1 Happy Father's Day.  And the first thing this father is doing is skipping church.

Field dressing guide?  Unzip 'em and take out the guts.  Watch for poo poo and pee pee.  Don't fuck up at the bile duct.  Done and done.

2 For cars I would also recommend the Haynes manuals.  In addition, find an enthusiast site for you make of car, as these people will have videos and fill you in on information that is missing from the Chilton or Haynes manuals.

3 Chilton repair manuals? How quaint. So last century. For repair information for any vehicle manufactured since 1995 visit nastf dot org...with your credit card.

4 For all around cooking, the American Heritage cookbook.

For game, I'm a bit of a gourmand, so I really really like The Derrydale Game Cook Book, written back in the 20s or so by Chef Louis De Gouy.  It has dressing, cleaning, etc. instructions as well.  Thousands of really kick ass gourmet recipes for every critter imaginable.  Never made anything but rare, juicy awesomeness out of it.  I have a leather bound reprint from the 80s.  Original copies from the 30s go for thousands of dollars.  You can get a contemporary reprint here: http://tinyurl.com/366pmvn  Recommended as highly as sex.

5 Good Morning Monty been waiting on the weekly book thread.

The best cookbook???  The Betty Crocker Cookbook of course. It is the best ever by far for both basic stuff and the complicated. I have three copies.

Best auto manual???None apply anymore. You don't need a manual for basic maintenance and with all the electronic crap on cars now you can no longer do anything other than basic stuff like changing oil without a million dollars worth of shop equipment and special tools. I gave up on auto DIY when every time I went to do something I had to make a trip to the NAPA store for yet another special tool that was good for only one task.  I guess that is what they were shooting for.

But on the book score for this week, I finished Michelle Maulkin's much maligned book "In Defence of Internment".  Like her more recent book about the crookedness of the Obama adm it will make you very mad to read it. It will also make you mad at one of Ronald Reagan's biggest sellouts to the liberals in signing off on the appeasement of the libtards on that issue.

I now re-reading the Last Jihad series by Joel C. Rosenberg. Got that Idea after recommending it to a fllow Moronette last week.  

6 Oh, for fishermen, he also did a Fish Cookbook.  My personal favorite is bacon wrapped brown trout that has been stuffed with balsamic vinegar and onion relish-type stuff, in balsamic and onion cream sauce.  For some reason, it works infinitely better with brown trout than any other trout.  Best fish I've ever had.

7 "I generally buy a Chilton manual for any car I'm driving at the moment. They're like the manual you should have gotten but didn't get when you bought the car."

Another good series is the manuals by Haynes. They've helped me keep my vehicles running for twenty years or more.

8 I gave up on auto DIY when every time I went to do something I had to make a trip to the NAPA store for yet another special tool that was good for only one task.

My brother has an early 02-ish Grand Marquis.  He wanted to change the spark plugs.  You have to have a special wrench just to get the plastic cowling off of the top of the engine.  He found that a utility knife is a fine work-around, however.

9 My personal favorite is bacon wrapped brown trout that has been stuffed with balsamic vinegar and onion relish-type stuff, in balsamic and onion cream sauce.

Damn, just reading that makes me hungry.

10

Manual/how to addict here.

There are cookbooks and gardening books in my house, manuals on cars, shotguns, field guides, and I guess the horse/dog books count as manuals too -- but I can honestly say I read them for ideas, but never really use the actual recipes and plans in them.  They just sit and collect dust after the new has worn off; occasionally I pull them out (and they come in very handy sometimes).  I have so many I could stock a small library -- at least the how to sections.  I've even thrown some out on the curb with a "free books" sign on them -- still have them cluttering my house.

I will admit: most of the instructional stuff like that (field dressing, firearm cleaning, cooking, gardening, basic mechanics, animal husbandry/training) got taught to me when I was young and it's been an ongoing (just is) sort of thing -- I don't really rely on a manual all that much.

But it doesn't stop me from buying them -- they are my "ooh shiney" purchases.

11 Bomb near Johannesburg soccer stadium.

12

11 Well, that was bound to happen.

I'm going to have to check out those fish and game books -- can you get modern reprints of the fish book too? (great...like I need to spend my money on such things)

13 The intertubes have taken over in many DIY areas.  In the past month, I've used repair forums to find out how to replace a water line in a refrigerator door (saved me an hour or two following someone else's trick) and how to access the third brake light in a car.

Cooking though is still the area where I like to pull out a book.  The most common that should be around is of course the Betty Crocker book.  I figure myself to be a decent cook, but I can't do without Now You're Cooking by Elaine Corn.  It is a 'basics' cookbook that still gets referenced quite often for advice.  I highly recommend it even to veteran cooks.  For grilling, Weber's grilling cookbooks provide good advice.

14 Fish Cookbook link:  http://tinyurl.com/2u56bwu

You may send the dirty pics, now.  High-def only.

15 For DIY stuff, I find I'm using Google or Bing more often.  Makes me appreciate my Dad even more, as he knew how to do all this stuff without the benefit of the internet.

But this is about books:

Cookbooks:  The Betty Crocker Cookbook (I actually have my Mom's old copy), the Joy of Cooking, and the Pie and Pastry Bible.

Home Repair:  I  have a variety of these, usually two or three different ones on the same topic, and often end up using them all.  I've got ones by Home Depot, Black & Decker, and Stanley.  For electrical work, you want Wiring Simplified for information on key elements of the national electrical code.  Not strictly a DIY book, but very useful if you're going to have your work inspected.

For auto repair, either Haynes or Chilton, though as has been pointed out, these are getting less and less useful as cars become more and more complex.

16 (DO NOT go to a place like Best Buy; that Geek Squad bullshit is the biggest fraud in the world. They'll charge you $50 to stick a RAM stick into a slot -- takes them about two minutes. Then they spend the rest of the day Hoovering your hard disk for private information. Lots of those guys are utter sleazeballs.)

No kidding.  My husband's computer crashed.  We took it to Geek Squad.  Took them 2 days and $70 to tell us they couldn't fix it but if we wanted they could 'send it out for the low price of $800'!  Just for fun we took it to a mom & pop place down the road.  100 bucks and it's running like a champ. 

17 Monty, you see that Russia is doing away with capital gains tax?  Damn, that would be awesome here.

Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 08:40 AM (5I8G0)

They're betraying the Revolution!!

18 Happy Father's Day, moron dads. 

I'm giving my husband the bestest gift ever.  He's going out on the boat for the day with two of his best buds, and sit out on the beach on a little island near here and drink beer.

I have a huge cookbook collection because I love to cook and entertain.  My very first one, when I was a kid, was the original Betty Crocker.  The recipe for Caesar
Salad is still the best one ever.  I also have a bunch of grilling books, but Steven Raichlen's Barbecue Bible is the go-to.  I have a small collection of old southern historical classics, and a few Mediterranean books.

I hope all the dads out there have a great day. 

19 As soon as my husband and I became homeowners, I felt the urge to produce a spectacular GARDEN. My mother had been an avid gardener, but I'd learned nothing - like all kids, I was bored by garden chores (her response to "There's nothing to do!" was "Then go out and pull some weeds!") and she grew what, to me, was the most boring garden in the world: all shrubs and groundcovers. I wanted a REAL garden, full of roses and gladiolas and daisies. So I had to teach myself, and I turned to gardening books. Most of them are pretty dry - useful in a technical sort of way, but not very appealing to the imagination. And then I discovered "Dirt" by Diane Benson. This one is very idiosyncratic, and describes her trial-and-error progress developing her own garden on Long Island. Benson actually ran a designer clothing store in Manhattan, so she had no real training in developing a garden, but she brought a lot of flair and imagination to the job. The most useful thing I learned from her book is that it's a ridiculous investment of time and labour to grow plants from seed - in the Middle Ages, artists used to grind pigments and mix their own paints themselves. They don't do that anymore, they buy them ready-made from the art supply stores. Gardeners can take the same approach: buy plants that are already started instead of fiddling around with tiny pots and scraps of dirt, not to mention lights and plastic blankets. Most of my ideas of what to plant in my garden came from her book.

20 The explosion was heard at the Main Press Center, 1,300 feet from the stadium, followed by a shockwave, but there was no immediate indication of what was the cause of the explosion.--FoxNews

They're the only ones that have it.  "Shockwave"?  Sounds like a bomb to me.

21 Monty, you see that Russia is doing away with capital gains tax? Damn, that would be awesome here. Yeah. Russia abolishes the capital-gains tax; North Korea goes free-enterprise. Meanwhile, we languish in a statist/mercantilist nightmare. The world is upside down. The smart money is betting on Hong Kong or Singapore as being the next world financial center once Bammer gets done killing Wall Street. Dubai will pick up the slack.

22 I wouldn't worry too much about Russia, though -- Medvedev is Putin's puppet, and Putin is nothing but a standard-issue Russian tyrant. Any "liberalisms" or "reforms" that emerge in Russia will be done away with as soon as they threaten the power of the government. Mark my words. I wouldn't invest money in Russia if they promised a 100% weekly vig and paid in pure gold.

23 The most useful thing I learned from her book is that it's a ridiculous investment of time and labour to grow plants from seed - in the Middle Ages, artists used to grind pigments and mix their own paints themselves. They don't do that anymore, they buy them ready-made from the art supply stores.

Our Orthodox parish just finished a huge project of icon installation.  Traditionally, icons are painted with handmade egg tempura.  I talked to the iconographer, who is one of the best out there, now.  He said, in his thick Russian accent, that he has indeed ground his own egg tempura.  He charges about 5 times as much for it because it is such a gigantic pain in the ass, but some ultra-traditionalists demand it.  In his words, if Andrei Rubleyev were alive today, he'd have a charge account at Home Depot.

24 Ah looked in Pooty-Poot's eyes, and ah saw his soul.

25 My dad swears by "America's Garden Book"....he says "it's the only book you'll ever need".....and, all my life, have never had any summer item that didn't come out of his garden...as a kid we would eat those tiny round tomatoes off the plant ....he grew them in patio pots and placed them in strategic places and he never used anything on them so you could just sneak them all day.....in retrospect I realize that we were wholly manipulated lol....if they said "eat more tomatoes, they are full of viatamin C...you wouldn't eat them on general principle cause you were a kid....but I probably ate more tomatoes off the plant growing up than I could ever imagine...

26

14  Uh, the best I can do for you is to direct you to a porn site with a hearty "enjoy yourself sportsfan" -- my linky-roo mojo is not strong, and I'm doing you a big favor by not posting any of myself.

27 "Controlled Industrial Explosion".

Nicely scheduled. 

28 For electrical work, you want Wiring Simplified for information on key elements of the national electrical code.

Best DIY for electrical work is the PA thread and the associated Morons.

Same for computer work. I have been fixing computers since the days of the 8088 chip. $800 to fix a computer is not just a rip off, it is obscene. Hell, you can buy a new CPU for $800.00.

If data recovery is an issue then the easy fix is to replace the hard drive and then use a USB hard drive enclosure to house the old hard drive and then recover the data from that.

You can buy a USB hard drive enclosure from Tiger Direct cheap.

29

Posted by: unknown jane at June 20, 2010 08:52 AM (5/yRG)

;-)

30 My city born and bred dad grew a garden one year just for shits and giggles, and it was actually pretty amazing.  The corn, especially.  Mother would get a pot of water boiling, and we'd pick the corn and cook it immediately.  I've never tasted corn that delicious.  He also grew cantaloupes, and we'd go to pick them and the terrapins had bitten little holes and hollowed them out.  Mother grew amazing tomatoes, and my husband still remembers picking a huge one off the vine and going into the house and making tomato sandwiches. 

I've grown tomatoes in patio containers, and peppers.  Can't plant anything in the yard because the deer would destroy it.

31 Ah, well, icons are a special category. They do indeed still use the centuries-old techniques for mixing and applying paints, just as they haven't changed the formalized "patterns" for the portrayals of saints and scenes. My husband and I once joked about how an iconographer could flunk his final exam if he was required to make an icon of St. Nicholas (very popular subject in the Russian Orthodox Church) and at the last minute he panicked and on the border added an image of Frosty the Snowman.

32 In my years of pouring, finishing, repairing concrete of all types, the one constant is this book. It's in every 'crete guys truck and on sale at every supply store. No matter how exhausted, beat up or stressed I'd be on a job, a glance at the cover always gave me a smile. It's also got a bunch of helpful tables in it, but really I just like the cover. http://tiny.cc/mxgny

33 Hell, you can buy a new CPU for $800.00.

I agree...that's why we told them to forget it. (Actually I think the $800 was to attempt data recovery). 

Greed Squad said it was a hardware problem....mom & pop....Windows files corrupted.

Husband learns a valuable back-up lesson.....priceless.

34 CDR M,
"In December 2007, Rogers sold his mansion in New York City for about 16 million USD and moved to Singapore.  Rogers claimed that he moved because now is a ground-breaking time for investment potential in Asian markets. Rogers' first daughter is now being tutored in Mandarin to prepare her for the future. He is quoted as saying: "If you were smart in 1807 you moved to London, if you were smart in 1907 you moved to New York City, and if you are smart in 2007 you move to Asia." In a CNBC interview with Maria Bartiromo broadcast on May 5, 2008, Rogers said that people in China are extremely motivated and driven, and he wants to be in that type of environment, so his daughters are motivated and driven. He also stated that this is how America and Europe used to be. He chose not to move to Chinese cities like Hong Kong or Shanghai due to the high levels of pollution causing potential health problems for his family; hence he chose Singapore. He has also advocated investing in certain smaller Asian frontier markets such as Sri Lanka and Cambodia, and currently serves as an Advisor to Leopard CapitalÂ’s Leopard Sri Lanka Fund, However, he is not fully bullish on all Asian nations, as he remains skeptical of India's future - "India as we know it will not survive another 30 or 40 years".

35

"Hints and Tips for Motor Cyclists" (1934) tells how to maintain an acetylene headlamp (Prest-o-lite), why it's better than electric (why yes, the book is English--why do you ask?), how to use top cylinder (Marvel Mystery) oil, and how to melt out the old grease in the links of a drive chain and melt in new using an electric hotplate in one's garden shed. 

George Herter's "Bull Cook and Authentic Recipes and Practices" is chocabloc with crotchety-old-man bullshit, 1950's radical Catholicism (you'll recognize it--it caught on), and some damn fine cooking advice. A must-cook. There are myriad editions, all different and all looking like they were run off on the church basement hectograph. I have his logo on my camp apron, right above the winner's ribbon from the Scoutmaster's Invitational. An actual bull cook was not the boss, FWIW, but the second assistant who kept the fires banked up.

36

I was very lucky to have grown up with older parents, and therefore older grandparents and relatives -- they still knew how to tan hides, work leather, run a forge, forage wild plants, and make their own soap (which they did, in the backyard, to the ridicule of the rest of the town).  Plus, coming from a very diverse background, I had people from four culinary traditions teaching me how to cook; cookbooks were not needed -- these people had been cooking nearly from the time they could walk and often with the barest of tools.

Opting out was not an option -- unless you fancied getting a whipping for not doing your share of the chores.  I learned a lot about a lot now that I think about it, probably have forgotten a lot of stuff too.

37 Anything on fishing by A J McClane.  I got the encyclopedia for a gift years ago and went out and bought the Cookery book too.  Friends swear by the fly fishing one, but I haven't read it.   If you want to train a great bird dog...How to Train Your Gun Dog: The Delmar Smith Method is the best.  As for cookbooks, I love the two I got from churches.  Those church ladies know how to cook and many of the recipes are easy, especially because they're often meant for those pot luck dinners.  For more gourment cooking, I still like the Galloping Gourmet by Graham Kerr(Julia Childs irritated the hell out of me) and The Reluctant Gourmet web site is good also. 

38 Egg tempura icons are cool.  There's a translucency to them that really is unique.  Our project was permanent installation on the walls.  He did them in his studio on canvas.  (It's done on icon murals a lot more than you think.  As they're often put in new buildings, the canvas helps in settling issues).
The expense in tempura is whether you hand make it yourself from eggs or use the manufactured stuff, which is actually better because it's more consistent.  Some people though demand it be hand-made.  I think that's a bit silly, frankly.

39 India as we know it will not survive another 30 or 40 years That's weird, because I have the exact opposite reaction -- India will do fine, and China will fracture and collapse. I think the Indians have a much better chance at long-term success than any Asian country I can think of. China does not have a very good historical record of keeping their society on a paying basis.

40 Haynes & Chilton's both suck anymore. Lots of motor heads used to tell me that the Mechanic's Manual was better than Chilton's but I never owned one. They really seemed better for the more experienced mechanic -- less illustrations than Chilton's and more text. I don't know if they're even published anymore.

The Chassis Service Manual (published by the automobile maker) is the definitive source for info on your auto. Everything you can imagine on brakes, engine, transmission, electrical, etc. are in it. But it also leaves all kinds of stuff out. Power windows? You won't find how to repair them here. But generally it's the best source of automotive information I've seen.  But since I've quit doing anything more than the most minor auto repair I don't know if they're still any good or even published anymore.

41 Can't plant anything in the yard because the deer would destroy it.

I have not had any luck with tomatoes here at all. I gave up on them after last year. Between the birds and bugs I couldn't keep up.

As for gardening books I bought a copy of Better Holmes and Gardens when I first bought the house here and it was good for all manner of stuff. Most recently I use the internet for research in the particular plant in question.

The Clemson University site is the best I have seen for gardening advice. 

42 #41, I grew up having everything cooked in olive oil, everything.  Had no idea that vegetable oil even existed until I got to college. I remember saying to a room mate....I think the fact that that turned black isn't a good sign.  slowly converted them all to olive oil.  Have never used a cookbook but i have betty crocker and a disney cookbook.  I just grew up cooking.

43 33 If your area supports it, plant some lavender -- deer don't like the strong smell (although people do -- and you can cook with it).  If not, make up a concoction with some raw eggs, hot peppers, garlic or hot peppers, garlic, and dish soap and spray on your plants.  The deer don't much care for that either.

44 Not sure if books anout personal fits the category we're talking about -- they seem like a cross between DIY and self-help -- but Phil Town's Rule #1 is the best one I've seen in the group.

45 For deer, I prefer the .243 or the .270.

For less noise pollution, try a jacklight and a crossbow.

46 51  That's if you can shoot them -- lots of folks in town don't seem to like that too much and the conservation folks take a dim view to snaring them.

47 Coconut oil is now the new Olive oil. 

48 Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 09:10 AM (5I8G0)

My sauce was usually the first entirely home made sauce my friends tasted.  they would be like "ah I see why you refuse to use any sauce in a jar"  Although they all taught me the difference between "barbecue" and "grilling"...I thought my dad was barbecuing but sadly realized he's been grilling all these years...lol

49 That's if you can shoot them -- lots of folks in town don't seem to like that too much and the conservation folks take a dim view to snaring them.

Posted by: unknown jane at June 20, 2010 09:13 AM (5/yRG)

Can you lasso?

50 You have to watch cooking at high heat with olive oil -- stuff doesn't like being subjected to high heat and will get a bad flavor to it.

51 "58 You have to watch cooking at high heat with olive oil -- stuff doesn't like being subjected to high heat and will get a bad flavor to it.

Posted by: unknown jane at June 20, 2010 09:15 AM (5/yRG)"

I was talking about their vegetable oil.   Olive oil is great...it expands when you heat it so you use less than if you used vegetable oil and I never cook anything on high heat. 

52 57 Yeah, but I wouldn't lasso a deer -- but you can make a snare using wire; set it up right and they snap their necks...but it isn't legal and not that I have or would ever do that.

53 Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 09:16 AM (5I8G0)

I grow spices on my window sill.  Even in the winter I have fresh oregano, fresh basil and fresh Italian parsley.  It makes a huge difference.  I learned how to make a sauce Bearnaise and I use fresh ingredients for that too.  And it's nice in the middle of winter to see the happy plants on the window sill.

54 Vic@45

My dad was a Clemson grad, and when he planted his one and only garden, it was with information from the school.  He also used to go there to buy their blue cheese, which was awesome.  I wonder if they still make Clemson Blue.  We're going to Greenville in a few weeks to visit D'oh's aunt.  I'd love to make a side trip there.

55 For an excellent introduction to classic Italian cooking, there is nothing like Marcella Hazan's "The Classic Italian Cookbook." She writes beautifully, and her recipes aren't fussy or complicated. Some of them take time, but hell, that's part of the fun of cooking.

56 Out, damned sockpuppet.

57 Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 09:18 AM (5I8G0)

What's so sad is they are probably edible and some delicacy.  But they could also be really poisonous.  My great great great grandfather apparently knew how to pick wild mushrooms and eat them.  I'm here as a testament that he knew what he was doing, lol....but that is a lost art.  Probably, if you found out they were edible you could sell them to some local chef for big bucks...

58 I wonder if they still make Clemson Blue.

Their web site should say if they do.

59 #60

Try popcorn in bacon fat for a decadent treat.

60 Well Jane, it seems that they do still make it AND sell it.

http://tinyurl.com/27tynbb

61 #66

I bought Marcella Hazan's Classic Italian Cookbook at a used bookstore in Atlanta many years ago.  Not long ago I pulled it out, and it is autographed!  Never noticed before.

I wish I had learned to can/preserve stuff from my mother.  She made wonderful fresh fig preserves.  I'm on the last jar now. 

62 I just went somewhere and had to bring a dish.  I put a ton of roasted peppers on a giant platter and I was getting very discouraged.  the hamptons crowd can sometimes be a little close minded about food.  Finally someone tried them and word spread that they were delicious.  So now I'm getting a lot of "how did you make those peppers again" emails.

63 Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 09:22 AM (5I8G0)

I spent 10 days in Sicily (on the southeast coast) and ate very, very well. A buddy of mine was stationed there while in the navy and had to struggle to keep the weight off!

64

61  Oh, olive oil is great -- but I do a lot of stir fry, and it just doesn't work for that in my experience.  Lard and butter are the old family standbys.  No, nobody has really had heart related illness in the family other than Mom, but hers was due to damage from rheumatic fever as a kid -- and even she has a remarkably healthy heart given the circumstances, still running 120/70 and smokes at least 4 cigars a day.

Yeah, I don't really believe much of the hype about fats.

65

Favorite book after moving to the midwest: 'Gardening in the Lower Midwest' by Diane Heilenmen.  Very helpful for this coastal girl who had no clue what to do in the Zombie zones of this state.  Another trial and error, practical guide with practical plant suggestions, without the hype of so many of the Hollywood type gardeners.   I've read a lot of what is out there and so much is just wishful thinking. Sort of like wanting to figure out how to do things in your home from scratch, and instead you're given the opinion of a formally trained designer.  Pretty, but completely unhelpful.

Diane's book is something I turned to, over and over.  The sign of a good book.

66

I think the Indians have a much better chance at long-term success than any Asian country I can think of.

I agree with that assessment. India has a lot going for it: They embrace the British influences in their society and culture. This seems to be the best predictor of long-term success and prosperity. The business leaders have taken a leadership role in defining the society, establishing integrity as a bedrock principle. (Wipro and Infosys come to mind; the Satyam scandal was a shocker.) They strike me as a people that adopts what works and that rejects what doesn't -- e.g., honest government works better than corrupt government, so they trend towards honest government. And the Indians may have been the first to recognize our globalized economy, giving them a head start over the rest of the world.

Of the BRIC countries, I'd rank their chances of long-term success with India first, then Brazil, then China, then Russia.

67 Yum.  We're definitely going to make a side trip to Clemson for some cheese. 

We have an orange tree that produces several hundred juice oranges every winter.  But my pride and joy is my lemon tree.  They're huge, sweet and very juicy.  I've got a few containers of frozen juice left in the freezer.  I use the juice with olive oil and Dijon mustard with a little salt and pepper for a quick and healthy dressing for salad. 

68 My dad's family is from northern Italy -- the difference in food is remarkable.  I prefer northern, but that's what I grew up with.

69 Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 09:27 AM (5I8G0)

I grew up eating strawberries in wine.  Didn't realize they could be made any other way but we loved them.  I also realize that they give you wine at an early age.  I was like three and drinking chianti mixed with 7 up. 

70 curious, try fresh strawberries drizzled with a balsamic reduction.  Reduce the balsamic until it's the consistency of syrup.  Wow.

71 she has a remarkably healthy heart given the circumstances, still running 120/70 and smokes at least 4 cigars a day. Wait, what?

72 "72 Curious, I need to find out what kind of mushrooms they are.  It's only a matter of time before my kids try them.

Posted by: CDR M at June 20, 2010 09:24 AM (5I8G0)"

I would send a sample to an agricultural university and ask them or email them all and ask who would examine a sample for you.  I know what you mean, they are there and tempting.

My friends and I were having a discussion the other day about "grandmother food".  One of our friend's grandmother made a lot of food for a party she had....real chinese grand mother food...I mean she made egg rolls that were amazing....and you didn't feel like they were full of oil.   I think grandmother food in every culture is amazing. 

73

My dad's family is from northern Italy -- the difference in food is remarkable. I prefer northern, but that's what I grew up with.

I'm descended from Cavalli di Fuoco from the Bergamo area. Those Lombards sure know how to put a meal together, don't they?

74 I make marinara sauce when I need comfort food and then I put it over linguini.

75 88 Yep, my mom smokes cigars -- and has a ticky heart, and just gave up riding her motorcyle about 5 years ago (she's 80 this year).  She also lets her dog sit across from her at the breakfast table -- because in her words: "he's a better conversationalist than most people, so why not?"

76 Everyone seems to have their favorite stories of learning "how to" from their parents and such so I'll have to tell mine.

I grew up in the "city" in the 50s. My great grandmother lived with us. Every spring this elderly black guy would come down the street in a mule wagon ringing a cow bell (much like the good humor man). My grandmother would go out and give him a couple of dollars and he would unhitch the mule and take plow off the wagon and plow up our back yard.  We learned at an early age how to plant a garden and do weeding and such.

But what was really torture to us was later on in the summer he would come back with that infernal cow bell and a wagon full of bushel baskets of peas and butter beans.  We knew then that afternoon for a few days were no longer dedicated to playing ball and riding bikes. It was "front porch and shelling time". Now that is where you really got the "green thumb".

Damn I miss those days now.

77

90 My grandma was from a village just north of Lake Como -- the family used to tease her that she was really Swiss.  My grandpa was from a village close to Lucca.  And on my mom's side there were some Italian Savoyards.

Yeah, they can cook.

78

My personal recipe for green eggs and ham:

Make deviled eggs. For every 4 eggs, add 1 avocado into the yolk mixture.

The ham is just ham.

79  . . . make up a concoction with some raw eggs, hot peppers, garlic or hot peppers, garlic, and dish soap and spray on your plants.  The deer don't much care for that either.

I worked on a replacement wetland and the guy who designed it had no formal education. Yet his wetlands consistently won awards and he was considered one of the top wetland designers in the world. He was an avid outdoorsman and deer hunter, knew what grew where, what deer liked to eat and planted three to five times more of it than was generally recommended. Trouble was, the deer would eat the hell out of it before it got established. So they started spraying the plants with some sort of industrial grade capsicum stuff that cost like $1,000 for a five gallon bucket.

They said it worked, but eventually some deer would "go mexican".

80 My friend's dad bought some stuff on the internet that was like dried fox urine and put it all around the perimeters of his property.  She said they all thught he had gone mad.  But, the deer didn't set one foot on the property.

81 For a lot of historical and cultural reasons, the affinity and trust between Americans and Indians is higher than with any other Asian country. I see this every day at work.

82 As for DIY electrical I think the book I had was titled Home Electrical Wiring Made Easy and it was pretty good. I can't find it now and there's no image of it at Amazon but I'm pretty sure that was the title.

Before reading it all I was good for was getting shocked and tripping circuit breakers. Now I have no problems doing minor electrical repairs around the house. The book goes into enough detail to install a new breaker box, but I confine myself to lighting, outlets and switches for the most part.

83

My how-to's are all online.  I reserve books for entertainment.  If I need to know something practical, I come here (believe it or not).

I do have some novelty cookbooks.  Like: The Mayberry Cookbook; the Amish Cookbook; and the Ramen Noodle Cookbook.

84 For a lot of historical and cultural reasons, the affinity and trust between Americans and Indians is higher than with any other Asian country.

Ask us, we are about to elect one as Governor.  Hopefully she will not walk-back her conservatism too much to gain the backing of the establishment FDR Republicans here.

85

Coconut oil is now the new Olive oil.

It's supposedly a very healthy oil. Remember when the Center for Science in the Public Interest tried to get it banned at movie theaters?

For high heat use peanut or palm oil. Peanut oil has a high smoking temperature but I think palm oil has the highest.

86 I'm very Southern, so I grew up cooking, Florida/Georgia Cracker-style with my mama and both my grandmothers. I don't tend to use very many recipes, but I do always keep both of the first Paula Deen cookbooks (Lady and Sons and Lady and Sons, Too) on hand. Her recipes are so stinking close to what I grew up eating and cooking that whenever I can't remember an ingredient or two or a cooking temp or time, I pull out her books to find out. Her later stuff is way too fancy for me, though.

87 It's supposedly a very healthy oil.

Coconut oil is VERY high in saturated fat. Vegetable oil or olive oil is better.

88 Peanut oil is what everyone around here uses for deep frying turkeys.

89 The only DIY books I own are the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, "Service Etiquette", "Married to the Military", and several grammar and style books. "Chicago Manual of Style", "Strunk & White", and of course "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" FTW!

90 "How to Service Your Own Tube Amp" by Tom Mitchel.  This book covers electronics basics such as Ohms law, and explains what inductors, capacitors and electron tubes do.  Many schematcs for the classic tube amps: Ampegs, Fenders, Marshall, Vox, etc. Also contains some great DIY mods.

91 Sorry if this isn't formatted correctly, but this is an interesting chart. And it validates my love for duck fat!

Oil/Fat Mono-
unsaturated Poly-
unsaturated Saturated Cholesterol Smoke point   % % % mg/Tbsp °F Hazelnut 78 10 7.4 0 430 Olive 74 9 14 0 375 Canola (refined) 58 36 6 0 400 Goose 57 11 28 11 375 Duck 49 13 33 11 375 Peanut 46 32 17 0 440 Lard 46 12 40 12 375 Chicken fat 45 31 20 11 375 Palm 37 10 50 0 428 Clarified butter 29 4 62 33 300 Corn 25 59 13 0 450 Soybean 24 58 15 0 495 Sunflower 20 66 11 0 440 Cottonseed 18 52 26 0 420 Safflower 12 75 9 0 510 Coconut 6 2 87 0 350

Filed under: Food

92 Whoops! Sorry about that. Anyone have access to delete my last post?

93 Coconut oil is VERY high in saturated fat. Vegetable oil or olive oil is better.

Posted by: Vic at June 20, 2010 10:11 AM (6taRI)

Sorry Vic...going to disagree with you.  Coconut oil contains healthy saturated fats.  Medium change fatty acids which the body/liver immediately converts to energy and is not stored as fat.

94 happy fathers day.

The Infantryman's Handbook SH 21-25

95

Coconut oil is now the new Olive oil.

It's supposedly a very healthy oil. Remember when the Center for Science in the Public Interest tried to get it banned at movie theaters?

Given time, "science" will eventually overturn every claim they ever made on what's healthy and what's not.

Gotta run; late for Sunday School.

96 The other indispensible DIY book: "How to Service Your Own Tube Stake" by Otis  Mathis, published by the Detroit BOE.

97   The Betty Crocker Cookbook of course. It is the best ever by far for both basic stuff and the complicated.

When I moved out from my parent's house this last time, I tried to sneak out my mom's very old and very battered 1950's copy.  I replaced it with a nice, shiny new one.

Yeah.  I think you could hear the screaming in space.  It's not that the new one is bad, per se, but the old one is better.  I didn't even think about trying to take her copy of the Betty Crocker Cooky Book.  Summary execution would have followed.  Swiftly.

For baking, I like The Cake Bible and/or whining and begging my friend the pastry chef to make me something.  I highly advise making friends with a pastry chef.  I supply the ingredients, she supplies stuff that makes my eyes roll back in my head with no further effort from me.  It's win all around.

98 My favorite cookbook is the yellow pages (though that internet thingy kinda makes it useless for anything other than a kids booster seat).  My favorite cooking instruments are the phone and my Visa. 

The most used DIY book at my house is Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs, and More.  The book describes about a million things you can fix, clean, or build with those simple supplies.  Next to duct tape, Borax is probably one of the most useful inventions ever - just don't eat it or let your pets eat it. 

For fixing my car the best book I've found is, well, the Kama Surta.  I know nothing about cars.  I put the key in, turn the thing on, and go.  My husband, however, is all into car-ish stuff.  So when my car starts acting up I just whip out my trusty Kama Surta and "convince" him to fix whatever it is that's acting grumpy on my car.

I just read my post and good grief - why did my husband marry me?!  I can't cook for a hill of beans and think Duct Tape and Borax are great inventions.........

99

"26 Ah looked in Pooty-Poot's eyes, and ah saw his soul."

 

And I looked at his pecs and thought "Soul Mate".

 

100 Prue Leith's "The Cook's Handbook" is the book to read before you open up a recipe cookbook. It explains (with pictures!) all the knives, tools, pots and pans. The difference between frying and sauteeing, between broiling, baking and roasting. How to bone, shell, peel, slice, scale, skin, gut and stuff almost any food. How to buy, store, serve, preserve, garnish and present food. Basically, all the stuff recipe books assume you already know.

Jack Murdich's "Buying Produce" explains all the mysteries of herbs, fruits and vegetables in their various varieties. I learned the American names for a lot of old familiar veggies and deciphered the multicultural mysteries of Asian, Caribbean and Central American products at my local bodega. Plus how to spot the overripe and never-will-ripen garbage, how to store and cook, I would never have known the joys of parsnips, rutabaga, okra or rhubarb without this guide.

I've gone to the Readers' Digest "Fix It Yourself Manual" to repair or maintain my books, camping tent, bicycle, window screens, knives, small appliances, faucet, light switches, furniture. At the very least, I know the names of things when I go into the hardware store. The guys treat you like crap when you ask for "that whatchamacallit that connects the dingus to the whozis." Throw around "escutcheon" "ground-fault interrupter" or "splining tool" and they smile like a proud papa.

101 It's not that the new one is bad, per se, but the old one is better.

LOL, that is why I have three of them. When my mom died and we were cleaning out the house for a yard sale I looked for her old copy. One of the brother's wives has already grabbed it.

Never did find out which one. But my mother-in-law has a very old one as well so will put in dibs for it. 

102 Oh oh speaking of cookbooks, I'm an enormous Lord Peter Wimsey fan.  An old bf of mine was spelunking through a used bookstore and found The Lord Peter Wimsey Cookbook and got it for me.  It's completely fascinating because it's so vedy vedy British and hell I don't even know what some of these ingredients are.  The authors also tried to make it period authentic which may be the most interesting thing of all.  It's fascinating to see how eating habits have changed over the last 80 years. 

103 123 That sounds like a fun read! (I'm a Lord Peter Wimsey fan)

104

"Just, shit may dad says"! (FU google it)

I just got it last night for Fathers Day. At a car show on Mantage Mtn. in Johnny Rockets parking lot. A really great gift from my 2 boys.

105 Anybody a fan of Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything?  I gave copies to my Hatettes a few years ago and it set them up nicely as an all-purpose cookbook that they've both worn the covers off.  In fact the younger one subsequently gave me Bittman's The Best Recipes in the World.

106 Tom Brown's field guides.

This book is one of the best.

107 One good thing about having multiple copies of the Betty Crocker Cookbook is looking at the common recipes and the evolution in can sizes. It seems that the size of a can of tomatoes has grown a lot smaller over the years.

For those of you who do not want to spend a lot of effort trying to grow your own spices check out this place.

http://tinyurl.com/28ary

The home store is in WI but they have stores all over the country. Their spices are 1000 times better than anything you will buy in a chain store.

108

If John Connor would have this one, stuff would have different:

http://tinyurl.com/ydpjsdk

 

109

Good Lord. I couldn't begin to list my DIY books.

In general categories:

Books on :

Big game hunting, gunsmithing, blacksmithing, small engines, engine blueprinting, munitions, cooking, reloading, casting and foundry, machining, motorcycle repair, wildlife rehab, come to mind quickly.

110 My mother learned to cook in Europe.
She taught me French, German and three different Italian cuisines.
Southern cooking was another specialty of hers.
After that education I find most cookbooks to be....lacking.

111
"To Serve Man"..

I have been sounding the alarms for over seven years now that the aliens are not our friends. They are hostile carnivores, I refer to them as cannibals out of preference since when they are not trying to possess humans they eat them. And when they do invade the earth, there will be plenty of famine here because of the natural disasters and wars that happen before their arrival. And yes, moronkind will be on their menu.

112 food fight!  (tami and vic)

113 SIM, is that you?

114 Tempura icons for that PC multiculti flavor. 

115 Happy Father's Day.....

116 Shhhhhhhhhh!

117 Army Survival Manual.  You can get it online at http://www.apd.army.mil/, it is FM3-05.70.  Ranger Handbook is also a good "how to".  This thread is great.  I am going to get a game cook book and a how to clean game book for myself today.

I am getting ready for the zombie attack or Obama attack.

118 Ok, morons...fess up.....

From Drudge:

Police have been dispatched after confrontations between census takers and property owners who posted No Trespassing signs. As federal government employees, the census takers are not breaking the law by disregarding the signs.

But try telling that to a homeowner with a crossbow.

In a rural part of California's Nevada County northeast of Sacramento, two census workers told authorities that a man ordered them off his land. He mentioned his submachine gun, then followed them down the drive with a crossbow in hand. No charges were brought against the resident, the sheriff's department said.

119
God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagleÂ’s flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it Â… Dad..

Happy Fathers Day!

120 He mentioned his submachine gun, then followed them down the drive with a crossbow in hand. No charges were brought against the resident, the sheriff's department said.

Posted by: Tami at June 20, 2010 10:57 AM (VuLos)

Bah. He should have had a longbow.

121 food fight!  (tami and vic)

Posted by: curious at June 20, 2010 10:52 AM (p302b)

LOL, can't have a food fight without 'Nam Grunt.

As for good sat fat vs bad sat fat I never learned to tell the difference so I try to minimize all fat.

122 I like the part about me being an American citizen. Suck it, suckers!1!!!11!!1

123

Bah. He should have had a longbow.

Correct. Crossbows are for pussies.

124 When it comes to automotive shop manuals these days rarely is anything but the manufacturer's materials good enough.

You need the official books (or technical-book software, or whatever) if you're going to do anything more than an oil change.

It also really helps to have the electronic part catalog.

Of course, that often means that it's coming from, shall we say, a non-licensed source...

125 It also really helps to have the electronic part catalog.

Like4 I( said earlier, you also need a "special tools" catalog. Also need a "dealer only" parts catalog.

The last non-routine maintenance thing I did was to change the window operating mechanism in a 1979 Mustang. It was manual system too. The parts were dealer only and cost over $50.00 for a small piece of "pot metal". I called around to all the junk yards and found one that had one left for the left door. (That should have told me something there).

So it cost me exactly 1/2 what the dealer charge was for they part which was still a huge rip-off. It lasted only 2 years before it broke as well. After I fixed it again I traded the POS.  

126 My cookbook is the NEw York TImes Cookbook.. Fabulous recipes, straightforward and easy, very tasty and I find, something for everyone. http://www.amazon.com/York-Times-Cookbook-Craig-Claiborne/dp/0060160101

127 What, no love for America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Country?  Ok, some of the prefaces to the recipes where they go into detail about what they tried and why it did or didn't work may not be too exciting for some of you Morons & Moronettes, but I geek out on that.  Not a book for a beginner, but you pretty much are guaranteed a spectacular recipe no matter what you try. 

And I love the Tightwad Gazette.  Some of the shit in there is too extreme for me (like the finer points of dumpster diving), but I've gotten a few money saving ideas out of there that I wouldn't have anywhere else & an all-purpose muffin recipe that is truly divine. 

(For the Moronette above looking for canning help/instrux and pining for her granny's fig stuff.....Ball's Blue Book.  [Stop the sniggering, you pervs, that's the name.]  My 100th anniversary edition has both canned figs and fig preserves.  They have canning recipes for all kinds of things I never considered preserving but might want to try now.....) 

128 Here's a link to the chart I tried to post above. The information on the various fats is very useful if you are interested in cooking. As I mentioned, duck fat is the unsung hero of the kitchen.

http://tinyurl.com/24epl2g

129

You guys wanna know some trivia?

Ace used to call himself "Ned Testicular."

130 Those church ladies know how to cook and many of the recipes are easy, especially because they're often meant for those pot luck dinners.

There's a church cookbook company in Iowa who used to sell remaindered church (quilt guild, town centennial, school fundraiser, etc) cookbooks at the state fair for 50 cents; my mother had a closet full from the 80s and some of them ended up with me.  I find them more interesting sociologically than foodwise; the types of recipes submitted in Tennessee are different than North Dakota, the types of recipes submitted by university faculty wives are different than rural farm wives, etc. I don't have enough to compare across churches--say, Lutheran food vs. Baptist food--but if I had enough money to do whatever I like, I'd love to amass a collection from different regions and groups and decades and write a book.

131 O/T:

From Mark Steyn (via Power Line)

I fired off a speech/But the British kept a-spillin'/Twice as many barrels as there was a month ago
I fired off a speech/But the British kept a-spillin'/Up the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico ..

132

Former Ace names:

Ned Testicular

Simon Templar

Chow Yun Fat (pretty sure)

BullElephant (very sure)

133

BTW -- Paul Schafer soooo needs to steal that.

134 One thing I learned about cookbooks long ago is make sure that it uses common ingredients.

My wife got this bright idea to get some high brow recipes after I made Crepe Suzette one night for desert.

So she signed up for the magazine Bon Appetite. I never made anything from the recipes in that magazine. They all called for exotic ingredients that could not be found in Hicktown, SC. (big Hee Haw salute)

I told her if I ever moved back to the Bay Area in CA we could re-subscribe.

135 Here's a good cookbook,for all you cheesy hammy eggy and figgy duff afficonados.

136

_{"Rahm Emmanuel} says the GOP philosophy is to paint BP as the victim. He says Obama will make clear to voters the fundamental differences in how each party would govern.

Emanuel tells ABC's"This Week" it would be "dangerous" if the GOP held power in Washington"

137 Fannie Farmer used to have a cooking school in Boston. Is it still going?

138 Oh, and my favorite DIY book is Harriet Hargrave's Heirloom Machine Quilting. 

139 The only cookbook I own is the Better Homes & Gardens 1941 edition. Some of the ingredients don't make no damn sense. What the Hell is "grated spreading cheese"!!? And where might one buy a squab? Why were Americans eating pigeons? Sickos.

140 _{"Rahm Emmanuel} says the GOP philosophy is to paint BP as the victim.

Yes, that is the current commie talking point. They had some Dem turd on Fox earlier pushing that and quoting Barton.

Well we knew that was coming. 

141 Posted by: Vic at June 20, 2010 11:36 AM (6taRI)

What I don't understand is why the GOP is so quiet.  If you don't fire back people assume what the other person is spouting is absolute truth and you can't refute it.

142 Hey, you know who's a fucking asshole?  Me.

The boy is 5 and gets into absolutely everything.  It's a sore point with me when I find my golf clubs in the yard.  So I'm out mowing and see a chunk of metal in the yard.  It's the handle from the knife used to cut our wedding cake lo so many years ago.

I lost my shit.  I stormed into the house and ripped him a new one.  So I take it out to the pea patch where the lovely and talented Frau is toiling away, and she is not in the least surprised, of course.  I come in to find the boy hiding in his room.  So he tells me: "Papa, it got broked when I was using it to cut flowers for Mom and I couldn't fix it."

And that's why I'm a fucking asshole.

143 Heather Radish! I have some of the coolest church cook books, beginning with some from the 30's and you caught it exactly. There are the regional and sociological differences that make them fascinating, and seeing food trends change over time. It's a little Lileks type stuff, and very fun.

144 Yes, that is the current commie talking point.

Has anyone quoted Niemuller back at them?  "First they came for the oil companies, and since I was not an oil company I said nothing...."

Car manufacturers, doctors, tanning salons, space program, missile defense, oil companies...where does it end?

145 I guess this is what got Drew and Ace so rattled, they know how to think sneaky and they saw it coming the minute it came out of his mouth.  But, it could be turned around to make what he said understandable and the "it's been a problem since February" thing can be introduced to the public by say Bachman....

But is they keep quiet...not sure that is the right tack...."keep quiet and hope for the best by the republican party"...

146 What I don't understand is why the GOP is so quiet.

They are desperately trying to get the base to sit at home this fall like 2008.

147 Car manufacturers, doctors, tanning salons, space program, missile defense, oil companies...where does it end?

Posted by: HeatherRadish at June 20, 2010 11:39 AM (M9BNu)

In a smoldering heap.

148 Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at June 20, 2010 11:38 AM (tKx1w)

oooo you've got a great father son teaching moment there...don't blow it....

the even dad is human and I'm sorry thing will be a memory for him replaced by explosive dad....

149 And that's why I'm a fucking asshole.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at June 20, 2010 11:38 AM (tKx1w)

Yeah, you earned that one.

150 Wow, I am being sock-puppeted by the spamers now.

151 We have a cookbook from Iowa called "Pig Out". If you ever see a copy at a yard sale or used book store, get it.

152 What I don't understand is why the GOP is so quiet.

They are desperately trying to get the base to sit at home this fall like 2008.

Posted by: Vic at June 20, 2010 11:41 AM (6taRI)

The GOP's plans are more passive-aggressive.  They are trying to force into life a third party.  They are doing quite well.  It seems to be the only thing they're any good at.

153 We have a cookbook from Iowa called "Pig Out". If you ever see a copy at a yard sale or used book store, get it.

Is this the one you are talking about?

http://tinyurl.com/286s55u

154 Yeah, Vic, that is the one!

155 Note the price on the new one. It has become a "collector's item" big time.

156 Yeah, I did notice that price. Holy carp! The used ones, not so much. My wife is from Iowa. Built to last, by golly.

157 I love my DIY books, but they're irrelevant now. I'm getting rid of everything not related to immediate survival. I have a nice collection of boatbuilding books if anybody's interested.

158

Thanks, but I got it covered.

Posted by: Noah at June 20, 2010 11:51 AM (5I8G0)

Just need a conversion factor for "cubits" and a replacement for "gopher wood". 

159 and seeing food trends change over time. It's a little Lileks type stuff, and very fun.

Lol...I had a cheeseburger at a "dinerant" next to a faded ad painted on the side of a brick building yesterday and immediately thought of Lileks.

As for food trends...the 1986 cookbook from my family's church has a lot of recipes that call for packaged foods that no longer exist, or do not exist in the sizes named. And the stuff that does exist has changed formulas--less salt, different fats--so cream-of-soup casseroles do not taste like my grandma's.

My recipe for zucchini bread that won a clover award at the county fair seems to have stood the test of time...except it feels weird to purchase zucchini. Used to not be able to give it away.

160 "Thanks, but I got it covered. Posted by: Noah at June 20, 2010 11:51 AM (5I8G0)" You know, I've actually thought about building a houseboat to survive the coming afuckalypse. It might not be a bad way to go.

161 For a very funny book to read, I suggest the "Lexicon of Musical Invective" by Nicolas Slonimsky. Oxford Press. In it, you will find critical reviews of every now beloved classical music masterpiece, as they were printed at the time of the premiere of the composer's new work. (Including "Bolero"). For instance, you will read how Beethoven's Ninth was torn a new asshole by the London Times the day after its first performance. All the bad reviews are there, in one place. But then, the book gets good. For, later, the author indexes all of the harsh adjectives, alphabetically. So if you want to look up "caterwauling", you can see that it appears on pages 32, 34, 51, etc. The composers are now monuments of human achievement. The reviewers? Lost in obscurity.

162 OT:  Sorry for going OT, but the French remind us all that sometimes  stereotypes are right on the money.

163
Why were Americans eating pigeons? Sickos.

Posted by: Joanie (Oven Gloves) at June 20, 2010 11:36 AM (wd0Iq)

Well Joanie, those were very lean years, and in my family with dad in the Pacific, we raised rabbits, chickens, and fresh vegetables for canning.  There were no supermarkets, and few had money to spend on anything other than staples, flour, sugar, slat, fatback, lard, etc.

Fishing in creeks for small bream was a delight, and bringing home a turtle for homemade soup was a treat.  Unsure about the pigeon reference, but many a family spent time hunting game for survival.  Thankfully my family didn't resort to wild game, and it's truly amazing how many ways you can fix rabbit.  Fried Thumper, stewed Thumper, broiled Thumper, and on occasion for a treat, Thumper and Spam.

164 James Beard's American Cookery is a great source of Beard's picks of definitive versions of classic American recipes. I am especially fond of the scotch broth, stuffing for turkey w/chicken livers, home-corned beef, broiled breast of lamb, buttermilk biscuits, lamb rice casserole, and split pea soup, but in general this is a well-worn reference in my home, and a first stop when I'm making something American.

165 Why does it seem, with the exception of Monty, when one coblogger disappears around here, they all do?  Happens more often than not.

Yeah, I'm in a pissy mood...what of it?

166 Massad Ayoob's Combat Handgunnery (5th edition) is simply the finest and most empirical of shooting guides, literally everything you've ever wanted to know and then some- concealed carry selection, holsters, sports, dress, history, law, firepower vs. stopping power, woman and guns, speed and accuracy, tactical reloads, one arm techniques, tactical mindset, etc., etc. A must have, period.

167 Why does it seem, with the exception of Monty, when one coblogger disappears around here, they all do? Probably because they have social lives and friends, and I don't. Being a misanthrope has some advantages. Gabe just posted a new thread, FYI.

168 Gabe just posted a new thread, FYI.

Posted by: Monty at June 20, 2010 12:14 PM (jM/Et)

Well of course he did....argh. 

I have another question...why can't we delete our own posts? ;o)

169 "Thumper and Spam" Sounds like a '60s British comedy duo.

170 "Thumper and Spam"

Sounds like a '60s British comedy duo.

I had a small bunny rabbit hop through my yard a couple of days ago. I would have to be awful hungry to kill one of those little critters to eat them.

171 I think if I get hungry I'll go down to Savannah and get all those deer that keep showing up at Jane D'Oh's house.

172 I love the Fannie Farmers cookbook. I collect old cookbooks and I also love the Encyclopedia of Cooking (three volumes) from 1945 and the 1964 Joy of Cooking. I find it interesting to see how eating patterns have changed. The menu plans in the 1945 cookbook - while simple and hearty - often have 2 to 3 vegetables and a fruit in addition to the main course and starchy side dish. Modern cookbooks often disappoint with their "one pot" mentality.

173 Vic@164: You talk like BP is entitled to a fair trial and its employees are not obliged to incriminate themselves criminally when testifying before Congress. I believe those rights are reserved for "terrorists" who bomb American buildings and murder American citizens. Not for corporations that make obscene profits selling products Americans need at a price Americans are willing to pay.

Cut the crazy talk, you teabagger.

174 I believe those rights are reserved for "terrorists" who bomb American buildings and murder American citizens.

Yep, that ugly old Constitution is obsolete fro all but the terrorists and they get 'rights" that aren't even covered by it.

The rest of us are lucky if we can get standing.

175 I wish I had learned to can/preserve stuff from my mother.  She made wonderful fresh fig preserves.  I'm on the last jar now. 

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 20, 2010 09:25 AM (UOM4

http://tinyurl.com/9fy34

Everything you ever needed to know for safe canning.  When the economy really tanks and food is in short supply, your stash of cheap home canned foods will save your asses.  Plus, you can control what goes into them and the sanitary conditions under which they are processed.

http://tinyurl.com/2brahxh

For more instructions from seasoned canners and for help on the fly.

176

The 'Vegetable Gardener's Bible' by Edward C. Smith.

 

177 My brother has an early 02-ish Grand Marquis.  He wanted to change the spark plugs.  You have to have a special wrench just to get the plastic cowling off of the top of the engine.  He found that a utility knife is a fine work-around, however.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at June 20, 2010 08:24 AM (mG1fl)

Hey, Herr, thanks!.  We just bought one of these, an '01 (34,000 miles!).  We're DIY'ers, so that info comes in handy.  Anything else your bro has found handy as a guide to maintaining this ride?

178
The best single book I've seen on vegetable gardening is Mel Bartholomew's "Square Foot Gardening". For us urban gardeners, where space is at a premium, Bartholomew's guide to how to get the most out of a small garden is a terrific help. Further, the book is a handy general guide to most common varieties of vegetables.

Another how-to book that I've found to be most helpful is "When Technology Fails," by Matthew Stein. It's a survival guide for such tasks as managing heat, light, water, and food preservation if technology is not available. Stein lards his advice with lots of finger-wagging about global warming, eeeeeevil oil, and so on; but if you can skip those parts and go the practical stuff, the book is quite sensible.

179 The Guitar Makers Workshop, By Rik Middleton, and any book by William Cumpiano are great guides for the luthier.

180 I'm a big-time DIY guy, but I can't really justify books now in the age of the interwebs...

181 I don't use many cookbooks any longer, but I usually consult The Joy of Cooking for basic instruction if I'm making something I haven't made before.  The recipes aren't that great, but the instructions and explanations on things like cooking times, cuts of meats, etc, are helpful.  Another cookbook that has some interesting instructional tips is Jacques and Julia Cook at Home.  I know people swear by Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but when I glanced through it it seemed a bit too dense of a tome to be useful to me.

I'm relieved to see that someone also mentioned the kama sutra.  It would've been really disappointing if a moron(ette) failed to mention that! 

I hope everyone has a nice day and Happy Father's Day to all of our moron fathers! 

182 From stripping to stain and dye work - prep and finishing furniture/cabinets with varnishes, shellac or polyurethane.


Understanding Wood Finishing By Bob Flexner

mohawk-finishing.com

183 Damn pixy-formatting ;/

184 We have an orange tree that produces several hundred juice oranges every winter.  But my pride and joy is my lemon tree.  They're huge, sweet and very juicy.  I've got a few containers of frozen juice left in the freezer.  I use the juice with olive oil and Dijon mustard with a little salt and pepper for a quick and healthy dressing for salad. 

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 20, 2010 09:30 AM (UOM4

Jane, I'm so jealous of those lemons trees!  It's killing me to pay 2.99 - 3.99 for a 2 lb. bag at the store.  I'm making this for Mr. RB for father's day.  The acid in the lemons tenderizes the chicken and practically makes it fork tender.  I pound the chix breasts flat and make sure not to overgrill them.  When lemons are cheap, I make the marinade and put it in a zip-lock freezer bag with cleaned, flattened chix breasts and have a quick, tasty meal ready to pull out of the freezer and onto the grill pan.

http://bit.ly/10jACb

 

185 Posted by: RushBabe at June 20, 2010 01:09 PM (W8m8i)

That looks and sounds great. I saved that recipe. Thanks.

186

Hey, Herr, thanks!.  We just bought one of these, an '01 (34,000 miles!).  We're DIY'ers, so that info comes in handy.  Anything else your bro has found handy as a guide to maintaining this ride?

Posted by: RushBabe at June 20, 2010 12:41 PM (W8m8i)

Not that I know of.  And that's a hell of a deal you got there, I'm sure.  They are fantastic cars.  Pop the hood and look at the square-drive bolt you need to remove the cowling.  I've never seen him so pissed....

187

Happy Father's Day!

 

Great article! I put some of these on my Amazon wish list for later perusal. See, you aren't all about "gloom and doom." Except that these are all handy "prepping" references-heh.

Still looking forward to the sturm und drang tomorrow morning, however.

188
Posted by: RushBabe at June 20, 2010 01:09 PM (W8m8i)

That looks and sounds great. I saved that recipe. Thanks.

Posted by: Vic at June 20, 2010 01:15 PM (6taRI)

For extra goodness add crushed garlic to taste. And freshly cracked black pepper, too.

189
Pop the hood and look at the square-drive bolt you need to remove the cowling.  I've never seen him so pissed....

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at June 20, 2010 01:16 PM (F6+w6)

Doesn't everyone have a set of eight point sockets?

190 But is they keep quiet...not sure that is the right tack...."keep quiet and hope for the best by the republican party"...

Posted by: curious at June 20, 2010 11:39 AM (p302b)

I think that's why Palin so unnerves them.  She doesn't take any shiite and fires back ASAP.

191 "...they fall below magazines and newspapers in the reading heirarchy."

Dunno who orders that hierarchy, but don't give a rodent's nether regions.  A good DIY book is worth reading even when not undertaking the tasks it covers.  Who doesn't have a favorite cookbook he or she sometimes pulls off the shelf just to skim?

My favorite basic, covers-all-the-bases cookbook is the classic Joy of Cooking.  Get an early edition and it covers everything, from dropping the freshly killed rabbits on the butcher block to serving the hasenpfeffer.

My new hobby is cheesemaking, and I found a couple books which I have been constantly rereading.  So far I've only made farmers, cream, chevre, feta, and cheddar.  I keep looking ahead to the recipes for Bleu, Camenbert,  Emmenthal, Stilton, Caerphilly, and others against the time I advance my knowledge and skill.

Cheesemaking books.  A few years ago I wouldn't have believed there were such things, let alone that I'd be reading them.

192 For extra goodness add crushed garlic to taste. And freshly cracked black pepper, too.

Posted by: Ed Anger at June 20, 2010 01:29 PM (7+pP9)

You must've overlooked them, Ed.  They're already in there.  And I always go way heavier on the garlic than is necessary.

193

Monty, I don't have the Fannie Farmer cookbook, but this is my go-to site for recipes.  when I checked in to see the highest-rated mac & cheese recipe, it was the FF recipe from 1941 (I believe).  About 358 people rated this 5 stars.  It's one of the reasons my poundage has shot up the last couple years too (well, that and easing into The Lifestyle).  I make darn near everything from scratch, and this recipe site never lets me down.

http://bit.ly/99dKDw

194

http://bit.ly/10jACb

Posted by: RushBabe at June 20, 2010 01:09 PM (W8m8i)

I use Allrecipes.com a lot.  I use to buy tons of cookbooks but once the online sites were up an running, I stopped.  I like the fact that you can read reviews of recipes by people that have already tried them. 

195 My most used cookbook would be the two volume set from Gourmet magazine, which my mom had a subscription to.  They cover everything from adult beverages to woodchuck and opossum and kebaps.  The organization is a bit lacking, but the info is there if you don't mind searching.  Other than that I've got Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, etc. books of varying usefulness.

I've got an old spiral bound copy of Joy of Cooking which I still refer to from time to time, but the new edition (last time I checked about 10 years ago when I wanted to replace my worn out copy) sucks hard.  I find in general that newer cookbooks tend to say things like pour the contents of a can of tomato sauce into a pot... and some call for a specific brand.

A good all around DIY book I used to refer to a lot is John Seymour Self-Sufficiency, though once you get some practice you will modify his techniques as they are very basic.  Another set of books I read as a kid were the Foxfire series, though after the third book or so they kind of sucked.

John Palmer's How to Brew is a good one, you can get an older edition online.

196 I've inherited The Encyclopedia of Cooking in 24 Volumes from my mom. It's a classic:

Complete 1949 Edition comprised of 24 different titles. This is a collection of pamphlet style cookbooks assembled into a catalog binder. Originally available via subscription and assembled through periodic shipment! Wonderful anticipation of the arrival of each one! Titles include recipes for snacks, leftovers, cakes, poultry, pies & pastries, soup, salads, meats, seafood, eggs, vegetables, desserts, potatoes, sandwiches, candy, cookies, dairy, breads, sauces & gravies, menus for each day of the year, and much more!!

197 @  224
Yeah, I also rely almost exclusively on recipe sites and food blogs in lieu of cookbooks these days.  Before buying the Jacques and Julia book last year I think the last cookbook I bought was 5 or 6 years ago.  Amongst the recipe sites, allrecipes.com is a good one, as are recipezaar.com and www.foodnetwork.com.  The web sites were particularly useful when we first stared dieting last fall because they often/usually include nutritional information as well.  My favorite food blog is Kevin Weeks' Seriously Good (www.seriouslygood.kdweeks.com). 

I'm still trying to find a really good recipe site for game meats.  In general the ones I found tend toward - no offense guys - "camp" cooking, relying heavily on Campbell's soups, catsup, and stewed preparations.  They do nothing for me.  So that's a pain in the rear because we really enjoy game meats. 

198 http://fwd4.me/Tdr

that's "How To Brew" ... brewing equipment seems like a good survival item.  You could barter with beer, and even without a crisis can make good cheap beer, and avoid those sin taxes to "the man".

Most of the other books mentioned here are available used for $4 bucks or a little more, including shipping.  I just ordered a few via Amazon.  Every used book I have ordered has been nearly like new.

There certainly is a lot available online now though ... even you tube demonstrations.  But sometimes a cheap (but quality) book gives you a more comprehensive picture.

199 the affinity and trust between Americans and Indians is higher than with any other Asian country. I see this every day at work.

I just noticed this in re-reading the thread.  I wonder if your experience holds true with women employees, because I've found that Indian men are pretty sexist as a group, particularly when compared to Chinese men.  At least, that was my experience in the sciences (in the lab) and engineering (dealing with installation engineers). 

200

Well, my DIY books aren't really run of the mill.

I grew up watching Romero's zombie films, and Halloween was my favorite holiday, so Grand Illusions I and II by the Godfather of Gore, Tom Savini, was my Bible for special blood-and-guts effects in October...

For art, the only book I still have is Josef Albers' Interaction of Color, the compilation of that man's obsessions with color psychology and effects which has influenced my use of Acrylic and the color choices in my Breasts series.

201
"You know, I've actually thought about building a houseboat to survive the coming afuckalypse. It might not be a bad way to go.

Posted by: Bugler at June 20, 2010 11:59 AM (VXBR1)"

hahhahhah was listening to the radio and someone called in and told the host that the uber rich are having big yachts built to be on in case water becomes a problem.  The host was gracious and asked a lot of "really why would water become a problem type questions".  You knew the caller wanted to say....cause of the apocalypse..but didn't....it turned out funny.

202 Re the coconut oil.  I know there's a lot of mixed information out there about coconut oil's health benefits, but I think the most authoritative sources (such as the Mayo Clinic and the American Diabetes Association) say you should limit your intake of coconut oil. 

I use olive oil for sauteeing and canola oil for frying, but in general I try to limit our fats and oils (heavy sigh).

See for example:  mayoclinic and diabetes and http://tinyurl.com/6f4vjn.

203 Y-not:  Don't have time to link, but try these.  Just pulled the titles off the shelf:

Commander's Wild Side (game recipes from Commander's Palace, New Orleans - a few of the chefs are hunters)

The Bounty of the Earth - long out of print, by a woman who was the food editor at Field and Stream

Flavorful Wild Game by Valerie Morris.

204 Posted by: Skookumchuk at June 20, 2010 02:31 PM

Hey, thanks!  I definitely will. 

205 My new hobby is cheesemaking, and I found a couple books which I have been constantly rereading.  So far I've only made farmers, cream, chevre, feta, and cheddar.  I keep looking ahead to the recipes for Bleu, Camenbert,  Emmenthal, Stilton, Caerphilly, and others against the time I advance my knowledge and skill.

Cheesemaking books.  A few years ago I wouldn't have believed there were such things, let alone that I'd be reading them.

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at June 20, 2010 01:43 PM (pEXyx)

My new hobby too!  I've made soft cheeses and feta, but have been limited by lack of a decent aging area.  Recently bought one of those tiny cube refrigerators; now I need a hygrometer and the patience to check that and the thermometer daily.  Too busy lately to commit to that.

206

I used to buy car-repair manuals. I got so many wrong directions from them, I considered it divine intervention that the Interwebs came along and people created model-specific sites and forums.

Now I just join the forum of whatever car I own, and read up on the most common maladies and how to fix them. I've saved a fortune on diagnosis, especially with the complex systems in use now.

The write-ups these guys create, with pictures and step-by-step instructions, are far superior to anything the Chilton, Motor, and Haynes people come up with. Plus they'll help you out with answers almost real-time.

207 Two things I have learned about DIY projects 1) 2 heads are better than one. Do things with a son, brother in law, neighbor or a friend. If nothing else, they keep you keep track of things when they get complicated. 2) know when you are in over your head. In plumbing projects, if you have to turn off the water to the whole block, you are in over your head.

208 My Chilton manual saved me the 1800 bucks in reparis that a Toyota dealer swore I needed!

 So I take it in and let them do the 30 dollar dx. They come out with a bunch of crap for 2k and the car only has 92k miles. And I say, no thank you, just replace my distributor and bring me the old one when you are done. It was stalling out in the mornings or when it would rain. Symptoms were clear cut with the Chilton. (But as a chick, they thought I would bite. (PMCS checks and driving a 2.5 ton truck in  the service will teach you alot!)

The only major repair in 11 years- 506 bucks. It was a 5spd, 4 door Camry. Too bad we sold it...I bet it would have been cheaper to keep vs the 98 Volvo that we're still driving.

209 if you have to turn off the water to the whole block, you are in over your head.

LOL, if you have to turn off the water to your whole house most people are in over their head.

210

Don Knotts' "Build It With Concrete."

That man was more talented than we will ever know.

211
if you have to turn off the water to the whole block, you are in over your head.

LOL, if you have to turn off the water to your whole house most people are in over their head.

Posted by: Vic at June 20, 2010 03:01 PM (6taRI)

I remember the first time I had to do that, about 30 years ago. Good thing I could call my Uncle the plumber in Michigan (I'm in PA) for advice.

It worked out fine and I'm glad I did it myself. I've probably saved our family thousands in plumbing repairs over the years.

212 It worked out fine and I'm glad I did it myself. I've probably saved our family thousands in plumbing repairs over the years.

I can build crap with wood but I can do plumbing and electrical out the ying yang.

213 oops

I can NOT build crap with wood....

214 LOL, my neighbor needs a DIY book "How To Come In Out of the Rain".  We have ongoing thunder, lightning, and rain. He is mowing the grass in the middle of all that.

215

oops

I can NOT build crap with wood....

Posted by: Vic at June 20, 2010 03:42 PM (6taRI)

LOL.

Sure you can! Unless you're trying to do cabinetry work, there's not too much to it. You're prolly too bent on things fitting together like at a nuke plant.

I can't frame a wall with a 20 oz. hammer or cut square with a hand saw, but with a circular saw and a nail gun I can do both. Like anything else, your tools are important. I actually don't have a nail gun so for most things I use screws. Use screws whenever you can. And always drill pilot holes. Learn to take into account the kerf of your saw blade. Simple stuff goes a long way.

Right now I couldn't frame a roof but with some DIY research I probably could -- as long as I had the correct tools. But I'm not really interested in crawling around 40' above the ground doing that.

An example of great DIY project: We use window AC units and the mounting materials were terrible, especially the accordion things that are supposed to fill the gap between the AC unit and the sash frame. I bought some half sheets of plywood on sale, cut them to the size of the window, cut a square hole in them the size of the AC unit and used the square I cut out to make a shelf to support the outside portion of the AC unit. Made some straps out of 1/8th aluminum @ a 45 degree angle to support the shelf. Installing the AC unit now takes about 10 minutes and the window is pretty much sealed. All with a circular saw, drill and a dry wall T square.

Rough schematic (side view):

|.\
|....\
|. . . \
|. . . ..\
| . . . . .\<--Al strap
| . . . . . \
|_______\______
|. . . . . . . .\ . . . . .|
| . . . . . . . . \ . . . .|<--AC unit
| . . . . . . . . ..\. . . |
| . . . . . . . . . . \ . .|
- - - - - - - - - -\- <------shelf

If I can do this crap you can.

216 Yeah I use screws for all wood stuff now myself.  If I could find the guy who invented the battery operated drill/screwdriver I would kiss his ass. 

217 How To Cook Everything has saved me more than once. The Year Round Holiday Cookbook is a garage sale find that has chapters for Lincoln's, Washington's and Other People's Birthdays, Harvest Days and Columbus Day. The sentimental favorite is an 1879 copy of Housekeeping in Old Virginia which has come down through the family. It's 90% recipies and I've tried a few with success. (The calf's head soup won't be one if them though.) There are ads in the back including one for Dr. Scott's Electric Corset for $3. "A tendency to extreme leanness or fatness is a disease, which in most cases, this article will be found to cure." heh

218 I am thankful that not only do I know how to brew beer, I am growing the key components and learning how to kiln malt by myself. 

Will barter beer for food.  LOL

219 I came late to the thread but one of the best books to buy is the SAS survival guide. Gathering wild foods, I love the mushrooms and herb section to cooking smoking. You don't have to be a survivalist to make your own jerky and drying herbs. I also like Alton Brown for cheap but "Good Eats".

220

The best single book I've seen on vegetable gardening is Mel Bartholomew's "Square Foot Gardening".  

I have a 50'X50' garden, but even with that I've found his book valuable in regards to his trellising ideas.  I've been using the trellises outlined in his book for years now and have passed the instructions for them on to friends.  Cheap, easy to build and will last for years and years--I love them.

My all-time favorite gardening books however are Barbara Damrosch's "The Garden Primer" and all of Eliot Coleman's books.  This time of year I consult them almost daily. 

 

 

221 Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart.

It isn't just recipes, although it certainly has those in abundance, it's a technical masterpiece on how and why bread and their ingredients do what they do.

If you've never made your own bread from scratch, it really isn't that hard, and the results with just ruin you for any store bought crap forever.

222

My picks:

For cars - I prefer getting a set of factory manuals - they are pricey and written for pros, but they are very complete.  If you keep cars until the wheels fall off, they are well worth the investment. Alldata is also very good.  Some public libraries have Alldata subscriptions so you can go online and get what your need.  You can also buy an Alldata subscription for your particular car.  Never been too thrilled about Chilton's and Haynes - just not enough detail. 

For power equipment - Once again, the service manuals for you're particular beast of burden are best.  There's a single manual for older Briggs & Stratton engines which is very easy to read (suitable for junior high students and above), but modern engine families have there own specialized manuals.

Appliances - service manuals are the best.  Often you can find service documentation online.  Often you can figure out stuff from the exploded parts diagrams for things like washing machine and dryers.

Other recommendations:

- Carpentry and Building Construction - Feirer and Hutchings

- Cabinetmaking and Millwork - Feirer

- Practical Electric Wiring - Richter and Schwan (the same guys who wrote Wiring Simplified - I think),  They come out with new versions whenever the NEC is updated. 

 

223 If Geek Squad merely overcharges you, you're lucky.

A friend's client took a machine there - and they "fixed" it by installing an unlicensed copy of a obsolete version of Windows that was incompatible wiht his applications.

224 laptop batteries laptop batteries

225 Are you interested in Soccer? Right, you really like playing football. Plus, Soccer is just getting to be a worldwide popular sport nowadays. As fans of Soccer, you should get fully prepared at first. For example, you would better prepare a suitable pair of soccer cleats , a set of soccer jerseys or whatever. Otherwise, you will not enjoy an exciting football match. Anyway, it is necessary and essential to prepare for the football match in a good way.(yang)