I'm planning a special event brunch at the end of August, and one of the restaurants I'm considering is Aurora Brooklyn.

Has anyone been there on a really hot, sunny day? I'm wondering how effective the air conditioning is.

Would really appreciate a response, thanks!

Karl Ehmer meats still manufactures in Ridgewood, Queens, I think and they have some interesting looking sausages, all labeled with their retro logo.

I make a really tasty Oatmeal Potato Soup with Fauxsage Meatballs. The recipe is on my blog. There's a variation you can make without the fauxsage, too.

http://goneveg.wordpress.com/2009/11/...

I agree. I don't think 20% is standard now. Only for really good service and unfortunately, that's the exception, not the rule.

I walked into the kitchen one morning to discover a very-well meaning relative using an expensive "we're having company over" knife as a scraper to get some burnt-on crud off the stove. It was the only time where I ever screamed out: "omg, do you know how that much that costs?!" at some one. I know that's really rude, but I was just so so outraged.

This isn't a unique source or anything, but Williams & Sonoma has absolutely GORGEOUS-looking red and white heart-shaped macaroons for Valentine's Day. Won't buy them for myself but someone should drop a hint for my hubby.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produc...

Just discovered a great coffee delivery service: http://www.gocoffeego.com/ You can create a queue of coffees you want and they'll show up in your mailbox. Seems like a great thing to get the coffee lover in your life!

ah, solid point

wouldn't the fire be immediately put out by the presence of all that water?

I grew up in the former Soviet Union but I didn't have to wait until I came to the US to try fast food. In fact, my first taste came directly as a result of my family trying to immigrate to this country.

To get an American visa, one had to travel to Moscow, which was the closest city with a US embassy in 1991 (this was in early summer, before the collapse of USSR in August). The first Soviet McDonalds opened in Moscow about a year before and we kids were desperate to try it. Once all the official embassy business was finished, our parents took us.

The line outside was huge: I don't remember exactly how long we had to wait but I know that it was a loooong time. This was the first taste of the West and people were excited. Eventually we got in. My parents found us a place to sit and went to get food. The kids ate hamburgers, fries and shakes although I distinctly remember that my Dad got a filet-o-fish.

The whole experience seems surreal now.

Emme, wow that seems like a lot of sugar: so equal amounts of rice and sugar to start, and then twice that milk?

amyzan, I have a TINY rice cooker (3 cups)

It's this model: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Micom...

Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I just wanted to thank you for the cookbook idea. I'm also vegetarian/vegan so I'm excited to try it.

Also, I highly recommend making steel cut oats in the rice cooker. I do it overnight using the timer function and wake up to ready breakfast.

For 1 serving (using American cup measurements, not rice cooker cups): 1/4 steel cut oats, 3/4 cup water. Use the timer and porridge functions. In the morning when it's done, stir in 1/4 cup of milk (I use soy, but any milk will do) and let it go on "keep warm" while you make coffee. Add sweeteners, toppings, etc. as you like.

I'm also planning on trying a rice pudding in there.

It's not providing adequate protection from the plastic touching the meat! Just because something doesnt melt, doesn't mean it doesn't leach.

I've given this some thought before (I know, terribly morbid):

Start off with some really great baguette with good fresh unsalted butter

Move on to buttermilk pancakes.

Finish off with a cheddar cheese & tomato grilled cheese sandwich.

I think it's obvious I have a pretty serious carb addiction. :)

I'm with jfood. I'm freaking out as is about all the stuff in plastic that's supposedly killing us, I don't want to help it along by applying heat.

So... I baked them. They're fairly easy to make, esp. with an electric mixer.

Next time, I'll probably decrease the sugar because they're on the sweet side (not unpleasantly so, I just like a more subtle flavor in my baked goods). And I really recommend the chocolate half as a stand alone cookie without the inclusion of M&Ms: very nice texture and flavor.

al, we eat raw salted pork fat in Russia when we drink vodka. We pair it with rye bread and pickles. And slice it REEEEAAAALLLY thin. Maybe this will turn you in a pancetta lover.

Also, you don't have to eat it raw. You can use it to make pasta carbonara (I know guanciale is traditional, but pancetta will do.)

Thanks all! I didn't expect to hear back so quickly.

Emme, I think I'm going to try those half-chocolate, half-peanut butter ones. Those sound gooooood. I'll post pics when I'm done!

Does anyone have a good PEANUT M&M cookie recipe?

I still have a TON of them left over from Halloween and I simply must have the space back. So I'm looking to turn them into something holiday-themed.

All the recipes I found use either regular or mini M&Ms. What's a girl to do with the peanut variety? (No, "eat them as is" is not an answer. I've been doing that for the past 2 months and I'm not making a dent.)

Thanks in advance for anyone who solves my peanut M&M dilemma!

OK, I have to take issue with this. I understand it's scary when you hear about a new illness, but think about it:

a) You contracting a really rare form of oyster illness are probably way less than the likelihood of you getting into a car accident on your morning commute.
b) Yes, there may be more illness but generally our food supply is much safer than even our grandparents were used to. And look at them: they survived, evidenced by the fact that we're all here

I eat raw oysters despite not eating any other form of animal product (to me, they're not conscious and not factory farmed: therefore, yum). True, I only eat them from reputable restaurants that put their reputation on every plate they put out (Grand Central Oyster Bar, Blue Water Grill, Hog Island Oyster Co.) And I never eat any that smell funny. Yes, I've had food poisoning before, but never from oysters. Even if I do, I'll still keep eating them.

wait... did you say CINNAMON pancetta? Maybe that's why you don't like it. Pancetta is generally loved by all who love pork. The kind I used to get (before I stopped eating meat) had a ton of garlic and white wine flavors. But cinnamon seems like a weird flavor profile to add.

in my family, with always used it on shishkebabs (grilled meats in general) and dad had been known to throw some in his chicken soup.

thanks for the feedback, chocolate! i'll definitely try next year. this year, i just sent warm wishes and will follow up with a more durable present!

Thanks to all who have validated my feelings about the KA. It's good to know I'm not alone. Now that I know I'm not crazy, I may just chuck the stupid thing and get something reasonably priced. Let's see what Santa brings first, though!

awwww.. that makes me sad :( I was considering that for a replacement.

I think we all know they don't make them like they used to.

do NOT get this one: KitchenAid KSB5 5-Speed Blender

I bought one a few years ago, and I'm still suffering because I dropped a good chunk of change on it so I can't bring myself to throw it out.

I have trouble making something as simple as pesto in it: it's ridiculous!

Has anyone tried shipping latkes from http://www.russanddaughters.com/ ?

I know they're incredibly delicious in the store, but I can't image a latke is something that holds up well to transcontinental travel. I'd love to send some to a friend in California that I have special latkes memories with, but I don't want to ruin those latke memories with bad latkes.

Cherylptw, where did you say? I've never been to Cancun and I'd love to stay in a nice place.