liuzhou

or English-inclined! "Authentic" Palestinian food is Jordanian? I know they are neighbours, but...

Spicy Orzo with Shrimp and Mushrooms.

Thankfully, all my local markets and supermarkets do the job for you and sell you what you need for dinner. Of course you can buy the whole critter if you want to, but few do.

I posted a plain version of these here a few weeks back, but when I went shopping yesterday, I found these. Not as spicy as my jaded taste buds would have preferred, but certainly spicier than the not spicy variety. So, I'm all set for an afternoon of eGulleteering while snacking.

I've never done so, but if I had to I'd use this fellow. 11inch / 28 cm long and very sharp.

Round these parts we use sharp, heavy Chinese cleavers.

Wontons in soup with mustard greens.

Yes. That's the article I was referencing.

Not for me. And I don't subscribe. I saw it on Twitter, clicked the link and there it was.

Hummus could go extinct when the chickpeas/garbanzo beans all die. Article here.

Me too. Always. Great looking pizza!

One picture reveals why China's mobile Internet is more prosperous than that in the West.

Red curry chicken with fresh basil from the balcony.

I usually take photos of the no photo signs. That confuses them! I have quite a collection.

That is beautiful! A work of art!

Pig kidney with garlic, red chilli pepper, yellow bell pepper and penne rigata. Simple. Cooked and eaten while listening to Sticky Fingers. Naturally. Can't You Hear Me Knocking?

I have done this regularly often with mint and other herbs, but never had much success with basil. Anyway, not a problem. I now have access to basil seeds.

Yes. Not regularly but occasionally.

Chicken and Mushroom soup with ginseng and jujubes. Chicken carcase and trimmings including head, feet and the bits that usually get thrown away were simmered for an hour with garlic, ginger, chilli, ginseng and jujubes. All solids removed and nasty bones and bits removed. Rest, including jujubes and ginseng etc. returned to pan. Sliced white button mushrooms and shiitake added and cooked for five minutes. Finished with chopped scallions. Eaten.

Chicken and Mushroom soup with ginseng and jujubes. More info on the Soup Topic.

Of course not. You pay for the advertised dish. If ýou order a cheeseburger but dont eat the cheese, do you expect a discount?

It's a pity your friend didn't give you plants rather than cuttings. You could try planting cuttings, but whether they will survive is unsure. I've never had much luck with basil cuttings. My plants are still doing well in November, but it's warm here. They do want to flower, but I remove any flowers as soon as they appear. That is one of four plants on the balcony. I do have two plants which I have allowed to flower as I want the seeds for next year. As to your immediate needs, I'd be eating a lot of Thai or Vietnamese food and making lots of pesto or the French version without pine nuts, pistou. Both freeze well.

Clam and Mustard Green Soup. (车螺芥菜汤 chē luó jiè cài tāng ) Chicken stock, garlic, red chilli pepper, white pepper (lots*). clams and mustard greens. *by lots I mean what appears to be far too much. I give 25 twists of the pepper grinder.

America ginseng, Panax quinquefolius is a different sub-species from South China ginseng, Panax notoginseng. I have seen the American variety here, but it is rather expensive.