Modern Day Hermit

For the full effect of the grilled cheese sandwich, I use a Toas-Tite like my grandmothers. It makes a nice pocket of melted cheese and brings back a lot of memories. I just made grilled cheese with it yesterday, as a matter of fact. Ok, I actually made a big pot of tomato soup in the morning and had it with a grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast, lunch and dinner yesterday -- it had been a while. Anyway... I vary with my grilled cheese sandwiches...sometimes I will use velveeta (ahh, childhood) with plain white bread buttered on the outside only. Especially when eating with some tomato soup. Sometimes I will use my own bread and use provolone with some salami and dip it in mustard or it just depends upon what I have. Sometimes I will mix cheeses and use various breads...just whatever is available. However, the variables that are always constant would be the toas-tite and buttering of the outside only.

Thanks for all the great tips :) While in Phoenix this past weekend I drove past a Middle Eastern market (Southwest corner) and Asian market (Northwest corner) at the junction of 17th and Camelback. I did not have the time to stop in to check them out, but I will surely do so at a later time.

I personally hate it when I see someone on television making an "Indian curry" and they don't even make a tarka. And, they usually just add tomatoes, onions and some curry powder. That really grates on my nerves. I once watched Alton Brown make some so-called Indian cauliflower dish, IMO it was more like a raita than an actual veggie to be eaten. Another is not allowing the dish to cook long enough. As mentioned above, the spices taste raw and the vegetable or meat is not allowed to really soak up the flavors. In regards to the above comment regarding adding yogurt -- I've tempered mine with great success, I start out with room temp. yogurt that has been whipped well. My stance on the tomatoes -- if you can see the chunks of tomatoes -- it probably was not cooked long enough.

estherschindler, thank you so much! That is nice to hear that there is a good store for Eastern European food, being of German descent I miss some of the great food that was so easily available back in Missouri (never found a place here in Texas). Thanks again :)

I am moving to Phoenix in a little less than 2 months and was curious about the ethnic markets available. Anything from Indian, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian...whatever anyone would have knowledge about. Any knowledge that someone is willing to share is highly appreciated :).

We had some of the best tamales yesterday, made by my best-friend's aunt. I am still dreaming about them. The other items were pretty ordinary -- turkey, corn, 7-layer salad...but those tamales. Yum!

If you like it and it comes out great, go for it :) I love polenta and have been thinking about purchasing some instant just for those evenings when I don't have a lot of time but have a taste for polenta goodness. I love polenta all the ways mentioned, my favorite is making a medium polenta and top with a leek sauce made with butter, cream and milk. I don't eat it often since it is so fattening so when I do enjoy it, it is even that much better.

Basmati Rice Jasmine Rice Variety of asian noodles and italian pastas fish sauce lemon grass kaffir lime leaf curry leaf Atta flour Onions (red and yellow) Garlic Serrano Chiles Numerous dhals canned tomatoes lemons and limes Olive Oil and Ghee -- at a bare minimum Ginger root Loose tea for chai Tons of whole spices

About five years ago: I will never place marinated tofu into the oven at 11 o'clock at night and proceed to fall asleep. As I was awakened a few hours later by smoke and charcoal bricks in the oven. A little while longer, I would have had diamonds. A couple days ago: Never place cookies in the oven, think that while they are baking I will check my e-mail and after about 15 minutes think to myself, "What is that irritating beeping sound!"

An Indian style pizza -- made with a leavened flatbread, an Indian style tomato sauce, home made paneer, serrano chilies, mushrooms, spinach, green pepper, garam masala and mozz. Garnished with cilantro chutney.

I have the Pro 6 (Empire Red) and love it. Although, I primarily use it for making doughs for chappati, kulcha and naan so the big bowl is not an issue and is actually a plus.

If anyone is interested in Indian specific grocers, here is a website dedicated to everything Indian in numerous metro cities: Ek Nazar (One Look) Scott -- Taj Imports is one of my favorites. If they don't have it, I don't think anyone has. I am personally a huge fan of their dokla on the weekends and their chaat shop. Thanks :) I've been lurking for sometime and finally decided to go ahead and register. In regards to my previous post about the shops located off of Josey and Beltline (near 35), there is a store, according to one of my friends, that sells fresh tofu. Naturally, I can't remember which one, but if I check it out anytime soon I will report back. The Vietnamese store on the NE Corner of Beltline and Josey, I have yet to run into anyone that speaks English. However, they are very nice. One lady in particular is very nice to discuss different ingredients and dishes. If I mention the name of a dish, she will take me straight to all the necessary ingredients. There is another Asian market at the corner of Beltline and Rochelle, in Irving, between 183 and 161. I have not gone in since I frequent other shops, but I have driven by numerous time. Still thinking... **edited to add that I find most Asian (and Mexican) markets a whole heck of a lot less expensive than American markets. I do most of my shopping in "ethnic" markets simply because I usually find better ingredients at a much lower expense. I do make an exception for Central Market, I love their store. I've heard some say that most of their items are more expensive but when I have made an effort to make comparisons -- they are pretty comparable, especially since their quality is usually much nicer than your average Kroger or Tom Thumb (I hate Albertsons ;) ).

Here are some just off the top of my head: Korean - Located off of 35 and Royal (east and west), numerous restaurants and markets Vietnamese - Beltline and Josey in Carrollton - numerous markets Indian - West side of 75 and Beltline (Sweet Shop, Textiles, Indo-Chinese restaurant, vegetarian south indian restaurant, videos, groceries, etc.) Main and Greenville - exit Beltline, go east (turns into Main, I believe) -- Taiwanese market, a couple chinese market and from what I hear -- I really nice restaurant upstairs.