Totally unrelated, the point of this post was that in addition to fresh octopus, Kostas has smelts. I have not seen smelts on the menu anywhere else - let alone on a bed of dandelion with lemon. I would get it if I could say no to octopus.
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02/01/2009 16:53 #47593
Smelts at Kosta'sCategory: food
We headed over to kostas after watching slumdog millionaire. The movie was pretty good, although I'm not really a fan of movies with homeless child protagonists, visions of big crowded cities, or the Indian head wiggle gesture (sorry indian friends - it makes me uncomfortable because I don't get it). It was surely better than Disney's Hotel for Dog, which is what I thought we were seeing. I knew it had dog in the title.
Totally unrelated, the point of this post was that in addition to fresh octopus, Kostas has smelts. I have not seen smelts on the menu anywhere else - let alone on a bed of dandelion with lemon. I would get it if I could say no to octopus.
Totally unrelated, the point of this post was that in addition to fresh octopus, Kostas has smelts. I have not seen smelts on the menu anywhere else - let alone on a bed of dandelion with lemon. I would get it if I could say no to octopus.
01/31/2009 23:20 #47587
Cinnamon Sticks at Guercio'sCategory: food
Today, I went shopping at Guercio's, the Coop and Eegmans with (e:libertad), (e:mike) and (e:matthew). I cannot believe how cheap spices are at Guecrio's. I got about 60 sticks of cinnamon bark for $6.99 and about a liter of coriander seeds for the same price. To give you an idea of how cheap this is, at Wegmans - the cheapest cinnamon sticks I could get - were about 7 sticks for $5.49. It seems totally unreal, huh?
Guercio's price for cinnamon sticks
Wegman's price for the cheap brand
Guercio's price for cinnamon sticks
Wegman's price for the cheap brand
tinypliny - 02/01/09 13:50
@James: Make your own! Store-bought masalas are so not the real deal! (except Trader Joe, which we don't have here unfortunately). The recipe is ridiculously simple. Dry toast:
5 parts coriander seeds
2 parts cumin seeds
2 parts cloves
2 parts whole black peppers
Dry red chillies to taste (A LOT! :)
in a cast iron skillet till the coriander seeds are a lightish brown and aromatic. DO NOT CHAR.
Pour everything in a blender. Add
1 part dried mango powder (Amchur)
3/4 part cardamom pods (shelled)
Dash of cinnamon.
Grind to a fine-coarse powder. That's it. Store in the fridge to retain freshness (around 6 months).
@Jenks: REALLY?? What kind of spices do they have in bulk?! Pray, tell!!
@James: Make your own! Store-bought masalas are so not the real deal! (except Trader Joe, which we don't have here unfortunately). The recipe is ridiculously simple. Dry toast:
5 parts coriander seeds
2 parts cumin seeds
2 parts cloves
2 parts whole black peppers
Dry red chillies to taste (A LOT! :)
in a cast iron skillet till the coriander seeds are a lightish brown and aromatic. DO NOT CHAR.
Pour everything in a blender. Add
1 part dried mango powder (Amchur)
3/4 part cardamom pods (shelled)
Dash of cinnamon.
Grind to a fine-coarse powder. That's it. Store in the fridge to retain freshness (around 6 months).
@Jenks: REALLY?? What kind of spices do they have in bulk?! Pray, tell!!
jenks - 02/01/09 12:49
ps i just found that the wegs on amherst has a bulk spice section- near the bulk candy, towards the front. Not 'name brands' but way way cheaper.
ps i just found that the wegs on amherst has a bulk spice section- near the bulk candy, towards the front. Not 'name brands' but way way cheaper.
jenks - 02/01/09 12:48
yeah same here. Last year I wanted whole cloves, and a little mini bottle was like $3 in the spice section, and then I found a gigantic lifetime-supply size bottle for like $2 in the 'ethnic' aisle.
yeah same here. Last year I wanted whole cloves, and a little mini bottle was like $3 in the spice section, and then I found a gigantic lifetime-supply size bottle for like $2 in the 'ethnic' aisle.
james - 02/01/09 11:47
Yesterday I was in Wegs buying some Garam Masala. In the spice section 2oz sold for 6.99. In the Indian food section an 8oz package sold for 2.49.
WTF?
Yesterday I was in Wegs buying some Garam Masala. In the spice section 2oz sold for 6.99. In the Indian food section an 8oz package sold for 2.49.
WTF?
tinypliny - 02/01/09 10:52
McCormick prices are atrocious, BTW. I wonder what their profit margin is. I am sure harried housewives and bakers grab those insanely expensive bottles from the Wegmans shelves as a last-minute resort.
McCormick prices are atrocious, BTW. I wonder what their profit margin is. I am sure harried housewives and bakers grab those insanely expensive bottles from the Wegmans shelves as a last-minute resort.
tinypliny - 02/01/09 10:50
On everything?! You must post some rosemary-centric recipes! :)
On everything?! You must post some rosemary-centric recipes! :)
paul - 02/01/09 10:46
I use rosemary on everything, so for me tht bottle seems very reasonable. The price sure is.
I use rosemary on everything, so for me tht bottle seems very reasonable. The price sure is.
tinypliny - 02/01/09 10:38
What do you think of Rosemary prices at Guercios? I wanted to buy a bottle but it was too huge. I haven't really experimented with Rosemary in my cooking till recently (when you gave me some from your garden). I didn't know if I could get through that huge bottle. Maybe I should have bought it...
What do you think of Rosemary prices at Guercios? I wanted to buy a bottle but it was too huge. I haven't really experimented with Rosemary in my cooking till recently (when you gave me some from your garden). I didn't know if I could get through that huge bottle. Maybe I should have bought it...
tinypliny - 02/01/09 10:36
1 Litre coriander seeds = 1 kg for $7?
Is that correct?
I just compared the Indian Store prices. I pay around $7.50 for a kg (1000 gms). Its the fastest moving spice in my kitchen next to salt!
1 Litre coriander seeds = 1 kg for $7?
Is that correct?
I just compared the Indian Store prices. I pay around $7.50 for a kg (1000 gms). Its the fastest moving spice in my kitchen next to salt!
01/31/2009 11:17 #47579
Parking at dance camp on linwoodCategory: linwood
These people stopped in the middle of the street blocking a plow.
Then someone got out of the passenger seat. Then that person walked
around and let more children out the otherside. The entire time they
were parked diagnal across the driveway and in the middle of the
street. It's the worst possible combo as it stops all traffic on
linwood and blocks the driveway.
Then someone got out of the passenger seat. Then that person walked
around and let more children out the otherside. The entire time they
were parked diagnal across the driveway and in the middle of the
street. It's the worst possible combo as it stops all traffic on
linwood and blocks the driveway.
metalpeter - 01/31/09 16:07
Maybe that is a good thing, just hear me out. If the plow got blocked I'm sure the guy saw what lead to it, if he is a city guy maybe he passed it on to someone else. I'm not saying anything good will come out of it but maybe something might.
Maybe that is a good thing, just hear me out. If the plow got blocked I'm sure the guy saw what lead to it, if he is a city guy maybe he passed it on to someone else. I'm not saying anything good will come out of it but maybe something might.
drew - 01/31/09 12:16
amazing.
amazing.
01/30/2009 11:33 #47573
Macbook pro dead pixelsSeeing as one whole row is dead now, I have at least 900 of them.
It's under AppleCare and it can get fixed but seriously, I don't have
the time to not have a comp and this is the second time the laptop has
had a hardware failure. I know that I use it quite hard but going to
the applestore and giving up my comp for the weekend is not convenient.
jenks - 01/30/09 11:41
i called and made a stink once, and they sent a guy to my house to fix it while I waited... worth a try...
i called and made a stink once, and they sent a guy to my house to fix it while I waited... worth a try...
01/29/2009 09:56 #47554
More mercury - high fructose corn syrupCategory: food
Just when you thought you had you tuna fish schedule all worked out to avoid having too much mercury - it end up being in yet another place. This time High fructose corn syrup.
Luckily, I don't very much of that on the diet I eat, but it is in pretty much all sweetend, processed junk food and soda.
Luckily, I don't very much of that on the diet I eat, but it is in pretty much all sweetend, processed junk food and soda.
Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury
MONDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury, which was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient, according to two new U.S. studies.
HFCS has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods such as breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.
"Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply," the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Dr. David Wallinga, a co-author of both studies, said in a prepared statement.
dcoffee - 01/29/09 13:44
Damn, high fructose corn syrup is like the main vegetable in America, besides french fries :) I'm a salty person, I don't get why they put sugar in everything.
Damn, high fructose corn syrup is like the main vegetable in America, besides french fries :) I'm a salty person, I don't get why they put sugar in everything.
Heh, I am not sure Indians like this movie too much. It's simple not the raw bollywood we love. Odd, but this film actually feels more coldly British than Indian.
The Indian Head Wiggle: Last night, no one would believe me about Indian head wiggle. I found some references to prove I am not crazy. There are a ton of references about it.
:::link:::
:::link:::
According to that link, you can even use the wiggle to acknowlege one's presence:
"Acknowledging one’s presence
In the Western world, acknowledging one’s presence is performed through words or through a smile. If you are in the United States, you can acknowledge one’s presence by smiling and saying “hi.†If you are in a Spanish-speaking country, you can smile and say, “Buenos dÃas.â€
In India you do not have to open your mouth. In fact, even smiling is optional. If you want to acknowledge someone's presence, just make eye contact and wiggle until the recipient notices the waggle. Presto."
I must go to Kosta's now! I demand smelt.
wow that is really crazy. i thought they were just something like noone made anymore except mom
That sounds like a Greek version of tempuras. Maybe you should try this: :::link:::
:)