Thanks guys. I am glad that there are many boring people here (LOL). Now you will all leave me alone. I got to read a few telephone directories. (heheheeee) dcarch Spice= Allspice. Spice= basil Spice= basil Spice= basil Spice= basil Spice= Black pepper Spice= Cardamom Spice= chili pepper/thyme Spice= chili peppers Spice= cilantro Spice= cinnamon Spice= cinnamon Spice= cinnamon Spice= Cinnamon Spice= cinnamon Spice= Cinnamon Spice= cinnamon Spice= cinnamon Spice= Cloves Spice= cumin Spice= cumin Spice= cumin Spice= Dill Weed Spice= garlic Spice= garlic Spice= garlic Spice= garlic Spice= Garlic Spice= Garlic if for food or Old Bay Spice= garlic powder Spice= Ginger Spice= ginger Spice= ground coriander Spice= Nutmeg Spice= Nutmeg Spice= pepper Spice= pepper Spice= Tarragon Spice= thyme (ok it's a herb I know - but I love it) Spice= Tie between garlic and black pepper Summer Meal= anything from the grill Summer Meal= BBQ Summer Meal= BLT Summer Meal= BLT (during tomato season) Summer Meal= BLT Sandwich with fresh local tomatoes and sweet corn Summer Meal= burgers on the grill Summer Meal= chicken harvest salad Summer Meal= Chicken Shish Ke Bob Summer Meal= Creamy Lemon Potato Salad/Burger Summer Meal= fresh veggies with sliced tomatoes and cornbread and lots of sweet iced tea with lemon Summer Meal= Gazpacho, and grilled veggies Summer Meal= grilled bacon & potato kabobs, corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes Summer Meal= Grilled Bone-in Chicken Breasts w/ grilled mixed vegetables Summer Meal= grilled burgers Summer Meal= grilled chicken and pineapple Summer Meal= grilled langoustines with a fresh salad Summer Meal= grilled pork tenderloin Summer Meal= Grilled rib-eye, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon Summer Meal= grilled shrimp and fresh corn on the cob Summer Meal= grilled shrimp, stuffed tomatoes Summer Meal= grilled steaks Summer Meal= Grilled veggies and good bread, followed with ice-cold watermelon Summer Meal= Hummus with pita chips Summer Meal= lobster and corn on the cob - both steamed Summer Meal= Pork salad, like taco salad but with sweet pork, or a burrito on a plate Summer Meal= ribs with corn on the cob Summer Meal= salad Summer Meal= Salad, big layered salad Summer Meal= Salad, Chef Salad Summer Meal= Salad, chicken caesar salad Summer Meal= Salad, chicken salad, cantaloupe,and garlic toast Summer Meal= Salad, cold pasta salad Summer Meal= Salad, my mom's warm potato salad & chili con carne & green salad Summer Meal= Salad, Taco Salad Summer Meal= Salad, Tomato, Onion and Cucumber Salad Summer Meal= salads Summer Meal= Salads. Summer Meal= sashimi Summer Meal= Seafood Buffet at the Hilton, AC, NJ. Summer Meal= steamed mussels/shioyaki Summer Meal= watermelon & grilled cheese sandwich Veggie= All Root Vegetables. Veggie= artichoke Veggie= artichoke, This is tough. I love 'em all, but maybe steamed artichoke. Veggie= artichokes Veggie= asparagus Veggie= asparagus Veggie= asparagus Veggie= asparagus Veggie= broccoli Veggie= broccoli Veggie= Brussels Sprouts Veggie= carrot Veggie= Carrots Veggie= Carrots Veggie= cauliflower Veggie= corn Veggie= Corn Veggie= Corn Fresh Veggie= Corn on the cob Veggie= corn on the cob Veggie= corn on the cob Veggie= eggplant Veggie= fresh garden peas Veggie= Green Beans Veggie= leek Veggie= lettuce Veggie= okra/greens Veggie= parsnips Veggie= parsnips Veggie= potato Veggie= red peppers Veggie= roasted Red Peppers Veggie= snap peas Veggie= snow peas Veggie= Spinach Veggie= Stir fries. Veggie= Tomato Veggie= Tomatoes Veggie= tomatoes fresh field Veggie= Tomatoes sliced from my garden (Yes, I know it's really a fruit) Veggie= tomatoes vine-ripened "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

Cathy, we were thinking about you, and agreed that next time we'll try to plan far enough in advance to have you come along, we missed you. Lars, when you do come to Michigan, we'll definitely have to have a get together, either here or in Chicago or SOMEWHERE, we can't let you come this far and not meet everyone! writersblock, the crust is a mixture of a one pound bag offrozen hash brown potatoes, one egg and salt and pepper. I press it into a buttered springform pan, mine is a 9 inch, and then add the filling and bake. My oldest daughter is celiac, so I'm getting better at gluten free cooking, even for other people, LOL. stir_fryi, that's my Grandma's recipe and the trick is to not overbake or they get crisp, like gingersnaps instead of staying chewy. The recipe was been very popular here over the last few years, then kind of dwindled away. Here it is, my favorite cookie since I was a child. Chewy Molasses Cookies (Annie CF) 1 1/2 cups of shortening (I use half and half with butter, but all butter makes them too crispy for my taste) 1 cups granulated sugar 1 cup dark brown sugar 2 eggs 3/4 cup of dark molasses 4 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 teaspoons ginger 1 teaspoon ground cloves Chopped crystalized ginger, optional, to taste. I used about half a cup, finely chopped and wish I'd have used more but I love ginger Coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for rolling Cream the shortening and sugars. Add the molasses and eggs and mix until well blended. Sift the flour (yeah right, I don't, LOL) and measure 4 1/2 cups into a separate bowl. Add the spices, salt, and baking soda and whisk to combine. Turn the mixer to low or stir, and add the flour slowly until well mixed. Stir in the chopped ginger and chill the dough for at least an hour. After the dough has chilled for an hour, roll tablespoonfuls of the dough into balls and roll the balls in the coarse sugar to completely coat. Place the dough balls about an inch apart on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. The cookies will puff up and crack. When the cookies are done the cracks should still look a little wet, but the outside should look dry. They'll "fall" a little as they cool, let them sit a couple of minutes on the sheet before you try to move them to cooling racks. Peppi, we love having Emma and you here, and your Dad too. All I have to do is find a "babysitter" for the dogs, the cows, the horses and the chickens and we'll be right there! (grin) And, as Peppi mentioned, we had beef stew the first night. Maybe not special company food, but something that could sit in the oven and give me some time to visit instead of "hands on". I did use a Porterhouse, a Sirloin and two Rib steaks, so it was kind of special... Annie

I don't worry a lot about it, but I avoid adding them when possible. I made the canadian bacon and the peameal bacon without it, as they were only brined two and three days, respectively. The salt brine for corned beef is going to keep the meat fine for five days in the fridge without an issue, but if I were leaving it for a couple of weeks, I might have second thoughts. Then again, those fancy steakhouses dry age beef for 40 days or more, so there's that, everyone has to make their own choices about what they are comfortable with. I know that 90% of the nitrates in our bodies come from vegetables, and 10% from processed meats, but there's a difference in nitrates. According to the University of Minnesota: "Normally, sodium nitrate in vegetables does not pose the same health risk as nitrites found in processed meat. The nitrites added to processed meats as preservatives and color enhancers can combine with proteins called amines to form compounds called nitrosamines. Nitrosamines have shown cancer-causing potential in animal studies. Nitrates and nitrites themselves do not have cancer-causing potential. Vegetables contain ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C and an antioxidant which helps prevent nitrosamine formation, although it might not completely prevent it. Store fresh cooked vegetables high in nitrates for no more than one to two days in the refrigerator or cook only as much as you plan to eat at one time." So, are you more concerned about the food safety issues with leaving beef in brine alone, or with the nitrates added to your diet? It's strictly your call, the flavor will be there no matter what. Laceyvail, I never thought of corning the tongue, that's a good idea! Do you take the skin off it first, or brine with the skin on? Annie

My Sister (Renee-FL) ordered a meal with spinach on the side. Her plate was brought to her with the spinach raw next to the meat! Sounds like maybe they didn't want to admit an error? It would be tempting to go back and order the chocolate chip ones. Check Yelp reviews and see if anyone wrote about the pancakes!