To fuck or to cook?

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Fugee

I bought a fancy new programmable crockpot on Black Friday and volunteered to bring the main dish this Friday for a cookie bake evening.

I need something that can cook on low for at least 8 hours (more likely 10+) -- though my new crockpot goes to a "warm" setting after the programmed cooking time ends -- so I can plug it in when I go to work.

Options considered so far are: pulled pork, pork chops with apples and cider, beef brisket (I found a recipe that has it in the crockpot for 24 hours), beef stew.

Any other thoughts? Recipe suggestions?

I forgot to mention the complicating factors. One person is allergic to peppers of every kind. Another hates mushrooms and won't eat anything that ever had a mushroom in it or that she thinks ever had a mushroom in it.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

What I meant by a skilled chef can buy food anywhere is that they can identify the good stuff and buy only that; if you aren't skilled, you can't identify the good stuff and no matter where you go they may well sell you crap.

When I go to the store, any store, I may not come back with what I went looking for. If I want good salmon, but there is no good salmon to be had, I will buy what is good and adjust accordingly.

I hate whole foods. Half of what they sell is organic bad tasting junk food. I'm sorry, if I'm going to eat junk with all kinds of fats and sugars, I want them refined and with enough preservatives so they don't taste like shit.

I shop at Whole Foods all the time. I don't know what you buy from them -- I buy produce, cheese, meat.... I'm pretty sure there are no fats or sugars added to that.

If you're buying all the pre-packed stuff, then you have bigger problems than where you choose to shop....

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

You see, I wander in with kids, who are attracted to the stuff and then spit it out when they taste it.

Ah, now I understand. STP. My kids have learned that, for example, Whole Foods' cereals suck. You could grind up the package and pour milk on it and it would taste about the same.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Poor chimney sweep. So has the LMA found a way out of his ennui or did you decide the sex plus the fact that he doesn't have to work as much as the chimney sweep offsets it?

You're jumping to conclusions again. Maybe all trois are now a happy menage?1





1. OK, what are the odds that TM now makes an appearance on the cooking board?

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

You're jumping to conclusions again. Maybe all trois are now a happy menage?

Perhaps. But -- again with the potentially faulty recollection..... I thought I remembered EO saying

1. She is not so much into 3-somes because it's all about the performance or something like that.

2. Chimney sweep made a point of telling EO he works for a living, suggesting some animosity toward the once and again LMA -- or at least an unwillingness to be in a MFM with him.

[Fugee]

Last winter I made the best version of these I've ever had. And I don't remember where I got the recipe. I'm hoping I typed it into my PC recipe collection because otherwise I may never find it again.

Since you all are no help whatsoever with my crockpot dilemma, how about you post the recipe for your favorite holiday cookies. I still haven't decided what to bring for the cookie bake/exchange this weekend.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Fugee

I forgot to mention the complicating factors. One person is allergic to peppers of every kind. Another hates mushrooms and won't eat anything that ever had a mushroom in it or that she thinks ever had a mushroom in it.

We bring a crockpot to a little ski hill we frequent every winter, and have a variety of items for it, but the favorites are soups. Must it be something with the substance of a stew or are soups OK?

One that is popular is a sort of WT chicken-pot-pie. Chicken and veggies in a light gravy thinned with half and half or milk and with good old fashioned bisquick biscuits on top. You can bring along some spare biscuits for when the ones actually on top go. Biscuits will actually cook on the top of the slow cookers (takes about two ski runs to cook the biscuits, which go in after the chicken and veggies).

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

We bring a crockpot to a little ski hill we frequent every winter, and have a variety of items for it, but the favorites are soups. Must it be something with the substance of a stew or are soups OK?

One that is popular is a sort of WT chicken-pot-pie. Chicken and veggies in a light gravy thinned with half and half or milk and with good old fashioned bisquick biscuits on top. You can bring along some spare biscuits for when the ones actually on top go. Biscuits will actually cook on the top of the slow cookers (takes about two ski runs to cook the biscuits, which go in after the chicken and veggies).

The cooking time (8-10 hours+) is the most important, which is why I am leery of soups, especially poultry (usually on the shorter time of slow cooking recipes). I don't want vegetables to be mush by the time I get home from work and I won't have time to add things and continue cooking from the time I get home to when I need to bring it over.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Fugee

The cooking time (8-10 hours+) is the most important, which is why I am leery of soups, especially poultry (usually on the shorter time of slow cooking recipes). I don't want vegetables to be mush by the time I get home from work and I won't have time to add things and continue cooking from the time I get home to when I need to bring it over.

Beans.

[PresentTense Pirate Penske]

Originally Posted by evenodds

In a couple of weeks, I am co-hosting a small cocktail party (20-30 people) with the LMA at someone else's house.

Rather than simply buy everything, I want to prepare a few things as well.

My thoughts are classics which can be served at room temperature and prepared in advance: stuffed figs, gougeres, and mushroom emmental and spinach feta mini quiches.

I am looking for inspiration, and I would love to hear any suggestions you have.

Should I bring a guest, or, for strategic purposes, do I want to be solo?

[evenodds]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Poor chimney sweep. So has the LMA found a way out of his ennui or did you decide the sex plus the fact that he doesn't have to work as much as the chimney sweep offsets it?

Ouch.

The LMA's humiliation and incarceration has (so far) fundamentally shaken him out of his funk and given him a renewed focus on what is real and important in his life. I have no idea if this is a true Damascus road experience or a temporary thing. I am dating him again and seeing how it goes. So far, so good.

At the same time, the Chimney Sweep has significant issues related to his work/life balance. I was willing to wait, but he is incapable of figuring it all out while he's in the midst of it. Also, I care about him enough to give him the space he needs, which we both know may mean that someday we will meet for a drink to talk wistfully about bjtc that might have been . . .

[evenodds]

Originally Posted by Fugee

I forgot to mention the complicating factors. One person is allergic to peppers of every kind. Another hates mushrooms and won't eat anything that ever had a mushroom in it or that she thinks ever had a mushroom in it.

I think you should go for pulled pork. It's very forgiving.

[evenodds]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Chimney sweep made a point of telling EO he works for a living, suggesting some animosity toward the once and again LMA -- or at least an unwillingness to be in a MFM with him.

Now I know what I want for Christmas.

[ltl/fb]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Poor chimney sweep. So has the LMA found a way out of his ennui or did you decide the sex plus the fact that he doesn't have to work as much as the chimney sweep offsets it?

Is there a fairy tale with a chimney sweep in it?

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by ltl/fb

Is there a fairy tale with a chimney sweep in it?

Mary Poppins?

ETA: There is apparently a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen called "The Shepardess and the Chimney Sweep." It sounds more like a bad porno than a fairy tale, but maybe that's only because Disney hasn't made a movie of it.