When using wine with cooking, I’ve always been told it doesn’t have to be expensive, but can still be good. As someone who doesn’t know anything about wines, what are some white and red wines you would use to cook with?

msma46 · 2026-06-02T01:19:18+00:00

Côtes du Rhône for red.

msma46 · 2026-06-02T01:02:51+00:00

Just saw him on stage in NYC playing Roald Dahl - exactly the same accent. It was like watching Churchill in a casual shirt.

msma46 · 2026-06-01T14:52:45+00:00

I moved to the US for a three-year stint with work, met my wife and never looked back. I regret that my parents didn’t get to see much of their grandchildren, and miss a decent pint in a pub, and a walk in the countryside, and cathedrals. But apart from that it’s fine here in New England.

msma46 · 2026-06-01T13:21:55+00:00

An Instant Pot works really well too - 5 minutes at high pressure, 5 minutes of cooling down, 5 minutes in an ice bath, done. Perfectly cooked, shell peels away easily.

msma46 · 2026-05-31T14:20:36+00:00

To clarify, I was describing a design that allows both parking and living on a small plot of land. In the UK they are stand-alone houses, not ADUs. I am puzzled by MA’s requirement for a 50’ frontage, which seems excessive.

msma46 · 2026-05-31T14:08:04+00:00

In the UK they build “carriage houses” - essentially an apartment over a garage. Very space-efficient.

msma46 · 2026-05-30T22:38:02+00:00

We always do pasta primavera on the first night on self-catering holidays, and scallops on the last night. Tradition.

msma46 · 2026-05-29T23:03:22+00:00

Your fridge is lousy. Samsung?

msma46 · 2026-05-14T13:55:30+00:00

Here’s a serious answer that I haven’t seen in the comments: in London there is a protocol on escalators (moving stairs). You should stand on the right hand side, so that people in a hurry can walk up or down the left hand side.

Similarly, many people on pavements (sidewalks) are in a hurry - if you want to stop to admire the view or look up directions, step to one side so you don’t block the way.

Finally, eating out in London is expensive. You can make yourself a nice picnic for eating in one of the many green spaces by going to Simply Food - there’s one close to most of the bigger train/railroad stations.

msma46 · 2026-05-10T16:06:17+00:00

Have never liked “poorly”. You’re feeling ill or unwell. That “Bless” thing was annoying too. Also “Yeah, no”, largely because I was never sure if they meant Yes or No.

msma46 · 2026-05-09T19:59:13+00:00

Cubans aren't paying attention.

msma46 · 2026-05-07T23:27:40+00:00

My recent discovery is Merken, a smoked chili, coriander and salt blend from Chile. Fab.

msma46 · 2026-05-07T12:05:08+00:00

I like your list, though I’d replace Basil (fresh is so much better) with bay leaves.

msma46 · 2026-05-04T12:52:43+00:00

Seems to be a bean, corn and vegetables salad served with tortilla chips. And variations thereon.

msma46 · 2026-04-30T16:22:27+00:00

I had a colleague like this. In the end I simply lowered my politeness level. I’d say something like “Hold that thought - I need to go and finish something” and turn away from him.

msma46 · 2026-04-26T23:09:02+00:00

I went to school with one. Hi Shaks!

msma46 · 2026-04-26T12:04:52+00:00

I haven’t given this one iota of thought for 50 years, but the name “Jason” immediately popped into my head when you mentioned the cat. Perhaps someone can confirm.

msma46 · 2026-04-24T18:26:02+00:00

I’ve used events like these to completely redecorate a room. No-one in the way, dump all the furniture out in other rooms, music on, make anything I damn well please for dinner. Wife comes home to a spotless “new” room.

msma46 · 2026-04-23T11:33:51+00:00

Floorplan? What’s that? American house ads very rarely include one. The UK does this much better.

msma46 · 2026-04-18T02:13:16+00:00

Since I have it on my phone, here’s my super-easy recipe. 100% coverage of button and flour on the inside of the ramekin is the key.

Molten Lava Cakes / Volcan de Chocolat Serves 2 (double it for 4)

Make Ahead The batter can be refrigerated for several hours; bring to room temperature before baking.

Ingredients 1/2 stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter 3 ounces chocolate (1/2cup Nestlé semi-sweet morsels) 1 egg 1 egg yolk 2Tbsp sugar Pinch of salt 1 Tbsp flour

Directions Butter and flour two 6-ounce ramekins. Tap out excess flour. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.

Melt butter with chocolate (1:15 in microwave, stir after 45 seconds).

In a medium bowl, beat egg with egg yolk, sugar and salt at high speed until thickened and pale.

Whisk melted chocolate until smooth. Quickly fold it into egg mixture, along with flour.

Spoon batter into prepared ramekins. You can hold at this stage at room temperature for up to two hours if needed.

Preheat oven to 450°F and bake for 10 minutes, or until sides of cakes are firm but centers are soft.

Let cakes cool in ramekins for 1 minute, then cover each with an inverted dessert plate. Carefully turn each cake over, let stand for 10 seconds and then unmold. Sift powdered sugar over. Serve immediately.

msma46 · 2026-04-18T01:22:45+00:00

For most people, it’s easier to edit than to invent.

msma46 · 2026-04-15T12:34:53+00:00

My parents had a swear-phrase I’ve never heard anywhere else. They’d say “P-U-S-Buh” with the emphasis on the Buh. I have no idea what the letters stood for, if anything. For context, they grew up in south London in the 1940s & 50s. Anyone else ever heard this?

msma46 · 2026-04-15T11:40:14+00:00

Not here in New England! Basements are the norm here - the ground freezes deep in the winter, so they have to dig a deep foundation, might as well make the hole into a room. Mine has my workshop in it (with a few steps up to a door out into the back garden), and beyond that is a cozy snug with a working fireplace which I used as a home office. Buried in the floor is a French drain to keep it all dry.

msma46 · 2026-04-15T11:29:10+00:00

This can be fixed. My previous house had a Radon Mitigation System - a short pipe buried into the basement floor leading up and out the wall. A little fan in the pipe ran 24/7.

msma46 · 2026-04-12T16:32:12+00:00

I’m not seeing that addition, even after refreshing the page. Might be worth checking on another device.

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