HazelStone

I'll have to look over that site sometime... The number of times I've actually had falafel made by others I can still count on one hand. It just isn't very common where and while I was growing up. So hooray for cooking outside one's family experience. I've always used a can of (well rinsed) chickpeas. Never tried it from a mix. Would the flour/mix even have much shelf life? And you don't get the chance to vent your frustrations by mashing the heck out of the main ingredient!

For those who want to mess about with some "specialty" flours or wheat berries without a) paying $2/lb for certain national niche brands or buying 50 lbs of it all in one go...ethnic markets are a great happy medium! There is a Middle Eastern grocery near me. Not only do they have the best pita I have ever tasted...they have a big selection of dried beans, lentils, and wheat. Useful, too, if you're building a pantry incrementally. I don't know about you but ordering cases of Stuff online here would be noticed.

Bats are kinda cute. My grandmother was a Church Lady, one of the key-holders. She'd check up on the place, do a little cleaning...and one day found a bat in the basement hall. Grandma just FREAKED. The bat had exhausted itself and was lying on the floor. I grabbed a broom and dustpan, carefully slid the little critter onto it, and took it outside. If the little guy could've gotten away from three women peering down at him I think he would have already. I didn't touch him, so what's the big deal? Grandma was shrill enough to rival the bat's vocal range! Heck, I'm pondering bat houses around my yard to help with the skeeters.

I worked in a real estate office for a while. The terrible photography the real estate agents used just floored me at times. Winter in a Northern state tends to be dark a lot of the time, but if you have winter listings, go back on a sunny day (or a Morning/Afternoon if the light is better on that street then). So many pictures with 4 o'clock gloom and SNOWFLAKES stealing the camera focus. And then there were the interior shots where they didn't even bother to throw a light on. Or the idiots who would leave winter shots up if the house hadn't sold, and it's now May or June. Perfect way to scream "Low-ball me, please!" When choosing a realtor, take a look at their other listings and how those are done. Someone willing to do at least the rudiments of a decent photo will probably be reasonably diligent with the contracts and negotiating process.

If you have a known source of all-purpose and a known source of bread flour...grab a sample of each (a couple teaspoons), put in small bowls, throw a little bit of water on them, and feel both samples with your hands. The difference between the all-purpose flour and the bread flour will be readily apparent. Make a 3rd sample out of the "mystery" flour and you'll be able to see from there. Nope, haven't been in that situation ever...

This was a fundraiser concert...kept light "Please turn off your cell phones" (note: the "Apagoloooooo" sung in the refrain is 'turn it off.') "The Typewriter" by Leroy Anderson "Also Sprach Zarathustra" is among the related videos for that concert, but that is really something you need to hear live.

I'm sorry...but that's just funny! Maybe the cat was suggesting a particular appetizer/entree pairing? When I step out of the bedroom I look down before I step! Also, a slightly outside-the-box suggestion on taking the mouse away. DH thought to use the cheap annoying pair of salad tongs we had but never used. Perfect size for picking them up (and holding them if they're still moving).

Well, now I'm trying the peppermint oil- the kitchen and garage now smell minty fresh. My cat has been catching mice regularly but I keep finding "evidence" of more. And my cat keeps watching/reaching under the stove. I will say though that when she catches one she has excellent control of the "ball." Just don't stand close, she lobs 'em high. I'll have to clean out the pantry and see if any of them sneak under the door. I have no problem with mice themselves, they are welcome to hang out around OUTSIDE all they like. I'll even look the other way in the garage provided nothing's chewed. But when I find "leavings" on my kitchen counter and stove...no more Mrs. Nice Human.

Yeah, recently I had to weed out half the coupons in my coupon envelope. Not only do coupons not last long, but I haven't seen anything decent in the circulars for weeks. I kind of regret renewing my newspaper subscription. I remember when I was a girl the coupons mom clipped were good for 6 months usually. Then in recent years 3...ok, do-able... now I wonder if the next thing is P&G is going to do a 1 week circular like the department stores. A big, nice grocery store opened nearby, so that should keep the other supermarkets on their toes for a while.

This year is the first year I had dental benefits (calling it 'insurance' is silly)* since I graduated from college. I just paid cash for cleanings/exams and, unfortunately, all 4 wisdom teeth removed. Sadly, good jobs with good benefits packages have been hard to find for a long time. Then I moved to a different region and it took a while to find an honest dentist and find the time to go. My first cavities popped up in that visit. At least I had dental benefits but I am needle-phobic. I hope your dentist does a first class job! I also hope our healthcare providers start making cash deals easier to do. *Warning: rant follows. "Insurance" is meant to cover unforseen, significant misfortunes. You bust your wrist. Your pipes freeze, a deer totals your car, or another driver totals a family member. The BIG stuff. A sinus infection, chip in your windshield, new eyeglasses, or a couple of cavities really don't belong in the sphere of "insurance" because they are high probability, predictable/forseeable events. However, if your eyeball gets injured or a tooth gets knocked out in a fall, that IS usually covered by health insurance. If you look into buying dental 'coverage' on an individual basis, you find that you're spending between 1/3 and 1/2 your annual coverage limit in the premiums you pay each year. There are also waiting periods of 6 months to a year on anything other than basic cleaning/exam. If you get dental benefits with your employer, you won't have the waiting periods for coverage. If your employer isn't paying anything toward the premium, though, the math still stinks. If you're north of 40, you have a good chance of needing eyeglasses. Budget accordingly. And keep in mind the above if you're asking yourself why "coverage" on these are not always included on employer plans and most definitely not on individually bought policies. I am not accusing anybody here of whining like an Occupier! But we did a number on our mentality as we built the notion that Anything healthcare-related "should" be employer-paid. Or government-paid, depending on the complainers' political beliefs. This rant honed during several years of working in an insurance office. </rant>

Well, it is! I grew up in a one stoplight town in the Midwest. I came this > < close to moving to Atlanta. I know the difference between "city" manners and "small town" manners. Many around Atlanta still keep the small town/rural manners. I really wish I had moved down there; it was the best of both worlds- plentiful jobs but friendly people. Now I am in an area where merging on the highway is a giant game of chicken.

If salt gets hard to get, I assume butter would be even harder to get...and local farmers might not do salted butter in that case, if they were even selling it. I do want to start experimenting with dessert recipes using olive oil instead of butter. I can never convince DH that we should have more butter on hand (though he loves the butter intensive treats and suggests we bring those to pot-luck type social gatherings). That said, on the cookie front I sometimes use almond extract instead of vanilla.

I have struggled on that a bit. My dad and my brother hogging anything remotely yummy gave me some portion control issues. Pile your plate high because there'll be no chance for seconds. Grab your share of pizza/chips/ice cream/cookies right away; it won't be there if you save any for later. This stemming from Dad growing up on a farm and there being much livelier competition for the main dish. Absolutely NO incentive to even try saving anything for later... One boyfriend thought it was cute to steal off my plate...he almost had a fork sticking out the back of his hand a couple times. When I lived on my own, it took a while to sink in that if I only grab ONE handful of chips, the bag will still be there later. Same for the ice cream. Same for the pizza. My DH at least ASKS "hey are you going to eat that?" and hastily adds "I DO NOT mean to short you of your fair share, if you want that bit it's perfectly fine but if you're getting full I'd like -that- bit." It still took me a while to kick the "pile the plate" habit. You can get away with that at 17, but I'm reaching the point where my metabolism isn't what it used to be.

Hmm...my husband and I got 3 of the Oxo salad spinners as wedding/shower gifts. I'm beginning to formulate a different way for handwashing the, ah, delicates.

For the heck of it I went on some Spanish-language websites and I wasn't able to find any. Unless you wanted to order from online auction sites in Peru, or if Tijuana or Juarez have Craigslist boards... may as well do Ebay.

My cat has been having a ball in the garage. We can't let her out anymore so we let her hunt in there. She'll walk up proudly with her prize, set it down at my feet, and then proceed to use the mouse as a living soccer ball. Okay, I understand the cat is just following her instincts to hunt... I'm okay with that. The playing with her food routine and prolonging the inevitable, not so great. The SQUEAKING... And then she leaves them in out of the way, forgotten corners. I find them by smell. Maybe my cat was English in a previous life and this is just her version of hanging a pheasant to age properly. She sees me grab them and meows at me with an indignant tone. "Get your own, that's mine!"

Be really careful buying top loaders now. All the idiotic "conservation" rules mean that companies will make *a* top loader to show that they offer them, or have something in a price range, but put no real design of any quality much less workmanship. When DH and I were looking at washing machines a few years ago, Consumer Reports and other review sites just couldn't recommend any of the top load washers out there and keep a straight face. We got front loader HE stuff and does a really good job. No agitator so your clothes don't get caught up/stretched/abraded as much...which makes your husband's concern a moot point. Depending on the layout of your laundry area it may or may not be an option... just remember than an "efficient" appliance ISN'T if it makes you do the same job twice. The only complaint I have about mine is that the "done" chime sounds like something out of Teletubbies.

Baker's supply store or restaurant supply store. There's a baker's supply near me where I get the ultra high gluten fancy branded bread flour for less than all purpose costs per lb in the store. Sugar also significantly cheaper- I was irked that Costco doesn't sell sugar any cheaper than at the regular grocery store, but oh well. If there's a Gordon Food Service nearby you, look there. Since I have NOT had occasion to buy sugar in 50 lbs sacks, I just get brand name stuff on sale and coupon. And if you have a place that doubles coupons, remember the smaller package may end up the better deal. I might have someone to split the big bulk purchases with now, but their place is tiny...not sure how much they'd go for it.

Rats. Not anymore

Grow herbs on the top, do a set of tire taters nearby and it's One Stop Shopping for dinner.

Thanks, all.

It came as no surprise; Grandma was on an obvious decline. She died peacefully, surrounded and cared for by family. She was a good woman and I have no doubt of where she is now. Aside from being sad to see her go, I'm also a bit sad because the family has lost its locus point- everyone converged on Grandma's at the holidays. Now we have to figure the next rendezvous point (can't be my place; I live Far Away). I doubt people really think about this factor when the family matriarch/patriarch is on their way out. I would suggest discussing it so the planning of the next family holiday doesn't seem as strange. It has also thrown in my face how I haven't built any strong connections in recent years after moving Away. I need to work on that.

Re: #8... Lately, Frederick's stuff is usually higher quality than VS...

Thanks for the thought, Jori. Different Costco stores do sometimes vary in their product mix. The nearer Costco to us has some things different from the Costco up the road. Supposedly the managers have some discretion in what they carry. If they have the bittersweet chips in other locations but not here, I know to at least start bugging the managers. A Wegman's is coming in soon, though. That store can be very, very dangerous to the pocketbook- but a lot of their inner aisles are very reasonably priced. It also is not shrink-rayed yet! So if you can resist all the wonderful wonderful stuff on the periphery, you're usually spending less than you would at the more "mainstream" chains.

5 years of Spanish in grade school, I minored in it, and did foreign exchange. So I've been exposed to a lot of different methods. Method-wise I liked Rosetta Stone (I have the normal version). It helps you get around the grammar issues (studying lists of verb conjugations in high school classes? Really?). It also builds the visual link to practical, common things and ideas. It really is as they say in the ads, using the same methods little children use to learn their first language. Yes, I remember that far back! That's probably why I am able to slog through language studies- most people give up because they feel too "stupid" trying to function in the new language. They don't remember what it was like being a wee one and trying to figure out how to say something, string together the syntax, etc. You can set DVDs (or cable shows) to Spanish subtitles to reinforce vocab/grammar. Depending on your religious background and region, you can attend Spanish-language church services, get young reader books in Spanish translations (fun novels in the different language is good reinforcement). But just starting out...Rosetta Stone is great. Or the kids could start as I did, riding the school bus with migrant kids. But this is the homeschool forum, so...