Pierogi's Profile

OK....#4, although I love the mid-century bar cart, looses any cred whatsoever with the bottle (and a 1.75 liter bottle at that !) of cheap, spiced rum. They gain back a couple of points for decent Bourbon, but come on....that rum....oy !

DAY-um ! I must be an incredibly messy/inefficient/sloppy/slovenly cook ! I live alone, and always have. I got my first diswasher when I was 30-ish (a loooooooooong time ago) and never looked back. Till that point, my Mom lived with me, and cleaned up after I cooked (well, it was a joint effort, but she did the dishes). At first, it was as a break for her. Now, it's a break for me, and I wouldn't be without one. It's a small one (a "portable", since I don't have the cabinet space to give up for a built-in), but I still manage to fill it at least every other day. Usually every day. I too, hate to run it when it doesn't seem "efficient" to do so. Nonetheless, its at least every other day. For those of you that can't fill one in a week.....do you really cook? Or just reheat/nuke? Come on...a meal of protein/starch/veg takes at least 3 cooking vessels, a plate (or 2 if you have a salad or a side in a small dish), utensils, and a beverage glass (or two). If your main has a couple of steps, you'll need more cooking vessels or prep dishes. I also have 2 dogs, so there's doggie dishes in there too. Plus any glasses/cups/bowls/plates from breakfast, lunch and snacks. EASILY a full load in a small dishwasher.

Frankly, if I couldn't have a dishwasher, I wouldn't cook for myself. Much as I love cooking (and I *LOVE* cooking), that's how much I hate washing dishes.

Tweezers work well, also.

Wusthoff used to (and still may, for all I know) make a wooden block that was designed to be mounted flat, under a cabinet. It has a built-in swivel, so you can swing it out and see which knife is which. The blades are secured in the actual block, so no danger of cutting yourself. I've had it for about 15 years now, and wouldn't be without it. SUCH a great idea, freed up a whole passel of counter space when I had it installed.

Red Beans and Rice, split pea or navy bean soup, (or any kind of bean soup), black beans for Morros Y Cristianos, Hoppin' John with Collards for New Years Day, ham noodles (essentially ham soup with veggies and long, noodle-shaped dumplings).

A ham bone in the freezer is like gold in the safe deposit box !

Christmas is ham. Sometime around New Years is a rib roast (*NOT* NYE, that's apps & Champagne, nor NY Day, *that's* black-eyed peas & collards....). Just don't love turkey enough for more than once a year.

I am so blessed, I cook every day in the kitchen where I grew up. I realized not long ago that it's now been my kitchen longer than it was my mother's. I feel her with me everytime I'm in it. I've changed some things, some remain true (the clock on the wall, a needlepoint I made for her that says "Kiss The Cook", the teapot). I guess it will always really be "our" kitchen.

Great recipe for an iceburg/radicchio salad dressed with lemon and capers and topped with ricotta salata on my blog http://apoundofyeast.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-praise-of-iceberg-lettuce.html
I loved that salad, can't wait to make it again!

Pseudo ceviche....flake the Krab and mix with lime juice, chopped onion, copious amounts of chopped cilantro, chopped tomato, S&P and loads of hot sauce (Tapatio is my preference for this application). Let sit in the fridge for a bit (overnight is even good), then eat on tostada shells. Surprisingly good.

Plus yet another one for the cold running tap water. The two times I've given myself a good burn in the kitchen (touch wood, only two!), once with hot caramel and once from picking up a cast iron pan that had been in the oven, I kept the burn under the cold tap for like 10 or so minutes. Then I gently dried the area, and wrapped a band-aid around the blister really tight. Both didn't hurt after the initial blast, and neither scared, which really surprised me considering the burn from the caramel left a valley-shaped divot in the finger the syrup dribbled over. I don't think I used ointment in either case....