What Chow do you ship to yourself??

ExecisetoEat thanks for starting this great subject...there are some great links here. Can't wait to try the stone crab when my ship comes in...
Here's my favorite cracker which is a Australian brand named Arnotts, found at Costco once, never to be seen again there, sometimes you can find the water crackers in gourmet shops but the best is the buttery crisp Jatz in peppercorn...or plain. Third cracker from the bottom:
http://www.simplyoz.com/products/aussie_food/biscuits/crackers/jatz

For great parmesan and my favorite Italian perfume Acqua Classico Borsari...

http://www.parmashop.it/parmashop/ns.asp?lng=1033

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Whatever happened to the 'old fashioned hamburger'?

Also great is the patty melt...way too many calories though..

Will, you're right about the GOOD tomato only...why is it that at any fast food place I always get the end of the tomato with the stem part?

I have one other recipe that's just a basic salt and pepper seasoned chuck, but before frying a tbl. or so of chopped white onion is pressed into the patty and that side goes down in the hot pan, then press more into the top half before flipping. simple and righteous.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Whatever happened to the 'old fashioned hamburger'?

Y'all made me so hungry I had to break for lunch before commenting...

When I read the "old fashioned" part what came to mind was the diner/greasy spoon burger from days of yore...Midwest beef on a sizzling grill, so hot that the burger is still med. rare inside and best of all a crispy charred surface, soft white bun, minimal toppings of your choice...with handcut fries or tater tots.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Vegetarian fast food options

maybe it's just me but I hate the fake cheezy stuff they put on that burrito, plus some other yucky sauce that ruins it, only the basics are edible at Taco Bell, like their bean burrito.

archangelcat in Chains

Eggs and Garlic

My Italian friend convinced me that just a hint of garlic is great with omelettes or scrambles, and by a hint I mean cut a garlic clove in half and rub it over the surface of your pan before adding olive oil and heating.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Best bargain at Costco (or Sam's Club)?

Wow, Costco is 1 block from my workplace...For the convenience of buying the following occasionally instead of weekly at the supermarket I really really like...

-Kitchen trash bags, hundreds for the cost of 30 retail.
-Kirkland Paper towels, we have pets and go through many rolls.
-Kirkland Free laundry detergent.
-6 pack of frozen OJ, best tasting ever.
-(4) 1-lb. packs of butter, freeze great

And strictly for indulgence...
- Their meat dept. rolled flank steak stuffed with portabellos and bacon
- Almost anything from their meat department except atlantic salmon
- Rotis. chicken
- Frozen cream puffs
- Discount cookbooks
- Huge bag of soft floury rolls from their bakery
- Raspberry Chipolte barbecue sauce
- Kirkland cranberry juice, no high fructose corn syrup, only sugar.
- Odwalla Super Food Green Juice, what a bargain.

archangelcat in Chains

Best Canned Tomatoes

I'll buy almost any brand, preferably any Italian san marzano...my fave brand is La Bella, more important than origin is kind - choose plum tomatoes...round tomatoes have between five and seven or seed pockets; plum tomatoes like the san marzano have two, thus meatier/less seeds and liquid.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

PLEASE! A decent pancake mix?? [Moved from Home Cooking board]

Better than any I've tried including TJ's and Bisquick...Snoqualmie Falls Pancake & Waffle Mix...In the Northwest, you can find this mix that only needs water in most supermarkets. It makes a thin delicate cake that is very flavorful, not doughy or dry. online order at:
http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/store/featured.shtml

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

I've always wanted to visit Treasure Island, now I will definitely do so, We'll be there during the week and are looking for one more dinner buffet, we did Spice Market but the wait was so long and it was almost too many choices, plus their were like mafia looking guys hogging all the crab legs, we might miss Wayne, but will give your regards to Elvis...

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

After 4 days alone in the boonies the dog will be answering back no doubt. : )

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

ha ha...we are 20 miles from the closest grocery store, so I'm taking pity on him. If left to his own devices he will live on oreos and mac and cheese, food is a low priority for him, but since I'm a food lover I guess it's a bit of transference to worry about his diet. This will be the first year I do more than frozen processed food for him, and someone at work just mentioned Super Suppers...hmmmm...I've heard they're good.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Your Fav Funeral Food recipe?

It's a weird custom, but yes comforting...of course scallopped potatoes and ham plus jello desserts in the church basement.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

I have one of those air suction machines and it is sadly not used enough - here's my opportunity...I have shied away from using it on soft foods thinking it would squish them, must be OK, just cool food slightly so it's not piping hot?...I even have Trader Joe's frozen rice that would be good with this dish. Since my DH will be caring for multiple cats and one dog he will be reluctant to do more than boil something in a bag by day's end. Thanks Jfood for you help!

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

jfood, the seared salmon w/roasted veggies intrigues...do you thaw before cooking and how do you reheat?

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

THANKS SO much for all your ideas...I love the twice baked potatoes and strata, stir fried chicken, this will keep the boy satisfied while we play. Last year he whined a bit at my selection of frozen foods. Chicken salad he adores too...I do have a greek pasta salad from Costco at hand that will be good with a bit of salami added.

Sra Swanky, I think the excitement coming up in Vegas is why my brain is going gooey at the thought of organizational tasks like cooking, and jfood, there are some awful buffets in V. but we're going to try Wynn for dinner and Paris for brunch, I love variety so it's perfect for me.
Again, thanks for helping me out all. :)

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Any meal ideas for DH while I vacation?

I'm leaving my long suffering one in charge of many animals, chores, etc. as I take my annual 4-day girl's trip to Vegas. He will not take time for much more than nuke and eat and I don't want to think of him eating Dinty Moore for dinner as I do the Village Buffet...the rub is that it needs to be healthy and relatively easy. I have a couple of quick things in the freezer from Costco and Trader Joes but that's going to get tiresome after a few days. Thanks for your help in advance...

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

When you cook, what things do you NEVER compromise on?

I don't compromise on anything, and my grocery bill reflects that, unfortunately. Everything is the best quality within reason because I work full time and when i cook every night I don't want to waste my time on substandard food. Fresh herbs and tomatoes in the greenhouse always and never imitation "quick" foods manufactured by Kraft or Nestle.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Why Wild Salmon? Why Not.

Farm raised has less Omega 3 and much more "unhealthy fat" and 20% less protein than wild.
Here's a good site for info...
http://www.whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=96
I'm lucky to live close to the Pacific and can get fresh, but Costco has started selling frozen wild salmon...not quite as tasty as fresh, but so much better for you than farmed.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Where do you buy your meat?

Costco meat is excellent, and though I buy local organic at times Costco is our mainstay. We usually like their tri-tip, also sirloin, and their hamburger tastes the best of any outside of gourmet organic at half the price. I have a friend who literally has an allergic reaction to most supermarket beef because of all the additives/antibiotics, but has no problem with Costco meat. Does anybody else enjoy their spendy flank steaks that are pinwheeled and stuffed with bacon, portabellos, garlic etc? They are seasonal at our store in Oregon (only in the winter) so I stock up before they disappear. Totally decadent.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Food Quests

Do share your bloody mary recipe...or internet link...
my sought after dream dish is the frozen lemon dessert my mom made that was like almost ice cream texture in a graham cracker crust. Have come close by experiment, but not quite there yet.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Canned Chicken ala' King? [moved from the South board]

That's how I remember it too, but can't remember if it was Swansons, these seem to have totally disappeared (boil in bag entrees) Though I love the old Joy of Cooking recipe that uses a traditional white sauce with a touch of sherry and egg yolk.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Storing bread

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby try their Truly Handmade Flour Tortillas. These don't last long, because they don't have preservatives, and they are scrumptious. As far as keeping bread, I freeze half the loaf and if it's artisan bread I freeze whatever I don't use the first day of purchase.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Do you feel strongly about the perfect cracker?

I spread my brie on...Trader Joe's Pepper/Poppy Water Crackers, and Arnott's - an Australian company - makes the very best light buttery salty cracker called Jatz - I order them from Australian Products Company - they are that good. They also make a wonderful water cracker that is available state side in some specialty stores and Amazon.

archangelcat in General Chowhounding Topics

Ideas for frozen waffles

Years ago I went to a party where warm waffles cut in quarters were served topped with ham salad, sounds weird, so weird I've never made it myself, but I remember how good the combo tasted.

archangelcat in Home Cooking

Help! Five skinless chicken breasts to cook today!

Does the texture suffer from freezing? I've never frozen chicken unless it's in a sauced dish of some kind...

archangelcat in Home Cooking

cookbooks: hidden gems?

Maryana Vollstedt is from my city - Eugene, Oregon and I too enjoy her cookbooks, they are classics. She does a bi-weekly column for the local paper if you're interested in her online recipes...I think there is a link on her website. Her book on Soups and Stews is a winner too...also Pacific Fresh is wonderful. Others I always seem to refer to are the Silver Palate by Julie Rosso and Sheila Lukens and Martha's Favorite Comfort Foods, plus the Best American Recipe collection with the year's top picks from different sources.

archangelcat in Home Cooking

Help! Five skinless chicken breasts to cook today!

Hey, not fancy but good and quick...apricot chicken with lipton's onions soup mix, 1 packet, mixed with 1/2 large jar apricot whole real fruit preserves and small bottle of Russian dressing (or Catalina, any sweet spicy French dressing) - pour over chicken breasts and cook at 350 until chicken is done and serve over basmati rice. This is about the only recipe I still make with packaged ingredients cuz it tastes so good. Can be done with skinned bone-in chicken of any variety.

Or like Sam, I would poach the chicken for tomorrow's salad and order out.

archangelcat in Home Cooking

Best crockpot cookbook

I can recommend the "Gourmet Slow Cooker - Simple & Sophisticated Recipes from Around the World" There are recipes from Mexico, North America, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy... (probably more)

I've made the Chicken Tarragon & Beef Bourguignon from the French section and they were excellent and simple. You won't find any mushroom soup based recipes here and there is a bit more prep involved, including browning the meat in both of the above, which greatly enhances the flavor. I'm including a link to Amazon, which features volume II of this series.

http://www.amazon.com/Gourmet-Slow-Cooker-Simple-Sophisticated/dp/1580084893

archangelcat in Home Cooking

Are you satisfied with your tap water?

Eugene, Oregon water is yummy...I grew up on So. Dak. water which was filled with minerals but good tasting ones, not sulphur, but it was hard, we had to soften it for everything but drinking. I live in the country with a well and that is even better than Eugene's water (chlorinated), so very sweet, we fill bottles of it for quenching our thirst at work. Las Vegas water was the worst I've tasted so far, will happily pay the $3 they charge for bottled on the strip.

archangelcat in Not About Food