rusty_s's Profile
Kid-friendly thing to do with radishes?
I do a radish salad like this, but with lemon juice instead of vinegar. I prefer this salad on the second day because the radishes mellow out.
Why ham on Easter? [split from Home Cooking]
Why ham on Easter?
Because in many parts of the south, Easter is HOT unless it comes early in the spring. After church plus an outdoor Easter egg hunt in my fancy clothes, I don't want to come home and roast something for a few hours. Ham can be bought precooked and glazed ahead of time, and if the day is particularly warm we can eat it cold and it still tastes delicious.
What to do with leftover coffee?
Yes! You can use it in chocolate cake recipes.
Or freeze in cubes for iced coffee (which I know is not remotely the best way to make iced coffee, but is the easiest).
It's Girl Scout cookie season!!
"I just wish they put more than three cookies in a box." This is why thin mints edge out samoas as my favorite. Whenever I buy samoas, I wonder why I just spent $4 (or whatever) on a neat little plastic holder.
Also, I will buy anything from a kid in uniform (which is how I end up with tubs of popcorn I don't want from my neighborhood cub scouts). But if the kid can't even put on a green t-shirt, I will do without the cookies.
What do you do with canned salmon? Not salmon patties.
RWAH RWAH RWAH, my chowhound cliche alarm is going off.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/814372
Pie Crust - Which One?
I use this same recipe as TrishUntrapped (actually, I never made it in bulk, but the flour/salt/ shortening/water ratio + chilling is the same). It always* works for me, but depending on the weather you may need the little extra water or flour--just like the recipe says. I find you need a little wiggle room in pie crusts. but not too much! A few sprinkles of either flour or water may be enough. If it falls apart you need more water.
(*to be honest it did not work for me in Woodland Park, CO (elevation 8500 feet))
Also, having cold hands helps. If you have good circulation, wash your hands in cold water and dry them well before you start.
Are city pigeons safe to eat?
Sewer rat might taste like pumpkin pie, but I wouldn't know because I wouldn't eat the filthy...
Nuernberg Brauhaus: New German in Pflugerville
...and according to their website this place is CLOSED now. The last few times I have been in there, it was bustling, so I didn't see this coming. Any suggestions on where to get schnitzel now are welcome!
What was in your Christmas stocking growing-up?
Santa occasionally left storybook lifesavers in our stockings, and those were by far my favorite candy present. We always got oranges, and usually we got those mini candy canes that come attached in columns (I'm having trouble describing them, the wrappers were attached end to end). I never really cared about the candy canes.
Good place for lunch with vegan options, a full bar and something for a pescatarian?
I'd say Eastside Cafe, but I don't know whether they have a full bar. They have vegan and fish options (which vary) and are close to UT.
Any tips on a good restaurant open on Christmas night (day of Christmas)?
You probably had this answered, as there was a similar question to your posted around the same time. Anyway, the simple answer is seek out *hotels*.
Too late for a good turkey?
Check out Sprouts--while they aren't heritage birds, they are nice and free of junk. Also fairly inexpensive. You can even reserve one online at their website.
Foods: once common, but now luxury
I can see why crawfish would have been considered poor people food. In a few wet years we had mudbugs build their little houses in our backyard in Houston (behind which was a bayou). It did not occur to us to eat them any more than we'd have eaten ants.
What foods feel indulgent but are actually quite healthy?
In-season strawberries. As I eat them, I can't make myself believe that they could be healthy. They are too delicious. I am waiting for the study that finds that all berries are bad for you and will take 30 years off your life.
Ugh, why did I order that? Do you ever know better but do it anyway?
I also regret ordering chicken. I will order it in a fit of thinking that I should eat better and I really don't need the pork-and-fattening-side-dish, but then I end up with a boring meal.
Except one place, where they have chickens running around in the restaurant's garden. I don't think those are the chickens they actually serve, but they do serve tasty chicken there. Maybe it's a purely psychological effect.
Tips for dining out with babies and toddlers, please
So much good advice here, suprisingly I have something to add (unless I missed it above): patios! My little ones behave better outside. There are dogs, birds, butterlies, cars on the street, and generally changing scenery to keep them amused. Patios (and the people eating there) tend to be louder, too, so it's not so obvious when the kids forget to use their restaurant voices.
Also, as others have said, we went through a period with both kids--around 1yr to 18 months--where dining out just wasn't worth the trouble, because they could not sit at a table and refrain from disrupting others.
"Healthy/safe" beef/burger for pregnant lady?
I believe Trio at the Four Seasons grinds their own hamburgers. I understand that this would reduce the risk of food poisoning. In addition to tasting amazing..
As far as locally sourced, I have no suggestions at all.
Terra Burger serves organic meat, but I haven't eaten there.
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Terra Burger
2522 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX
Four Seasons
98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
So Your Friends Want to Go to A Chain Restaurant.... so What? :} [moved from Not About Food]
This reminds me of a friend who, whenever he visits the US, wants to go to Joe's Crab Shack. Well, of course he does.
Maybe right now he is on some board posting about how he can't get any "authentic" popcorn shrimp in Koln.
Food Pronunciation Etiquette
Ha! I learned all my "Italian" words from Abruzzese old-timers, as you say. I think my pronunciations must be horrible. But, at least I can say Italian words with flair.
Gordon's Bringing Kitchen Nightmares To Austin: Here's Who Needs His Help
...great idea, except if I spent too much time in Boomerang's I'd gain 100 pounds.
Kids' menus at restaurants. Really? [From General Topics]
"for many children it works out to a craving for fruit"
Possibly every kid I've known loves fruit. I am always so happy when places offer fruit on kids' menus. Just because I don't want to have a steamed spinach tantrum in public doesn't mean I want to feed my kid crap.
Gluten-free dessert recipe?
"Fools" are great summer desserts, if you have a place to refrigerate them. See, e.g., http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2010/06/10/strawberries-cream-deluxe/
You can make them with whatever wonderful fruit is in season.
Awesome Friends With Food Sensitivities
I think there should be a circle of hell for people who LIE about having allergies because they don't want to eat something.
Because then, others don't know who is being a drama queen and who has a legit problem.
My sister has serious food issues. Certain foods give her hives. She has autoimmune problems and has seen a reduction in symptoms by eating a very restrictive diet. Anyway, her problems are real, they are confirmed by doctors, and they suck.
My sister-in-law is "allergic" to whatever she doesn't feel like eating. I won't say on the Internets what I think about that.
So Your Friends Want to Go to A Chain Restaurant.... so What? :} [moved from Not About Food]
"I don't mind it so much because I am expecting it, and if I am there, it is probably because I am in one of "those" groups, i.e., a party with loud adults, noisy kids and difficult old people."
I love this quote. It is so true. Chains work for intergenerational groups. Especially groups of five or more, who decided to eat at 7pm on saturday night. Cuz you aren't getting a table at the place that serves the Best Burgers in America, but there's a 10 minute wait for a 6-top at the Applebee's.
Also, I wonder how insufferable the people who get "dragged kicking and screaming into Chili's and what can I possible eat so I don't starve to death?!?" are once they get there. I mean, can't you just this once order a Flamin' Lasangatoni and enjoy the ride?
Help with Zucchini
Here's a fairly good recipe/tutorial. I haven't followed it exactly, but the basic instructions might help.
http://greenlinglocal.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/goat-cheese-stuffed-fried-squash-blossoms/
Hot where you are????
Soo, and I'm serious here, how long did the cookies take to cook? Did you use a regular recipe?
Fyi, I'm in Austin and it is slightly cooler here (as in 104 vs. 107).
Also, today there are these strange white fluffy things in the sky.
Best boxed cake mix and canned frosting
I might be too late, but here are my opinions:
(1) Pillsbury (I think) has a "strawberry" flavored mix that is not delicious, but it does turn from white to pink when you add the wet ingredients. This is thrilling for little children.
(2) I find that the "cream cheese" canned frostings are better.
(3) instead of canned frosting, you could spread Nutella, peanut butter, strawberry jam, or lemon curd on a cupcake.
Favorite Austin Desserts?
Second on the salty caramel from Teo's. Yum!
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Teo
1206 W 38th St, Austin, TX 78705
Favorite Austin Desserts?
-the homemade doughnuts at Parkside. I find them irresistable.
-anything from Sweetish Hill. Between birthdays and work functions, I've had many different flavors of their cakes. And I get pastries there for breakfast more often than I care to admit. I don't have a favorite.
-apple strudel at European Bistro. Availability varies.
