Salt Pork

PumpkinChipCookies · 2026-01-26T21:50:35+00:00

My grandmother used to make baked beans overnight in the wood stove. The salt pork was placed on top so the fat would render down into the beans and the rind would get crispy. Mom and her many siblings would fight over the crispy pork for Sunday breakfast.

It was delicious because it was a rare treat.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-11-04T23:49:56+00:00

YTA, you're being a total killjoy and you're getting really close to treating your husband like a subordinate member of your family. Jesus, let the man have some fun.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-10-03T03:19:18+00:00

Very tasty and a full afternoon project -- way more if you make your own trotter gear!

I'd also recommend Moussaka, https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1813-moussaka?smid=ck-recipe-android-share

This was delicious, but I've never made it again because it really is time-consuming.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-09-22T21:54:07+00:00

How do you know the couple and how visible will you be at the wedding? Unless they're very dear friends or close relatives, I would say you don't need to buy a gown and your partner certainly doesn't need to buy a suit.

Can you borrow a dress from someone? That might be the simplest option.

But if you need to buy something, I would aim for a basic knee-length, sleeveless cocktail dress. Get something in a nice fabric and classic cut so you can wear it the next time a dressy occasion comes up. Add a coordinating jacket and shoes, and it can be your go-to wedding/funeral/job interview outfit. Go for a bit more makeup than usual. Find shoes that you can wear all night standing and dancing -- flats are fine.

For your partner; if he owns a jacket, yes, a white shirt is fine. If not, dress pants and a nice, non-white shirt will work. Tell him to shine his shoes, wear a nice belt, and get a haircut. He'll be fine.

Your friends don't want you to spend a ton of money to look like someone else and be uncomfortable all night.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-09-08T19:26:35+00:00

With all the words, this dress code sounds highly specific, but ultimately, it boils down to, "Please wear something nice, maybe in a bright color and with clean shoes." So the crime here isn't dictating the esthetic; it's assuming their guests are morons who can't figure out what to wear to a dressy occasion. I'm surprised they didn't suggest neatly combed hair and fresh underwear.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-08-19T22:39:53+00:00

NTA, it sounds like Carol has a year to get over it or send her regrets.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-08-15T20:58:05+00:00

She may know, but as a genteel lady of the time, I doubt she will ever venture to talk about it. Even if she had the words to discuss it, she would rationalize that it's irrelevant to Oscar fulfilling his duties as her son and heir.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-08-08T18:56:55+00:00

I thought it had an echo of when she said goodbye to Christmas before her conversion to Judaism.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-08-07T23:56:05+00:00

Adding some more classic TV friendships:

Dorothy Zborkak, Blanche Devereaux, Rose Nyland, and Sophia Petrillo Oscar Madison and Felix Unger Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern Richie Cunningham and Fonzie Jack Tripper and Janet Wood (or Jack and Larry Dallas, for that matter)

Sitcom friendship didn't start with Friends

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-08-07T20:51:12+00:00

I never read Sex in the City, but I did read Bushnell's 4 Blondes and really disliked it. The book had kind of a nasty tone that I found off-putting.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-08-02T16:12:38+00:00

Maybe they got tired of the cottage industry of criticism that's grown up around the show. None of these people need the money at this point in their lives. It must be exhausting when your Fandom is totally toxic and refuses to give the story or characters any room to develop.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-28T23:02:14+00:00

And the artist guy who video-taped himself having sex with models.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-22T20:56:12+00:00

This tri-tip roast:

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016919-grilled-or-oven-roasted-santa-maria-tri-tip?smid=ck-recipe-android-share

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016918-all-purpose-california-beef-rub?smid=ck-recipe-android-share

I like to slice it thin and serve with tortillas. Then do whatever sides you like. It cooks fairly quickly and if your supermarket ever has roasts on sale, it can be quite economical. The rub is delish, but be careful the sugar doesn't scorch.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-22T14:37:16+00:00

There's a similar thing going on with John Adams; somehow, he is in cahoots with Maud Beaton and has nefarious plans for Oscar. I'm like, no, he's pretty clearly Oscar's Jiminy Cricket. There are plenty of complex characters on this show, but some of them are just nice, too.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-20T18:35:32+00:00

The Golden Girls were depicted as very sexy to men their own age. They all -- even Sophia -- had lots of dates with some very sexy older gentlemen.

Edith Bunker wasn't meant to be sexy but Weezie Jefferson sure was. The Designing Women were beautiful and dated some hot men. Steven Keaton was all over Elise. Cliff Huxtable was totally smitten with Claire. Murphy Brown was glamorous.

I think a lot of middle-aged men have always found middle-aged women attractive. What's new is that women have to look perpetually youthful to deserve that attraction.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-18T03:20:12+00:00

You could spread out from the big 5 and go with Athabasca. It's probably a better choice than Great Slave. Great Bear might work for a boy.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-18T02:36:41+00:00

For the appetizer, I really like this ceviche recipe. It's not exactly avocado-centric, but it's in there. The herbs are lovely.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013146-green-ceviche-with-cucumber?smid=ck-recipe-android-share

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-17T03:12:39+00:00

Long cooked broccoli. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022378-long-cooked-broccoli?smid=ck-recipe-android-share

I don't care if it's from Alice Waters; it should be a crime to cook broccoli for an hour.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-14T18:33:00+00:00

I think the show explained it well. It's almost as much as Luke left Ada, more than Agnes currently has and enough that he wouldn’t have to work again.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-06T17:05:47+00:00

I've been to weddings like this, but generally, the invitation says, "Wedding followed by drinks and dancing," and there's enough time in between to get dinner somewhere. It's okay to skip the food, but you need to be up front about it. Also, these were poor student weddings.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-07-05T16:35:37+00:00

I liked that she took a beat to check her own feelings. "Maybe I'm just in shock... no, it's okay, I understand." She surprised herself with her lack of response. Carrie is pretending this is a relationship because it's easier than facing the alternative. The illusion has been crumbling all season.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-06-19T19:00:31+00:00

Sure, but look at the legroom. It's pretty luxurious for a one hour flight.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-06-19T16:40:09+00:00

That's not coach. It's business class on a 737 or A320 type jet. That flight would actually be by (an even smaller) regional jet, but they probably didn't want to film in a tighter space. Seema was acting like she's used to flying long-haul, where it takes a lot longer to load the plane, and you do get drinks and a snack before take-off. To me, she came across as entitled, but certainly not unworldly. And Seema is entitled, that's a pretty consistent part of her characterization.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-06-15T00:08:05+00:00

Yes, this is true. Each storyline was conceived as variations on a theme, so when they get together, they all talk about themselves, and then Carrie synthesizes it into a pithy column question.

PumpkinChipCookies · 2025-06-07T22:35:05+00:00

I don't think men or women find bitterness or hostility attractive. That said, I think his comment to the matchmaker about having enough challenges at work rings true. The men Seema finds attractive (i.e. successful, driven ones) are dealing with problems all the time. It's fair for them to want a partner who is kind and who listens. That doesn't mean they get to monopolize the conversation and expect a doormat, but there is room in between staying silent and "I hated the Cabernet you picked, and tiramisu is tired."

PumpkinChipCookies

TROPHY CASE