Wow - you and your stomach have endured a lot! You're a good friend, Peach!! :)

I love the pudding at Sweet Sugar Sunshine bakery in the city - so nice to know there's a place just like it that's so much closer! Great to know - thanks!

Nothing like a microwave brownie-in-a-mug to cheer you up! It hits the spot - and so easy! Feel better!!

http://www.food.com/recipe/microwave-...

Fantastic!! Thanks, Guys! Keep 'em coming. :)

X2O has butterscotch? I have to look into this too! Maybe they also have it at Restaurant X in Rockland. I'll check - Thank you!

Thanks! Always in the mood for banana pudding - especially if it's studded with Nilla wafers in it.

When I take my kids out to eat (ages 2 and 4), I break out as many activities I can to keep them at the table! I have a special "dine-out stash" I bring with us. Crayons, coloring books, action figures, board books, little finger puppets, etc. The only thing I refuse to do is bring a portable DVD player or a portable game system.I know it would keep them quiet, but I want them to be a part of the family when we eat.

To avoid the uncomfortable glares of waitstaff, I usually bring a garbage bag or a big plastic bag that I can place directly under my 2 year old's chair, to catch all the stuff that comes tumbling off the table. Most kid-friendly places don't mind, but I try to be extra considerate -- my little guy is right in the middle of his throwing stage!

Just was treated to the awesome chocolate pudding at City Limits in White Plains, and I'm already craving more! Any leads on where to find more great versions of my favorite form of dessert?

It doesn't have to be chocolate pudding. Any kind - butterscotch, tapioca, vanilla, banana, lemon -- I'm all ears...er...eyes! ;)

Better to have had one amazing ice cream experience than to have had none at all, right? I feel the same way about an egg cream I had at a store in lower Manhattan a loooooong time ago.

And if you're feeling even more sinful, movie theatre popcorn makes the best caramel corn too. :)

I loooove those Jamaican beef patties they have at pizzerias and in some of the 7-11s near me. When I can't get to a real Jamaican bakery, these fill the void nicely.

You are adorable! I've done the same thing too! :)

Yup! She called it "Irish spaghetti!" Later on, I found an old 1960s era recipe in the Good Housekeeping anniversary cookbook for Irish-Italian spaghetti that uses a can of tomato soup in it. It made a good weeknight meal - definitely had more depth than the fried onions and ketchup sauce!

Maybe I should email her that recipe. :)

Oh no, Firegoat - you can't leave us hanging like that! Dish about the salads...pretty please... :)

Hahaha! Could be! She used to yell at me for drizzling olive oil on my baked pasta dishes too. The horror!! ;o)

Wonderful spread you prepared! Best wishes and prayers to your friend and her family.

I can't stand when people do that! Very gracious of you not to call her out on what she did.

A friend from college always declared herself a good cook. She was her own biggest fan! A house specialty of hers was spaghetti with ketchup with sauteed onions. When I made her a real marinara (with ripe tomatoes & basil from my garden), she didn't like it, and declared that "It sucks."

No accounting for taste. It still burns my a** to this day!

cb_20 - What area are you located in? I'm with Nadala - Abbott's is definitely a much-loved Rochester treat. They have an Abbott's location in Westchester County (Shrub Oak) and I'm sure they'd do a catering order for your wedding if you wanted.

Glad you enjoyed it. I love their plate arrangements. They also have a terrific grilled vegetable platter. But yes, I succumb to the eggplant strata every time. :)

Yikes! I know the feeling. Looks like your old roomie is doomed to be in the ex-roommate/ex-wife club for life if she doesn't change her ways!

Yup! An ailment that reared its floppy head every Easter! :)

Yum! Nothing like it in the world. NYC represent!! :)

Oh you're good, Duchess. Well played. *bowing down*

I had the same housemate situation! I'm always up for sharing the wealth, but one of my roommates in college took things way too far, and she never replaced anything. As soon as I discovered she hated raspberries, I took action. Fresh raspberries, raspberry iced tea, raspberry syrup for milk & ice cream, and I made chocolate raspberry brownies often!

Passive aggressive, I know - but it worked!

Your mom and my mom should get together! She's like a squirrel when it comes to chocolate. Any kind of chocolate is not safe from her devouring the entire thing in one sitting. I remember as a kid waking up Easter mornings with part of the ears of my chocolate bunnies mysteriously missing... :o)

I'm getting so hungry!

Italian and Sephardic Jewish (mainly from Portugal & Spain) here.

Italian: Pasta e ceci (pasta & chick peas) - all time favorite. It's the first thing I learned how to make from my grandmother and the only thing of hers (unfortunately!) where I can duplicate the taste exactly.

Spain/Portugal: I love empanadas, and my aunt's chicken & rice dishes.

And I can't resist a good appetizing! Smoked fish & schmears with bagels & all the fixings! My absolute favorite thing for breakfast (proud NYC Jewish roots!) :)

Oh my gosh -- no problem at all! That's friggin' brilliant!

Haha - that's exactly how a dear friend of ours eats his cake. Others skeeve it, but I think it's perfect breakfast fare!

"Daddy's great - he gave us chocolate cake!" I love that episode!

Sr. Swanky gave me a hard time the other day for giving my boys hot buttered mini pretzels for breakfast. I told him, "Think of them as savory waffles!"