maggiethecat

Um, Word, and just not for guys. We had the iceberg/blue/bacon combo this week and I finished it before I sliced my meat.

Make twice the mashed potatoes you need. Freeze a bunch. Dot with extra butter and microwave them. Perfect every time.

I'm starting a writing series that I'm calling "Broke and Bored." It will concern weekends a shortish hop from Chicago, and this weekend I'm going to venture to the Cohokia Mounds in Collinsville, IL, near St. Louis. Our food budget for the trip will be about 50 bucks -- that's the "Broke" bit. Any suggestions for good stuff in or around Collinsville/St. Louis? (We will be toting a cooler of juice, sandwiches, fruit, booze etc. We won't starve!)

At that temp I cook the butt for at least 10 hours. But please check out the link Chris recommends. eG got back.

In this time of change, who'd be your dream pick for White House Chef? Seems the Obamas have already interviewed Rick Bayless and Art Smith, and as a chauvinistic Chicagoan I love the choices. And I don't think they're gonna work out. So who do you like? Suzanne Goins, Scott Peacock, Mario Batali? And why?

One of my husband's favorites. Sautee some chicken livers and finely diced onions in butter. Add a small slug of Madeira,salt and pepper and reduce slightly. Serve with toast points.

Big Dan~ You throw the cooked pasta in, right?Or does it cook in the rice cooker? Sounds so easy ! ← Big Dan: I wanna know too!

OK, that sounds amazing! How much cream? Details!

Have you tried using a scrubbed out tin -- from baked beans or canned corn? When cooked, remove the solid end of the can with a can opener , let cool, and push. My grandmother got perfectly cylindrical fruit and nut bread with this humble method. It might be adaptable.

One of my all-time faves! Let us now praise scrambled-egg sandwiches on toast. Splash of hot sauce. Even quicker than a fried egg sam.

I've never tasted them myself, but a decently ranked restaurant in Glen Ellyn, IL (about 15 minutes from Warrenville) does house-made cupcakes. Check it out. Honey Cafe.

I'm with Kerry. Great, God hep me, "flavor profile," great crumb and lovely balls.

Just buzz, but: along with Oprahs's chef, Rick is on the short list for White House Exec Chef. I think he'd be great, if he can step aside from his restaurants. Vamos Rick, vamos Chicago.

I bow to your greater knowledge, Katie, but I've always preferred Tia Maria. This is probably a childhood thing: a bottle of Tia and a pot of coffee ended my parents' dinner parties so very festively. Kahlua always seemed a tad sweeter.

I bend my knee to you. Artisinal cream cheese and butter? I am not worthy.

Thanks, Special K. When will it end? Two more for me, including one of those generic huge authorless Australian cookbooks -- yet another about tapas. His Handsomeness is addicted to Half Price Books, he had a coupon, whatever! (I'll be making the zucchini fritters tonight.) 158, 462.

Broth is thinner and lighter than stock, for a short, non-technical answer.

LindsayAnn: Awesome. Classic. Cheesy, nasty, yummy.

Take Kennedy from the library to learn. Buy Bayless to cook.

I use a hand mixer. Make sure the marg is soft and Bob's Your Uncle.

Well, why question the Cookie Goddess, even tho she wants you to cut them out in doggie Scottie style and tie a tartan bow around each cookie/doggie neck. Um, actually, pretty cute and classy. I bet kids would love a doggie cookie cutter (or a cat cutter) and a length of ribbon. Martha rules. Recipe here.

I am so with you, Jeff. I've owned Kennedy for almost 20 years and I've cooked from it, but occasionally. She's like other food fundamentalist goddesses -- um, Santa Marcella? -- but even less accessible for the home cook. Mexican Everyday was a breath of fresh air for the home cook, and I sorta believe more authentic in the day-to-day. I can't recommend it too highly.

Exactly. But use parchment paper, not wax. Put their names on their paper with a Sharpie and it goes right into the oven. ← Thank God sugar isn't on the the verboten list. I like the cookie idea and I'd recommend a shortbread recipe subbing marg for butter --shudder. Easy and quick to make, no eggs. Take or buy a coupla cute cookie cutters -- car, turtle, gingerbread person, provide sugary decorations and let the kids go to town. Is there any lit somewhere out there suggesting that butter is bad for lacto dietary allergies?

An outta this world rave book about Sam from today's http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/books/re...?ref=todayspape] New York Times I've ordered it for my dad for Christmas.Geez, what a guy.

How lucky you are to be reading this fresh and new. It's a minor masterpiece, but nonetheless a masterpiece. A great, great book and indispensable food reading, Seriously, I heart this book. If you haven't read it, you're in for a big surprise. He's got magic in his eyes.