maggiethecat

55,750. Priscilla: I want to go to the library with you! And, Missy Ma'am, pour youself a glass of wine and start counting your amazing collection. Maybe the Crown Prince could lend a hand.

The very best to you (and Hobbes) in your new venture. I know it's been a long road getting there.

55,742. Nice cop, Alex.

Yes, he was! I loved him. Thanks for reminding me of the amazing illustrations ---that vortex of butter. Does anyone remember that other Golden Book "The Tawny Scrawny Lion?" I seem to recall that the message was world peace through carrot soup.

55,736. Yes, the "Desert Island 30" is something I've seriously considered -- winnowing away that stack that hasn't been consulted for, say, two years. I mean, do I really need "Holiday Eggs?" Country Living's "Stay for Supper?" Two copies of "The Supper of the Lamb?" (PM me if you'd like the extra.) Heck, I haven't consulted Marcella Hazan for a couple of years. It's like cleaning out the closet. How many black skirts do I really need? Probably not as many as I own! But in going through the rack I might find an old friend I've forgotten, something so old it's chic again, something that would look great with my new shoes. Something that's only seven pounds away. So they stay. Cookbooks are the same. If I toss one, I know as sure as eggs are oval, that I'll regret it. About all those magazine clippings: Buy a three ring binder and a package of plastic sleeves. Spend a happy winter afternoon clipping to fit---you could even add section tabs if you like. Not only does this bestow on the clipper a sense of virtue and self-satisfaction, but when you pull out one of those recipes it's clad in plastic!"

Have you read his short satirical piece called "The Appetite Cure?" Ah, Simenon -- Inspector Maigret walking into his flat at lunchtime and smelling Mme. Maigret's pot au feu. Or sharing steak frites on the zinc with Janvier and Lucas. Edited for egregious sloppiness.

It might be, Brilliant! Check out the old Time-Life "Cooking of Vienna's Empire" for amazing desserts. The Emperor's Pancakes. Rigo Janczi. (sp?) And of course, a sea of schlag. I'd climb every mountain for that. Hmmm. A "King and I" Thai feast?

I promise. No DCers. How bout someone outside the US? If you qualify, and you're interested. Send me a PM. More tomorrow, Al I vote that you carry on, Al! I want to know about the output of your embarassingly small kitchen. Best, Betty

Definitely. Fer shur. You got it. You bet. Bien sur. Yes! 55, 727. If I weren't shaking from the flu, I would respond to everyone's interesting comments and discussion. Tomorrow maybe. Er, back to the small room. I wish I could find my thermometer. And I know just what to do with that stack of clippings, KathyP. A demain.

55,254.

Smacks forehead! Mott, this is an absolutely fabulous idea. Thank you.

55,248.

Oh yes! Go toothpaste! 1) A dab will dry out a zit faster than Clearasil. 2) If your tarnished silver necklace is upstairs, you're in a rush to get to work, and your silver polish is downstairs --use toothpaste. I find it actually works better than silver polish. 3) CDs skipping? Gently rub a coating of toothpaste on the silvery side with a soft cloth (or toilet paper if you're drunk and desperate.) Rinse under the tap. Gently dry with a soft dry cloth (Or the guest towels in the powder room if you're drunk and desperate. ) Just don't leave the disc linty.

At this point, I've lived more years in the States that I have in my home, my native land. I went into Coffee Crisp withdrawal during my first decade stateside, and I still miss them. In a bizarre twist, my neighbors' son attended the University of Manitoba, and when they'd drop Little Dale off at school, Big Dale and Charlene would buy me about fifty Coffee Crisps. They're excellent frozen, by the way. What else do I miss? Peak Frean Digestives. Aero bars. Matinees. Balderson's eight -year-old cheddar. Habitant pea soup. Pitchers of Molson Ex. Fiddleheads. A brown paper bag of frites sprinkled with white vinegar. And a smoked meat sandwich from Schwartz's on St.-Laurent, dammit. Note: Canadian McDonalds have little baggies of white vinegar for their fries, right there with the ketchup and mustard baggis.

55, 124. We've had a busy day! Chicken Soup for the grry and meagre January Soul: Get yourself some new cookbooks.

Oh yes, they are! I can't think of a particular standout, but folks always ask me to make the "hoover doovers." My pate's damn good, as are my sausage rolls.

55, 110. edsel: An autographed J and J? I swoon, buddy.

For what it's worth, I think that al_dente should volunteer to blog PDQ! And you know, I might make the vodka pasta for dinner tonight---I have leftover turkey and ham (thank you ronnie! ) but could use a break from the smoky flavour.

But what if he sees the leftovers in the fridge, tastes them, rushes to Tiffany's and returns only to fall on one knee and beg for your hand? Engaging writing, great sports take, charming blogger...thanks, Jenny. (If he really does propose, I'm telling Ms. Ray! )

You know, Dean, I got kind of nostalgic looking at those photos. Some really great cooking happened in that kitchen last October. Sigh. My first suggestion is to replace that siding fast!!! I will remember Joly 2003 as the month of my life devoted to trying to remove squirrels from my attic, an epic horror show that would take two hours and a bottle of wine to fully describe. Floor: How about black and white checkerboard linoleum tiles? I love that look, lino's getting chic again, and I don't think it's that expensive.

I am so with you on the tall, simple doors, but I learned the hard way about open shelving. Grease and dust on everything, but I admit to not having owned a decent hood during my open shelving period. And I am not Martha-like in replacing stuff artistically on the shelves. I love pantries with doors that close, and Dean: I remember being jealous of your underutilized pantry. A big pantry, with doors that close and decent organization is part of my dream kitchen.

55,065. You know, that's a lot of cookbooks, even if heyjude owns a third of them!

I haven't eaten a piece of Godiva for a few years, maybe before they made the silly step of "dumbing down" the product for Americans who love their Fanny Mays. But I remember being frozen, ezhausted and my blood sugar level hitting zero during a Christmas shopping expedition a few years ago. I ordered a Key Lime cream, enrobed in dark chocolate, and think it's one of the best buck fifties I've ever spent. Sublime.

Cool. I never thought I'd want to jump into my car and race to the supermarket to buy a bunch of parsley until I read this. I want to try it! You can't remember the technique's inventor, so I'll give you credit for this, Dave.

What an interesting thread! How I'dI long to "notice" that I'm ecomomizing more! I buy what's cheap and good, and plan menus from what gets unpacked from the grocery bags. Except for a once-a-year- blowout, I never think: "Boy, I'd love a good porterhouse---or shrimp, or blood oranges" and just walk out and buy it! These items appear on my table when they are affordable enough, and/or seasonal enough to buy. Yeah, it has a lot to do with not having much disposable income, but it usually spurs some culinary creative thinking. If the food was good the first time, it's often as good---or even better---in leftover form. Fresco: You are so right about the dishwasher detergent. It makes me crazy to count up what I spend on it, and we're a two person household.