sandymalloy

I actually tried to separate 2 frozen crumpets with a steak knife (fortunately not the serrated kind.) Knife went right into the webbing between thumb & index finger. (Still hurts to think about it!) Glad I was not wearing a bloody apron. :-) The co-worker I called that day from the hospital did something very similar a few years later. So I felt a little less stupid. In fact, this whole thread makes me feel like I've got lots of company. Some great stories here....

I guess I am lucky that I never tried Indian mangoes--I would be too spoiled to enjoy the Mexican ones that we get in abundance here in California. And I do love 'em. But nothing will be quite like the mango I had right off a tree in Venezuela. Had my Swiss army knife with me, and ate the whole thing, of course getting juice all over me & not caring. Unsual for me; I'm generally pretty tidy! Some things are worth it. You do get better produce out here, by the way; you're quite right about that, Suvir. If we can't have Indian mangoes at least we get the wonderful local peaches, nectarines and berries--next best thing. Sandy

I've had the same water separation problem with canned tomatoes & will be looking for others' solutions! With fresh tomatoes, I've found that being careful to de-seed the tomatoes makes all the difference. Not hard to do if you slice the tomatoes horizontally rather than through the stem end; then all you have to do is squeeze out the seeds & remove the hard stem "belly button." Then I just chop them up--I don't even worry about the skin--& cook them only until they collapse. I usually sautee a lot of garlic briefly first in olive oil & then add the tomatoes. I like to put in herbs like parsley and/or basil after the tomatoes are done. When tomatoes are at their peak in the summertime, I don't use very much more than this. Love 'em.... Sandy

I wonder if understanding the whole notion of "comfort food" has anything to do with people's childhood experiences? For me, a comfort food is something I really enjoyed as a kid, because my mom (with whom I did not always get along) was at her best when she was feeding. She was the ultimate nurturing mama then. So I like hamburgers, lamb chops, mashed potatoes & ice cream as comfort foods. I don't give a darn what they do to me scientifically; I just know that when I eat them I'm more likely to smile afterwards. This is only when I'm feeling down. When I am ANGRY, I totally lose my appetite. Intersting thread for the reactions as much as anything... (And I am not overweight.) S.

Another vote for stock frozen in ice cube trays. Why cubes? Because I almost never make soup, but frequently use stock cubes to make rice, or as a part of sauces for pasta or pork chops. (E.g., Alice Waters has a wonderful recipe for a pasta with bay scallops, leeks and roasted red peppers, and the sauce is a reduced chicken stock.) Also have cubes of pesto (since we use so little at a time) and verjus, another nice way to make light sauces. (As you can see, I like reductions--neither my husband nor I like heavy sauces on our food.) Peas, parmesan cheese (not a purist, freeze the pregrated stuff we get at Safeway), coffee, a variety of sausages, Gardenburgers & buns, blueberries (they freeze extremely well & can be added to pancakes without thawing!) Meats on sale, and the remains of a half lamb we ordered. Yes, we have a freezer in the garage.... I've had freezing help lasagna and some other tomato-based products (spaghetti sauce etc.) that I've made or bought. Seems to mellow & blend the flavors. Good thread! Sandy