Topic: What are you eating / What did you eat.

[8ullfrog]

I like to experiment with different foods. For instance, I could make my own refried beans, but instead I've been buying different brands to see which ones I like best.

One interesting technique I saw recently was someone who sheet pan cooks his ground beef, then he breaks it up with gloves. I've never done that before, but I might try it some day.

I don't like walking to the grocery store as I have to cross an artery to get there, and a lot of people make right turns without looking at that corner. I don't want to get hit.

So I buy a lot of weird poo at dollar tree.

I also find this contrast highly amusing. Smokes is hitting up a place that has a century of tradition and innovation. I'm eating packet meat.

[6pairsofshoes]

I get why you'd shop there, since it's easier than getting run over by inattentive drivers.  They don't have a wide selection of basic foods there, sadly, so much of what's on offer has been messed with by someone else.

I just heated some turkey from last night's dinner and had a can of Green Giant corn.  I probably got it for free with some kind of CVS Thanksgiving deal years ago, but I'm trying to use up what's in the pantry.  I wish I could drop off some of our excess for you but you might as well be on the moon, given the distance.

[8ullfrog]

I have good access to canned kernelled corn.

[6pairsofshoes]

I was thinking of other food stuffs.

[8ullfrog]

ah, the shortages I run into are strange and nebulous. For instance, the only tomato juice I've been able to find lately is from the state, and it is some truly vile stuff.

I got some very nice horseradish and had one of the most watery bloody mary's I've ever had.

The lack of decent cheese selection has me reconsidering grocery delivery.

[6pairsofshoes]

If it comes to that, Trader Joes has a reasonably good selection with reasonable prices.  I used Instacart once.  They got me two pears as big as my head.  So I wouldn't advise using them for produce, but standardized, off the shelf items are probably ok.  If you haven't used them before they do have some introductory discounts, but they charge you for their services.  I'm pretty sure TJs doesn't deliver.

I'm having the usual cream scones with new citrus marmalades.  They both turned out well.

[8ullfrog]

Basic turkey sandwiches for dinner, just bread, lunch meat, swiss, onion, shreddice, mayo and mustard, salt and pep.

Normally I'd have sliced tomato on it, but I'm trying to give tomats a break for a bit. Recently had pizza kick my ass with heartburn so I want to apologize to mister stomach.

Honestly, the simple things in life are often the best. Working in the deli only really changed up my sandwich layer choices, and that's about fighting the soggy.

Weird question, but do you have a mandoline you'd recommend? All the ones I look at are that flimsy plastic poo with a razor molded in, and I don't want to risk my hands on one of those pieces of poo.

Looking for a personal rec instead of something off amazon.

[6pairsofshoes]

I don't own a mandoline.  I have some good sharp knives and when I have tons of slicing to do, like with segments of citrus with rind for marmalade, I cram stuff in a food processor with a slicer blade but it's not fine enough for what you probably want to do with it.  We mostly buy presliced lunchmeat so that's not an issue.  Everything else we just cut up by hand.

I'd stay away from the cheaper models of mandolines.  Sometimes America's test kitchens rate them and that might be a good guide.  I'd also check craigslist as sometimes people buy them decide they don't want to use them and then get rid of them for free or lots less than the usual retail price.

[6pairsofshoes]

For some reason, large dairy companies like Yoplait (General Mills) and Noosa, have decided that the more weird additives and sweeteners you put into yogurt the more people will like it.   Today I got Noosa Delights Key Lime Pie to eat after dinner and it was just sad.  Why don't they just make yogurt?  This was a pale ghost of key lime with some kind of weird custardy binder that didn't work.  Ick.  It was on a promotion so I thought I'd take a chance.  But it was a total fail.

[8ullfrog]

Jalepeno poppers.

Turns out mom didn't wipe down the toaster oven tray this morning, so I got to hear the smoke alarm.

Honestly, I should have checked it myself, but I checked it last night!

The Jalepeno poppers were a winner, and might go into regular rotation. They're such a low fuss, high calorie option. And no tomato!

[smokester]

That place looks fabulous.  Let us know what you thought.

Just to go back to this: Veeraswamy was pretty good, but I can honestly say it wasn't memorable. The bill came to nearly 4 figures too, so you'd think I'd be more impressed. However, last night we went to Amaya which is another restaurant owned by the people of Veeraswamy. The food there was absolutely incredible and all served in a Indian tapas way. The bill was again nearly 4 figures, but I do feel it was a unique experience in all ways and that is worth more than money. I think that's something one says when they're older ...

[6pairsofshoes]

Thanks for the review.  How many of you were dining as that's a pricey bill?  When we were last in London the exchange rate was so brutal that we ended up at Pizza Express a good deal.  But we both love Indian food, so on the off chance that we are in the market for such an elaborate meal, we'll keep this in mind.

[8ullfrog]

Jalepeno poppers popped a bless'ed fuse. Thankfully I found it before the freezer defreezed and got the fridge extendo corded.

Got a repair ticket in, but the B&D oven is well hidden now.

Those jalepeno poppers are going to end up expensive.

As to rich people dinners, my favorite take was david cross, and his was much less expensive. "You guys! This isn't worth $250!"
And then he went on the journey of the gold leaf food from the mine to his toilet.

[6pairsofshoes]

So, you don't have access to a circuit breaker for your apt?  If the circuit gets tripped you have to bother the super?  That's kind of short sighted planning and I'm sorry you have to deal with it.  Presumably the electricity drawn by the toaster oven (hidden because it's a "forbidden" appliance?) is enough to trip the circuit?  Sorry, this sounds like a right pita.  You should be able to use a toaster oven without dealing with surges.  It's a normal appliance.  Sounds like who ever built this structure cut corners on the wiring.

I'm having the usual:  a cream scone with jams I made.  Today:  quince jelly and blackberry.  I split the scone and apply different jams to each half so one is main and the other "pudding."  I suspect that the cream scones actually have less fat than the ones that require butter and milk.  I made these with frozen heavy cream that someone gave me (I froze it as I couldn't use it up in time).  They turned out fine. 

[6pairsofshoes]

Raspberry buttermilk coffeecake with some Earl Grey tea.  Gourmet magazine recipe that I modified.  It's tender and delicious.  The tea is necessary because I have to have my wits about me.  Next!