I happened on this site and enjoyed reading the comments about the direction of the food network. I too used to be a real fan of the network, but do not watch it on a regular basis. I chalked it up to m y life getting busier and TiVO, but that knew those weren't the only reasons b/c when I catch Julia or Jaques or Lidia on TV, I find myself sitting there and watching. Can't say that about the shows on the FN. I do like Giada, Ina (think b/c onf the calming nature of their shows, Giada's style and the fact that I actually do learn something and have tried and like their recipes). I also like Nigella b/c of the naughtly, yet subltle "not obvious" sensual way she has with preparing food. These 3 are my fav's b/c I actually learn something and have tried their recipes. I even like ole' martha b/c of the same reason. I am a black woman who grew up in a fairyly "boustrius" family in the bronx during the 60's and 70's. I and my family used to LOVE watching Julia Child (I commonly referred to her as "the cooking lady") on the "ups" channel 13 in NY, on a black and white t.v., grainy picture and all. How is it that "the cooking lady" could command the attention of my family and I is beyond me, but I think it had to do with her voice, precesne and the fact that we actually LEARNED something. Juslia also had a dry sense of humor and thought nothing of bringing out a blow torch, goggles and all, in a couple of the earlier episodes. I thankfully have most of her videos and watch them as my life permits. I am glad FN is reconizing the need for diversity, but the Neely's, sorry to say, are not the answer. I confess tat I only watch the episodes that feature one or more Neely men. Gina's over the top, swinging of the fake hair, need for attention attitude/behavior and screechy/baby voice drives me nuts. I don't need a FN "personality" telling me how/what to do w/my man in the kitchen...I have that covered just fine, thank you. PLEASE FOOD NETWORK, if you are reading this, LET THE NEELY MEN HAVE THEIR OWN SHOW WITH OUT GINA NEELY!!! P.S. Thanks to the "Eric08" that forwarded the link to the Tony Bourdain commentary. It cracked my up. Tony is another of my favorite chefs. Unapologetically real.

Betty, I'm happy to. Here is the Tomato Marmalade recipe from Farm Journal, it's one of Elery's favorites. I'm saving some of Beachlily's Meyer lemons she gifted me with, they're sliced and frozen, waiting for ripe tomatoes to make this marmalade. Tomato Marmalade Recipe Makes about 9 half-pint jars 3 qt. ripe tomatoes (about 5 1/2 pounds) 3 oranges 2 lemons 4 sticks cinnamon 6 whole allspice 1 tbsp. whole cloves 6 c. sugar 1 tsp. salt Peel tomatoes and cut in small pieces. Drain. Slice oranges and lemons very thin, then quarter slices. Tie cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in a cheesecloth bag. Place tomatoes in large kettle. Add sugar and salt; stir until dissolved. Add oranges, lemons, and spice bag. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to boil rapidly, stirring constantly, until thick and clear (about 50 minutes). Remove from heat; skim off foam. Fill hot marmalade into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, leaving . inch of head space. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened, clean paper towel; adjust two-piece metal canning lids. Process 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. This recipe I just found on a blog called "Once Upon A Chef", the author says she adapted it from a King Arthur Flour recipe. Chocolate Zucchini Bread Servings: One 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch loaf Ingredients 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-2/3 cups all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off with a knife 1/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder (ok to substitute natural cocoa powder) 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee (optional) 2 cups shredded zucchini (from 1-2 zucchini), gently packed 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Instructions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8-1/2" x 4-1/2" loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the butter in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl and microwave for one minute, or until just melted. Stir in the brown sugar until completely smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir until incorporated. (Be sure to add the eggs after the brown sugar is mixed in, as the hot butter alone could cook the eggs.) Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, baking soda and instant coffee (if using) in a medium bowl. Add to the butter mixture and stir until well combined. It will be very thick. Stir in the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips. (It will still be thick -- that's okay.) Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean (save for perhaps a smear from the melted chocolate chips). Let the loaf cool on a rack for about 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely. This was good and I'd definitely make it again, maybe in mini-muffin form next time, it's rich and sweet and just a couple of bites might be enough. If not, well then, people would just have to eat a couple of the mini muffins! Annie

Annie, I am fairly familiar with the case. British law on such things is different than American law, and I won't enter into all that except to say that under the British system, the burden of truth regarding public accusations against another is on the accuser. Like it or not, that is their law. I also am not even going to try and defend the actions of a howmanybillion dollar company, or pretend to know the truth behind the allegations of both sides. However, it was enlightening to me to know that the defendants were members of a fringe environmentalist organization that didn't want to affiliate itself with Greenpeace because it was "too mainstream" (Jeepers!) Also, that the fliers they were distributing made the claims that: McDonald's: * is complicit in Third World starvation; * buys from greedy rulers and elites and practices economic imperialism; * wastes vast quantities of grain and water; * destroys rainforests with poisons and colonial invasions; * sells unhealthy, addictive junk food; * alters its food with artificial chemistry; * exploits children with its advertising; * is responsible for torture and murder of animals; * poisons customers with contaminated meat; * exploits its workers and bans unions; * destroys rainforests; * hides its malfeasance.* Now. Did McDonalds overreact? React too harshly? Was McDonalds mean? I don't know. But here we are, 20 years after the fact, hearing from people who were influenced against the company by the case to the point of boycotting their products. I've never owned or had any significant financial interest in a company as big as McDonalds. But if I found out that someone here in town was distributing fliers that accused me of committing horrendous and possibly criminal practices in the course of my daily business, I would fight it. That someone not particularly educated in either law or experienced in any field related to the case made a film, apparently portraying the defendants as puny, helpless victims bullied by an Evil Mega Corp does not impress me. Biased, slanted "documentaries" are produced every day. As for being partially correct in the allegations, I suppose I could be accused of some of those things with equal accuracy. I could well be accused of being, "complicit in Third World starvation" because I eat beef on a regular basis...if I ate lentils instead, I could feed any number of starving people by sending them the money I would save. I expect that I buy from what some would consider "greedy rulers and elites" as well. I would have no defense to the charge that I waste grain and water, depending on the accuser's perspective. I water my roses...frivolous things, and shower far more often than absolutely needed. I don't know how poisons, "colonial invasions" and rainforests could be attributed to me, but then, I don't know how they could be attributed to McDonald's either. Are my contributions to church bake sales selling "unhealthy, addictive junk food?" Okay, okay, I'll quit...but you get my point, right? Likely, I'm far too sensitive on these subjects. I get itchy over attacks on "Big Evil Corporate America" because so often, we jump on the band wagon before we look into it, and so very often, the attacks have less to do with actual facts and more to do with the agendas of the attackers. This is funny, really. Here I am, speaking up for a restaurant I don't even frequent! Once every couple of years or so I drive through to grab something because I'm in a huge rush, on a road trip, whatever...and I ALWAYS regret it! The first two bites taste good because I'm hungry and after that I'm increasingly grossed out. Inevitably, I end up throwing out half my food and wonder what the heck I was thinking!

Good read from our local paper last week: Domestic favorite cheeses of 2012 Janet Fletcher, San Francisco Chronicle, December 28, 2012 Looking back at a year of columns, I'm surprised by how many American cheeses I featured. Availability provides part of the answer. Americans keep opening creameries, and existing creameries keep creating new cheeses. Membership in the American Cheese Society has doubled in the past decade, and the 1,700-plus entries in the society's competition broke records again. Distributors and retailers do their part by taking a risk on these unproven new cheeses. It's easy to find buyers for Mount Tam or Pleasant Ridge Reserve, award-winning cheeses with avid fans. But how do you move a high-priced newbie with no name recognition? The brief life span of many cheeses puts extra pressure on distributors and retailers to stock only brisk sellers. That's all the more reason to applaud Cream and the Crop, a new Bay Area distributor specializing in American artisan producers like Fraga Farms in Oregon and Alemar Cheese in Minnesota. In that spirit, I'd like to return the spotlight to some favorite domestic cheeses I highlighted in 2012. They're not all new, but all strike me as having exceptional merit. If you haven't yet tasted them, put them high on your shopping list. Here is a link that might be useful: 10 Domestic Cheese in 2012