hjshorter

My uncle and godfather, who lived in the LA area, died last week. I would have eaten Stove Top stuffing, dried out turkey and canned green beans to be with him and my cousins more in the years since we moved to the East Coast. You think "there's always next year" but sometimes there isn't. My parents did not make visiting family a priority after we left and I am not going to make that mistake now that I have a family of my own. We frequently have a subpar meal with family, then cook our own after the actual holiday. Food is important but I want my kids to know their people.

I skipped the raw fish, but pretty much ate whatever I had an appetite for each time I was pregnant. The thing that made me the most nauseous the first time was cheese, and I developed an intolerance for garlic. Even the smell of cheese wiped me out. The second time morning sickness was very mild, but I was on a strict diet for much of the time. Edit to say that for my first pregnancy I couldn't handle cooking for about 2 months, so no helpful suggestions there. Either he cooked or we made do things served cold, or with takeout.

I'll cook the greens again this time.

Good for us and good for him. I might even subscribe myself.

Aw, you know I didn't mean you personally, just a younger audience. I have to wonder. They have been content with the staus quo for long, and a truly mediocre status quo at that. Why change now? And this: is a pretty amusing typo, although it's usually spelled "ho".

That's the only reason I can think of why they're hiring someone even slightly "edgy".

I like Legal for simple things like fried clams, fish & chips, or oysters. We would probably give it a pass but for the fact that their kid's menu is really really good. Our kids can get a child-sized portion of broiled fish, baked potato, and a green veggie. Emma also likes the house-made fish sticks make with fresh cod.

I tried that once and got major complaints about soggy bread. One thing I have started doing about sogginess is lightly buttering the bread before adding mustard or mayo. I noticed all of my more old-fashioned cookbooks call for this, and it works as long as you can afford the calories.

Thank goodness, because their food writing hasn't been worth the paper it was printed on.

Some of my 6-year-old's favorites: Cold cuts rolled, and stuck with an olive on a toothpick. Cheese and crackers. Hummus with pita and/or veggies. Peanut butter (regular old Jif) and jam on whole wheat. Tuna salad with celery and shredded carrots, either as a sandwich, with crackers, or by itself. Leftover pasta and parm reg with a small container of marinara to dip in. Macaroni and cheese or beanie weenies in a thermos. Boursin, lettuce, tomato, and turkey rolled in a tortilla and cut into pinwheels. Mini bagels with olive cream cheese, or plain. Soy "corn dogs" or "chicken nuggets" with barbecue sauce. She eats these room temp after being previously cooked. Fajitas or bean burritos, also fine at room temp. Yogurt cups. Horizon and Stoneyfield farm sell kid-sized cups that are lower in sugar than the major brands. Cucumber and pepper slices. Any fruit, stone fruits and pears chunked with a form to eat them with. Our school forbids sodas, chips, cookies, and candy, so she never gets dessert. She has survived so far. Rubbermaid sells a small juice box sized container with a straw and a flip top that you can fill with the beverage of your choice. Much cheaper and better than milk or juice boxes.

I go by there at least twice a week - drove by yesterday on my way to Target and it still looks pretty rough. I'll post as soon as the OPEN sign is back on.

Cases of it at that! We're getting wine donated, too. Daaaaaaaaamn. Fundraising. So that's what we're calling it? Seriously, the raffle thing sounds cool. Who's organizing it?

Someone gave you free beer?

Which store do you go to, if you don't mind my asking. To be open, I work for WFM. ← Not at all. I shop at the Rockville and Gaithersburg stores. This piece was from Rockville.

Hmph. To each his own. And the yucca sucks, we ordered it once and never again.

Because Cheesetique is far?I feel for you. ← The taste of poorly kept cheese almost makes the 45 minute drive more appealing.

We'll be there for the staff meal, and Scott has volunteered for overnight pit duty.

Another subpar piece of Humboldt Fog from Whole Foods. Why do I even bother?

I was under the impression that this was a family type event. Perhaps I was misinformed. Even better. ← We're a really really close family.

In my Shakespeare Theatre subsciption packet: Available Monday-Saturday, and our subscription is on Sunday afternoon.

They are currently working on a new website so no online menu right now. The soups are wonderful, the tomato salad on the current menu is stunning, and if soft shell crabs are still on the menu I'd recommend those too.

Must be a difference in management, because I always ask for mild and spicy and get lots of each kind.

That coconut cake was to die for. Edit to say I confirmed our hotel reservation yesterday.

Crisp & Juicy all the way baby. We go to the one on Rockville Pike. Last night's order: one and a half chickens (plenty of leftovers), side of black beans, rice, fried plantain, and a surprisingly decent green salad. Containers of the spicy, garlicky mayo-ish, addictive-as-crack sauce to dip the chicken in. I am munching a leftover drumstick right now. As good cold as it is hot.

The Rockville Kam Sam is on North Washington St. The Maxim Grocery, which is on Hungerford (Rockville Pike extended), also has an extensive and very reasonably priced carryout. I like them both.