Jamie Lee

Snowangel: You have what must be the HARDEST of all jobs on eG (no offense to anyone else ) I don't think we, the membership, thanks you nearly enough.. for my part, thanks a million .. foodblogs are what brought me into the society, and one of my favorite parts of my online life! That being said, , when is the next one? Yours, Jamie

Just an observation: On Kitchen Nightmares (The US version) Gordon Ramsey seems to always order calamari as a starter - don't know if it's a personal favorite or just his version of one form of vitmus test. (I don't think he has liked anyone's yet, and even if they say they're fresh, he can always tell if they're frozen or "too mature".) It sort of makes sense to me - I've had great plates of calamari and way more many plates of bad. Seems to be no middle ground. J.

Thanks, Jane, you just saved me from 490 cals and 44g of carbs. Sorry McRib fans, that is just gross!

Tepee: Opening was a total bitch! I bought leather gloves because I don't heal well right now (chemo consequences) and I have to be very careful about possible infection. I wrapped the sucker up partially in a couple of dish towels, and used my cheapest knife. (I used a cheesey knife sharpener beforehand.) It never split open naturally, although I waited almost a week. I also never could find the "lines" of the segments, but after reading the posts here and watching youtube clips of others (!) (Don't ya just love the internet! ) I decided it was time to try. Damn, those spines are sharp! A few went right through my leather gloves, and yes, right into my fingers. Draw blood? Yup. I couldn't hack through the rind using the knife alone. Usinf the hammer, I managed to drive the knife far enough in so that I could pry it open the rest of the way. That's when it all went south. Husk on, it just smelled like any number of super-sweet tropical fruits. Once compromised, it smelt like vomit - which is, of course what I did. Nothing is more humilating that 1- puking on yourself, 2 - puking all over a public picnic table or 3 - just generally puking in a public space. Sure did scare the hell out of the fitness gurus out for their daily jog! ha ha

Hey, Dejah, it was fun from my standpoint as well. My sweatshirt is now soaking in the sink, I've showered, and I wish all durian lovers Godspeed. I may try it again someday. Jamie

Okay, here's the 411. I brought my durian to a nearby park, accompanied with a cheap (but sharp) chef's knife, a hammer, lots of newspaper, some paper towels, and the best of intentions. I have to say, the whole adventure was marred by an unfortunate run-in with an eG member. Call me a princess, or an uppity white-girl, but I expect to be treated with respect, or at least with a modicum of standard polite-ness. (Something for another thread, perhaps.) As Sazji correctly identified, what I think I had was a previously frozen Thai durian. Using my knife and a hammer, I broke into the thorny beast. I never anticipated the outcome. First, the smell was horrific. I'm 2 weeks off chemo, so throwing up is no big deal. But.... first hurl is down my sweatshirt. (I only had water and a grande latte with skim milk on board). Second hurl is over the picnic bench seat (as I'm trying to move myself)... Third is safely in the grass. Not the outcome I'd hoped for. I considered leaving the mess all over the picnic table, but got sane and cleaned up after myself as best I could. I didn't even taste the stuff. I know, I know - I've got the big "L" on my forehead. I'm technically still a durian virgin. (Mom, really, I didn't let him go all the way! ) What was I thinking? A weak stomach, 16 weeks of chemo, and I'm gonna tackle the ultimate "don't go there" fruit? Wish my post was different, but it's not. Durian remains a mystery, and one I will, God allowing, a treat I'll try another time. (Sweat shirt is soaking as we speak!) Signing off, Jamie.

What did we have for Dinner? In my reality, it's what we DIDN'T have for dinner. I want to cook and cook and cook. What I can't do is eat, and eat, and eat! I keep cooking, and eating, and WAY before the dish is done, I want to cook something else! Keep in mind I'm in a small studio apartment - no oven, small cooktop (electric), a microwave I just don't use and extremely limited pantry space. Last glance at my freezer: Pic not so good, but there are tubs of beef-veg soup, beef chili, and soon to come, Braised beef shortribs with veggies and noodles. Each container is a generous two portions for me... but I can't stop! I've got a pork tenderloin on deck, and chorizo (fresh), chorizo (dried), and bratwurst (frozen for now) I've done brown bags to give to the homeless, but how do you hand a homeless person a container and say "Just let it thaw, then either pop it in the MW or in a small saucepot on the stove"? I know there are some single working guys in my building... they are going to be the recipients, if the housekeepping and maintenance staff don't get it first. A $1.24 package of tomatillos (from the asian market) has now cost me $6.37 of pork tenderloin, massive quantities of veggies, and what will be hours of time... It's all good.

Bueno: I don't know what calendar you use, but I bought the beast on November 1st and according to my silly calendar, today is the 6th. Hardly "weeks" - in fact, not even a "week". Will post on outcome shortly.

Lindacakes, So beautifully put. I have so many things to be grateful for this year, it makes me cry. On a truly non-sentimental note, it always has cracked me up how tightly we hold onto the "apps" tradition.... in my family (parents now gone), we HAD to have (their form of) nibbles, followed by a shrimp cocktail. And then a platter of pickled and sour cream herring. There ALWAYS had to be a "relish" tray (jarred crab apples, black olives, uncut green onions, and celery sticks), then salad, then soup ... Over the years, the shrimp cocktail got smaller, the soup got dumped, the salad lost! We finally realized the rest of the meal was so good, why fill up beforehand? We still HAD to have the shrimp cocktail (I think a tradition because that was the only time the family could afford, or would afford shrimp.) It got to the point we'd have one jumbo shrimp in a martini glass, just to fit it in! (To today's "haute" chefs: See it's been done for years! ) I say skip the nibbles, skip the apps, skip the relish tray and green salads... Move straight to the turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashers, rutabega, sweet taters, and rolls (if you must). Then go straight to pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie. There's 364 other days to eat salad! J

I double posted this question Here, and have started to get interesting replies there, in case anyone is interested. Thanks, all!

Andie: I also thank you for the website - it answered so many of my questions. I'll stay tuned to this site in case you feel inspired to share more tips and recipes (the ribs, please!) For those with a Target store near them, they are offering (in my area - PNW - at least) an 18-qt. Rival Roaster for $39 - just don't buy the last one at my store! I'd love to keep hearing more tips!

I posted on the "What to cook for Thanksgiving thread": But wondered if there might be some opinions here... are there? J

CONGRATULATIONS! As a fellow diabetic, all I can say is "well done" J

Before I get ejected from eGullet, let me set the stage: I will be without an oven (or patio, or smoker, or grill) on Thanksgiving, but still think I want something close to my traditional meal, but want to do it solo. (I'm new to the area, my condition the day of T-day is iffy due to medical issues, and don't really want to intrude on fellow chemo "pals" for the big meal.) That said, it seems my options are: 1. Restaurant - um, no. 2. Pre cooked "Meal" from the grocery store, warmed on stove and in microwave. 3. All-stove top meal with either turkey cutlets or rotissiere turkey (if I can find it) with stovetop stuffing, gravy, taters, etc. or, 4. Something like this (A Rival Roaster Oven) I know not to expect crispy skin. I also know friends who use something like this every year even though they DO have an oven, they swear the meat is moist and juicy. Has anyone used something like this before to "roast" a turkey? What else could you use this for? (Pot roast I suppose, but I've got a nice dutch oven I use for stove-top braises.. Thoughts?

Sazji: I think you've solved it!!! It does smell like pineapple or some other very sweet tropical fruit, I did buy it in the US (Pacific Northwest), the peel is gray-green and now I'm convinced a park picnic table will be the right place to move forward. I had no idea they freeze them whole, so when someone asked if it was frozen or not, I said no, thinking frozen would come in bags or boxes like frozen peas. (DUH) Today is the day! I've got a few errands to run, then I'm up for a trip to my closest park with newspapers, towels, gloves, a chef's knife I don't mind sacrificing, and, of course, my camera!

Anne: I've never met anyone else who did rutabega! It has been a family tradition for generations, and I'm so convinced I have to have it, I've made it to take to friend's houses for the holidays. They usually don't get it. I know some folks do a potato/rutabega combined mash, but not for me! Peel, boiled rutabega mashed on its own, butter and just a touch of brown sugar. You just can't beat that slightly bitter taste to complement the richness of the rest of the meal! Thanks for the memory!

HVR: I've come to the conclusion that it not ripe, so I yet to delve into it. I'm also concerned because it really does not have a strong smell - could it be I have one of the newly developed cultivars without the aroma? I also need some heavy duty gloves, which will have to wait until my next shopping trip. As soon as I crack, eG will be the first to know! J

I have to keep getting up and smelling that damn fruit! (No, I don't sleep well. What's your excuse? ) J

Amen.

Hot gravy will warm everything - turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes. I once did a Thanksgiving meal for a bunch of ex-pats and friends in Germany. Turkeys were purchased via a pal that had PX opportunity (she a military "brat") and I made 4 turkeys, with stuffing (mixed up in 5-gallon plastic tubs) and trussed with a needle and dental floss. If I could pull that off, you can surely put on a seriously "good eats" dinner for 20! Good luck!

OMG... Could I be a premature durian virgin? Oh, the shame of it all.... J

Goddess... Did you see my photo on my first post? The tag says "Mornthong" Durian, a product of Thailand. Do you think I have something other than the revered durian? (Wouldn't that be an anti-climax!) I keep smelling it, and it just seems to get sweeter, not nastier!

Thanks for all the info... do you think I might not have a durian? The smell continues to be super-sweet, not obnoxious at all, and while incredibly "prickly", I don't see any signs of the segments you-all (ya'll) mention. Is mine just super unripe? (I can't believe I'm spending so much of my time and your time on a piece of potentially smelly fruit! )

I've decided (no thanks to all the eG-ers who didn't respond) that I'll take a cutting board, knife, and paper towels to a public park... and open the sucka' Smell be damned, I'll either puke (Not an uncommon incident) or love the fruit. Wish I knew if to cut longitudingly or on the horizon. Pics to follow. (But I'll still take notes/tricks/hints) J.

Okay, I'll try again! Most of you know I've been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer... and struggling. I'm now in between treatments (yah!) and I'd forgotten what feeling good felt like! During chemo I couldn't drink or even smell coffee, but now! First thing I did this am was a grande skinny latte, and off I went! Grocery shopping spree extaordinaire! First stop (after a bit of a drive) was my fav butcher. No reciept, they do the "figuring" right on one of your packets: I can't believe I spent over $17 on short ribs - they used to cut them three to a rib, now they're doing them two to a rib and I asked for 9. Oh well, no short rib in my house goes untouched! Other buys: Peppered bacon ends, chorizo, bratwurst. Next stop: My fav asian supermarket: Top of the list is my impulse buy - a durian, subject of my thread here: here Next on to Trader Joe's: Nothing cheap about here! And finally, a trip to Fred Meyer's. a PNW, "get everything you need" super-mart. I don't expect you all to understand, but I haven't been to four stores in one day in forever. I may never be able to cook, or to eat it all, but it was a great day!