dberg1313's Profile
Asian (any - Thai, Indian, Japanese, Chinese) catering in Willow Grove area?
In search of Asian cuisine catering in the Willow Grove area. thanks for recommendations!
Dry large lima beans - going the way of the dodo?
I don't live in your area (Phila suburbs) but I have found these beans in the ethnic sections of local markets, usually with Hispanic/Latino foods. I make these the way Grandma used to, just baked like regular baked beans but the family prefers the large limas. I'm not sure how they are labeled, I think my most recent purchase was Jack Rabbit brand (Goya may also package these) and they may have been marked "large lima beans". Hope this helps!
CHEAP EATS IN HORSHAM/WILLOW GROVE
Very good food and service at Altomonte's on N. York Road in Warminster - they have a web site and extensive catering type take-out food plus the obvious sandwiches, etc. Their Monday night family dinners are quite reasonable and should serve at least 4 - 6 adults. You should look into the pasta meals (you mentioned spaghetti) - they have cheese ravioli, tortellini alfredo, penne, rigatoni, and so on. A small size of most pastas is about $30-35 and serves 8 to 10 generously. Also chicken, meats, seafood, vegetables and sides.
Anyone know where in the Burbs (montco) that I can get Fastnachts
They have them at Henning's Market in Harleysville and Landis Markets (probably all locations, Telford, Vernfield, and Perkasie--but that's Bucks County). Also I know various fire companies and churches sell them as a fund-raiser. Frieden's Church in Sumneytown has them for sure. Probably could find the church on a web site. The fund raiser ones are the "real" ones--plain, to eat with syrup. Don't be late--you will be The Fastnacht if you are the last one out of bed that day!
Hot or cold Sauerkraut? How do you eat it and with what?
I make sauerkraut at home every year with about 100 lb. of cabbage. It sells like crazy at our historial society holiday market - one buys a jar, then sits right down and eats it straight out of the jar! Of course I always save some for home use, to cook with roast pork for New Year or anytime - also good with spareribs, knockwurst, any pork dish. I like it cold too, as a kind of relish. It is incredibly easy to make, I agree.
Upscale in Horsham/Willow Grove - steak OK but not a chain
Looking for something for co-workers who think P. F. Chang's is fancy!!
New Wegman's coming to Montgomery Mall
I work near the Warrington store, but it will be nice to have a closer Wegman's. And, does this only happen to me, or has anyone else observed the Wegman Zombie Effect? It's when the other shoppers stagger along with their carts like zombies, seemingly oblivious to any other sign of human life, and stop dead in the entrance, like they have never seen food before? The reason I shop 24 hour stores at 4 a.m. - not because I LIKE being there so early, just to avoid the zombie shoppers!
Canning in The Oven
I just put together the ketchup in the ordinary way, using the tomatoes (I used Romas this year) and spices (this was a recipe I got from my friend but I can provide it if you need one). I put the mixture in my large roasting pan--I find a shallow pan works better, obviously because it speeds up the reduction. Put in a 300 oven and watch it, stirring about every 20 min. or so, until you reach your desired consistency. Pour hot, into hot jars, and process the recommended time for your size jars. I tend to use pint or even half-pints for ketchup (who needs it in quart size?! maybe somebody does!). It might be possible to use two pans in the oven at one time, but I only have one roasting pan so it takes two batches. Oh, and of course I remove the rack from the roaster! Anyway this works for me as it avoids the need to stand over the bubbling pot in August. In the oven, it just needs a little watching.
Canning in The Oven
I have been canning my whole life (50+ years) and would never try this. Stick with the Blue Book and you won't go wrong. It isn't worth a hospital trip for burns or digestive upset.
Now, I will say, I do MAKE my ketchup in the oven, since it can stay in there and get nice & thick--THEN when it is finished, I hot pack in hot jars and seal in the water bath canner.
Just found my long-lost cookie cutters - now ISO great recipe to use them with!
Two very good ones, available online - the one at King Arthur Flour, and one from Land o'Lakes. Both handle easily and make a tasty cookie. I make hundreds of roll & cutout cookies at Christmas with a whole bunch of little kids, and these are my two go-tos. The only difference in them is, the Land o'Lakes recipe calls for orange juice. You don't end up with a strong taste of orange, but probably other citrus would work as well.
Is creamed chipped beef only liked by the people who were or are currently in the military?
I grew up eating it, and never had any remote relation to the military. My mother would make it for dinner pretty often, probably because it was cheap in those days, and served it over boiled potatoes with peas on the side. Oddly, we didn't often have it for breakfast. It was very popular with my husband & children but I don't make it so much these days--too many carbs for the diabetics. Also husband has no notion of portion control and will eat a gallon of it (seriously, he will if he gets the chance). I love it over home fries - it's a big seller at the firehouse breakfast
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Clear Jel for canning?
I buy clear jel and clear jel instant in bulk at the Q-Mart in Quakertown - the place is called Korner Kupboard and they have health foods, but they also have bulk baking ingredients, specialty flours, and spices. You can call to check, their # is 215-538-9088, and they are in dept. #430. It is a bit of a drive from Oreland, but might be worth checking out. Good luck! The clear jel instant works without heat, but you have to heat the regular clear jel to get it to thicken. I use instant for pies all the time with good results.
Propane ovens, is a slight smell of propane during preheat normal?
My husband has been in the propane business for 20+ years - a minor smell of propane on ignition is normal; if your flames burn clear and blue, you are OK. Any yellow red means the burners need cleaning or possibly, depending on the type of range it could just be the cover is on crooked. It's hard to describe, but most modern propane ranges have a sort of "lid" that sits on top of the burner which can be removed for cleaning. If that is replaced crooked or off-center, the burner will not burn evenly. Not dangerous but inefficient. The flames change color because of the amount of air, by the way.
Have you ever played a food trick on someone?
Only tricks I ever did were for April Fool's - the standard one of replacing the filling of an Oreo with toothpaste....although this would work if you had a moocher who kept stealing your Oreos. Also did this to the grandkids this year - they are accustomed to drinking koolaid type drinks, kept in a translucent pitcher in the refrigerator. Replaced their drink with Jell-O, they got a good laugh out of it and no harm done.
Why did this happen to my hand? Slicing cucumbers
I used a mandoline to slice the cucumbers for pickles, probably nearly an entire 1/2 bushel, and noticed something I never noticed before. A short time later, my skin had a sort of bizarre reaction I can only describe as similar to spreading Elmer's glue on your hand (like when you were a kid!) and allowing the glue to dry, then peeling it off. Only this wasn't glue--it seemed to be from the cucumbers! Where my skin was in the most contact with the cucumbers it sort of exfoliated! I did wash them well before, during and after the slicing, and I almost had to scrub violently to get the "skin" off afterwards. Anybody else ever have this experience? I have been making pickles for years and never noticed this! They were home grown Kirby cucumbers, I grew them myself, and I know they had no pesticides.
Driving to Perkasie from NYC, where to eat??
Also unclear on your route/destination - we like Hawkeye's on Rt. 113, not Perkasie borough though. Good bar food, sandwiches, and service - noisy though. What sort of food are you looking for?
Otto's in Horsham? not my choice, but....
Yay! We are going to Iron Abbey instead.....I was able to politely suggest another spot; she was unaware of the change of ownership.
Schnitz und Knepp -Berks and Lancaster County- Where??
I can give you a specific recipe if you like but it basically comes down to a stew of dried apples (aka snitz), little dumplings (the knepp), and usually ham.
Otto's in Horsham? not my choice, but....
actually I would prefer the Iron Abbey, but this is my boss here - she invited me and specifically said Otto's. I'm not at all sure why though but I'm thinking SHE thinks I will like it b/c the German aspect--and I am very involved in a PA German historical society. Unfortunately it seems rude to suggest a different place!
Schnitz und Knepp -Berks and Lancaster County- Where??
We always made it with ham too; I wasn't aware there was any other way! Unless you just had the snitz & the dough (which is what we called knepp!)
Otto's in Horsham? not my choice, but....
I'm being taken to lunch there this Friday by my boss - I have never been here but also never heard anything very good either. Any feedback? What to order - what to avoid?
Montco bakeries?
Altomonte's on York Rd.in Warminster (also in Doylestown but I don't know where specifically) has wonderful cakes, you mentioned strawberry shortcake by the slice. No cupcakes, sorry; but great cake, cheesecakes, pies, and Italian specialties like sfoglitelle (sp?). Wegman's also has very good selections, including the fruit tarts mentioned.
Canning produce
Well, I used to go to Suelke's on Bethlehem Pike...before it burned down this weekend. I was scoping out Q Mart but didn't find much very satisfactory, although they had some peaches that I did get for pies. I will need a bushel of cucumbers soon, so stay tuned...if I find a good spot I will post.
Pie
In my social circle, if you can call it that, almost everyone is so polite, they hate to cut into a pie or cake at potlucks, etc.--especially the older men for some reason. I started cutting a slice or two and leaving the plates by the cake or pie in question, thinking people would "get it" and just take the serving. Not so! They always think it was meant for "someone else" and just leave it there. I actually have to stand by and urge them to take it! Weird! but polite!
Sour Cherries
I got 2 qts @ Zern's in Gilbertsville last weekend from the PA produce guy (sorry I can't be more specific but he is right near a corner) & paid $9. I made cobblers for our 4th of July right away but I will go back for a supply to freeze. They also have them at Suelke's on Old Rt. 309 near Sellersville, but I recognize these are far away for many people.
FOILED AGAIN by the bizarro hours at John's Roast Pork.
OK, I have to defend John's here; they are what I think of as a working man's place and when they are out of bread, they are out of bread. If you want to eat there, you will need to get there very very early. Like 11 a.m. Not being snotty, just telling the truth.
Are you a sample abuser?
ugh, sample hogs! I do a festival every summer (folk culture, so food from that culture is demonstrated) and I swear they lurk behind the trees (we are outside) like ninjas! As soon as a specific pie comes out, they swarm us like ants at a picnic. We are supposed to be educating the public but some of them are so brazen--one lasy grabbed up a display slice with the fork and tucked right in--they really want to get their $7 admissions worth, and have absolutely no shame.
Worst cake ever!
We all love Ann's Cake Pan in Horsham, right on Rt. 463 (I think it is!). It is run out of what looks to be a home. They did my sister's wedding, daughter's weddings, and many other special occasions. Cannot speak for Buttercrumbs. Oh and my daughter is a pastry chef, if that means anything. Other than we are insanely picky.
Family Friendly near State Theater in Easton PA?
Taking a bunch of grandkids to the State Theater on a Sunday afternoon - any good brunch and/or lunch places nearby? I can deal with a chain....if I HAVE TO.... I guess...
Anything to keep well behaved school age kids happy.
