bloviatrix

That only works if you have a box. Actually, to supplement the box, Neilsen also selects households to record their TV watching habits in a diary for a week. We've done it twice -- most recently was the last week in July.

I had some ricotta sitting in the fridge that I needed to use, so I made shells stuffed with a ricotta/mozerella mixture flavored with chopped mint, basil, and a hint of nutmeg.

What about lightly sauteeing slices in an EVOO/butter combination and then adding chopped mint and basil with a bit of salt and pepper?

The extra cooked shells - I made stuffed shells for dinner and since I'm waiting for the spouse to return home so we can eat, I'm munching on what didn't get used..

Growing up this was one of my favorites. I still remember my mom would buy them in the small box with the pink wrapping. I have several favorite candy choices by country. Israel - Egosi: chocolate, hazelnuts, caramel, and nougat. These are amazing frozen. They used to sell them at Wolsk on the lower east side. I would hoard them. UK - Smarties. Realistically, I know the chocolate is lousy, but it reminds me of being a little kid and traveling throughout the British countryside with my parents. Whenever I'm London, it's one of the first things I buy. And here at home, its peanut M&Ms. I love the the combination of chocolate and peanuts.

Malawry, just had a chance to read your piece and found it very interesting. I would like to point out that lacto-vegetarians who have issues with cheese because of the animal rennet should look to kosher cheeses as an option -- they do not contain animal rennet.

I agree with you completely. Rocco's is going to be just another place to go on a certain type of tourist's list. It'll be up there with Hard Rock Cafe, FAO Schwartz and Macy's. Rocco's will survive, but only because tourists will eat there thinking they're getting a real NY dining experience.

I bought one of the large bottles of the red grapefruit flavored Pellegrino -- they had them on a display as soon as you walkied into the store. Ever since I saw mention of it on a thread here, I've been on a quest to try it since I love grapefruit-flavored drinks. Has anyone tried the Nocino? I've tried to divine from the label what the flavor is, but I haven't had much luck. Actually, "Rossa" is blood orange, "Pompelmo" is the grapefruit flavor... both are really good, the Rossa is a bit sweeter though. Well as you can tell, my fluency in Italian is non-existant. And now I understand why it didn't taste like grapefruit. Man, I'm an idiot. I guess, I'll just have to go back and try the Pompelmo.

I bought one of the large bottles of the red grapefruit flavored Pellegrino -- they had them on a display as soon as you walkied into the store. Ever since I saw mention of it on a thread here, I've been on a quest to try it since I love grapefruit-flavored drinks. Has anyone tried the Nocino? I've tried to divine from the label what the flavor is, but I haven't had much luck.

Warning: ignoring imposed food conditions can lead to death. Grandmother killed over rice

I went to Jerry's in Englewood on Thursday. It's all Jason's fault. They carry San Pellegrino for $1.99 which is close to half the cost near me.

Thank you for confirming the improbability of this. It seemed so odd. And they wonder why they can't keep staff? Additionally, that scene in the beginning where Uzay sat down at the table really bothered me. That was so unprofessional. If a waiter or captain sat sat down with me at my table I would find it completely off-putting and uncomfortable. As for the super-precocious kid, it was just waiting for him to grab the waitress's butt. He seemed fresh enough to do it.

Cue Twilight Zone music.

I think it's going to be Emeril, since his last attempt at network TV went so well. NOT!!

Please report. Guajolote & I will be doing it for our dinner tomorrow evening. So, I made the tuna tartare as an appetizer for friday night's dinner. My version was very similar to Katie's - diced tuna, EVOO, scallions, basil and mint, sea salt and pepper, with a ponzu. I don't have a metal ring (and no empty cans lying around) so I mounded it in the center of a plate and drizzled the ponzu around it. I did a 1/2 inch dice of the tuna and the contrast of the deep red of tuna offset by the green of the herbs and scallions was very attractive. According to my husband, the texture of the tartare was velvety. I liked the interplay of the cool fish, with the mint and basil plus the salty-citrus of the ponzu. I will make this again, but I'm going to have to choose my opportunity as many of our friends are unadventurous eaters. Thanks for the inspiration guys!!

Just received the September issue of Gourmet. There's a recipe in there for Fig and Goat Cheese Crostini that looks pretty good.

Friday night: Rosemary boule w/butter Tuna Tartare w/ponzu Pan-seared curried whitefish with cucumber riata Basmati rice and red lentil pilaf Strawberry shortcake (store bought) To drink: Strawberry lemonade and chenin blanc The tuna tartare did not go with the meal, but I've been thinking of making it for Rosh Hashanna and I wanted to try it before I served it for guests. I made it with some EVOO, scallions, chopped mint and basil, sea salt and pepper. The ponzu recipe came from a link MatthewB posted on his first dinner thread. The texture was great - my husband described it as velvety and it was nicely flavored. I thought the ponzu was nice salty-sweet complement. But, we decided that this won't go over well on the holiday so now I have to figure out an appetizer.

For all you New Yorkers out there - have you seen Floyd the Food Guy who does the food segments on NY1? He annoys the hell out of me. Who is this joker?

My mom requires applesauce at every meal. I can't figure out why, and when I ask her sisters about the origins of the applesauce fetish, they have no answer. This behaivor drives me crazy when she comes to me and starts wondering why I haven't served the applesauce yet. She also thinks no meal is complete without lettuce and tomato. This rule applies lunches of yogurt or PB&J sandwiches as well.

This is actually the direction I'm heading in as I bought large bunches of mint and basil at the greenmarket today. I know MathewB posted a link to a ponzu recipe, so maybe I'll make that as well. Now, if I can just pull myself away from the computer so I can do the rest of my food shopping.

Well, all this talk about tartares and ceviches finally inspired me. I picked up some tuna from the fish monger. And now I just need to settle on a recipe. I'll be serving it tonight as an appetizer.

Yesterday in Teaneck, NJ: Sugar Baby watermelon (these things weigh a ton. I can never buy them locally because I can't carry them and all my other purchases home. But, since I was throwing it in the the car, I could indulge.) Today at 97th street: Spearmint Assorted heirloom tomatoes Sungold tomatoes Kirby cukes - for pickles Corn Red Leaf letuce basil A large cucumber (I don't know the type) Rosemary boule

The only way I can describe the taste of store-bought kasha varnishkes (kasha, carmelized onions and bowtie pasta) is "band-aids."

I'm fairly unoriginal in my dislikes -- Rachel Ray and Emeril. The list of likes is long, but here are two no one's mentioned: Rick Moonen Francois Payard

Fifi, it must be the time of year because my husband who has never eaten a corndog in his life started talking about them the other day. He swears they're calling to him. As for me, last year out of nowhere I got a craving for a calzone. I tried to ignore the siren call, but after a month I finally gave in. I went to the pizza shop and ordered one, only it didn't taste that good. After about half, the craving had gone away and I felt sick to my stomach.