BarbaraY

I'll remember that for the next batch.

That sounds really good. I have one question. Exactly what is sweet flour paste. I've only seen it in a few recipes so have never used it.

That is just so cute. I would probably buy it just to have it even though I rarely carry a lunch anywhere.

I made this once again with Jasmine rice and stir-fried broccoli. It is just too good not to have often.

I made this for dinner last night using broccoli. It works very well with that, too Served it with Ah Leung's Honey Garlic Chicken. It was delicious.

Hi Tim, I don't know how I missed this thread until today but find it fascinating. It always surprises me to realize that there are actually still people who live like this. When I was young I often thought I would like a job like this but with three kids to raise it wouldn't have worked.

If you can't get the smoke one way you get it another? Smoked turkey should be great for the party and turkey would be just the thing for your dad. Some raw and/or blanched vegetable sticks? I find that they're one way kids really like vegetables.

I just bite into them, even if they're extra big, but I hardly ever buy any cookies except Oreos. I can consume half a bag at one sitting.

It is very hard to quit when you live with a smoker. Do have him put them away so they won't be so easily available. I didn't quit until after my divorce and remarriage to a non-smoker.

That old encyclopedia of cooking has been a family favorite since it was new. I have had bad luck with only one recipe in the set. (Although I haven't made all of them.) Gave it to my daughter several years ago.

I like chopsticks when I'm eating Chinese or Japanese food. I use my cooking chopsticks often, especially nice for picking things out of hot oil although I usually use a Chinese skimmer for that. Ice cream with a teaspoon but I prefer one with a pointed rather than rounded bowl and we serve it in a lotus bowl. Soup in one of those cheapo Oriental bowls that you buy in the grocery store for under a dollar. That is unless we are having minestrone or some other main dish soup for dinner, then we use the soup plates. Soup and cereal is eaten with a soup spoon, salad with a dinner fork. Asparagus is finger food. In my family, we used to eat pork chops with our fingers but the first time my ex saw me do it he freaked so bad I haven't done that since but I do pick up and gnaw on the bone.

I made stir-fried green beans a couple of days ago. 1 lb beans, 1 teaspoon ground star anise, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 thinly sliced red chili. I usually use it in things like Chinese Red Cooked dishes, tea eggs, etc.

Good luck to all of you. I know it's tough but it can be done. Nov. 1, 1975 was my freedom day. I didn't say I was going to try, I said I was going to quit and I have never had a cigarette since. I had a 2 1/2 pack a day habit. My dearest friend died of lung cancer, the man I loved died of lung cancer and emphysema, my Mom, at 89 is still smoking when she can get out to do it but has emphysema and congestive heart failure, my Dad had congetive heart failure and macular degeneration, my sister and her daughter both died of cancer. My eldest daughter quit almost 2 years ago using the patch. I had nothing but lots of Vitamin B and Valerian root for help plus the determination to show the guys I worked with that I could do it. So I gained 10 lbs almost instantly. I'd rather be fat then dead. So lets see the goodies you're going to make for us. You can't smoke while cooking (I hope).

Thanks for an interesting blog. Late, but I got called away yesterday just as I was about to thanks. I envy you that grocery. Mmmm!

I think the taste thing may depend on the length of time a smoker has smoked. My father, a confirmed smoker, had to have his food very highly seasoned as does my 89 year old mom. She grabs the salt shaker before she tastes anything. I believe this is due to 60+ years of heavy smoking. I quit 30 years ago and gained the obligatory 20 pounds. I have read that quitting does slow down the metabolism. That one will gain weight even though they don't change their eating habits.

Actually, it's spinach that makes your hair curly. My grandma said so.

Watched her today. The Acapullos looked like something we would all enjoy. Now to find a yuca in this town.

I would like to share a meal with Lulu Peyraud and Richard Olney. Sitting in the Provencal sun and sipping the beautiful Bandol.

The lable on it said that it tasted like broccoli and asparagus. I thought it look a lot like gai lan which I get in the summer from the Farmer's Market. I think the name is ridiculous.

I saw this vegetable in the grocery store yesterday. It looks like Chinese broccoli. Has anyone else encountered this? Does the name mean it aspires to being regular broccoli or is it having breathing problems? I didn't buy it because it was rather pricey.

I have been playing with some of the same ladies for about 20 years now. One of the ones that I hosted was all dim sum: sui mai, pot stickers, curry turnovers, ribs, tea eggs, etc. Very few of us drink anymore so it's usually sodas or punch of some kind. Kind of miss all the noise that we used to make.

When did you meet my daughter? I prefer not to go out with her because she treats service persons in a truly mean manner. Another daughter and I were at lunch in a local place recently. The waitress was busy but there was no reason for her churlish, snappish attitude and when we needed more tea, we couldn't catch her eye. She got $1 and a note. We have never gone back.

Martha did a segment recently in which she made a decorative plant container with a Clemantine box. I think if you went to her website you could find it. Here, the Clemantines come in a cardboard box so I couldn't try it.

There are very few A & W stand left around here. I was thinking of Weinerschnitzel. A&W used to, many years ago, have an item called a Whatnik. A hollowed French roll with two dogs, chile and cheese in it. Soooo good!

Hmmmm? 1 hot dog chain vs. how many burger places: McD's, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, Burger King, White Castle, In-n-Out Burger, and how many more? Nope, don't think the dog is the symbol of America any more.