exactly what you mean by “Now I kinda want turkey dinner again…” I thought I was sick of all of it until I saw everyone else’s plates and then I wandered right into the kitchen and nuked a bowl of dressing and gravy. And I honestly don’t believe that it matters much what kind of bread you use for dressing. I just grab the clearance stuff off the cart and then toss in stuff that is a little too old to eat from my breadbasket. I store it up in the freezer and then grab what I need when I’m ready to make dressing. My mom used regular old grocery store white bread (probably Wonder) and added oysters and oyster liquor AND stuffed it in a turkey and it was STILL delicious. I've used the Pepperidge Farm bagged crouton-like things, too. All good!

Oh, my goodness. Texture-wise would they work in a savory bread pudding?

Lunch on Wednesday was a pick up from a favorite restaurant – known for having the best chili dog in the city. Ergo - chili dogs, fries, and a small Caesar for Mr. Kim: Chili is so good that I took a bite in spite of the presence of raw onions. Egg salad, fries, and the other half of the salad for me:

@btbyrd – that cod is gorgeous. I have miso left – hoping I can get to the seafood store soon! @patti – thank you for your concern. Not feeling better quite yet, but should be in a month or so. @liamsaunt – thanks for the response. Mine was broiled, but maybe too far away. I’ll try it closer next time. @Ann_T – Jessica walked by and saw your pizza and said, “why don’t you get her to teach you how to make pizza like that?” 😁 I wanted to quickly let everyone know the latest on my knees. I had the MRI and doctor visit this week. It turns out that I have a frayed meniscus, lots of swelling and arthritis, and a sprained ligament. Treatment is gentle PT, rest, no stairs, and prescription anti-inflammatory. No imminent surgery is the good news. I should begin to see some improvement soon. Monday’s dinner was from 5 Guys: This was last night - I should note that I actually cooked this entire meal. It was a long process and I was exhausted and sore afterwards, but I did it. Brat sandwiches. We got the already cooked ones this time – they are my favorites. They all split in the pan: I don’t remember that happening before. I am watching a LOT of Food Network on the Firestick these days and saw someone slice the sausages for sandwiches. Looked interesting, so I decided to try it: It was a good trick! The sandwich was much easier to eat and you got a taste of everything in each bite. Plate: Sliced brat with sauteed onions and kraut on a bun, Rice a Roni, and green beans with vinaigrette.