MetsFan5

Actually I tip my hairdresser and delivery drivers, as well as any home service provider that goes above and beyond. I tip Uber drivers. I tip my mailman, my garbage collectors, etc. I tip a lot.

What does moooorish mean?

I definitely use a nonstick. I have suffered from using too much oil as well. I've found 'hash brown patties' (frozen and pre cooked) to work easier in a pinch-- I throw them in my Breville toaster oven for about 15-20 minutes at 450 and they are nice and crispy.

Simple, fattening but comforting as hell when your mind or tummy is hurting-- orzo is my comfort food. Orzo with a knob of butter and either Rao's or Victoria's vodka sauce and a nice crusty loaf of French bread.

Wow that looks amazing! Despite the title of the cookbook I can't warrant buying the book just for this recipe but will search it out. I love anything with zucchini and that picture has me drooling and wondering how well the random zucchini in my veg drawer is holding up.

I know I am very fortunate to have my parents and the means to afford meals out at fine dining restaurants. My family has always been a bit more comfortable dining out on holidays for a multitude of reasons. One, my father has a severe poultry allergy. So even if we go to extended family's homes, it's up to my mom or me to prep and bring something that can be reheated and avoid any cross contamination. Chicken stock is prevalent in so many things from soups to sauces and home cooks, as well intended as they are, don't always keep serving utensils seperate and can forget they used a boullion cube. Restaurants take allergies much more seriously and I mention my father's allergy when making reservations. When coping with the loss of an abusive addict, staying "home" is filled with extremely sad, violent and verbally abusive memories. A neutral ground is much easier for all of us, especially for my husband when the holiday proceeds a work day. And we've been going to the same restaurant for I think at least 3 holidays now. I know the waitstaff, some from having worked with them in a different restaurant. And that type of hospitality can, at times, feel more like family than actual family does. I also have to be sensitive to my parents who have a hard time being around teenaged kids, people with questions surrounding a sudden death of a 33 yr old and go with what works for them. But believe me. I thank god for them every. Single. Day. Death is a personal process for everyone; it isn't a competition where any one wins-- everyone suffering loses and there isn't a barometer for measuring who's loss is more painful. And that's the funny thing about restaurants. Sometimes the servers are a lot more genuine and kind than family would be. Which I suppose would surprise some, but not me.

Another holiday and I took the easy way out. A 3 course dinner at a local fine dining restaurant for $59++ per person. I had a Caesar salad and scallops with an artichoke purée and crispy guicncale and chocolate mousse. My husband had grilled and smoked (which suffered from too many preperations) octopus and lamb loin. My parents had tenderloin and I wasn't surprised my dad's was over cooked as he could even get it done rare. That's to be expected to me so we didn't complain. With drinks and tax and gratuity it was about $100 per person so not insane. It's about keeping calm during holidays and we did so mission accomplished. How the hell I will even begin to help my mom during Mother's Day is beyond me. I might ask her to go on a long weekend trip. These holidays are rough.

This topic is a great, yet very sad read and shines a light on things I personally was unaware of. So what can the average person do? I cook a few times a week and otherwise leave "dinner" for my husband and I to pick on whatever we feel like (Campbell's Chicken and Stars in my #1 comfort food) and or eat odds and ends. Most of my grocery stores ask for donations towards various local soup kitchen type organizations but I can't imagine my odd $15-20 a month really helps. Any suggestions how to truly benefit those in need v. paying the exhorbinent salaries of some of the better known charities? What should people be doing to make a difference on a local level if possible?

@blue_dolphinWhat's EYB? Looks good to me.

I'd never ask for a half portion of a dish. I think it's rude. No one is stopping you from taking half the meal home. It also puts an added stress on the kitchen and the waitstaff. If you want a half portion would you only tip half, or would you tip full price and then some for the inconvenience of your special request?

Can an you share more about these dishes? The bottom one especially looks great.

@ElsieD how were the meatballs? They look and sound amazing. On my to do list!

Chris every single time I see that hash I get immediately hungry. I love corned beef hash (corned beef though not so much). It's great in an omelette. In college my roommate and I would always go to the local diner on weekends and order "dog food omelettes" because they look awful but tasted great!

See if you have a Blimpies nearby. They are gooood!

@Tri2Cook please forgive my ignorance-- is your grocery store so limited that you can't have a made to order sub (sandwich) at the deli case? I'm sure some of their employees work hard and are cognizant of health code regulations. Personally, I don't buy the pre sliced deli meats, I have them sliced to order and to my preference of thickness. Or thinness as it applies but at the very least I know then when it was sliced and what brand it is.

I simply cannot abide by subway. From the horrible, smelly bread to the pre- sliced bottom of the barrel cold cuts and the employees with little to no concern for cross contamination I honestly don't think I have ever eaten there. I've been there but won't eat there. Grocery stores make better sandwiches- at least they can be made to order with name brand cold cuts.

You guys are champs. I have central A/C and keep my home at 63 degrees in the summers (which are thick with humidity) and I still don't like to turn on the oven.

Making sauce for a sausage lasagna (please excuse my filthy range):

@teonzo those caper fruits are generally refered to as caper berries in the US and aren't that hard to find. My old roommate and I would eat them by the jar on a weekly basis! I love them.

My golden retriever Loves them too. But she can demolish one in about a half hour.

Sorry but anything government funded and paid by tax payers is going to have limits. We don't live in an egalitarian country. (Assuming people contributing to this conversation are from the US, as these are US programs). I've lived on ramen type of poor and now have a nice life. Soda shouldn't be covered.

An Italian POW in the US? I'm confused.

Oh @HungryChris those scalloped potatoes look perfect on a cold and snowy night!! Anticipating this storm and having been somewhat eaten out of house and home during the holidays (and accidentally leaving my second refrigerator door open for TWO DAYS) we have little to eat until our grocery delivery arrives tomorrow. So last night we ordered a pizza to eat tonight. Pizza reheated in a pan on a gas stove is better than pizza delivered. The bottom gets crispy, the cheese hot and oozy and it takes mere minutes from fridge to pan to plate. It was an easy and fast dinner while watching the adbomination that is "Neighbors Two". Maisey enjoyed the pizza crust fairy visiting her.

Oh the irony of my having not cooked in ages. I had my inlaws at my home during Christmas for 8!! days!! I made a sausage lasagna, beef stew, and Christmas dinner. (steaks, roasted red potatoes and roasted green beans and Marsala mushrooms) and my husband made breakfast EVERY DAY. We eat a proper breakfast maybe once a month. My MIL also ordered those insanely over priced WS crossaints which I admit were very good. Going to 3 stores to find the appropriate recycled parchment paper I could have passed on. As nice as it was to keep busy I crashed HARD once they left. Like didn't leave the bed for 20 hours and slept for 19 of those hours and the came down with a stomach bug then a cold. I hope all of you who had a less than ideal holiday season are feeling ok and made it through unscathed.

Thanks for the info. It is useful! I do not trust myself at all in the kitchen, having left the second fridge's freezer wide open (there way have been booze clouding my judgement) and I just lost a ton of food. Not at all happy. So I'm the type who fucks things up when I I am going by the book!