Kate from Foodfromourlife.wordpress.com's Profile

I don't know if it's the same in the US/Canada, but here in Oz experts say that if you invest the same amount of money in the stockmarket as you would a house you WILL be much better off.
I expect it comes from not having to make expensive repairs etc. That said we also aren't able to make significant changes to a rental property like it seems other countries do. Happy with renting for now

My in laws are Moroccan so it's Moroccan or nothing for them. That said it means I have perfected that cuisine and it's usually very easy and timely, all in one pot - always served with bread too. Great for winter dinners. My parents are a bit more easy going when it comes to eating, they'll try anything. I think if you stick with what you're good at and tried and true recipes you won't go wrong. The last thing you want to do is be stressing about a new recipe not working when you're trying to make a good impression.

All of the above Elysiamann, sounds like you have a pretty good pantry going on. Things that keep well in the fridge are olive tapenade & pesto, if you make a jar of pesto yourself and add the parmesan cheese when you actually come to use it, it will keep for longer, just make sure you cover the top with olive oil.
You can do the same with Harissa if you like chilli as well. I do a lot of Moroccan & Italian food, so we always have cumin, paprika, fresh & tinned tomatoes, fresh parsley & coriander (cilantro) Lemons, olive oil, Salt & pepper, garlic and onions on hand as well as olives, olive tapenade, Cannelli beans, pasta, flour, Rice - long grain & aborio, butter, Parmesan cheese, eggplant, capsicum (peppers) and a block of cheese, potatoes, minced beef, minced lamb, lamb chops, (meat in the freezer divided into meal size portions, bread, Flat & otherwise - with all of this I can make pizza, pasta, risotto, tajines, tacos, BBQ's baked potatoes, gnocchi, meat balls etc. I usually make enough so there are left overs for lunches the next day for hubby to go to work, oh and if you have room in your freezer? some puff pastry, so you can make a ricotta & spinach roll. Hope that helps

Definitely chuck it out and go the Cast Iron, you can season it and it will better than any non stick pan. I am currently waiting to take delivery of one for my birthday, I figured seeing as everyone is coveting my Grandma's cast iron pan I'd better get my own. So here is a lesson on how to season it and never ever wash it in soapy water :D http://www.burgermary.com/2012/04/how-to-season-cast-iron-like-a-boss/

I make loads of things in mine and rarely does it go in the oven, you can do a tajine, tangia, soups, Osso Bucco, stews, pretty much anything that requires a heavy based saucepan. I would say that you need to keep an eye on it, you need to make sure that it doesn't burn, because the really hold the heat. I have some recipes on my blog if you want to have a look :D

What about something different like a praline semi freddo - you could get the praline made from peanuts... goes really nicely with Chivas Regal Icecream as well..

There is no such thing :D

@Charlie26 - a packet of Hobnobs chocolate covered or otherwise doesn't last long here either :D & I completely understand your addiction of chocolate covered butter nut snaps! YUMMMM Love it!

I am starving, it's breaky time here! Right now... off to make this, yes they look like crumpets, but you can't split a crumpet in half... Hubby came home with truckloads of bread from a friend who has a bakery, this'll be a great way to use some of it up! Oil & butter in your pan prevents the oil from getting too hot and the butter from burning. Happy days!

I have no idea what a CSA box is, but if you have lemon's you could preserve them, they're wonderful in cooking casseroles, tajines, tangias etc here is a recipe http://foodfromourlife.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/a-week-until-ramadan/ then there is Joyce's lemon cake which is a recipe I got from a wonderful French cookbook called French, it's without question the easiest cake recipe ever! But be careful as it's addictive :D
http://foodfromourlife.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/joyces-lemon-cake/