Toasted

Until I started reading Egullet I didn't know men could cook! Seriously, all of my women friends and myself do all of the cooking except for the grilling- that's when the men come out! My man can do some microwave heating up, maybe a box of kraft mac&cheese but that's it. He's just not interested. He used to be resentful of the time I spent on Egullet until I made some of the fabulous onion confit and added it to pastas and on the homemade pizza I make. Now he understands that it's "a good thing" and leaves me alone. My two older kids (7 & 9) are my prep cooks and help me a lot. We have made many meals together already. I'm sure my man could cook if he really wanted to but it's just not his thing.

There is a recipe but I can't find it. Fry the green beans and then drain off the oil. Saute in a small bit of butter and a drizzle of soy sauce and some chopped peanuts. Very good.

Next week we will be tent camping with our three kids (youngest is 11 months) and another couple whose kid's ages range from 16 to 4. We will be camping for six days. I plan to get all of the fresh produce from the many stands near our campsite so I'll be planning meals according to what is available. Some typical camping meals- risotto with whatever veggies are available, pasta with fresh tomato sauce, breakfast dinners such as pancakes and homefries, stir fries with tofu and veggies, baked potatoes baked in the camp fire- add sourcream, broccolli and other stuff plus a big salad and it's dinner- and whatever else I come up with at the moment. Snacks will be guac, salsa, and other dips with chopped up veggies or else sliced fruit. This is the first year I've ever camped with a baby so pray for me people! I'm a little worried about how he'll take to naps in a tent and also about keeping him safe from all the camping hazards. We'll adjust though, I'm sure, and I'll try to take some photos of the whole event if I can. Oh, and if anyone has any tips about camping with young kids I would love to hear them! Thanks.

Home fries. Either the potatoes are burnt or too hard. How do you make good home fries?

I loved this blog and I'm sorry it's over. After seeing all the fruit you eat I've decided to make a point of eating more each day. Thanks for the blog, it was fun. Melissa

A blueberry bagel with cream cheese is a good thing. But I'm from CT so what do I know.

Hey Freud, some of us buy it cause we actually like the way it tastes! Bocca makes a tasty burger.

I'm liking you all ready for the Lucky Charms! I'm sure the wine stuff will be good too.......

Peanut butter toast and orange juice is comfort food to me. I've been eating it since I was a kid and it still taste good. As for a real meal, that would be homemade mac & cheese with green beans and applesauce.

If you are in the express line and you have at least ten items over the limit I'm gonna tell you so. I'll say it in a nice way with a psychotic look in my eyes so you'll get the point. Ok? Grocery shopping brings out a weird aggressive side to my personality. I have a lot of patience with the elderly who cling to their carts, blocking everyone from moving forward while they look for their favorite brand of pasta. I have no patience whatsoever for the very importantant people yacking on their cell phones and swishing through the store like no else is there. That so pisses me off. Another thing, the line isn't going to go any faster even if you push your cart half way up my ass. Back off please!

I think we can all agree about undercooked vegetables being a crime. Another pet peave is frozen butter and wine served at the wrong temperature.

God, I wish I lived in the south! People around here just don't do things like that. We're very reserved. A card and maybe some flowers is about all unless it's a really close friend or relative. It's a shame too because I love to get food. Last year after I had the baby my best friend brought over a delicious butternut squash lasagna (a caterer made it) and a big salad in the bag with some bottled dressing. I was very appreciative even if she didn't make it herself. There is nothing worse than coming home with a new baby to a house with hunger people and having to whip up a meal.

This is true but understandable. People seek out their comfort foods. It's to be expected. This is why I always serve meat when I have large parties where most of the guests aren't vegetarians. I'm not here to convert people. I couldn't care less about what other people eat. I just want to be a good hostess and make people feel comfortable. I've gotten some shit about this from some of my vegetarian friends but, it's my house, I'll serve what I want, please don't come if it makes you uncomfortable. We are actually having a big party on Sat. and 90% of the guests are not vegetarian so besides the vegetarian stuff there will be burgers and hot dogs (real-not veggie) chicken wings pre-made that I just heat up, maybe some shrimp and whatever anyone else wants to bring. The important thing is that people have fun and again, feel comfortable.

Well, a lot of people feel that a meal has to include meat to be complete. One of the common question I get from people is "what do you use for the main entree"? Sometimes there just isn't one main "thing". It's lots of small dishes eaten together that complete the whole.

I believe the contraption thingy is a toast maker?

A lot of the food is dehydrated which makes it possible to shape into different molds like lasagna noodles or cookies. Some foods like rice are soaked for a long time and then sprouted- same with beans. Lauren- thanks for the review. The food sounds beautiful and delicious. I'm planning to check it out myself sometime this summer.

I've been a vegetarian for almost 20 years. I'm one of those people who never liked meat and so I've never missed it. I think it's interesting how many well known chefs are featuring more vegetables and grains as main components in their menus instead of just using them as sides.

Ewww! Now I'll always think that if I ever make it again and it's so good for you too!

Tommy- why did you switch from cornmeal to flour and does it work just as well for you?

A friend of mine a very frugal friend, ok she's cheap as hell, feeds her family the "helper" without the add in of the meat or tuna. Her kids love it.

Do: Dry your salad greens by placing them in a pillow case and spinning them around as suggested by someone on egullet. Don't: Leave the pillow case on the counter because your husband might try to be helpful and throw it into the washing machine. Also don't: say bad words that your children will probably repeat the second they get into school the next day while you are cleaning all the lettuce and spinach out of the washing machine. And that's all I have to say about it.

Probably pork Thanks Marlene, I just wanted to have a tiny bit of a clue when I offered it to people on a platter. I've actually never cooked meat in my entire life except for warming up things like ham and wings in the oven so I really didn't know.

Ice wine has to be the most successful fraud ever pulled off in Canada. Are you saying it's not just me?! If so, thank you!!!!! I've been so shunned............

When people say they are coming over with "a whole mess of ribs" for the grill what ribs are they talking about? Cow? Pig? Turkey? I could call back and ask but I just can't. Please help the poor ignorant vegetarian!

Beets, nasty things, taste like dirt. Yuck! Also, Ice Wine- I know I probably just don't have the palate for it but it tastes like wicked expensive white grape juice to me. I just don't get it. Funny thing is, people keep offering this very pricey stuff to me even afterI've told them my opinion of it. Still, ok, I'll drink it, just don't understand the whole buzz about it.