[Italiancook]

I haven't cooked. Been eating prepared meals from the freezer. My only from-scratch endeavor was tomato-basil bruschetta for dinner last night. Delicious! Hubby planted herbs in containers on the patio. It was great to harvest fresh basil. For some reason, we kill off all the herbs we try to grow in the house.

[Italiancook]

Banana Bread.

From "Martha Stewart's Cakes" I baked Vanilla Layer Cake. It was my second time baking it. The icing for it suggested in the cookbook is delicious, but I prefer chocolate icing on white and yellow cakes. So this time, I used lemon curd between the layers and didn't ice it. The problem was that the top layer slid off the bottom because of the slippery curd. I cut the cake into serving pieces and "flash froze" them before putting them in a freezer bag. Of course, when microwaved to thaw, the top will slide again. But it's a good cake that's quick to pull together.

Wonky, I didn't make the Raisin Bread. I cut my thumb and didn't want to put it in bread dough. Instead, I made Peanut Butter Cookies for a family with children. I didn't have to touch the dough. For the first time, I used a recipe that calls for Crisco, not butter. I disliked the dough. I don't think it had enough fat. Next time, I'll go back to my tried and true recipe that uses butter. But, the cookies tasted good, and the children will enjoy them.

[Italiancook]

Of course, Mike. Metric measuring spoons. That's what I need to search for. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I've purchased a metric scale for these recipes. And, a metric beaker. So metric measuring spoons has to be correct. Thanks!

[Italiancook]

You may reassure him, Mike, by telling him there's a new poster who is almost totally ignorant about technology. If I can figure this out, so can he. When I was reading but not posting on the BC, I liked his posts. I hope his health improves to the point he can join us.

[Italiancook]

Thanks, Wonky & BakerAunt for your help. I'm planning on making this raisin bread on Saturday. I'll let you know how it turns out when BakerAunt posts her weekly, "What did you bake." Of course, if I flop the recipe, I may not want to mention it.

[Italiancook]

I'm not a big bread fan, so I only make it when I want something specific. If I'm hungry for tomato-basil bruschetta, I make Cuban Bread. If I want a sandwich with Italian deli meats, I use KAF Tuscan-Style Bread with Herbs. Now, you have me yearning for raisin bread. I haven't had a good loaf of raisin bread since we left Chicago.

In total, how long do you knead the dough in your KA? You say 5 minutes after addition of raisins, but how long prior to that? I ask, because I make bread infrequently and haven't yet mastered kneading in the KA.

Thanks.

[Italiancook]

Thanks, Mike & BakerAunt, for all the posts about food recalls. The article you linked us to is interesting, Mike. I had wondered why there were so many recalls.

[Italiancook]

BakerAunt, maybe you wouldn't have to throw it away. I believe, but may be wrong, that if there's a food recall, the grocery store will take it back. I don't know if they give a store credit or refund your money. I've been involved in two food recalls. I know they took back the product, but I can't recall whether they refunded my money in any way. A call to your store's customer service would give you and answer if you don't want to traipse to the store bags in hand.

[Italiancook]

I applaud this. The article I read said that they're recommending gradual reductions. I think this will make it more palatable to the salt-lovin' consumers, among whom I count family members.

I hope Swanson's chicken broth receives a makeover. I think their lower sodium product has too much salt. I make my own broth and freeze it. Yet, there are times when I'd really love to reach for Swanson's.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Italiancook.

[Italiancook]

Mike, what are the types of products where you want a lower protein content? Thanks!

[Italiancook]

Mike, what are the types of products where you want a lower protein content? Thanks!

[Italiancook]

When I was a child, my grandmother bought the VFW poppies. As a family, we went to the cemetery, where she put one on the grave of each veteran family member.

[Italiancook]

Thanks, S_Wirth for the recipe. Looks like what my mom made.

[Italiancook]

This reminds me a little of Italian potato salad, which has olive oil and red wine vinegar. Your recipe also reminds me of the potato salad my mom made when I was a kid. She cooked egg yolks or whole eggs (don't recall which) with vinegar. That mixture was poured over cooked potatoes, chopped celery hearts and chopped onions. The theory she worked under was that using a cooked dressing would prevent illness from potato salad sitting out for hours at a picnic.

In 2000, I wanted to replicate her potato salad. In a search for old timey recipes, I discovered that the name attributed to this type of potato salad is "Patio Potato Salad." I have no idea if having a cooked dressing kept people from becoming sick, or if she was just blessed.

[Italiancook]

Correction: After I submitted the above reply, I realized I should have said "pang of conscience" instead of "pang of consciousness" . . . Could I tell the doctor I ate the chocolate while unconscious?

Would someone tell me how to edit a past after it's submitted? Or isn't there an edit mechanism? Thanks.

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