Susie Q

If it's really good bread I wouldn't mind if I had to pay for it.

Hot Now KK's. Golden Rings of Bliss!

It's going for the kitchen in a different way. I'm making an extra payment on the mortgage. The kitchen will be a tiny little bit more mine.

I agree with that. I just bought my usual amount because I had used the last of my Basmati. I have seen many families putting two 20 pound bags in their carts. That much rice would go "buggy" on me before we could eat it all.

The pizza place that delivers uses company trucks so I just double the tax. The place I order spaghetti from uses personal vehicles. I give a couple extra bucks on top of my regular tip to help with the kid's gas since he's driving his own car.

The Costco at Signal Hill in L.A. County only had Uncle Ben's Converted and regular long grain rice on the shelves today. I asked about the Basmati and they said they had it on back order with no delivery date. Hit my local Smart and Final store and bought the last burlap bag of Basmati on the shelf. I paid $8.79 for 10 pounds. The clerk said customers seemed to be buying more rice.

I gave a case of Mexican Coke (bought at Costco) for our $20 Thieves Christmas gift exchange. Never saw a flat of Cokes pass through so many hands.

Depending on the occasion, the time, and the place I'm eating I have sat down and ordered a pot of or cup of tea. After it is served, I have on occasion, quietly and discretely, pulled out my own tea bags and used them. I've never had a server comment on it and I have always paid for the the tea service. I do this, when it's late at night I want something hot but not with caffeine, or when presented with a basket full of nothing but fruity flavored teas. I don't make a big show of it. I'll also only do it if it is only just close friends at the table and I have extra to offer should they order tea too. I never do it at a fine restaurant, nor if I am some one's guest at any restaurant, nor at a restaurant where the tea is brought already brewed. I won't do it at business meals or mixed groups (friends and others). I'd never do it at someone's home. Although I love pure maple syrup and fresh ground pepper, I would never bring my own seasonings and condiments.

Would sifting the ground coffee through a fine sieve before brewing help remove some of the "dust " that creates the sludge? I use a Kitchen Aid blade grinder. I don't mind the sludge. I think filtering the coffee would remove too much of the body and the oils that I love in french pressed java. As for stirring; I bloom the coffee first by adding some boiling water, swirl it to make sure the grounds are wet, then I fill and stir with a pair of "still stuck together" thick chopsticks.

The 99 cents stores does this. I noticed it the last week when I went to buy cokes for my dad. Hefty One Zip quart freezer bags came 5 to a box @ 99 cents. The Shasta cokes that I was looking for used to come in a 6 packs for 99 cents, now they have cut them back to 4 for the same price. It's false economy. It's "cheaper" to buy the regular packaged ones at the grocery store, which I did.

Plain old Best Foods. Plus it doctors up nicely with other flavors when needed. I like consistency when it comes to basic mayo. I liked my mama's when she made it, but I don't have the gene to make her recipe just right so I stick to Best Foods. I've had too many homemade ones by others that have too much or too little of something.

My brother would love Bacon Vodka. Just trying to figure out a cocktail for this. BLT bacon flavored vodka tomato water dip the glass in mayo then rim with toast crumbs. Serve with a tightly rolled leaf lettuce cigar to munch as you sip.

Katie, Thank you for your wonderful recipe. Mulcahy, Thank you for starting this thread. Much thanks to the other posters for their insights. I finished bottling my limoncello today. I wish I had a camera it looks so pretty. I ended up with 1 1/3 batch of liqueur as I used some extra lemons because I had 1/3 of an extra bottle of Smirnoff 100 I wanted to use up. Mine isn't crystal clear. It clouded up when I strained it. Wasn't expecting that. Earlier, I made a cold mixed simple syrup and made sure it was clear; hoping to make a clear cello. Clear it's not, but it sure is yummy.

I'd rather pay a bit more and get the full measure. Last October I was amazed at how small Halloween candy has become. How long before they just sell us the wrappers so the kids can scratch and sniff.

Nobody has mentioned this. I can't believe I was the only kid that loved sticking these crunchy, corny, claws on the ends of each of my ten fingers and then ate them one by one. It was THE proper way to eat them. They are a fond memory as I haven't eaten them in ages. But then again, I haven't seen them on the shelves in my area.

Smooth baby....real smooth! I switched to Laura Scudder's Natural with salt to be healthier but I'll always love, and still use on occasion Jiff creamy. psst.... I like my oj with pulp.

McD's fries fried in tallow. They were heaven. As a kid that was the only thing I would eat there except for the once in a very great while fillet o' fish; no cheese or sauce. For me In-N-Out fries suck. While they are the only chain fast food burger I will eat (double meat, no cheese, grilled onion), I not thrilled with their fries. Ordering them well done is a thin improvement. My favorite fast food fries are Rally's. Love that bit of spicy batter, no ketchup needed. Fortunately there is one just down the street from In-N-Out. Best of both worlds. There is a Greek burger stand near my house that also does a good french fry. He has a seasoning blend that he sprinkles on them just out of the oil. With a side of cocktail sauce or Tzatziki they are a meal. But I consider Greek burger joints a class unto themselves. They are mostly independent and can be very good to very bad.

Absolutely hated the Romania episode. I think less than ten minutes was actually spent on food. Versus the repeat Sicily episode tonight, that really gave you a sense of the culture and most of all it's food. I re-watched the England episode and have to change my opinion of it. It wasn't that good. Far too self indulgent. I watch NR for the hope of seeing different food cultures more than anything. Other shows on the travel channel hit the tourist spots. Last nights Romania show was a waste of an hour.

The January issue of Gourmet, and the March issue of Bon Appetit feature southern food articles with Scott Peacock. They offer the late Edna Lewis' recommendation and a recipe for homemade baking powder using cream of tartar and baking soda; saying it tastes better and avoids the chemicals and preservatives that are used in commercial BP. Her books also have a recipe for her HBP. With the exception of sugar cookies, and another recipe or two, I've never really used cream of tartar. I want to try the HBP and I'm curious.... Anybody have experience using homemade baking powder? What were your results and thoughts?

That's true. I didn't think of that when I suggested gastrophile. That could also be some doctor in a lab or hospital who's area of interest is the gut.

That's what I wondered when I read the first post. My H. Salt. Fish and Chips (a chain rest.) guy said that what he uses now is pollock. I never liked McDonalds hamburgers. A FoF without cheese or tartar was what I would order along with tallow fried french fries. Haven't had either in ages.

And the choir shouts back AMEN!

Possibly a result of the Parkinson's disease he suffers from.... ← I did not know that. Thank you.

You're welcome. I think you will like it. Also, do try the Fanny Farmer yeast waffles. They are my favorite. The batter goes together easily the night before. In the morning you beat in the eggs (you can do that too the night before, just put it in the icebox) and beat in the soda and go to it. If you like a sweeter waffle add a tablespoon of sugar.

Members of my family married into both French and Spanish Basque families that ran sheep. Eating sheep heads and whole lambs were a part of the color eating at the camp with the herders. The guests of honor and/or the oldest herder were offered the eyes as well as lamb fries (testicles). Seeing this brought back alot of memories of watching the herders prepare a feast. I know your meal was wonderful and tasty.