tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140157192024-03-07T21:44:14.287-05:00Bitchin' in the Kitchen with RosieA middle aged chick eating and bitchin' her way through life...Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-65554996147538828792010-12-26T22:20:00.000-05:002010-12-26T22:20:23.818-05:00Cookie Confab turned Cookie Bust!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year – our plans did not gel. Not sure why -with this thing or that we just could never get the time together to bake. Debbie did stop over for a little while and dropped off some spritz cookies and have a little tipple.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rose and Debbie knocking one back. <br />
So Debbie's sister can tell - Debbie is the one on the right.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViAlz2gC2V8zSDvM7yH3sSOGOfQDJTdVHRuUF_0-CQMYQTyI52hUrlmV4dC_kBWThrhKKsjNa3r9tL_rrzDjii02BO_18g3pgVNzFblN7Qq3agdjhZSYh3_ss-U7yw-BCIdeV/s1600/mutantcookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViAlz2gC2V8zSDvM7yH3sSOGOfQDJTdVHRuUF_0-CQMYQTyI52hUrlmV4dC_kBWThrhKKsjNa3r9tL_rrzDjii02BO_18g3pgVNzFblN7Qq3agdjhZSYh3_ss-U7yw-BCIdeV/s320/mutantcookie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Debbie helped me decorate these.. after the knocking back.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that I was going to let a lack of teamwork get me down! I had cookies to make dammit! I have people counting on me for their holiday excess!! I made Tony step up to be my kitchen bitch – roll this, wash that, where the hell do you think you're going – get me that flour out of the pantry. He cried like a little girl “But its 1 am!” Breakin' weak - marathon cookie baking is not for timid.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijst4QQlKeiniFyaD_dR-T9M_eo4cFzMeB3D79pMb67wgjbwzgcZeFonAH9sFUL2R9zqCpcN_5rZnhH_0fCuAeVphIlmOGYJe9KsH3CPta3HS-KvVuLGbdifeKBodroUaSAkf4/s1600/tonycookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijst4QQlKeiniFyaD_dR-T9M_eo4cFzMeB3D79pMb67wgjbwzgcZeFonAH9sFUL2R9zqCpcN_5rZnhH_0fCuAeVphIlmOGYJe9KsH3CPta3HS-KvVuLGbdifeKBodroUaSAkf4/s320/tonycookie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here he is making the stroopwaffles... I cropped the picture so you can't see the shackles.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is a new recipe from A Baker's Odyssey.<br />
The are called Nuspatchen (or something like that).<br />
They are a hazelnut and cinnamon topping on a spice cookie.<br />
Next year...the bottom will be chocolate for that Nutella-like flavor combo!!<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year I make a new cookie – I have to. If I made the same damn thing over and over where is the challenge in that? Lord knows that I am a glutton for punishment.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-cookie-contest-rec3-20101216,0,1476303.story">My first thought was to try a recipe I found in the LA Times.</a> They took recipe submissions and I was intrigued by the recipe for Nana tea cakes. It seemed simple – the dough had three ingredients and the filling could be varied to give different flavors. However, the write up as provided in the original posting seemed a little too basic. Trust me – if there is one thing I learned, Nana never measures anything and she usually never describes the nuances of the prep work.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I make up a batch of the dough and let it chill up over night. I roll it out, cut and fill it, set to oven to 350 as instructed and tossed in the first sheet. Ten minutes later, I pull the cookies out and they are still raw. Where is the flaky goodness? I put them back in for five more minutes – still no love. I pull these out and toss them.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pump up the oven temp 25 degrees and bake four cookies. 20 minutes later, too brown on the bottom, raw on the inside. Into the trash with those as well.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What the hell Nana? This is not working out at all...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pump up the oven 50 degrees – take that cookies!!! Oooooo puffy action! They are rising!! They are bursting open!!!! Shit. Four more cookies not right- this time they are edible and we scarfed them up.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last four cookies – what to do? It is a steam issue. Hmmmm...I'll try docking the jam pocket to let out the steam, bake at 425 and get them just the tiniest bit brown. Bingo!! </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple hours of work for four good cookies. We ate them before I thought of getting a picture. Shit again.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The funny thing, this recipe made the final 10 best recipes and the LA Times test kitchen published the recipe with the same time and temperatures as the original submission. What the hell, LA Times? Are you sure you really test these? Tony says “LA Times is a lyin' bitch!”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended up not using that recipe. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead I pulled out an old mini fruitcake recipe. Oh before you start your bad jokes and bellyaching, this is one of the best fruit and nut filled, booze infused treats ever created. Tony, who hates fruitcake, begs for these. Of course, he also begs for oxygen when he can't remember the safe word.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe comes from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cookie-Lovers-Book/dp/0060961082">the Cookie Lover's Cookie Book by Richard Sax</a>. I love this little book. It has been out of print for years and it's hard to find. It is worth the effort though – this recipe is a gem. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And no - there are no pictures of these. 1) they look lumpy and ugly but taste great 2) they are all gone!!!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="CENTER" style="background: #ffffff; margin-left: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BABY FRUITCAKES</span></b></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll need miniature muffin tins for these guys, though a regular-size muffin pan can also be used. Paper muffin liners make this recipe easier to remove from the pan and store, but you can use non-stick pans if you have them.</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><br />
</div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe called for the neon colored cherries you usually find in fruit cakes. I substituted in dried cherries, but they do not look as festive. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think they need a little color, you can add a glace cherry half to the top when you glaze.</span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><br />
</div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch miniature cupcakes, or 1 dozen muffin-size</span></i></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><br />
</div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 </span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cup of mixed fruit (mix and match from the following): raisins, golden raisins, dried currants, dried cranberries and</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chopped dates</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup chopped dried pineapple</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup chopped dried cherries</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tablespoons chopped</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">crystallized ginger</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tablespoons bourbon or</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">brandy (or apple cider)</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter,</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">softened</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup light brown sugar</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">½ cup flour</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">¾ teaspoon ground allspice</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon cinnamon </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon fresh-grated nutmeg </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">¼ teaspoon ground cloves</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">¼ teaspoon salt </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 teaspoon baking powder </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 teaspoon baking soda </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup each coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans, and almonds</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><br />
</div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BOURBON GLAZE:</span></b></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons light corn syrup</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoons bourbon or brandy (or apple cider)</span></b></span></span></div><div style="background: #ffffff;"><br />
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<div style="margin-left: 0.91in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the mixed fruit, pineapple, cherries, and crystallized ginger in a bowl. Toss with the bourbon and set aside to soak at least 30 minutes. It is best to not to let it set overnight.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 300°F., with racks in the center and bottom of the oven. Place a pan of hot water on the lower rack. Line miniature or regular-size muffin tins with paper muffin liners. If you don't have paper liners, butter the pan(s) generously.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cream the butter and brown sugar in an electric mixer until light; then add the egg, mixing until smooth. Meanwhile, sift together the flour, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, baking powder, and baking soda onto a sheet of wax paper. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using a spatula, stir in the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing just until blended, no longer. Stir in the fruit mixture with its soaking liquid, along with the walnuts, pecans, and almonds, mixing just until incorporated.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake the fruitcakes until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, about 30 minutes (or 35 for regular-size muffin tins). Cool in the pan(s) for about 5 minutes and remove from the pan(s) (leave the paper liners on). If they seem to be sticking, then run the tip of a knife blade around the cakes. Placing them on a wire rack over a sheet of wax or parchment paper.</span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.91in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bourbon Glaze</b>: </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the corn syrup in a small pan and heat gently, just to thin it. Remove from heat, stir in the bourbon, and brush the tops of the fruitcakes with the glaze. Let stand until set; then store airtight. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hese keep well for at least a week, and can be mailed. I have also frozen them with great success. Just thaw at room temperature in their packaging. To brighten them up before serving, reglaze so the tops are shiny. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="background: #ffffff; margin-left: 0.47in;"><br />
</div><div style="background: #ffffff; text-indent: 0.47in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adapted from the Cookie Lover’s Cookie Book by Richard Sax </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-69735145965194686502010-12-05T16:45:00.000-05:002010-12-05T16:45:29.303-05:00The Anti-Food Porn Rant<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio09bUA37fb5aaoSqV07Z_5fzwCEiZEEfCKg5M_AH9N9UJcPlOfVney5Ty1kZ0Lb-l2R-cNgLHR9mvu0ZIA3e28CVq_qhKhPuCpjiOw2NophNgBvy-YeE7Inx_igtGMvvOU33o/s1600/foodporn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_238544680"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio09bUA37fb5aaoSqV07Z_5fzwCEiZEEfCKg5M_AH9N9UJcPlOfVney5Ty1kZ0Lb-l2R-cNgLHR9mvu0ZIA3e28CVq_qhKhPuCpjiOw2NophNgBvy-YeE7Inx_igtGMvvOU33o/s400/foodporn.jpg" width="308" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wendyding.com/projects/food-girls/3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smokin' Hot Food Porn </span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love looking. We can't help it. That smokin' hot construction worker, that sexy black dress in the shop window, those rows and rows of flaky, creamy pastries – we look and we salivate. We desire. And if we have the cash, it becomes ours. (Well, maybe not the construction worker, but we can dream, can't we?)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But how many times have we been mis-lead? How many time have you bought that luscious perfectly iced slice of chocolate cake only to find it is dry and flavorless? And that little black dress – you try it on only to find that it wasn't really all that sexy when lovingly draped over that pooch left by one too many pieces of mediocre chocolate cake? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how many times have you been walking through the book store, pick up a beautiful cookbook full of stylish photos and recipes featuring trendy ingredients only to take it home and find out you were snookered? Taken in by a pretty face only to be left with a pot full of barely edible – and sometimes extravagantly expensive –</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dog kibble? Or that the amount of work necessary to achieve the pictured item has left you drained and impotent for the rest of the evening? And that construction worker, even if you could afford him, would have been a another wasted purchase as you retire to the boudoir with a migraine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like the strategically placed silicon in an adult movie,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">food porn is there to enhance your enjoyment of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your most recently purchased fantasy book. And like elective plastic surgery, food styling is an artificial enhancement. Few real women (most of us included) look like that busty sexpot in Pizza Slut 3, and most of the food you make at home will ever look like the pictures in the books.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Books, magazines and TV shows – there is a lot of lying going. True, lying can be a good thing. Some lies are necessary – From your hubby: “No your ass doesn't look big in those jeans.” To your hubby: “Honey, I don't miss those golden curls I used to run my fingers through.” To the kids: “Don't worry Heather, you'll grow out of it. It's just baby fat.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we all realize deep down that lies are social lubricants. Like the Quarker State in your engine, it keeps everything moving along smoothly and prevents the unsightly build up of corpses along the highways.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the modern media, food styling keeps the food industry looking fresh and sexy – its a necessary set of lies to keep Martha, Sandra Lee and Rachel on the cutting edge of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the current market. Without the pretty pictures, would anyone buy their products to see if there was any substance?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also puts lipstick on that pig – a little light on content? Then slap some pretty pictures in there, send it off to China for some sexy full color printing and get it out in time for the holiday gift giving season. Grandma loves the pretty pictures...and the political prisoners in China need the work.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not to say that sexy food photography is a bad thing. Good photos will give you an idea of how brown the edges of your cookies should be, how thick you should roll the dough, but you have to remember that they are the stuff that dreams are made of. Your mileage may vary. Things in the mirror may be larger than they appear (and that includes your rump in that little black dress!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So remember, there are some worthwhile cookbooks that don't have 8 x 10 color glossys. Pick up the old school Joy of Cooking, The Fanny Farmer Cookbook or if you want some fantastic cookie recipes, get yourself a copy of The Cookie Lover's Cookie Book by Richard Sax. No food porn in any them, but lots of solid recipes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And for Pete's sake – stop staring at the construction workers while sitting at the light. You are holdin' up the rest of us.</span><o:p></o:p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-13615530320215484092010-11-24T00:00:00.000-05:002010-11-24T00:00:55.051-05:00Mule Train Ho!!Been grabbing supplies for the Thanksgiving feast and cookie baking - wanna know the best deals on flour and sugar?<br />
<br />
Aldi's! - whodathunkit?<br />
<br />
Even cheaper than the Restaurant Depot.Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-39829923145402537882010-11-21T23:07:00.001-05:002010-11-21T23:08:24.581-05:00Book Review: The Christmas Cookie Cookbook by Ann Pearlman<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjd35u8pKRUZFd0rJTlLmQ3uQLMMiLv2b3zpzCWzLdOuxv-SeU-RvoQn791rcsgTm2gTb5eZvjb1YKXfQXGV19c3ypidiQpZFeR5nO-sPjQpfLTj4BQurXashfMMqS6T79BIL/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjd35u8pKRUZFd0rJTlLmQ3uQLMMiLv2b3zpzCWzLdOuxv-SeU-RvoQn791rcsgTm2gTb5eZvjb1YKXfQXGV19c3ypidiQpZFeR5nO-sPjQpfLTj4BQurXashfMMqS6T79BIL/s320/image001.jpg" width="228" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>It's coming time for the big Cookie Confab – though once again this year it is going to be downsized. Gail, Debbie and I have no days off in common anymore. It's sad. I love getting together to bake cookies and chew the fat. And drink. And bitch. And eat.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been pouring over my cookie books and even asked to review one. So yes – being the cheap chiseling food whore that I am - I got another free book.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book I requested was </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Christmas Cookie Cookbook</span></span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, from Atria Books. This book is written by Ann Pearlman, who also authored </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Christmas Cookie Club</span></span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, a book about a group of women who get together every year to trade cookies and share their lives.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now ya know me – I am not a chick lit kinda gal. My family was filled with evil harridans who smiled nicely at each other in public and cut each other to ribbons with their razor sharp tongues behind closed doors. Family gatherings were not the sappy sweet female bonding experiences that you find in so many books aimed at women. So needless to say I haven't read the novel The Christmas Cookie Club.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I do love cookies and have been running The Cookie Confab for almost 10 yrs now so I was very intrigued by the premise for this book.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that being said – I really enjoyed reading The Christmas Cookie Cookbook. Ann talks about how the club got started, about the women involved, and the deep bonds that have developed over the last 20 years – yes 20 years. That is some stamina right there!! Plus, you get concrete advice on how to start your own club, hints on how to make the event a success from setting the date to passing out the goodies.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are recipes too. Now, <i>do not </i>expect any ground shattering breakthroughs in cookie baking technology. Many of these recipes have seen print elsewhere – including the recipe that I made as a test batch. (In fact, the Ultimate Double Chocolate Cookie is from the Ghiridelli website, modified to make the dough a little easier to handle when shaping into log. I, and my boss, have made a couple other changes which I will share below.)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other recipes are included for appetizers and buffet dishes to keep everyone on the edge of sobriety, plus cookie making tips.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah – and then there are the Rules. The Rules are brilliant. The Rules are awesome. They are the work of someone who understands how to organize and maintain.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my snarky non-chick lit interpretations of the rules. If you want the nice friendly PC version, then you will just have to go and buy the book.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cookie variety</b> – no chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin – it's freakin' Christmas so act like it whydoncha?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>No Goo</b> – cuz too messy is no good...</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Exclusive membership</b> – No one wants to bake 20 dozen cookies for a party, so no – you don't get to come!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Commitment</b> - what?! You came one time and now you wanna back out!!!?? Bitch!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Life Membership</b>- well if we can put up with you, you can put up with us every year... or in other words the only way to leave the cookie club is feet first!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Packaging</b> – Thou shalt invest in something pretty to hold your cookies – no paper plates ya lazy ho!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Share a dish</b> – we need some food to soak up all this booze!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Charity</b> – spread the love – and calories – around!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>More Fun</b> – do things that will be memorable - memorable enough to cut through the alcohol-induced haze.</span></li>
</ol><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the one thing I would have like to see with the cookie recipes were “keeping instructions” - a consistent addendum to each recipe talking about how long the product would keep, and the proper way to store them. One would assume that these recipes have been made and tested by the ladies who submitted them and those ladies would have some idea of how long these different types of cookies keep. Maybe that is kinda nit-picky but I'm just sayin'...woulda been nice.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I would say buy this book, especially if you have ever dreamed of running a cookie exchange or even another seasonal event every year. The advice is sound, the tone supportive and if you are lucky enough to have friends and family who actually like each other then I say give it a try!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now your reward for putting up with my ramblings – the recipe!!!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the recipe for Ultimate Double Chocolate Cookies. They demand something like milk or, even better, the slight bitterness of black coffee.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=14015719&postID=3982992314540253788" name="ctl00_MainContentPlaceholder_RecipeForm"></a> Here is the recipe as it is written in the book.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3RSo-2BNLHcjgH0oLcZzE36LiltCwLqfni_-U0l_TYuKaNGf5SwpsuSMH75K0F1XwX19KhILfEAIPl5-B8rVkjpzACs-1SoBqOksNBtFLOlV63Rz9lH7-UIgvYBtpcWHdqRR/s1600/DSCN0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3RSo-2BNLHcjgH0oLcZzE36LiltCwLqfni_-U0l_TYuKaNGf5SwpsuSMH75K0F1XwX19KhILfEAIPl5-B8rVkjpzACs-1SoBqOksNBtFLOlV63Rz9lH7-UIgvYBtpcWHdqRR/s400/DSCN0722.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 665px;"><col width="661"></col> <tbody>
<tr> <td width="661"><div style="border: none; margin-top: 0.18in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ultimate Double Chocolate Cookies</span></b></span></div><div style="border: none; margin-top: 0.18in; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=14015719&postID=3982992314540253788" name="ctl00_MainContentPlaceholder_RecipeForm_lblYield"></a> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yield: 24 cookies</span></b></span></div><div style="border: none; margin-top: 0.18in; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11 1/2 ounces 60% Bittersweet Chocolate Chips</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 tablespoon unsalted butter</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 eggs</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup sugar</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cups all-purpose flour</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon baking powder</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup chopped walnuts</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=14015719&postID=3982992314540253788" name="ctl00_MainContentPlaceholder_RecipeForm_lblMessage"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=14015719&postID=3982992314540253788" name="ctl00_MainContentPlaceholder_RecipeForm_lblPreBaking"></a> </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directions</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
In double boiler over hot water, melt bittersweet chocolate chips and butter. In large bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until thick. Stir in chocolate mixture. Set aside.</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In small bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. Stir in chocolate mixture. Gently mix in semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts (dough will be gooey). Chill for 30 minutes to firm up.</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a sheet of plastic wrap, form dough into two logs, each 2 inches in diameter and about 8 inches long. Wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYe6kDvuc0d_9T93qiSbty5O7VOnQW0QGCq3bYm5r6aNBBW0mjLeJdYMb1fruRQrIjuE5C4Cojryk1NC2vgUA6EWDTMbVhArwpf47KA6I14-ZGti_Ey83_N2J-teashXRe3Jj/s1600/DSCN0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYe6kDvuc0d_9T93qiSbty5O7VOnQW0QGCq3bYm5r6aNBBW0mjLeJdYMb1fruRQrIjuE5C4Cojryk1NC2vgUA6EWDTMbVhArwpf47KA6I14-ZGti_Ey83_N2J-teashXRe3Jj/s320/DSCN0718.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shinny Shiny cookies...yummmy....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pre-heat oven to 375°F. With sharp knife, cut into 3/4-inch slices and place on greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=14015719&postID=3982992314540253788" name="ctl00_MainContentPlaceholder_RecipeForm_lblBakingDirections"></a> </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake 14 minutes or until shiny crust forms. Cookies should be soft inside. Transfer cookies to rack to cool.</span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Differences from the original recipe on the Ghiridelli sight:</b></span></span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><ul><li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe does not call for the 30 minute chill before shaping. This does make it easier to handle when shaping.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shape of the logs is 2” in diameter and 12” long. Even though the recipe in the book says 8” - the logs did come out about 12” during the test.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe stipulates that you unwrap the logs before cutting. Duh.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe kept the cookies on the pan until cool. These are kinda delicate and I would cut the difference between the two recipes and let the cookies cool for a few minutes before removing them to the rack.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe called for 12-14 minutes. 12 minutes did the trick for me.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe states that these will keep up to one week. I hid a cookie and just pulled it out. A week is kinda pushing it – they were much better the first couple of days, but I still would not turn my nose up at one of these that was a week old.</span></span></div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Changes that I made to the recipe:</span></div><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><ul><li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would say chop the walnuts into medium to small pieces. Larger pieces taste good but are a bitch to cut.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use a serrated knife when cutting the log. This is for two reasons: first, the sawing motion means you do not have to press down as hard on the log so you do not flatten it out or cause the dough to crumble. The second is it will cut through the chocolate chips when they are cold.</span></span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also froze one of the logs of dough, then thawed it in the fridge overnight before baking. Turned out just as awesome as the non-frozen dough. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div></li>
<li><div style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly – this can easily be made gluten free! My boss, Melissa, substituted ½ cup of commercial gluten free flour and they turned out fantastic. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div></li>
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</div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-22540500602585436852010-10-28T11:43:00.011-04:002010-10-28T12:13:17.822-04:00My Life of Leisure... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOSDWVYiLLHC1DMeSAlwP4na1mljiTqPFJMi3dQj-fXpiExUnunZaKRa2ExATFvB2v_9q4vRt4bJQD_mz4_X8WIlwYaW_aY-GfoqrOjGD0i-Y5TE5Q4nclXvJsZ5DB5kEPnXs/s1600/DSCN0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOSDWVYiLLHC1DMeSAlwP4na1mljiTqPFJMi3dQj-fXpiExUnunZaKRa2ExATFvB2v_9q4vRt4bJQD_mz4_X8WIlwYaW_aY-GfoqrOjGD0i-Y5TE5Q4nclXvJsZ5DB5kEPnXs/s640/DSCN0533.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is all the excitment <br />
that you get at a magic party...</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah - it’s been almost 6 months since I posted. To be truthful, its been entirely selfish. I have been doing and being and not writing about it. And having a wonderful time with it too...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First - I got to go to San Francisco in June. Actually, I got to visit LA and San Fran. Scary part - it was 90+ degrees with 98% humidity in C-bus, but when we rolled off the plane in CA it was a cool 75 degrees with no moisture at all. Heaven!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We flew into LAX with its big spaceship out front and went to the rental car company to pick up our car. We had asked for a full sized model - since we are not compact car kinda folks - and was told they were out. Panic!! The gal at the counter says - we upgraded you to a luxury model. It’s in slot 42.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lo and behold - it a was a freakin’ land yacht! A huge caddy with all the bells and whistles. The perrrrrrrfect car for our PCH drive as it turned out. Just don’t try parking in the LA or San Fran though...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a night on a hard bed in an overpriced hotel in Hollywood, we hit the road. Being a Mid-west gal, my first impression of California - brown. Even in the middle of a drought here there are still vestiges of green, but even the trees looked dusty and brown on our way North out of LA on State Route 1. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bbflnqrfm1x7rVeSmTTaBrZdiE3CTiuVTm2vTrzEXTkER98K9K_wn2ulX96WKBrZdhWvvCFaQlfyeLgRQNAHhnHSQJtO12RZthBNAHp72JmdpZF5ogFrQwHM0IWJYu0cqogH/s1600/brown+hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bbflnqrfm1x7rVeSmTTaBrZdiE3CTiuVTm2vTrzEXTkER98K9K_wn2ulX96WKBrZdhWvvCFaQlfyeLgRQNAHhnHSQJtO12RZthBNAHp72JmdpZF5ogFrQwHM0IWJYu0cqogH/s400/brown+hills.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brown, brown hills of Southern California</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only thing that relives all the brown is the blue blue Pacific Ocean. As you think that all you are going to see are brown rocky hills, you come around a curve and BAM! the ocean hugs the coast and little towns are nestled along the edges. Then back up into the hills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news about those hills is that they hide little canyons filled with tasty, tasty food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sure I’ve never talked about this before, but I hate blueberries. I have no idea why - I always thought they tasted “musty” or something like that. I have no real term for it, but there is a componet in the flavor that I just do not like. Until I pulled into <a href="http://restorationoaksranch.com/index.html">Restoration Oaks Blueberry Farm</a> just outside of Santa Barbara. Tucked back into a space between two foothills was this farm selling these freshly picked blueberries. I almost didn’t stop- well -cuz I hate blueberries.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf3dZ-ZgLnbmFr-d0uWGXfOxjUcJ3sbaMvXAy8t6F5rbNONIEwr7znJ772GnubfWElVFio-VsKAZ_fKDM8afPAIP3vQroe3gCo1Vao6AYx-DWUgyZs1kGl7p-dgtzlPLuv1mC/s1600/blueberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf3dZ-ZgLnbmFr-d0uWGXfOxjUcJ3sbaMvXAy8t6F5rbNONIEwr7znJ772GnubfWElVFio-VsKAZ_fKDM8afPAIP3vQroe3gCo1Vao6AYx-DWUgyZs1kGl7p-dgtzlPLuv1mC/s400/blueberries.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At $4 a pint, I just picked up one. They were tiny. They were blue. They were sweet and tart. They were some of the best damn things I have ever eaten. I immediately regretted not buying a hundred bucks worth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we head off down the road, munchin’ fruit and looking at hills and the ocean. We would see signs for avocados 10 for a buck, Strawberries, peaches, and cherries. After a while we transitioned into the large valleys filled with produce and immigrant labor. The companies advertise which brands are being grown in the fields - Andy Boy broccoli or Green Giant lettuce. And the workers walking through the fields behind the big machines, harvesting the produce that ends up in my market 2000 miles away. So while I am listening to the radio (mostly Hispanic music and news in this part of the state) I think about eating local and what would happen to all those people laboring in the fields. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have spent the last 100 yrs coming up with ways to feed our ever growing population. Through a combination of technology and corporate greed, we’ve managed to come up with a fucked-up, but functional system. We have cities full of people who want fresh produce and meat and we have succeeded in making those items available. And the backbone of our produce production still relies on people who are willing to be farm workers. Farms have always relied on cheap labor to make them profitable. It used to be hired hands or your passel of 13 kids, and now it is immigrant labor. And god help all you folks out there in the cities if the immigrant labor disappears or is restricted. No more cheap lettuce and broccoli for you!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I don’t see any of you telling your kids to go out and get in the fields...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So after my thought-filled afternoon we are nearing San Fran and I am getting hungry. We saw this little carry out and thought, we’ll just stop the use their bathroom and get something to drink... Maybe we’ll find and In -N- Out nearby...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi8htFiKHTiN32iFO6f5WHUtsdodxhsSmRYemxE61EtH13F0B-V13xg8j_4Z8DKq7yU8NHjFEBb4Q8vUH4Jxy43clWBkIUd7L9ESSlajunjIVy1VXSfqM9xKWU7E4-bZnMPEY/s1600/prunedale+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi8htFiKHTiN32iFO6f5WHUtsdodxhsSmRYemxE61EtH13F0B-V13xg8j_4Z8DKq7yU8NHjFEBb4Q8vUH4Jxy43clWBkIUd7L9ESSlajunjIVy1VXSfqM9xKWU7E4-bZnMPEY/s400/prunedale+market.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Prunedale Market - damn fine eatin'!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walk in and the place smells like heaven - all smokey and meaty. Turns out the owner smokes his own tri-tip for sandwiches. We start to chat and he was awesome. I tell him to hook me up. Tri-tip is the cut of choice for Calli style BBQ. And he gives me a free cup of beef stew - though he tells me its spicy - he has to make it spicy for the locals and he thought a Gringa like me would find it too hot for my liking. I told him I like spicy and grow my own hot peppers- I am no ordinary Gringa. It was thick, meaty, smoky and spicy. It was - hands down - the best beef stew I’ve ever had. I went back to the car and gave Tony a bite - and he ate almost the whole damn thing. The sandwich was great too...but that stew. I want some right freakin’ now!!!! Why o why must you be a continent away!!! Let me stop to get a napkin to wipe off my chin...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tony spent some time talking to another customer in the parking lot while I was in the store. Turns out the owner does not have a liquor licence which is pretty much a death sentence for a small carry out. So instead he turned to BBQ to attract customers. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbru7ivJu3umcIxzyqDuop02cDwznO_bftyyo4JUNq0WpCOdNBa0zsUgqMq8TYJE5sir2aQoZKh0c2RCeQSDFWgFBmkbgSqFdl64X4pwvbyaUy3Lr2hXBUZDrlCSQaxr_TNI4X/s1600/innout+burger+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbru7ivJu3umcIxzyqDuop02cDwznO_bftyyo4JUNq0WpCOdNBa0zsUgqMq8TYJE5sir2aQoZKh0c2RCeQSDFWgFBmkbgSqFdl64X4pwvbyaUy3Lr2hXBUZDrlCSQaxr_TNI4X/s400/innout+burger+hat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little man and his new hat...</td></tr>
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We did eventually stop at<a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/default.asp"> In-N-Out Burger</a>. I would pit this fast food burger against 95% of the “restaurant” burgers in the state of Ohio and I know it would win. Fresh bun, juicy patty - its just damn good. Every single restaurant is family owned - and the consistency of the experience reflects that.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Fran was awesome - though I did not get to eat at any of the places I had mapped out. I was actually there to work. Tony and I were specifically invited to run the convention suite at the <a href="http://www.bamagic.com/">Golden Gate Gathering</a>. It’s a small magic convention run by four locals - Kent Gunn, Dave Nelson, Dorian Rhodell and Theron Schaub. It has a rather boisterous group of attendees - so boisterous that the hotel had threatened to kick the whole group out if they didn’t behave this year. Hench - we were the out of town hitters brought in to keep the peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is Kent reading the room party rules.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jicuw1hy3So?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jicuw1hy3So?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say everyone was very well behaved once we explained the situation and we have been invited back for a repeat performance. ( And to the young man who told us we were assholes my answer to you is - yes, yes we are and if you keep it up you’ll find out just how big a pair of assholes we CAN be.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTKDHpGwiUmWEZ4tKtwc0LfLd6oachwcWoqeaN4humzouR8JivpR-Mrc9-J61DHAjxlDvp6vt7oacMbMCvXaBRKRxYKd6vib6TPFEhge9oU8l9yMQilF4nBEykPA-seanlH5S/s1600/DSCN0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTKDHpGwiUmWEZ4tKtwc0LfLd6oachwcWoqeaN4humzouR8JivpR-Mrc9-J61DHAjxlDvp6vt7oacMbMCvXaBRKRxYKd6vib6TPFEhge9oU8l9yMQilF4nBEykPA-seanlH5S/s400/DSCN0490.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kent looking frightened - as he should...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To all the folks that attended the 3G, if I didn’t make it apparent then, let me make it so now. I had a great time. I saw some amazing magic. I got to see old friends like Mike Gallo, Lee Asher and Allen Ackerman and make new friends like Kent Gunn and Howard Hamberg (Dropping some names!!!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOtyOA7iFobUhZ1njnJBqdrg72PKtqtsk5Xk0t2YKSRt_QIekEhTBuAWW54dcEHjcdRQJBm7nUIa7sQNtmfynP9cvbBjpuRadC6vfgNMqbONqV711yFZLCS0mN_ED8IRh1sI8/s1600/DSCN0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOtyOA7iFobUhZ1njnJBqdrg72PKtqtsk5Xk0t2YKSRt_QIekEhTBuAWW54dcEHjcdRQJBm7nUIa7sQNtmfynP9cvbBjpuRadC6vfgNMqbONqV711yFZLCS0mN_ED8IRh1sI8/s400/DSCN0595.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave Nelson Licking a Pickle.... Don't ask me why...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To everyone who wasn’t there - If you are looking for a small close-up convention that is fun and friendly with a tremendous amount of talent - then look no further... A word of warning though...get in early, seats are limited... And if you’re extra good, I will bring something super tasty for the suite...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hope is to say a few days over this year and eat at some of the great restaurants in San Fran. It is a foodie town after all...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The drive back was awesome even if we were exhausted. I stopped at this little flea market and picked up a fruit cocktail from a Mexican couple who had a very busy stall there. It was amazing. I trust that folks in CA are familiar with this type of treat. But to a gal who is from the Midwest this was a real treat. Freshly cut papaya, mango, strawberries, pineapple and cucumber were mixed together and topped with salt, lime juice and this fruit salad season that had chili pepper in it. I’ve made it several time now - I even made a trip to La Michicana to get the spice mix they used at the booth. I know - I am so ignorant. But then again, I have the best time discovering all the stuff that I don’t know about. It must be awfully boring be a know it all...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also picked up some fresh picked cherries and garlic in Gilroy - and you can smell the garlic as you drive through town.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night before we flew out we stayed at a motel in Oxnard. As we drove in, we saw a restaurant next door - The script writing was indistinct in the dark and it looked like it said “Hurl’s”. Not exactly an auspicious name for an eatery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning we got up and saw that it was really named <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&biw=1387&bih=778&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=henri's+oxnard+ca&fb=1&gl=us&hq=henri's&hnear=Oxnard,+CA&cid=14308259503251647699">Henri’s</a>. We inquired at the front desk and the young lady there gave it two thumbs up, so we figured we would give it a try.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ERRjv9-udZmtSLYKvlTs2kTZOjSBw3OGMQjg2SUxT4sG1pfAyHrClCFIMLnNNdJwNNxEhr41Wjc_yqTaqcX92i7B5AOruRjSkQFQCDdoVz0caQMhqkkuDmUZ5yO2PLCeKMiF/s1600/DSCN0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ERRjv9-udZmtSLYKvlTs2kTZOjSBw3OGMQjg2SUxT4sG1pfAyHrClCFIMLnNNdJwNNxEhr41Wjc_yqTaqcX92i7B5AOruRjSkQFQCDdoVz0caQMhqkkuDmUZ5yO2PLCeKMiF/s400/DSCN0604.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huevo Rancheros</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was pretty damn good. I ordered Huevo Rancheros and Tony ordered Corned Beef Hash. The ranchero sauce was home made, the eggs and hash were perfect. The coffee was just plain old coffee, but sufficient to get us up to speed. I love beans and theirs was excellent. (Though my fellow passengers on the plane didn’t think so later...) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgJ-c2HsP9_JX9kz9x4OLjgTZDA_NVGFBDQR4JGzA0NNk5OIPMV5pFWNc-PRpH9HCdwVYHnOYwlztR8woZJNaCL8Qe382QqAi0joH962NmWhDgrMLiAqQjmUylg02FXABirXy/s1600/DSCN0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgJ-c2HsP9_JX9kz9x4OLjgTZDA_NVGFBDQR4JGzA0NNk5OIPMV5pFWNc-PRpH9HCdwVYHnOYwlztR8woZJNaCL8Qe382QqAi0joH962NmWhDgrMLiAqQjmUylg02FXABirXy/s400/DSCN0609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transplanted East Coast Native Carol after enjoying her strudel...</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also meet this really nice lady, Carol, sitting next to us. She lives in Port Hueneme but originally came from northern Virginia. We asked her about moving back East, but the siren song of the Pacific Ocean keeps her firmly in California.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We finished up our last meal in California with an apple strudel shared with Carol. The grill cook warmed it up on the griddle and it, like everything else was excellent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flight out was unexciting...and once we landed in Columbus we went back to sweating and bitchin’ about the humidity.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that was about it for my California trip... I cannot wait for next year...</span></span>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-77658232493832501182010-05-12T18:28:00.004-04:002010-05-14T01:49:14.483-04:00Where is the HELL is San Margherita, you ask? And why should I go there?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI4Q3TYoOp3CptblGe0DwtrfOXFVPktK6lU_iIwZTLrGY33u59aMomsKX1a1FoLVlpwLsVEuP8df6y2sE3fyzxWgs_NfCh_5jI7j2nni0UuT0BfIqGaHjXiFB-fIZi6huKYrJ/s1600/outside.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI4Q3TYoOp3CptblGe0DwtrfOXFVPktK6lU_iIwZTLrGY33u59aMomsKX1a1FoLVlpwLsVEuP8df6y2sE3fyzxWgs_NfCh_5jI7j2nni0UuT0BfIqGaHjXiFB-fIZi6huKYrJ/s400/outside.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470514515493817490" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Last time I talked about Charlie and his unerring ability to find good food. This time I am going to tell you about another one of his finds - all the way over in San Margherita on the West side.<br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What is San Margherita you ask? According to </span></span><a href="http://columbus-ite.com/columbus-neighborhoods/san-margherita/" id="rbdg" title="Columbusite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Columbusite</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (an awesome resource for those of you who have never used it!), San Margherita was an outpost for the Italian laborers who worked the nearby quarries. Now it is home to a lot of people who want upscale condos and strip malls. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Still hiding on McKinley Road is a couple older buildings housing businesses like an auto shop and a carry out called the San Margherita Market. It's the Market we are interested in here. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One afternoon we were heading back from Charlie's house, when he said,</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> "</span></span></span><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We are goin' someplace good for lunch.</span></span></span></b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> And then didn't say another word about where we were going. As he was driving, we were at his mercy.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We pulled up in front of this brick building with an ancient sign. It did not look promising. </span></span><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Wait till you try one of their sandwiches - they are so damn big you can hardly get 'em in your mouth!"</span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Up front it looks like your average carry out with an above average selection of beer. As you get toward the back, you see the food section.</span></span></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The menu reads like this.</span></span></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Polish Sandwich</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ground Itialian (sic) Sandwich</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Meatball </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sandwich</span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Roast Beef Sandwich</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pizza</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and </span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Eggrolls</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am sure there are other items - but I cannot recall... My mind boggles at the sight of the sandwiches...</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF0OTWwRT7eJyg54pD2iUOLkPDKA2UtZ_tMezMhH18q3dtVbGm8SMQGxmC4vr0Wx14Zm848HokkRad_yW0UVZ93qxTFS8Upqss6CU243ajz-_ijXQmsbSNVuio3reqqOXu8zy/s1600/polish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF0OTWwRT7eJyg54pD2iUOLkPDKA2UtZ_tMezMhH18q3dtVbGm8SMQGxmC4vr0Wx14Zm848HokkRad_yW0UVZ93qxTFS8Upqss6CU243ajz-_ijXQmsbSNVuio3reqqOXu8zy/s400/polish.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470514504214741010" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQUdUZXU8oyBYlZzXY_2ErB-eN6MIbp1tI5M2eYJILu0LHb2TqwOFzxQJtSqCOzWqce-s7XQSwZ1nW0igMxcxrqvNtnzKFUamUtPlqNmiz4cNrc7IkjczYVaDlJHbhHgVeemn/s1600/meatskettie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQUdUZXU8oyBYlZzXY_2ErB-eN6MIbp1tI5M2eYJILu0LHb2TqwOFzxQJtSqCOzWqce-s7XQSwZ1nW0igMxcxrqvNtnzKFUamUtPlqNmiz4cNrc7IkjczYVaDlJHbhHgVeemn/s400/meatskettie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470515443881583026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">First - let me tell you that the Polish Sandwich is made out of Polish sausage - and yet - its is not the sausage sandwich that you would expect. It is not the round meaty tube one associates with Polish sausage. It's more like meat spaghetti. The links have been shaved lengthwise so that the meat hangs in long thin strips. This is cooked in some type of liquid. But it's ok - don't be afraid. It is delicious. The owners pile mounds and mounds of this shaved sausage onto a soft white bun (from Audino's - synchronicity at work here folks!), along with cheese, onions, banana peppers and if you wish, yellow mustard and hot sauce.</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSTRbB9CPPZRBIj1qhiZOfjIRncpoIlX2_3mCtUEcdA4T0fAccmYF3xjl-9GdDp3COMjL3aZwtqKEljf3M5FiEQlILVsPshaiYQvElMvk-PTeKG2Lp69X75_JJZBRBUuvNoAk/s1600/snickershot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSTRbB9CPPZRBIj1qhiZOfjIRncpoIlX2_3mCtUEcdA4T0fAccmYF3xjl-9GdDp3COMjL3aZwtqKEljf3M5FiEQlILVsPshaiYQvElMvk-PTeKG2Lp69X75_JJZBRBUuvNoAk/s400/snickershot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470514488988223138" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here is a picture of the large sub. I have put a King size Snickers next to it for reference. Not a little Snickers. A King size!</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The medium is hardly any smaller.</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Their meatballs are fantastic as well...tons and tons of them in sauce on the same soft bun...</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And then there is the Ground Itialian. Yes - that is how it is spelled on the menu. This is a loose meat sandwich made with Italian sausage instead of hamburger. And yes - they are just as big as the Polish. I love these dearly, but they are a mess to eat. The last time I got one I stopped in a park on the way home and ate it on a bench hunched over so none of the meat would drop down my shirt.</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Prices? Well they run like this - $6.25 for a large sandwich, $5.25 for a medium sandwich and a small is only $2.95. Personally, I would get the large even if you think you could not possibly eat it. We dropped off a Polish to our friend Eric who has been home ill for two weeks. He looked at it and said, "I cannot possible eat this big sub." When I got home there was a message on the machine from him. It said, "I called to tell you I can't believe I ate the whole thing."</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJquSfOIRvUtIawgAqwI2eXSE1hilo-rnkxR72a7adliKpqjpagI1Nn4dULzYQqjUWJ03vYS2H99-I17xwqUUcZmexSww5aZdTnClu2Vjngi2Pr0bDrqFDQxZtcmO9O4ihrab/s1600/sandwiches.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJquSfOIRvUtIawgAqwI2eXSE1hilo-rnkxR72a7adliKpqjpagI1Nn4dULzYQqjUWJ03vYS2H99-I17xwqUUcZmexSww5aZdTnClu2Vjngi2Pr0bDrqFDQxZtcmO9O4ihrab/s400/sandwiches.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470514495872180802" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KE6euYzKLCis9ufeSGDH9oyHEaBioNIDK1bGlRj-jbWod4BfHUPEVpfqs9IFi4M1wSyqFHcsr9RKvvPcCGdPABMJQKpXdASW6rxunA3lORvAa4Fg-bXKQw9w4-KCceIl0wKJ/s1600/eggroll1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KE6euYzKLCis9ufeSGDH9oyHEaBioNIDK1bGlRj-jbWod4BfHUPEVpfqs9IFi4M1wSyqFHcsr9RKvvPcCGdPABMJQKpXdASW6rxunA3lORvAa4Fg-bXKQw9w4-KCceIl0wKJ/s400/eggroll1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470515447754652034" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Last but not least is the egg rolls. Handmade by the owners, they are fried up fresh and served with this fantastic dipping sauce that is sweet, sour and hot. At $1 each, they are a real steal.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7kaA0CATFYbDuQMPbkaSht_79uTQ5A3oLuJCTbobYS2BJQk5tZnJw1TgxyZVk-8MmWOB8oQG7vDdzMz3q6-e7IDFLjD4omV1POYteRA7lmBZ2wUxSkBls2eF02vrw8ocCggg/s1600/sauce.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7kaA0CATFYbDuQMPbkaSht_79uTQ5A3oLuJCTbobYS2BJQk5tZnJw1TgxyZVk-8MmWOB8oQG7vDdzMz3q6-e7IDFLjD4omV1POYteRA7lmBZ2wUxSkBls2eF02vrw8ocCggg/s400/sauce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470514490886438530" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So the next time you have a Charlie-sized appetite, or even think you might just want an egg roll - stop into the San Margherita Market and strap on the feedbag. </span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">San Margherita Market</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3255 McKinley Ave</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Columbus, Ohio</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hot food served from 10 am - 8 pm</span></span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/33/1525015/restaurant/West-Side/San-Margherita-Market-Columbus"><img alt="San Margherita Market on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1525015/biglogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:34px" /></a><br /><br /></span></span>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-36939986923519188062010-04-21T10:01:00.007-04:002010-04-21T10:27:36.158-04:00mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Doughnuts...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_CKhAMZwDQed2NxLLlnVy0yGT3BpY5j_i1IvXDKPTlJ_FuzhmaKNg68o8mrTQpBLh7L4H3IzyzPxfJWw_vwxF9tXsHAVQG3PAL6EvmYRKWTfYbPhZnmgHaaGB80zrrRFlGqf/s1600/front.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_CKhAMZwDQed2NxLLlnVy0yGT3BpY5j_i1IvXDKPTlJ_FuzhmaKNg68o8mrTQpBLh7L4H3IzyzPxfJWw_vwxF9tXsHAVQG3PAL6EvmYRKWTfYbPhZnmgHaaGB80zrrRFlGqf/s400/front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462594781330785058" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have a soft spot for deep fried dough. I come by it honestly - my parents loved them too and there were always some type of cake doughnuts hanging around the house waiting to be dunked into coffee or a cold glass of milk. Occasionally, the local scout troop or some other fund raiser would bring around Crispy Cremes - and 20 secs in the nuke later we would have sinful glazed goodness.</span></span></div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Roll forward to my college years and its 3 a.m. on Campus and the only thing open was Buckeye Donuts. Staggering home from "the library", all it would take was a hazardous waste container of their strong "varnish remover" and a couple sinkers - man I was ready to tackle that sociology paper due in the morning...<br /><br />Now in my dotage, it takes a truly magnificent doughnut to turn my head. While Crispy Cremes are good (especially when they just come rolling out of the glaze). Light and sweet - they have their place, but after one or two, they show their shallow nature. And the variety doughnuts they carry - so lacking in character they are not really worth the time it takes to mention them.<br /><br />So the point of all this you ask?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2cTLoIp_MW3a9mMGf0_cDUTmD0-85j2RZgF-LA_8bIaudZpx6PkRVhhN2sHJICB87UTQrr6o5cY8WPEz-FTr_jrD1jRUkWhwTpPLnrXf5pcHNGDGoDzFwbByvzTwz12z7wh7/s1600/mama.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2cTLoIp_MW3a9mMGf0_cDUTmD0-85j2RZgF-LA_8bIaudZpx6PkRVhhN2sHJICB87UTQrr6o5cY8WPEz-FTr_jrD1jRUkWhwTpPLnrXf5pcHNGDGoDzFwbByvzTwz12z7wh7/s400/mama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462594787513430802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Meet Rosa </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. She is the matriarch of the family owned bakery </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Audinos</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Locals in the food service industry will recognize the name - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> delivers fresh baked buns and breads to customers all over the city. What most people don't know is they have a retail outlet. And inside that retail outlet - they have doughnuts. Good doughnuts. Did I say good? I meant - </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fantastic Doughnuts</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Well those and other really great baked goods as well.<br /><br />Let me regale you with the story of how my hubby found </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.<br /><br />One of Tony's best friends is Charlie. Charlie owns a towing company. One thing you can depend on is that Charlie knows where to find good food - north, south, east or west he can point you to something that is truly delicious. So one day I asked Tony to hunt down some rolls for the Italian Beef I was making and he was having no luck. So he stopped in at Charlie's shop to get his butt whipped at gin and shoot the shit. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"So </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">watcha</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> up to, Tony?</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Charlie says as he rolls his big </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">stogie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> around in his fingers. (Charlie is a big guy - he makes my hubby look like an anorexic dwarf- and his voice rolls over you like a jet engine ready to take off. You know </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hagrid</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> the giant from the Harry Potter books and movies? Well Charlie would bitch slap </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hagrid</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and take his lunch.)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Rose has me running all over the city trying to find these rolls for dinner tonight and I just can't find what she wants. I tell you if she wasn't such a good cook, her ass would be out on the curb!</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> says Tony as he shuffles the deck and deals.</span></span></p><p><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Well why don't you go over to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">?" </span></span></span></b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Charlie starts sorting out his cards while chewing the hell out of his half lit cigar.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">?"</span></span></span></p><p><b><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Yeah, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Over by the fairgrounds</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. We'll go over after I finish </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">takin</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">' all your money. They'll have what you want."</span></span></span></b></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So after finishing the game in which Tony was forced to cough up his stripper tipping cash, they headed over to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. (He </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">denys</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> it, but why else would a man carry around $30 in ones? All men are dogs...)</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And I'll be damned if they didn't have the prefect rolls. Plus a ton of pastries. We ate really good that night. I even forgave Tony for his stripper tipping habits - for the moment.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A week later, I made Tony take me over to the bakery so I could check out their wares for myself.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Underneath an ancient sign reading </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Breads Cakes Donuts and Pastries lay one of the best bakeries in Columbus</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Behold their bounty...</span></span></span></p><p><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fried Croissant</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> -This is my favorite. Take a plain croissant, throw it in some hot fat, then drench in a glaze. It is sweet, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">flaky</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> buttery and totally sinful. This is what </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Krispy</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kreme</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> wishes it could be.</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx1JO0dNrVB43a-xdHB9MgFYdslBsTx6DRw8IcxgaZB4uTA82IUCrvKepE7BR9ci41Fe-wYkW2lZjdr3L5NRdTrPX5SsygRcMykxBeCbDjoyzB1XOIroWdKm3h2hyphenhyphenEzg_bUVG/s1600/croissants.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx1JO0dNrVB43a-xdHB9MgFYdslBsTx6DRw8IcxgaZB4uTA82IUCrvKepE7BR9ci41Fe-wYkW2lZjdr3L5NRdTrPX5SsygRcMykxBeCbDjoyzB1XOIroWdKm3h2hyphenhyphenEzg_bUVG/s400/croissants.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462594775740720754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px; " /></a><p> </p><p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Apple Fritter</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - Soft, with tiny apple pieces and lightly spiced with cinnamon, these are some of the best examples of this fried </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">goodie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> I have ever found.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrb6975alW3nHcEfbypYt39f_K5KHoaTZ0atO-H1lqoJX3F0C1Uu7UUnfN5Tr6c5bwRDLh6Ny7pWcmqXhHnh10DK5yeCWm7XynsPpIB_EB4QxMve1739nR28R6-NRCgtf4ps8/s1600/applefrit.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593257406024610" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrb6975alW3nHcEfbypYt39f_K5KHoaTZ0atO-H1lqoJX3F0C1Uu7UUnfN5Tr6c5bwRDLh6Ny7pWcmqXhHnh10DK5yeCWm7XynsPpIB_EB4QxMve1739nR28R6-NRCgtf4ps8/s400/applefrit.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 292px; text-align: center; " /></a><p><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cake Donuts</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - Paired with coffee or milk, cake donuts are that old fashioned midday treat. </span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1EVWwh3QIl07HLXu1ujssC9-IrZDGBmkQHWJgtx4F3l6wWAJL6rFNO81lmBKsjg0_x04xTtcVJDurJ6HA545_sKmFSunpMyTo6mk0hxBjw2DXcZAtMtJQ4lHBcL_z8KogUe0/s1600/cakedonuts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593265386953346" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1EVWwh3QIl07HLXu1ujssC9-IrZDGBmkQHWJgtx4F3l6wWAJL6rFNO81lmBKsjg0_x04xTtcVJDurJ6HA545_sKmFSunpMyTo6mk0hxBjw2DXcZAtMtJQ4lHBcL_z8KogUe0/s400/cakedonuts.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 341px; text-align: center; " /></a><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And let's not forget the classic Italian treats!!</span></span></p><p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Amaretti</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - These are dense moist very sweet cookies made with almond paste. I had tried for years to make these at home but to no avail. Now - I just stop down and pick up a dozen of these to serve with coffee after dinner. And you have to serve these with coffee. The extreme sweetness make this the perfect accompaniment to a strong espresso or dark roast </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">americano</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoBTTSwz2kYvBt3Mg-5vd2l4fZeZO7zK6aiM1-y-EKEoPL64jce5lttWKztO95Hdf_61Z1-P_eujrV5NveEJ5ViGWePgvXDoxBn4L-p1H3JDN2OAHdlUp00zMkK3xdgUiuLS4/s1600/amaretti.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593251452756098" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoBTTSwz2kYvBt3Mg-5vd2l4fZeZO7zK6aiM1-y-EKEoPL64jce5lttWKztO95Hdf_61Z1-P_eujrV5NveEJ5ViGWePgvXDoxBn4L-p1H3JDN2OAHdlUp00zMkK3xdgUiuLS4/s400/amaretti.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 263px; text-align: center; " /></a><p><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cannoli</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - The real deal. Crunchy, creamy and sweet - these are a dream.</span></span></span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbz_y05_xBGmq1NHhA8SumepvYQ_2eLsT_7WgvsP4HtL1bEJV74y34wwnqfHa6md5K7UXnnguM0EYq0fUTM_97QAG5Zx2HrwUqC8farIPLrrjUTM2fg53QX4V5cgf2L8pDHoN/s1600/cannoli.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593271529264818" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbz_y05_xBGmq1NHhA8SumepvYQ_2eLsT_7WgvsP4HtL1bEJV74y34wwnqfHa6md5K7UXnnguM0EYq0fUTM_97QAG5Zx2HrwUqC8farIPLrrjUTM2fg53QX4V5cgf2L8pDHoN/s400/cannoli.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 314px; text-align: center; " /></a></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is not all they offer, so I recommend you stop in and check it out for yourself ASAP.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In parting, here is some advice concerning your upcoming trip to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1) If you see a really big white pickup sporting a set of truck nuts parked out front, be prepared for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">gale</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> force winds in the building - this means Charlie is there picking up goodies for his crew.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2) Go early. Their more popular choices sell out quickly and you may miss out.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3) Needing lots and lots of bread and goodies? Call ahead and place an order. They are professionals ya know...</span></span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Auddino's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Bakery<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1490 Clara St<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Columbus, OH 43211<br />(614) 294-2577</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></b></span></p><p></p></div><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/33/1520847/restaurant/North-Side/Auddinos-Bakery-Columbus"><img alt="Auddino's Bakery on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1520847/biglogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:34px" /></a>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-69908706273690931582010-03-04T02:16:00.000-05:002010-03-04T02:17:43.706-05:00If only it were so easy....<object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9338549&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9338549&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/9338549">Adobe Photoshop Cook</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user456458">Lait Noir</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-88283363970139577212010-02-07T09:17:00.004-05:002010-02-07T09:27:29.287-05:00Some Veggies for Stacy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlDSnK0r9FjKjdTrV1LPQgOh2Wpzylj1tDcHe9rnpPwan7ht-4kVdfi4wysAGQI88wrRP5gmD94sIkNUaS2IzGtbEPsV7DSBTys52SoWjJ_xj5wXOu_30XSl8jIsqOoQcUqW7/s1600-h/shanghaibokchoy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlDSnK0r9FjKjdTrV1LPQgOh2Wpzylj1tDcHe9rnpPwan7ht-4kVdfi4wysAGQI88wrRP5gmD94sIkNUaS2IzGtbEPsV7DSBTys52SoWjJ_xj5wXOu_30XSl8jIsqOoQcUqW7/s400/shanghaibokchoy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435507048301651298" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Before Christmas, I had lunch with my friend Stacy. We were talking about food - as always - and she asked me what I did for veggies in the winter.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Of course, eating local in an Ohio winter is almost impossible unless you've had the good fortune to freeze or can your own. I did get some strawberries and peas frozen but that was about it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">At present, I have been haunting ethnic groceries. Being a poor house owner, I haven't been able to eat out like I used to. So I have been learning a lot about Indian and Asian cooking, which are two of my favorite types of eat out food.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My most recent visit was to <a href="http://www.huaxin.us/english/locationE.htm">CAM grocery over on Bethel Road</a>. They have a great selection of fresh produce, meats and seafood, plus a lot of staple items like soy sauce and rice. The prices of the produce are pretty amazing. I picked up 1.5 pounds of baby Shanghai bok choy for $2.50. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a id="g4_t" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cabbage" title="Chinese veggies like baby bok choy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Chinese veggies like baby bok choy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> are great for quick dinners because they cook so rapidly. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A quick way to make a side dish from baby bok choy:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Clean and cut apart the bunches of greens. It's ok if they are not totally dry.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Thinly slice a clove or two of garlic and grate a little fresh ginger if you have it (if you don't its not the end of the world)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Heat up some oil in a non-stick skillet.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">When the oil is hot, toss in the garlic and ginger.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Now toss in the moist baby bok choy into the pan, and toss until the leaves just start to look wilted.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Take out of pan and put onto plates. Hit it with a couple shots of soy or sprinkle with salt. Also, you could toss the warm leaves with a little oyster sauce before plating if you are partial to oyster sauce.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Done!</span></li></ol></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I served it up with sliced roast pork and mashed sweet potatoes. I like the unadorned flavor of greens so a lot of people may find that pretty minimal.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The other thing I did was make </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"Fabulous Fake Asian Noodle Soup"</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I love soups like pho and egg drop soup, so I kinda came up with my own version.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> This serves two.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Faux Asian broth</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">3 cups of homemade no-salt chicken stock (See notes below about commercial broth)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A piece of ginger, cut about 1/4" thick and smashed with back of a knife (you want it kinda beat up to release flavor)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A clove of garlic, smashed</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A couple slices of onion, thin</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A small dash of </span><a id="fjmu" href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/10570" title="five spice powder"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">five spice powder</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> OR a mixture of star anise, cinnamon bark, Szchuan peppercorns and cloves (I will be truthful and tell you I use just a little piece of cinnamon stick and the peppercorns because my hubby hate anise and cloves!!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Put all the spices into the broth and simmer for about 30 mins while you are prepping the rest of the soup items. You can also do this ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate the strained broth.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Soup Fixin's</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1/2 pound of baby bok choy or other greens, cleaned and blanched</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">3 or 4 white button mushrooms or any other mild mushroom of choice, thinly sliced</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1/4 pound of meat, thinly sliced or diced (I've used shredded leftover chicken and pork roast. The main thing is that the pieces will fit in a spoon.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1/2 pound of fresh noodles, either Chinese or Italian (Cook according to the instructions)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2 green onions, finely sliced</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Soy Sauce</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Fish Sauce (if you have it)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Asian sesame oil (if you have it)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here is how I streamline my prep. If you have it, use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070-Automatic-Electric/dp/B00023XCWS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1265552393&sr=8-5">a hot pot</a> to get your water to a boil quickly. Put it into a saucepan on the stove over high heat to keep it boiling. Have a bowl with ice water sitting next to the stove. Plunge the greens into boiling water for about a minute (until they look bright green). Using a slotted spoon, fish out and put into the ice water. Let the blanching water return to a boil and throw in the noodles. Cook until finished (I let mine go until they are no longer al dente. I like soft noodles in soup.) Drain and rinse the noodles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Assembly</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Split up the veggies, noodles and meat between two large soup bowls.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Remove the flavoring agents from the broth.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Now here comes the tricky part - the salty part.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I use unsalted broth because I want the salt to come from soy sauce and fish sauce. How much you use of each is fairly subjective - I would estimate about 1 -2 Tablespoons of soy sauce and a teaspoon of fish sauce does it for me. Make sure you taste the broth after you add the minimal amounts of the salty agents and adjust as needed. The flavor should be very light. If you put too much soy sauce it will over whelm the flavor of everything else. If you choose to use low sodium commercial broth, please be very careful as things can go bad very quickly - nothing is worse than too much salt in a soup. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Once you are happy with the broth, ladle over the ingredients in the bowls.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If you have some Asian sesame oil, you can add a couple of drops to each bowl.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is a very light soup - I usually eat it when I don't want to get filled up. You could add more veggies, meat and noodles to it if you would like to make it more filling. Everything but the cooking of the noodles and the bok choy can be done the day before, so all you have to do is heat up the broth while you finish the noodles and greens. You could even use the stock to cook the noodles, I suppose, and add the bok choy just before you take it off the heat. It might muddy up the broth though... something to think about though...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(Still no camera. My daughter took the pictures of the baby bok choy for me. Thanks Annie!!!)</span></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-12702051460179532002010-01-03T22:24:00.008-05:002010-01-06T22:58:13.369-05:00So what have I been cooking?<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_0bOoGe_9jttfx-AV9C0_ivzsSjEuqsxImUSF8wFj62FvAhUN26udrXtrV10BtzhszHC0Hu6jNxntz1dN-kcLDGb77NOImQWWDlMIv6LtmirPTdpRTQIoXltSN5IkoBHDbre/s1600-h/cutouts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_0bOoGe_9jttfx-AV9C0_ivzsSjEuqsxImUSF8wFj62FvAhUN26udrXtrV10BtzhszHC0Hu6jNxntz1dN-kcLDGb77NOImQWWDlMIv6LtmirPTdpRTQIoXltSN5IkoBHDbre/s400/cutouts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422724876855668866" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So what have I been cooking?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hmmmmmmm let's see.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Banana Foster pancakes - ham - chicken curry - homemade dinner rolls - pot roast - bean soup - lentil soup - jambalaya - steaks - baked potatoes - a 20 pound turkey - cookies - OH YEAH! The cookies!!!!</span></span></div><div><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So after not seeing each other for almost nine months - I get Debbie and Gail into my new house. Ah, the excitement! Ah, the alcohol!! And we roll and we scoop and we sweat over our cookies and what happens? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "> <span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Cookie Rustlers!!</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dYGul1tsevKy4e_WgcV_9v1CfKvX_L4iyezQlTistASAB4oIP7OR8JPIaocqowrnDVNuiH3nE8-aDf7V8wCfx4M85ImtBtExE-AdZ9I8tKrsgRhfzFruLDT3rovQXc0q1LC0/s1600-h/wanted.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dYGul1tsevKy4e_WgcV_9v1CfKvX_L4iyezQlTistASAB4oIP7OR8JPIaocqowrnDVNuiH3nE8-aDf7V8wCfx4M85ImtBtExE-AdZ9I8tKrsgRhfzFruLDT3rovQXc0q1LC0/s400/wanted.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422723902593414994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px; " /></a></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dag Nabit! We turn our backs for one minute and woosh! So if you did not receive you allotment of cookies from me this year - Blame it on the rootin', tootin' varmits!</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">However, I will not let this dastardly deed crush the spirit of the Cookie Confab.This was a time of togetherness. A time to catch up on the last twelve months and remember what friendship is really about. A time to ooooh and ahhhh over pictures of grandbabies. A t</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">ime for us to drink pina coladas and Irish coffee while waiting on the timer to ding. But mostly it was a time for us eat all the “broken” cookies and swap recipes.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HvTrDSaTQVjZn_D-shXFhLvPGSfWNPEF1PrV3qSVbz0E4HVvIkk9a_r8Z4mS7o-QuQGNXpstBnlbhdap_MyxSZENzbLmQECSkyJ8dPU87CJUrcSwHNNn3mi6AhlkVXL2r20M/s1600-h/elves.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HvTrDSaTQVjZn_D-shXFhLvPGSfWNPEF1PrV3qSVbz0E4HVvIkk9a_r8Z4mS7o-QuQGNXpstBnlbhdap_MyxSZENzbLmQECSkyJ8dPU87CJUrcSwHNNn3mi6AhlkVXL2r20M/s400/elves.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422725588190926162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Who needs elves? Keebler - eat your heart out!</span></span></i></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This was a rather rushed affair this year – no pre-Confab planning lunch or shopping trip. Our new work schedules kept us from getting down to that kind of detail this year, but we still managed to coordinate enough that we actually got some baking done.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU18IjtIBRSUvOQl93V0VKicAbBp1km4N1FqJmWnTinifZPZbJdeWhy8zLbwcLIVlc_1C4DqFkZ0_9db-9t5X2sCIGELidwm4-D3XBkYdcD8j0cWlXvq5iN500kFKVVZELvQxU/s1600-h/drinkin.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU18IjtIBRSUvOQl93V0VKicAbBp1km4N1FqJmWnTinifZPZbJdeWhy8zLbwcLIVlc_1C4DqFkZ0_9db-9t5X2sCIGELidwm4-D3XBkYdcD8j0cWlXvq5iN500kFKVVZELvQxU/s400/drinkin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422723891495544066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The cookies weren’t the only thing getting baked!!</span></span></i></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We baked some of our old favorites: Gingersnaps, Cut-outs, Pecan Sandies plus few more. Truth be told, I still do not have all my cookbooks unpacked yet, so I was relying on some of my old typed recipes, magazines and Internet sources this year.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtCZxGphTEYQ-szgSq-sHP-PdDPw6VKVe3V_Q_-s_PlSR3O2LpeHv2sxTLXmb3_Ki01sG3NjquyeRUoQJH8AxXw-vWsjj5tDM3zlRNtWTp-fTjzdNvR3PvZxL7tWSF6SOUVYm/s1600-h/roses.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtCZxGphTEYQ-szgSq-sHP-PdDPw6VKVe3V_Q_-s_PlSR3O2LpeHv2sxTLXmb3_Ki01sG3NjquyeRUoQJH8AxXw-vWsjj5tDM3zlRNtWTp-fTjzdNvR3PvZxL7tWSF6SOUVYm/s400/roses.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422723896656543010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Snickerdoodle Roses from Gail</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0870CmCTJFLF8cnjSqsv76RUSUSs2JI5m52DiS8LPOYqxHCiV74A8vDi7HoF_1VAryjMaTQ3MUHdZEpXPJqXK1VK0_9O4V6N9fg9Ho77ehLY1Ocr_jb04G3i-0yiNgTJHCsa/s1600-h/gingersnaps.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0870CmCTJFLF8cnjSqsv76RUSUSs2JI5m52DiS8LPOYqxHCiV74A8vDi7HoF_1VAryjMaTQ3MUHdZEpXPJqXK1VK0_9O4V6N9fg9Ho77ehLY1Ocr_jb04G3i-0yiNgTJHCsa/s400/gingersnaps.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422723888657149346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px; " /></a></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Oh GingerSnaps!</span></span></i></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">New on this year’s roster was a lemon cut out with pistachio topping. Debbie found the recipe in one of the every present Christmas cookie magazines that start showing up in the checkout lane in October. I think her magazine was from Taste of Home. I was worried they would taste like they had been dipped in Lemon Pledge, but the flavors were just right. Annie kept sneaking in and eating them “to save you from yourselves.” Thank you Annie for throwing yourself on that grenade!</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia18hE2KQb5t6q3usSwhw7DAc_X3l6PrmzZkltCXpdT6pdqGLGLjZJRC7nkYc7SoKahj68qgw8MUrn35HodN04u_d8MKkvvYRiCvqh9yDjqM_8sudlfM-Gr42yQ8mzwlX7aX1f/s1600-h/trees.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia18hE2KQb5t6q3usSwhw7DAc_X3l6PrmzZkltCXpdT6pdqGLGLjZJRC7nkYc7SoKahj68qgw8MUrn35HodN04u_d8MKkvvYRiCvqh9yDjqM_8sudlfM-Gr42yQ8mzwlX7aX1f/s400/trees.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422723907259253458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Debbie Cookies</span></span></i></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The other recipe I tried was from Better Homes and Gardens. These cookies were supposed to remind you of a certain famous coconut and almond candy bar. The flavor was close, but almost too sweet. The almond flavor was over whelmed by the sweet coconut. The biggest disappointment was the chocolate topping. I melted the bittersweet chocolate as instructed, but it never really set up once it was on the bars. I tucked it into the fridge and the chocolate got so hard you couldn’t cut it without breaking even after setting out for about 30 minutes. I couldn’t help thinking there had to be a better way to do this…maybe something like almond -coconut tassies? More work than a bar cookie, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to this recipe, but the current recipe just isn’t working for me…</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">However, these were one of the cookies the rustlers favored - so maybe they were worth making a second batch.</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a id="f:_h" href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/coconut-candy-bars/" title="Here is the original recipe"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Here is the original recipe</span></span></a></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Now here is what I did to change it!</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Coconut and Almond Bar Cookies - Rosie Style!</span></span></b></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Makes 36 bars</span></span></span></b></p><p style="MARGIN-RIGHT:0pt; MARGIN-LEFT:0pt"></p><div id="ingredients"><h4 style="border- margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-weight: normalcolor:initial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">i</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">ngredients</span></i></span></span></h4><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> cups graham cracker crumbs</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1-1/2</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> cup whole almonds, toasted</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1/3</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> cup packed brown sugar</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2/3</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> cup butter, melted</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> 14-ounce package flaked coconut</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> 14-ounce can (1 1/4 cups) sweetened condensed milk</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">12</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> ounces dark chocolate chips</span></span></div><div id="instructions"><h4 style="border- margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-weight: normalcolor:initial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">directions</span></i></span></span></h4><p style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-color:initial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1.</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, leaving enough hanging over the edge to form a cookie sling. Place graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup of the almonds, and the brown sugar in a food processor. Cover and process until almonds are finely chopped. Add butter; cover and pulse with four or five on-off turns or until mixture is well combined. Press crumb mixture onto bottom of the ungreased, lined baking pan. Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes. Allow to cool until just warm to the touch.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-color:initial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2.</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> Combine coconut and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl. Spread mixture evenly over crust. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup almonds evenly over coconut layer. Now sprinkle the chocolate pieces on top of the almonds and coconut. Bake for 10 minutes.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-color:initial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">3.</span></span></b><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> As soon as you remove the pan from the oven, spread the now-melted chocolate chips evenly over top of baked bars. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. (If desired, chill in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.) Once cooled, but before the chocolate gets really hard, pull the bars out of the baking dish using the foil sling. Using a long sharp knife,cut into bars. If your chocolate is too hard, score it with a paring knife along your intended paths of destruction to encourage even breaks. And if you try everything and they still come out looking crappy - the taste will be just fine. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-color:initial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">To store</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">: Place bars in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Let stand for 30 minutes before serving.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-color:initial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Reasons why I think my version is better:</span></b></span></p><p style="margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-color: initial"></p><ol><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> I use one less bowl. Less clean up means more time to drink.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> I use a single bag of chocolate chips. It means you spend less and you don't have a half bag of chips looking for a use - or ending up as snacks which don't really taste good with pina coldas .</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The chocolate is thinner and allows for easy cutting.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The foil sling lets you liberate your pan for another batch of cookie. I don't know about you, but I only have two 13x9x2-inch pans and they are in constant use during cookie season.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> I remove a whole step by melting the chocolate on top of the cookies instead of in another bowl. Why is this important? See reason 1.</span></span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If anyone would like any of this year's cookie recipes, please let me know. I will be happy to share them with you!</span></span></div></div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-85591118329113408622010-01-03T20:11:00.005-05:002010-01-03T20:25:36.352-05:00I know...I know...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphapDtKO6KXFeoMZ9dZhF573zgp0shrybh5Zy9NcF4VDx2ppmlWM-BqegsFDzsmz6lba7LqdMHhHvsHuQ8JFEN6igtlNgEyBOkCSOMdSS464jQMH2-Deg1ER7_oz6RHGqV5qm/s1600-h/table.jpg"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m-fHTU_EHf6s7yh9-uoyPkIEFAj5OdkIcOGJLw5iEPdUkSdJQkB2jc7pzSaFZo5m0Svjb8MHzjdZJGbCiW-LPYPbM5B0aRezJPhTOLnZmR8CDN0FIMGHiDUC7T6HaBx-mzw3/s1600-h/stove.jpg"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTrnGt4KfjNMPoFwEmvxulK_wGxQ468y9TS6lJqKjgizmREn0YsEBr39tCnZHmTAqx0q9hSW4KjwPed2mY3gtz8up91kbu8o-CngWD_OKwxVBJBPSpbu1-efLyh2-n_7GBLKo/s1600-h/fridge.jpg"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwqAfN2ioARKf5CVlrXUxQX59NATXCQcb92GKYwTGK2PNUt_ywg-0nME9MTIzLiF_h0kmfa081zDhwRvdcXSAOcuAaEFmrkg_A3iJZNwWVq_V1vKjKNuZ5S7L1p4Hzsox5Bx-/s1600-h/cupbaords.jpg"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know its been a long time since I last posted. To be truthful, I've been having a lot of fun doing stuff instead of writing about doing it. Selfish...totally selfish. Sorry if that hurts anyone's feelings, but there it is.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqXfs2u55nl7yLTyO5nuI8BesNWC1v6XtHBzeRXbSIMK4K6YN2UN29EmtGCgbij_r2XezxplvLkWul2i-ASlHW7oQMIDaiDDqRf0lkwt1voE1ow1qRWuzDGnXOnEiCDz7tDh-/s1600-h/table.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></a><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I still don't quite have the new kitchen up to snuff, but damn...the room...I even have my kitchen bitch Tony slaving along side of me without stepping on each other's toes. Hell, even when the Cookie Confab met up we still had plenty of room with three cooks baking away. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First things first - I finally got Annie to loan me her camera. Mine is still conveniently MIA - being held hostage by the Underwear Gnomes I wouldn't doubt. You damn gnomes cannot have my lacey underalls!!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let me give you a tour of the new digs:</span></span></span></span></div><span><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is my new “kitchen” table. I got it at a used office supply place with the original intention of using it in the basement. However, once I got it home, the kitchen seemed like a perfect location. Its sturdy – I had Annie sit on it and hop around. Not a wiggle. Plus I love “putty” as a kitchen color theme, don’t you? Oh and the drawer holds 500 sheets of parchment paper! Ding Ding Ding!! Jackpot!!!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphapDtKO6KXFeoMZ9dZhF573zgp0shrybh5Zy9NcF4VDx2ppmlWM-BqegsFDzsmz6lba7LqdMHhHvsHuQ8JFEN6igtlNgEyBOkCSOMdSS464jQMH2-Deg1ER7_oz6RHGqV5qm/s1600-h/table.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphapDtKO6KXFeoMZ9dZhF573zgp0shrybh5Zy9NcF4VDx2ppmlWM-BqegsFDzsmz6lba7LqdMHhHvsHuQ8JFEN6igtlNgEyBOkCSOMdSS464jQMH2-Deg1ER7_oz6RHGqV5qm/s400/table.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422688349099596802" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I added three really heavy duty bar stools I rescued from a thrift store. I had Tony hop around on these – still no wiggling. True, they are a little tall for the table, but are perfect for working at the sink or other counter tops.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is my new stove. I know you were expecting something high end – maybe a Viking or something like that. Nope. Here is the best thing about this stove: It works. The stove at my old place was a no name, cheap-assed electric range. It probably worked fine when it was new – 30+ years ago! Towards the end the oven would vary up to 50 degrees and two of the stovetop elements would barely work. It’s one of the reasons why I stopped cooking at home and started eating out so much. It was depressing to get things prepped only to have them burst into flames halfway through baking time.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m-fHTU_EHf6s7yh9-uoyPkIEFAj5OdkIcOGJLw5iEPdUkSdJQkB2jc7pzSaFZo5m0Svjb8MHzjdZJGbCiW-LPYPbM5B0aRezJPhTOLnZmR8CDN0FIMGHiDUC7T6HaBx-mzw3/s1600-h/stove.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m-fHTU_EHf6s7yh9-uoyPkIEFAj5OdkIcOGJLw5iEPdUkSdJQkB2jc7pzSaFZo5m0Svjb8MHzjdZJGbCiW-LPYPbM5B0aRezJPhTOLnZmR8CDN0FIMGHiDUC7T6HaBx-mzw3/s400/stove.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422688340533035730" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These are my cupboards. I think the term you are looking for is “retro” – not damn old. They may be a bit dated but I love them. They remind me of the cupboards in my mother’s kitchen – even down to the handles. Yeah they may be old, but to get the same quality of wood and construction in new cabinets, I would have to spend a small fortune. No MDFB here baby!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwqAfN2ioARKf5CVlrXUxQX59NATXCQcb92GKYwTGK2PNUt_ywg-0nME9MTIzLiF_h0kmfa081zDhwRvdcXSAOcuAaEFmrkg_A3iJZNwWVq_V1vKjKNuZ5S7L1p4Hzsox5Bx-/s1600-h/cupbaords.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwqAfN2ioARKf5CVlrXUxQX59NATXCQcb92GKYwTGK2PNUt_ywg-0nME9MTIzLiF_h0kmfa081zDhwRvdcXSAOcuAaEFmrkg_A3iJZNwWVq_V1vKjKNuZ5S7L1p4Hzsox5Bx-/s400/cupbaords.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422688329866490994" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And this is my fridge. Once again – nothing fancy, but it works!! It doesn’t leak water all over the inside, the stuff in the freezer stays frozen and it doesn’t wheeze like an old steam engine every time the compressor comes on.</span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTrnGt4KfjNMPoFwEmvxulK_wGxQ468y9TS6lJqKjgizmREn0YsEBr39tCnZHmTAqx0q9hSW4KjwPed2mY3gtz8up91kbu8o-CngWD_OKwxVBJBPSpbu1-efLyh2-n_7GBLKo/s1600-h/fridge.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTrnGt4KfjNMPoFwEmvxulK_wGxQ468y9TS6lJqKjgizmREn0YsEBr39tCnZHmTAqx0q9hSW4KjwPed2mY3gtz8up91kbu8o-CngWD_OKwxVBJBPSpbu1-efLyh2-n_7GBLKo/s400/fridge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422688333962916018" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And last but not least - I now have a kitchen mascot! His name is Jim Swine. Loving crafted by my daughter, he holds a place of honor on top of our fridge.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYsP8iWR_dLYhsJlitMY_6eHfohj97nexg8sdKz2Ybi2x_aJPowuUcwoq_36i8wTGvwZ285TNys_wJhD-9wTdcpoZVvPXDQRx2F0rEV_iiJW_6VOOzTs4RHRi9xv9jBfilpqx/s400/jim.jpg" /></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You will get to see more of this facility as I get back into cooking. I am more interested in function than fashion – so don’t expect me to worry about how pretty something is as long as it works.</span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Next Time: The 2009 Cookie Confab!</span></b></span></p></span></div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-62156469897914058012009-11-30T10:39:00.001-05:002009-11-30T10:39:31.584-05:00more news from the homefront...While I am soooooooooo happy to be in my new home, I had forgotten what a royal pain it is to pack everything you own into boxes and bags, have strangers thrust it into the back fo their truck, then have to spend time unwrapping every item and trying to decide why you brought it with you in the first place...<br><div><br></div><div>The bad news is that I haven't found my camera yet, so no pictures of my glorious new kitchen for you guys yet. I am in the process of convining my daughter to let me borrow hers long term. So far she is pointing to Christmas sales fliers and telling me what good deals are to be had. I then point out the house and tell her that i already got my good deal, so cough it up!</div><div><br></div><div>Ah Tony Bourdain - too bad I didn't know you were coming to town or I would have gotten you drunk and taken you..about the town for a tour! Yeah that's it! I would have shown you our giant ears of concrete corn, poker with a bunch of rednecks, and Hound Dog's at 4 am. It would have been magical, Tony and you missed it...</div><div><br></div><div>A couple folks mentioned having heard my dulcet tones asking about the secret Chinese menu and ratting out my daughter for the coward she is. I even heard one lone voice ring out with "Rosie!" from the balcony. That you for remembering your humble blogger...</div><div><br></div><div>Other exciting news: Thanksgiving went well. I am still getting the hang of cooking with appliances that actually work the way they are supposed to, but all told I was pleased. I made my <a id="vjf2" href="http://rosieskitchen.blogspot.com/2005/11/gobble-gobble-ya-big-turkey.html" title="Leftover Turkey Soup">Leftover Turkey Soup</a> last night thus signalling the end of Thanksgiving.</div><div><br></div><div>I am trying to organize the 2009 Cookie Confab and I'll let you know more about that later.</div><div><br></div><div>So I am off to unpack a few more boxes of stuff and to look for the missing camera.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-21303541511914489392009-11-21T07:09:00.002-05:002009-11-21T07:28:01.948-05:00Where I have been...We bought a house!! With a real kitchen...that has a real fridge...and a real GAS stove...and room for all my cooking equipment that has been in storage for years. I didn't want to say anything because I was afraid to jinx the process - I try to be a rational human being most of the time but occasionally the superstitious part of me rears its head.<div><br /></div><div>We purchased our house through <a href="http://www.chpcolumbus.org/">The Columbus Housing Partnership</a> and <a href="http://homeportcolumbus.com/">Homeport</a>, two non-profit organizations that help first time home buyers find affordable housing. I hope to be detailing our experiences with the process for you. Who knows? Maybe it will help someone else find a home they can own too...<br /><div><br /></div><div>We just got internet back this week so I hope to be posting a bit more regularly now that the holidays are upon us.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now its off to work and then to see Tony Bourdain speak tonight. Yeah me!</div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-43110087644883481842009-10-23T09:42:00.001-04:002009-10-23T09:42:29.019-04:00100 Days of holiday cookies<script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4a7736efb98ba01e/4ae1b2c29cbb2047/4a7736efb98ba01e/954c665c/widget.js"></script>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-25754614246705219452009-10-23T09:37:00.002-04:002009-10-23T09:39:56.760-04:00I've been hiding...I am sorry about not posting lately. It's because I have a secret. I can't tell yet...but soon, very soon.<div><br /></div><div>Since it is coming time for the 2009 Cookie Confab, I thought I would add a cookie widjet from Better Homes and Gardens to keep you amused.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next week I can tell you more...I promise!!</div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-42402124989088232752009-10-20T10:16:00.003-04:002009-10-20T10:29:33.708-04:00Say it ain't so!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Smackie's restaurant is no more...</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I received this in response to an email I sent earlier this week.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Hey Rosie.<br />We had to close Smackies, but the same recipes are being served on the corner of James and Broad in a trailer. Open thurs-sun. But don't mistake it for the new BBQ joint called smoke shack BBQ going into the old Sammies bagels right next to us, that is not it.<br /><br />thanks for the support.<br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br />James Anderson</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So now yah know. I will have to be making a trip for my que now...</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-71364727112121716372009-10-06T09:45:00.003-04:002009-10-06T09:56:50.424-04:00A reminder! - a free stuff!!!Forking Fantastic hits the bookstores today!!! Yeah Zora!! Yeah Tamra!! You guys need to pick up a copy asap so you can get started on all your parties...<div><br /></div><div>In case you didn't hear about it - the FTC is now saying <a href="http://www.mahalo.com/ftc-blogging-rules">all bloggers have to tell you when they get swag</a> for doing reviews. Well, not only did I get some swag for reviewing this book- you can too!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Starting today, the person who sends me the best "party tip" will be in line to receive his/her very own copy of Forking Fantastic. You have until Sunday night (that is October 11th). So get crackin' by crackie! </div><div><br /></div><div>To start you off - here is one of my rules: If a off duty stripper shows up and starts flashing everyone, snap pictures before you toss her out!</div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-63127769074163829032009-09-30T14:48:00.000-04:002009-09-30T14:49:18.705-04:00Could it be true??!!!!<a href="http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/clintonville/stories/2009/09/23/Nancys_is_back.html?sid=104">Nancy's could be making a come back... </a><div><br /></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-17279676792502796442009-09-24T01:45:00.002-04:002009-09-24T01:49:52.057-04:00A new tome for the archives: Forking Fantastic by Zora O'Neill and Tamara Reynolds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg7-UPwTiA1Z4GKzHiR2NIZfxFQp4zWhq2g32toRURCQFxarg3pWQiFrubg2IjWH_v3cqvFllJ0uECn7rMS_mQKZ0mdOzpDrui3QO5ZOv-MEU6WnQWNnsOh1dTc6TQLkjf9kp/s1600-h/ffcovertilt.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipg7-UPwTiA1Z4GKzHiR2NIZfxFQp4zWhq2g32toRURCQFxarg3pWQiFrubg2IjWH_v3cqvFllJ0uECn7rMS_mQKZ0mdOzpDrui3QO5ZOv-MEU6WnQWNnsOh1dTc6TQLkjf9kp/s320/ffcovertilt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384907051208630418" /></a><br /><div>It's not often that I will tell you I have laughed out loud while reading a cookbook. Occasionally a chuckle, or a snort of derision, but rarely because it is over-the-top had to read it out loud to the hubby "oh my gawd - this is awesome you gotta hear this" funny. I can't say that anymore. Enter into my life Forking Fantastic. (Yes, I snuck a preview copy in when you weren't looking!)</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Forking Fantastic is a book about hosting dinner parties. We are not talking about those old fashioned granny parties with the good china, better posture, fancy duds and Miss Manners glaring over your shoulder. This book is about inviting people into your life, cooking for them, getting drunk with them and having a great time while doing it all . The best part is that the authors of Forking Fantastic, Zora O'Niell and Tamara Reynolds are experts at doing just that. </div><div><br /></div><div> I could go into extended detail about their food pedigree - how they meet while working at Prune and had an intense bonding moment over dinner one night -how they started cooking together, how they invited friends over to eat and eventually became the organizers of a Sunday Night Cooking Club dedicated to food, wine, laughter and song. It sounds pretty damn awesome doesn't it? The good news is - Zora and Tamara (can I be on a first name basis here ladies?) actually tell you all about the history of their love of food, how the party got started and how they keep it going - and they are much better at telling their story than I could ever be.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the writing - My bout of hysterics were brought about by two factors. </div><div><br /></div><div>First: this book is brilliantly written. Engaging, witty, naughty, down-to-earth, sassy...ummmm where is that thesaurus? A couple lines that tickeled me.</div><div><br /></div><div>On vegetarians: <i>"Our vision of vegetarianism, at least, includes a bacon exemption..."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>In the intro to Spanish tortilla with saffron: <i>"... Zora learned the technique from a Spaniard, as payback for teaching him the invaluable idiom <b>booty call</b>."</i> (Zora, sweetie, we need to hear more about that! Where should I bring the wine?)</div><div><br /></div><div>The second reason: These ladies are on the ball. Long time readers will know that once to twice a month I cook for anywhere from 10-20 people and speaking from experience, I can tell these women know how to rock large scale cooking in the home kitchen. </div><div><br /></div><div>And they don't just talk recipes - they hit on logistics, organization, prep work, where and how to wrangle supplies so you don't break the budget - oh, and how to get people to "feed the kitty" AND bring a bottle of wine to boot. They are willing to tell you why something worked - and why some things things don't or can't or simple won't. The first part of this book is there so you don't have to make their mistakes - and you get to laugh with (yes, <i><b>with</b>...</i>be nice...) them while they tell you about their misadventures.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now on to the recipes... </div><div><br /></div><div>I will confess I have not had the opportunity to test any recipes yet. (The better part of my kitchen is in boxes - you all will find out why in about a month...) I want to - oh boy, how I want to. Zora and Tamara ease you into the game with a few iron clad winners like roast chicken and pot roast. They include side dishes that work with the main course - not just because of the flavors, but logistically as well. At the beginning of each menu there is a action plan that gives you marching orders on how to execute your feast so that you don't rend your garments and lament openly on your front lawn because you were the victim of your own poor planning. After you try a few of their fool proofed menus - there is even more...</div><div><br /></div><div>Feeling spunky? How about fried chicken for 30 people? Or a whole spit-roasted lamb? No kidding folks - there are even instructions on how to truss up the lamb to the spit so it doesn't descend into the flames of the fire pit you built (once again - instructions included).</div><div><br /></div><div>When I finally get my kitchen back I am going for the "Fall Means Ham" menu. (A whole on the bone ham is one of the great party foods - there is something primal about bringing out a hunk of roast beast and putting it on the table with a nice big knife...then getting everyone likkered up.) In addition to the ham with a bourbon-brown sugar glaze, the menu includes sides such as potato and turnip casserole, roasted fennel with black olives, bitter green salad and apple spice cake for dessert. Seasonal, affordable and tasty. </div><div><br /></div><div>Forking Fantastic hasn't been unleashed upon the unsuspecting yet. It will take the world by storm on October 6th, but you can <a id="mwch" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592405053/rovinggastron-20" title="pre-order it on amazon">pre-order it on Amazon</a> or from you friendly local book purveyor. It's only $20!! It is cheap at twice the price!! What are you waiting for?!!</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime to get your appetites whetted while you are waiting for your copy to arrive, you can check out the porn on <a id="f23j" href="http://oneasskitchen.blogspot.com/" title="Tamara's blog">Tamara's blog</a> or watch the <a id="nu_2" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvhmawlrGyI" title="YouTube video">YouTube video</a> of them cooking some fantastic looking mole. Oh...and <a id="jakt" href="http://www.forkingfantastic.com/" title="they are going to have a website">they are going to have a website</a> that will go live on October 6th - so make sure you head over and check it out...</div><div><br /></div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-7780484865517112302009-09-08T10:05:00.014-04:002009-09-16T21:09:42.357-04:00BBQ - St. Louis and Kasas City<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I am going to preface this part of my blog by saying that bbq is a deeply personal subject for most people. I imagine that there have been Hatfield/McCoy type feuds about whose ‘que is the best and while I am a woman of strong opinions, I would prefer not to meet any pissed off ‘que fan with a shotgun in an alley anytime soon…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here in town, I’ve eaten ‘que at the two big chains –Hoggy’s and City BBQ. City BBQ and Hoggy’s ain’t that bad…but they ain’t that great either. They are acceptable bbq. If it was all I could get, I would be fine with that. However, I know that there is extraordinary ‘que to be had. I would rather wait for great than settle for O.K.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />(My current in-town favorite is Smackie’s. You’ve heard me sing their praises before, so I won’t belt out that tune here.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />In St. Louis, there is a chain called Bandana’s. It is the equivalent of Hoggy’s - acceptable, but not the greatest. Every time I’ve been to St. Louis, this is the only place anyone could tell me had good bbq. However, this time I got to venture out into the surrounding area and went to Roper’s Ribs. Tate, who you know through last year’s adventure at Comic-con, did some research and wanted to visit Roper’s.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD9VykE1fle6P6QWokkltHWVctxWg4FDtGFN5s72bmol8YqzVzZvuRv7YDhyiqVxixuwQ8g-DknL6Uc5WAbq6Z0rn_1dxuTK1NmVcsWRkCLYdkQREYHfBRZU_4bY6BH19I4pp/s1600-h/ropersign.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD9VykE1fle6P6QWokkltHWVctxWg4FDtGFN5s72bmol8YqzVzZvuRv7YDhyiqVxixuwQ8g-DknL6Uc5WAbq6Z0rn_1dxuTK1NmVcsWRkCLYdkQREYHfBRZU_4bY6BH19I4pp/s320/ropersign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381326126574323922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Smokin' in the front...</span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_GXng6IujbzZBh1-Y5X119eEQxnPLmMbxKgBZIr0CaSLRBGXEfq0bgNIyNRVoi2EzAImgk2CiUatxNt3bHHqLTWr4C6pak8hdpnQM2AGlfok77p8jpvlsRGpzwjfOkKdIRjW/s1600-h/roperssmoker.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_GXng6IujbzZBh1-Y5X119eEQxnPLmMbxKgBZIr0CaSLRBGXEfq0bgNIyNRVoi2EzAImgk2CiUatxNt3bHHqLTWr4C6pak8hdpnQM2AGlfok77p8jpvlsRGpzwjfOkKdIRjW/s320/roperssmoker.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381328725944875650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 277px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And in the back...</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.ropersribs.com/">Roper’s</a> is a tiny place north of St. Louis proper. There are three 4-tops, and an order window. This was obviously a place designed for carry out. On the walls, there are autographed pictures of celebrities proclaiming their undying love for Roper’s Ribs and a picture menu featuring all the items you can order.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Qs65jtmGunDsLMnsGelUHEosdBvgx-AuE87-u2_oMIVTC1RH6WIorKRDt757Mo95Eq09QEEQnQXDiFjfW91uqJAsGhjbFqLlsGMOLmxCK_s9jeXQHOJcNqwazQvj5gDdTKQ_/s1600-h/ropersorderwindow.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Qs65jtmGunDsLMnsGelUHEosdBvgx-AuE87-u2_oMIVTC1RH6WIorKRDt757Mo95Eq09QEEQnQXDiFjfW91uqJAsGhjbFqLlsGMOLmxCK_s9jeXQHOJcNqwazQvj5gDdTKQ_/s320/ropersorderwindow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381326139963827010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Check out that menu. It was torture while we were waiting...</span></span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I wish I lived closer to St. Louis, because there is no way you can eat everything on Roper’s menu in one visit. They have an amazing array of goodie – including deep fried shrimp, snouts, ribs, rib tips, and brisket to name a few. Tate and I stared open mouthed for a few minutes while the two guys in front of us ordered. We finally settled on a rack of St. Louis style ribs, a brisket sandwich and rib tips.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHFEABww4Cbd4crGwaS54hUdJ0ZJF5iGDgGtDSDDpR2xPL3Kj7DiGPyuDyocYhJFZhw3rJE71CqAScIxj8U-o6wM5b6cutXiCttl2lGKS4pTq8EPmcD5iXtNq4_fBVxPpttqP/s1600-h/roperribs.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHFEABww4Cbd4crGwaS54hUdJ0ZJF5iGDgGtDSDDpR2xPL3Kj7DiGPyuDyocYhJFZhw3rJE71CqAScIxj8U-o6wM5b6cutXiCttl2lGKS4pTq8EPmcD5iXtNq4_fBVxPpttqP/s320/roperribs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381326119560610354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 264px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8soTnQ8CV2lMa5_ao-NPJ7Q9swXH7dCqGxojMTbwSLzwaTpR6hIrdTLaI_ckoA0OAnW5JGpTUPCNOtqnnau13oRRL-M3toDY3wLowgSBKZu94kZmf0oJuKiw9aDORIj47Oje/s1600-h/ropersribtips.jpg"></a>Back at the hotel, we popped open the containers and started in. I love ribs. The St. Louis cut is my preferred style and these were truly excellent. They were cooked until done, but not overdone and soft. The sauce was a nice balance of tomato, sweet, sour and spicy. The tips were the same way – If you like to gnaw around the cartilage on a big slab of ribs, then rib tips are for you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8soTnQ8CV2lMa5_ao-NPJ7Q9swXH7dCqGxojMTbwSLzwaTpR6hIrdTLaI_ckoA0OAnW5JGpTUPCNOtqnnau13oRRL-M3toDY3wLowgSBKZu94kZmf0oJuKiw9aDORIj47Oje/s1600-h/ropersribtips.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8soTnQ8CV2lMa5_ao-NPJ7Q9swXH7dCqGxojMTbwSLzwaTpR6hIrdTLaI_ckoA0OAnW5JGpTUPCNOtqnnau13oRRL-M3toDY3wLowgSBKZu94kZmf0oJuKiw9aDORIj47Oje/s320/ropersribtips.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381326146340097506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Tips.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Tate ate the brisket. He said the flavor was good, but he disliked the way it was thin sliced – almost like a deli meat. We are used to chunks of brisket like we eat at Smackie’s, so we decided we were not qualified to rule on the brisket.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />Our next stop was Kansas City – both states – MO and KS.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />On our last trip to KC, we went to Rosedale’s. This year we went to two of the big players in town: Oklahoma Joe’s and Gates.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHPlZJqzkYUT4PRwDD_ZQnzLSADdJk9SWTvu-kWpgoky2TuDGnEWBkKASoMuRDI8Sw1YGMt8ldUsD8zHY9IZ9NIV_LoDNRmfzI_YCbnxqDQlI1WNQ1L5kKcs_kw-CHGGSIKKe/s1600-h/joessign.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHPlZJqzkYUT4PRwDD_ZQnzLSADdJk9SWTvu-kWpgoky2TuDGnEWBkKASoMuRDI8Sw1YGMt8ldUsD8zHY9IZ9NIV_LoDNRmfzI_YCbnxqDQlI1WNQ1L5kKcs_kw-CHGGSIKKe/s320/joessign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382228518552421682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">BBQ and Gas!!</span></span></i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/">Oklahoma Joe’s</a> first. This ‘que joint was on <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/bestfoods/food_features/13_Places_to_Eat_Before_You_Die.php">Anthony Bourdain’s “13 places to eat before you die”</a> list for Men’s Health magazine. This is why Tate was absolutely adamant that we go. This restaurant is really in a gas station. (I am beginning to think that being in a gas station may be one of the hallmarks of a good “joint”. Thank you, Diner, Drive-ins and Dives!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and coleslaw on the side. Tate ordered a combo plate that had ribs and brisket.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />The pulled pork was good. Moist and perfectly done, lightly sauced with their house sauce. (I was not offered a choice of sauces at the counter.) I added a little more of their “Night of the Living Sauce”. Most folks would find “the Living Sauce” fairly high on the heat scale, but for our group it was just warm.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg893GSiN4hEhNNJhMbgFMadWL1RZxNP6rm4MsT_crddbf6Ja6yjwiOZSj7wrhd-tWKyGKBLb0ipSWLOL55pzlfxsG0El8cO4F65zYYbHY9CsSY_ewrORJVP_s2Ys94jzf1yEAm/s1600-h/happytate.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg893GSiN4hEhNNJhMbgFMadWL1RZxNP6rm4MsT_crddbf6Ja6yjwiOZSj7wrhd-tWKyGKBLb0ipSWLOL55pzlfxsG0El8cO4F65zYYbHY9CsSY_ewrORJVP_s2Ys94jzf1yEAm/s320/happytate.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382228522120605250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is as happy as Tate ever looks...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">and it took eating some very nice red beans and rice to do it...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Tate traded me a bone for a bite of my sandwich. The meat on my rib was too soft and over done. I have teeth and like to get a little resistance when I pull the meat off the bone. This fell off with the first bite and got sauce all over my top – naughty naughty. Tate’s ribs came in two parts: the larger ribs and a smaller end. The large part was overdone, but the smaller end was perfect and tasted fantastic. That’s not a good sign to me… I like consistency in my ribs…</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TS7gPFowg86sROLgAgvlW29pE2zv0DVDoWq8ThigEfMS2fBL1rDzkVzMk-NnIE4URI-Ti2Cva1EpajaaCAI7rPsGM2-eV8tFBlq8mVYu8pgAJmlQWYVZVvDk4ZFWs9O6wjIa/s1600-h/joeribbrisket.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TS7gPFowg86sROLgAgvlW29pE2zv0DVDoWq8ThigEfMS2fBL1rDzkVzMk-NnIE4URI-Ti2Cva1EpajaaCAI7rPsGM2-eV8tFBlq8mVYu8pgAJmlQWYVZVvDk4ZFWs9O6wjIa/s320/joeribbrisket.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382228532277240946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So would I put this on my list of places to eat before you die? Probably not - there was no life changing revelation about ‘que that would put this restaurant onto my list. I did, however, have that moment when I went to Allen and Sons and had Carolina pulled pork for the first time. It seems to me that KC ‘que is all about the sauce. Carolina ‘que was more about the pig – the sauce enhances the sweetness of the pork and the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Oklahoma Joe’s was some inconsistent meat with a pretty decent sauce on top.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Last on the list was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.gatesbbq.com/">Gates and Sons BBQ</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">. Along with Arthur Bryant’s, this ‘que joint is a KC institution. I understand that most folks in KC fall into one of the two camps. Gates and Sons has the traditional tomato based sauce, with a balance of sweet, spicy and sour. Arthur Bryant’s (according to our friends who live in KC) is a little more vinegary.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy4K2iIlOG2Wg5CWf6nf7g4T9tZjWG7AVU0YT4qslK-jaV8y9MS7SHOsJh1UjWYdU9G6obfZBaN2VuW8Kcc72pt98GVAlQ72bRsPVR2RY4kALNqH6G9oFFrHh4ZOGKSaJG4dc/s1600-h/gatessigns.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLy4K2iIlOG2Wg5CWf6nf7g4T9tZjWG7AVU0YT4qslK-jaV8y9MS7SHOsJh1UjWYdU9G6obfZBaN2VuW8Kcc72pt98GVAlQ72bRsPVR2RY4kALNqH6G9oFFrHh4ZOGKSaJG4dc/s320/gatessigns.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382229809544204210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Even if Gates is not your cup of ‘que, you have to go for the experience. The order taker belts out “Can I take your order?” and then relays your request back to the kitchen staff all at the same 100 decibels. This place is not for the timid. Jason and Bryan, our friends from KC, were all excited to see how high we would jump upon entering. Fortunately for us, we are not easily frightened. Otherwise we would never have heard the end of it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9dsYlYe-YZmxdGD0fOsUIMrfbzu0_RJhNNIpHmGYDFvHEm9bswdvwkZgCzkz04jSXo-MoYRGaTN_SIWcy37b0yGJYl9GTY4dF26ZrRjAKXo-HoIfNv-k2kXHA-prk_-RkVHK/s1600-h/gateshalfsand.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9dsYlYe-YZmxdGD0fOsUIMrfbzu0_RJhNNIpHmGYDFvHEm9bswdvwkZgCzkz04jSXo-MoYRGaTN_SIWcy37b0yGJYl9GTY4dF26ZrRjAKXo-HoIfNv-k2kXHA-prk_-RkVHK/s320/gateshalfsand.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382229803469889058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Half and half sandwich</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I once again got a pulled pork sandwich (see a trend?). I had wanted some burnt ends, but we had spent too long in the <a href="http://www.ustmagic.com/cgi-bin/ustmagic_cgi.sh/WService=ustmagic/ustmagic.com/magic/default.htm">US Toys Magic Shop</a>, which is right next door. The rule is – get there early for the burnt ends, ‘cuz when they are gone, they are gone. (Damn you magic people and your penchant for prolonged discussions about sponge bunnies!) Tony got a half and half sandwich consisting of ham and brisket and Tate decided to go whole hog (so to speak) and order the Four Bone combo which had ham, four ribs, brisket and two sides for $20.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFAeq6vFcLMays-9j3pYm4nCGxDvzPVBFNGAstFLQczPDxsd36yQpDfFM_2PNxuAVwrhfdMvhJXNgMCtlIEOJ74XL9rZTtvYAlkzX4awK4llA_cCMx2jzJTxlFfWryKdY3wgQ/s1600-h/gates4bone.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFAeq6vFcLMays-9j3pYm4nCGxDvzPVBFNGAstFLQczPDxsd36yQpDfFM_2PNxuAVwrhfdMvhJXNgMCtlIEOJ74XL9rZTtvYAlkzX4awK4llA_cCMx2jzJTxlFfWryKdY3wgQ/s320/gates4bone.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382230555747589618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">F</span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">our bone platter</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Gates and Sons cuts your meat to order, so when the order taker screams back what you want, they fish out the appropriate chuck of protein and cut away. My pulled pork was done correctly, moist and not too soft. It was not sauced before serving. I added their spicy sauce at the table.<br />Tony’s sandwich was really awesome. It was served on plain white poofy bread, but I am not going to hold that against it. Barbequed ham is really tasty and when piled up with the brisket – mmmmmmm. I am going to have to try replicating the ham at home soon.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtvmZGZFyZkFrCvg-VJOutdVQvkIDRgj424GfEy80Qem-Y_a96JgXCw9bCmohgP-3FEAvoh0TnaRWedUIcZ8PjcGh2rvRHDLD1wuY6-Z5LbT2jpk0-0ckau-oXkI8rtDAve39/s1600-h/gatespulled.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtvmZGZFyZkFrCvg-VJOutdVQvkIDRgj424GfEy80Qem-Y_a96JgXCw9bCmohgP-3FEAvoh0TnaRWedUIcZ8PjcGh2rvRHDLD1wuY6-Z5LbT2jpk0-0ckau-oXkI8rtDAve39/s320/gatespulled.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382230550688895970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pulled Pork with French Fries. </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The fries were really strange - like mashed potatoes in a crispy crust. </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not bad, but strange.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Tate traded me a bone for some of the pulled pork. The meat has some tooth to it without being tough. Tate was not too thrilled with the ribs because there were some small slivers of bone along the top edge of ribs. He did like the ham, but once again refused to rate the brisket because of the way it was sliced.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />I had heard from other folks in town that we talked to that they did not like the meat at Gates because it was too tough, but loved the sauce. The sauce was a nice middle of the road tomato based sauce. The spicy sauce was decent, but not quite as good as the sauce from Oklahoma Joe’s.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />If I had to, I would eat at Gates again. It was pretty good and the experience made it all the more fun.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />So who was better Gates or Oklahoma Joe’s? Wow that is hard question…</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />If I had to go by sauce, it would be Joe’s. If I had to go by meat, I would pick Gates (mostly because the product was consistent, if the ribs had been perfect, it would have been Joe's hands down).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />The next question is – if I had a craving for KC style ‘que where would I drive to for satisfaction?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />I would say the winner would be Roper’s Ribs in St. Louis. Sorry KC!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">S</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">ide note:</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> For me, the perfect side dish for barbeque is cole slaw. And I am super picky about it too. Slaw should be cool and creamy, not watery, with a nice balance of salt, sweet and vinegar over top of crisp cabbage. I ate cole slaw at all three places mentioned above but my favorite was at Oklahoma Joe’s. The dressing was dead on and was not too gloppy. The cabbage was shredded rather large and held a nice crunch. The slaw at Roper’s was good, but not outstanding. Gates was good as far as dressing and consistency, but had green pepper in it – which I did not like. The green pepper flavor dominated the cabbage. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.ropersribs.com/">Roper's Ribs</a></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="street-address"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6929 W Florissant Ave</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="locality"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">St Louis</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span><span class="region"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">MO</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/zip/28/63136/St-Louis-restaurants.html" class="quiet-link postal-code" style="text-decoration: none; color: black; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(1, 68, 167); border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">63136</a></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/28/321960/restaurant/St-Louis/North/Ropers-Ribs-St-Louis"><img alt="Roper's Ribs on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/321960/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><b><a href="http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/">Oklahoma Joe's Barbeque</a></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial;"><span class="street-address"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3002 W 47th Ave</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="locality"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kansas City</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><span class="region"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">KS</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/zip/34/66103/Kansas-City-restaurants.html" class="quiet-link postal-code" style="text-decoration: none; color: black; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(1, 68, 167); border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">66103</a></span></span></span></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/34/381556/restaurant/Argentine-Rosedale/Oklahoma-Joes-Barbecue-Kansas-City-Kansas-City"><img alt="Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue (Kansas City) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/381556/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><a href="http://www.gatesbbq.com/">Gates and Sons</a></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, fantasy;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial;"><span class="street-address"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">W 103rd St & State Line Rd</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="locality"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shawnee Mission</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><span class="region"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">KS</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/zip/34/66206/Kansas-City-restaurants.html" class="quiet-link postal-code" style="text-decoration: none; color: black; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(1, 68, 167); border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">66206</a></span></span></b></span></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/34/380780/restaurant/Kansas-City/Leawood/Gates-Sons-Bar-B-Q-Shawnee-Mission"><img alt="Gates & Sons Bar-B-Q on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/380780/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-20024300750095494412009-09-08T09:19:00.008-04:002009-09-09T15:58:29.569-04:00A Tale of Two Chickens: The Second Bird<span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379089880498806962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUxt3oeoAaR2AUpgJYvwVZCX4xrL5V0oRssvh_1QJIEXzRT_mhPf1EFiBTYgzNRGTqnYtCWzPQwbDnfgK9Vsc_8PtZZbNagiPX3kcPRIg6G-TvEDfuMcfpbm3MJW_2qjR1QfE/s400/bobbersign.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Those of you who remember </span><a href="http://rosieskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/08/well-i-know-it-been-long-time-since-i.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">my last trip the KC </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">might remember a mention of Bobbers. It's been two years and Eric, who was our traveling companion on that trip, still talks about the lunch buffet. When we told him we were heading to KC again, he said, “You can stop twice then! Once on the way there and once on the way back!”</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, we only got there once this time, heading back after the massive BBQ-and-fried-chicken-fest that was KC.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Bobber Cafe is a local gathering place - the counter of the coffee shop is held down by a bunch of old farmers who meet there to eat a perfectly executed breakfast and drink pot after pot of coffee while they chew the fat. The parking lot fairly full when we got there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Alas, we arrived too early – the lunch buffet did not start until 11 am and it was only 10 am. Tony and I wanted to wait. Tate, who had never been there, not so much. I think by that point Tate was contemplating where along I-70 he could hide two large bodies. So we cajoled Tate into waiting by plying him with beverages and amusing stories.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379090074094187922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrdOhj2fGH0Sbj3wwf2bBLSpythPM1a9E_BJ9Rlblp5gjOxyDzdJcrqNxeh79AgO7caxLIvjigcN_xngA9DySNyXKPyMTQFuHzlIh-e2UmVdt8kDYsuSdVLsk0FqEEJPR4I6C/s320/pam.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Pam - thank you for everything!</em></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Our waitress, Pam, was intrigued by the fact that we had made Bobbers part of our vacation plans and told the cook in the back about the crazy people from Columbus, Ohio waiting an hour for her food. We could see people peeking out at us from the kitchen. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Thirty minutes later – the cook was putting out the buffet. The regulars thought she had gone offer her rocker – the buffet was never put out early! <em>(I am sorry I do not remember the cook's name - if anyone knows what her name is please let me know so I can record it here!!)</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Turns out – Thursday was fried chicken day. And the buffet gets busy on fried chicken day so I guess it was good we got their early.</span><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379089318497695298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrobSljtZWWGqD5PfGSx1amiX85ABGU1wqUDI1WXRUAU7tIdtogdcmiYSRgp4wc7THYzvcOO9dcbcEuKNzTtESOF7v9EOyQHv-EZx32m632griQsz4_4wRR4b09rIlKE7JrHY/s320/bobbersfried.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> yummmmmmmmmmm - fried chicken</span></em></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The lunch dishes consisted of liver and onions, spaghetti and meat sauce with meatballs (Double your meat, double your pleasure!), fried chicken, and chicken and stuffing. There was also two types of homemade gravy (beef and white), really awesome mashed potatoes, corn, peach cobbler, homemade rolls, a salad bar and chicken noodle soup. And the cost for this amazing display of culinary prowess? Wait for it...wait for it.... $8.95!!! Even if you just went and got one plate, soup and salad, you would still have a deal!</span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14-l9WNJSewtBwVtQJ7DNENn-Vc54M5V418Aagaxf-jutVwfFPm-wWJPtlc9yeSHwrdn_ThqNlafy0zGa_8Vu5Y-gOh6cNCc66xFIpE_haano5dxhSSEVERwwyS8xmyVOwlPu/s1600-h/liver+and+onions.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379090083431063538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14-l9WNJSewtBwVtQJ7DNENn-Vc54M5V418Aagaxf-jutVwfFPm-wWJPtlc9yeSHwrdn_ThqNlafy0zGa_8Vu5Y-gOh6cNCc66xFIpE_haano5dxhSSEVERwwyS8xmyVOwlPu/s320/liver+and+onions.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Looks like hell - tastes like heaven. Real liver and onions...</span></em><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379089333119724738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc6lyWpPlK9vrgnW5nGwSMhz7_G7w3AuFSq5ukADyy5CgsV15SSr7yql8Z-zNKQjbu-eKJYhh_XhWuY3_FproLlk8LCvZY6obbbrHvZ1VRsZdgPt15EhQted9mApwtjAVLhuG/s320/gravy.jpg" border="0" /></span><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Two gravies - the brown one is a beef based gravy.<br />The white is a country style milk gravy with lots of black pepper.<br />Both were excellent over the homemade mashed<br />potatoes lurking in the upper right corner.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Tony and I made the appropriate happy food noises. Tate seemed pleased – I mean he did go back for seconds. I loved the liver and onions – with the perfect mashed potatoes - oh boy! Was that awesome!</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Now to the fried chicken – Can a platter of fried chicken from a $8.95 buffet go toe to toe with Straud's lauded by the likes Zagat and the James Beard foundation? Ummmmmmmm yes. The chicken at Bobbers was just as moist and succulent as the Stroud's chicken. The pieces were smaller, and the Bobbers chicken was not pan fried, but breaded and deep fried. </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">But still, I cannot say that those differences really diminished my enjoyment in any way. Really good food is really good food – no matter how much you pay for it...</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Perfectly executed eats is a pleasure, no matter where you eat it and how much you paid to obtain it, but I have to point out its the staff that really can make or break a restaurant. The waitresses at both Stroud's and Bobbers were diligent, personable and excelled at their professions. The kitchen staff members were perfect in their execution of all the dishes we tried. That means they invested time and effort into learning their craft and they should be praised for the hard work and dedication they put into feeding strangers like me - and probably never hear a "Thank You" or a "Well Done" from those patrons. So if you are happy with the food and the service - please tell the manager. A job well done deserves notice.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">So no matter which chicken you like best - Both Stroud's and Bobbers should be on your list of places to eat in Missouri. I know both are at the top of our list next time we drive to KC . </span></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Bobber Cafe<br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:arial;">16975 B Highway (Exit 103 off of I-70 between St. Louis and Kansas City)<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Boonville, MO 65233</span></p><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/116/878019/restaurant/Columbia/Bobber-Cafe-Boonville"><img alt="Bobber Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/878019/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-91126867591625625032009-09-07T19:48:00.011-04:002009-09-07T20:34:35.451-04:00Too Many Cooks: Blogger Night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtGawJc2-vyD3zbG_3wheO91jG-IJAhCgsMNclHLRm3Lz5uE6PZA02FrjZelBaigx_itPLOckXlDzWMcYxpHIsbflH8cx-JbMQeGDA6YNAR_IBbkAqcSchuuyKR0wXwykjq9T/s1600-h/meanddave.jpg"></a>I just wanted to thank everyone who came out to hear myself and the other bloggers talk about our passions last night. I had a great time meeting everyone and hope to meet up with you again sometime in the near future.<br /><div><div><br />It was nice meeting Nick, Bethia and Zach who I had not had the pleasure of meeting before and I hope we can meet again soon...it's not like we don't have a lot in common...<br /></div><div>As a tease for all those who did not come last night (shame on ya!!), here are some pictures... </div><br /><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0odq77M4C1FQoWk7z3dOqNTzixKbpy0LfGUEVRTIYinpprP60Rjyy3F2qphA3igc569OTswFLzOWhRJQDuE_cNNb8hsQ49GmIpmGwvpmc3rCTfGBw2M2zctTDcucYrYQmrRm/s1600-h/photobloggers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378883068351497282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0odq77M4C1FQoWk7z3dOqNTzixKbpy0LfGUEVRTIYinpprP60Rjyy3F2qphA3igc569OTswFLzOWhRJQDuE_cNNb8hsQ49GmIpmGwvpmc3rCTfGBw2M2zctTDcucYrYQmrRm/s320/photobloggers.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Two bloggers blogging...</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><br /></p></span></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1tySAKYOQokhCLsyPS6GvoruwIMgNzxatA4dYwD0Pjd4ZRQ_BoiN4kywq4IvYfN50knJSgb-1q5g4rQ76n7h6DPLU37T5cHuVAo_vo7KkS8-goKCpoKdsXgfO4IWHxy6PJy1/s1600-h/marmite+pastries.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378883062454901730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1tySAKYOQokhCLsyPS6GvoruwIMgNzxatA4dYwD0Pjd4ZRQ_BoiN4kywq4IvYfN50knJSgb-1q5g4rQ76n7h6DPLU37T5cHuVAo_vo7KkS8-goKCpoKdsXgfO4IWHxy6PJy1/s320/marmite+pastries.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Marmite Danties from HungryWoolf - I liked them alot.<br />The hubby said that he would "hide my body<br />where the hunters won't find it" if I made him try some... </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></span></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378883053697147122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zNbvrAuNEQnT7wdA1NMzUn40voyVh42ikPelwx1y0_w9OsmF6VYV3P5A2oEh3kb_JzkE3OzSuz92LtkoyzNuaB9RwlHOe-vD1_aHRxBe-sS3NJ58VSpykMOprwl3kKZiRO5s/s320/foodplate.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Nick made what I know as "Toad in the Hole" -<br />Lord help me but I can't remember what he called them.<br />(It's my advanced age...sorry Nick!!)</span></em><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA4H5ZZd0F3snODL8JP0r07-mgCgtqXlzFGc9j3HnNL-n5NRzF1_hv0dpV1zG_jXNnAIaiB9ZHVU-5dIn3xRsLeJWi0KnKLvj_acipjkoAGV2qHqD_JwIbNTWpHKeKteqjHhK/s1600-h/davepizza.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378883048940841906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA4H5ZZd0F3snODL8JP0r07-mgCgtqXlzFGc9j3HnNL-n5NRzF1_hv0dpV1zG_jXNnAIaiB9ZHVU-5dIn3xRsLeJWi0KnKLvj_acipjkoAGV2qHqD_JwIbNTWpHKeKteqjHhK/s320/davepizza.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Dave and his wonderful foccacia.<br />It was perfect, Dave, so stop worrying!</span></em><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RQ_ykTkcSlAOvn9DzjsVS2rPNu93zoZW6lPGGWzTThQgxvS0nwDB4V46T5xnjukElQt_PW2qZn8enulcKjd6VOJqHP0J-AnZZWkGgk5Zc5qCd1CmqGiaFYsI8bMX5ItBGsV3/s1600-h/becke1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378883035605604626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RQ_ykTkcSlAOvn9DzjsVS2rPNu93zoZW6lPGGWzTThQgxvS0nwDB4V46T5xnjukElQt_PW2qZn8enulcKjd6VOJqHP0J-AnZZWkGgk5Zc5qCd1CmqGiaFYsI8bMX5ItBGsV3/s320/becke1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Pastellios from Becke - man these were good!<br />She also made this fantastic roast pork that I would die for...</span></em></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="left">CMH Gourmand made two types of chili - one with venison and one with kittens - I mean vegetarian. And Zach provided some awesome homemade pork and beans...emphasis on the pork. Sorry, there are no pictures - I blame the camera for how crappy they came out...<br /></p><br /><p align="left">Me- I made my killer banana bread royale and gooey peanut bars... That's me - all about the sweets...</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz2fmN3mXqMfXf5HguyKgQ-CHt7J-tqFVsJakBLni3YLKSbMH3Tlz2G3T_bIZOZ9zjuy1Uq9DgYiChZ9H_nN8J4xhiAuzv-pf3KsNYBDhFDoYdJs96GVNqXGSwllC-xLJkRG4/s1600-h/meanddave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378887862272930674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz2fmN3mXqMfXf5HguyKgQ-CHt7J-tqFVsJakBLni3YLKSbMH3Tlz2G3T_bIZOZ9zjuy1Uq9DgYiChZ9H_nN8J4xhiAuzv-pf3KsNYBDhFDoYdJs96GVNqXGSwllC-xLJkRG4/s320/meanddave.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-80198226691958025812009-09-04T10:33:00.010-04:002009-09-06T07:08:33.913-04:00A Tale of Two Chickens<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnquhQhWrX2vOyx-gKJc7seZ48I-iVHtbWXHsf3K6BGP0KfijHZ3iksYBhaAYFZu6bu-8vwIC9ixAZc7a0a879jwIv67qFVANJIAcVYxru4i1Xa___KZP1FEu8DowXvlaKTbM/s1600-h/tonystrouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnquhQhWrX2vOyx-gKJc7seZ48I-iVHtbWXHsf3K6BGP0KfijHZ3iksYBhaAYFZu6bu-8vwIC9ixAZc7a0a879jwIv67qFVANJIAcVYxru4i1Xa___KZP1FEu8DowXvlaKTbM/s320/tonystrouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377627528020236834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tony in food heaven!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After my review of Annie Gunn’s, I bet all of you are thinking that I am cheap bitch who isn’t willing to pay for good food. That is not true. In the slightest. I’ve shelled out plenty of clams for a great dinner – and am willing to do so again – provided the food is worth the price being asked.</span></div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My first example is going to be </span><a href="http://www.stroudsrestaurant.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stroud’s</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> from Kansas City. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I had never heard of Stroud’s. None of my friends in KC had been there. I really hadn’t done much research before our trip, so when we pulled into KC Sunday night, we were hard pressed to find someplace we really wanted to eat. After surfing </span><a href="http://www.chow.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Chow.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><a href="http://roadfood.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Roadfood.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> at the hotel, we stumbled upon Stroud’s. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I asked myself – how could I not have known about this place? It has a Zagat excellent rating PLUS a James Beard award. Then we looked up </span><a href="http://www.stroudsrestaurant.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Sticker shock set in. $16.00 for a chicken dinner? After our lunch at Annie Gunn’s, we were a little wary of $16.00 entrees.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But as we were hungry AND the internet (the fount of all knowledge) said this place was good, we opted to take the plunge.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We were so glad we did.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stroud's prides themselves on their pan fried chicken. Pan fried – not deep fried. The chicken is barely coated with seasoned flour then fried in a cast iron skillet. That takes time. That takes skill. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Every chicken dinner comes family style. That means you get an overflowing bowl to be shared by everyone at the table. The side dishes for the chicken dinner consist of your choice of potatoes, green beans, chicken noodle soup or side salad and cinnamon rolls. Being classically minded people, we opted for mashed potatoes – with homemade gravy. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The noodle soup was great – and so was the homemade poppy seed dressing on the salad, which was served on your basic iceberg lettuce house salad. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So while we are waiting on our drinks, we are watching people go out the door – and there are a lot of boxes and bags in their hands. We assume the folks with the bags were getting huge to-go orders, 'cuz fried chicken traditionally transports pretty well. The boxes – we had no idea. Maybe they were taking out the garbage?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Since it takes time to put out pan fried chicken, we asked for a ½ order of chicken livers. We figured it would be 6 or 8 livers on a plate. This is what we got.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBIhG8npVsCej-SxGDK9SXZPC2i9txaawKnreJuEnshxhzEjUbP32Ql8vTbBYJ32cG3XbXGvD6mo2Uny2ktSjvKCor8B4kwc2eVIBaGHjrolPzCxe3aUqaSiw2QVyllo91pJw/s1600-h/stroudlivers.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBIhG8npVsCej-SxGDK9SXZPC2i9txaawKnreJuEnshxhzEjUbP32Ql8vTbBYJ32cG3XbXGvD6mo2Uny2ktSjvKCor8B4kwc2eVIBaGHjrolPzCxe3aUqaSiw2QVyllo91pJw/s320/stroudlivers.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377627296593328146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We stared at it a moment. “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This must be a mistake – I am sure they brought us a double order.”</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Tony said. At that moment the manager walked by and said, “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">No, its a half. Did you want a full order? I can get that for you.”</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“No no! This is fine!”</span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Best freakin' chicken livers ever in a restaurant. Perfectly done and served with a side of gravy.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Before we had finished our livers, out came the chicken and side dishes. Holy cow – it was a lot. I grabbed a chicken breast to see how dry it was. Not at all. Moist, Juicy...(I am now salivating all over my keyboard.)</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNz3d56nz5Yf97-Fpxy3OBUNyLyZfVrEEne_QMlCugVU54YyC80wH7HK2-GvY8ZSLTZ6-tpOHkjL5xnS8tl00A8mASqj4xAVI6ikvJorFjbRn1pkd1BlUuvQiOCxJf9rPImBr/s1600-h/stroudschicken.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNz3d56nz5Yf97-Fpxy3OBUNyLyZfVrEEne_QMlCugVU54YyC80wH7HK2-GvY8ZSLTZ6-tpOHkjL5xnS8tl00A8mASqj4xAVI6ikvJorFjbRn1pkd1BlUuvQiOCxJf9rPImBr/s320/stroudschicken.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377627303829539634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px; " /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">G.B.D!!!</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The mashed potatoes were creamy and rich – and the gravy...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bL3bej088paGNbsEjsFruOh2WvSHcgZ5hQtvm-EgjQmGXo0BJAv8vDQkm2GncEcgGq8tHD4D8WXbRlyApZgUY0yzN-xxLSUcPdqL0slqgZnHzefGQZc259EuR1WfYM4LGo5-/s1600-h/mashed.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bL3bej088paGNbsEjsFruOh2WvSHcgZ5hQtvm-EgjQmGXo0BJAv8vDQkm2GncEcgGq8tHD4D8WXbRlyApZgUY0yzN-xxLSUcPdqL0slqgZnHzefGQZc259EuR1WfYM4LGo5-/s320/mashed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377627280512379538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px; " /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I would go and get just the gravy and eat it with a spoon. Rich, flavorful... If you have ever had really good gravy, you know the what I am talking about.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Eglf2v0I87C1K65nrzc0EG7JQDylwadVrnKNZpq7DtnPn5H7aqzo5J3jflWa3hqcqgT0aU7fznhobzEMCq_GIMk4CQcqSVIqPSQeUs-BxSVlZqUYAQgQGcgHNjfL2yiM6TL/s320/stroudsgravy.jpg" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Ladies - is you husband not as "attentive" as he used to be?<br />Just apply this gravy generously to the neglected area...</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The green beans whisked me back to childhood – soft with pieces of ham in them. No healthy fresh veggies for us!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So we ate and we ate and made obscene sounds while doing it – because this was food sex. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then we got the cinnamon rolls for dessert. These are not what most folks think of as cinnamon rolls. Think more along the lines of monkey bread – yeast dough rolled in butter, than coated in a thick crust of cinnamon sugar. They beg for coffee or milk...</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbawnvcFBm9nUiiqe4-h8ex0ZY9aee733-g0aeu3_V80rIxE5R09a2Jn0Rr-2q-QdkEJg0jeBSQxiciDJ8wgoJmx0XIYQZ1vX98sx1-rdxPwaBPxoODYVcEOLY5gqOpc1P1i2/s1600-h/cinnamonrolls.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbawnvcFBm9nUiiqe4-h8ex0ZY9aee733-g0aeu3_V80rIxE5R09a2Jn0Rr-2q-QdkEJg0jeBSQxiciDJ8wgoJmx0XIYQZ1vX98sx1-rdxPwaBPxoODYVcEOLY5gqOpc1P1i2/s320/cinnamonrolls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377627278356556226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px; " /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now I will tell you - we put a serious hurtin' on our food and still couldn't finish it. So without asking, Michelle, our server, brings over a big stack of styrofoam containers for the leftovers. AHHHH – now the light goes on. All those bags leaving with the other patrons...</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I haven't mentioned this before – but Tate had opted to stay back at the hotel and watch </span><a href="http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/season2/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The sexy vampire show”</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> on HBO, so we had ordered his dinner for carry out. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We had been going to play a trick on Tate. We are evil like that and Tate would not hesitate to do the same to us if he had the chance. (He is evil too – it's why we get along so well.) The plan was, before pulling into Stroud's, we would stop at Steak n Shake and order something, then put his dinner in the Steak n' Shake bag. We would says that the chicken place was closed and here is your dinner. He would be pissed until he opened the bag -awesome! Nothing like pissing off the guy you have to spend lots of time with for the next three days. We are brilliant!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tate's order came out in a box. Second mystery solved. Evil plan squashed.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQRclOia44Wp3fpWGAe-j7A_fTZcMUt8ukhmim95Vhv8TRja900a8Dwbskp3r2qbwRXvCJxknrYtzzDoSrX3l7cT_ygbZP0CV8HLZxzsOfEW_ru3SdJJ5VVcnVdcSOKhvXil3/s1600-h/carryoutboxes.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQRclOia44Wp3fpWGAe-j7A_fTZcMUt8ukhmim95Vhv8TRja900a8Dwbskp3r2qbwRXvCJxknrYtzzDoSrX3l7cT_ygbZP0CV8HLZxzsOfEW_ru3SdJJ5VVcnVdcSOKhvXil3/s320/carryoutboxes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377630545632127202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px; " /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Screw Doggie Bags!</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So we waddled out to the car with our bag AND a box of food, drove back and laid like beached whales on our bed while Tate gobbled down his dinner. He made the appropriate orgiastic noises appropriate when one is eating really good food sitting on a hotel bed and saying, “These guys must be sadists! There is so much and I can't stop eating!”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And by the way, leftovers do keep and microwave very acceptably – we got two more lunches out of them. Screw eating fast food in our room...</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We went back on Wednesday before we left and had lunch – Tony was weeping for chicken livers with potatoes and gravy. I had some of the best pot roast I have ever had and Tate ordered the chicken fried steak. All excellent.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2HFCLME5psQajTyuoyBZQA9r6uYCf-DF5up2mg72OIjLXd-NRmfBd1_jfOoXT7umY39LTt4m31VSwVBerCsor8LgEQjk3F5m9pjTpBJryCnvAEXLzypZIccMLWr91xwTe4CV/s1600-h/potroast.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2HFCLME5psQajTyuoyBZQA9r6uYCf-DF5up2mg72OIjLXd-NRmfBd1_jfOoXT7umY39LTt4m31VSwVBerCsor8LgEQjk3F5m9pjTpBJryCnvAEXLzypZIccMLWr91xwTe4CV/s320/potroast.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377631426485724194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px; " /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">And yes - there were leftovers. I packed them into the cooler<br />and ate them for a late dinner when I got home. Damn....</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A note about something other than the food: The staff was fantastic. Both servers and the managers were friendly, they put with our constant demands for attention and even took our picture posing with boxes of food. Bless you Stroud's staff members!</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXYDrRdy3PmBHVKRlcI2gMKTlSW0E9MXgvrS22ayzxLONuzzurbqPnsqVLyZf7sSHQfl9CwO_p2dB5Y98LTc6_v7qI7Eh6xPgRG-oL-1EpxKDpwLhJvFRymNVemKeXnBkvq-m/s1600-h/melissa.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXYDrRdy3PmBHVKRlcI2gMKTlSW0E9MXgvrS22ayzxLONuzzurbqPnsqVLyZf7sSHQfl9CwO_p2dB5Y98LTc6_v7qI7Eh6xPgRG-oL-1EpxKDpwLhJvFRymNVemKeXnBkvq-m/s320/melissa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377627289134786194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 320px; " /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Melissa was fantastic! And so patient!!</span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am only sorry it is a 10 hour drive to KC, since I would be stopping in at least once a month for some of their top notch food.</span></p><br /><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/34/572240/restaurant/Kansas-City/Mission/Strouds-Fairway-Fairway"><img alt="Stroud's (Fairway) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/572240/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-45619355399070360362009-09-03T10:14:00.000-04:002009-09-03T09:37:07.122-04:00They're here.... they're live...they're on the inside....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So you wanna see what REAL LIVE BLOGGERS look like?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.wildgoosecreative.com/Wild_Goose_Creative_%7C_Home.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wild Goose Collective</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> will be displaying us...I mean... having myself and other Columbus bloggers talk about our love of food this Sunday at 7 p.m.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Other bloggers include Jim Ellison from </span></span><a title="http://cmhgourmand.com/" onkeypress="window.open(this.href); return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" href="http://cmhgourmand.com/" style="color: rgb(165, 59, 162); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CMH Gourmand</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Nick Dekker from </span></span><a title="http://breakfastwithnick.blogspot.com/" onkeypress="window.open(this.href); return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" href="http://breakfastwithnick.blogspot.com/" style="color: rgb(166, 59, 163); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Breakfast With Nick</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Dave Scarpetti from </span></span><a title="http://webercam.com/" onkeypress="window.open(this.href); return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" href="http://webercam.com/" style="color: rgb(165, 59, 162); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">weber_cam</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span></span><a title="http://davesbeer.com/" onkeypress="window.open(this.href); return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" href="http://davesbeer.com/" style="color: rgb(165, 59, 162); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dave’s Beer</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Bethia Woolf of </span></span><a href="http://hungrywoolf.com/" title="http://hungrywoolf.com/" style="color: rgb(165, 59, 162); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hungrywoolf’s Food Blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, and Becke Boyer from </span></span><a href="http://www.columbusfoodie.com/" title="http://www.columbusfoodie.com/" style="color: rgb(165, 59, 162); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Columbus Foodie</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Each one of us is going to cook something tasty for you to eat...</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">w</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">r</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">l</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">p</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><p class="paragraph_style_16" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When: Sunday, September 6th, 7 PM<br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_16" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Where: 2491 Summit Street, Columbus, OH 43202</span></span></p></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's $5 at the door - looking forward to meeting everyone!</span></span></span></div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14015719.post-71408977507604281862009-09-03T08:55:00.001-04:002009-09-03T09:36:47.904-04:00R.I.P. Shelia Lukins<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Silver Palate Cookbook has sold over 2.5 million copies. That's a lot of chicken liver pate, boys and girls. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When I first started getting into cooking in the mid-80's, the Silver Palate Cookbook was one hot commodity. The couple who I worked for at the time complained that "if I eat one more recipe from that book at a dinner party..." But they had it on their shelf too and used the recipes in their catering work. It was what people wanted. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So thanks Shelia for goosing us in the behind and getting us to try a whole new world of party food...</span></span></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02240724592494697342noreply@blogger.com0