suzilightning

Well, sometimes I just wake up hungry and nothing else will do pb& lingonberry jam on whole wheat. Sent John off with the rest of the leftover steak as a salad and the last of the blueberry peach kuken so I won't bother you with those pictures. Then it was errand time. I had fudgy bourbon brownies and a recommended reading list to deliver to the ladies at our post office, recycling to drop off, get to the gym then off to Bed, Bath and Beyond to replace the old toaster using the gift card from my mother-in-law. I was only half done and had to get back to bake off the bread from the final rise so hit Rt. 10 and An American Grill for a light lunch. Lou Reda, the owner, wasn't there but his day manager remembered me from a wine dinner we did several years ago there. We had a lovely talk while I had iced tea and the Wild Mushroom, Fresh Mozzarella and Hot Sausage Puff with brandied cream sauce. Thus fortified it was on to buy bird seed(hey you didn't think the humans were the only ones I fed around here, did you?, drop off a pan of the brownies at the liquor store I freqently use and get stuck in traffic for half an hour to get to the butcher's for 2 pounds of lovely lamb for Friday's dinner. Along the way I ran across something you still find on the back roads of Morris and Sussex Counties.

I had to get the bread made today and, since it was supposed to - and did- get humid, I wanted to get it made early so it would take less flour and give me a better rise. It's not as bad as when I was working in the bakery part of a restaurant, The Cook, on Shelter Island. Then I would be rolling in just about an hour after the cleanup crew left. This will take a bit more research. Most of the people I work with have never heard the ordering referred to that way. Course about half of them are originally from near Chicago.

Taboni, yes. The Windlassand the Jefferson Houseare still there but the food is a little tired. The service is also sooooooo sloooooooowwww but the reason you're there really is so you can sit lakeside and drink. Then take your boat and motor to the next place. For those who have never been around waterside restaurants those like the Windlass and the Jeff House have valet boat service. Also just opened is a boat side food delivery service by one of the pizza places that is lakeside. You can order your pizza to really go.

This is so true. The steak from Sunday was last night's steak salad. Since I grew up without air conditioning (and still don't have it) I tend to get up and do my cooking very early. Chicken breasts for chicken salad or tacos with a side of coffee cake for John's breakfasts along side. Cold soups and as someone said - keep that iced tea coming. I brew at least one pot a day in the summer. Know anyone in the restaurant business? When it got too bad behind the line we would take our 5 minute break and head for the walk-in.

Greeting to you in Europe and Asia. It's almost 0500 here and the bread has been set to rise for baking later in the day. Please let me know if there is anything in particular you would be interested in seeing or talking about since I have been fascinated to read about your customs....oh, and there is a pocky shot coming if I can sneak my camera into a large food store here.

Voted #1 burger in Morris County in the Daily Record pole. Now the burgers are ok. I was going to take all of you to a little place called the Circle Grill but unfortunately they have closed. They had the BEST onion rings according to New Jersey Monthly magazine and I would agree. Some of the best coleslaw around and the Circle Burger with bacon was what I crave.

Stay tuned and you will see a Greek inspired dish on Friday when John goes up to Poughkeepsie to visit his family. And it comes out of the Road Food book.

As I was leaving the doctor's office on my way to breakfast I decided to introduce you to some of the interesting places around here. While you can't get to the Ringling Mansion itself anymore since it is a Friary you can see some of the outbuildings. The elephant house This was supposedly the monkey house. It now is an artist's gallery/workshop. The story goes that this place that is now Sonny's nee Labi D nee something else nee The Water's Edge was a speakeasy and the upstairs was a brothel. It was where Max Schmeling trained for at least one of his fights. On the way home some of the wee houses on islands in the main lake. One of the float up establishments on the lake.

Someone admired my market basket. This is the story about the lady who surprised me with it one day. Her name is Maria Weingrad. She said that the picture here is better. She is a patron at our library and about three years ago she began borrowing everything we had on baking and making use of our Inter-Library Loan service. Two years ago she began selling her baking at the Lafayette Farmer's Market. She also became the library's baker when we needed cakes or cookies for a function. Sour cream pound cakes with chocolate frosting, apple cakes, chocolate blackout cakes with chocolate frosting... Earlier this year she was approached by the management at Lafayette Village to see if she was interested in taking over the cafe. She said yes and the new, physical location of Everything HomeMade came into existance this summer. They are on the ground floor and there is outdoor seating. Seating inside as well. This week's menu. Savory and sweets I hope you enjoyed the tour. As for me I think I'll have the tomato cheddar pie.

I'm so sorry. We were so busy at work that I didn't get a chance to post. Yes, I could have stayed after work to feed the ravenous maw that is th Blog but... it was MONDAY night. That means only two things: History Detectives and No Reservations. Date night TV. Anyway...Sunday supper was fresh bicolor corn, grilled steak and sauteed zucchini and onions. Last night's supper at work was - eh-ok. Golumpki from Schwind's Pig Store and a salad. Today I had an early doctor's appointment and wasn't that hungry just had my usual morning beverage. I also called my friend, Michelle, who I was supposed to visit but she was just leaving to take her husband to Urgent Care since he was running a 102+ temperature. Not a good thing for a heart patient. I pulled together John's breakfast and lunch and sent him off to work. Blueberry peach kuken, chicken salad pita with carrot sticks and a small container of peaches. Since I unexpectedly had a freeish day I decided to treat myself to breakfast then go home and make several pans of fudgy bourbon brownies. Since this is Jersey I went to Jefferson Diner The food here is pretty good diner food. I decided to try something other than my usual corned beef hash and two eggs scrambled dry. It was the Ranchero Omelette. It was packed with nicely sauteed veges and the potatoes were crispy like I like them but I can't eat that much food. I do wish that they could make these specialty items in half portions.

I did it the old fasioned hot water/ice water way and had the hardest time. Maybe it's just the way for me. I say I live in the back of beyond. Will hopefully get some pictures tomorrow. I'm going to visit a friend who had surgery in PA. High Point here I come.

Toliver, I'll ask snowangel about that. I had the same problem with another recipe.

I just looked at your Green Goddess dressing recipe. It looks really tasty, and - hooray! I grow those herbs in my garden! I'll remember that about adding more vinegar, though. I tend toward the tart/sour end of the taste spectrum myself. One question, though: I've never heard of Dijon vinegar. What's it like? Is there a good substitute for it, if I can't find it? Edited to add: your chicken Waldorf salad is beautiful, and it's making me hungry although I just finished lunch. ←

Welcome to the kitchen. Unfortunately whoever designed this kitchen was NOT into cooking. Step through the door and behold the stove! Turn to the left and you will see the sink and about 4 square space of prep area. When we bought the house there was a bistro table and two chairs here. I bought that 5 foot beast at a restaurant supply house. Reminded me of my workstation at the Chequit Inn on Shelter Island. Finally the books. These are all the cookbooks I own. Period. Note however the two boxes on the lower right part of the bottom shelf. Those are filled with hand copied recipe cards. It's true. I'm addicted. My addiction is so well known that for my birthday last year Diane, our Assistant Director, made me my own set of recipe cards with a pink flamingo on it. Don't ask. It's another shame I have. There is kitchen art as well such as The Shrine to the Pig. It is an old Gourmet cover that hung in a friend's kitchen until she debarked for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Then I inherited it and it has been in my kitchen, wherever I am, since that time in 1979. But that wall paper - hideous. This was a piece I picked up from a local watercolorist when I worked in Hudson, NY at the Columbia-Greene Community College. We are planning to renovate. New oven, cooktop and stove, get rid of the wallpaper (paint and a border of wine bottles) and flooring (I'm leaning towards cork). I do love the cabinets. Now if I can find someone to refinish them and new hardware.

Schedules. Anyone who works customer service knows we don't keep bankers hours. I have always worked at least one night and on the weekends. Currently I work three nights: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Saturdays and after Labor Day every other Sunday. I don't get home until after 8 pm on those nights so dinner for me is at work. For John, it's usually at home while watching Mad Money with Cramer. I also pack breakfast and lunch for John and usually a lunch for me. On the days that I am off John tries to get home so we can have dinner and time to sit and talk. When I have to work a Sunday many times I leave a meal ready to go into the oven and EXQUISITELY DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS. This morning John's meal pail looked like this. Egg sandwich on whole grain bread. Lunch is leftover meatloaf, salad and a potato and bean salad. Cantaloupe for a snack. Breakfast is half and apple with a tablespoon of chunky peanut butter, 1/2 a vup of Fage plain and the last of the cantaloupe...as well as the ubiquitous Arnie Palmer. After feeding and playing with the kitties it was time to make lunch and dinner. Many times I will make a double portion of something and leave it at work for lunch or dinner the next day. That is the case with Waldorf Chicken Salad.

After we got home yesterday the first order of business was surveying the booty then lunch. We went with a ploughman's lunch of rosemary ollive bread from Everything Home Made, the cheese in the market shot, some great, sweet cherry tomatoes with some balsamic vinegar and tiny pickles. I added some cantaloupe. Then a glass of Arnie Palmer and something to read. I first started reading the columns that make up this book two years ago when they were posted online, steered there through Mayhaw Man's link. The second collection that makes up the last half of the book was new to me. It is a tough book to read but an important one. The next thing to do is get everything broken down. The melon of the week is dispatched, cut into bite size pieces and put into a container. Beans are tipped and tailed and blanced. Any not used in the next day or two are bundled into servings and frozen. All lettuces are washed well, spun, and put between paper towels in a plastic bag. The onions and potatoes are stowed as are the zucchini. Heirloom tomatoes and cherries are just kept on the counter but there is a different end in store for those jerseys: tomato rice soup. Here one is nekkid before being cut across the equator and his guts scooped out to be strained for tomato water. I actually use a vegetable peeler a la Marcella Hazan and find it works better for me. Olive oil, garlic, carrot and onion, risotto rice then the herbs, water, tomatoes and stock. The finished product ready for the freezer. After all of that it must be 5 o'clock somewhere so off to sit by the lake for a half hour.

Sorry but I don't like bagels. Everyone at the library likes Bagel Station here in town, especially in the fall when they do their pumpkin bagels. Which place in Parsippany do you like?

That was a gift from someone you will meet probably Tuesday named Maria. I believe she got it at Marshalls.

Yes. About 10 miles up the road is Bobolink Dairywhere they do artisinal cheese as well as bread. There have been two New Jersey gatherings there.

you are right about that teagal. technically and ethically they are sparkling wines, not champagnes since only those sparkling wines from the champagne region can bear that appelation. i can see their method rationalle but they may find themselves on the nasty end of a visit from a lawyer since the Champagne region tends to oversee their DOC strongly.

Kathy I am so NOT a city girl but if I could find a place in NOLA (especially after the Johnnybird retires) I would so go ... especially if John Besh is there. There is something about a Marine who can cook and handle a 9mm that is sooooooo intrigueing<sp>.

. I love this place too and actually made friends with a farmer who lives just down the road from me. Now I can just call and they will pick fresh kale or whatever I am looking for before I stop by. It just doesn't get better than that! Although I only recently registered on egullet, I have been lurking since I first moved to NJ 5 yrs ago - specifically to find out where to go to eat. We love Zoe's, which I know I learned about through egullet, and probably specifically from your posts. We were just there last weekend. Now I have learned about Pittengers too! Am really enjoying this. ← llc45 Hope you found some friendly faces in the pictures. I love the market and all that it represents. I think you are thinking of Rosie Saferstein who used to manage the New Jersey Board and brought some of us over from first nj.com/forums and then Rosie's Food Bytes. I love the fact that I can get good American /European food and NOT Italo-American the same thing after the same thing. For those of you not in this section of New Jersey or in the Lasagna Belt of the Eastern Catskills to find something other than an Italo-American restaurant is a cause for celebration. Most serve the same thing - lasagne with dry noodles, pizza, salads of mozzarella,basil and tomato in the dead of winter. The propritors of a lately closed restaurant in my town, Casa Bianca, were really from Croatia. Can we really see good regional food or is it being dumbed down for the "American " palate?

That must have been quite a sight. I usually try to fly through the prime area as expeditiously as possible, to avoid a high-speed collision. Gliders are a bit slower, and on the occasions I've used raptors or gulls to help me find thermals they've usually vacated quickly. Something about a white bird with a 55' wingspan unnerved them, I suppose. John must have had a fine view. And yes, you really should look me up when the time comes. Regarding your further posts - something is strange with my formatting, so I won't quote the others: 1. What is a bio-dynamic farm? 2. Do you make your own Green Goddess dressing? If so - care to share the recipe? If not - which brand do you prefer? 3. (comment) I'm from California, and Miracle Whip was a staple around our household. At some point my tastes changed and I'm a mayonnaise fan now, but that doesn't change the beginning. It isn't a Midwestern Thang. 4. I'm sure others will be as interested as I in the specific adjustments to food that y'all have to make to keep your physiques on an even keel. You're off to a great start, and I'm looking forward to more! Finally, as to the full, overloaded bag with wonderful goodies: I can relate. I looove the farmer's market, with all its perils. ←

walleye ... i want walleye..............

The Lafayette Farmer's Market. I have been going here for about 4 years now. I love it. Since I seem to have a talent for killing things I always appreciate those who don't. I grew up with farmstands and potato fields. My family shared about a 1/2 acre plot with "Aunt Belle" who ran The Bowditch House across the street from us. I remember hoeing and weeding and picking beans until my arms thought they'd break. I also remember once when something went wrong and a whole slew of bottles with those same green beans in the exploded in the cellar. Now I'm happy to support some of Sussex County's farmers. First thing I do is case the market from one end to another with my trusty basket at my side. This is usually my first stop Great peaches and the apples are just starting to come in. Today was Apple pie or Peach Blueberry pie and of course their apple cider doughnuts. For you, Sandy, my cheese guy from Pennsylvania. Next another small farmer who is organic. Danaray Farms featured in Garden Plate Magazine's latest issue is a bio-dynamic farm and recently hosted a New Jersey Audubon tour. Almost all of their product goes to their CSA but they usually have eggs, the goat soap, flowers and Dana's preserves. Meat next so that means Pittingers. Today some sweet Italian sausages and ground beef. No pork chops. Last but not least ValleyView Farms. So back home with my basket filled to overflowing