jmcarthur8's Profile
So WHY were we forced to sit at the table till the food was gone??
Reading these posts, I see that my family growing up was pretty liberal. Fortunately, my mother was a good cook, and I never was a picky eater. I do recall one time being forced to eat all the canned peas on my plate before I could leave the table, then high-tailing it to the bathroom around the corner to spit it all out.
The biggest problem we had was that the four of us children (all girls) were a bit too high strung for my poor suffering father, with all our giggling and/or snapping at one another. He'd get mad, yell at everyone, and take all the fun out of dinnertime.
Raising my own kids, the chosen dinner was pretty much by consensus, and both boys helped with the preparation from an early age. One is kind of picky about certain things, the other eats pretty much anything you serve him. Even if they didn't help cook, I kept in mind each person's preferences with whatever I made, so we could all enjoy the same meal. Now and then, if my husband and I wanted something special, and the boys didn't, they were welcome to make a simple meal for themselves.
As far as staying at the table, we have always had such a good time talking at dinner, that it's just been a habit to sit around chatting long after the food is gone. I don't remember that either of the boys ever asked to be excused from the table before the rest of us were finished eating and yacking. I think I've been a lucky mom! Now my boys are grown and gone to see the world, and what I wouldn't give for dinner with the two of them again!
Anyone know how to get rid of that frozen yogurt tartness
The tart is what I like about frozen yogurt! When we go out to fro-yo shops, I always look for the tart variety.
I love my homemade versions too, and find that Greek yogurt is way tangier than the vanilla. I think that lots more sugar will tone it down some for you. Some recipes have a combination of heavy cream and yogurt, or whole milk and yogurt. Have you tried those?
Too much smoked fish
I really like quesadillas made with smoked fish and some shredded jack cheese. Warm them up in a skillet and top with a little cilantro-yogurt sauce or pico de gallo.
bare bones pantry meals
I don't know how much it costs, either, Hank, but hunting is such a part of the culture here that it would just be considered part of the day to day cost of living. We are far enough away from Atlanta that we wouldn't really be called suburbanites...these are country folk in all these small towns. The hunting tradition goes way deep.
When I moved here from the Chicago area 10 years ago, it was surprising to me to see that hunting wasn't a weekend camping trip, but simply a part of life.
Jam with what crackers?
Something a little sweet like Wheat Thins would be good with jam. There may be a similar one at WF or TJ.
happybaker's suggestion of a cream cracker is good, too.
DH suggests a butter type cracker (Club or Ritz type).
what to do with leftover boiled chicken thighs that i find too gamey?
How about a curry? One that's made with coconut milk and some flavorful vegetables, throw it over some basmati rice, and you'll have plenty of savory flavors to mask the gaminess of the chicken.
Need a Recipe for a Coffee Cake to Travel
HillJ, my FFBB recipe says 350' for 65 to 70 minutes. I think I usually set the timer for 55 minutes and give it 5 more if it needs it. I've never baked it at any other temperature.
I just noticed one difference in the recipes. Mine calls for 1 teaspoon of salt, theirs calls for 1/2 teaspoon.
I made this in a bundt pan the last couple of times - same temp, probably 65 minutes in the oven.
bare bones pantry meals
The OP's question reminded me of a fellow my ex used to work with. We had a huge blizzard one winter up in NW Indiana, several feet of snow built up. The co-worker never ate at home, so all he had in his fridge was ketchup and magazines (he had read that the fridge runs more efficiently when it's full, hence the magazines). He had a box of saltines in the cabinet. That's it. The poor guy sat alone, snowed in for three days, eating ketchup on saltines. He was too embarrassed to dig a trench over to the neighbor's to ask for food.
bare bones pantry meals
Hank, here in West Georgia, hunting is practically a religion. There are wild boar, deer and wild turkeys everywhere. It isn't just a sport. It's dinner to a lot of folk, rich or poor. Every town has a place or two that either smokes or processes your game for you.
Need a Recipe for a Coffee Cake to Travel
We like to take a sliced loaf of Kona Inn Banana Bread when we travel. I gave a loaf to a friend who was taking a cross country road trip, and was told that it saved the day a time or two. I have used the recipe in my Fanny Farmer Baking Book for years, but it's easy enough to find online. Here's a link:
http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/recipes/kona-inn-banana-nut-bread.htm
I always add about a cup of mini chocolate chips along with the nuts. Last time I made it, I was lucky to have some black walnuts to use in it.
This bread travels well, stays in nice firm slices, and is devastatingly delicious.
What are your FAVORITE meals or dishes to enjoy when it's HOT outside?
In high school, I worked at a little movie theater (anyone remember Jerry Lewis Cinemas?). My favorite box to "damage" was the Junior Mints. Can't sell a damaged box, can you? Just have to eat the stuff yourself.
Those weird things you eat when you are in your kitchen
Years ago, I was reading a book to the boys, and in the story, the giant speared a chunk of cheese on a stick, and stuck it in the fire to brown. That sounded delicious to me, so next time we had a fire in the fireplace, I pushed a big hunk of sharp cheddar on one of the long BBQ forks and put it over the flames. It was wonderful! Cheesy and warm and gooey and kind of crusty on the outside.
Those weird things you eat when you are in your kitchen
Growing up, we had potato chips with sour cream, or potato chips with ketchup. It's nice to know that other people like it, too! Most people think it's just weird. I don't have chips very often anymore, but I still do like them with sour cream.
Foods you dislike buying—but sometimes need to
You're not the only one. This morning, I had to gas up at QT, and ran in for a soda while I was there. I knew I was hungry, but instead of succumbing to the rotating hot dog or the paper wrapped chicken biscuit, I went for the banana by the cash register, because of exactly what you mentioned about wasting money and calories - I don't want anything that I am not happy to eat.
How to cook artichokes for making a dip
Most of the leaves just have a little bit of soft flesh that is scraped off (usually with the teeth). The 'heart' is the part to use for dip, and maybe some of the center leaves - just be sure to remove the choke.
The way I always cook artichokes is to rinse them, wrap them in saran, microwave on high for 5 minutes, and that's it. Done.
Pairing Passion Fruit Sorbet
You could make a rich vanilla ice cream and serve a scoop of each together. I've done that with raspberry sorbet, and the sweet/creamy with the tart/icy is a nice combination.
Maybe serve it with a light thin cookie.
What are your FAVORITE meals or dishes to enjoy when it's HOT outside?
Thanks, mamachef. I googled it and found quite a few recipes. Do you have a favorite? It sounds very interesting. DH says he'd try it, so I think I'll give it a go.
Those weird things you eat when you are in your kitchen
I don't know why, but I really like nacho cheese Doritos scooped into large curd cottage cheese. And I only eat that standing up in the kitchen. And I would never offer it to anyone. DH thinks it's gross.
What are your FAVORITE meals or dishes to enjoy when it's HOT outside?
I really do like a good slab of salmon cooked on the grill and served with Georgia peach salsa. Sometimes I've rubbed a little honey/ginger/soy sauce on the salmon before grilling it. Sometimes just some olive oil, salt and pepper.
There's a good dose of jalapeno and cilantro in the peach salsa. Very cool and spicy all at once.
What are your FAVORITE meals or dishes to enjoy when it's HOT outside?
mamachef, how do you make white gazpacho?
I think my favorite summer lunch is gazpacho with an egg salad sandwich. Kind of the reverse of the tomato soup/grilled cheese lunch in winter.
How Should Recipes be Written?
dgresh, you reminded me of a recipe from some website I read a while back, and in the reviews, there were lots of complaints about the huge amount of flour in the sauce. Seems that they'd listed a cup of flour, then later in the instructions specified 2 Tbs or so of that for the gravy, and the rest for dredging the meat.
"Least Favorite Vegetable" Poll
Ok, I concede. There is one I don't like. The last parsnips we got were awful, but I may give them a try again. Maybe I just got a bitter batch.
"Least Favorite Vegetable" Poll
My favorite way to eat kohlrabi is to peel it and slice it thin, and serve it with fresh veggies and dip. It's crispy and crunchy like potato chips, but better for you!
You'll need a sharp paring knife to peel it. It has a thick skin, but once that's off, the inside is easier to slice. The medium size and smaller ones are less fibrous, so start with those.
I was inspired by this thread to get some purple kohlrabi from the CSA store for dinner tonight. We're cooking out with friends, and this will be great on the tray of things to nibble on.
please join my I HATE MAYO CLUB..LOL.. anyone welcome..even if you like it rop
Ditto.
Ditto.
And ditto.
On all of the above.
what were (are) your favorite bed time snacks?
escondido, it's just part of my daily intake. To tell you the truth, I can put on weight just by looking at food, but whether I eat my bowl of cereal at 8:00 or 11:00 doesn't seem to make any difference to me.
I've lost 48 lb. in the last year on WW, and still have my bedtime snack. It's all in how you balance the rest of your intake during the day.
"Least Favorite Vegetable" Poll
I love beets, I love kohlrabi, I love brussels sprouts. I love rutabaga and turnips. I love green leafy things. I love things that grow underground, or in pods, or on vines. I love green peppers and eggplant, lima beans and broccoli.
I've never tried celeriac. And I do intend to.
I am not a lover of summer squash. It's usually too wet, but I found that if it's sauteed hot and quick, it's not bad.
what were (are) your favorite bed time snacks?
Trix or Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs or Frosted Flakes or homemade granola or Froot Loops or Kashi or Honey Nut Cheerios... with almond milk.
I grew up on Oat Flakes and Shredded Wheat. I think I'm making up for lost time in the kid's cereal department. Though if they still made those Oat Flakes, I'd be on them in a heartbeat.
I hate hate hate waking up hungry in the middle of the night, and we eat dinner about 6. By the time I go to bed at 11, I'm ready for a snack.
Say what?? Cooking comments that baffle you
My sons did that in grammar school (in northwest Indiana)- the teachers put a marble in the jar, too, to help keep it all moving.
Well, smarty me decided that sounded fun, so I tried it too. The boys forgot to mention that the jar should be plastic..... Guess what happens when you violently shake a marble around in a glass jar full of cream? Guess who had a gazillion grease spots on her sweater even after washing it several times after the butter explosion?
Why did my pie come out runny?
Me, too, sueatmo. Always Minute Tapioca. I like the texture it gives the filling.
How Should Recipes be Written?
Yep, another JOY fan here. Maybe because that's the one I learned to cook from. I can scan the entire recipe and see what ingredients will be used together, and group them on the kitchen counters accordingly (prep stuff on the island, cooking mix-ins next to the range).
I do post my recipes on CH both ways, depending on the recipe.
Since I do kitchen design and space planning for a living, the JOY method just may feed my need to be organized.
