ElsieB's Profile
Fresh Corn Tortillas in Fairfield County? Beyond?
If you don't find something closer to your area tortilleria la michoacana on Grand Ave in New Haven sells stacks of warm tortillas for (I think) $1.75. I think there is lard in them if that matters to you (did for me).
Bringing Samples To An Interview--Genius or Idiocy???
FWIW after the fact. Sorry about your outcome:) Many years ago (1974) when I was still in culinary school I heard of a small restaurant being built/opened by three young guys. I went to the site (things were still being built) met the guys and wondered if they might be interested in a pastry chef. They had not even considered this and had a tiny bit of interest. They wanted to think about it and to consult their chef. I went home and stayed up all night making eclairs, cakes, pastries etc. Took a large box of samples and left it at the site for them. I got a call that evening that they wanted to hire me and quickly meet so they could work in the design for a pasty area in the kitchen!!! So, in my case it worked for me. Good luck in your search.
Engaged = FINALLY, GET WHAT I WANT! But I can't decide, help us!
I have all clad pots going back to the early 1970s, have a couple of all clad non stick pans more recently acquired (prob about 10 years old and the non stick is still in good cond.) My newest one is the 3 qt saucier which I am in love with - the aesthetics of it are beautiful! They are all great pots even the ones that are 40 years old. I think whatever level of all clad you decide upon you will be happy.
Any Tamales in the Greater New Haven Area? In Connecticut?
My husband just had a pork tamale last weekend at Rancheros and really liked it. He orders them whenever they are available and is usually disappointed. Not this time. They were on a specials board not on the regular menu, so you might want to check beforehand. Tiny little place behind some of the shops on the green in Guilford. No liquor license but good food and nice people!
Pie Crust - Which One?
I've made this one 5 or 6 times. It very flakey. I find it an enjoyable crust to make and after a few fold and rolls it is a beautiful dough to work with. I usually err on the side of too much liquid and get a tough crust, not so with this crust.
http://chezpim.com/bake/how-to-make-the-perfect-pie-dough
"Dry-Brine" Turkeys -- Experiences/Reports?
We did a 19lb natural unfrozen turkey dry brined ala la times method. It sat in the fridge in a plastic bag from Monday evening to Wednesday and then air dried in fridge for 24 hrs. Everyone enjoyed it but later it was decided that it was considerably saltier than wet brined method. I would. Consider cooking it on the grill next year just to keep the oven free for everything.
Fresh turkeys in New Haven Area?
Thanks for the suggestions! Will check at farmers market this weekend or try the place in guilford.
Fresh turkeys in New Haven Area?
Any suggestions for places that carry fresh turkeys in the New Haven area. Already know about Whole Foods, any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Boston Cream Pie - Sponge or Butter cake?
I use vanilla genoise baked in a tin that is buttered and generously dusted with mixture of sugar and flour - this gives a nice crispy edge on the cake which goes well with the pastry cream and chocolate:)
Know where can I find frozen hominy in CT?
I've had the dried posole from Rancho Gordo via mail order. Very good but then I have never had fresh and don't care for tinned taste.
Almost calorie-free savory snacks? Quitting smoking.
I chewed on whole licorice roots--kept my hands & mouth busy and they taste very sweet &have other health benefits. Of course it helps to like licorice flavor. Look for the big fat roots, I found them in an Italian market, they give them to children to chew as treats. Worked for me, haven't smoked in16 years & I quit with someone else in the house smoking all the time. Good luck!
Park Central Tavern in Hamden, CT - Don't Bother
Thanks for the reviews of PC. I had looked at their menu online and found no reason to go there. Now, after hearing about the TVs, I'd def not go there.
we've been to Cafe Amici (mostly for pizza) a few times and always left happy. Staff are always welcoming & helpful. More of a low key neighborhood place than PC IMO.
Tried going to Mikro but it is tiny, takes no res and is popular, & we didn't want to wait. Heard they are now open for lunch. Have heard good things & want to try it.
Bread crumb help please
What machine are you using to make the crumbs? Maybe the blade or the machine need replacing. I use my vitamix which makes astounding crumbs out of anything. Took 40+ years of cooking for me to decide to buy/afford one but having had it for about a year, it is def worth the money.
best cheeses to make mac and cheese
I use combo of fontina, cheddar and Parmesan and make layers of the pasta, the béchamel sauce and the grated cheese, topped w buttered crumbs and baked. So good! ..wish my husband didnt hate M&C
One Nice Dinner in New Haven
Ibiza is great but the acoustics are not the best for conversation. Union League is also excellent and an easy place for conversation and good food. I have seen lots of students there in various levels of 'student' or casual dress.
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Union League Cafe
1032 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510
Anyone tried Grilled Peas?
Really good. Have done the peas this way about 6 times and everyone loves them. So easy when you are already cooking on the grill and best of all you don't have to shell them! I do use one of those grill pans with holes ow you have to be careful or they fall through.
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/grilled_english_peas/
Great addition to New Haven
Oaxaca Kitchen, New Haven CT
We've been three times. Twice during restaurant week and again last night for an early dinner. The staff are all friendly and efficient and the decor feels authentic and comfortable. The chips, which were warm, were served with 2 dipping sauces, a red and a green. I really liked the green and my husband preferred the red, both had good flavors tho I think the green had a hotter tone. I usually don't go for gazpacho, but it was recommended by the waitress so I tried it and had it again on our next visit - it was excellent and far above most gazpachos I've tasted before. There was a delicious scoop of red pepper ice in the center -very tasty! My husband had the seafood salad with shrimp, octopus and scallop which was very good, maybe the octopus was a bit chewy but I see on the new menu lobster has replaced the octopus. He also had the pork tacos and liked them. Last night we were seated in the upper area in a very comfortable banquette and twice Chef Prasad came to our table, he is charming and receptive to all comments and suggestions and obviously a very talented chef. Would make my head spin and my back ache to think about juggling all the restaurants that he has. Last night my husband had the tamales, the presentation was beautiful and he liked the flavors but thought they would be improved by extra mole sauce. OW he loved them. I had the crab cake. It was crispy on the outside, creamy inside and sitting on a bed of sauce with a topping of - can't temember- but fruity and crispy. Very different and very good. I then had another appetizer, the lobster enchiladas. 2 rolled enchiladas with lobster in a spicy green sauce. Delicious. My husband had the duck on the pistachio mole. He loved it and thought it was one of the best duck dishes he had tasted. The house margaritas were very good, not too sweet which I don't like. And there is quite a long list of many tequilas on the menu.
So we've been three times and left happy every time. It is really nice to have a Mexican restaurant in New Haven that is so creative and delicious.
(PS I have only given my husband's opinions on his food because I don't eat meat or chicken - he did taste most of my dishes and agreed on their deliciousness)
Your recommendations for an excellent, reliable Toaster Oven
I got the same smaller footprint model (needed to fit the space) and use it mostly for toast or reheating. So far it seems to be a nicer quality than most of the toaster ovens out there.
Upscale Vegetarian Help
I am a veg for 35 yrs with occasional fish lapses. If I were being taken out for a special dinner I would rather go to a fancy all veg restaurant than to a restaurant that is mainly meat and fish with one or two veg entrees. My experience is that the fine restaurants are much more attentive to the meat and fish meals than the veg ones. Also I love to go somewhere where I can choose from lots of things on the menu.
New KitchenAid Mixer Questions
Been using my K5A hard for over 30 years with no problems. I got one of the paddle attachments with the silicon edges, have never used my old paddle since. Especially good when I am making a huge amount of dough, you don't have to scrape down the sides and no hidden dry bits in the very bottom. http://www.amazon.com/Design-Beater-5-Quart-KitchenAid-Mixers/dp/B0015TMHSI/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1296417188&sr=8-2-fkmr2
watery cod- why?
You could try brining it for 10 min. After receiving "Ad Hoc" cookbook as a gift, I have brined all our fish for 10 min. I think it improves the fish and there is never any of that yucky white stuff oozing out. It does not make it taste salty.
The 5 best EVER dessert cookbooks?
Yes yes yes to all of Maida Heatter's books. I have them all, some have had to have their bindings taped because of all the years and all the use. I have never had but one failure from her books, Mildred Knopf's Orange Puff cake and weirdly I had made it at least 6 times in earlier years with beautiful success but the last 3 or 4 efforts were dreadful - more like an awful failed souffle. So I have given up on that particular cake. OW all her recipes are fantastic and fail proof.
Boston Creme Pie Please help
I, too, l o v e BCP! and agree that a heavy dry cake isn't right. I use a vanilla genoise baked in pans that are buttered and dusted with flour/sugar mix - . I bake 2 layers tho many recipes have you split one layer into 2.
Ok New Haven Hounds, tell me about the good pizza in New Haven that is NOT Sally's, Pepe's, Modern or Bar...
A second for Old World (corner of Skiff and Whitney)! we're lucky enough to live nearby - the eggplant pizza is excellent.
Spritz/ Cookie-Press cookie questions
Have used my cookie press for many years making mother's shortbread cookies and learned that if I chill my sheet pans before pressing the cookies on they 'stick' to the pan much better. I do live in the Northeast so it's cold out and I have about a dozen sheet pans so rotating hot and cold is pretty easy.
Light ( as in not heavy/rich not as is in healthy) Xmas eve dessert
Raspberry oranges - very pretty and festive looking. Good oranges are necessary. Frozen raspberries pureed and sieved with a bit of honey and framboise. Oranges sliced 1/3" thick.
Marinate oranges in raspberry puree sev hrs or overnight. A few hrs before serving, reduce the raspberry puree, cool and pour back on the oranges. Serve with a mix of non fat sour cream, brown sugar vanilla and nutmeg. I can dig out exact recipe if needed, from an old Maida Heatter Book.
Lasagne in 5 or 10 minutes!
Haven't seen this mentioned on Chow and it is my absolute fastest meal to put together - tho it takes a while to bake. I use frozen ravioli, ricotta, a jar of good red sauce and some parmesan and mozzarella (I have made it w/out the mozzarella and it is still very good). Frozen ravioli in casserole dish round side down, spoonful of ricotta on each ravioli, some mozzarella then press an equal amount of frozen ravioli onto each of the mounds of ricotta, cover generously with sauce, sprinkle on lots of parmesan, cover and bake for about 35-45 min til you are sure it is hot and bubbling, then uncover for another 15 minutes.
It is wonderful, not dietetic, but delicious and hearty and into the oven in less than 10 minutes.
