I recommend all of them...but the most used in my house is Barefoot Contessa, then Family Style, then Parties. I own them all.

Ack! This is why I can't buy those things - you get hooked and then "boom" - they disappear! I hope so much they bring it back for you!

I definitely like my cucumber salad to marinade for at least 4 hours - more is better - never soggy! Ditto the chili flakes!

Mashed cauliflower!

I agree, this is a great thread!

Sunday - Ina's coq au vin and zucchini gratin

Yes, I always make this the night before! (I don't cook it - just bring it to room temperature before putting it in the oven the next day) It is an excellent recipe! I like to add extra parmesan cheese :)

I agree with woodburner. We made it our summer quest to make the 'best' ribs and I think we have finally achieved success!

We started with this contraption (The ribs are to die for fall off the bone - no fat!)
http://www.amazon.com/Emerilware-EC86... - and have now been able to master them on the grill, which is about a 5 hour process from start to finish (letting them sit "rubbed" for two hours to finally adding the sauce

I will have to check our "rib log" for the actual cooking times in the smoker.

Yes, do remove the membrane.

Paulos in Reston Town Center has a decent wine list and good bar ambiance. Also Market Street - restaurant in the Hyatt.

I love wings, and can be picky - but I don't have a standard to which I hold my wings to. I love the wings at Clydes - they are plump, nicely crisp, not a lot of skin and have a decent sauce. I like these enough b/c of the combo I described above. They don't offer different flavors - but I am really not into that anyways.

Give them a try :)

Thank You so much for your input!!! Unfortunately my friends realized a bit too late that the restaurant is not open on Sundays (rolling eyes ;) ) Needless to say it was all a wash.

Any other opinions?

We were invited to meet friends at Bellisimo in Fairfax this evening for dinner. Has anyone been to this restaurant? How is it?

This thread is making my mouth water!

We grew basil last summer - we started late - but had a nice "bush" - so I researched recipes and this one used up most of my plants (b/c my husband accidently spilled the first batch of sauce) It is a really good recipe! - note - I marinade it much longer than she indicates.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recip...

We do this seasonally and it is really a lot of fun. Granted, sometimes the food is overload, but it feels nice at the end of the day to know you made the recipe together.

I have a friend who is a vegetarian and her husband is a meat and potatoes guy. I had them over for dinner one night and made this - it is really a weekend meal, but yields a lot of leftovers so you guys can eat it during the week. Just a note, I always forget the pasta water that it calls for and I don't see why the dish needs it -

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recip...

I make the meatballs to eat with this dish (see below the recipes) to make the meat eaters happy.

Mashed turnips (see Ina) are just amazing! I will have to try them roasted!

What area do you live in in NOVA?

We love to make rubs for pork tenderloin (see Michael Chiarellos Fennel Spice rub) and roast some asparagus and tomatoes as a side dish. It is one of those meals that leaves you satisfied all around - and isn't heavy at all!

We roast grape tomatoes in the oven for a side dish to many grilled meats - I don't see why you can't do this with yellow ones.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Poke holes in each tomato
toss them on a sheet pan with olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
roast them for 30 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally

We do asparguas the same way (only cook about 15 min) and serve them together.

It sounds to me that each of these recipes were created from an "experience" - that is a nice takeaway! :)

Wonderful! I have been looking for the stew version, not the one that is served over egg noodles, etc. Also, a family friend is German (I don't like her recipe) and she serves sour cream on hers. I think it is served differently by region. She is from Northern Germany.

Whole Foods makes great sausages!

JungMann - is this for Goulash Zuppe or the Hungarian Goulash? I ask b/c I prefer and LOVE the soup!

I have never been impressed by this restaurant. Too pricey for what they have to offer. Granted, it has been about 3 years since we have been.

I have two kids under 4 and they both adore this recipe - granted I love it with tons of Tobasco - but for kids it works well.

1 lb mild Italian Sausage, crumbled
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 clove chopped garlic
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes ( I use the Hunt's kind with basil garlic and oregano)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions
1 In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice and
stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
2 In a large skillet over low heat, cook sausage until done - drain fat.
Stir in onion, green pepper and garlic; saute until
tender. Pour in beans and tomatoes with juice. Season with
oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
Serve over rice.
(I mix the rice in)

I put mint in my lamb burgers - they are very tasty! I also mada a bbq glaze this past weekend that called for mint. Moroccan Mint tea is the BEST!

I am not a fan at all.

Love Bistro Francais! Cafe La Ruche is good as well, but the menu can be limiting.

Sounds like you can't go wrong to make it today, your meal will be tasty and you will be relaxed! :)

Paula Deen's White Orange Brownies are sooooooo good! I am not a huge Paula fan but this recipe is really good. Not the fruit recipe you asked for, but I still thought I would share. I would keep it as simple as possible so you can enjoy yourself and relax.

Strawberry bread sounds GREAT! I would love the recipe.

I put it IN my burgers, very tasty!