Ask Me Anything: Mother's Day Edition

Plus: Going to see Taylor Swift this weekend in Philly? Lucky you. Here's where to eat.

Hello and welcome to our weekly post where I will talk about anything—seriously, anything—that’s on your minds. Liverwurst, tipping, salt: It’s all fair game.

This week’s post is unlocked, so feel free to share it and leave questions in the comments below. If you like it, please consider subscribing. (Usually, only paid subscribers can leave questions.) Find me on Notes as well!

Housekeeping! Here are a few links to things I mentioned in this week’s video:

• Coffee Time Coffee Syrup

• Dave’s Coffee Syrup

• Mother’s Day recipes

• My Auflaf with Berries recipe: Instagram, YouTube

This week’s questions

Anthony:

Is there a good substitute for Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout to make near authentic Rhode Island Coffee Milk?

James:

Why do recipes tell you to put pastry dough in the fridge for an hour after you make it? It comes out very hard to roll.

Paul:

Have you ever had Yorkshire forced Rhubarb? The best Rhubarb you'll ever eat.

Jason:

Your Bizarre Foods show made me want to try to eat other kinds of foods because I was a very picky eater.

OrangeDeuce:

Nice KISS shirt. Didn’t know you were a fan. Have you met Paul Stanley? He tweets a lot about cooking.

Dmitri:

What’s something nice and easy that the kids and I can make their mom/my wife for Mother’s Day? None of us are very confident in the kitchen but we can handle pancakes, things like that.

Daniella:

We’re going to Philadelphia this weekend to see Taylor Swift and will have time for a couple of meals. Anything we shouldn’t miss? We love cannoli and think cheesesteaks are meh.

Neecey:

We were planning to go to Europe this summer but airfares are outrageous! Can you recommend a good domestic vacation spot for a family with two teenagers? Somewhere with good food. Extra points if it’s off the beaten path!

Diana:

I loved your bean soup recipe. Do you have more ideas for converting my meat-loving family to bean fans, at least part-time?