Now, that doesn't count. You make a REAL green bean casserole. The kind that most of us only dream of but NEVER get a chance to taste. I hope noone thought I truly meant that all green bean casseroles were YUCK. lol Just the kind with canned green beans. I grew up with those and those are one of those things that gross me out to no extent.

WOW, wow, wow. As the OP, I just had some time today to catch up on this thread I started and I have to sorta laugh at how this thread flew into territories I had no idea it would. I truly thought this past Sunday, "Hey, I'm sad cause my family has to act like spoiled jacka**es and make snide comments about something I made for them out of love." So, I was annoyed when I got home & just wanted to vent. I didn't even think I would get more than a couple responses. Keep in mind, I handed them baked goods in a cellophone bag that was tied and ready to take home. We were out at a restaurant for brunch. I knew some of them weren't going to appreciate like the others. I'm not an idiot. I realize that all those macarons weren't going to get eaten. But if I had handed a bag to one person and not another then I would have been tarred and feathered for that. I am not saying in any way shape of form that if I gave someone a homemade baked/cooked item that they had to eat it. I am just asking that when someone gives you something they want you to have (whether it be food or a candle) that you don't say something rude about how you wished it was something else.
Not sure how it got so off topic but I wasn't saying they had to eat the food there and rave about it. Just graciously accept it and be kind. Of course I could be misunderstanding some of the later posts, if that's the case I apologize.

HighHeels. JK

I do have a really awesome collection of 1940's & 50's aprons I got at an estate sales about 10 years ago and I use them whenever I am making something special. I know it sounds silly but I just love them, they remind me of my Gran and she loved wearing aprons. Normally like this evening, its just lounge pants and a tee. Never shoes. I don't know why but I don't like people wearing shoes in my kitchen. Well, I don't really like shoes on in the house, but that's more because I think they are uncomfortable and I am all about being comfy in my house.

I just checked my bread I have that is a Kroger store brand and there is a stamp on in that says "Best if used by April 17" and then there is a line under it "TH 12 3550941915 1B" So, I am not losing my mind. And even tho I obviously don't eat my bread very fast, LOL. The issue I mentioned earlier wasn't where it was a day old, these things were way past expiration dates. The bread was over a week. And the non-perishables were months past the date. Like I said, I am not that particular but I feel that when some people have to push aside some personal dignity to go to a food back and then to be handed expired food I found that just in very poor taste.

This reminded me of a time a few years ago when I was volunteering at a local food bank and they were handing out expired foods. Everything from loaves of bread to boxes of mac & Cheese. I was disgusted. It wasn't just a few things, it was most of the items. I brought it up to the person running it and he said, "Its charity, they should be happy they are getting anything in this economy." I told him that was ridiculous and wanted to know where they were getting the items. He wouldn't tell me but I figured it out by the store brand names and couldn't believe the store was giving away expired food.
I am not super picky about expiration dates, on some things, but I think it is insane to think that someone who is having to go to a food back is being handed expired bread.

As for the OP, the next time I get something from him, I would act like I was so excited about an item and pretend to look it over when he was with me. Thanking him then shockingly notice that it is expired. Act like this was the first I was noticing and then politely put it in the trash and say something along the lines of I am bummed that it was expired but thanks anyways. I wouldn't mention anything about the other expired items. I would act like it was a simple mistake. Maybe he would be a little ashamed and quit bringing you expired items. But I've always been better than I should be at acting shocked or surprised if I need to to get a point across to someone. My Pops is the only person who ever knows when I am fibbing. So, if you can put on a little show of shocked surprise about an expired item, it might work. But if you can't fib, then I wouldn't try that at all.
I find that whole situation so weird. Good luck.

OMG, thanks to everyone one here. I am sad to hear to many similar stories. I used to have the holiday meals at my house and finally gave up. I would end up making all the meals and they would offer to bring cold cuts or {gasp} green bean casserole. YUCK. I finally figured I wouldn't go thru the effort if they wouldn't appreciate the big dinners. I know they don't appreciate those types of things and I don't know why I keep trying. I gave up the big dinners and figured at least little things like macarons or the homemade lemon meringue pie I made the other night. My mother said this morning she still hadn't tried her piece. I wanted to tell her I would swing by her house later and pick it up as I would love another piece.
It is a waste of my time and money. Its just upsetting. I guess I don't sound much better than a good friend of mine who insists on staying with a boyfriend who treats her like crap. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Thanks for the comments. I am realizing I am a bit nuts.
At least I do have people in my life who enjoy the efforts. From now on I'm not gonna make the family anything. They can get their own packaged chocolate chip cookies.
KSlink said it well, "They react that way because of who they are" After reflecting on this (obviously too much today) I think maybe some of them are more upset with themselves because they don't take the time to cook anymore and they know that the junk they are shoving in their bodies isn't great so maybe they are just taking it out on me. But I truly was trying to do something nice. I'm single and don't have kids to feed so it is fun to cook but goodness, I can't eat it all myself so I like making other's smile. I guess we always want to make those closest to us smile and when they don't it hurts.
So, onward and upward. Tomorrow is a new day and at least I have a big event to cook for this week and they actually had requests.
Thanks All
Bree

I wish you good luck on your journey. I just had my second back surgery and have tried eating food that is supposed to help keep the inflammation down & I like sugar way to much. It is a hard road to travel. Hope that book helps you some.

I too use a hot cast iron pan. I put a little bacon grease on a paper towel and rub in on the pan right before I put them in. That way I get that little bit of bacon flavor but they aren't drowning in the fat. Saving me the calories/ fat and I don't have to use a bunch of my sparse supply of stored bacon grease. Now I want scallops for dinner.

Wow, Breadcrumbs! You got a lot of books for $28. I love my Bourdain books. I was watching his foodporn video last night on youtube about pho.

jpr54_1, Thanks for mentioning abebooks. I was trying to remember that site the other day & I couldn't remember. I'm on my way there now.

I am just gonna take a second to vent. I love to cook. I enjoy trying hard things that some people would steer clear of. And I love learning from others, like here. But I have family who just don't care. It drives me nuts. I went to brunch today and got up at 5am today to make homemade macarons. I've made them a couple times before for events with groups I belong to. But wanted to pass them out to family today. So, made 3 types, super colorful and tasty. They turned out just perfect. Wrapped 6-7 in special bags with ribbons and passed them out. Of course I had to explain what they were and a couple people said they would have rather had chocolate chip cookies. WTF? They hadn't even opened them and tried them.
I just don't understand adults who don't like to try new things. It is depressing sometimes to put that much effort into something & feel like it was a complete waste of time when they would have been happy with some sort of pre-made chocolate chip cookies.
Do others on here feel like the hard work to cook for others just isn't worth it sometimes. Are people to used to packaged crap that they don't appreciate home cooking anymore?
I'm not normally this negative, just kinda bummed today.
Bree

Congrats on your progress! Let me know what time the BBQ is :)

I made a steaming cup of Chai and couldn't decide what to eat with it, so I had a huge slice of the lemon meringue pie I made last night. Delicious!

hotdogs right out of the package. I don't indulge now but every once in a while I get a fond memory of my mom telling me to grab a weiner out of the fridge and split it with my brother. I hated them boiled like she used to do when she was making them 'proper' lol

OMG, that is the best reply to any board messages I have read in a long time. What a funny story. Life on a farm, there just isn't anything better and more random. love it

I grew up with my grandparents owning a cattle farm so steak was a staple. My mother always had hers well done and I hated that. But Grandpa...oh Grandpa knew how to eat meat. He always had a t-bone with bloody juices floating on the plate. He taught me how to eat steak. Med-rare is the best now. I always cringe when I hear someone order a steak well-done. I don't understand the need to chew it til my jaw hurts. I like it to melt in my mouth.

OK, the pound is peeled and drying now. Minus the ones I ate. lol
I ended up microwaving them in a small bowl for a minute or 2 and would take them out a few at a time to peel while watching tv. They just popped right off. Such a difference. Drying them in the oven is a great idea. I'm so happy. Now I just hope the macarons turn out perfect. I get so nervous when doing something to be auctioned off for charity. Wish me luck and thanks for the tips everyone!
Bree

Great idea, I think I will try some like that. I had heard that I had to blanch them in the boiling water to get them to peel so I will try that. If I can't get them peeled, than at least I love soaked almonds as snacks so I will be happy either way. Thanks

Chemicalkinetics, thanks so much. I just tried that and soaking them for 60 seconds still took a little longer than I expected, so tried it for 3 min and they peeled a lot easier but not great. I think I got some stubborn almonds. It took 21 sec each so it is still a lot of time. LOL Who would have thought. At least the baking soda helps a lot. Thanks!

I am attempting to blanch a pound of almonds. I have committed to making macarons for a charity event for Wednesday and wanted to get these almonds blanched because I truly can't find any place in Wichita to get almond flour and I didn't order it online earlier enough. I have never blanched before and I have tried 2 small batches and the skins just aren't coming off. It is like the skins won't shrivel up. The first batch I tried I put about 30 almonds in a bowl and poured some boiling water over them (enough to cover) and then waited exactly 63 seconds then put them in a mesh strainer and ran under cold water for a short bit, laid them out on a paper towel and started peeling. They would come off but they certainly weren't sliding off. I was having to use my fingernails to peel them off and it was taking forever. It was taking about 40 seconds a piece. Yes I was timing myself because I had a pound ahead of me and needed to know if this was going to work. lol

The second batch I read online to let them dry after putting onto the paper towel so I did and the skins didn't shrivel up and I can't get them peeled at all.

I've watched a couple videos online and read 3 tutorials on various blogs and they all act like it is a breeze. Anyone got any tips. I really don't want to make the almond flour with the skins on because I am making pink, green and yellow macarons and I don't think they will color well with the almond so dark. Am I wrong?

Thanks

Bree

I was there on business about a week ago and we stayed at the Bellagio and ate at their buffet for lunch the first day. The next evening we hadn't planned well & were so tired from walking around a convention so we decided to hit a buffet again. My thought was to stick with the buffet at the Bellagio again because it was OUT OF THIS WORLD. But my co-worker wanted to venture out to another hotel and see some sites along the way. I've been to Vegas so many times & we were only there for 48 hours that I didn't really care one way or the other. So, I mentioned I had heard good things about the Aria and it was close by.
So, we went there. NO LINE whatsever. I was surprised as we had stood in line for an hour the day before. We were there for dinner and it was about $30 a person before tip. It was soooo disappointing. The waitress was just as rude as they come. I couldn't believe it. I am always understanding when service people have bad days, it happens. But we are the types of people that would rather eat crap than to complain, we always smile and thank them for refills, etc. I mean, we are good customers. I've been a waitress and know the difference. But she just had this vibe that we were interrupting her day and she couldn't be bothered with us. I asked which is the best side to start from. Her answer was "You can go to the desserts if you are in a hurry" WTF? We weren't in a hurry, gave off no vibe that we were and we just looked at each other like, HUH? The buffet isn't large at all, compared to the Bellagio and the Wynn. We picked that place because they touted Indian food and the only buffet with a clay oven. We were so excited. Until we found out there was just one goat dish, some naan, a veggie dish and one other choice that was so underwhelming it was insane. The goat dish had so many little bones all thru it that I felt like some hillbilly constantly taking food out of my mouth to put back on the plate. I find that to be the most disgusting thing to do at a restaurant.
I will give a thumbs up to the crab legs. The gal behind the counter was soo nice, she offered to steam them for me. That was so pleasant. The guy behind the meats was not attentive either. So, that annoyed me.
But I gave it a couple stars because the desserts were delicious. They had a mint macaron dipped in chocolate that was out of this world. I am attempting to recreate it this weekend. And my co-worker had a french toast caramel bread pudding that he fell in love with. But other than that. No thank you to future visits.
I am excited to try the Spice Market and the Wicked Spoon next visit.

I just wanted to thank Caitlin, I had some cookbooks in my cart on amazon from yesterday and hadn't bought them yet and just saw your post about buying from The Good Cook and they have a couple of the ones I wanted so I am going to get them that way and only need to pay the big bucks for the 2 cookbooks they don't offer on The Good Cook. So I will be getting:
The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Pastry Arts, Chocolate & Confections: Formula, Theory & Techniques for the Artisan Confectioner from amazon and then getting Tea with Bea, Macarons by Annie Rigg (I am in a baking mood lately and love playing around with macarons) &Austrian Desserts and Pastries from the book club.

As for my favorite cookbook that is still new to me is Simply Ming One-Pot Meals from Ming Tsai. He has some delicious recipes and I love making anything he comes up with. We are hooked on his Beef and Onion Sukiyaki.

I am loving reading what everyone is cooking. I love getting ideas from this site.