Hi all, well, we ate the gumbo today for lunch and it was just fine.
We use canola all the time and buy the huge bottle from the price club and keep it in a cabinet away from any heat.
I don't make a roux that often, especially one that size, so the popcorn smell might have been normal, just kind of weird.

thanks!

I bought it no more than 2 months ago.

It wasn't a great smell. Not terrible, though.

I'm making Cook's Illustrated shrimp & sausage gumbo.
The first step is to make a roux: 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup canola oil stirring constantly over medium-high. I'm using a wooden spoon and a Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven (red, if you must know).
I got a bit of a popcorn smell coming from the pot but no bits on the bottom of the pot to make me think it was burning. Could the smell have been from the wooden spoon, which did take on some color?
Should I use a metal whisk next time?

discuss

dave

We went but were scared off by the sheer number of people. Will go back, probably on thursday.

Hi all, We're going to Green Meadows pumpkin patch tomorrow and are looking for a place to eat at afterwards. Something easy, kid friendly, and preferably not a chain.

Any ideas?

thanks,

dave

Hi all, my pregnant wife has a hankering for pho. Does anyone know of a place in or near Annapolis? The closest we know of is on 450 in Crofton, behind the Rita's. Saigon Noodle House I think it's called.

thanks,

dave

-----
Saigon Noodle House
2171 Defense Hwy, Crofton, MD 21114

Hi all, so I bought a bottle of simple syrup (yeah, I know, very easy to make at home but I'd never seen it for sale before and saw it twice in one day and got curious and it was pretty cheap)
how long is the bottled or homemade stuff good for? I usually keep food until it smells bad, has something growing on it, or is a different color than it was when I put it in the fridge....

thanks,

dave

Hi all, I'm in a group that has been having brunch once a month on a Friday morning and we're looking for a new spot. We've done well at the Nautilus Diner in Crofton but we've been there the last three times and are looking for some place new.
We usually have 5 - 10 moms with generally 1 infant/toddler each so we need a place with plenty of high chairs and possibly a back room they can stick us in.
Any place in Bowie/Croton, Annapolis or possibly further should be fine.
Any ideas?

thanks,

dave

You can drive rt. 40 pretty much from Baltimore to the DE border. There are plenty of places to eat there. I can't really offer any specifics because I seem to always stop at the Double T in White Marsh.
There's also Newark, DE near the UD campus. Plenty of choices there. I don't know why anyone would stop at any of those rest stops. Blech!

Try the Double T Diner on 40. I'm not sure if they have beer, but they defintely have coffee. I was there around 1am a couple of Fridays ago.

I guess this belongs on this board....

Has anyone tried buying vanilla beans on eBay? I bookmarked the Arizona Vanilla Company but haven't bought anything from them. Is there a better place to get them? Penzeys? How long do they last, anyways?

thanks

oh-this is all under the assumption that what my grocery store has is crap. I have access to TJ and Whole Foods but don't usually shop there.

Hi all, I have two tubes of marzipan at 7 oz. each. I'm not really into making little fruits or things like that out of it but am looking for something to which I can add the marzipan to it. Any ideas?
Can I just eat it straight?

dave

I wouldn't completely agree with that. I feel like I'm a bit lactose intolerant and I had a glass a couple of years ago with no repercussions. Plus, people think that it helps kids be more healthy since the pasteurization kills some helpful bacteria as well.
I would get some if I could find any....and hide it from my wife.

So I found the show Man Vs Food on the Travel Channel where every week he goes to a different city and attempts some kind of food challenge like eating some really spicy food or just mass quantities in an effort to win a t-shirt or something like that.
My question is this: Does anyone know of a place in the DC area that has a challenge like this? I'd prefer something in the Bowie/Annapolis area but am willing to travel.

thanks,

dave

Thanks, Janet. As it turns out, I was mistaken. The recipe wasn't in the Post, it was in my King Arthur Flour Cookie cookbook, and what you offered is the same recipe.
Thanks!

dave

Hi Everyone, A few years ago the Washington Post's annual Xmas cookie guide had a recipe for cookies that included 2 boxes of instant pistachio pudding mix. My wife wants me to make them again for a cookie exchange next weekend but I seem to have misplaced the recipe. Can anyone help me out?

thanks,

dave

Does anyone know if this place is still open? I tried to call a few minutes ago and about a month ago and no one answered. Last month I drove by there, too, and they were closed for some reason that led me to believe it was short term.
I have a buy one, get one coupon that expires next month and am dying to use it!!

thanks,

dave

Has anyone out there tried freezing it? It'd be divine to have this stuff on hand all the time and it'd be a great way to use up all the garlic I buy (I never trust the stuff in the grocery stores to buy only one head at a time)
I figured I'd roast the head(s), squeeze the cloves onto a plate to let them finish cooling off, then put them in a freezer bag.

dave

Hi all, Thanks for telling me about the buffet, it wasn't on the on-line menu. As it turned out, it was pretty much the only thing to get. I don't remember everything I ate there, but it was all very good.

Hi all, I'm going to the one in Columbia, what should I get? I don't really have any aversions to anything, but I'm not experienced in Indian cooking at all.

thanks,

dave

Hi again, sorry for the wait. Yes, we are staying on the opposite side of town. It's a family function and the block of hotel rooms is there.
Our little one is still only on pureed foods, except for mashed banana and avocado.
Thanks for all of the suggestions I think Foodheads or Taco Deli might come out the winner, unless I get a real late entry.

Hi all, My family will be arriving at the airport in time for lunch. Our hotel is near the intersection of 1 and 183, north and slightly west of the airport. We'd like to eat somewhere in between the two.
I'm looking for something Austin-y, maybe a local chain. Sandwiches are good, maybe $10 a person. It'll be my wife and 7 month old joining me. I'll eat anything, she doesn't really do seafood.
Any suggestions?

thanks,

dave

(I hope that wasn't too general)

Hi all, I was at this storefront last Thursday, the 17th and it didn't look like the place was anywhere near opening. There were only a few signs in the window saying Lemongrass was coming but gave no date.
I can say that today I got a menu in the mail for East Moon Asian Bistro in the new shopping center on 450 and Highbridge in Bowie, behind the Texas Themed steak house. They have sushi, thai, chinese, and some Japanese stuff there. It's actually part of a chain with the other two locations in Colorado. I'd have to assume they're open if they're sending out menus to everyone.
It'll be real nice to have some Thai food in the area.

Interesting, very interesting. If I was to scan in a recipe as a .pdf, would it be able to search on that? I'm guessing no. Whatever I can do to reduce the amount of typing this project might involve would be very nice.
I do like that I can easily add my own categories and notes and it would pick up on that, too.....I think.

PC.

Hi all, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I just got the idea that having a recipe organizer on my pc would be a great idea. I've seen a few cheap ones on Ebay and some free ones on download.com, can anyone suggest a good one? The cheaper the better.
I'm really just looking for a basic database so that if I search for cake or bacon or something, it'll bring up everything I have with those ingredients.

Thanks,

Dave

Amazon already does for $26.40. If you order now, you get 5% off, and if the price drops between now and then, you automatically get the lowest price AND the 5% (I'd assume of the price you originally ordered at)

Hi all, I will be dining at the Stockyards in April for a wedding and I have to pick my dinner now. What should I get??

Options:
salad: house or caesar
entree: prime rib, filet mignon, chicken, salmon, filet & fried shrimp, filet & salmon, or fillet & chicken (I'm leaning towards the filet & salmon)
Dessert: brownie & ice cream, 'seasonal' cobbler & vanilla ice cream, sour cream cheesecake & cherry sauce.

How am I supposed to pick a cobbler w/out knowing what kind it is? If it was apple, then I'd definitely take it. Peach? probably. cherry? doubtful but possible.

I hate decisions like this.

Any help anyone? Anything that I should NOT get?

thanks,

dave

So I'm making a blueberry sorbet which entails putting 5 cups of berries through the food processor, then draining out the liquid which will be used in the sorbet. What can I do with the remaining pulp?? I'm thinking daiquiri or maybe a smoothie, but does anyone have any better ideas?

Thanks,

fuzz