chocoannie's Profile
Hazleton, PA
Try Mea's---in a former bank in downtown Hazleton; Top of the 80s has good food and a great view---rather dated decor; Ovalons also in town is good; in Conyngham try the Brass Buckle--funky spot but fun--billed as Mexican but has a huge menu...
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Ovalon Restaurant
254 N Wyoming St, Hazleton, PA 18201
baked mashed potatoes--or rather mashed baked potatoes...
I make a (rather common) casserole that mixes mashed potatoes with cream cheese, sour cream and other nice high-fat stuff. The problem is I make a huge amount, using about ten pounds of potatoes, and I HATE peeling potatoes. Is there any reason I can't bake and scoop the potatoes rather than peel and boil?
what to do with GIANT MARSHMALLOWS?!?!???
These are really adorable--made me chuckle just looking at them!
I-81 Between Harrisburg & Wilkes Barre Recs Please
Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot right off the interestate. A few miles down the road off exit 145 in Conyngham is a little place called the Brass Buckle. It bills itself as a Mexican restaurant (the name doesn't sound Mexican!) and has a lot of Mexican food, but has a pretty extensive menu. It's kind of fun and the food is good. If nothing else turns up here, you might give it a try! Someone might mention Top of the 80s which is in the same area. I remember my grandmother used to go there---would love to hear an update......
Sell me on a single-bowl sink
I have the kind of sink mentioned several times (double sink--one side significantly larger than the other) and I wouldn't have anything else. The whole discussion of a sink big enough to wash your biggest pots is valid, but, much more often than washing big pots, I'm looking for just a little bit of hot soapy water to wipe off my counters, appliances, etc. Filling that big sink with hot water several times a day for that would be an incredible waste of water (and the whole rubber dishpan in the sink thing would just be annoying several times a day)....
What is the best dip you ever had and the recipe?
I've used this recipe before, and it's always a hit. After making it several times, I found an even easier version with the same taste......simply layer the ingredients in a glass dish--cream cheese on the bottom, ranch dressing and hot sauce mixed together, cooked chicken, cheese....then microwave it rather than bake (the cheese doesn't get hard that way) . Scoop with celery sticks or nacho chips.
Looking for good restaurant near Harrisburg / Hempfield
Try TJ Rockwells in Elizabethtown--not far from Lancaster. Kid friendly--even large rowdy groups. Feed them the rhino fries after they've played (not before! they won't be able to move). In warmer weather, their outside deck is just great fun.
Easy meal ideas to cook in a vacation rental
This is a recipe my kids all took to college apartments with them because it doesn't use seasonings, etc. You need some cooked chicken but everything else is available at any grocery store.
Cook 8 ozs of pasta or noodles. Meanwhile melt a stick of better in a frying pan. Add one envelope of Ranch dressing mix and stir. Add cooked chicken (about 2 cups maybe?) and some frozen veggies if you want (peas are good, but it's also fine without the veggies) and heat through. Toss with the cooked noodles.
Strange Pairings that Taste Uncommonly Good
fruglescot,
What's really interesting to me is the responses to that--pretty much equally split between those who find it very common (many Candians!) and those who said they get strange looks when they do it. I can't understand how something so delicious isn't totally universal!
good food on the way to, and in hershey
Obviously it's too late now, but for future reference....I highly recommend the Hershey Pantry, out of town on Chocolate Ave (I think it's choc. ave.)---give it a try for lunch or dinner.....
Take-Out: To Tip or Not To Tip ? [Moved from Quebec board]
What about curbside-to-go places....where someone brings the food out to your car? I feel like a tip is in order, but how much?
I hate whole wheat bread.
I agree. I used to really avoid whole wheat pasta--thought it tasted like rubber bands. Because my husband is a healthy eater and really wanted whole grains, I started mixing my pasta: some regular, some whole wheat. Over time, I increased the amount of whole wheat, and now we eat only whole wheat. I really believe though that it's not because we eased into it, but because it has actually gotten better. Glad to hear someone else has observed the same thing.....
Cracker Barrel
this post makes me laugh---I've always said that CB only serves "beige food"--and read this last post---cornbread, gravy, chicken, dumplings, potatoes---not a color in sight! That said.....their breaksfasts are pretty good---eggs, toast, grits, pancakes... hmmmmmm more beige!
Recipes for starving college students?
Just a little aside....give him a fondue set for Christmas....that way he can make what look like fancy dishes for "date night"--my son impressed many a date with chocolate fondue that was nothing more than melted chocolate with strawberries and some other goodies around it.....pretty amusing.
Recipes for starving college students?
This is not exactly a gourmet delight, but it is easy, will feed a small crowd, and is generally liked by college students.
--Break up two tubes of refrigerated biscuits (I warned you that it wasn't gourmet!) and spread around a 9x13 greased pan
--Brown a pound of ground beef and sprinkle over biscuits
--Pour over a jar or two of spaghetti sauce
--Add whatever other pizza toppings you like or have around: onions, peppers, etc.
--Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes.
This is a very forgiving recipe: kids can add or subtract ingredients, alter the amounts, and still end up with something fairly edible. The good news is that they become better cooks and eaters as time goes on!
What foods do you HAVE to mail order?
When I travel to Pennsylvania, I bring back bottles and bottles of Gazeebo Room Salad dressing--without a doubt, the best dressing/marinade ever! The regular Greek dressing is incredible, but I do sacrifice a little and buy the "lite"--it's still pretty darn good!--can't find it here in NJ!
Fast and Fancy Dessert Help!
Chocolate dipped strawberries---if you've never done them, let me assure you they are so easy. Melt some good chocolate---add a spoonful of solid shortening to get the right consistency. Dip your strawberries by the stem and let harden on waxed paper. Can't believe what the "gourmet" candy stores charge for these!
Great chow along rte 80 betw. PhilPA and Ohio?
Bloomsburg does have some nice restaurants.....and there's also the Pine Barn Inn in Danville. Oprah actually stopped there on her road trip for what it's worth. It did recently change hands, so I don't know if it's still good, but it's been a successful restaurant and inn for years.
Romantic Anniversary Dinner - Hershey PA Area
The Hershey Pantry is also a great place----unusual atmosphere (that's a positive) and good food. It's a little more artsy (not sure if that's the right word) than the Hotel---one of my favorites.....
Kid-Friendly in Lancaster/Strasburg
You might try Rockwells in Elizabethtown (not far). If the wait isn't long, request to eat outside--lots to look at and I think there's even a playground of sorts right on the deck(not completely sure about that as my playground days are over), and if you aren't worried about a heart attack, order rhino fries!
lunch on broadway!
I'm taking the train into NYC on Wednesday with my mother (late 70s), daughter and niece (20ish). We're looking for a good lunch spot (salads, sandwiches.....nothing fancy). We need a place that's reasonable walking distance (yes, my mother can walk with the best of us)--say probably no further up than about 55th street. We'll have plenty of time to walk, etc. Ideas?
Strange Pairings that Taste Uncommonly Good
Two combos that I think may be Pennsylvania Dutch:
cottage cheese and apple butter
french fries with vinegar
Blueberries and Raspberries
This recipe is an absolute favorite in my family. Go ahead and make two--it freezes well (if there is actually any left over)
Recipes You've Never Heard of Outside Your Family
My mom used to make "fried cinnamon buns"--she'd take those boxed white-icing-yellow cake cinnamon buns, slice them into about thirds and fry them in a skillet of butter (lots and lots of butter)--it was absolutely a heart attack on a plate (but truthfully worth it!).
Brewery Restaurants in NJ
Long Valley Pub and Brewery is one of our favorite local restaurants......really like that you can have a sandwich or salad or full dinner--whatever strikes your fancy. Often my husband and I are on different wavelengths on any given night, so it's nice to have a fairly extensive menu (not extensive like a chain [thank goodness] but extensive nevertheless.
Food That Travels....
I'm traveling to a party out of state and was asked to bring a "finger dessert." I'd really like to take a platter of assorted brownies, bar cookies, etc., so I'm looking for recipes for some unusual baked goods that travel well. I'll have to make them on a Thursday for a party on Saturday, so they also have to "sleep" well (as my best friend's aunt used to say about anything that was better a day or two later--always liked the term). Any suggestions?
Best Cookbooks--cooking with fresh vegetables, for omnivores?
I don't even know if this book is still in print, but my absolute favorite produce cookbook is Too Many Tomatoes. My own copy (given to me by my husband who grew up in a gardening family while I did not) is tattered, torn, and taped, and I still use it constantly.
Jersey Tomatoes
As a fairly new transplant to Jersey, I'll buy the idea that Jersey corn is outstanding; the tomatoes,however.....not so much. The others are correct; the best tomatoes come out of your own garden and go directly to your plate/mouth.
Favorite Donut Flavors
When I was a kid and we had these mini donuts, my mom would slice the left overs (if there were any!) in half horizontally, butter them, and run them under the broiler. It was a great treat!
Argumentative food writing for a college course
Barbara Kingsolver has a book called something like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle--it's a narrative of a year her family spent raising much of their own food and attempting to eat totally locally grown/raised food. I read an excerpt in a magazine that was quite good---have not read the entire book
