maggiethecat

Sistergirl from Philly---wha hoo! I think I'll mix up a pitcher of Slippery Slopes in celebration, and not share.

Parker House Rolls are my absolute favorite---except I commit the heresy of using that wonderful dough to make Cloverleaf Rolls. I am not a bread expert, and haven't ever frozen loaves or rolls before the final rising; someone else needs to chime in about that. I do one of two things: Bake them a couple of days beforehand and freeze them like that, to be reheated on the Day. Or: I make the dough the night before and stick it in the fridge overnight, take it out in the morning and let it rise during the morning. Form the rolls and refridgerate them---take them out to complete the last rise, and bake after the turkey's been taken out to rest. Note: Rombauer and Becker say: "Bake before freezing for best results."

I'm with you here, Archie, and I've avoided being drawn and quartered lo these many Thanksgivings. I would defy anyone to be able to tell the difference between my (made the night before) mashties and those that used to halt activitiy in the kitchen on one of the busiest cooking days of the year. Good gravy, it must be said, is the Thanksgiving cook's best friend. Who cares if the turkey breast is a little overcooked? Gravy and cranberry sauce to the rescue.

It can start whenever we want it to start, dear Nero. Because you've been a Busy Lady, I'll give you a precis. Lots of us are getting together at Nuevo Leon this Saturday. NL is BYO. (Hooray) But they don't take res. ( ) so, HH and I will show up 5:30ish to start waiting for a very, very big table. Maybe we'll enjoy a cocktail from the discreet brown paper bag while we wait. Do you think you can make it? It's cheap (otherwise I wouldn't be going!) the foods terrific, and as noted above: BYO. Hey...I'm not near a phone right now. Why doesn't one of you give NL a call, and wheedle a little. Maybe they'd make an exception to the no res rule, just this once? For us? Report back.

6:00 it is. We'll try to get there a little earlier and throw ourselves atop open tables, while sipping from brown paper bags. Jim: Delighted you and Susan can make it. We'll be easy to spot---and hear. Look for a Big Blonde Dude and a guy with glasses flirting with the waitresses.

Julie, welcome to eGullet! Keep reading, keep posting. Seth, Seth, Seth...whatever am I going to do? Havn't I said that this is not a competition, my Friend? (If it were, I sure wouldn't have revealed my relatively meagre cookbook library!) Hannah. Babe. Get real! Of any group on earth, we eGulls will be the last to reprove you for yielding to the siren song of a new cookbook.

very cool So cool I froze to my clothes.

There's the rub, oh Lady With the Upcoming Birthday ending With a Zero. Nuevo Leon doesn't take reservations. I guess someone should get there around six or so and let the folks know that there will be an invasion of noisy, happy big-tippin' ravers and we'll need a Big Table. Sigh. I guess I volunteer. We'll be taking our chances...what if they have a table right away? But it should be worth it. Note: I lost my cell phone, so I will be incommunicada.

Rachel Perlow is the Keeper of the Calendar, and I did notify her of this event, but kepe in mond, Peeps, the lady in on vacation with her husband in New Orleans. She's off duty. Yes, early or late. I am the mere Social Secretary, not the Event Planner. I suggested upthread that we go somewhere for drinks and show up fashionably late. (Or...early!) Could we please hear form you slackers? What would be better? I'm fine with either. But if we decide on cocktail hour, where and when? Input, folks! I am so easy.

My brother's "Special Coffee, " prepared the minute he enters a holiday, or weekend or weekday kitchen, no matter the time of day. Coffee, big slug scotch, small slug Sambuca, whipped cream from a can. It's actually pretty good.

Neil: Weenies are welcome always, especially Weenies Bearing Chocolate! 16.

OK, we're up to 15 here. Poor, poor flaca!

My dear thea: I'm afraid that you're among a bunch of enablers. I'm duly impressed. 53, 400.

Oh, the great weight of being Social Secretary to the Heartland. Let's review attendees, my peeps! The Mod with the Mostest Lady T. (Birthday Girl.) The G- man (and the beautiful Flaca?) Me. Birthday Boy. Ronnie and Julie Fresser the Flirt Sweet Willie (Is there a Mrs. Willie?) Alex (yeah!) That's twelve. Anyone else? Cheffie? Elizabeth 11? NSM? Nero (where are you?) Hobbes? Mike? Newbies?

damn, that's inspired. Maggie, what do you think? Yes, it's inspired, as long as I can have whipped cream too. Thing is:has anyone ever had success making a milkshake without one of those cool milkshake- making mahines? I've tried in the past, and I was mildly disappointed. But if anyone can give me a helpful hint as to its manufacture, I want to try this.

Saturday night is bound to be busy, methinks. Would earlier be better, or would later? Or, if we have enough stuff in Brown Paper Bags will it matter? Dunno: 6:30 for 7:00? Or grab drinks somewhere and show up fashionably late? Varmint: We will toast our absent friends in NC as well. (P.S. This is not only a Birthday Celebration for Sue, it's also gonna be HH's Bday blast. He's excited.)

I'm feeling woefully disorganized too, after reading this. (Note to self: "You are woefully disorganized, Stupid!) I'd suggest Jeanette Pepin's Cheese delectable souffle, recipe found in her son's "The Apprentice." (Or I'll PM it if it sounds like a good idea.) No-fail, fast, easy and cheap. You could serve it with bread and butter, maybe a small salad, baked apples for dessert. Then again, there's always grilled cheese!

Yes, they are, with the height being a highly unscientific average of 1 foot a book (determined by me.) Oh well, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single cookbook. 50, 797.

Beans, could you 'splain about Alton's "legs first" method? My mother (who could have been Martha's mentor!) and my husband (her biggest fan) have both tried the cheesecloth method with excellent results. That said, I too doubt that basting improves a roasting turkey that much, whether you use a bulb baster, a spoon, or a few layers of cheesecloth. tejon: What a wag you are!

Fifi is right, as always. You're off to a great start!

Good luck, Cusina, and thanks for a great blog, Squeat.

Exactly. Squeat, you are too much the gentleman. Tag someone in public.

Holy Cow. I want to prowl through your collection, kopi-susu Jo: The moon is our ultimate objective. For now, I'd be happy to get to Trio as the crow flies. A milestone: We broke 50, 000! Wha hoo! 50, 598 to be exact, or:9.58 miles.

I'd laugh if I could but I'll groan instead. That, dear friend, is why you're here at eG. We understand exactly. No one ever says, for example:"You already have books by Elmore Leonard! Or gardening books. Or the lives of the saints, cats or (shudder) Romance Novels." I'm lucky. My near and dear know: Fallback present? Cookbook.

49, 448.