Mottmott

I often use my processorto make bread, pasta, etc. About 5 years ago I replaced my 60"s Cuisinart with a new one because the old one "puffed" flour all over the counter. The new one: a Cuisinart Power Prep Plus with a dedicated bread button, which lead me to believe it was designed with bread/pasta making in mind. To my GREAT annoyance, the new one is at least as bad, maytbe worse, than the old one in flouring my counter. I've taken to stuffing the cavities in that funel that sits on top with cloths to minimize the mess. So dedicated bakers, is there a processor out there that will not puff out flour when used for baking? Yes, I know I could knead these things by hand. But my aching back, shoulders, hands... has led to shortcuts in baking rather than no baking at all.

I still have (and use) my 1961 tilt top wedding present KA. It' went across the country with my son when he was in college and came back sans glass bowl, so now has a stainless bowl. (I took the KA back: - he didn't deserve it, having treated it so carelessly. ) --and I did have some minor repair done on the motor. In the 70's, I added the larger handlle/bowl model (5-6 qt?) which is IMO a better bet to use if you do much bread making. Luckily, this, too, is Hobart made and not plastic. Over the years I've used them both for the usual cake, cookies, bread. Fortunately I got a grinder back in the day they were metal. I no longer buy store ground meats and this makes it a snap to grind my own. I also got the pasta extruder disks which is supposed to work with the grinder, but I did not find them satisfactory. The pasta rollers however, is superb. I must say for those who are just now outfitting their kitchens, it might be worthwhile seeking out the old Hobart made KA's and KA grinders. Mine are over 50 and 40 years old. While it might be nice to have one in cheery pink or fire engine red instead of boring old white, I wouldn't trade my oh so dependable antiques for the new pretty plastic ones.

I keep my house in mid sixties in the winter. I often leave lamb or red meat out til it's lost it's really lost its cool so that I can go black and blue. I reason that if I do get a few extra bacteria doing this, they're all on the surface and will be killed off by the heat. I'm more careful with chicken and fish. Once the meat is cooked more caution is useful. May I say, I've reached a venerable age without food poisoning despite this slap dash. Some reflections. : -- Some of the fanaticism about food safety is our importing professional cooking techniques - and safety standards - into the home kitchen may lead us to be overly concerned.. In a clean kitchen two hours at my room temperature will not fester a T-Bone. Also, note that I salt the meat before I let it come to room temperature. I do it to encourage flavor, but it doubltless adds to the safety. --The other, and I think more important, problem is the change in the way food is processed since I began cooking in the 50's. Factory farming for flora and fauna doubtless puts us all at geater risk. I hardly buy fresh foods at the supermarket. Even at Whole Foods I see produce I won't buy because it's obviously been mishandled. Greeens in celopacks shipped in from the other coast? And I NEVER ever buy preground meat anymore anywhere. On the other hand, the novice cook should always err on the side of caution.

Sorry about the gd confusion. Only my family knows that my great dane is a great yogurt dessert freak. Yes High Street restaurant/bistro on Market St in Philadelphia, Pa. USA Having cleared this up, I hope someone has some feedback on the food. Was this an abberation?

I have at least 3 8" high bookcases full of cookbooks, so before I add one, I'd like to be sure it will deserve its space. Now that you've been cooking from this one for awhile, will it do it? I'm particularly interested in the response of those who consider themselves experienced cooks.

Funny to see this thread up again. Just last night, at dinner with my 18 yr old gd, she told me that my poached peaches and pickled onions were favorites of hers. Guess where the pickled onion recipe comes form? Yup. Zuni. The bad news, I use the more labor intensive versionm of the two.

I took my gd there last night anticipating a satisfying casual mid week meal. We began with the mushroom appetizer which was tasty. But I was disappointed with the pasta dishes. We were eating dead food: The pasta itself had a gummy texture, the fillings weren't very flavorful, the sauce undistinguished. To tell the truth, nothing tasted like what it was made of and blindfolded, I couldn't have identified the ingredients. There was no contrasts in taste, texture, Even a sprinkling of fresh herbs might have helped. When I go out, I want food that's at least as good as what I can make at home. Having been to Fork a few times, I expected that's what I would get. Most surprising of all, I was told the Ex Chef was in the kitchen! Maybe they've been having problems he's trying to turn round? On the up side, the staff couldn't have been better both during the meal and when I expressed my disappointment. The tried to comp us a dessert but my gd had her heart set on yogurt at her favorite a few doors down, so we declined. And, surprisingly, they did not charge us for either of the pasta dishes. Perhaps because most of it was still on our plates. This would have been a perfect spot for the impromptu meal out when I'm in that neighborhood and don't feel like cooking when I get home. It's a comfortable environment for a solo meal. Because they handled it so graciously, I will try there again, though I doubt I'll order pasta unless you convince me here that my experience was an aberration.

Those yellow plastic things with juice in them should do the trick.

WOW! Can I be your crazy-like -a-fox drop-in-anytime-I-like-for-a-feast aunt?

Actually, the specification of kosher salt is not an affectation. It is approximately half as salty, depending on brand, as, say, Morton's table salt. Weight them out sometime and you will see that the table salt weighs twice as much as the kosher salt. In baking especially this could be a meaningful difference.

If it's like the old Chambers I had in the 70's - and it looks pretty much like it, it's super insulated. You will be able to do some of your roasting with the gas off at the end of the process. Experiment with a thermometer to become acquainted with its capabilities. Prime rib is too expensive to play with anymore.

Thanks, I'll get in touch with them. I don't eat enough meat to join a CSA, but they may turn me on to a source.

Where can one find heritage meat and chicken in the Phila area? I prefer food that has not been frozen if possible.

Procrastination pays! I found the instant espresso online for about $6-8. (2 oz) I also found it, by phone, at Fante's at a similar price. The Roxboro ShopRite had it for a few pennies more than $3. I hate shopping at large supermarkets, but every 2-3 months I do a big shop for paper, plastic, foil, some canned goods, sugar, etc. This time I went to the Roxboro Shoprite where I could get Mexican giant corn (try it in soups and stews - adds wonderful texture). It's a long time since I've been there and I was surprised by how improved it is: both the store itself and the broad selection which is much better than the Superfreshes in Bala and Chestnut Hill where I've been going.

End of my saga: Fante's carries Medaglio d'Oro. Bonus: Fante's on my usual food circuit. Whenever I go into CC, I head to 9th St and the Asian Markets nearby with an occasional stop of Ippolito's on the way back home or the RTM if I can find convenient parking.