Aromatherapy's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
Soy sauce turkey? Any ideas?
I've done this with skinned bone-in turkey thighs, keeping it at a low simmer. It was ok not great. Did not have a silky texture but I wasn't expecting it to. I may try it again with drumsticks and cook a long time at a low simmer, that can produce a dense but tender texture that I like.
Chowhound Post
Good breads from Copper Angel, Warwick, MA
I tried their rye and sourdough at a friend's recently. Very respectable bread. Friend raves about the oatmeal bread. Meets a real need in the area. They also have a cafe serving pizza and other items, check their website for limited hours and a list of offerings. http://www.copperangel.net/
Chowhound Post
Ebisuya Japanese Market in Medford
Fellow building businesses have reported active and noisy construction lately.
Chowhound Post
What to do with Cabbage?
Any stuffed cabbage recipe can be adapted to a braise with chopped cabbage. Chopped cabbage can also be sauteed with any number of flavorings. (I just did one in olive oil with garlic.) Both freeze very well.
Chowhound Post
Favorite dish in Boston area - under $15
My favorite would change by the minute, but just this minute I'm thinking fondly of the weekend-only beef birria at Taqueria Jalisco in Eastie. $9 and feeds 2 (or makes good leftovers).
Chowhound Post
Trader Joe's In Fresh Pond
The access road's still there. I can't see it going away. The narrow, curbed lanes in the parking lot are a pain. Crossing Alewife on foot is actually quite easy, there's a light with a request button and it's heavily used.
Chowhound Post
What's for dinner Part XIII?
Good actually. Try braising squash chunks in teriyaki.
Chowhound Post
Adam's Pizza, Medford
I checked out this new place the other night, trying their signature Adam's pizza (artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, Spanish onions, feta, garlic). Nice crust, toppings were good quality but chunky and piled a little high for my taste--I'm more about the bread but I know lots of folks are the opposite. This is at 614 Main St. in S. Medford (across from the big laundromat), a building that's had a series of failed restaurants. So far, I'm rooting for this one. Not destination pizza but if you live in the area, give them a chance. (They also have a large menu of subs, pastas, prepared dishes, etc.) (781) 393-4442 Campusfood has a menu http://www.campusfood.com/menu/items....
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Best Liquor (and wine) Stores in Greater Boston
And a good-sized selection of Greek wines & liquors.
Chowhound Post
Looking for a nice bar with cured meat/cheese options in Cambridge
Pretty sure I saw a couple of those at Dave's Fresh.
Chowhound Post
Kebab and Tandoor Waltham, Best Indian Inside 128
Bengal Cafe has some smaller plates. (I also like their weekend lunch buffet--nothing knock-your-socks-off but consistently tasty.)
Chowhound Post
Besides soup, what to do with butternut squash?
Here's something I just did with leftover roast mashed winter squash: Tear stale bread into coarse crumbs, mix with a little grated parmesan and olive oil to lightly moisten. Spread squash in a gratin dish, nuke to heat up, top with crumbs, run under the broiler to brown. The toasty crumbs and the soft squash work really well. (I used olive bread but the olives were too subtle to really count, I would use more.) I'm already thinking of variations.
Chowhound Post
Tom Yum Koong II Arlington Heights - pretty good but needs some improvement
I've found at the Medford location that if you can establish yourself as at least a semi-regular (takes about 2-3 visits) and are insistent and polite, and order carefully (not mango chicken), you can get some pretty good grub. Not at Allston/Brookline standards but better than average.
Chowhound Post
Besides soup, what to do with butternut squash?
Peel, slice, saute in oil with lots of whole garlic cloves.
Chowhound Post
Trial-and-error pressure cooker beans thus far
2nd that. This is for her Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure, which has more on beans than her non-veg one. There are timings for quick and for natural pressure release.
Chowhound Post
Good Scali Bread in Boston, Outside/Inside the North End
Once I was in Bob's and the Italo truck was delivering rolls, for what that one observation is worth. Seems likely to me, I know Italo produces the longer braided seeded rolls Bob's uses for some of their large sizes, they're occasionally in the cases. Personally I'm a fan of the Portuguese and sandwich rolls at Italo (never buy scali anywhere, more an Iggy's/B&R/Clearflour fan for loaves). But I haven't done a direct comparison with Winter Hill/Italo/LaCascia; Italo is just the handiest and I'm happy enough.
Chowhound Post
Salvaging bolted leeks
Hey, this worked! The new growth turned into leeks. They're not the plump stately beauties I lost, but what the heck. I'd have a bigger crop if I hadn't shillyshallied around praying for a miracle instead of chopping them all off at ground level when the bolting started. Haven't kept that close an eye on them but I bet the largest (which are good-sized) are the ones I amputated first. Sherri, thanks for the core tip, I have a bagful in the freezer now.
Chowhound Post
Trader Joe's In Fresh Pond
If you can drive and be somewhat flexible about timing, there's a more interesting selection. But right around there, what everybody says. There's a cafe on Fawcett (not sure what they're calling themselves now) that has decent sandwiches, salads. Pack your own, enjoy Fresh Pond and walk or run it off.
Chowhound Post
Shangri-la in Belmont -- what to order?
Good and different that I love: The green bean starch & cucumber or the bean sprout appetizer (flavors are similar). That egg drop soup home style (a huge bowl). Ginger chicken casserole (3-cup chicken). Fish with dry bean sauce. Shredded pork w/cabbage in bean sauce isn't all that different but I like it. I remember people raving about the fried oysters w/spice salt, and I'd be up for the pork (belly) with preserved mustard (remembering GretchenS's description). Nothing i've tried from the "house special" menu has been memorable (have NOT tried the boneless duck). I do like the (vegetarian) Taiwanese noodles--no they're not all that different but they are nicely done. The cellophane noodle w/minced pork is the only really spicy thing I've had--when I'm up for really spicy, Shangri-La is not where I go.
Chowhound Post
JJ's Dobradinha (for Aromatherapy)
Hey, thanks for the hard investigative work. I'll have to try the dobradinha again one of these days, say late November. It's competing with too many fatty Asian pork dishes. Haven't been in in a while. Is the weekday lunch crowd heavily Brazilian? The weekend one is.
Chowhound Post
The Humble Bean
Check out your library for Indian and Persian (Iranian) cookbooks. Both cuisines make fabulous use of beans/lentils/pulses. For instance, supermarket yellow split peas: Cook half a cup in twice as much salted water with a pinch of tumeric until soft (under an hour, maybe half an hour, depends); in a small skillet heat a spoonful or two of oil until very hot, add a pinch (or more) cumin seeds, when they pop and sputter add some minced garlic (and sliced green chili, optional), when garlic is golden toss entire contents into peas. (Optional: serve with lime wedges.) And this is a bastardized version, delicious anyway.
Chowhound Post
The Humble Bean
A slow oven is a good substitute, less danger of scorching on the bottom. DK about 2 days. I cook black beans (unsoaked, salted) 12 hours at my oven's lowest setting (175).
Chowhound Post
The lowly mushroom stem and other underappreciated parts
Not your question, but I like my mature, not-too-raggedy beet greens thoroughly cooked in water at a low boil, about 5 minutes, they get a lovely velvety texture. Dress as a salad, sautee w/garlic, etc. I like stalks too but boiled much longer, until tender. Nice with soy sauce, black vinegar, chili flakes in oil. Bet there's a good banchan treatment. Don't care for them raw if not baby. Celery leaves are good raw.
Chowhound Post
Sick of all food and need a jumpstart
Third. Although the specials can occasionally be overly fussy/cliched, or dull (and ask the price). Also consider Gran Gusto. Both are fine for solo (but I never go at peak times). Also I've never managed to do the Cookbook of the Month on Home Cooking, at least on schedule, but it's a great idea.
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Pre-theater Watertown meals
How about Persian at Molana or Jasmine.
Chowhound Post
non-alcoholic drinks
I've been having fun with selzer and various bitters lately. Regan's #6 orange bitters is my current fave.
Chowhound Post
What's the best way to cook dry chic peas?
I don't discard soak water but I doubt many nutrients are in it. Definitely don't discard cooking water. I soak overnight and pressure-cook in salted water.
Chowhound Post
Dorado opens tomorrow! (7/29)
From the package (I also have them on hand at all times): 271 Western Ave., Lynn 01904, 617-593-0158. Never been there, I just go to Market Basket. Finding fresh hot tortillas routinely around here is a tall order--maybe in Eastie or thereabouts.
