Margaret Pilgrim

I gave up meat for a number of years. and never felt deprived. How could I be when there is pasta?

Absolutely! Intuitively obvious to the denizens of each "pasta" culture, not so much for us other consumers/cooks.

While it is readily available at the many dim sum storefronts on nearby Clement Street, my experience with congee is limited to the menu service at Cal Pac Med Center hospital where it is served 24/7. Chicken and ginger are the two identifiable flavors, and I've not seen chili oil offered. But it is my reliable breakfast choice and lunch add-on whenever I've had the bad luck to be an inmate.

Sounds like Walmart might be the answer to your maiden prayers.

This has become my 'go to" fusilli, close to a favorite pasta, period. It's Walmart's house brand pasta, imported from Italy. It has the rough surface of expensive pasta while being absurdly inexpensive, like around $1.70/500gr.This This particular shape is a spiral so has no central core. I also like this brand's pappardelle and spaghetti, again firm and rough surfaced. All of the "Italia" brand seems to be in short or non-supply during pandemic. I hope this is temporary.

Husband often/occasionally asks what he ca do to help. I look innocent and ask him to break up spaghetti for "roni".

Let your fingers do the walking https://www.today.com/recipes/ina-garten-s-cheddar-chutney-grilled-cheese-recipe-t193304 https://www.today.com/recipes/ina-garten-s-creamy-tomato-bisque-recipe-t193306

We have a small walk-in pantry that is now in its most svelte form as it has been taken over by pantry moths and we have tossed anything not in glass. (They eat through plastic as an hors d'oeuvre.)

Down and dirty tonight! Prawns and fries with no apologies!

From the WSJ, Laotian inspired pork patties

Framable

Have you called Le Creuset customer service? I believe your ware is now considered "heritage", but they may have replacement stock and procedure. Also, are there used kitchenware shops in your area? We have a fabulous one (Cookin') that has piles of le Creuset, tops and bottoms, but she doesn't ship. Check out your yellow pages.

I confess that I flunked "seasoning 1". I have meticulously followed manufacturers' instructions only to wind up with an unseasoned pan. BUT most all of my cast iron pans and one Dutch oven, my calphlon dedicated to deep frying and several woks have become perfectly seasoned. Because, I believe, they are used consistently with oils and never scoured clean. The Dutch oven is one I use for bread and which I spray with cooking spray each use and only rinse out with water. In my mental "notebook", it is the repeated use of oil that is allowed to gradually adhere that creates the desired surface.

Our son, using a dedicated non-stick pan, flips fried eggs. I just watch, astounded. I turn them with a spatula. He told me that the only way he can turn them is by flipping, that when he tries to use a spatula he either breaks them or loses them onto the stoptop. Different strokes.

File under Pandemic Boredom Escapes: Mary Berry's beef and ale stew with horseradish suet dumplings.

Yard chard alongside chicken thigh marsala Chocolate guinness cake i gave away half this cake to a friend who dropped off some homemade pasta. Husband is not amused.

WOWZER! Inspired and delicious.

Raw tomato sauce on hot spaghetti. This is a recipe I "stole" 20 years ago from Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park. Tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, mint, balsamic, sherry wine vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper flakes. A hot weather standard in tomato season.

It's worth searching out. We can buy it still warm on Clement St., and the flavor difference is noticeable.

Do we show half eaten plates? Husband got a jump on me. Plan was prawns with cocktail sauce, grilled scallions, asparagus spears, splat of repurposed fried potato...

Outstanding job on the flank steak!

Last night's pork tenderloin repurposed into lunch sandwiches, then ragu Bolognese. Which called for homemade pappardelle. Plus a quart of ragu for the fridge/freezer.

Your chicken looks perfect, but just give me a plate of those potatoes! Scrumptious!

I love the potatoes in Lydia's chicken and potato skillet. I often use this process outside this dish, i.e., whenever I want great potato saute/roast.