maggiethecat

Now there's a word that I like. Oftern used when cooking and drinking martinis simultaneously. Oftern? You don't shay. Just a silly typo. I swear. (Hic!)

Maggie - Ah, you're a helpful lass to be sure. Actually, that was a humerous reference to the old OTC boards and "pet peeves," I think it was. Y'know, girlfriend, I was afraid of that the second I hit "add reply! For non-elitist, I promise, reasons,we watch only (top estimate) twenty hours of T.V. a year. Missed those ads. So: What did you eat for breakfast?

Now there's a word that I like. Oftern used when cooking and drinking martinis simultaneously.

Early pre-breakfast breakfast: Bowl of McCann's porridge. Brown sugar, skim milk, one tablespoon heavy cream. Breakfast: The Sunday ritual, and one I look forward to all week. Three pieces of bacon. One egg sunnyside up. Two pieces toast. Coffee. (In the summer when there are garden tomatoes, they would make an appreance.) N.Y. Times. Jaymes: If I can get it delivered here, I'm sure the Times would be happy to deliver it to you in Austin.

I am suitably chastened. Will smash piggybank. Lord, what if I still prefer Seagrams? Will all my posts be ModQ'd? Will look for Junipero. Thanks.

Oh dearie me. Can't find one of them, can't afford the other! Oh well, there is something to be said for quantity I can afford.

I had some of the Mallaca a few months ago, and I agree that the aromatics are subtley different. Enjoyed it. You rightly mentioned both the alcohol "Bite" and the aromatics. I like them both. And I think the reason I like Seagrams is that it has a real bite. (Smooth gin....for tourists? ) The otherwise dandy high end gins are significantly smoother. And I love juniper, in its many delightful guises. But the apotheosis of the juniper berry is gin. Hey Janet..I've met another woman who actually likes gin!

If it's to be a gift, Tanqueray or Bombay would be good choices. But I am about to commit heresey here. To my taste, the mid-priced Seagrams makes the tastiest martini. A little edgier flavour. (I had a fine Tanqueray martini when dining out at Opera last Monday with some Chicago eGulleteers. I still like the more assertive Seagrams flavour.) And the big bottle costs about fourteen bucks.

Kristin: What a great, and unfortunately, completely credible story! Another classic. And one that must come up when your family gets together. I want to meet your brother, the duck!

I know a few too. And , like you, I cannot imagine it on other than an emergency basis..late meeting, one partner out of town, etc. I am an atheist, but sitting down with the family,every night is the closest thing to a religious ritual our family has. Our daughter griped in her teens, because we rarely ate before eight, but I am happy to observe that she now honors the dinner hour. Eat together every night. Kids have to take music lessons. The only two rules for child-rearing that this , admittedly dim, couple ever had. Our daughter has turned out well.

Nerissa: Pretty darn impressive for a dorm dinner! Oh, how I love tulips! Thanks heavens for your father's souffles!

JAZ: An absolute classic. The cat food was a nice touch! In your mother's pumps, I too would have resorted to a stiff swig...probably from the bottle. Sure beats mine. Nine pm. Six (by then) starving and drunk guests, including my husband's parents-in-law. He had said previously that he would be in charge of dinner. He appeared, all cheery -like, with a leg of lamb. Frozen. You have never heard such a deadly silence in your life. (BTW, he fired up the grill, laid the lamb on it, and carved off crusty rare slices for everyone, a la minute. Gyros-style. It has gone into the family legend. And , however grudgingly, most say it was the best lamb they have ever eaten. So maybe not a disaster. But our marriage almost ended that night! )

Welcome, donk79. How was the milk?

Just naive, love. Stick around here a bit and ALL Will Be Revealed. Chicago chapter luminary Awbrig (AKA Sponge Bob Square Pants) hails from Milwaukee. He's also organizing the next Chicago get together. No date yet, but hope you can make it.

As I have learned the, er, hard way! Always thought it was the poor verggies' faults. Happy to discover it was my own ignorance. Thanks, msp.

have you ever heard of the cool bar called Awbrig? I think it is somewhere in Europe or something... You wish! The Awbrig Bar is in Milwaukee, silly.

Possible Chicago chapter pre-dins watering-hole for our next outing? Would love to meet you, Nerissa. P.S. I beleive our revered Hoppy (a Boy, I think) did partially name himself after this great bar. Expanding???? Oh no!

Was leafing through the current issue of that dreadfully declasse mag, "Gourmet" and happened on an article on Chicago places, written from the rib-sticking viewpoint. Hopleaf, that wonderful bar in Andersonville, got a good mention. Something like...one of the best bars in a great bar city. My daughter used to live around the corner, and it was her local. Went there once and loved it. Plain, reasonable decibel level, terrific beer list. No food, or even snackies, but one can BYO pizza or whatever. Closest thing I've come to a good British pub on these shores. Cozy. And then, of course, there was my daughter's beautiful laughing face across the table.

Pish and Tush! You are an expert, ma'am. Thanks much.

I read the Bittman piece over breakfast, then this, then sladeums link. Thanks, sladeums. Caramelizing onions gets mentioned a lot. Could someone tell me how long, how many onions, etc? Thanks in advance

Mon cher Suvir: All of us at the table figured that you were taking care of us. In fact, we raised a toast to you. And thanks, Eddie. A memorable (to put it mildly) evening. Big kiss.

And happy.

Awbrig: Thanks for the pix. Terrific job! (And I did like Allison's blouse a whole bunch! )

Janet: thanks for your post. This thread continues to amaze me. I am a (minor)bookbinder. I did the same thing with my mother's recipes and bound them into two books. Christmas presents for my mother and my daughter. They were the best received predsents this Christmastime.

Lady T: Brava Bravissima! I figure the "Chicago Chapter" owes you a meal after all your note-taking and sparkling writing. (Sorry I forgot the other three Grammies! ) By dessert I realized that very rarely had I eaten so much at a single sitting in my life! But I politely asked Aurora, Lady T and Lou if they had tasted the creme brulee, then grabbed the (largeish) bowl , hunched protectively over it, and and finished it myself. This from a woman who doesn't usually order dessert! We will remember this meal for a long, long time.