Darienne

We have lived in only one state: Utah, and I was amazed at how low the costs of power and gas bills were. Compared to what we pay in Ontario...they were peanuts.

I know little about the various sugars really, but the first time I tasted Panela just last year, I thought there would never be another sugar in the world for me. I was stunned by the complexity of the taste. :wub:

Rick Bayless, Diana Kennedy and Fany Gerson. And they can cook.

And congratulations are headed your way too, jrshaul.

Following the above posts on duct tape..., I wonder how much better Gorilla tape would work? I have given up duct tape for all kinds of household emergencies and repairs (until the DH 'really' repairs it in a true manly fashion, of course) for Gorilla tape which is SOOO much better, heavier, stickier, stronger, etc.

I cannot resist. I have a doggy bag story. Once, many years ago, when we were really strapped for cash always, my DH was on a traveling expense account. We lived in the province Quebec, where people take food seriously and the restaurants are good. Ed had eaten a huge steak out for dinner with his boss and brought home a doggy bag with the rest of the steak he couldn't eat to give to our dog. I ate it. Delicious.

Ditto Viktoria, from me too. :wub:

We don't eat out much, but our doggies are usually our doggy bags. One exception is a Mexican restaurant in Columbia, MO. The portions are so huge, and we don't order the same dishes, so we can usually eat for three more meals on the leftovers. They do have the best chips I have ever eaten.

Sorry...it was too late to edit my post. I should have added that this plan, at this stage, allows for one meal of 'food' and this is, of course, a concern. No way I could eat like this forever... We do have a raw salad every second night with either some beans, meat or cheese and then every other night is a soup or a light meal. We do eat a light meal at suppertime anyway. Tonight is a raw salad, greens mostly, with an oil & lemon dressing with some black beans. Any real food tastes delicious at this point.

Good topic with lots of good ideas. But nothing since June. Between the Mexican and Chinese...which nobody mentioned...and lots of vegetables, cooked and raw, one could survive very well. For instance, we like to eat Szchewan Hot and Sour soup regularly. I have kept my increased weight steady for a few years now at about 30 pounds more than I need. OK. So I wasn't really going to go for it again. Ever. Then Spinal Stenosis reared its ugly head again and as we all know, every pound carried contributes greatly to hip and leg pain...of which I have a sizable portion, pain, that is. What to do? My chiro tried to convince me to try the meal replacement plan which he sells. No way, thought I. It's all powders and capsules, nothing real or human. And taste good? Not on your life. And we all know that weight off quickly never stays off. But then...but then...the pain is now. And not being able to stand or walk for any time at all. Get the weight off however you can, properly or not, and then one last kick at the can. The short answer is: yes it works. I don't care if it's water loss...it's still pounds off my damaged spinal nerves. Has anyone ever used one of these meal replacement plans and had it work to any extent? Or am I about to be hammered by one and all?

Just rereading this topic looking for information on making swirly multicolored lollipops and found the above message. It's now October, I still have the turtle lollipops, and they are still fine. (Could not produce enough at that time for the organization.) And I could still use more practical information about making swirly pops. We're going to work the PG's big book.

But aren't those roses still in bloom? That's further south than Cape Cod???

Tomric Systems Inc carries a hedgehog mold in two sizes.

Very lovely. Well done, Viktoria.

Those graves are adorable...in a ghoulish kind of way!

Next year, we are all coming to your house, Clark. And what a loyal dog you have! You'll be glad to know that our dogs and our visitors' dogs were loyal too.

I'll raise my spoon to you, CaliPoutine, tomorrow morning as I eat my (whole fat) Liberte yogurt from the large size container.

Curious I am as to where a traditional stuffing with made with pumpernickel. I rather thought that white bread was traditional and in our family we have segued to a light rye bread. Very light. Last year Ed, DH, made the stuffing with dark rye and I don't know what else from heels from the freezer and it was not a great success. Yesterday's stuffing was again the 'traditional in our house' light rye and it was good. Pineapples are also white? Hmmm ...rethink. Most of what is sold today as pumpernickel is what I would call nondescript rye bread. Pumpernickel of my Montreal youth was very, very dark with cornmeal underneath, O so fresh, and good in sour cream and cottage cheese. My mouth waters to recall it. What exactly is your pumpernickel and if it resembles what I have just described, please O please, send me the recipe.

Am really enjoying reading of your baking adventures, Jerry.

It was awesome, and as noted, I did so little work! Love it. You must have had fun, and I, for one, would be glad to eat your food someday. And with luck, my dogs will behave well.

Here in East Central Ontario, it was a pretty traditional Thanksgiving with dog friends, their dogs and our dogs. Turkey, stuffing (homemade bread), gravy (from bird drippings), cranberry sauce (from store bought cranberries, at least) mashed potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, carrots, peas. No pumpkins, but homemade Nougat Ice Cream (basically vanilla ice cream with all sorts of nuts and candied goodies in it). Some of the guests added homemade Magic Shell, while others added my ridiculous raspberry sauce, dreamed up one day in Moab two years ago (or was it three?), made with my very first attempt at raspberry liqueur just ready today. One guest lovingly noted that my raspberry liqueur tasted just like cough medicine to her. Bold and brazen words for an invited guest to say. Well, I liked it. So there. Wonderful meal...did I mention that my DH cooked the entire thing except for the cranberry sauce and the ice cream? Beautiful day outside. Wonderful friends. The dogs all behaved appropriated and had fun. What more could a woman want? :wub:

Thanks for that information. The gel ones I've always paid about twice as much for and I've never seen the other ones in Canada, although I've seen them advertised on television.

Go, Wonder Woman!!!! We await your posts.

KatieLoeb mentioned Dr. Scholl's inserts but there are many varieties. You've got to try the blue gel ones. They saved my feet one fall when we had to walk endlessly on sidewalks pulling our 95 pound dog in a wagon. The pain went away immediately and never came back. True, that is not standing on your feet all day long, but it's a good start. Give them a try. I've used them in all my boots and shoes ever since.

I have always loved all kinds of fish, served all kind of way, in soups too. I even love canned salmon...red only. However, I hate canned tuna fish...always have...no doubt always will. I love the way my Mother cooked fish. Which I have tried once on DH, never to be even hinted at again. DH eats fish but only if breaded or fried, or even better deep fried. At least one step removed from original fishiness. Hates fish soup. Neither of us eats shellfish of any kind. We've both tried a variety of shellfish out of the home, but just don't like any of them. Also truthfully, they give me the willies. I don't know why. It would probably make sense to try some shellfish again, knowing that it was cooked properly. I'm in no hurry.