asking experts

I must clarify. I didn't cook it but we went out to eat. I have found that many Chinese restaurants will cook what you want if they have it on hand even if it is not on the menu . I always ask when I am seated if they have any fish and what Chinese vegetables they have on hand. I have had some very interesting dishes when I have suggested they just surprise me . When the cooks are given a free hand the food is not cooked to western standards and tends to be lighter and healthier. My only complaint is at home I cook a brown basmati rice and in restaurants they only ever have the white fluffy stuff. Ruby

I got one with "lunch". I was volunteering for Awareness Day at the mall, so treated myself to an Orange Julius. It was hot outside, but I'd worn jeans because of the A/C in the mall, so I needed to cool off fast after the walk from the bus stop.

I'm glad the guys got a good laugh out of my reaction to that first long cold slurp. :)

Never go to the mall on the day before Mother's Day! The first of the guys to head to the food court for lunch reported having to stand in line for 20 minutes; no way could I stand up that long today, so I got no lunch other than the Orange Julius.

Still resting up till I feel up to cooking something for dinner, so haven't rummaged through the fridge to see what the options are.

On Sun, 14 May 2006 00:21:05 GMT, Gill Murray wrote:

Toy Sum seems to be what is often labeled Chinese broccoli in supermarkets here. It tastes nothing like broccoli but has a sort of broccoli flower on the end. Usually just steamed with a slight very light oyster sauce that is just barely there. Often offered on menus as a beef and Chinese broccoli dish in a thickish oyster sauce. Some cooks add finely chopped garlic and some don't. The tofu dish is just cubes of tofu in a hot pepper tomato and garlic sauce. And varies from cook to cook as to how hot and how much tomato. Did you try any live squid while you were in Japan??? Dare I mention whale meat on rctn??? Ruby PS Sheena: Frans, now Fans, often have fish although it is not on the menu. And if asked will tell you which Chinese vegetables they have on hand that day. That was the restaurant where I first realized that Chinese patrons were eating different food than the rest of us. so I asked the waitress why steamed whole fish was not on the menu. She said I only had to ask and they would cook me any dish I wanted any way I wanted. Have you tried their lunch time noodle bowl??? it is out of this world. I took a vegetarian acquaintance there twice and they adapted a sweet and sour pineapple chicken recipe for her with deep fried tofu instead of chicken . Not one of my favourites. But there is no accounting for taste. LOL! At the Palace I have had everything from monkfish to whole crisp skin flounder with a hint of a sort of sweet sauce. They just have whatever fish the fellow buys from the fisherman. and always in the summer on Friday they have fish. (mandarin speaking bus tours from Toronto) Often hake which has more flavour than haddock as that is the preference of many Canadians of Chinese origin. But their salt and pepper squid doesn't hold a candle to Fans.

Lucille,

Jim would die for that sort of a meal. The first night of the motorhome rally they had a "Social". Usually it is chips, trail mix, ice tea etc. This time it was beer, wine and stacks of pizzas!! Poor dear Jim got a glass of water, and had some pizza, just skimming the cheese and meats and leaving the rest. I really was proud of him because he LOVES that sort of cheater food ( which is a very rare event for us). He did enjoy the *country* breakfasts by eating the scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, and leaving all the good stuff like hashbrowns an biscuits. He has lost 30 lbs, not by intentional weight loss, but by going on this "No carb" diabetic diet his doctor ordered.. of course, I cheat just a smidgeon by giving hin two or three strawberries or grapes, and he thinks it is a treat!! Gill

My family took me to Baker's Square tonight for Mother's Day (restaurants are too crowded and slow to handle a starving 3.5-year-old tomorrow) and I had a "Whatta Ciabatta" minus the Thousand Island dressing, a few fries, an onion ring, a pretzel-covered cheese thing, and a 1/2 slice of custard pie (which I had to share with NSDH and DD). I love custard pie...just like Grandma used to make! I don't feel too guilty eating all this since it is my only meal today. I've lost 13 pounds so far this year just by not eating seconds and changing my snacks from candy & cookies to reduced-fat cheese, celery and pretzels. I hadn't lost any weight from the time I had DD until this year but my loss so far this year amounts to half of what I gained while pregnant. About durn time! Yes, my 20-year high school reunion is this summer.

Personally I love a slice of cold *everything* pizza for breakfast, right out of the frig!

Gill

Cold pizza is the breakfast of champions. Not to be confused with little chocolate donuts.

No, no, no. I worked in one office where Breakfast of Champions was M&Ms and a Coke. You wanna talk sugar-and-caffeine rush?

That applies only if you have convenient vending machines or live by a convenience store. For a SAHM out here in the boonies--gotta go for the leftovers!

No it doesn't. You buy the Coke and M&Ms by the case and keep them in the supply room. (Or basement for a SAHM.)

Seriously, whoever was going to Costco bought a couple 5-pound bags of M&Ms. The soda we had delivered by the 10 case load. That'd last us till next weekend, when someone else would go to Costco.

We're a Pepsi & Dr. Pepper household and I'd never be able to keep the

Now what to do about the husband who goes to the store and brings home seven boxes of Hamburger Helper and no hamburger! (No Cousin Eddie jokes, please!)

Pick the one that sounds most disgusting without the meat in it, and serve it up. Betcha he never forgets the hamburger again. :)

Still contemplating what dinner is going to be around here tonight. Though bed is sounding better than food right now.

Pig!

OK - get Sheena and Karen to belt up too - it cuts both ways! ;-P

Pat P

Isle of Skye Juniper and Birch smoked salmon and Rocket salad! Yum!

Pat P

And are you about four ft across? with that sort of breakfast there ain`t no justice if you`re not!

Pat P

Stitcher ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

That broccoli-like veggie is otherwise known as Calibrese - you can find it at Sobeys or Stupidstore when it is in season somewhere. I am fond of it as it is more leafy than straight broc.

They changed to Fans from Frans because some high swinging Toronto chain suddenly decided they would sue them, never mind Fran was the owners wife's name! He wisely just decided to drop the 'r' and not waste money on lawyers. I don't think too many people have even noticed the change, I still hear people referring to Fran's and get a laugh out of that, how are the big Ontarians going to sue public speech lol

Salt and Pepper Squid, be still my heart...

Brenda Lewis ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

Well done! I think it is good to go to a reunion every so often, great motivator lol

For many years I never wanted to take responsibility for how my life was going or who I was projecting to others. I was a very lonely person as a result of that. I had to get over myself and learn what humility meant. That doesn't mean be a pushover, I'm certainly not that.

Pat, you get it. Many people do not.