Comments on: Happy Thanksgiving Decatur/Atlanta!

By: lumpintheroad

lumpintheroad — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:59:24 +0000

Different books for different cooks!

I will add this: That PBS travelogue with Mark Bittman gallivanting through Spain with Gwyneth “GOOP” Paltrow did not help endear him to me.

The only recipe of his that I’ve ever gotten to turn out was arepas, and even those were a horrible mess to prepare using his directions.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:45:08 +0000

Seriously? I have the exact opposite experience.

Cook’s Illustrated results don’t live up to the amount of extra effort necessary (how many times are they going to tell me to cook something in a pan and then transfer it to the oven?) while Bittman is always easy, accessible and the results are almost always good.

By: lumpintheroad

lumpintheroad — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:41:56 +0000

Mark Bittman is persona non grata in our home. Time and again we try his great-sounding recipes, and time and again they fail to come together or just plain taste terrible. I own “How to Cook Everything”, but haven’t cracked it in years because I’ve completely lost faith in the man’s guidance. Case in point: The coconut sweet potato pie with spiced crust (sounds great, right?) to which we sacrificed precious sweet potatoes from our own garden turned out bland as could be. After one slice, we threw it out rather than serve it to Thanksgiving guests. Meanwhile, the more traditional custard-style sweet potato pie we made as a backup (from the Newnan Junior Service League’s “A Taste of Georgia”) was insanely delicious.

Give me Cook’s Illustrated any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

By: Vermont Mom

Vermont Mom — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 01:57:11 +0000

Great to hear your apple pie was a smash (not literally, of course). Cheers to everyone who makes his/her pie crust from scratch! Note for your next feast: ask Ali for her cranberry chutney recipe and Mark for his creation: roasted butternut & sweet potatoes with lots of added spicy-ness. Yum. Thankful for family & friends… every day!

By: Parker Cross

Parker Cross — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:51:10 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving all. We are in Holiday, FL, with dear husband’s family. Dined at the Spartan Manor, which I think is the funniest name for a restaurant, ever. Husband and nephews conversation consisted of dialogue from The Three Hundred. Spartans! We dine in Hell tonight! Nonetheless, much to be thankful for. best to all.