hjshorter

But those make a huge difference. I never realized what an advantage it was until we sold our home with the powerful gas cooktop and bought a house with an electric stove. Everything takes twice as long. Most home ranges just do not have enough power to achieve professional results.

It's a bit of a hike. Montgomery County just sucks for groceries. And wine.

Latest atrocity - took home a supposedly fresh cut piece of Fourme d'Ambert only to find it smelled of ammonia.

I buy this by the case, and Fresca. I like Diet Pepsi Vanilla too but don't need the caffeine. Maybe someday they'll make a caffeine-free version.

Are the convergence of who and what one is completely inseparable in the gay community? ← Sometimes it's nice to be able to hold hands across the table without a lot of staring from other diners.

I am reminded of the evening that I went to Dukem with the two of you - we did not manage to get the point across despite sending it back once.

I absolutely will not laugh, but I had no idea it was on their menu. Thanks for the tip.

Bravo! Bill. Amazing work. It's very tempting and easy to use having little kids as an excuse for lazy uninspired meals. Time to get off my ass and follow your example.

A set of 6 silver plate fruit knives that were given to my maternal grandmother by my great-grandmother (her MIL) in 1945 as an engagement present. My great-great-grandmother's roasting pan, from the early 1900's. It makes the most amazing gravy and drippings. Edit: I almost forgot an entire box of embroidered tea towels, and pillowcases from great grandmother. She made money by taking in sewing in the 20's and 30's. These were part of my grandmother's trousseau. Grammy gave them to me because I was her only grandchild that did needlework.

I have a confession to make. I don't really like beef tartare. I want to. Really really want to. But every time I get a lovely piece of steak at home I am compelled to grill it. Restaurants versions have let me down so many times that I am hesistant to give it another go. But I will. Where can I get it done right?

I hadn't been following this thread, but I picked this book up yesterday along with the French Laundry book. The FLC is gorgeous, but I have wanted to cook every single recipe I've looked at from Bouchon. The rabbit and prune rillettes especially.

Mizducky, can you buy some fresh lamb and have them grind it for you?

Right there with you Chufi. Bill, congratulations. Everything looked lovely, and your plating was elegant. Make some notes in your book (or on a sheet of paper to tuck in that page) about what worked and what didn't while it's all still fresh. Then the next time you'll be able to tweak the recipes to your taste. Humbolt Fog is currently our favorite cheese. Now we will have to try it with beets.

Here I am dead tired but rather than go to bed I turned my computer back on just to see if there was an update. I'm dying to see how this all turned out, especially the wine pairing. The library had the FL book waiting for me this afternoon so I am now following along at home. Was the lemon tart as easy as the recipe seems to be?

Big juicy grilled burgers topped with sweet onion and big thick slices of Uglyripe tomato, haricot verts blanched, shocked and served cold with a sesame dressing, Ravenswood old vines zinfandel, and ice cream cones for dessert.

At Emma's request the Shorter family headed down to the National Mall to visit her favorite museum this morning. After wandering around the Air & Space Museum looking at rockets and all the cool Lego displays, we headed across the street to the Mitsitam Cafe at the National Museum of the American Indian for lunch. We had not been to the museum before - wow what a stunning space. The kids loved it. We breezed in to the cafe at 11:30. By the time we were done 45 minutes later the line was out the door and down the hall. Emma had pinto beans, rice and pork rolled in a tortilla (Meso America station), Scott had beef tacos ( also Meso America), I had the maple roasted turkey with succotash and baked beans with bacon (Northern Woodlands station), and Ian had tastes from everyone's plates. The pintos were good but the baked beans were terrific and Emma ate most of them for me. The succotash was served cold and made with sweet corn, baby limas, and brown beans, with red onion and a spicy dressing - not what I was expecting but very good. The turkey was fresh and moist and served with a cranberry sour cherry compote. I got even with Emma for scarfing my beans and half my turkey by eating all of her pork taco. Quahog chowder was very good, creamy with a spicy hit and big meaty chunks of clam and potato. Scott had a good opinion of the beef tacos and guacamole. The Northwest Coast station looked very good, offering cedar-planked juniper salmon, salmon sandwich on wild rice bread, several salads, and beets. South America's highlights were jicama and orange salad, and tamales. We will definitely go back - it wasn't fabulous, just interesting, well-done and not the usual crap cafeteria food. Of course, the prices ($44 for lunch!) aren't typical of the cafeterias either, but worth it to get something different and good. I was sadded by all of the kids - and parents - walking by with chicken nuggets or a burger and fries. There were quite a few of them.

Oh yeah, the steak. We will be back for dinner.

Dude, that is so totally a hangover from the Rock(s) & (Spring)Roll bash last night. I don't know, Bill was pretty restrained last night, unlike some of us. The tart looks gorgeous. So does the wine.

Heather, is that the little green booklet? My mom has been baking cookies from that for decades. The molasses cookies in that booklet are to die for.... ← The very same. I've tried their molasses cookies and prefer the recipe for Molasses Crinkles from the Fannie Farmer cookbook (1965 printing, it's not in later editions). It's an incredible cookie and takes me right back to my childhood. That's another New England thing - relying on Fannie Farmer instead of Joy of Cooking.

The lentils, the oysters with apple mignonette, the spring rolls, the wine, the mushroom soup, the service, the company. And the scallops. Oh my those scallops.

Family from Dedham MA, moved to Hopkinton in the 50's. Most of our family favorites have been mentioned, but here's my list: Anadama bread applejack cookies (my recipe is from the Sturbridge Village cookbook) boiled dinner cranberry bread harvard beets baked beans with salt pork brown bread (I actually have a mold for this) corn chowder clam chowder oyster stew cod cakes and from my childhood - dinner at Ken's in Framingham

Bill, the cucumber jelly looks lovely. And the wine...mmmmmm.

Diced relish of tomato, cucumber and onion dressed with olive oil, vinegar, s & p, and fresh oregano, stuffed into whole wheat pita with Kifte meatballs seasoned with coriander. Topped with Total 2% yogurt. Cool and easy.

Oh excellent. I would pay to see that. Seriously, the week that I prep all of the produce the day it's purchased is the week that no food gets forgotten and wasted - and we eat more fruit and veg because it's already washed and prepped and easy to grab. Now if I could just make that happen every week I'd be all set.

Huh? You mean great sex shouldn't involve hand-written instructions with step-by-step diagrams? No, nor should it require a mis en place. Well, actually, it might. Not even gonna go there. I got my dozen little glass bowls from Sur La Table (I think) and they are perfect for a tablespoon or two of whatever. They were cheap, and a little smaller than the Pyrex ramekins. I bring out the 4 and 6 oz. ramekins for larger amounts.