ASK SALLY ANYTHING

[Duchess]

Sally, have you heard of fried apples? I was scrolling through a weekly flyer and saw them advertised. I've never heard of them before.

[sally]

Yes, it's easy and you can do it with bananas as well.

[MirahM]

Is it like fried green tomotos?

[Duchess]

Is it like fried green tomotos?

I like those! The person who made them also made a green tomato pie that tasted like apple pie.

[BlueTiki]

Sally . . . I would appreciate your advice, tips, tricks, special ingredients for a Tuna Casserole.  A request from a friend's daughter (who became a first-time Mom 6 weeks ago . . . and her Mother can't cook worth a shit), for a Sunday entree, for 4 people.

Haven't made one in 10 years (and from memory, my Mum's wasn't all that noteworthy so I'm not asking her).  So here's a list of what I have.  Please let me know what you think I need along with any little special tweaks you like to do.  Thinking of using a disposable foil baking pan instead of a glass casserole.

Thanks in advance!

In the pantry and fridge:

Both Albacore and Light Tuna in water  (8 cans each)

Elbow Mac, Bow-Tie, Flat Egg Noodle

Panko 

Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom Soup (4 cans each)

Full array of spices and condiments

Assortment of fresh veggies (not-organic, but registered as either Libertarian or Independent)

Assortment of hard and semi-soft cheeses

[sally]

You do realize you're asking me how to make one of the most hated food in the world taste good, that's a lot of pressure, man. My mom used to make one that wasn't horrible. I think you have a solid base, but add frozen peas and lots of black pepper. Don't cook the peas, just let them thaw. Cooking them turns them into little rocks.

[Duchess]

When one is starving that sounds pretty fucking good. My stomach is growling.

[sally]

When I was a kid, the only thing my friend's mom ever cooked for dinner was kraft macaroni and cheese mixed with a can of peas and tuna fish. That woman didn't know how to make anything else. It still tastes good to me once in a great while. You could go that route, but it's ghetto as fuck. My mom made her's a little more fancy and I'd have to say the ghetto version was still better.

[sally]

It's just one of those things. Someone goes out of their way to make a tuna casserole with gruyere, homemade pasta and truffled bread crumbs, and then some chicken head comes along with kraft Mac and cheese with some crappy peas and tuna from Save A Lot thrown in and it somehow tastes better.

[BlueTiki]

You do realize you're asking me how to make one of the most hated food in the world taste good, that's a lot of pressure, man. My mom used to make one that wasn't horrible. I think you have a solid base, but add frozen peas and lots of black pepper. Don't cook the peas, just let them thaw. Cooking them turns them into little rocks.

Thanks for the hints.  She had a craving for this dish and I automatically said, "Sure. No problem!"  

Never would have guessed the trick with frozen peas.  That was huge.

[BlueTiki]

Sally . . . your tips about improving one of America's most hated dishes were winners.  Just got a lovely email stating leftovers were consumed for lunch and with a request for the recipe.  As an FYI - For the liquids:  Cream of mushroom  soup, whole milk, sour cream  Veggies: Frozen peas, diced shallots and sliced mushrooms sauteed in butter.  Cheese:  Medium Cheddar/Jack mix  Pasta:  Large elbow Mac  Topping:  Panko crumbs.  Tuna:  Albacore   A dash of white pepper and a very healthy spoonful of Dijon . . .

So, thanks for helping me step-up to the challenge and venturing into the unknown.

As a side note:  I left a few lemons thinking someone might want to do the whole lemon and fish thing.  No one did, but her father in law had two servings . . . both with catsup. 

[sally]

That does sound good. Minus the catsup. My daughter puts it on scrambled eggs, makes me gag looking at it.

[BigMark]

Better than ranch.

[sally]

My son puts ranch on pizza. I don't even think these are my real kids, they must have switched them at the hospital.

[MirahM]

I used to hate ranch, but then I tried a brand I liked. I don't want it as a main dressing on a salad, but I don't mind dipping suff in it now and then. Shut up Mark!

[Duchess]

Sally, what's the difference between the color black and one called onyx?

[BlueTiki]

Sally . . . being a soup gal, do you like Thai Coconut (Tom Kha Gai) soup?  I just call it "Tom Guy" soup.

I get a craving for it a few times a year.  Usually it's when I have a ginger-cilantro craving thing.

[sally]

Sally . . . being a soup gal, do you like Thai Coconut (Tom Kha Gai) soup?  I just call it "Tom Guy" soup.

I get a craving for it a few times a year.  Usually it's when I have a ginger-cilantro craving thing.

Yes and my local Thai place makes a good one. Also if you haven't tried it before, Larb Gai salad is delicious.  Larb guy and Tom guy make a good pair.

[sally]

Sally, what's the difference between the color black and one called onyx?

I don't know. I was just wondering today what the difference was between dark bronze and black window frames other than the dark bronze is softer and not as stark. And 20,000 cheaper.

[MirahM]

I have a craving for curry. No question. Just a statement.