Jamie Lee

Prawncrackers: If it doesn't smell now, is it unripe? Must I really go outside to whack it open?

After I get tired of my judge Judy quote, I'm going to use "you'll never eat the same durian twice" - Bin Gregory or "Somebody once said it’s like eating vanilla custard out of a toilet. He was on to something." same source I'm terrified.

Great blog, Nina.. Hope you can get your 'puter fixed... Just to corraborate Catew's info: I've only tasted it on my finger - but YUM - and it is darker than it appears. Hmmm pancakes? french toast? (no snow) but maple ice? Nina, come back soon - your blog was rockin'!

Newbie: Pics please! J.

Wow, Suzi... Not only do you have beautiful handwriting, but man, do you know how to shop! (Your prices are so good!) I had trouble finding frozen pearl onions.... did you? There was a small bag of fresh, but given the price and knowing what a PITA it would be to cook and peel, I'm going with "regular" onions, unless tonights re-visit to Trader Joe's yields a bounty. I especially was intrigued by the fact that you apparently cook separate lunches for you and J... is this standard practice? Is dinner the same?

Thai Cooking Buddies... Please see this thread and HELP ME! Durian

Thanks (I think) for the replies, but I'm more afraid than ever. It doesn't smell now, is that normal (to not smell before cutting it open?) BTW... It was 1.08 US per pound, and at 5.15 lbs, it cost me a princely sum of $5.56 US. It sits on my table, mocking me, and you folks are NO HELP!

Me-thinks you're laughing at me! Damn, do I have the guts to go forward?

In an unexpected burst of energy today, I finally made it to my favorite asian supermarket.... as I often do (much to my chagrin) I usually find something - not on my shopping list - that I MUST have! Today's impulse buy: A durian! Help! I've never had one, but am intrigued by the stories, the love/hate relationship people have with them.... It's a prickly SOB, it had to be wrapped in newspaper before bagging, or it would have made mincemeat of the bag. Does it look normal? How do I cut it? What do I need to know about prepping it, eating it, disposing of it? If I don't like it, how do I get rid of it without alienating every neighbor I have? Your durian expertise is welcome!

Sigh... don't you hate it when life gets in the way of cooking? Haven't made it yet, you? I usually note the source, date, volume, etc. but for some reason didn't this time (just taped and "went") I've moved to a new efficiency, and goodness help me, I'm a block from a Trader Joes, a block from my fav PNW "all in one" superstore - Fred Meyers - and have a new asian market, not a mile from my new "place".... Life can be good. Autumn Cranberry Beef Stew is still on the list. I'll post on "What did we have for Dinner" thread WHEN (not if!) I get to it!

Amidst all the delicious-ness of these posts, I beg you to remember the last time you had to move... meals got simpler - weirder, even - as you ate through the freezer and fridge... at first, it was a bounty of discovery... "what's this? A Rump Roast?" then it was "What's this? a one shot of chicken innards.." then "What's this? I couldn't care less!" Recent dinners have included a 1/2 cup of chicken salad, followed by a single hard cooked egg (with S & P, of course! I'm not a barbarian!), a coffee mug or three of chicken stock, some last slices of a pan-roasted rib eye with an asian dipping sauce ... you get the idea. It amazes me how long I'd have to go before starving, since I haven't worried about touching the pantry yet! So, tonight, it was "Anything in the freezer Vegetable soup"! Some stray bacon ends in the pot... Add last of onions and shallots... Chop two carrots, some rather limp celery, dust a few defrosted bits of beef with flour, and add... Add the last of the garlic, and the remaining bits of tomato paste, beef broth, and a few cubes of my homemade chicken stock, a pack of pre-sliced criminis (shoot me now!) and.. Then the remaining mis en place: The last of frozen corn, green beans, artichoke hearts chopped up, canned diced tomatoes with their juice, fresh zucchini, parsley, and... um... mushrooms. Guess my sequence of events and the pics don't match, sorry. As it is right now... I have some "mini-ziti" I could add, but it's so thick and rich as it is, I think I'd ruin it. I was also saving back some peas to add at the last minute, but now I'm not sure how they'll reheat... No amuse, no first course, no cheese course, no dessert. Just "Dump the Fridge/Freezer Soup"! Yum.

Fat Guy: You Rock. J

Ah ha! Another store that prints receipts by category! PS: Has anyone else had to recite the old "i before e except after c" adage about a hundred times during this thread? Thanks to all who have posted!

Kim: That does look daunting indeed! (But oh, so delicious!) Do you just skip Thanksgiving? To all the rest! I love each of your lists! Thanks! J

I know its not fine dining, but a newly opened PF Chang's in a town I used to live in didn't take reservations, but you could call them before lunch service (don't remember about dinner) and get "on the list". They could usually estimate the time your table would be ready. You checked in when you got there, and then were called first call, first serve for most tables. The FCFS method was I'm sure violated for large tables (I'm sure they wouldn't set a two top at a six top table. I'm not in the biz, so I'm not sure if this would work, or even if they still do at PFC... Thoughts?

OK, Sandy... First of all, I am a girl (I know, my folks should have spelled it Jaime) Secondly, I know you are a "boy", so buck up and post a grocery receipt of your own! This could be an interesting thread, if folks could just get over their phobias!

I think this is why I have four cans of coconut milk... I can only find Mae Ploy at my asian market, so I buy more every time I go. And buy more, and more. To those who think this a "normal" stash, I'm in a one person household, and one curry dish lasts for ages! Guess you have to live here to find this amusing!

I use corningware custard cups, some cheapo asian rice bowls and these: Bad pic, as usual. These are mis en place/amuse containers from our own Live It Up member. I use one (as can be seen) for kosher salt - always at the ready, right next to the stove. J.

Another sweet memory... I used to serve Mom "breakfast in bed" for Mothers day.. I cooked and cooked, and dealt up bacon, eggs, toast (I think I was 9 or 10), I may have added pancakes... Right before her death, mom confesssed. She hated those meals! She was alone in bed, she could hear Dad and Bro and I eating in the kitchen, and while she loved my efforts, she felt alienated and lonely. Who would have thunk? I carefully planned a tray, replete with a rose, a linen napkin, a special card... And bless her heart, she endoured it every year .

jamie - that question mark is actually weather dependent. friday is my day off from work as a reference librarian but, unless it is raining, i would be at the hawkwatch for 5-8 hours. if and ONLY if it rains would i get to the gym. it rained and i got my third workout in 1 1/2 months. i love the birds but can't wait until 1 december when i get my life back again - and a regular gym schedule. ← You are more structured/disciplined than I! My list would have a Workout (followed by a ?) because it meant if I wanted or not!

Holy smokes! I'm a Mae Ploy girl. Guess I'm coconut milk impaired after all! Funny what you find in a move! I'm sure I have some more interesting things!

JimH: Now I HAVE to have a Jack-in-Box taco or several! And Taco Bell bean burritos, and a McD Big Mac, and a Whopper with Cheese... Stop me NOW!

I love finding previous patron's grocery receipts in my shopping baskets! (Yes I am a nerd) But post your's here! I rarely spend this much, but here's my most recent. I don't have a scanner, so dig pics will have to do. The magazine was a Bon Appetit, the broth was for soups, the "bath tissue"... well you can guess! I usually buy ramen at my asian market, but I was desperate. Mountain High Yoghurt is close to Trader Joe's greek yoghurt... full fat, and delicious. Veggies, are well, veggies. I can't believe I paid $2.29 for a single avocado. Desire, simply desire. Let is see your receipts, too!

I don't "do" junk food... I just don't. But now I'm coming off chemo, and DAMN, I want every flavor, style and cheesy taste of junk food! My list: Toaster Strudels Twinkies (I like mine frozen) <--- childhood memory Hot Dogs, on white buns, with yellow mustard Reeses P-Nut butter cups Frozen Chicken Pot Pie Swanson TV Dinners (any flavor) Almond Joy candy bars Bologna and American cheese sandwich on Wonder Bread (with butter AND mayo!) Cinnamon Toast (Tons of butter and suger) Hostess Cupcakes (With the swirrly white icing) Cheese in a Can, sprayed on Ritz Crackers Salami, pan-fried in a skillet I could go on and on! What are your junk food joneses?

Late-est list... And the other thing I do with my kitchen cookbook: I paste recipes out of magazines that I want to try.... I then have them when I go shopping. In the terms of M. Stewart, "It's a good thing"