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You Know You're a &quot;Home Cooking Chowhound&quot; when...

You Know You're a "Home Cooking Chowhound" when...

You bring a big bunch of fragrant, fresh-cut Genovese basil in from the garden and your four year-old says "Mmmm...smells like ice cream!". (Had recently made Orange-Basil and Lime-Basil sorbets :)

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  1. You haven't spoken with your sister in days becaue of the argument you had about the relative merits of The Dipping Method vs. Sifting.

    5 Replies
    1. re: MollyGee

      I hope you were on the side of Right and Justice! (sifting) =)

      1. re: JudiAU

        Of course! And let me say, her cakes are lovely but a little dense. (Don't tell her I told you!)

        1. re: MollyGee

          ...but I bet she makes better brownies than you do!

          1. re: Das Ubergeek

            We make different brownies. Hers are definitely of the dense, fudgy variety and mine are very light and nearly melt in the mouth. I guess it depends on what you consider a good brownie (boy, now *that's* another argument we've had repeatedly!).

            1. re: MollyGee

              I like the sifting, but I have to say a turning point with me was getting a kitchen scale... no more dipping...

    2. You celebrate having found a store that carries White Lily self-rising flour by making a big batch of biscuits for breakfast, even though it's over 80o by 8:00 am and you're in the middle of the South Beach Diet, Phase 1.

      3 Replies
      1. re: Will Owen

        You realize after 3 "phase 1" attempts on the South Beach Diet it is against your religion and therefore you must reincorporate "good and bad carbs". To then celebrate your new "religion", you make homemade mallowmars.

          1. re: chocolate chick

            There ae some of us you will never convert. We indulge in the occasional high carb treat but it is not our way of life and many of us are healthier for it. I won't impose what is healthy and comfortable and makes my clothes fit better, my cholesterol and blood pressure better if you will not inflict your choices on mine.

        1. You're nick names include meatsy and chunky monkey (after Ben and Jerry's not any physical state)

          As a result of over exposure you're friends have all developed the unique ability to blank out with an 'I'm listening but not really listening' stare the instant you start on one of your crazy food rants that usually leaves you frothing at the mouth and wildly eyeing the immediate area looking for the next fix of something delicious.

          You visit your parents just (OK well not just) to use their much larger and swanky kitchen.


          1. Your co-workers immediately assume it was you who brought in the homemade goodies being gladly consumed in the office kitchen (sometimes it is & sometimes it's not).

            1 Reply
            1. re: leeds

              Your ex-co-workers e-mail you telling you they miss those homemade goodies (because no one else brings them).

              When a compliment is "What did you put in here? CRACK?" following by more shovelling of food into mouth.

              When you trade in perfectly nice non food related gifts because you know the store where the gifts were purchased has those plates you've been coveting.

              When your weekly dinner guests know better than to bring presents. Instead, they call and offer to drop in a market for whatever last minute items you realize you're missing (or a sanity boosting cook's treat of a perfect storebought cupcake).

            2. You are happier with the gift of truffle oil you received at the holiday gift exchange than anything else.

              1 Reply
              1. re: BeeZee

                I wish you had worked at my office! A couple of years ago, I reluctantly participated in a 'gift exchange.' Everyone got such tacky gift (Imo). I was so proud at how mine would blow everyone out of the water. Low and behold, someone opened MY gift, the gift of truffle oil...everyone looked around, with a look of confusion and disgust saying 'Who the hell brought THIS?' So, to answer another poster's question: No, not everyone is like us.