Dana Velden's Profile

ellabee13: Yes, I should have mentioned that this is the US edition. Thanks for pointing that out and it's good to know how popular it is in the UK. Thanks!

mdorothy: Yes, it was all women and yes that's nice but it's also nice when it's mixed company, too.
vintagejenta: you could start by walking over some cookies or homemade bread or pickles or something. And then invite them to dinner. And maybe, given that you seem to live in a more rural place, you may have to widen your scope when it comes to who you define as neighbors. Good luck!

Wow. These sound amazing!

Jdens: Wow. That is very different advice! Might be a fun Kitchn experiment to try both methods side by side to see what happens.

jmcourt: As a Lillet lover but not an expert, I can say that I don't drink it all at once. First because it is 17% alcohol (ouch!) and second because Lillet is, like port and vermouth, a fortified wine and so can take some storage. I don't know what's recommended, but I've kept a bottle stored in the refrigerator for as long as a month.

Nice post, boss! Kevin Kelly, the founder of Wired Magazine, wrote a very powerful essay (Christmas card, actually) about this very same thing. He said:

"When the miracle flows, it flows both ways. With each gift the threads of benevolence are knotted, snaring both giver and recipient. I've only slowly come to realize that good givers are those who learn to receive with grace as well. They radiate a sense of being indebted and a state of being thankful. As a matter of fact, we are all at the receiving end of a huge gift simply by being alive. Yet, most of us are no good at being helpless, humble or indebted."

The complete essay is here.

PSEnser: I mention almonds in the post but I would imagine hazelnuts might be good, too. Or you can just leave the nuts out of the recipe altogether.

aneri_masi: yes, I would start with the equivalent weight in fresh tomatoes. This is a very forgiving recipe, so experiment by adding that amount first and then taste. You can always add more. Or try homemade tomato paste or sun dried tomatoes to boost the tomato flavor. Just be sure you blend it again after adding the sun dried tomatoes :)

One reason to purchase Le Creuset is their lifetime warranty. From their website:

"Le Creuset cookware is warranted to you by Le Creuset of America, Inc. to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the time of its purchase. For this Lifetime Limited Warranty to apply, you must follow the care and use instructions provided with the utensil. This warranty covers normal household use only."

If your LeC piece is damaged, they will replace it. For as long as you own it. I myself cannot afford to buy it new, but if you can, this would be a good reason to do so.

@eureka: El Molino Central in Boyes Hot Springs!