MetsFan5

I gutted my kitchen down to the studs as well and had a gas line put in. We didn't use a designer unless you consider having custom cabinets built around appliances and built to our specs otherwise. It's a hard life without a kitchen in the winter. I wish you a speedy and trouble free renovation. Mine took 3x longer than projected and definitely lead to a LOT of marital fights. It's awkward having contractors, electricians, plumbers, woodworkers, etc in your home when all you can offer is a bottle of water. I would even eat (aka hip check my way to the lower level of our home to reheat leftovers) in my bed! I don't envy you- I am gettin anxious just recalling the process. That said, the end result was so worth it!

Who here I recall reading taking a butcher class in San Diego? It would be a perfect gift my BIL

My inlaws do turkey for thanksgiving and Xmas. It's their tradition. Obviously with my father's poultry allergy it isn't my family's tradition. For thanksgiving when I was a kid he would eat lobster so I used to climb on his lap and make him share it with me. When I was 7 and a VERY picky eater, my mom asked for a list of what I wanted for dinner. The list was short. 1- lobster tails 2- mashed potatoes and 3- rice with soy sauce. My mom was NOT amused. Nor was she when she would change the floral center piece on our kitchen table and my vitamins would stream out- didn't want those either. As an adult with restaurant experience I think of things my father normally wouldn't. As in no beef Wellington if it has foie gras. That au jus likely has chicken stock. I feel like most waiters think I'm insane because he can eat eggs but he legitimately has had a poultry and whitefish allergy his entire life. I remember going to my parents home instead of my apartment on my mom's birthday. The got take out-- veal saltimbucco for him and chicken saltimbucco for her. My dad being my dad, aye what he THOUGHT was his veal from the take out container with a glass of scotch. By the time I arrived at my parents my father had taken 4 benedryl and was attempting to tell me how he had "a case of the the chicken disease". My poor mother was livid and didn't feel she could not not watch him. That at said I think we will do a turkey and steak for Xmas. My dad doesn't eat a lot of steak as he had a quadruple bypass but my inlaws love turkey as does my mom. Me? I just want the sides. And the wine.

Wow that is some egg porn with a side of pool envy for me!

A take out turkey club with avocado and a side of broccoli salad. @Ann_T I really want to make a ham but have only tried ham steaks and they sucked. Any tips? Left over ham has so many good uses plus, I just love it.

My husband had to travel across the country to visit his son (obviously my stepson) shortly after my brother's death. I really didn't want or even trust myself to be alone for two nights so I went to my best friend's home. She has 2 kids 3 and under and their joy over my bringing a plastic slinky and cheap mini cupcakes from the supermarket was such a relief. She made a lasagna with a blend of pesto and marinara sauces and turkey sausage and I nearly cried at having a comforting and home cooked meal. Food really is surprisingly comforting. Maybe that's why I find myself eating the crap my brother loves best like Lipton's noodle soup (with 1/4th less water than called for so it even more salty and noodle filled), ramen and even frozen pizzas. Although after one frozen pizza I was done. I do like a good pizza. It's another comfort food for me.

Does the local area have any place that gives kids cooking lessons?

@rotus this is the description of my local shoprite; " Store Features & Amenities: -Health & Wellness Center with pharmacy, registered dietitian services, fitness studio offering morning & evening classes and the Learning Center; education focused childcare. -Expanded Kosher selection -Ella Jane Beauty, cosmetics and jewelry lines including our in-store Beauty Advisor to help with all your beauty needs and product recommendations. From complimentary one-on-one consultations to beauty classes incorporating makeup application and skin care knowledge. Workshops, demos, events! -European Food Hall - inspired Village Food Garden. Featuring a traditional diner, BBQ joint, Lavazza Coffee Bar, Blueprint Subs and Salad shop, Juice Bar, traditional American, Italian, Japanese & Latin cuisines. Outdoor seating & delivery available. -Liquor department offering an expansive list of craft beer & fine wines -Top notch bakeries, produce, craft butcher & seafood departments"

Kings is the local high end grocery store in NJ. The one in my town has a RAMEN BAR. Yea. And they will make your own salad for you and chop it similar to Chop't or Hale and Hearty in NYC. During lunch hours, the town has a cop directing traffic in and out of the parking lot. I'm thinking I should swing by tonight and take pictures. My local Shoprite is a "superstore" and has an oyster bar, artisanal pizza bar, sushi bar, etc and they deliver the food from these 'mini restaurants' on Grubhub. Basically like a Wegman's on steroids since they have a huge kitchen studio for classes, a daycare and yoga studio too. I could spend about 5 hours in there and never get bored. The sheer amount of prepped food is overwhelming for someone like me who really only leans towards a prepped rotisserie chicken on week nights.

Is it wrong that all I want after reading this is McDonalds? I mean id be happy to eat at Delmonico's and even happier to eat at Mama Leone's outpost at Citifield, Mama's of Corona's but I'm not in the mood to deal with driving and parking and all that. Plus now that Mickey D's serves breakfast all day...

Thank you all for your condolences and condolences to those who are also coping with loss. Places like this, although virtual, are very comforting in a way perhaps because we are "virtual strangers" but share common yet deeply hard losses. Ramen noodles are another go to food for me. Not even good ones. I think it's the MSG. Orzo with a little butter (or sometimes a lot!) is another quick and easy comfort food. My poor husband hasn't had a properly homemade meal in 2 months. Fortunately he is easily pleased with skillet meals, frozen chicken cordon bleus and the like. We are also fortunate to live in an area with a respectable array of restaurants that delivery (everything from Vietnamese to classic Italian). I genuinely meant no disrespect in regards to using cottage cheese in lieu of ricotta- I just never liked cottage cheese- and living in Northern NJ there is plenty of ricotta easily and cheaply available. I've never even attempted a lasagna with a béchamel- I'm not a hugely experienced cook. My husband is great at grilling on the BGE but not only have I had oral surgery recently, even before that I find any meat that isn't something I can cut with a butter knife to be too much effort to eat and anything too chewy sticks in my throat. Thank you for sharing your stories. You all are in my thoughts.

I don't work outside of my home. I haven't properly cooked since my brother passed I'm thinking making lasagna (cottage cheese makes me cringe in a lasagna) might be comforting. It does help me to spend time making sauce from scratch and the smell is just amazing. Hmm I wonder what types of sausages I have.

Please forgive me if this topic exists-- I did search and didn't find anything. That aside, I am dealing with the loss of my brother (aged 33, I am 36) and from taking a step back, it is interesting how my Italian and Irish heritage plays into this situation. Food Ihave been gifted with a lot of freqency to my parents (which makes me very grateful) and booze tends to be the Irish was of coping. At the repast, I definitely drank more than I ate as I find eating hard to do. So that's my Irish side, I suppose. Soup is the only thing I enjoy now which is likely due to soup being a comfort food. I am familiar with the shiva process and the sheer amount of food with alcohol but from what I've seen is a bit less. My mother, who's father was born in Italy and her mother who's ancestors came over on the Mayflower tend to lean towards food. My 100% Irish father, who's grandparent immigrated here and who's family owns large farms in Mayo County, Ireland, tends to drink. Food and drink are always comforting at any time. I fall between the lines as I am trying to avoid drinking too often as it can (obviously being that alcohol is a depressant) upset me. I have a poor appetite but have found comfort in the most cheap and garbage foods-- grilled cheese on white bread with Kraft singles, Campbell's chicken and stars soup and triscuits. Have certain foods helped you? Does your family have traditions?

My parents with my husband and I went out to dinner. My father and I enjoyed short ribs. My dad is allergic to all poultry and whitefish. My brother passed away unexpectedly in late September. So baby steps with holidays and food. I loved my short ribs but couldn't finish them.

Still reading and wondering if I can bribe you to express mail me some of that honeyed pork jerky!!!

Aren't the tentacles the best part? They are for me!

I don't know where the OP dines but while I would love to be able to order a steak for a mere $17- even 5 years ago, I certainly wouldn't eat anywhere where water was literally leaking on my table. That said I never ever NOT tip. When you do not tip you cost your server money as most servers tip a percentage of their sales to the bar and bus people and rarely, the hostess. Even if my server sucked I know the bar making the drinks worked and so did the busser.

@Shelby your Mac and cheese always looks so so good to me. Would you share your recipe?

@Anna N do you like edamame? I dislike beans and lentils as well. I will eat edamame and like it well, because salt. Otherwise I think it's a textural and also appearance thing for me. Refried beans literally make me lose my appetite. Chickpeas are fine in smaller doses and in salads only. I like hummus though and would probably like roasted chickpeas. Also, I grew up as a very picky eater and with the stigma of beans as a kid I basically refused to consider eating them. As an adult I am pretty much over things I previously revolted at due to stigmas, however I have zero desire to cook beans.

Where was this? Also? Servers rarely spit in the food. Like extremely rarely. I hate when diners expect the worst of waiters like they are sub humans who get off on contaminating food for fun. Have you tried Raul's in Morristown? Awesome empanadas.

Also be brave and tell your husband helllll no it's your birthday! No concert for him!

First of all- I'm sorry but my husband would be my ex husband if he decided to see BS on my birthday-- he's always playing with his band and in our home state. Unless you don't want to go and your husband stops at Cartier prior to the concert that's a big fat no. Also if your husband is your age I don't get it. My parents are in that generation and they'd rather play 18 holes of golf times three than go see Bruce. I personally cannot stand the noise everyone raves about. I would recommend seeking out a better steak. Maybe at Rod's as they offer most of their steaks on the lunch menu and will be fine with special requests. I used to work there, my husband proposed there and we got married there. They dry age the steaks in their basement. Please don't get a diner steak! That said, I have always been a bit of a brat on my birthday. Shocking I'm sure . My birthday is St. Patrick's day. I guess my slight toward the holiday (despite being 50% third generation Irish in Morristown) started when my mom (Italian and British) refused to name me Meghan. It was on from there but I lost all those battles as a child, begging for (somewhat junky) Chinese delivery. I used to secretly sip soy sauce until my mom caught me. Then it was only given to me when I went on a hunger strike. Obviously I was a spirited child to say the least. Fortunately I grew up to enjoy foods I previously snubbed and spent my 21st birthday on a 36 hour bender in London. That said I cannot STAND having to eat what I consider "bad fart food" on my birthday. I don't want boiled cabbage and meat. I want the opposite of that. Green beer makes me annoyed and gives me a headache from rolling my eyes at all the non Irish heritage people chugging it down. So I like sushi delivery for my bday or to be at the Mets Spring Training and eating wings then going to Jensen Beach for a fantastic dinner at 11 Maple Street bet you're glad you asked! Although growing up my mom always got me a a Fugie the whale ice cream cake in mint chocolate chip. She also gave up smoking on my 5th birthday which is pretty much the best gift ever.

I partially responded to this in an above post. I still haven't tried the bacon jam, battered halibut or perline prosciutto pasta. The mac & cheese bites were pretty good but greasy. I like the coconut shrimp. Today I bought the dill pickle popcorn-- pretty good-- but we like pickles. I also bought the pork gyoza, chicken fried rice, mushroom risotto, chicken chili lime burgers, A-1 guacamole, mandarin orange chicken, frozen organic jasmine rice, mozzarella and tomato salad, frozen sweet corn, shrimp nuggets and the chocolate covered banana bites. Other than the popcorn, we had the jasmine rice tonight which was easy to make and fine and the banana bites which my husband disliked and I found to be okay-- good for a quick fix if I am craving a little something sweet. I also bought an insulated bag because according to my car, it was 95 degrees when I walked into the store. And humid as hell. I'll likely have the mozzarella and tomato salad for lunch tomorrow (it came in a mixed greens salad with kalamata olives and pine nuts). Has anyone enjoyed any of the other items I purchased today?

@JoNorvelleWalker same here in NJ. I made a TJs stir fry skillet meal. And I stupidly used my oven to heat up egg rolls and shrimp toast. If the air quality wasn't so gross I would have gone to Kings and bought the fixings for two huge salads and a loaf of bread. Maybe tomorrow.

Don't bother with the grilled, frozen cauliflower. It sucked. I had to crank the over up to 475, douse the cauliflower with olive oil and kosher salt and it was barely edible at best. I might consider buying it to use as a purée in the future only because it's pre cooked and cheap. The lemon grass chicken egg rolls are very gingery and lemon grassy. They crisped up well in the oven but were much better with a bit of soy sauce. The shrimp toast continues to be a favorite. I almost want to hoard them and eat them in secret! I've found about 99% of their frozen appetizer type foods, including the coconut shrimp benefit from almost twice the recommended cooking time. It could be my oven. I have beer battered tilapia, Mac n cheese bites and the bacon jam to try. The sweet chili sauce is nice. My dog loved the chicken jerky treats and beef rolls but she just hit a high point on the scales so no more TJs treats for a while.