I learned to can and had great success, Made jalapeno jelly (awesome over a block of cream cheese and crackers), made strawberry jalapeno jam (hands down, the winner) and chocolate mint jelly. You don't add chocolate, . the mint plant is called chocolate mint and has a very delicate flavor and aroma of chocolate. I also bought a cuisinart electric pressure cooker that I am stating to love! I also bought a small green house last spring. Unfortunatley, I didn't get as much use out of it as I thought I would. The knee finally gave out and I had a replacemet in Nov. Can't wait for spring/summer this year!

remember to add a splash of cran to that vodka lemonade Linda...

Old Granite St Eatery is neither Bistro or Italian but it is very, very good. It is right down town on Sierra St (looking out the window over to Viginia St, you can see the Pioneer Theater). I've eaten lunch and dinner there and both were excellent.

add a splah of cranberry to that vodka lemonade. So refreshing!

agree completely EM23

If you use a brown paper bag instead of paper towels, the steaks will stay crispier.
Or a rack over the paper towels.

When I saw this post, the first thing that came to my mind was, "with the top of the knife blade, not the sharp edge." So you don't dull it.

Seriously - on a full stomach. Never go shopping hungry.

Headed to Reno for a little Christmas shopping this week and am planning on trying it. Will post if I make it.

ina - morning star farms is the MSF mentioned above

I usually do about an 11 -12 lb roast. This year I am going to sear with my new kitchen torch and then go into a 200 F. oven until between 125 -130 (about 30 min per lb).
I also don't overboard with seasoning - just garlic, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.

I have to agree with Jen Kalb - put the meat in the freezer for 20 or so minutes so it doesn't get mushy and pulse only 11-12 times. Makes get hamburger. I have a meat grinder and I prefer the processor for this.

I love it made with panko crumbs. I think that makes a big difference.
.

seriously, laughing my ass off at these last few posts!!

Tonight was a pork and chipotle chili with green salad and cornbread. For dessert we have chocolate pudding cake with vanilla ice cream. DH and I will probably be fighting over the maalox bottle at 2:00 am, but so worth it.

I think BM and Tony are a match made in heaven. He probably would insist on a hot shower daily, however.

Sorry, never a hippie - but Burning Man is so, so much more.

Personally, I think the Giants have one of the best parks. Even though it is not yet fall, I'm pretending. Chicken Cacciatore, mashed potatoes, salad. Angel food cake with raspberry sauce and whipped cream for afters. Invited the whole patio at the golf course - small town, that equals 8

Leaving the playa Sunday there was (as usual) a very large line for the Indian Taco truck on the way back into Reno. Word was, AB had been through a little bit earlier. His signature was on the truck (at the owner's request). Wondering if this might fit into the format of his new show or if it will be on NR next season. Either way, Burning Man and Anthony Bourdain could be a match made in heaven (or not). Any one hear anything?

LW - even better than lemonade and vodka is lemonade, vodka and a nice splash of cranraspberry! Perfect summery drink

I was in Paris in 1978 and my friend and I ordered steak. The steak tasted off to us and we discovered it was horse. Would not order it intentionally again, but, if extremely hungry, yes.

Perhaps, only perhaps, if I were starving and had not yet named it.

Steve - what did you think of Colin Kaepernick? Not bad for a first outing. My daughter lived next door to him his last 3 years at Nv. Such a nice kid - we all have signed footballs

ChristinaMason - you are SO right. The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.

DH got home last night with a limit of large mouth bass, so that is WFD tonight. Will soak the fillets in a mixture of milk and egg then roll in crushed ritz crackers then fried up. . . yummmm! Serve with fried potatoes and green salad and lots of fresh lemons and ice tea.

cornmeal muffins with cheddar cheese, jalapenos and bacon. Great for breakfast!

Dear friend and neighbor had a benign brain tumor removed today. I am stocking their refrigerator with simple to reheat meals. Chicken noodle soup? But, of course. Beef stroganoff, the best chicken and rice dish ever, stuffed pork chops, salads, cookies and brownies. Doggie biscuits for their 2 labs that miss their family!

I think that Harters might be referring to the "gentleman" that originally started this thread. It was discovered he wasn't what he professed to be (and worse) and was booted from CH. Good riddance but thankful the thread continued...

I take boneless, skinless breasts and butterfly them so they open like a book (but not all the way through). Stuff them with pesto, guyere (or swiss) cheese, close them up and wrap with a slice of prosciutto. Put a dab of butter on top and bake.

Again with the heat (next person that says, "at least it's a dry heat", may get punched in the nose). Something very simple, chipotle shrimp tacos. In a gal size plastic bag, marinate 12 large shelled and deveined shrimp with a little veg oil and a teaspoon or so of chipotle chile powder. Either grill on your barbeque or a heavy grill pan. I use 3 shrimp per taco. I use the small corn tortilla and soften a in small bit of hot oil. Top the shrimp with shredded cabbage mixed with some sour cream, thin sliced green onions and radises, cilantro and fresh lime juice. Currently not partaking of alcohol so lots of iced tea (boy, does a margarita sound good though!).