bloviatrix

Moira Hodgson in The New York Observer gives Devi 2 stars. Dévi’s Enticing Indian Cuisine: Roadside and Raj-Inspired Delights And unlike Bruni, she liked the desserts.

Dough scrapers (either stainless or plastic) also come in handy. I use them to pick diced vegetables off the cutting board when I have large quantities.

What about non-standard measuring spoons?

In an essay about pie at Thanksgiving, Melanie Kirkpatrick wrote in yesterday's Wall Street Journal: Where's your grandmother from? How many pies graced your Thanksgiving table? And what types are they? FWIW, I wonder how this applies to those of us whose grandparents emigrated to the US -- we had one pie, pecan.

As someone who tried and failed to make in-roads with the pedestrian palates of her family (pistachio-cardamom cake, anyone?) my suggestion is to serve both -- traditional foods and a few non-traditional preparations. My wise and sage spouse constantly reminds me that the holidays are a time for comfort food. It's not a dinner party. The following ran in the Wall Street Journal yesterday regarding Charlie Trotter:

I'm waiting for Sam's Mom's kvelling.

The 2nd Ave Deli has friendly waitresses? Wow, and here I thought they had the requisite surly old waiters. Times sure change.

Melissa, your husband is a lucky man. Sounds like a delicious meal. Thanks for the compliment Pan. BTW, there won't be any jerusalem artichoke pancakes this week. Would you believe I have no room on my range-top to make them? All 4 burners are currently in use.

Well in that case you're going to have to try making them again with turkey legs. Maybe two pots? One with just stock and the other with the combo and let us know what your master recipe is.

Al-- How did the collards work out? Successful?

Jayne -- the couscous salad sounds great. What's in the dressing? Tonight's dinner will be: Celeriac Pear Soup Yemenite Chicken with garlic and tomatoes (chicken rubbed with a combination of cumin, corriander, cardamon, pepper and turmeric in a garlicy tomatato sauce) Roasted fingerlings Jerusalem Artichoke Pancakes (didn't get around to making them last week) Cranberry Applesauce Lunch tomorrow will be the first pot of chili for the season.

If you're worried about the soup cooling off with all the handling I suggest you warm bowls before using them. If there's nothing in your oven, pop them into a warm oven for a few minutes. Otherwise, you can rinse them under hot water.

But health insurance companies can and do charge higher premiums (or deny coverage) for people whose health profiles make them higher risk (everything from people who have high blood pressure - to people who smoke - to people who are fat - etc.). Robyn ← There are also legal limits on the specific medical conditions for which health insurers can deny coverage &/or rate a person. The specifications vary widely from state to state, just one of the many interesting features of our health care system. ← I think it's important to point out that this only applies to individual policies not group policies.

There is no rabbinic supervision on fishing boats or on docks; what goes on there seems to be of no concern to rabbinic authorities. It may be true that the most rigorously observant people do not purchase fish, filleted or whole, from places that don't have rabbinic supervision. These people are also highly meticulous in other areas of Jewish observance, and they live in communities where this purchase option is available. Others who don't have this option will buy fish from other purveyors so long as they see the fish cut on a washed and freshly papered surface with a clean knife (some might even bring their own.) And "kosher" doesn't mean healthy or politically correct to eat, just that it conforms to Jewish dietary laws. Brooklyn is full of kosher fast food places and candy shops. --bloviator

Not speaking for NulloMondo, but I don't think he said he was denying care, just not willing to pay for it. Dangerous sex isn't a part of being gay (I'm assuming it's not a choice, just who you are.) But should the rest of us pay for someone who knowingly has unsafe sex after say, 1986? We know how you get exposed to HIV. We know what happens when you point a loaded gun. My point is I don't think people know exactly what the cause and effect of eating fast food is. I'm not speaking in absolutes here. Just thinking out loud about personal responsibility. Can I say how much appreciate the tone of this discussion? What a nice change after seeing NBA players and fans beat each other up. ← I realize I might not be clear either, and my analogy might not have been the best one. I just think that stating that denying care or making people bear the entire health care cost based because of personal choices won't work. There's something elitist about it. Fast food is really cheap and there are people out there who don't earn enough to pay for healthy food (read Barbara Ehrenreich) or they live in places with no cooking equipment so their only option is to grab a meal in these places. To now say they have to pay the full freight of their healthcare costs is piling on.

Lauren, don't be intimidated by the cream cheese pastry. Rugelach might be time consuming, but they're not hard to make

Interesting, but naive. You're not allowed to deny people healthcare because of lifestlye choices. With your logic, a person with HIV should be denied care because the "powers that be" don't approve of alternative lifestlye choices.

In preparing dinner for 8 last week I used my immersion blender to puree soup, emulsify the marinade, and break down the grapes which were used to make sorbet (less messy than the food processor). I love mine so much that I bought a back-up for "just in case."

Sam, can't you get the brioche at Silver Moon? It's a lot closer to you.

Where do you think kosher fish markets get their fish from? They use the same wholesalers as non-kosher markets. The same applies to restaurants -- they're going to a wholesaler. Anyone who is buying whole fishes, that have only been eviscerated, can buy them where ever they choose -- this also applies to individuals (I know people who buy whole fishes and clean/scale them at home). Otherwise, you're going to buy your fish from a kosher market simply because it's a guarantee that kosher tools have been used in prepping the fish.

My new favorite is slices of toasted baguette topped with either onion confit or piperade. Both toppings can be prepared ahead of time so you don't have to go crazy the morning of.

BTW, I also like to dunk challah into soup (chicken soup is the best). Blovie always screams at me when I do this, because according to him "it's a waste of fresh challah." Personally, I think that's one of the reasons it tastes so damn good.

Hmm, colleagues giving one grief is reason enough for personal offices. Screw the cubicle concept! My favorite dunking combo is sour cream and onion potato chips into lemon yogurt. And yes, everyone thinks it's strange.

I flipped through this book a couple a weeks ago (they were selling it at the Museum of Fine Arts gift shop). It actually looks pretty worthwhile -- the recipes are written very clearly and simply. The book is done in an Art Deco style which some kids might find old-fashioned. Last week I took a look at the Donna Hay'sCool Kids Cook (although this is amazon, not set up as an eg link). Some of the recipes titles are a bit twee. But I think kids would enjoy it.

Am I the only one who thinks these look like amputated fingers?