I'm not going to have any new tests for Thanksgiving this year; I haven't seen any recipes that look terribly interesting, and I'm still having a great deal of trouble typing. Last year's Thanksgiving recipes are under "Holiday Menus and Recipes."

Thanks to everyone who has sent me email about my MS. I really appreciate your kind words and concern. I am feeling pretty good, although I have yet to see any improvement in my symptoms. I'd like to try some ideas for Christmas brunch, but it remains to be seen whether I'll be up to it or not. In the meantime, please check out the archives, and have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Posted by Colleen at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hi, and sorry for the long delay between posts. I have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (thanks to everyone who sent tips and/or sympathy about my carpal tunnel; turns out I never had it to begin with!). I am starting a course of treatment and expect to be able to resume my normal activities within a few months, but for the time being, I am going to have to put this blog on hold.

Thanks to all my readers who have been so supportive over the last year. I've had great fun doing this blog and hope to get back to it in time. My intention at this time is to resume some tests in time for Thanksgiving -- I always like to give Cook's Illustrated's Thanksgiving issue a test run in the kitchen, to see if any of their new recipes deserve a place on my holiday table. If you have other holiday recipes that you'd like to see tested, please forward them to me. And please check back in mid-November!

Thanks, and I'll see you soon!

Posted by Colleen at 03:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Faithful readers will remember that I had carpal tunnel surgery in March. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any improvement in my hand, and in fact, the numbness has been steadily worsening. This is making it very difficult for me to type, so I'm going on hiatus while I make the round of doctors to try to figure out if there's anything to be done. I'll check back in after Labor Day with an update on my hand.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Posted by Colleen at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A quicker treatment than the classic recipe for beef Bourguignon, which requires a long cooking time. This recipe uses slices of beef filet, which cook up very tender and tasty. The downsides: a 3-pound filet of beef is very expensive, and the recipe didn't make enough sauce.

Continue reading “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: Filet of Beef Bourguignon” »

Posted by Colleen at 08:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A completely over-the-top brownie recipe from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. They take a bit more work than regular brownies, but the results are excellent. One big problem, however: the batter burned around the edges of the pan.

Continue reading “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: Outrageous Brownies” »

Posted by Colleen at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A pretty simple, very good-tasting recipe from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook . I have a couple of quibbles: the cooking time was too long, and I don't like what happens to the granola's texture when it's stored.

Continue reading “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: Homemade Granola” »

Posted by Colleen at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the name-dropping introductory paragraph to this recipe, Ina Garten says that "Lauren Bacall gets cranky" if the Barefoot Contessa store is sold out of this chicken. Since the store doesn't exist any more, I suppose that's not a problem these days. I guess I'm no Lauren Bacall (shocking, I know), because while this is an okay treatment for chicken, it's nothing spectacular.

Continue reading “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: Indonesian Ginger Chicken” »

Posted by Colleen at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)