amazinc's Profile
Your favorite, most reliable Cake Cook Book
I have used RLB's Cake Bible and had wonderful results, but my handsdown favorite go-to for cakes is the King Arthur Flour web site. Check out the recipes for cakes and you will see about
2 or more dozen cakes to try. I've made most of them over the years and NEVER had a failure
with their recipes. They are free; they are good and they work. I won their cookbook at one of their traveling baking demos and enjoy baking from it, but as I said the web site is free and has
pictures, as well as many tips with each recipe. Enjoy!
Nose-to-tail restaurant
My sister and I will be in Dallas on a Wed. night mid-May. We love "Feast" in Houston where we have tried everything from liver and onions to pork belly to haggis, to house made sausage to the chef's tasting menu ( 7 courses). Is there a similiar restaurant in Big D that uses all the animal and
serves many different cuts/offers of meats? Thanks Dallas "Hounds, in advance.
How far are you willing to drive for a good restaurant?
I live 11 miles from a "highway to anywhere" so 1/2 hour is a necessity to eat at ANY restaurant. I routinely drive 125 miles (roundtrip to San Antonio) to eat at a good restaurant. I go at least once every 10 days or so, but that's for lunch. I hardy ever go out for dinner but when
I do, it's the one hour, round trip that I make.
What did you have for breakfast today?
A recent visit to my Dr. scared the BeJesus out of me, so I'm now into a "health" breakfast that is
so boring I could cry. 6 oz. Almond milk; 2 oz Fage 2% yoghurt; 1 1/2 c some kind of berry (lately has been strawberries that I picked) ; and 1/4 C. protein powder all powered in a blender to make (I hate this word) a "Smoothie". Ick and sob. I WANT a "mexican breakfast of Migas, peppers, bacon, hash browns; a flour tortilla the size of a semi's hubcap, 11 cups of strong coffee with splenda and crema and a soft-serve ice cream. Please, someone, come to my aid.
Which of these SA Mexican restaurants?
Maybe I'm too late for the post, but I'd add Aldaco's in the Sunset Station to your list of possibilities. It's probably not walking distance, but hop on the trolley and you'll be there in no
time. Your concierge will give you the trolley folder with lines and times. Blanca Aldaco's
tlapeno soup is not to be missed, if you like heat. Enjoy SA. It's a lovely city
Best Fries in the U.S.
In San Antonio, TX... Le Fritte. Order moules and a paper cone in a spiral holder filled with the most delectable French (Belgian) Fries arrives at your table. The Duck Fat Fries at Romo's are also very
special. I'll take either, any day.
Pizza Dough
Does any 'hound out there have a perfect, fool-proof recipe for thin crust pizza? I've seen the one in
Cooks Illustrated and like it but I don't want to take two- three days to make a pizza. Please tell me
your best ones. Thanks
POLL: Can you walk to an actual grocery store?
I live on the far side of In-Back-of-Beyond, Texas. I'm 11 miles each way from the nearest "super market" ( our town is less than 25K pop.) It's about 75 miles to the nearest Whole Foods and about
60 miles to the nearest Costco. However, what I get in trade is...absolute quiet; black skies for star gazing and a home where the deer and the antelope play. It's a good trade...any day!
Food Splurges - What's Yours?
My food splurge is to gift myself, family members and close frends with a 3-lb. box of Mr. Spear Asparagus. The spears are huge, but cook like they were pencil thin. Absolutely the best
asparagus around. It's costly, but delicious and the best gift I can give to those I love.
Food shopping in San Antonio
I'm late to the post, but here's my two cents....for fresh fish try Groomer's on McCullough just off Ison; Tim's Oriental Mkt is still the best of the Asian's. Broadway Daily Bread (although I think they now have other locations) Can't say about the sausages. I don't know where the bbq joints get theirs, maybe they make it. I don't think Central Market holds a candel to the stuff you
can get a little East of here,some of the old-time German places. If you get to Fredericksberg,
try Opa's on Hwy 87, on the way out of town. The early posts telling you there are no good
farmers markets here are long out of date as there's a thriving mkt at the Pearl Brewery complex on Sats. and another on Sun. in the Whole Foods parking lot on Basse Road. Come mid-Sprng they will be open all over town in various grocery store/commmunity center/church parking lots.
If you are going to try Austin for the Oriental mkt. suggested, pack a lunch. That market is not just in Austin, it's on the NORTH side of Austin, but the poster is correct in that it has probably everything you could want for any kind of Asian cooking. If you are up that way, you might as well try the huge Asian Mall on North Research. Can't remember the name, but a google search should produce it. Good luch in your searches.
"Great" Restaurant Names
Hwy 783, Kerrville, Tx... "The Roadkill" Their motto... "From your grill to ours." Sadly gone.
East side of Houston, Tx, bar named "It'll Do" probably still there!
Your kitchen cleaning tips
+2 for the maid. Also I use a 10:1 water to 3% hydrogen peroxide for cutting boards, counter tops and sinks. This gets done after every use/meal. I love Method cleaning products and use the dishwasner pellets, the laundry soap, hand soap and bathroom cleaner. (Maid likes them, too) Other than that, I don't use many products for disinfectant...just wash out the fridge and freezer with a baking soda/water mix to keep out the "smells". Sponge gets tossed every 10 days or so.
what do you have in your kitchen "junk drawer"?
I have all that other "stuff" that posters mentioned with the exception of the Mont Blanc pen PLUS the manuals for my gas range, coffee maker; radio, OXO timer, Sirius radio (who can remember how to re- set the timers on all these things???) Also have the instructions for dis-arming a neighbor's alarm system, her keys, extra car keys for my own and DH's car, MY KITCHEN tool kit, since DH never returns anything to its "place". Oh, also the"just in case" $50 bill. That's all in the junk drawer. In my necessities drawer are the peelers, scissors, skewers, ruler, tape measure, can/bottle/wine openers. You know, those kitchen essentials!
Popping Sorghum?
There's a product out there called "Pop-Gum". sold in bags like popcorn or potato chips. I bought several bags to try. The taste was fine, but it took about 100 handfuls of the stuff to equal a
mouthful of popcorn! No kidding, it's TINY! I think I found it on the internet, but it may be in stores now.
Good Chicken Bullion Cubes
More than Gourmet. Pricey and not really "cubes"' more a paste, but you can measure it by
teaspoons. It's so much better than those salty products, but as I said $$$, but worth it.
What are you baking these days? January 2012 [old]
Made the potato bread in the latest " Baking Sheet" from King Arthut Flour...made one loaf and 9
mini loaves in the darling little Wilton plaque that I bought at Amazon.com. Love that pan as it makes loaves that are only 1 1/2 x 3. just the right size for mini blt's to add to the appetizer buffet at my next party.
raw fois gras
Bought a bundle of fois gras for DH & I to enjoy on CHristmas/New Year's Eve...there were prunes soaked in cognac then stuffed with foisgras, a terrine of same with a duck fat cover, a tube of mousse with truffles and two cryo-vacced pieces of raw fois gras that I am not sure how to prepare. They are fairly small pieces, about 2inches by 2 by 1/2 thick. SHould I just brown them in butter and go or is there something else we should do to more enjoy these teasures? Any help will be appreciated.
M. F. K. Fisher & Other Foodie Writers From Why Back When
Lucky me to own all of mfk Fisher's books, Read and re-read them. Also enjoy Marlena DeBlasi
and those collections by Hughes called "The Best Food Writing of...."name your year. Years ago I owned a copy of a book on food by Waverly Root. I remember it being very wise and esoteric and I didn't treasure it as I should have. It's gone. My loss. One who no one has mentioned here is best known for her wonderful NAME. Who knows Clementine Paddleford? Her writing may not be up there with the stars, but for name recognition, she can't be beat! She is archived at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, for any of you close enough to use the info.
I need ideas for a PINK cake---can you help?
Several weeks ago I saw a recipe for "Pink Champagne Cake". Goggle it and you'll find it somewhere, I'm sure. You can sub a sparkling rose for the pink chanpagne and get the lovely color you are looking for.
King Arthur Baking Sheet
Yes, I've subscribed for years and recently sent a subscription to my "gluten intolerant" neice, as they often have recipes that she can enjoy baking and eating. I usually bake at least one and more often two or three of the recipes in each edition. I am a little testy with their "pushing" their mixes as when I bake, it's my desire to bake from scratch, but that's a minor gripe as more recipes in the sheet are from scratch. Give it a try for a year...$19.95 for 6 issues, I think, and they are printed on good paper so you can keep them in a ring binder if you like to hold on to recipes.
Need a cookie recipe to knock new hubbie's (and in-law's) socks off
Drat!! Don't know why that whole thing won't print, but if you want, I'll post the recipe or maybe
you can find it by just going to the site. These are definitely worth the trouble to fine the recipe.
Need a cookie recipe to knock new hubbie's (and in-law's) socks off
correct address for Space Dust Cookies
http://cooking.com/recipes-and-more/RecPrint.aspx?rid=10001612
Need a cookie recipe to knock new hubbie's (and in-law's) socks off
Took two "knock the socks off" to my latest cookie exchange. They both came off the internet and both were fantastic. 1. Rosemary & Pine Nuts from http://wwwfinecooking.com/recipes/rosemary-pine-nut-cookies.aspx 2. Space Dust Cookies from http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more-RecPrint.aspx?rid=10001612
I had several other type cookies on the platter, but once word about these babies circled the room, they were both gone in a flash!! Each is different from any cookie I have ever made and each is wonderful in its own way. Light, airy, delicious.
Jus and other sauces for Prime Rib
My Horseradish sauce is made with processed horseradish that is squeezed dry in paper towels. Add 1 cup cream, whipped to a fine stiffness, 1/4 tsp. white pepper and 2 T red wine vinegar. Fold all together to form a stiff spread. Chill and serve slathered on your beef slices. This is from an old British cookbook and it really makes a terrrific addition to roast beef. Also, I can recommend " More than Gourmet" bases for your au jus. They're expensive, but the best on the market, imo as they don't kill you with salt. What time did you say dinner will be served?????
need pork shanks
Since I live in Texas, I posted this on that board, but maybe I shoud have asked here if any of you
know where to acquire port shanks. I can find veal and beef, but not pork. Maybe there is a mail
order supplier that you know. If so, please advise as I'd like to re-create a fabulous dish from a
restaurant in Houston. Thanks, 'Hounds
Grocery Stores around the world-quirks?
Like many others on this subject, I hit the grocery store in any country I visit. Love them, even with all the "quirks". I live in South-Central Texas and in our local store the checker checks, a young person bags and will take the items to your car if you like. They always ask "would you like some help out with that?" I'm a strong woman, so I say thanks, I'm good. Once when visiting Valencia, I was surprised to have to pay to "rent" a grocery cart and last summer in Barcelona I experienced the "one clerk writes up your order; pay another clerk (caja); go back to the original clerk to get the items Thought it very strange, but it made shopping a new experience. I love seeing all the different products in foreigh markets, but then am always confounded by the sheer number of items in U.S. grocery stores. Do we really need 10 different kinds of canned tomatoes? Not a complaint, just an observation. My favorite city
to shop for food/groceries/produce....Seattle, hands down, with Pike Place Market, Uwajamiya,
and that nifty Queen Anne Hill upscale market ( I can't remember the name, maybe Metropolitan?). Too much fun and ALMOST like being in a foreigh country!
pork shanks
Am trying to find some pork shanks to make a dish from a Houston restaurant. So far
no market in Kerrville can locate them for me. Is there a 'hound out there who will recommend
a market between here and San Antonio where I might purchase same? Thanks for any advice
Your favorite cooking magazine ranked.
my piicks are; 1. Fine Cooking
2. Saveu
3. Cooks Illustrated (ON LINE. I won't pay for a magazine then have to pay for
website access ALSO!)
Those satisfy my needs and if something special comes up, there's always the internet!
Poll -- What foods/food items do you prefer commercially made?
sorry. Bad typing/editing. meant to say Stouffer's.
Poll -- What foods/food items do you prefer commercially made?
Sttouffer's Macaroni and Cheese. Such an easy dish...except MINE is always too dry, too hard
and too bad. Gimme' the orange and yellow box (frozen) every time. Sigh.
