Heather

Just now having breakfast after getting lunches made, the kids dressed and off to day camp, running to the pediatrician to drop off school health forms, home depot for paint, and the grocery store. Turkey on rye, and a diet Coke (with Splenda) because I am feeling insufficiently caffeinated.

Good article, but the recipes are all for freezer products which don't last as long. I will be making low-sugar blueberry jam this weekend. I've never tried it, and have heard that the low-sugar pectin can do funky things to the texture. If it turns out badly I'll just give those away as "gifts".

Shredded wheat, skim milk, and raspberries from our backyard. And not nearly enough black coffee.

Tuesday the 12th is my birthday, and we're celebrating at Marcel's. I have got to try that boudin blanc.

Sounds like you just volunteered to organize one.

Nice butt, Bill. We're home from the beach and ready for some decent food. Tonight: Hot dogs & corn on the grill Cole slaw with homemade buttermilk dill dressing Potato salad Cold beer Watermelon Berry shortcakes Popsicles while watching the Rockville fireworks. Happy Independence Day!

Thanks Ellen! That's very helpful - I guess next time we'll do some research before we leave. We'll try one of those and report back.

We decided on Thursday afternoon to head for the shore this weekend. After an absurdly easy drive we arrived in Ocean City at 3 this afternoon. Went for a quick dip in the ocean, then off to hunt for some seafood. For some reason, Phillips came to mind and we looked up the closest (141st St). We were asked if we wanted the buffet upon arriving and not knowing any better we said yes. Never has $100 been wasted for so little. Gritty, inadequately shucked oysters. Seafood so heavily breaded it was unrecognizable. Grey, fatty slices of "prime rib" floating in liquid. "Vegetable of the day" consisting of frozen peas & carrots. Salad bar composed mainly of fatty "salads" and cottage cheese. And an endless parade of overweight children lining up for the soft serve machine. It was pathetic and depressing. My children, who will eat almost anything, hated it. Apparently there was a menu we could have ordered from if we had been told...although I have no illusions that it would have made it a better experience. So what do we do? We're here until Monday morning. We have cereal, milk, fruit, sliced raw veggies, bread, and PB & J, so lunches and breakfasts are taken care of. Is there anywhere to have dinner in this town that isn't a.) a ripoff or b.) horrid? Good sushi? Thai? Fresh seafood? Help!

That's what I would do. This might be too good to pass up.

You're bad. I bet it would make good ice cream flavoring, or sorbet. Time to freeze the insert for the ice cream maker and start experimenting.

I opened a jar of blueberry jam last night and it didn't set properly. I tried not using pectin and obviously didn't do it properly. Anyone have ideas for 4 jars of blueberry sauce? This weekend: pear/sour cherry chutney, and more blueberry jam.

Oysters: yes. Panna Cotta: not sure.

Check out today's Weekly Dish*. It sounds like they should have stuck with the staff training a while longer. * No link yet.

I have ordered gift baskets from Dean & Deluca several times and been pleased.

If you do Thursday I might be able to go. Tomorrow I am taking Emma and a friend to the library.

That description was enough to put me off my lunch. Thanks for taking one for the team.

Sounds good, Jacques. In addition to the jam I took half of the blueberry/sugar mixture, strained it and got a quart of blueberry syrup that was damn good on vanilla ice cream last night.

Got a chance to try a couple of new appetizers while sipping rose at the bar Friday night. The mushroom/goat cheese/garlic crostini are good, but could use a bigger hit of garlic for my taste. The smoked salmon pupusa is a cool deconstructed presentation that got a mixed reaction but I liked it. I only got a taste of the tomato bread pudding but I'm now looking forward to tomato season so that I can get a whole one.

We made three batches of jam today - strawberry, blueberry, and sour cherry are cooling on my counter. Half the jars went home with Mr and Mrs B who brought the cherries and strawberries and provided the wine and bahn mi (next time lunch is on me). Special mention to Mr Shorter and Nora who took the little ones to the pool while mom played with boiling fruit and sugar. Tomorrow I prep a big batch of vidalia relish to be processed on Tuesday. And make some biscuits to go with the jam. Edit to say I'll post some pretty pictures of the jars as soon as I find our digital camera.

I am. ETA 5:30 or so.

Don't bother. The Rockville market does not hold a candle to the Arlington market. It sucks.

I may schlep down for HH. I will be alone with bored kids all day tomorrow while Scott is off on the battlefiled somewhere in Northern Maryland.

Great report. We have reservations 7/12 for the main room, but we may try to get to the bar before then.

I met him today before the demo. I refrained from mentioning the spanking his place got on Tom's chat.

I went today and will post about it later once kids are in bed. It's pretty cool.