That sounds nasty.

Try some Glenlevit scotch.

You talking about Tino's or Texas Roadhouse?

Lorenzo... if you click on "Quote" or "Quick Quote" (rather than "Reply" or "Quick Reply"), the post you're responding to will be quoted so people know what you're replying to.

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert Interview/Discussion

Placed some olive oil rubbed sirloin steaks on a rack in a roasting pan and smothered them in garlic and sea salt. When they were almost done I placed a pat of butter on the top of each steak and placed them back under the broiler. The drippings from the steak mixed in with the sea salt & garlic fell into the pan creating a delicious natural garlic au jus.


For sides I made some fresh sauteed spinach, some home fries and a fresh romaine / iceberg mix salad.

Bought a chunk of Coppa (Capocollo/Capicola) the other night, and it wasn't cheap. But it was damn good. Tonight, I was grilling some dogs for a friend and he placed a thin slice on the grill and I was like, huh? O.M.G. it was terrific!! Not sure it'll work with the cold-cut shit, but try grilling some of the real stuff and you'll be in HEAVEN!!

Grilled prosciutto and eggs is one of our favorite breakfasts, so Coppa can't be far behind!

I had some leftover sauce and meatballs last night. Our local Freihofer's outlet had a special on Boboli - $2.09, buy one get one free. I bought six, and we got some nice mozzarella and I made four pizza pies. Two were plain cheese, one was meatball, and one was half meatball and half sausage. They were really good. I almost had to make a fifth pie, we ate so much.

I luffs me some homemade meatballs, and I wasn't invited!

I felt like a short-order cook a couple days ago when a few friends stayed over. Burgers and dogs, no big deal, for dinner; but the next morning it was like a cheese omelet w/ bacon on the side, plus a pork roll egg and cheese sandwich, and a couple bacon waffles. Three different dishes, that's all. Can't imagine cooking in a real kitchen with a dozen at once! lol

Mr. Babe does the BEST breakfasts, and everyone gets what they want. Yum. Today, though, it was bagels and cream cheese. The bagels were so hot that they actually got mangled in the bag on the way home.

You want meatballs? We usually make a sauce (either me or my mom) once a week. If you think they'll be worth the drive, c'mon up. Although I'm still waiting for an invitation to a River that is Toms.

Btw, doesn't the name of your own town make you crazy? I mean, where's the apostrophe?? Knowing how A/R you are about grammar, does it bother you?

The river doesn't belong to any Tom, so it's not his river. It's the river Toms (like, the river Thames I guess)

Bring food and/or alcohol, my door's always open!

PS - Tell Mr Babe congrats on being 2nd Best at breakfasts

Maybe I can bring my tomatoes, etc. and we can have a "meatball-off" to see which one we like better.

Last night was my daughter's boyfriend's birthday. We made a rib roast, rice and broccoli for dinner. It was delicious.

I'll give your meatballs a run for their money any day (don't recall having tried them; but you haven't tried mine, either)

I'm hosting Christmas Eve and need some fishes advice! Mom's making the shrimp scampi as the main, but I need to make something, of course. I'm a fish (cooking) newb, so any suggestions??

No, I think I did penne vodka and sausage on the grill when you were at the house. Hard to remember, it was so long ago (hint, hint).

I've done the fish thing, although thankfully my brother has taken over Christmas Eve! I do some appetizers like shrimp cocktail, caviar, smoked salmon and cream cheese on white bread (which I actually cut into the shape of Christmas trees), and a lovely hot crabmeat spread (very easy to make). Then we have a first course of something like Coquille San Jacques (surprisingly easy to make and not too expensive because you can use the little scallops) and/or baked clams. Then I serve a linguini with a red sauce. I usually put shrimp, calamari, scungilli and clams in the sauce. If you go to the right fish store, they'll probably sell it all cleaned. Very easy to make, but looks impressive.

PM me if you need more info.

Both of these are from the Detroit News. I've had something similar to the spicy baked fish a LONNNNNNG time ago. More recipes here


Spicy Baked Fish



1 tablespoon olive oil, divided use
3 green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons dry thyme leaves, crushed, or 2 teaspoons fresh chopped thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 1/4 pounds fish filets (sole, flounder, redfish or scrod)

Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a small, nonstick skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil; add chopped green onions and garlic. Cook gently for two minutes; remove from heat and stir in paprika, thyme, salt and red pepper.

Cover shallow baking pan or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and brush with remaining 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil. Place fish filets, skinned side down, on pan. Spread spice mixture over filets as evenly as possible. Bake fish in hot oven 10 minutes per inch. Serves four.
Nutritional analysis per serving (using sole): 174 calories, 27 gms protein, 2 gms carbohydrate, .5 gms fiber, 5 gms fat, 75 mgs cholesterol, 263 mgs sodium.


From "Chef Kathleen's Cooking Thin Daybook" by Kathleen Daelemans (Houghton Mifflin, $14.95)

2 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/2 -inch slices
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 cup diced celery
 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4 -inch dice
1/2 pound frozen cut green beans
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or clam juice
2 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme
1 bay leaf
3/4 pound salmon, cut into bite-size chunks
1 cup fat-free milk or evaporated milk

Place pancetta in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and cook for about 1 minute, uncovered. Add onion and celery and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until onion has completely softened. Add potatoes, green beans and corn and cook for 3 minutes. Add broth, rosemary or thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add fish, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add milk and cook until soup is warm, about 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf and serve. Serves 4.
Per serving: 242 calories; 3 g fat (1 g saturated fat; 11 percent calories from fat); 32 g carbohydrates; 40 mg cholesterol; 465 mg sodium; 23 g protein; 5 g fiber.

Do you celebrate Christmas or Chanukah?

A little of both!

I baked Christmas cookies today. We made peanut butter chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia, M&M cookies, oatmeal butterscotch, and spritz cookies dyed green and shaped like trees and wreaths.

...What? No rugelach?

On Christmas day, Mrs.Mark cooked up a batch of chicken & dumplings that would have made Paula Deen blush! Good Lord were those tastey! My Kentucky born & raised dad ate himself sick!

I would have to.

I'm getting ready to make one of my favorite meals of the year on New Year's Day: traditional pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, buttered carrots and homemade rolls. Some good friends will be stopping by (and some not-so-good friends) throughout the day. I'll be making a honey glazed ham for those, who deny themselves the joy of pork and sauerkraut.Late at night I'll make a pork and sauerkraut sandwich with a dash of spicy mango chutney on a kaiser.

Thankfully, I gotta cast iron grill/griddle, to replace my nonstick one. Need some advice, cuz it's HOT! lol Lower flame is my next (and most obvious) move.... of course.... Right??

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

You wanna taste my food, tho... gimme a menu, and make your way down here for the best you've ever had

...but I apparently gotta learn new rules w/ cast iron first!

I'll be down after it stops snowing.

Oil the cast iron pan.

I WANT you here... but the thing is, I cook like a black marm ... BACON!!!! But I'm still alive, so... not so bad I guess.,..

Geoff, cast iron retains the heat a heck of a lot longer than any other, so you just have to get used to that. I bought my husband this Tramontina non-stick griddle because he loves to cook breakfast on the weekends.
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/store3-store_2101_28924393