Hello Friends.
First, I want to thank you, very sincerely, for all the comments, emails, phone calls about my accident. Graham seems to be fine, I am healing, and our car, well, our car will be fixed in a couple of weeks. My right thumb went from looking like a sausage to just having a big bruise. I am almost able to bend it without pain. Physical injuries hurt but I think my soul was crushed more than my body. After Randy came home early from his high school reunion, I sort of crashed emotionally. I was very melancholy and all I wanted to do was sleep. Guilt and fear can do that to you. Thankfully, after a day and a half of that, I am spiritually on the mend as well as physically. It helped, very much, to continue getting lovely notes from you all during that rough patch.
Moving on – Who Won the Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook?? I have to say, this was a fascinating exercise. Reading about the recipes you all are trying to find made me want to sit down and email each of you to say, “Well, have you tried this one??” Some of you I couldn’t help (I’m talking to the pork people and those on a meat sauce quest) but some of you I could. If you are searching for a chocolate chip cookie, have you tried this one?
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you are looking for a brownie, have you tried this one?
If you are looking for gnocchi, have you tried this one?
Ethan Stowell’s Method for Perfect Gnocchi
If you are looking for Macaroni and Cheese, have you tried this one?
Martha Stewart’s Gratinéed Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes
If you are looking for a scone, have you tried this one?
And If you are looking for pizza crust, please do yourself a favor and try Mark Bittman’s recipe.
I’m not saying these recipes are perfect, but I like them very much. Your comments gave me some wonderful new ideas to try for this blog. And I also realized that my all-time favorite butternut squash soup is not here. That will be remedied next week. More vegetable soups will follow as will gingerbread, biscuits, and a perfect marinara. Please know that I am on my own quest too. Thanks for all the ideas.
And without further ado, based on my random generator, the cookbook winner is:
87
Random numbers generated Oct 26 2011 at 10:11:50 by www.psychicscience.org
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.
Jane! Jane said she wanted a perfect chocolate cake recipe, but seeing as I posted one, she is now looking for a vanilla cake. Jane, send me an email so I can get your address.
Thanks again for playing everyone. I have another great giveaway coming up tomorrow!
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So happy you are better!! Day by day! Everything looks gorgeous! Love gnocchi, one of my fav Italiano dishes but have never made them, have to try this one!!
Nettie
Comment by Nettie Moore — October 26, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
Dana,
I am so sorry I missed your post about your accident! I hope you are doing ok. Bad me. Wish I could bring you some chicken soup.
xo
Comment by stacey snacks — October 26, 2011 @ 10:16 pm
Glad you are a-ok!
Love from the yoga crowd on Bainbridge-
Comment by Ann Strickland — October 27, 2011 @ 12:59 am
I’m so glad you all are on the mend, dana! And yeah…I know I said I was looking for a brownie recipe but the Baked recipe is definitely my all-time favorite. I’ll take any excuse to try a new brownie recipe, though!
Comment by Joanne — October 27, 2011 @ 1:22 am
So glad you’re healing in all ways and that your thumb isn’t broken! This summary posts of all the top runners made me drool. I must pace myself!
Comment by Kathleen — October 27, 2011 @ 3:59 am
As a busy mom with 3 small kids, your post about your accident really hit home. I spend a lot of time driving my kids around and I spend a lot of that time trying to think about what I need to be doing, trying to listen to the kids (sometimes trying not to listen to them), and although I’m not using my phone in any way, generally being a bit distracted. Your post reminded me that I need to be focused on the driving while I’m driving, because what happened to you could happen to anyone. I’m glad you and your kids are okay and slowly but surely you will heal emotionally as well. And those “perfect chocolate chip cookies” are my absolute favorite, cooked or not :)
Take care!
Comment by Corey — October 27, 2011 @ 3:17 pm
Dana, sorry you had such an emotional reaction to your accident but very glad to hear you are mending. And giving us a post with such great recipes all highlighted. I’d forgotten about the gnocchi post as I have a go-to ricotta gnocchi which we love but some day I’d love to try potato gnocchi from my kitchen. In the meantime I’m thinking I need to make either the chocolate chip cookies or the brownies as either or both would go down well at our house. Or as my son would say – it would be wery, wery, stupendously awesome.
Comment by Charlotte — October 27, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
Glad you are all on the mend! xoxo All of these recipes look delicious!
Comment by Maria — October 28, 2011 @ 2:03 pm
Very good to hear from you… I thought about dropping you an email, but felt it would be intruding too much, so I’m glad you posted.
Now, each day will be better than the previous one… forever!
a warm hug for you,
S
Comment by SallyBR — October 28, 2011 @ 6:53 pm
Thank you for reminding me that I need to try those scones and that method for gnocchi!
Comment by lisaiscooking — October 29, 2011 @ 1:01 pm
Relieved that you are feeling better. Congrats to the winner.
Comment by Helene — October 29, 2011 @ 6:35 pm