snowangel

I trust you have seen the EG culinary institute lesson on Thai cooking and accompanying Q & A? This would be a good question for pim and mamster.

I'd like to see a follow-up with some recipes for some of the more obscure dishes that we don't see often in many of the Thai restaurants -- the kinds of dishes that pim and I grew up eating, but don't see on local menus. As an aside, I prefer a less sweet pad thai, and often make it without any meat, or with a little pork, tofu, or whatever I have on hand.

Every weekday from 1:30-2:00 pm, our local PBS station has a cooking show; different rotation every day of the week. Wednesdays is Julia and Jacques, which I always watch. Monday's is Graham Kerr. Hands down, the most annoying of the bunch.

Nothing like a crispy potato skin with a nice pool of butter...probably my favorite part of the whole potato. Great vehicle for butter. I use a ricer; it's easier to store than a food mill, and it's what I inherited from my grandmother (my sister took the food mill). I also like to save some of the skins, and if I have leftover mashed potatos, twice-baked are on the menu (especially with bacon bits on top). Bacon, butter, crisp potato skins. What's not to like?

Having just partaken of this stuff, I loved them both, but lust after the plain smoked brisket. Had I known you were going to have that much left over, I'd have taken a bigger doggie bag. Midnight last night; Heidi woke, got her back to sleep, munchies overtake, and I finally went to bed hungry, dreaming of that brisket We wished we'd come up on Friday, done our other stuff that evening, and stayed on Saturday and whopped it up with you guys.

I'd love to see this recipe on my Thanksgiving Sides & Pies thread. It would be even better to see these recipes on recipeGullet so we don't have to try and remember what page of what thread that "can't miss dish" is on.

Pim, could you please describe an average meal when you were growing up?

At every McDonald's I've been to in the last year (not many), they put pre-cooked burgers into some plastic drawer and pull them out as they are ordered. Is this a nation-wide thing? Does BK do this?

This has been most enjoyable "living vicarilously" fun. And, I think Mrs. Dr. Varmint deserves about 40 bazillion cheers for going along with this!

After sampling your brisket, Klink, Paul is thinking that I should but one my of at-home days to good use and smoke brisket. I have a Weber Kettle, and have been successful with entire turkeys, chickens and ribs, but have not tackled a brisket -- yet. He wondered if there would be any advantage to "containing" the coals and wood -- like in a cut-down coffee can or ratty old bread pan, since it can be difficult to keep the heat down. Any thoughts?

Hopefully, Tammy, you will revisit this blog a few times throughout your pregnancy, expecially at the end!

Never say never! ALthough, when I was pregnant, being too full was almost as bad as being hungry. Chocolate corn? Does sound nasty, but I'm one of those rare ones who doesn't like fruit with chocolate. I like chocolate (less as I get older), and like fruit, but not together.

I'd be a whole lot more depressed about not being there were Paul and I not heading north tomorrow to have brisket with Klink and Batgrrrl In my recovering-from-pneumonia state, the 2 hours north is just about all I can handle.

This is absolutely fascinating, gentlemen! No wonder most supermarket potatos don't taste like much, at least in comparison with what I've been getting at the local farmer's market. Is it possible that the Yukon Gold's, because they are so popular, have been hybridized to be a rounder potato (as in it may be easier to harvest, bag, or whatever)? I suppose I should do some research on the Yukon Gold. Edited to add: I should also mention that one summer between college years, I worked at a frozen french fry factory, cutting bad spots out of potatos after they'd been through the chemical peel prior to being cut and frozen. It was such a nasty experience that it was 20 years before I'd eat a frozen french fry, and to this day, a frozen fry still causes a shudder. I was mighty relieved to be laid off due to lack of potatos. I then went to the Bird's Eye factory in Southern MN for the corn pack. We did a lot of heavy drinking that summer.

My dad's buddy Bill swears by popcorn made with bacon grease.

Tammy, your blog should not have been subtitled "shocking amounts of food" but "eating all the time!" I remember, with all three pregnancies, my stomach ruled my life. I had no control over how little or much weight I gained. When I had to eat, I had to eat. When I couldn't eat, I couldn't eat. And, ice cream and other assorted frozen treats are wonderful, aren't they? I was thinking pot roast tonight -- I've been in the mood for a melting braise, but it is so summer-like today, I have decided burgers, potato salad and the last of my tomatos.

Yes, indeed. Please, post a pre-pig pit pic. (try saying that fast a few times) A documentary of getting the pig (still unnamed, I assume) out of the tub?

And, remember, how chickeny or strong you want your broth for soup will depend on what sort of soup you are aiming for. If I want a hearty chicken soup, I want it stronger. If I am using the broth as a backdrop for a light vegetable soup, I want it weaker. As FG says, taste, taste, taste.

Twas earlier this summer that Peter (age 7), came bounding into the yard -- "hey, can I go with Jorge and his uncle to the slaughterhouse to get a pig?" Sure honey, I respond. Paul is certain that Peter will return home a vegetarian. Three hours later, he returns home, totally excited. "Mom and Dad! It was the coolest thing! They stuck the pig and blood spurted everywhere! Gotta go. I'm going to watch them cut it up. I even got to touch the head and the eyes!"

We are still awaiting photos of the "pig spa." Does the pig have a name (could be a good contest idea; winner gets the head or something). Would this be a boy pig or a girl pig? Details, please!

They must be desperate. Included in one of those "circulars" with ads and coupons for everything from fast food to insurance to siding were coupons for these sandwiches -- for the first two weeks a free Santa Fe Chicken Baguette, second two weeks a free Savory Mustard Chicken Baguette, and third two weeks for a smoky BBQ Chicken Baguette. Free. Not a buy one, get one free. That is not common. The ad clearly stresses the low fat nature, with some tiny letters (stating that "these sandwiches are not low sodium foods..."). Now, I often think free can be a good thing. My free McDonald's premium salad was not a bad freebie. I'm not sure that it's worth a stop at BK for these things.

Your wish is my command...I entered it just a few minutes ago.

BACON

My standard for a cheese shop is the Cheese Board in Berkeley, CA. Nothing in the twin cities can hold a candle to this one. We do Surdyk's because they have a huge selection. For local "artisnal," the St. Paul Farmer's Market is pretty good. For supermarkets, I have just about as good luck at Kowalski's as anywhere. I'm happier with Kowalski's than Lund's or Byerly's. Wedge isn't bad, either. I've also discovered that if I shop fairly wisely, I can do just about as well (price wise) at Kowalski's as Cub or Rainbow, and the difference is service is worth anything more I pay.

So, just what did you do for dinner? As to caffine -- I lived on it when I was pregnant with Peter, to no ill effects, other than an extremely bright, inquisitive kids. In fact, I never liked coffee -- until I was pregnant with Peter. I remember clearly walking by Dunn Brothers one morning, smelling the smell, and saying to myself "I need coffee. Strong and dark." I've been an addict ever since. With two of my pregnancies, I craved "clean" food -- nothing goopy, nothing articifical. With the other one, it was extreme morning sickness for the 8 months I was pg; I think I lived on Cherry Garcia, grapefruit and parmesean goldfish. I remember being thirsty, as well. Unsolicitied pregnancy advice? My crowning moment was in an elevator with strangers, and having someone question and give me advice me on bowel habits. Eat often, have a 1/2 glass of wine every so often, drink the coffee you need to function, and eat just what you want to. This is indeed a most miraculous time. Had I not been almost 39 when #3 came along, I'd have done it again. The best is yet to come.