How about a pumpkin, mango, or other fruit mousse? I haven't tried this exact recipe, but just so you can get the idea, basically a fruit puree folded with dairy, gelatin, sugar, and spices: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

I got a lot of nice kitchen swag! New pots and pans (favorite: nonstick griddle pan, the kind without ridges), lots of utensils (favorite: offset icing spatula), and bakeware (favorite: cake pans).

Agreed on the flax seed. Good texture and not too expensive.

I've bought those mangoes before. I wish they weren't coated so heavily in sugar.

The shakes are fantastic. Here's an old list of flavors:

http://wes.tabulas.com/content/pages/...

My favorites have got to be banana pudding, strawberry cheesecake, and peanut butter cheesecake. Oreo and Oreo Mint are also very popular, but I'm not a fan of Oreos so I can't judge.

It really depends on the location--I have not found any that have edible onion rings in the Raleigh-Durham area but their fries are always spot on.

I would agree that Pakistani food is really a subset of Indian food--which is a hugely diverse set. The spices and ingredients in Indian and Pakistani food are the same, but the preparations vary widely. The kind of food you would find cooking in a South Indian home--dal, rasam, sambar, pachadi--is light years away from Pakistani kababs or the naans, curries, and meats that are served in Indian restaurants.

I don't eat anything with ground beef in it, ever, unless I know the cook or restaurant has ground the beef themselves. I have read too much about the meat industry to feel comfortable eating commercial ground beef.

I grew up in a beef-free household so I don't feel that I am missing out on anything. If I grew up on it and liked the stuff, then I would probably take the risk and have a hamburger or a lasagna at any old establishment. But since I don't care for it enough, I am happy to avoid it.

I got a chirashi don at Cafe Zen and I think the fish was spoiled. It was not good. Their yakisoba is yummy though.

Excellent idea!

I can cook nice things with bitter melon and I enjoy eating the end product, but preparing the bitter melon itself gives me the heebie jeebies. I hate cutting it up. Cutting off the bumps on the skin creeps me out.

I used to read her website religiously but got bored of it. The overt "branding" and marketing just got tiresome. I guess I was naive in thinking that the blog was just that of a bored country housewife, and that it would retain the same character it did when it started out. I don't blame Ree Drummond for having ambitions (the cookbook, television, etc.) but the commercial "selling the lifestyle" aspect is not what attracted me to the blog. And the recipes aren't good enough to keep me.

I would definitely recommend another blog for any people who are fans of the PW concept but who are looking for someone a little more "real" and frankly more creative: Chickens in the Road by Suzanne McMin. I don't have any relation to her, I just stumbled on the blog recently and she's fascinating. She's no millionaire or Martha Stewart wannabe but I like her recipes. She's older and wiser than Ree.

-Edamame
-Apple with a piece of cheese
-Celery sticks, apple, or banana with peanut butter
-Plain yogurt with a little honey or agave
-Fruited yogurt or a light fruit smoothie with almond butter mixed in
-A small piece of dark chocolate or a few baking chips
-Wheat bread with a piece of string cheese melted on

I love that place!

I didn't like Sugarland much. The cupcakes I tried were just not that tasty. It strikes me as a cutesy place. I much prefer Bull City Bakery in Durham--their spice and Red Velvet cupcakes are delicious.

They have churros and chocolate at Watts? I'm so going! Thanks for the tip!

I'm looking to take someone to a nice Sunday brunch or lunch. I'd prefer a place that is close to North Raleigh OR close to Chapel Hill. Any ideas?

My favorite breakfast/brunch place is usually Finch's in Raleigh, but this time I'm looking for a place that's a little bit nicer. Budget is $50 for two.

Thanks!

I'm going to Papas Grille on Hillandale Rd. Really nice, upscale Greek place. Kind of expensive but worth it IMO.

Things I wish I had, or I wish I had better version of:

-Silpat
-Cookie sheet
-Roasting pan
-Food processor
-Sandwich press/wafflemaker
-Digital food scale

Oh that's a great idea, I'll have to remember that one

Coconut does freeze well. Also, if you dry it out, you can put it in the blender in chunks and make your own coconut flakes/powder. My mom always used to do this.

pancakes, raita, frosting/icing

Wow, those sound lovely. Would you mind sharing the recipe?

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/322089

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/424534

There's an epic thread about oatmeal add-ins on this site already. Use the search tool. It has hundreds of ideas!!

Agreed, no matter the size of the Caesar Salad in front of me, I always clean the plate.

I agree, the crust pan baffles me. The crust is dry and crispy...the opposite of how a brownie ought to be!!!

I peel off the "skin" (well, the casing) from my hot dogs too. Picked up the habit from my mom.

I do the mushy cereal thing too. I pour the milk on the cereal, then stick the bowl in the fridge for 10-20 minutes until it gets good and mushy. Usually I drain out the milk too. And then I eat the mush. You're not alone!!

I did the saltines thing with potato chips when I was a child. I've never, ever admitted that before. I think I also did it with black olives.