> > Toward the end of the visit, they were probably
> > exercising a little patience. There is a fatigue issue,
> > after all.
> Yes, Ron and I sure understand that one :)
Sad to say, many of us do. I'm ready to bend the
ear of my doctors about exponentially decreasing
mobility - it's getting to the point where Rosemary
has been telling me she'll go get the car for me
rather than have me walk to the parking with her.
> >It's another case of the "toffee for tea"
> > phenomenon (everything I needed to know I learned at
> > Gilbert and Sullivan, not Kindergarten).
> I like that, and why not learn by the classics afterall (g).
Funny where we pick stuff up.
> > Hah, cunning little vixen.
> haha, hey I was only 11 maybe 12.. but I knew how to follow the train tracks
> from Dunmore to my cousin's house in Scranton. I have to admit my cousin
Kathy
> showed me the where and how on my initial visit so many years ago. We were
> quite a pair :) We were just a few months apart in age.. and we both had
older
> sisters who I think had to bare the brunt of our parent's over-protectiveness.
I hope she turned out okay, too.
> >> >> That is kind of insane. In NY yet.. :(
> > It blindsided me, the fact that nobody even knew
> > what I was talking about.
> I can understand why. We haven't had to ask anyone about it but I'd bet we'd
> be met with the same blank stare.
I mean, it used to advertise on the Yankees radio
broadcasts. How famous can you get?
> > Maybe the management of that particular store
> > had a run-in with the Fox's company.
> Could be.. or maybe it has to do with distributors. NY can be funny that way.
> I never expected to not be able to find Grolsch Amber Ale in NYS.. but I have
> yet to find it anywhere -close-. I know it's available in PA just across the
> border in SENYS, but that's the only place I've found it. I was heartbroken
> when I saw it wasn't at even the larger beer "shops" say in Binghamton :(
I got
> the same blank stare you mention when I asked for it IIRC. And then they'd
> quickly point out the green Grolsch Lager.. ugh, not what I want though it's
> not really that bad :)
Does Grolsch lager still come in the swingtop bottles? I
used to have a hard time getting the beer because people
were buying it for the bottles.
> >> >> That's scary... I note that the online display for Wegmans in Ithaca
> > says it
> >> >>does carry it, in "aisle 13B". Ron says he's never noticed it there but
> Update... Ron checked and they do have in the Ithaca Wegmans, Chocolate,
> Vanilla and Rasberry syrup.. I'd like to try the vanilla :)
I would be interested in all three, as well as the
artificial malt syrup, and maybe that's a project for
a future picnic. I'm less intrigued by the fruit syrups,
strawberry, raspberry, and cherry, though I'd try them
if someone else bought.
> >> In Burlington MA, it's in aisle 9B :) and in a Boston MA wegmans's it's
> > also in
> >> 9B. Interesting seeing that.
> > I wonder why they don't standardize them more.
> Sales? Shelf space? Got me.
I can understand variation based on demand, but why
some stores have the vegetables on the left and others
on the right and others in the middle, that's beyond
me. As my general thing is run in, get a steak and a
carton of soymilk, and run out, some standardization
would be helpful!
> In today's marketing world, with so many people doing business with companies
> online it doesn't surprise me that local brick and mortar stores don't keep
> much of a variety in stock. I mentioned to Ron a while back that these days
> remind me more of reading about the old "Sears-Catalog" days where so much of
> what one orders is done online, often sight unseen except for collection of
> pictures, reviews, etc. Still, for big purchases we prefer to go out and try
> to see purchase up close like at Lowes or Best Buy (refridgerators, etc.).
It varies - some brick and mortars have extensive stock
but only a couple of each product; if they need more,
there are all kinds of other stores nearby that they
can lean on. Others, as you say, don't have much at all
but rely on those other stores or maybe warehouses for
most of their inventory. That's one of the reasons I am
typing on this computer - it was what was in stock at
the Best Buy when I was there.
> > Please do. We were tossing various ideas around, care
> > to say what your geographic limits are (one day drive,
> > two days' drive, flight, and so on).
> A lot depends on life at the moment, if you know what I mean.. If my
daughter's
> job takes her away (and it does seem to do that a few times a year) and we're
> watching the boys, well, I would rather not take them to a picnic. I don't
mind
> flying to a location, I doubt Ron would mind either. Long car rides are
just a
> pain in the butt for my legs Lol.. but I can deal with it with enough aspirin
> usually. Vacation for Ron is usually not a problem unless the company is in
> the midst of a new software release, then we're both just to busy with that.
Well, we'll remind you when the time comes to choose
a new victim, er, picnic location and host.
> > I had one once. Didn't find it memorable except
> > for the strange nonprominence of cheese - of course
> > there must have been cheese, but it did not make
> > itself properly known. Which reminds me, what if
> > one made little frozen drops of marinara and
> > inserted them into mozzarella sticks before
> > coating them? Better than pizza rolls, I'd imagine.
> Could work.. Perhaps this should be an experiment for a some-day picnic :)
Could be.
> > They also get sold in a big pack holding a number
> > of little packs. That way you get the benefit of
> > buying a pound or so at a time and also of being
> > able to use an ounce or two at a time. Win-win,
> > unless you decide you don't like them that well.
> I will have to look at the asian supply store for that. I hadn't noticed it
> before but I expect it's because it's the asian store we go to is the kind of
> place that has so many neat things to draw your attention. Separate packs
> would be very useful.
What I remember is multiple blue and white packages
in iridescent pink plastic mesh. I forget the brand
but recall them to be perfectly fine and very cheap.
> >> Which aromatic causes one to hold one's nose? Sure not garlic or
ginger.. I
> >> live for those scents :)
> > Chili paste with garlic. A good one will be
> > quite sinus-clearing.
> Ah.. ok. I've got one here like that.
If you add just before serving, you don't get that
effect, but on the other hand the flavor isn't as
developed as if you stir-fry it with other flavorings
early in the cooking.
> ===Chinese Hot Chili Paste (La Jiao Jiang)===
This won't be like what you get in the jars. You
could set it out in the sun to ferment for a few
weeks and have a more authentic result.
MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v7.07
Title: Eggplant Sze-Chuan Style
Categories: Chinese, Vegetarian
Servings: 6
4 Eggplant (about 350 g)
1/2 tb Chopped ginger
1 ts Chopped garlic
1 tb Hot bean paste
2 tb Soy sauce
1/2 tb Brown vinegar
1 ts Sugar
1 ts Salt (optional)
1/2 c Soup stock
1/2 tb Sesame oil
6 tb Peanut oil
1 tb Chopped green onion
1. Choose firm purple eggplant, remove stalk and without peeling, cut
into
thumb size pieces.
2. Heat oil in wok until very hot. Put eggplant in, turn heat to low,
stir
fry until it's soft (about 3 minutes). Then press eggplant to squeeze out
excess oil. Remove eggplant from wok and set aside.
3. Into wok add chopped garlic, ginger, and hot bean paste, stir a few
seconds, add soy sauce, sugar, salt, and soup stock and bring to boil.
Add
eggplant, cook about 1 minute until sauce is gone.
4. Add vinegar and sesame oil and stir until heated through. Sprinkle
with
chopped green onion. Mix carefully and serve.
Notes I don't what eggplants are like in your part of the kitchen, but
here
they are usually quite large and one eggplant will suffice. If you can't
find hot bean paste at your local Asian grocery, I find that black bean
paste and little chili works fine.
Pei-Mei's Chinese Cookbook, vol. 1
MMMMM
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