NY Times has New Cooking Web Site!

[NJCher]

Beautiful site! Lots of recipes!

It has all my fave NY Times cooks, like Mark Bittman and Melissa Clark.

Check it out at:

http://cooking.nytimes.com/

Here's the rationale for why they put the site up. I think it will resonate with all who post here.

Just cook. That is the message of the moment, the act to embrace. Just cook dinner. It is a habit as easy to form as a bad one, and more beneficial by far.

Of course, home cooking can be stressful, particularly during the week. Never mind the time spent at the stove. There is also the time spent planning, and the time spent shopping: invisible labor, more taxing than it seems. And then someone has soccer practice. Or the traffic is heavy. Someone needs to work late. Time famine grasps us all.

We are here to help. This issue of Dining is dedicated to the core promise of a new website and iPad app that The New York Times introduced last week called Cooking. Built on a foundation of more than 16,000 old and new recipes in the Times archives, the site and app are designed for cooks of all talents, from beginning to expert. The mission: to make each one of us a better cook.

So just cook and see what happens. Gather family or friends to your table and serve them hot food. Maybe it helps the children do better in school. (Studies suggest it.) Maybe it strengthens relationships. (Likewise.) Demonstrably (as you will see!) it is more pleasant than a microwaved stew or takeout curry or a pizza delivered from miles away. Cheaper, too.



Cher

[northoftheborder]

1. Thanks, I can always try a new cooking website! One of my hobbies! Sometimes I even cook new things

[pinto]

2. Go for it! I find cooking really enjoyable, if vexing at times. But there's a pay off. Dinner!

[cbayer]

3. Great site and a truly wonderful sentiment.

Dinner time has become the center of my day. I love it.

[NJCher]

4. me, too

It involves so many elements--doing something for others (often, something that they need because they lack the time, ability, or motivation), creativity, a chance to do something good for your physical self, and experimentation, not to mention the sheer joy of enjoying the results later.

Also, I find it very relaxing. I especially enjoy working with vegetables because they are so beautiful. I like, for example, slicing a gorgeous red cabbage and mixing it with a yellow pepper for a salad. Seeing the contrast of a kiwi fruit with the melon color of a cantaloupe or a honeydew.

The shopping part is also fun, especially if I get to go to certain markets. Some I dislike but have to shop there because they're close. If I have the chance, though, there are others where I get to enjoy the creativity of the displays. Here in the Northeast, where there are many affluent customers to make it pay off, there are stores that almost serve as culinary inspirations, what with their combinations, freshly prepared salads, and other dishes, etc.

Another part I really like is that it is sometimes the only chance we have to spend time with our loved ones, as everyone is so busy with their careers. The RG and I are lucky to have friends we care so much about and who live so close that they can come join us for a meal at a moment's notice.



Cher

[cbayer]

5. You put it perfectly.

I am currently visiting friends who won't let me pay for anything.

But I am cooking and they are loving it.

The shopping part is also very true for me. I hate shopping in general, but put me in a new grocery store or a farmer's market, and I am in heaven.

I grew up in a family that always sat down together for supper and I continued that with my own family. Whether I have guests or it is just DH and I, dinner is a very important time of the day.

[NJCher]

6. I think we both know

To count our blessings. They are many!





Cher

[shireen]

7. a few months ago

i wrote to them complaining about how hard it was to browse their recipes. I got a reply from someone there saying that they were working on a new website. This must be it!

[dem in texas]

8. Yes, I like the site, in fact, I am going to try one of the recipes

The Shortcut Choueroute.

My husband loves sauerkraut and sausages, so I am going to give this one a try. I have some of Fiesta Market sausages that are loaded with black pepper, we usually grill them , but they will be good in this recipe as it calls for lots of black pepper. I purchased a small package of meaty country pork ribs and will use 3 or 4 of them in this recipe. Plus I bought a head of cabbage and two cans of kraut at the store today. I have the perfect little blue enamel roaster to cook it in. Hope to make it tomorrow.

[dem in texas]

9. Tried the Shortcut Chouroute today and it was very tasty

Adding the fresh cabbage and onions softened the taste of the sauerkraut. I used the peppery sausages that I buy at Fiesta market and I think I didn't need the pork and will leave it out next time. Used the bay leaves, but didn't any caraway seeds, so used celery seed. Made a dish of roasted "pam" potatoes,(spray "pam" in shallow dish, slice peeled potatoes, season, cover with foil for a while, uncover, brown on top, no fat used. Added a plate of sliced ripe garden tomatoes and a pan of fresh baked cornbread and passed the mustard. A big hit with everyone. If you are a sauerkraut lover, give this recipe a try, it is so easy.

[dem in texas]

10. Cooked the Shortcut Chousoute again today, it was great

I left the pork off and used on the sausages with all the pepper, it was so easy and so good. Laying down the onions and cabbage with the kraut helps cut the sour and saltly taste of the kraut but in a good way. IF you like sauerkraut and sausages, I recommend this recipe.

[Nay]

11. I hate cooking, but have to do it. I'll try some of these recipes to see if they

are quick and tasty enough. I just can't say how much I dislike the time wasted grocery shopping, prep, then actual cooking.....arrrrgh. But I soldier on.

[NJCher]

12. Nay

cooking can be fun. I'm going to start a thread soon to get ideas for you. Off to work for now, though.

Later...



Cher

[Nay]

13. Lots of people love it, obviously; I don't. I've done the cooking for the family for

32 years and I am so burned out on it I could cry. I was "meh" about it for the first 10 years, but steadily have grown to hate the time it all takes -- even though I'm now retired! If it was just me in the house, I'd cook up 3 chicken breasts, shred them into a big pot of soup vegetables, and eat that 3 times a day for a week. That's how much I hate thinking up shit to eat.

It doesn't help that I became diabetic and can no longer eat the things I used to bake -- I did like baking. Now, it's like "who cares?" I have even looked into doing freezer meals prep to keep down the from-scratch aspect every day, and that helps my attitude a little when I can freeze leftovers, have cooked chicken/hamburger to use, etc.

I do appreciate your offer, though. It's very kind. I'll look at ideas you have!