Toliver

Vile? Hardly. Save the word "vile" for something more worthy of that description...like "Circus Peanuts" (click).

During college I worked at a movie theater that had "E.T." playing. The candy featured in the film, Reese's Pieces, was meant to rhyme...which sort of determines how it should be pronounced. IMHO, the tiny "fun size" Reese's peanut butter cups are too salty. Perhaps the reason the egg-shaped peanut butter "cups" seems to taste better is because the ratio between the chocolate and peanut butter is skewed towards more peanut-y flavor.

This time the recall involves beef: "Aurora Packing Company, Inc. Recalls Beef Products due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination" They list the impacted products in the article with contact number and web links for further info. And again, for those of you with canine fur babies: "LOTS OF DOG FOOD RECALLED: TESTED POSITIVE FOR SALMONELLA" This recall solely impacts Darwin's Pet Products. Specific products can be found in the article.

I couldn't find any previous discussions devoted specifically to Reese's. There's the "Confessions of a Novelty Confection Fiend", but it's more of an umbrella discussion covering more than Reese's. Reese's has announced that in April they will release two limited edition versions of their infamous peanut butter cups: "We Tried Both New Reese's Cups to See if They're Better Than the Original" According to the article/review, the Chocolate Lover's version (more chocolate and types of chocolate) was a fail but they raved about the Peanut Butter Lover's version. There are pictures of both in the article. I also recently read an online article suggesting that the specialty/holiday Reese's were better than the original peanut butter cup. Having recently purchased a bag of their Reese's Easter Eggs, I'd say I would have to agree. The argument is that there's less chocolate with the specialty shapes and they're just a better version of Reese's altogether. Anyone else agree or can it be debated otherwise?

This is a much more detailed list of the nominations (includes books/writing categories): "Here Are the 2019 James Beard Awards Restaurant, Chef, and Media Finalists" There's a link at the very bottom of the article/list for the James Beard web site.

I've seen the TV commercials advertising this cone. They make it look very good. Even though there's a Sonic just down the street from my work, I never seem to remember it for a dinner possibility when leaving to go home.

I have to say when I opened a new package of the Dark Chocolate Oreos, I stood there and just breathed in the heavenly aroma. My local Vons had a sale where you had to buy three packages to get the discounted price. Go ahead, twist my arm.

From today's Taste email: Pickling queen Karen Solomon's "Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects" Kindle Edition $2.99US Sort of Kindle Single-ish (meaning not a ton of recipes). Use the "Look Inside" feature to see the list of recipes and scroll further down to see a few of the recipes themselves. "Vegetable Soups from Deborah Madison's Kitchen" Kindle Edition $2.99US I've been waiting a long time for this to finally be sale-priced: Slightly more expensive than the regular cookbooks I post about... Mimi Sheraton's "The German Cookbook: A Complete Guide to Mastering Authentic German Cooking" Kindle Edition $3.99US I am a US Prime member and the price you see may vary.

"North Country Smokehouse Recalls Ready-To-Eat Sausage Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination" Products named in the recall are branded "North Country Smokehouse" and "Kilchurn Estate". See the article for specific products.

"Almost 70,000 pounds of Tyson chicken strips recalled" The article lists the specific chicken products and use-by date. And for those with canine fur-babies: "More dog food recalled for possibly toxic levels of vitamin D" There's a phone number to Hill's to call for more information.

This is usually when I pipe up with my typical response: "Well, you always make a trifle from them." They do look quite nice.

From this morning's BookBub email: Peter Reinhart's "Crust and Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers" Kindle Edition $1.99US Use the Look Inside" feature to see the list of Master Recipes. I am a US Prime member and the price you see may vary.

These arrived in my Taste email: "Wolfgang Puck Cookbook: Recipes from Spago, Chinois, and Points East and West" Kindle Edition $1.99US No list of recipes but you can see some of them by using the "Look Inside" feature and scrolling down. "The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook: Recipes and Memories from Abe Lebewohl's Legendary Kitchen" Kindle Edition $2.99US This has been on sale before...but I am posting it in case someone missed it first time 'round... Alexandra Stafford's "Bread Toast Crumbs: Recipes for No-Knead Loaves & Meals to Savor Every Slice" Kindle Edition $2.99US I am a US Prime member and the price you see may vary.

Well, I am judging a book by its proverbial cover. Those tomatoes do not look like any other tomato in my local grocery stores. All I see in my local grocery stores are smooth-skinned red round (tasteless) tomatoes. That picture shows tomatoes with "pleats" which are more akin to heirloom tomatoes or tomatoes I can buy at my local farmer's market. They certainly don't look like mass-produced tomatoes which is why I guessed what I did.

From my BookBub email this morning: A little pricier that what I normally post... Anthony Bourdain's "Appetites: A Cookbook" Kindle Edition $3.99US Use the "Look Inside" feature to see the list of recipes. I am a US Prime member and the price you see may vary.

They look like heirloom tomatoes. My local grocery store will have a special case for their heirloom tomatoes (at a special high price, too! ). They sell their usual generic every-tomato-looks-the-same kind, as well. But I prefer the heirloom or "ugly" tomatoes. Great find!

Starkist makes tuna in pouches with different flavorings. Most US supermarkets should carry some of the flavors (click). On that web page, click on the blue bars titled "Tuna Creations Bold" & "Tuna Creations" to see the different flavors. I like the Hickory smoked tuna. It really changes up the usual tuna casserole for the better.

I think because they started with "Mayochup" that they're trying to make it a "thing" by naming all their other bastardized condiments that they come up with a similar sounding name.

I think this may have been on sale before...but not sure: Travis Lett's "Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California" Kindle Edition $2.99US Use the "Look Inside" feature to see the long list of recipes. I am a US Prime member and the price you see may vary.

Tonight is the "Top Chef" finale...a 90 minute episode.

Kim, There's an egg called for in the recipe. Maybe add another egg for binder? Also, maybe 1 cup of bread crumbs is too much. What if you scaled that back? You would have a less tender meatloaf and perhaps it wouldn't be so inclined to fall apart. And finally, what is the fat content of your ground beef? Too much fat would make for a "looser" meatloaf. Good luck!

"Monogram Meat Snacks, LLC Recalls Pork Sausage Products Due to Possible Product Contamination" See the article for specific products and codes. "Butterball LLC Recalls Turkey Products Due to Possible Salmonella Schwarzengrund Contamination" See the article for specific products and codes.

You can hardly walk the halls of Amazon's sale-priced cookbooks currently without tripping over Ireland-related cookbooks. I am posting these first two because of their low prices. According to her Amazon author's page, Margaret M. Johnson seems to write quite a bit about Irish food and said variations. Use the "Look Inside" feature with both books to see the list of recipes: "The Irish Pub Cookbook" Kindle Edition $1.20US "Irish Puddings, Tarts, Crumbles, and Fools: 80 Glorious Desserts" Kindle Edition $1.20US Not Irish-related but England-related: Royal cake maker Fiona Cairns' "Seasonal Baking: Celebrating the Baking Year With Classic Cakes, Cupcakes, Biscuits and Delicious Treats" Kindle Edition $1.99US No list of recipes, but use the "Look Inside" feature to see some of the recipes. I am a US Prime member and the price you see may vary.

Currently snacking on Piller's Old Forest Salami Whips (click). Last year, my sister-in-law bought them at Cost Plus World Market for Christmas stocking-stuffers. They have a nice BBQ-ey smokey taste to them. I've found them on Amazon but they're quite a bit more expensive there.

You are also supposed to push the food up the sides of the wok where it's a (little) cooler so it doesn't overcook. Doing this also makes room in the hot part of the wok to make/thicken your sauce.