hjshorter

Perhaps I'll just start by making my own bread and see how it goes. I baked bread yesterday for the first time in years and remembered how easy it was.

Well, one of my kids is preverbal, so extended chats aren't in the picture yet. The washing up is a concern. And Fifi, don't worry I haven't gone completely nuts. Our lot is only 15,000 square feet; large scale farming isn't an option. We'd still buy our flour and oats. And keeping chickens is against local ordinances. It's just that we completely cleaned out our refrigerator after the hurricane and less than two months later it's jam packed again, mostly with condiments.

We are thinking about selling our house, and as I was poking through our pantry the number of jars and boxes started driving me nuts. I started fantasizing about making everything ourselves. Is this a worthy goal, or a recipe for insanity? I'm talking everything. No mayo in a jar. Homemade bread, pickles, jam, peanut butter, canned tomatoes... I might draw the line at homemade mustard. Will I be turning myself into a 19th century housewife? Also, would it cost more? I'd be willing to bet that it would.

I'm all for that! I will be making the dinner tonight, and looking for a duck for next weekend.

Tomorrow huh? Let me see what's going on at home. I might be able to do it. I fell love with everything byDe Dolle Brouwers at a Brickskeller beer tasting a few years ago. They sometimes have Oerbier in a can at the Brick, and I have scored a bottle of Boskuen at Sutton Place from time to time, but it would be in heaven if RFD would carry something from them on tap. That tasting was concluded with about six keg lambic varieties. The best testing they've ever had, IMO.

I don't agree with that. I know many young people who are passionately interested in food that would not know those terms.

Mine are on their way! Now I have to go buy a $7 toaster.

Me too! They're OK sweet, but I love them stuffed with chicken or tuna salad, or even homemade ham salad. They disappear from a buffet faster than deviled eggs. I'm not sure if I'm up for boning a turkey, but would cook one if everyone else wants to do it. Should we do more festive stuff in practice for the holidays?

Duck sounds good. Duck with parsnips and a green salad. Anyone feel like joining me in making cream puffs? I'd like to make a double batch and freeze some before the holidays hit.

OK, the Cubano was the last straw. Where do I order these things?

Thank You. the number of egullet members who like burnt bread is currently at 2. i'm keeping score. make that 3! Make that 4.

Fried pies would be a great use of Scott's deep fryer. We haven't used it in a while. Fried pumpkin pie, maybe? I want to make profiteroles next week. I haven't made pate a choux in years, and I need some piping practice. Or maybe I'll whip up some pastry cream and make eclairs. Scott would be on cloud nine.

No pie for us, and no fish either. My Atkins following father-in-law wanted beef and salad. That's it, just beef and salad. We made buttermilk mashed potatoes for the kids.

Excellent report. I usually find that with the capers we don't need salt, but maybe our capers are saltier than yours. I went to the Chinese market and had them club some live tilapia for me but I judged them too skimpy and just steamed them for last night's dinner. I'll look for something thicker today.

Tommy, where did you get your kit?

I failed to notice it. Sounds alarming.

This comment is completely irrelevant and offensive. Many of the posters on this thread have brilliantly illustrated why Adrober felt uncomfortable in the rarified atmosphere of CT.

Al Dente is an expert on them. Ask him about Delirium Nocturnum. We put away a few there a couple months ago. Great great stuff. OK, it's sort of a plan then. What day?

I wasn't planning on dessert. J&J doesn't really have many dessert recipes, so we were debating a few days ago about whether to use another book for desserts.

I've heard the same but would be willing to give it a chance. Or we could eat at Ella's or Matchbox and have a beer at RFD. Maybe even dessert - I have to try the "Beeramisu" eventually.

You must have visited Whole Foods. I never buy artichokes from them. My neighborhood independent bookstore sold their last copy of J&J 2 days ago. None of the other groceries around me even have artichokes. Sorry about the used J&J. Better luck next time.

Is anyone interested in going to RFD? I've been dreaming about the lambic on tap for weeks now.

I'm leaving the asparagus out of the pilaf too. We're also skipping the artichokes after getting a look at the prices. Yikes.

Does anyone besides me think Four Sisters is waaaay overrated? I'm not even sure it's better than the place right next door to it. The Queen Bee of this decade? Is Queen Bee still open? I used to eat there regularly, and it was worth a special trip, but there are so many more Viet places open now...

Anyone feel like dinner out soon?