beanpod

Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a lovely topic. I have in-laws which drive me completely nuts when in town and staying over. They CONTINUALLY change their diets. They are constantly asking if something I cook is cooked properly (duh - I have fed your son for how many years and he's not dead - so go figure) Every meal has to have rice and salad - and rice even has to be cooked a certain way and dressing for the salad has to be olive oil and lemon (with WAY too much salt for my taste - but who's asking for my opinion anyway - I just live there) Anywho, I just thought you would have a laugh at this one. Last time they were in I made a whole roasted chicken and it called for bacon to be wrapped on top for first part of roasting - so I slyly put some on (knowing that my father-in-law is CURRENTLY not eating pork products - blah, blah, blah). I took it off after it turned crispy - ate the evidence (sneaky, hey??) and proceeded to cook. When all was said and done and we were all at the table after a wonder meal of chicken, rice, green beans and salad - my father-in-law said to me "That is the best chicken I think I have ever eaten!" Oh my - oops - It's really chicken with a pork twist!!!!

Apple Chicken Sauage Homemade mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with butter, green scallions, horseradish and salt and pepper Pass the potatoes please!!!

grilled chicken tenders marinated in fresh lime juice, EVOO, salt/pepper, cajun spices. chopped potatoes, onions, salt/pepper, EVOO (packed in several layers of foil) and of course, fresh white corn on the cob!

crepes blueberry compote fresh strawberries bananas real maple syrup coffee - with whipping cream (from scratch) and sugar, of course!!

Isn't fat considered our friend??

I think that it would take atleast a couple of weeks to get the results you are looking for - but with the difference in weather that I have it may be quicker for you. I had a big pile of wood chips along side our garage and it was there for about 3 weeks and when we finally transferred all the chips there was a nice earthy area - too bad I didn't think of putting the wood chips where I actually didn't want grass to be growing!!

Days Inn (surprisingly) for sure. Isn't it dizzying though? I'm getting unglued just thinking about trying to eat with everything going around and around and around... It doesn't go that fast! But I guess it would be pretty bad if the timer broke and it was like a merry-go-round!!!

I think it is in the Days Inn or Holiday Inn in Chicago with a great view of Lake Michigan. We went for Sunday brunch and the food was pretty good but it was hard to make it back to your table after loading up on eats. Note to self: bring a vase with flowers or something to hail you in after loading up. It's hard to enjoy your meal when other patrons are asking to actually sit at their table - how can they tell?? The view was awesome and food was good - but I love buffet and brunch all in one!!

How I wish that were true. It is true when it comes to pizza thickness - right??

I usually side with old Hopleaf when it comes to pizza but I don't mind the deep dish thing as long as I like the crust - but he always wins!!

ha ha ha ha but it is true

I guess so - but it can be fun - just feed the animals outside the leftovers of those deep dishes you do not like - or give them to your father-in-law!

hmmmm?? Good question. Pizza taste really depends on personal choice once that is achieved then venture out of the box and go deep dish even a small size to try it!! Then take 2 aspirins and call me in the morning!!

I kind of like deep dish pizza once in a great while - but only if the crust is worth the eating and worht the space in my stomach (one piece can be the end of the eating experience). Some deep dishes, like Gino's East, really do suck but if you like the crusts of a regular pizza from a regular joint then chances are the deep dish is just more of it!! It's a once-in-a-great-while thing but you can find decent deep dishes!!

Sunday: Made Nigella's basic recipe for roasted chicken: 1 cut-up chicken (some pesto butter rubbed under the skin), 2 large Yukon gold potatoes (cut up into 1/2 inch dice, 1 onion cut-up roughly, a couple cloves of garlic. You can also through in a pepper or two (chopped up, of course). Put in an oiled roasting pan (EVOO is great) and put all ingredients in and drizzle EVOO over them just to lightly cover (do not drown) and sprinkle sea salt and pepper. Roast at 425 degrees F for about 45 minutes (or until all is done) and serve!! I ended up throwing on a little cilantro on top of chicken after roasting. What a great Sunday night dinner that took 15 minutes to throw together and sit and breath in all of the roasting goodness (garlic and onions with the chicken -- yum!!).