s'kat

Taleggio. Smells like old socks. Tastes like heaven.

The corn syrup seems a peculiar addition to me as well. This is the way my loaves tend to come out, and I've been satisfied with the results: No corn syrup, and I tend towards overbaking as well.

Oh my, I don't think I've ever shot coffee from nose before.

An excellent question. I have several cracker recipes floating around in various cookbooks. They look absolutely delicious, and easy to make. Yet I've never made them, nor even gotten the ingredients together to do so. Why not? Because when it's cracker time, it just feels natural to rip open a bag of pre-manufactured goodness.

I was a huge fan of Stoned Wheat Thins, until I discovered Vinta Crackers. I still go back and forth between the two.

I get the wasabi peas & peanuts from a local cheese shoppe, but I first experienced their bliss from a little North Carolina gem called Try My Nuts. Unfortunately, in our rush to leave last night, we forget the savina nuts. Nuts.

Exercise makes all the difference in the world. I can eat quantifiably large amounts of food, and not gain weight, as long as I regularly indulge in exercise. I don't know about that 5AM thing.... that is the stuff that heroes are made of.

I love wasabi peas, and peanuts for that matter (there is far more wasabi-goodness with the peanuts). I recently picked up some sort of red-savina laced nuts on holiday. I'm heading to a BBQ tonight, so it will be the perfect opportunity for my friends and I to experience them together.

I'd agree, normally. But we've rented out the B&B, with friends, a year ago, so no can do. Here's an idea... let's move the pig pickin' up north to Virginia... we'll eGulletize all of the surrounding Festival B&Bs, have the pig pickin' in the mountains, and still sample some fun wines and garlic...? Um...? Even I have to admit, it doesn't sound half as organized as Varmint's version of things. Darn.

A shot of bad, vending machine coffee-type drink in an attempt to make it one more hour in this grey, windowless cubicle. One more hour.

Well Jaymes, it looks like I won't need that news after all. I'd forgotten already that my husband and I, and some friends, had rented out a B&B in the beautiful Virginia mountains, to attend the Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival, on the 11th & 12th of October. Oh well. I'll expect to see pictures, at the very least.

All I can say is that my husband is proud of his grandfather's smart fashion sense. Those are real gems that have been passed on down the family line. Though, come to think of it, my husband had been the only one brave enough to wear them. Thanks for the compliment, Rachel! Back on topic... keep me on the maybe (and plus-1) list. I'm trying to get an idea of local hotels and prices. I think someone was going to try to get a group rate?

I went, alone, to the Magnolia Grill last week. Unfortunately, I was so tired and stressed out by the time I arrived in Durham, I barely had an appetite. I almost cancelled my reservation, but decided that if I had to drive 3 & 1/2 hours in the miserable, ceaseless rain, I'd at least have something decent to eat. Eating alone at a nice restaurant was a strange experience for me. Perhaps some of it had to do with that being the first time I've been away from my husband since we've married... nonetheless, I felt slightly disconcerted and out of whack the entire time. I had a glass of wine (languedoc), some yummy little rolls, and an incredible soup: a tomato bisque with calamares, spanish chorizo, and saffron aioli. The bisque didn't seem creamy or thick at all. The calamares were perfectly tender, and interspersed nicely with spicy slivers of chorizo. The soup was filled with miniature croutons that tasted of garlic. It's one of the best soups I've ever had. Much too my dismay, I found that by the time every last drop had been coaxed from the bowl, I was too full to even contemplate dessert. It was a nice little restaurant, and I look forward to returning- my husband and I may be attending a concert next month in the Raleigh area. Close enough, in my book. Thank you all again for your wonderful suggestions.

Salsas, caviars, relishes & dips are ususally better with time. No-mayo coleslaw. Quick breads. Rum balls. Definately any pasta dish.

Varmint, currently I need to be on the 'maybe' list as well. I'm still trying to broach the idea to my husband, who is extremely suspicious of the internet in general, and these 'wacky message boards' I talk about, specifically. I've got a few months to warm him up to the idea. . .

If it's not wine, it's beer; if it's not beer, it's water. I always have a nasty, mid-day craving for Diet Dr. Pepper (thanks for getting me hooked, Dad), but there's no way I'd touch that stuff with food. Fiji... boy, those bottles are sure pretty.

Uh-oh... sounds like I could really get myself into trouble down there. BTW, I went ahead and made reservations for the Magnolia Grill. It looks like the veggie co-worker is now not coming. My husband is waffling about going, or not going, due to work overload. When I mentioned that the pastry chef had won a James Beard Award, he began re-checking his work schedule, mumbling something about 'maybe being able to move some things around...'

I'm a short jaunt away in Virginia. If I can talk my husband into it, I'll bring the no-mayo coleslaw.

I dream about food alarmingly often, although perhaps not with as much clarity as described in the initial post. Just the other day, I was dreaming of making spanakopita. As it was actually the night before a giant spanakopita-making session, I attribute it to some sort of stress dream regarding phyllo. My husband, on a fairly regular basis, will dream of prepping food, and will base the day's dinner choices or related fare upon said dreams.

I'm fond of col klink's hippy special, but have also been known to make a combination of cheeses, spinach, 'shrooms, eggplant/zucchini and sometimes a banana pepper or two. My husband, who prefers little more than cheese, red onion, and pepperoni, often will sneak in a couple slices of pepperoni into my pizza. And to be honest with you, it's usually the best slice.

Varmint.... best of luck to you. And this sensible eating plan you speak of... truly innovative. I think it just may do the trick.

I think I'll just settle upon my current, but ever-evolving favourites: Tallegio, Epoisse, Pecorino-Romano. ah, the power of cheese!

It seems that I will be staying in a Hampton Inn, on Hillandale Road. It also looks like that I will now have a dining partner, in the form of one veggie co-worker who doesn't drink wine.

The first time that I have ever witnessed this was last year, during my engagement. There were two parties thrown for me and my husband, by people who didn't live in the houses holding the parties. It was discombobulatory, considering I didn't know most of the people, and the multiple-housery made for vast amounts of confusion. That said, I am more than a little jealous of some of the friends of the people of this board. Mmmm. Swappin' cookin' places.

Well, it seems that I will now be heading to this unknown destination by myself. (Husband will be very busy with work at this time). I'll be staying over a Thursday night, and my class is on a Friday. This Magnolia Grill sounds not only intriguing, but I am hearing its name repeated over and again. Depending upon hotel location, a nice, light solo dinner may be in order. I actually can't remember the last time I've eaten out, alone. This may prove interesting.