annabelle

My grandmothers raised their families in the midst of the Great Depression and were by no means "fancy" cooks. They simply didn't have the money then and later when they did, they were tight-fisted with it. My German grandmother did cook three times a day her whole married life for my grandfather and usually for the extended family on the holidays. It was all very good, but I can't recall anything that really stood out to me. She taught me to bake bread when I was small, maybe eight or nine, and I was astonished to learn later in life that just about none of my friends knew how to bake. My Okie grandmother had less money, but was a better cook. I miss her chicken and dumplings and her berry cobbler. Mine just isn't the same. I'm glad I learned to be resourceful from both of them. I can make something out of anything today and my children were adventurous eaters as tots and are now that they are grown, as well. I made sure they learned to cook so they could feed themselves for the sake of economy as well as health.

I believe Bon Appetit and Fine Cooking magazines both have meatless Thanksgiving meals up on their websites.

More than likely, Anna. I often find myself getting upstairs and thinking "What did I come up here for again?" I remember when I get downstairs again, of course.

Like I said, I can't recall the book. It seems I bought it in Manhattan or in DC at the Smithsonian bookstore. It was some time ago. Would a kosher deli in, say 1900, not have two kitchens in order to keep kosher? If it can be done in the home with one kitchen, surely it could be done in a commercial space in a Jewish neighborhood. Maybe Pam R. or another who keeps kosher could help?

My understanding is that this practice was one used in Jewish delis at that period in time because the delis were keeping kosher and did not wish to reuse napkins that were used in meat inclusive meals in later dairy only meals. Perhaps this was before there were dairy only delis? I don't know for a certainty and I am a Catholic, myself so would be the wrong person to ask about this. Scare quoting history seems to imply that I am making this up. I cannot recall the book I read this in so it may very well be false, but I doubt it.

"Ages ago" would be around the turn of the 20th century when paper napkins were a thing of the future. Now, obviously I have not witnessed this personally, but it has been mentioned in a number of histories of early 20th century NYC, prior to the incorporation of the 5 Burroughs. I have sterling silver napkin rings that I use on the holidays and for birthday dinners and fine linen napkins (with a monogram) that also only put in an appearance when the napkin rings are used. I have lots of cotton/poly blend napkins for everyday (that we also never use) and lots of paper napkins from Vanity Fair. Hubs prefers paper towels.

Delray Beach is quite a long way north from WPB, but I get what you're saying. Never mind. I was thinking Daytona, not Delray.

Ages ago, it was tradition in Jewish delis to throw one's napkin on the floor when you left, so that it couldn't be reused. At least that was the theory.

If any of you get some swans for cookery purposes, I call dibs on the feathers.

I think it depends on the store, Norm. Some stores no longer have their own butcher shops and have all of their meats delivered from a central warehouse. But, yes definitely stay away from the tube o' beef. It not only contains pink slime (which honestly, can't hurt you) but has flecks of bone chips that interferes with one's burger munching.

OXO makes a lot of utensils that have easy-grip handles. I bought a bunch of them for my mother who is arthritic.

Send your dad down there to handle it. You have enough to do. Best wishes, honey!

Yes. I agree it looks like Florida and the avocados make sense now.

Okay. That can be anywhere on the Coast.

If I want authentic barbeque, there are a million BBQ joints to head out to. All of dubious sanitation measures as to food preparation and storage. The McRib is a childhood take on a BBQ sandwich and is appealing to our sense of nostalgia. Without the bones. I like them. Seldom eat them. I would rather have the McRib than a chicken sandwich from McD's. Re: "The Atlantic". Could that magazine get any snottier?

Maybe. It could be an older picture. It's starting to get colder there in the valleys.

That's Haas avocado country, though. At least Santa Barbara County has loads of orchards. Is anyone in or around Ojai? They have a microclimate there and can grow bananas without a lot of coaxing.

My dogs make short work of squirrels.

Aha! I've had a busy day, so my apologies.

Anyone who has a Facebook account may donate $10 to the Red Cross for the relief fund. Facebook is keeping the Red Cross donation box pinned for the duration.

I despise Nutella, but other than that, I'm right there.

I've been soaking oatmeal overnight for 40 years, but I learned that from my grandmother.

I think that's plenty, Meredith. Let your maid of honor fret about that stuff.

Oh, come now. There's hope for all of us. I take aspirin, too. Mainly because, as you say it works better and more importantly, all the other acetaminophen products make me vomit. Literally. Obviously, my stomach knows best since I've never gotten sick on aspirin.

It's better for you too, David. Ibuprophen and the like will build up in your liver, and since you are a drinker, can send you to your reward sooner than you had planned.