cave76

My vast experience with growing cilantro (there were years of it!) was that growing cilantro from starts (in a seed pot from nursery or whatever) was 99% doomed to failure. They would either die or bolt then die. I always started from seed. If you or anyone else wants to know my way of starting from cilantro, please ask. It may seem a bit involved (not really). But you CAN start from seed in the garden without going through my machinations: That's how nature does it but be prepared for a high fail rate if the weather etc doesn't comply. If I started seeds in the garden I always kept that area damp and covered with a shade cloth until they put out the first suggestion of a leaf. I wound up finding that my 'other way' was easier in the long run. I LOVE cilantro!

I just saw the second, probably Photoshopped, pic from dcarch. I do have to say------- where is the ladder needed for access to the books?

I was wondering, too, if the photo dcarch posted was Photoshopped. (Great job, if it was!) I have read almost every word in this thread because I'm interested in getting more space for my space. But I may have forgotten if people mentioned going to stores that sell to RV people or the sailing crowd. I too have kitchen stuff all over my small apartment. My rice cooker and crockpot reside in the bedroom. A large free standing cabinent in in the 'TV' room, which isn't just for TV but also for container drawers in the large closet that hold a lot of cooking/food 'stuff'. As ideas come in I will probably utilize some of them myself. Thanks to everyone with their great ideas. Just remembered: because my small fridge is too crammed with all the 'necessary' condiments I need for my eclectric cooking style, I've just discovered: http://www.interdesignusa.com/kitchen/fridge-pantry-binz-organizers/ They're great for my fridge. And they also have drawer bins.

I just saw these at my local Whole Foods type grocery! I'm going to have to try one--- maybe the pineapple one.

I make my own and it's really simple. I steep about 2 cups of red pepper flakes (can buy at Costco if can't find anywhere else.) in about 4 cups of peanut oil. (But you could use Wesson (type) oil. Never olive oil.) I always use a stainless pan. I let that steep (soak) for anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending. Then I heat it up very slowly, stirring occasionally until the pepper flakes just barely start to turn a little darker. (Do NOT let them darken too much for then it will taste burnt. I use a flame tamer just to be extra cautious.) Turn the heat off and let it cool. (I sometimes have let it stay in the pan for a day or more, depending... I strain it through a chinoise type strainer. into a jar. (Several layers of cheesecloth would probably do the trick also.) Another hot chili oil that I love is a Hunan type that has black beans, garlic, red pepper flakes in it. It's more complicated to make but worth the little bit of effort. My daughter always makes it for me so I'd have to dig around for the recipe.

Happened a long time ago when people made their own starch. (Yeah, that long.) My Mom made starch (turns out a milky whitish/bluish hue), saved the leftover in an empty milk bottle (yeah, that long ago!). My Dad always drank milk from the bottle so guess what???? Yuck. Adds a new meaning to stiff upper lip.

I've read eGullet occasionally for quite a while, joined but haven't posted too much. (Enjoying everything, folks!) I'll stick my figurative toe in the water for this topic because it brought up a memory from the past when my daughter was a toddler and a bit older. Although I was brought up on excellent meat and potatoes cooking in the Midwest of the U.S. (pepper was the most 'exotic' spice we had! )------ as soon as I moved to California at age 19 I learned about all the different foods that I'd never had------ and immediately loved 99.99% of them. My then husband was a person who never got past meat and potatoes and I was determined that my daughter would have ecletic food tastes. So when I wanted to introduce a new food to her I would just put it on our plates but not hers. (He bravely went along.) Daughter: Mommy, what's that? (Pointing to the new food). Me: That's grown up food. Daughter: I want some. Me: When you grow up, honey, you can have all you want. Daughter: I want some now. Me: (Reluctantly) OK, but just a little bite. Well, color me manipulative but it worked for almost everything as long as the food wasn't too 'strange' or spicy and I didn't overuse that tactic so it stayed fresh.

O.K.---- thanks. Since you've already had that 'brilliant' idea and it failed, then my question is answered. Great minds.

O.K., dumb question! Be kind. I have a rice cooker (Zojirushi), which I love. But, here's the dumb part---- since I can cook rice with broth why can't I cook the rice with a vinegar/sugar mixture to made the sushi rice? (I use the rice recommended for sushi in my cooker). Has anyone taken that short cut? Thanks.

Catfish. I've eaten trout that I caught myself and cooked within the half hour in Wyoming. I've eaten freshly caught and planked salmon when sailing and camping the Canadian Gulf Islands many years ago. I've eaten almost every kind of fish in the best restaurants. Catfish. Now, waiting for the cries of outrage! LOL But that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

If this brand has been mentioned before, excuse me----- I've read most of the posts but may have missed it. In the NW there are some pretty darn good frozen Chinese dinners---- PF Changs. Safeway and other stores carry it. They've made the 'cooking' of it as simple as can be, but a little more than just popping it into the microwave. http://www.pfchangshomemenu.com/

Just found this thread----- When I moved here a couple of years ago I was surprised at the 'white bread' food culture here. I thought being a Uni town it would be different. It didn't help that I'd lived near and eaten in San Francisco for decades. But that was then........ I love Eugene, don't get me wrong. But I crave ethnic foods (I don't count Italian or French as ethnic) and don't care if it's a fancy restaurant or a food cart. Mio Sushi, which is a glitzy Japanese restaurant does have good food and is very clean and appealing to the eye. It's in the Oakway Center. Yi Shen is a Viet market and restaurant. Not fancy at all---- but the food is good----- and forgive me for saying --- "for Eugene". Someone mentioned Marche. I haven't been there but the Schnitzer Museum on campus has a cafe run/managed by Marche, I believe, with good cafe food. Belly's is on my list of places to go. Osteria Sfizio was very good. I'll go back again but, as I said, I don't consider Italian food ethnic. But Noli in the Fifth Street Public Market has some very good Italian food--- it's a sorta fast food place but I love their food. Priced right too. What about Indian food? Korean? Jewish deli? Any place else I should know about? Soriah's was good and it is a very pretty place to eat. But the lamb dish I ordered was 'good' not great. The fried calamari I had for 'starter' was great, however!

I wouldn't say Little Caesars is 'great' !!! but for $5 you can get a 'hot and ready' (usually pepperoni and cheese) that's passable. Costco makes a really good pizza. But no pizza anywhere can stand up to my gold standard of Lupo's in North Beach San Francsciso. (Not a chain, so I'm a bit off topic here). It's now called Tommaso's and I moved away before the name change so I can't say if the food has remained the same. http://tommasos.com/italian_restaurant_story.html

Another salty snack---- Crack Seed. A friend in Hawaii used to send me some but you can buy them in Mainland U.S now, and probably almost everywhere else. Some are sweet/salty, some are sour/salty, some very hot spicy. "WHAT IS CRACK SEED? Crack seed, a popular local snack in Hawaii, comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors. Also known as Li Hing Mui or See Mui, crack seed is actually a variety of dehydrated and preserved fruits."

New member here----- and loved this thread! A salty craving for me that brings back memories of me many decades ago as a young teen is a slice of white Wonder Bread spread with ball park mustard. A bag of potato chips. A bite of mustard bread then a potato chip ---- while laying on my stomach reading a book. Memories!