nerissa

So I am in Chicago, and it has been cool here. A couple of days ago I potted: Orange mint Lemon Thyme English Thyme Pineapple Sage Lavender Greek Oregano French Tarragon Coupla zinnias Ornamental grass A pretty geranium--not scented but more delicate than the usual campy geraniums I grew up with. As with the varying temperatures: are there any plants I should bring in until memorial day (monday)? I have also sprouted from seed: spicy basil, dill, and coriander.

Hi (remember me?) Not so unusual, but I love lavender and honey ice cream. Grapefruit and tarragon does sound good. Does anyone know where I can buy it in Chicago? I used to get it at Dean and Deluca.

I don't know what to think. I would agree, however, that the benefits of the Asian diet can be located in the frequency of fish and broth in their diet. But Ms. Planck forgot to mention all the leafy greens they also consume--bok choy, e.g.

Bottled water. Dried Mango Wasabi Peas

OF course we met! But this thread was started in January..we were at awbrigs March 15 (the day after my birthday so I remember these kinds of things.) I think Hopleaf has Hacker Pschoor on tap--one of my favorites.

Welcome to the chapati crowd! We make them weekly. Here is what I do (according to boyfriend's mother's recommendations). 3/4 water plus 1 tbspn. 2 C flour. One capful of olive oil, a pinch salt... gather into ball. Knead. If possible, I would recommend cooking the chapatis on a cast iron skillet. Most Indian cooks cook dosas and chapatis on cast iron skillet. My method is a little different then yours but yours seems to work

Last weekend at Le Relais in Louisville, I had Muscovy Duck with an ice grape reduction... certainly not too cloying. They used veal stock reduction as well, and I tasted cloves as well. CWS is right--it has to be done with skill. Mint jelly should be banned, period. I will eat figs with anything.

I had no idea that formula contained so much sugar. thanks maggie. I was breastfed...my father was breastfed by a wet nurse and his mother...she pointed out to my mother that breastfeeding was the way to keep the post-preggers weight off.

I am flipping through The Greens Cookbook by Deborah Madison for non dairy and non eggs dessert recipes...there are a couple. PM me if you are interested.

Chart and Saffron Tart Arugula and Fava Bean salad with a lemonny vinagrette

My local, the Medici Bakery (on E. 57th in Hyde Park) has really fine buttery baguette. They also make ciabattas, that are wonderfully airy--a nice salty, crust with a hint of olive oil. If you are lucky, you can get their Olive Ciabatta. Heaven. Don't even think of eating at its owner-restaurant.

Im anything but smug or scientific..but how do YOU know about who my father is when even *I* dont? But seriously ladies and germs....I like Alton cuz hes offbeat and just a bit to the left of center. I identify with my own. But as is evidenced here somewhere on the site, I really like Bourdain too because of HIS think out of the box style. Id GLADLY cook for either one of them at work Oh....Sara Moulton too...Ive spoken to her on air several times...she good people!~ Never meant to insult your pop, nyfirepatrolchef! AB brings diversity to the ailing FN--but I am biased. The day they off Molto Mario and A Cook's Tour in place of more shows like "The Best of" or "how to boil water" will be the day of a thousand protests. Inciditentally, I have occasionally caught "Cookworks"--has anyone else seen this show. I rather like her--Donna Something?

Today for lunch while watching very old episode of Law & Order: 1. Coupla slices of proscuitto, bits of fat pulled off (but not all and put back with rest of slices for cooking later). 2. Veggie burger 3. After the Fall blueberry juice mixed with Gerolsteiner. I am feeling a tad sick but I brought to work Kettle Garlic and Onion Black Bean and Brown Rice chips. Nero: What is "big momma" wine?

Has anyone been recently? and welcome, Victoria

Martha Stewart did this in one of veggie beds on her show and I thought it was a nifty idea. She used chives as a natural border. Bilrus-- more power to you. As jackal said, that is how gardening works. Some people have a magic thumb with african violets-- you may have perfect conditions for growing ciliantro at the moment. Jackal is right about most herbs preferring not overly fertilized soil. You can still nudge them along with organic supplements, if for example, you are transplanting a seedling into the pot or ground. You might try getting a bay leaf tree/plant, and planting in a pot. They grow rather slowly. I don't know their exact climate requirements so I am not sure if they can planted in the ground. Another plant that doesn't like over-fertilization.

Good to know, considering the rate my boyfriend and I consume chevre. I haven't seen it at my local Whole Paycheck but I'll ask around. Thanks.

Coach Farms makes a light goat cheese? What a waste for pizza. Recently, I did a pizza with pecorino (+ a little mozzarella), red swiss chard, tomatoes, and proscuitto.

I would buy lavender potted- it is so hard to grow from seed. I would recommend planting varieties of thyme, especially between stones. Its perrenial. Basil is very easy to grow-- you can even buy fresh stalks from the store (cannot just be leaves) and put them in a glass/vase of water in the sunlight. In a few weeks or so, you will see tons of roots and can plant. But basil is pretty easy to grow by seeds. Its an annual so you have to plant each year. Since you will be on the coast, I recommend planting rosehip. It grows very well by the ocean-- I don't know if your area will be cold enough. If you want to grow mint, plant in a pot, as otherwise it will invade the rest of your garden. I would just buy parsely and ciliantro fresh at the store. Ciliantro tends to bolt pretty early. Dill is a good plant to have in the garden as it attracts beneficial insects (marigolds do the same). I am so jealous... gardening brings such great rewards.

I am sure others will disagree, but Florida and Texas are not the south. The South can be divided into various regions; their names reflect the history of the south: The old south, the deep south, the new south. (i was born and raised in the old south by a yankee mother and a prodigal son) Maggie, come over to my house for grits. anytime. Err...cookbooks, looking to get a new one. Bored with my current ones. Cannot wait to read The Apprentice Can anyone recommend a cookbook by Jacques Pepin?

If you are not a Smug Scientific Bastard, I don't see the appeal that Alton Brown's show holds. Unless I am baking, I rarely measure exactly. I don't really understand why people don't take Bourdain seriously or don't give him any respect because of his bleeped out monolouges or honesty on t.v. Some choose wisely to ignore him since they'd rather watch the Halycon antiseptic likes of Sara Moulton (whom I am sure can actually cook), but give me a broken down scarred chef any day.

My boyfriend and I make an indian meal at home 1 times a week, and usually dine at a South Indian restaurant 2x a month. We make dal in Hyberdaad fashion-- usually add spinach or some veggies to it at the end. We make chappattis, have yogurt and pickle to go along side. Wish I could eat more samosas As I am non-Indian, I think the Indian influence on my cooking/menu planning has become seamless.

No Maggie, water is good. Repeat, water is my friend, water is my friend. Whoa. This may be the first time I disagree with the Maggie. Half the time when you think you are hungry, you are actually dehydrated. I would watch the sodas, and juices (some juices are better than others). Varmint, I hope you are not already tiring of more dieter's dogma... though I shudder at the word "dieter."

Maggie's tips are right on. My father after having Stress Tests came back with dangerously high cholesterol levels. He was able to reduce his cholestrol to normal, heathly level in 2 months without drugs. Here is what he did: 1) cut out all alcohol except red wine. 2) cut out red meat. 3) ate tons of salmon and tuna. 4) ate a lot of tofu and legumes. 5) walked to get the newspaper with the dogs and my mum every morning. I have recently been reducing the amount of refined carbohydrates and I have noticed an improvement. The other thing is that you cannot deprive yourself completely. Give yourself a day on the weekend (or once in a while) to eat the on thing you crave. Good luck, Varmint! Is your wife joining you on this quest?

Word.

Saturday: Bought pizza dough from Italian deli. Made pizza with pecorino, slicer tomatoes, swiss chard, and proscuitto. Ain't so fucking bad. Tonight: Jamaican Jerk Chicken (from this month's Gourmet)--used split breasts and whole legs Red Swiss chard sauteed in garlicky oil Yogurt (store bought)