Low/No Iodine Diet

Thanks -- I have been using that alot. I actually just hosted a Mexican fiesta for her -- made corn and flour tortillas from scratch (and fried some of the corn ones up for chips), homemade tamales, lots of grilled and shredded meat, guac and salsa, and a angel food cake with vegan lime curd layers and a coconut (unsweetened and then added sugar) boiled icing -- the icing was a little soft, but everything was delicious!

aletnes in Special Diets

Low/No Iodine Diet

I was wondering if anyone else out there is cooking for a low or no iodine diet as a result of prepping for radioactive iodine therapy associated with thyroid cancer.

A friend of mine is undergoing this treatment, and I am helping out with her eating. The no-eat list includes: all dairy, all soy (except oil and lecitin), anything from the ocean (fish, seaweed, sea salt), egg yolks, any processed food with salt (because it does not identify iodized or not), and of course, iodized salt.

So far I have been focusing on getting her homemade bread and some good savories (oven dried tomatoes, pesto, etc) and I did one angel food cake.

Is anyone else dealing with this? What are you cooking? What are you missing?

aletnes in Special Diets

What to Do With Raw Lavender Honey

When I have had lavender honey in a taste test next to clover or other types, it wins by a long shot. It doesn't taste lavendar-y, it just has some great clean flavors, stronger than clover but not as overpowering as some of the darker honeys. Generally thats how honeys work, they will taste different, but not distinctly like the flower they feed on. Honeys that do have those strong flavors are usually blended after the fact.

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What is your favorite stuffed pasta filling?

Best stuffed pasta I ever had, hands down was the goat cheese ravioli at Volt's Table 21 tasting menu. Creamy, tangy, rich with a butter and sage sauce. Simple as can be and completely addictive!

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Three dinners in Bethesda

You are a little bit in no-man's land, but I am guessing you are either at a conference or will have a car, since your hotel isn't metro-accessible. Closeby, great bagels are at Ize's, which is on Rockville Pike. Original Pancake House, while a chain, is also great for breakfast. A little further away, on East-West Highway and Grubb Road is the Parkway Diner, which is fantastic traditional greasy diner food.

As far as dinners, the other place you may want to try is Founding Farmers in Potomac. Its pretty new there, but the downtown one is great. Also, for the best NYC style pizza in the area, Mamma Lucia's is just up the road from you.

aletnes in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Easy white wine sangria with WOW?

I also like to mix it up and do a German take on the sangria -- bowle. It is made with white wine (or champagne) and berries. Can be mixed berries or straight strawberries. For a more berry-riffic version, I often use one bag of frozen berries, which will release juices quickly, and then lots of fresh berries for picking out and munching.

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Kitkat barrel cake for adults

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/crunchy-milk-chocolate-peanut-butter-layer-cake

I LOVE this cake -- it has a wonderful crunchy peanut butter-chocolate filling that is in no way overpowering. Its one layer of meringue, baked until crunchy, and then spread with chopped peanuts and a peanut butter/chocolate/rice krispies mixture (does not get soggy, i have made this a day or two ahead and its still fine)

aletnes in Home Cooking

Your Best Recipe For Chicken Paprikash

I use the recipe from seriouseats.com (http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/02/chicken-paprikash-recipe.html) and love it! For weeknight dinners, I actually use boneless skinless breasts and cube it before serving, so it turns into something closer to a stew in look. Its faster to cook and easier to eat, so double win in my book!

aletnes in Home Cooking

Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day - Review

I have a squared off bucket that I use and I take those dough scrapers that usually have little to no purpose, use it to quarter the dough, and just take a lump at a time (sometimes I have to recut if i leave it too long between uses).

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Simple things you can't get right

My foolproof way: Buy the can of Dulce De Leche at the store. Both Nestle and La Lechera have it by me. I figure if I am starting with a can anyways, and just cooking it further, why not let them do that at the factory? It comes out perfetly evenly brown, and I usually add just a splash of cream to soften it a bit.

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Simple things you can't get right

I was raised in germany, and for new potatoes the recipe was always very simple -- parboil for 10 minutes or so, then fry/roast. It really helps keep the flesh creamy and moist, without overcooking the skin

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Quick & Savoury Breakfast ideas needed – unconventional suggestions welcomed!

Another Mexican favorite is Chilaquiles -- you can find recipes all over, basically you simmer green salsa and chicken stock, toss in tortilla chips (and chicken / sausage / shredded pork), stir until the chips are just wet, but still have some crunch, and you want to get fancy, throw a poached egg on top. Sour cream or queso fresco is also great to add.

aletnes in Home Cooking

Help me throw the ultimate latke cocktail party

Last year, to mix it up, I did a curry-spiced sweet potato latke (along with the classic) -- They were a huge hit! I think I made a raita to go with them instead of sour cream.

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Using up Grapefruits in a cocktail?

I am hosting Thanksgiving and just found out that my CSA is sending me 3-4 grapefruits today! I need to get them used (they always just sit), and was thinking a cocktail would be a great way to go. I would love to use something that uses both the juice and the zest (even if just as a garnish).

Any Ideas? Would be great if it wasn't too summery (I know thats hard with grapefruit)

aletnes in Spirits

The D.C. shuffle

Try some Ethiopian! Its a great ethnic cuisine that DC is known for. There are a ton of great options, just search for it on the boards and you will get tons of threads.

aletnes in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Casual Thanksgiving?

Honestly, your best bet is probably to start calling your favorite restaurants and seeing who will be open. Also, consider making a reservation, aiming for the latest your guests will get in. Otherwise, you are going to end up either 1) in a fairly low-end place (diner, fast food, etc) 2) waiting forever, or 3) without a dinner. Thanksgiving is a crazy day for restaurants, with a lot of people eating out, and a lot of restaurants closed.

aletnes in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Where to Find Pomegranate Molasses in DC/Balt/Annapolis Area?

My Lebanese Taverna Cafe (Rockville) carries it behind the counter. I know there is one in Annapolis. You may want to call and see if they carry it, or can sell you a bottle.

aletnes in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

What to do with boiled chicken?

Also it can be shredded for enchilada / burrito filling

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A Crockpot Thanksgiving?

I think the gravy should be kept separate. What about doing a cold veggie (like roasted asparagus, which is fine room temp or chilled) and using the small crockpot for gravy?

aletnes in Home Cooking

Anyone Else Planning for Thanksgiving Already?

Hah! I have something very simliar .. about 3 different workbooks in one spreadsheet .. first is overall menu plan, second is shopping list, third is timing of hot dishes.

aletnes in Home Cooking

Day After Thanksgiving Party Help

I grew up in Germany, and Thanksgiving was always the holiday we shared with our local German friends (it gave us someone to celebrate with, and they weren't required at family gatherings). It just happened that our German friends also LOVED Mexican food, so our "day after thanksgiving" was always a massive Mexican feast. Then Sat and Sunday were spent mixing and matching leftovers!

aletnes in Home Cooking

mashed potatoes

Also just a heads up -- I got a ricer where there are holes along the sides as well as the bottom -- result is basically a mashed potato explosion all over my kitchen. Use it only occasionally for things like gnocchi.

aletnes in Home Cooking

ISO restaurant near National Theater

Ceiba is delicious! And definitely a change of pace.

aletnes in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Volt recommendations

I recently did Table 21, and it was amazing. One of our party did not eat pork, and they knew in advance and had alternate dishes for her. Double check for the reservation, but I am sure they could accomodate you.

That said, Bryan was not there the day we dined, and I would say its probably a matter of how much you want to try the "fuss" and expand your palate. As a vegetarian, you may not get as much out of that aspect of it.

All the food was amazing, some of it was the same as can be found on the tasting menu or a la carte, but some things were completely unique.

I would probably call the maitre d and ask about vegetarian options for Table 21, making sure that the food will be as varied for you as it is for others, and then take the plunge!

aletnes in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Bridal shower dish involving goat cheese

Last year for Thanksgiving I made a crostini with dried cranberries mixed into goat cheese. It was super easy and a big hit. Its a little sweeter than some of the other bruschettas suggested.

aletnes in Home Cooking

best recipes that include raw eggs

Aioli ... mmm egg yolk, garlic, salt, olive oil.

aletnes in Home Cooking

Nothing but stuffing ...

I actually learned from my father on what bread to use -- every time we have a leftover heel of bread (whatever type!) he would cube it, dry it, and freeze it. By the time a "stuffing occasion" came around, there would be tons of bread (at no extra cost) with a great variety of flavors. I am a little more picky... I separate into "sweet- bread pudding" and "savory-stuffing" bags so that I don't get cinnamon swirl stuffing!

aletnes in Home Cooking

Anyone Else Planning for Thanksgiving Already?

Latest count is about 12 -- I always figure i am doing well at "paring down" the list if I have fewer types of dessert than people coming!

aletnes in Home Cooking

Latkes + Hanukkah + Christmas

mmmm I think you just put a dish on my xmas / hanukah brunch menu.

aletnes in Home Cooking