Tropicalsenior

For me, it's not so much the combination as the Campbell's tomato soup. My mother fed us that when we were kids and I hated it. I can't even look at a can of Campbell's tomato soup without gagging. My favorite way to eat popcorn is homemade caramel corn. Not quick, but a big batch will last me a long time. At least a day and a half.

Happy anniversary.

When I started this topic my intention was to pick your brains for quick meals that satisfy when you just don't feel like doing anything. I couldn't have said that better. Thank you. But at 83, some days I just feel like saying, call out for chicken. I have gotten some wonderful ideas from everyone here but I've got to say that standing on the back porch cooking up a pot of stock has not been one of them.

That always reminds me of the chef that I worked with that ordered 400 whole chickens for a banquet and had to cut them up. The next day he came roaring out of the back hollering "I found it, I found it." When we ask him what he had found, he said " The last one!"

If you want to know worse, just come to Costa rica.

If you had all this knowledge at your fingertips, what was the purpose in asking the question?

If we're talking about commercial application, might it have something to do with temperature? Meat is required to be stored at a much lower temperature than most other Foods. I once worked pantry in a large restaurant where I had to share the walk-in with the butcher. I couldn't keep the lettuce in that walk-in because it was much too cold for it.

Why don't I believe you? I would love to, but, uh, no.

My mother always said that in order to have a green thumb you had to have Brown knees. I have the pinkest knees in town.

I gave my sweet potato to Carlos and told him to plant it somewhere in the backyard. Who knows, maybe I can send you all a potato this time next year.

Incredible meals from the kitchen of a true artist.

Okay, now I can visualize it. I'm only glad I'm not refined enough to use corn holders.

There is no such thing here in Costa Rica. Unless you can find some imported ones, they come wrapped in plastic that you have to take off before you cook them. Everyone has a story about some dumb Gringo that they knew that tried to eat them with the plastic on.

A lot of them are living on beans and rice. When I went to the grocery store today, I was amazed at some of the things that have doubled in the last year. However, the government sets minimum wage for each class of jobs and it hasn't risen in 7 years.

I don't see any reason why I couldn't. I kind of adopted my 55-year-old Nicaraguan housemate who thankfully enjoys good food, something besides beans and rice. If I was just cooking for myself it would probably be ham sandwiches and those things that pass for hot dogs here.

And I would give my left arm for those Nathan's Hot Dogs. You wouldn't believe what passes for hot dogs down here.

I didn't think to mention that I have these containers in my back fridge for Smalls that won't lay flat tend to get lost in my other freezers. They are just long plastic shoe boxes.

My little chest freezer came with this handy rack that works just like a file drawer for small bags. You should be able to find something similar in home storage stores or dollar stores. Looks like I need to defrost. A job I hate! While I'm here I might as well post some of the meals that we've had lately. Last night was salmon cakes with Bechamel and peas. The night before was barbecued ribs, Tuscany beans, potato cakes and deviled eggs. Sunday was Mexican empanadas Other meals were Mexican tostada with Spanish rice, Beef daub with popovers, Cottage pie, Finnish meat pies Chicken enchiladas, The ever humble hamburger, Most served with the ubiquitous green salad. And last but not least, deviled eggs and chicken and dumplings.

What they said goes for me. I hope you get better soon!

Make doubly sure that you don't put anything in front of the vents where the air comes in. That happened to me and it was all the fault of a big Leaf of lettuce that got pushed back there. Most expensive piece of lettuce I've ever had in my life.

I will never again stupidly scare myself half to death while trying to boil eggs in my instant pot. I sat here for almost half an hour waiting for it to come to pressure and convincing myself that the heating element must have burned out. Then I realized that I hadn't set it. 20 minutes later, perfect boiled eggs, just a little too late to have deviled eggs for dinner. There's always tomorrow.

Amazing food and more amazing still to think that you have cooked all of this without a stove. So glad to see you back.

@Shelby I would buy the cheese whiz in a hot second if I could. No such animal here. It's great stuff to add to cheese sauces and cheese soup when you're in a hurry or when the cheese pantry is low.

Unless you buy the meat at the store, most butcher shops will not process meat from outside claiming risk of contamination.

The ginger freezes quite solid but I just pop it in the microwave for 1 minute and scrape enough off the top for what I need and then back in the freezer. Doesn't hurt it a bit. It also works great for garlic. With that, I do microwave the garlic for two or three minutes, depending on the amount before I freeze it. The cloves of garlic also freeze well. Just peel them and pop them in a jar. You always have fresh garlic when you need it and no more garlic sprouting away in storage.