GravySpider's Profile
where to find bitter almonds?
Bitter almonds are not commercially available in the US due to toxicity issues (google it and make up your own mind about the danger)
The inner meat of the peach or apricot pit is said to be an acceptable substitute, again w/ the same chemical caveat. From a plant perspective, almonds and stonefruit are close relatives.
Good food + The Debate?
SFist.com is running a thread with some suggestions, albeit not good food oriented.
Scandinavian cookbook recs?
Leftover lingonberry sauce? It's great on pancakes.
For vintage krumkakke irons, may I humbly suggest that the finest in the land come from the Rustad Co. of St Paul, Minn. My great-grandmother Rustad got her start selling them at the state fair, and according to family lore, would operate two irons simultaneously while giving her sales patter. (I'm at the limit operating one iron with a helper.)
Homemade Sahale Snacks -- Valdosta Pecans
I've got a package sitting on the counter, waiting for me to try to duplicate. I've been tempted to just eat them, but I must resist in the name of science.
I was thinking I'd try to make a peppery zesty simple syrup, and then toss to coat the pecans and cranberries and bake a bit. I'm guessing the tapioca is just a starch thickener to get a heavier, glossier coating on the nuts.
The subtle bit will be extracting the zest oils from the orange peel; a water-based syrup is unlikely to work; perhaps a soak in a wee bit of vodka? Or perhaps just mix the shaved zest with some granular sugar to pull out the oils via capillary action.. or just cheat with some commercial essential oil.
