-=> Dave Drum wrote to Ruth Haffly <=-

 DD> instead of their entry level brothers. I do that a couple tiomes per
 DD> week when getting off shift and heading for home. Saves stopping at the
 DD> cashier and the order is ready before I get to the delivery window.

Taco Bell has an excellent deal on their app: it's one of their "boxed"
meals with two entrees, a side, and a large soda (20 cents more) for $6.10 with
tax (9.5% here).  Order it on the app, go to their drive-thru, and you're on
your way home.  Occasionally I like to do that for an eat-in lunch so I will
pull up in their parking lot, order for pickup, and go in with the order
already paid for.

That Taco Bell is the last one with the old-style dining room.  It's going
to be remodeled this year, sadly, to look like a Starbucks knock-off.  I
wonder if the guy who designed those dark, sterile-looking interiors is
designing all the fast food chain places these days as they pretty much all
look alike these days.

 DD> I used to get Chick Filly when they were in the mall location. Every
 DD> time I pass by their stand-alone shop (adjacent outlot to the same
 DD> mall) the lines of cars for the double drive-thru are stupid long. The
 DD> franchisee is coining money - but I'll be blowed if I'll wait on line
 DD> that long for anyone's food.

I always go in the late afternoon to CFA and eat in.  Never the drive-thru.

 DD> Within a few blocks I have a
 DD> McDonald's, a Herdee's, and a Freddies Frozen Custard & Burgers in a
 DD> little cluster. A little further out I have Popeyes, Wendy's Taco Bell,
 DD> Burger Whop, Arbee's, Culver's, and several wing-ding places, as well
 DD> as a Subway, Jimmy John's, Chipotle, and a Panda Express for Chinese
 DD> Fats Food.

Everything is at least a two mile drive for me.  Love this side of town I'm
on but the only three things within a reasonable walking distance (or short
scooter ride) are two gas stations, a Dollar General, and a Walgreen's. 
There's two more gas stations near Walgreens but that is an unsafe area of
town (sadly, a 20-year-old station clerk was murdered at one of the gas
stations here; murders are still fairly rare here) so I'd just rather go to
the DG even though the road crossings make the hair on the back of my neck
stand up.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Sean's Accidental Pasta Dinner
 Categories: Pasta, Main dish, Sean dennis
      Yield: 6 Quarts
 
      1    Box (32 oz) chicken broth
      1    Can (24 oz) pasta sauce
      2 c  Water
      1    Box (1 lb) elbow macaroni
      1 lb Sweet (mild) bulk Italian
           --sausage
      4    Scallions, finely chopped
      1    Can (16.4 oz) mushrooms
           --"bits and pieces"

MMMMM-------------------------SEASONINGS------------------------------
    1/4 t  Salt
           Italian seasoning*
           Shake Parmaesan cheese

MMMMM--------------------------TOPPING-------------------------------
           Shredded Cheddar cheese
 
  Pour broth, pasta sauce, and water into 6 quart Dutch oven.  Put lid
  on pot and bring to a rolling boil.  Add seasoning to taste.  Stir
  well to combine.
  
  While broth and pasta sauce come to a boil, brown the Italian sausage
  in a skillet.  Drain if necessary.  Remove from heat, cover pan, and
  set aside. Chop scallions, removing root tip and any dried stem
  parts.  Cut on bias into thin strips.  Set aside.
  
  When sauce mixture is at a rolling boil, add macaroni.  Boil for
  around 15-20 minutes uncovered.  Stir occasionally.  Taste test
  macaroni occasionally to make sure it is not overcooked (mushy).
  
  When macaroni is done, immediately remove Dutch oven from heat to a
  trivet.  Add copious amounts of Parmaesan cheese, Italian sausage,
  scallions, and well-drained mushrooms; stir to mix well.  Add as much
  shredded Cheddar cheese as you like.  Put lid on Dutch oven and let
  sit for 20 minutes or longer.
  
  * = The "Italian seasoning" I like to use is Kingsford Garlic & Herbs
  Rustic Tuscan Style All-Purpose Seasoning, available at Walmart in
  the US.
  
  NOTES:
  
  ~ A 6 quart stockpot can be used instead of a Dutch oven.
  
  ~ Make sure to keep an eye on the macaroni while it is cooking and to
  stir to prevent clumping.
  
  ~ The 20 minutes rest time is to allow the pasta to completely absorb
  the sauce and for the Cheddar cheese to melt deliciously all over the
  top.
  
  ~ The pasta will not be fully cooked after 15 minutes but the rest
  time will allow the pasta to absorb the sauce and still have a bit of
  a toothsome feel.
  
  ~ Feel free to experiment with seasonings and toppings.  That's one
  of the best parts of the recipe!
  
  ~ This makes a LOT of food.  Cut all ingredient amounts in half to
  make a good dinner for two or one hungry individual.
  
  Makes six quarts.  This enough to feed quite a lot of people in one
  sitting or one hungry Sean for about a week of leftovers.
  
  Recipe created quite by accident in the kitchen of Sean Dennis
  (1:18/200@Fidonet).  MM'd by Sean on 29 January 2022.
 
MMMMM

-- Sean

... EGGORY (eg' er ee) n. The part of the fridge that holds the eggs.
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