To fuck or to cook?

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally Posted by Gattigap

I used to go to the Italian deli at Union and Grant, and load up on a big spread of everything, with lots of wine.

Unfortunately, the deli, though immortalized in I Married an Axe Murderer, no longer exists. Sorry.

Whoa, man.

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

It'll be at my house. Kitchen is good, not great (I still weep for the double-oven I used to have). I'm going to start cooking the day before.

There is high potential for foodies at this party. I'll probably go with a variety of tapas, or a French-style buffet. Or maybe middle eastern stuff -- I've done that for large parties many times. Nothing like homemade pitas to get raves.

Ah, I thought this was a "meal at the school" deal. Many more options at home even without the double oven.

Make sure to have a really tasty dessert.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Gattigap

I used to go to the Italian deli at Union and Grant, and load up on a big spread of everything, with lots of wine.

Unfortunately, the deli, though immortalized in I Married an Axe Murderer, no longer exists. Sorry.

I loved that movie. So much funnier than Lebowski.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Gattigap

I used to go to the Italian deli at Union and Grant, and load up on a big spread of everything, with lots of wine.

Unfortunately, the deli, though immortalized in I Married an Axe Murderer, no longer exists. Sorry.

Sigh. I remember that place. I used to live on the same block as that deli, while it was still there.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Ah, I thought this was a "meal at the school" deal. Many more options at home even without the double oven.

Make sure to have a really tasty dessert.

Yep. At least one.

AoN, yesterday at back to school night the teachers talked about the desire to have parents from "diverse" cultures make presentations to the kids, about traditions, food, etc. Mrs. Finch is from Iowa, and I told her she should volunteer for this. After all, at a private bilingual school in San Francisco, "Midwest" is pretty damn diverse.

She lacked my enthusiasm for the idea, even when I pointed out that she could bring slides of butter sculptures and make food from Hot Dish Heaven (Tater Tot Casserole, yum!)

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by barely_legal

Thanks. I made the sauce Sunday and want to serve it tonight, so I think I'm fine. I'm serving it with homemade ricotta gnocchi.

I'm on a cooking spree lately. Last night I made balsamic-glazed lamb chops with tomatoes and fava beans. Fava beans are delicious, but a pain in the ass to get out of their little husks after blanching. If anybody has tips on how to speed up that process, I'd love to hear them.

Drink a couple glasses of Rosso di Montepulciano and get a couple of the other women of the village together to join you. This won't really make the process go any faster, but it will be more authentic.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

So I have to cook dinner next month for all the parents and teachers from my son's class. Anyone have any brilliant thoughts about cooking for the masses?

We did lasagna for 120 for a church auction. It freezes well, so you can do it in advance and the day of the dinner, just pop it in the oven.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I loved that movie. So much funnier than Lebowski.

If you're trying to kill me, it's working.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

She lacked my enthusiasm for the idea, even when I pointed out that she could bring slides of butter sculptures and make food from Hot Dish Heaven (Tater Tot Casserole, yum!)

I'm not sure about the state of the Mafia, but a quick word to the wise: you do not want to lump Minnesota and Iowa together.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

We did lasagna for 120 for a church auction. It freezes well, so you can do it in advance and the day of the dinner, just pop it in the oven.

church auction?

[ltl/fb]

Grasshopper brownies (I'd be happy to share frosting and ganache techniques, if anyone is interested) were awesome and not as overwhelmingly (well, overwhelming to some, but not me) sweet as the cheesecake swirl ones.

[ltl/fb]

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch

If you're trying to kill me, it's working.

I think he's trying to kill Paigow . . . or are y'all one and the same?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch

If you're trying to kill me, it's working.

I assure you, I actually did enjoy I Married an Axe Murderer more than Lebowski, but I did not see Lebowski until about a year ago and barely found it funny in one or two places. It seemed like a badly written Eating Raoul acted out by actors with mediocre timing (Maude in particular screwed up the timing constantly). Thus I could say that I find many things funnier than Lebowski, including the new Jay Leno Show, though I note I laugh at and not with that show and I am sure the funny-train-wreck-I-hope-no-one-died effect will wear off soon.

That having been said, I Married an Axe Murderer is better than your average sitcom, and I'd probably put in the top 100 comedies of all time, though near the bottom. I would not dream of even giving Lebowski an honorable mention. It needed to be either much, much better or a little bit worse.

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Adder

I'm not sure about the state of the Mafia, but a quick word to the wise: you do not want to lump Minnesota and Iowa together.

They have butter sculpture at the Iowa State Fair too. I think this is the reigning Dairy Princess.



http://www.iowastatefair.com/enterta.../buttercow.php

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

We did lasagna for 120 for a church auction. It freezes well, so you can do it in advance and the day of the dinner, just pop it in the oven.

Lasagna is the only dish in the world that I cannot bring myself to make. Not because it is too complicated, but because Mama Finch makes the World's Best Lasagna. Seriously, I've tried many others and none could even touch hers. Hell, even think about touching hers.

Mom never taught me to cook. It took years of proving that I was a really good cook before she would even give me her sauce recipe.

I highly doubt I could make a lasagna up to her standards, and if I did it would feel like I was killing her.

That said, as I've typed this, I've decided that I'm going to ask her -- on my next visit, which is in a few weeks -- to make lasagna with me. I'll report back.