Carrot Top

Sounds about right to me, too. Nothing should interfere with reading.

Naturally Rogov you know that I am interested in learning what the philosophic answer is to the idea of waste either of intent or of actuality within the structure of the world as we know it with so much want and so little thoughtful intent, would be, in this idea of diet and the eating of one-third. If there is one. I can understand if this concept needs to sit outside the box of the idea. But if there is an answer in your mind to this, I'd love to hear it. As far as the rest of the diet goes, I say for the most part it is a good one. A third of a whole, used ad continuum (if that is a word) finally will be used up if so desired. I would personally have a problem with the two 50 minute meals per day and agree that this is wrong. Time should be found for this. And glue for the children's behinds to stick them to the seats perhaps. The other thing I do not do is the wine but that is because I want to take a nap sometimes after wine. But I guess if the children can be glued to their seats, then they could stay there for a while and I would not be so tired. Or else I could take a nap. Either way. And their fussing would not bother me if the alcohol content was high enough, it is to be imagined. Nice diet. Now do you have a recipe for some good glue?

I think that this is simple yet very true. You know that, by the end, things will be as they should be. This experience is different than, say, my attempts to make bread. ← Not to wander off again from Busboy's quite beautiful post, but it must be admitted that any time people mention cleaning the house in a way that makes it sound desirable, delicious, doable, and even sometimes done my mind starts wandering off to the realities that I see. Regardless of the income level of the household, I see about 75% of the houses I've been in lately dirty, unkempt, messy and unorganized. Often there is a half-hearted "sorry" given by the people when you walk in. Followed by a "there is no time" "in between work and getting the kids places". The other reason given (again, without any asking or any looks of askance at all) is "There are so many better things to do than clean the house." (Unfortunately, I do not think they were talking about what I was talking about before but anyway. . ) Look at the popularity of these television shows like "Clean Sweep". They are popular because so many people have houses like this! Then when you read magazines and such they still report that women (who work outside the house) still manage about 85% of all house-cleaning responsibilities on a daily basis. That makes me cranky too, to hear that. So. Busboy. Chris. Fresser. Whoever you are that does this. You are One in a Million. Can you teach the others? Please. This notion of "things as they should be" is absolutely brilliant and loveable. And so is the notion that a man can do it too.

Yes, consistency is vitally important to any customer. In any field. It's the right thing to do, to be consistent. He wasn't. Shame on him. Really. And it is the sad fact that chefpeon is caught in the middle. I don't like this man.

project, my questions that mentioned music and mathematics were simply rhetorical instruments that seemed to make what I was writing sing better than it would have without them. I have to say though that to me there seems to be a lot of books out there without VEFE. And please understand that I clearly understand what you say when you write VEFE and did understand from the first moment you used the word. Studying the ways people are formally or informally educated, how they learn and what they learn in a variety of situations and ways is one of my own deep passions and interests and one that I keep up on through sites like VASNET which is the only national "scholars" website that does have interactive qualities for the users. To be philosophic for a moment, it might be that what we humans seek in life is what we generally find. If VEFE is in your field of consciousness as a problem, then wherever you look you will be likely to find it (which is sometimes defined as the concept of "self-fulfilling prophecy"). It does not seem to me that VEFE is anything new in the history of the world though. Although this sort of romanticism is said to have been invented only several centuries ago, it still lurked in the hearts of the human race and did exhibit itself in various ways in various metiers. Not only in writing. VEFE to me is like a crappy casserole (made from a mass of dishonest and not well-thought out ) ingredients that one finds at many Pot Lucks or indeed at many people's houses. It is mediocrity dressed up in cheap finery and fussed over. But too bad. This is what many people have chosen. Let them have it if it makes them happy, finally, is what I say, and I truly mean it. Because their happiness and pleasure in this is more and better, finally, (to my mind) than any derisive carping I could do about their choice of way of being. If you approach the idea of finding books that have the things you want (if you could do this, but given your background and history that might nigh be near impossible perhaps ) without the idea of VEFE, you would find them. Many. Many. And that, then, would be the reality. And finally, to get back to the point of the original story that we are supposed to be talking about, I enjoyed it. Just plain simply enjoyed it. Edited to absolve the honest casserole and define the other.

Thinking of ground beef reminded me that a Shephard's Pie made of it, with nice bits of onion, carrot and celery for texture . . .bayleaf, thyme, oregano as seasoning with a hint of Worcestershire, a touch of tomato paste, bound together with beef broth thickened either by roux or by cornstarch binder, all topped off by mashed potatoes topped with buttered crumbs or even with crumbs and cheese then baked, rarely goes awry. Add some nice long smiles of crisp-cooked green beans on the side and the meal is set.

All kidding aside for the moment, really there are some plates of food that can be made to look absolutely magnificent. Yet that is no assurance that what hits your mouth will be delicious. Sometimes these things that are not so photogenic can surprise with oodles of taste and flavors. And that is what it really is about, isn't it? As they say, "You can not always tell a book by its cover." ...................................................................... You are all brave good souls to post your army of bowls and plates full of personality and ideas for all of us to enjoy. Do please find more.

My 13 year old daughter just walked in while I was scanning this and she said "Ewwwww. What IS that?" I really didn't know what to say. ........................................................... But the thought of how it TASTED is making me happy. . .

The way you describe it is really funny, but it actually looks pretty tasty to me. ← I understand what you say, Pan, but I must tell you that to me it looks like the Cuyahoga River did in about 1962. Just a bit prettier. But that doesn't mean it might not taste good.

If the owner really wants to save his trifling pennies, then what could be more appropriate than to make him a trifle? A trifle is the only place bad muffins can go and belong. ....................................... Don't know if this would work in your situation, chefpeon. But trifles can be made individually in cute little cups and sold that way, if that helps. I still say dump the stuff, but if you can't, you can't.

It sounds even better than my version, Jaymes. Please definitely post it if you come across it. . .

I think I've made it twice since I've grown up (if indeed, that could be said to be true) and it was before I became a professional, so it is hazy but yes, you are right the tomatoes are not drained. What I seem to remember (which of course is not in the recipe but that's how she wrote it ) is that they may have been canned "stewed tomatoes" (you know, the ones cooked with celery and peppers and onions that used to be served as a side dish some places?). I'll try it sometime soon and let you know better. Because I am also a bit worried that she might have used "Minute Rice" because that's the only variety that was ever in her cupboard.

Oh God I am totally in stitches. And I am headed out the door at this moment for the grocery store. Maybe I can find some Pork "Leon".

How about a noodle kugel? Anyone out there have a great recipe?

That thing in the front looks like some sort of upside-down frog-like happy doll, Chufi. Can you see his little arms, eyes, and mouth? And laying next to him it looks like a bookbag in which he stuffed his dead companion after he murdered him. Aaaah! I love it!

And then of course, you can call it a "tian" or Provencal vegetable casserole and be quite elegant.

Of course an alternate view on the dish-doing with your hubby or wife idea is to not be married and instead to have a paramour come to visit when there are no children about. The concept involved in this alternate view involves both of you looking at the dishes, him nicely offering to help wash up, then both of you deciding that there are much better things to do than wash dishes. That the dishes can wait till the morning. Or alternately, till the afternoon. Or whenever. Just an alternate view, you know. Not as romantically nor as beautifully phrased as your concept was, Busboy, but nevertheless with some aspects of romance residing within it. Or so I believe, anyway.

Thank you for reminding me of Joni Mitchell. The only CD I have by her at the moment is "For the Roses" (which I played this morning. . .). I was astonished to see that four out of the twelve songs had food imagery in them. She really had an eye for the glowing brightness, the sheer physicality of food. A social critic, too, in a sense. But full of gaiety and joy also. (The songs with poetic food imagery were "Banquet"; "Barangrill"; "Lesson in Survival"; and "Judgement of the Moon and Stars - Ludwig's Tune".)

Pastisio. Wonderful casserole. Greek. Yum.

They have the standard contract on-line with information as to how everything works in terms of privacy and security. I let you know if my computer crashes or if anything terrible happens. (I did download the site.) Somehow I am lucky so far with downloads. Not a single virus, and absolutely no spam. I use Mozilla for the most part and have Norton for protection. Norton. Sounds like some skinny little guy. But he does the job.

God, you are so right. Add my scream to yours, please.

Well. . .it sure takes more time to learn than making a strudel does, but then the rewards may be greater, too. Though some might argue that there is no reward greater than apple strudel.

Lentil milt, undoubtedly. ................................................... I still think this one is almost too good-looking to belong here, though.

Sweeeeeeet. Yet more reasons to be sitting here glued to the computer. But thank you, nonetheless.

Normally I agree with you. But I'm telling you, this shredding thing worked. The apples were completely cooked through and there was no leaking - the filling was rather dense and sturdy - I just line it up along the edge and rolled. I actually put this recipe in a Rosh Hashana cooking column - I will no doubt receive feedback from my very vocal readers - I'll let you know if anybody had a problem with it . ← I've used both methods that you list above, both worked. But I do have a sense that the choice of apples one uses in the shredding method might be important. Some give off more juice when cooking. What variety did you use, Pam? And do you both use breadcrumbs in your strudels in between the layers? Or not? (I always do, the final texture seems better to me.) Of course I don't know if this would make it non-Kosher for you, Pam. Have you ever done it with matzoh crumbs in between?