Mr. Lake's New Orleans Forum

Hey, Okie. How you like the chop wizard? I treated myself to one and am not crazy about it. The clue should've been the pick they include to clean out the grooves. That takes a month to get all the onion entrails out of there.

Three cheers for the Vidalia Chop Wizard! Hip hip hooray! I've been extolling its virtues since I got mine about six months ago. All the entrails in the world are better than red, runny, burning eyes in my book. I don't use the pick, I soak the top and then use a steak knife to loosen, then rinse away.

I like it except for the entrails. I like it to chop pecans because it tells you when there is a shell lurking -- it just won't work if there is a shell keeping it from chopping. I have considered using my gas powered pressure hose to clean the entrails.

Many thanks to Lake for posting this GORGEOUS pic on the front page!

IM... beautiful... I'm soooo jealous. I'm determined that next summer I'll have a plethora of rosemary. lol

I love those lil tomatos scooped out and stuffed with a cream cheese fresh dill touch of mayo mixture.

And also! lol this is a great appetizer for a cocktail party, but I leave them wherever I've set up the bar so non-drinkers don't grab them:

from expat's cookbook:

Vodka Tomatoes
Melody Golding
Melody says that they taste just like a Bloody Mary in a bite. She says that she punches a tiny hole in each tomato with a toothpick so they will absorb the liquid.

Makes 60

3 pints grape tomatoes
½ cup vodka, more according to taste
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1½ tablespoons coarsely ground pepper
Stir together vodka, vinegar, sugar, and zest until sugar is dissolved. Pour over tomatoes and toss gently. Marinate covered in the refrigerator, for at least 30 minutes. Salt and pepper right before serving.

edited to add: When making these Vodka Tomatos, I used a toothpick and scored each tomato a couple of times so that the marinade could soak in. They really DO taste like lil Bloody Mary's.

What you doin' partying with people who don't drink? Just kidding, of course!

Thanks for the great recipe and the nice compliment on my photo.

heeheehee... there are pills in every crowd, doncha know.

Hey, I resemble that remark!
Not knowing, MFDC did happen to eat one of your Vodka Tomatoes & was shocked by the punch!

Oooooo noooo... Isa, all joking aside, I'm awfully sorry! I have several really close friends who don't drink. I wondered the last time I served them if I shouldn't make up a cute lil sign, like some potlucks have, with the food labeled.... "Vodka Tomatos" so that folks aren't caught off guard.

Thanks for letting me know, cuz you're made up my mind, that's what I'll do in the future!

Aw, Judi, you have no reason to apologize! Didn't you see my winky face?
Nah, I don't take that kinda stuff personally. Not at all.
And besides I knew yall were joking, I just ribbed back!

I know you were teasing, Isa! Actually, I'm very glad you told me, because it's something that had occured to me anyway... that I should label it some kind of way. Not just for my non-drinker friends, but for the kids that are always around!

I've seen those cute lil plastic... sort of pitchfork looking things that you stand in the food and put a label on the top... intertwined in the tines..... am I describing this right? lol I like some kind of label on things, because a lot of times you really can't tell what's in a dish.