annzeepark914

"Imagine if you're Canadian!" Terrific writing for this show (and they're all Canadians so why didn't Lorne hire them for the increasingly sad SNL?)

Thanks for the tip, chessiegal. I need to make an effort to catch those re-runs since her current show's recipes IMO are very unappealing (altho' I did make one recipe from her newer show, her veggie fritto misto, which is wonderful). Gosh - I'd forgotten about that "did she or didn't she" story (~shudder~ can't imagine what the heck any woman sees in John Mayer so I'll go with she didn't!)

Maybe Cousin Amy was the source for modern slang like "bromance" (has Cousin Amy disappeared?). Back to the idiotic so-called parents at mini-golf. I noted the little pop-up that appeared while JimBob and Michelle were taunting the young couple about taboo behavior before getting married (the pop-up mentioned that they held hands before getting married). It reminded me of something J & M talked about in some interview a while back in which Jim Bob remembered the first time he saw Michelle she was watering her family's front lawn wearing a bikini. Their behavior is getting worse and worse each season with Jim Bob unable to keep his hands off Michelle. Their children behave more maturely on camera than the parents. Whoops - just read in another thread that Cousin Amy has moved to Nashville to start her singing career. Good for her! (yet I hope she'll stay in touch with her slave cousins back at the compound--she seems to be their connection to the outside world).

I used to get a kick out of Alec Baldwin. Now I cringe whenever I see him on TV (and in the Eton Mess episode). Years ago, when I first learned about Eton Mess (pre-Ina), I tried to make something like it - breaking up meringue (Forgotten) cookies and layering with ice cream + berry sauce. It was good (Mr. P914 loathes meringue so I no longer make it). I appreciate very much all the warnings I've seen (over at TWOP) re: how awful the cucumber soup is...so I won't waste time making it. @CheeseBurgh: that's so interesting about your stepson enjoying Ina's show...for the same reason so many of us do--that soft voice, the serene colors in her home and barn and garden. When I watch her show, I just relax as I'm pulled in to her world. Her show would definitely not appeal to the folks who need razzmatazz in their lives (cupcake war, supermarket grab competitions, hyper camera work bouncing all over the place, raucous laughter & goofy antics, etc). I hope she enjoys creating these shows and will continue to do so for a long time (on her terms of course--we want our BC to be happy!)

I truly miss those old Everyday Italian shows. She looked so much healthier back then, her hair was up, she looked professional as she cooked. I still make some of those recipes. And she dressed beautifully - no OTT cleavage, no worries that something might pop out as she's chopping onions or whatever. And when she served a meal in the back yard or terrace, she never (at least to my knowledge) humiliated or embarrassed any of her guests by accusing them of taking too much food. Which network is showing Everyday Italian re-runs?

When Michelle sat down to learn how to play chess with one of her sons (cannot keep up with the names...J-something ;>) she said something like "usually I'm expecting but now that I'm not, altho' I wish I were, I need to spend some time with my son". Really? First of all, it would be a miracle if her uturus hasn't fallen out after delivering 19 babies and this woman still wants another child? I thought about that and came to the conclusion that Michelle being pregnant is probably a major turn-on for Jim Bob (as if he needed anything to turn him on; someone needs to put saltpeter in his food each day)...and she enjoys having that kind of power over him. This episode is the first I've watched in quite a while (just couldn't take it any longer--needed a break) so I was surprised to see the girls' skirts even shorter (and no longer the dark denim material--progress!)

@Bastet: It is odd because I don't enjoy Halloween either (Mr. P914 has to open the door for the kids now that he's no longer traveling for work...it bugs me!) The early Halloween episodes were the best (just as, IMO, the early years of this show were the best & the re-runs I enjoy watching--back when Roseanne had short hair).

A dinner cruise around Manhattan? That must be an episode I missed.

When it comes to re-runs, about the only time I really make sure to catch Roseanne is around Halloween season. Their Halloween episodes were always hilarious (I especially enjoyed Dan's costume one year when he had the head of...was it one of the Stooges...attached to his shoulder and he had constant reparte with it).

Ina's Chicken Salad Veronique is great (I always add extra grapes and toss in some walnuts). The chicken salad calls for chopped fresh tarragon leaves but I use fresh lemon thyme or omit it. Arugula, Watermelon & Feta Salad with slivers of fresh mint is soooo refreshing! And I could drink the citrus vinaigrette :>) Her Shrimp Salad is wonderful. And her Lobster & Shells (I use shrimp instead of lobster) is delicious...love the fresh corn kernels hiding inside the shells.

I read an interview of Jason in which he mentioned sitting around the table, reading the next show's script. He found something totally unbelievable and said, "This doesn't happen in real life" and Larry David looked at him and said "It happened to me". I believe it! When I'm watching some of the shows, I wonder if one of the outrageous, incredible events in the episode truly happened to LD.

"Maybe the dingo ate yo babeee". "Who doesn't love a pony?" "You! You don't love a pony" "Where do ya think yer goin' cracker jack?" "The bus was OUTTA control!" I just love this show.

Ina's Cape Cod Salad is good but I omit the bacon. The first time I made it I used the bacon & found the flavor to be odd with the other ingredients. It stood out too much. The dressing is delicious. When I make Ina's Broccoli & Pasta, I use mini penne instead of bowtie (I find bowtie too doughy). This dish was a bit dry the first time I made it so now I save a little of the cooking water to add to the mixture. I don't use much salt (ya hear that, Ina?) I really like her Parmesan Chicken (in which you place salad greens on top of each cooked chicken breast - love doing that!). There are three dippings for the chicken breasts. I add a little garlic powder to the flour (first dip) and to the breadcrumbs/parmesan (final dip). Maybe we like our food seasoned a bit more than most folks but I find myself grabbing various spices, herbs all the time while cooking.

There you go! Thanks, Aquarius - I believe that's the underlying theme of our disgruntlement (that's a word, right?) with The Charity Auction lunch. She certainly provided a nice meal in her home for Mr. & Mrs. Whalepants (and the camera crew lovingly showed us, twice, the gorgeous Whalepants summer home too - those folks got their money's worth in many ways).

I'm weary of Lady Edith's never-ending bad luck and hope that in Season 5 her lover dude will return from Germany with his divorce papers in hand, they retrieve their baby and move to London.

@Bastet: Very good rule! Interestingly enough, I recently made Ina's Roasted Shrimp and Orzo. It was quite bland (ok, I did cut back on her salt requirement but that shouldn't have really made it so blah) so I added some garlic powder and a few other things. I'll make it again but not in the near future. Much prefer my version of her Lobster and Shells (mine is Shrimp & Shells - so addictive!)

Will we be allowed to discuss recipes here or do we have to stick to only discussing the BC show? If we are allowed to discuss recipes, do we need to set up a separate "topic" for those discussions?

Just bought two packets of white/green alstromeria at Safeway today (on sale for $1.99 a packet!!) so I'm doing my Barefoot Contessa decor thing today.

"Who can turn the world on with a smile?" (can't remember the rest of the lyrics but that show, especially the early years' episodes, is one of my favorite re-runs).

I prefer lip-smacking fresh peaches (a la Kramer), but yes, we need a Seinfeld forum.

OMG...can't live w/o discussions of all things Ina! Please let us have a Barefoot Contessa site. We'll behave :>)

Count me in!

I hope this isn't what will happen. He comes across as a very nice gentleman but I think we've already been informed that he's broke (which is why he hired that awful valet..he said Greene was all he could afford) so he may be after Mary for her wealth/estate.