offbalance's Profile

Display Name: offbalance
Member Since: 4/12/07

Latest Comments...

If you're anywhere close to NY, I know that Myers of Keswick will have it. http://www.myersofkeswick.com/


Where Can I Find British Back Bacon? Good Questions
3/9/13 3:31 PM

My favorite cereal is Crispix, and that's never been too sweet in a million years. (When I feel like sweet, I tend to end up with honey nut cheerios.)


Too-Sweet Cereal? Try This Healthy Tip
1/9/13 1:32 PM

Actually, *any* of the Community Christmas episodes are amazing. I'm partial to the claymation one, myself, but the Glee spoof one you mention was genius.


Favorite Holiday TV Episodes to Craft, Clean & Cook By
12/11/12 1:26 PM

My husband and I are HUGE film buffs, so I definitely love this idea. However, I have to share a small story - when I was little, I used to find silent films really unsettling (even scary, to a degree). I found out later that may it may have had to do with the rate of frames per second, which I wasn't really accustomed to. I enjoy most silents now, but sometimes I still feel that way. Hopefully it won't be the same for your daughter!

I also found the voices of the little rascals to be like nails on a chalkboard, even at a tender age.

Make sure not to overlook some of the wonderful animation from the era! Not just Disney, but also some of the great old Looney Tunes shorts and maybe a few of the non-offensive Tom & Jerry shorts (some of them are jaw-droppingly offensive, I will admit). Hand-drawn animation is a dying art, and we need to build in a new generation to appreciate all of the hard work and craft that goes into it.

So many of the great old MGM musicals would be perfect. I'm a huge Astaire/Rodgers fan, and a fan of some o the non-Ginger stuff Astaire did (Band Wagon, Easter Parade, etc.). Anything with Judy Garland (especially Meet Me in St. Louis, the Harvey Girls, Easter Parade, the old Andy Hardy movies). Gene Kelly also made a few terrific ones, most notably Singin in the Rain.


My Favorite Films for Children Maxwell's Finds
9/5/12 2:48 PM

I'm a born and raised New Yorker, but on a recent trip to New Orleans I discovered Crystal hot sauce, the hot sauce all others bow before. I'm absolutely crazy for the stuff, as is my parents. It's getting slightly easier to find in the five boroughs, but it's still tough to get my hands on. (and while Tabasco is all right, Crystal is far superior, in my opinion.)


What's Your Favorite Regional Condiment?
8/14/12 9:17 AM

I find that a serrated knife works best for something like this.


How Do You Slice Mozzarella Cleanly? Good Questions
8/13/12 4:57 PM

Discovering I was allergic to shrimp at age 5. Good times.


What Was Your Worst Childhood Food Experience?
8/1/12 1:49 PM

If the thread will allow a tiny bit of bragging, I not only have been selected to inherit my mother-in-law's beautiful waterford china, but my own grandmother left to me a beautiful set of 1930s crystal drinkware (different sized wine glasses and such) that has a beautiful pattern etched into it. I can't wait until I have an apartment that would allow me to keep such lovely things on hand, and in use!


Inheriting the Family Dishes Reader Survey
7/30/12 1:27 PM

I'd love to buy by the case, but there's nowhere to keep one in my teeny-tiny, already overstuffed apartment.


Budget Wine: 5 Tips to Save You Money on Wine
1/6/12 10:41 AM

My parents have used the Kirkland for years and I always thought it was good. My favorite grocery store extra virgin is by Pacific Organics. The price point is reasonable and the flavor is really rich.


In Search of a Good Everyday Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4/12 2:09 PM

I always enjoyed slicing this up and frying it in the grill pan until brown and crispy on the outside. It makes a great side or snack. I've never tried it with cheese on top, but I 'm sure you could use these with dishes that have a lot of juice or sauce very nicely.


What Can I Make With a Roll of Polenta?
Good Questions

12/30/11 9:43 AM

Believe it or not, I use a version of this for scrambling eggs. The wisdom is that the pan is already hot, so no need to keep heating it. Once the eggs start to solidify I start fluffing them, and if they appear solid I turn off the burner. Keeps eggs from getting overdone, too!


Does Cooking Pasta Using the 'Passive' Method Work?
10/12/11 3:07 PM

I'm making a huge and hearty pot of the stew that got my fiance and I through the huge December blizzard. Should last us a few days!


What Are the Best Foods to Prepare Before a Hurricane?
Good Questions

8/27/11 1:59 PM

Another vote here for Classico. Yes, it's easy to make your own. Yes, I make and freeze big batches of the stuff and keep it for such a night, but I don't mind the jarred stuff. It's not hard to doctor with some herbs and wine or meat, and it keeps the dish count minimal, something you don't take for granted when you're exhausted and don't want to order out.

Plus, every so often I am intrigued by a new variety of sauce, so I try it to help inform what new things to add to my own. Those reverse-engineers have almost always yielded great results.


What Kind of Jarred Red Sauce Do You Use?
8/17/11 5:31 PM

This is great - is there an android version for those of us not in Jobs' cult?


Substitutions: A Handy Kitchen App for iPhones and iPads
5/12/11 12:45 PM

Frozen chicken patties are a godsend in these occasions.


Got Home Late and Starving: What Do You Do?
4/18/11 1:33 PM

Not to be a kiss-ass, but reading sites like Kitchn and my many,many other food blogs usually helps. (As does things like Food & Wine, Real Simple, and the like). Even with all of this handy inspiration, I'm STILL having problems with staying motivated. So, I feel you, dude. I'm looking forward to when my CSA starts up and I can find inspiration in all of that new produce.


Help! I've Lost My Motivation to Cook!
Good Questions

4/18/11 9:48 AM

I prefer not to donate to the Red Cross as well, but I found this other, fantastic organization called Shelter Box: http://shelterboxusa.org/.

Within hours of a disaster, Shelter Box arrives with crates filled with essential supplies (blankets, tools, cooking equipment, water purification supplies, a specially designed tent, something for the kids, to name a few) and gives them to people who have been displaced by disasters. It's a unique and amazing idea, imho.


The Japan Earthquake: How to Help
3/15/11 9:07 AM

My guilty pleasure food of uber-processed, frozen chicken patties (Weaver is my favorite, but Tyson's are decent, and I haven't tried Perdue's yet) I have discovered is fantastic for when you can't eat anything else.

Also, Pennsylvania Dutch noodles with the tiniest bit of butter or margarine is good too. And yogurt! All that good bacteria will help you straighten yourself out.


What Do You Eat To Recover From Food Poisoning?
3/8/11 11:16 AM

Lovely idea - how do you fit a baking sheet into an already-packed, tiny freezer? Any suggestions?

Also, I'm guessing your CSA does a weekend pickup. Mine is Wednesday night, and I have work the next day. Still, this is a nice idea if you have oodles of time on your hands.


CSA Box Tip: Blanch & Freeze Winter Greens
3/4/11 2:02 PM