Text 21775, 108 rader
Skriven 2009-03-10 15:31:39 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
  Kommentar till text 21705 av Carol Shenkenberger (28249.cooks)
Ärende: Dang, it aint italian!
==============================
Hi Carol,

 >  CS> I carefully selected and chopped some 20 cloves of garlic.  I added
 >  CS> about 1/2 an onion.  I got ready to reach for the italian seasonings

 > You need more onion. (G)  Also some bell type peppers and mushrooms.
 > Italian seasonings are good but don't use a blend. Use individual basil,
 > oregano and parsley so you can adjust each one to taste.  Also black
 > pepper, in the amount of half of any of the seasonings (ie 1 tsp
 > oregano, basil, etc but only 1/2 tsp pepper).

 CS> Ok, more onion ;-)  Normally i do use more and bell pepper as well but
 CS> was out of bell pepper just then and a wee bit low on onion.

I know the feeling.  I'm trying to fiugre out how much to buy for living
here about 4 more weeks, with company to come in for part of it. It's
time to start packing up my kitchen (spices and such like) stuff that I
want to have moved but don't want to hand carry.

 >  CS> but this can of black olives absolutely *refused* to get out of my way
 >  CS> and *insisted most vocally* it belonged in there.  Postitively
 >  CS> threatened me it did! *sigh* what's a cook to do?  I made it happy of

 > Good enough; you see them on pizza often enough.  Steve still would
 > rather have green than black olives so I don't use them in cooking that
 > often, more as a side.  Me, I like both--and we both like the kalamata
 > olives.

 CS> I use all types in cooking.  The green and the brine from the jar are
 CS> good in alot of things!  Don't toss the juice out next time.  Just let
 CS> me know how much ya got and I'll give you recipes to use with it.
 CS> (About time I MM'd some of those anyways!).

I'll let you know when we get resettled. Right now those are on our "do
not buy until after the move" list. (G)


 >  CS> Then, with the sound of the theme of JAWS in the background, the
 >  CS> ZATAAR JAR LEAPS!  It Bounds!  It jumps up and down!  It starts
 >  CS> maniaclly running about the momma crock yelling EAT ME!

 > A firm "DOWN BOY!" is needed there.

 CS> *sigh*.  I'm such a wuss though about it when they get insistant like
 CS> that.

You've got to let them know who's boss.

 >  CS> It was when the yellow summer squash politely crept out of the
 >  CS> crisper, that i knew I was doomed to fail, yet again.

 > As a side, but not in sauce.  Tell the squash to play on those terms &
 > you'll both be happy.

 CS> But {whimper} it's good in there!  This one was already too far off
 CS> true italian so no reason to not fusion it the rest of the way.  Heck
 CS> if i know what base ethnic it was at the end, but Don said it was
 CS> close to some tomato bases he recalls from Greece.

At that point, call it fusion but not Italian. (G)

 >  CS> Considering it was too late, I made mini-meatballs of some turkey
 >  CS> sausage to go with.  It was good, but it wasnt italian.... again.

 > You're getting closer tho.

 CS> They were rather good, I must admit.  I'll have to get that stuff
 CS> again.  I didnt bake them, but used the frying pan.  Came out fine.

I used to fry my meat balls all the time.  Then I had the bright idea of
baking them once when I didn't really want to stand over the stove,
getting grease splattered for 3 pounds of meat.  I've not looked back.

 >  CS> My family is supporting me though as I struggle and want me to try
 >  CS> again after they eat up this last batch of attempts.

 > Have Charlotte help; she devoured enough of those meat balls that some
 > Italian may have been absorbed. (G)

 CS> So far, they just want me to keep trying and are happy to eat up the
 CS> failures ;-)

As long as that's the case, it's fine. But, they may decide at some
point to try to help you become a better Italian cook.


 >  CS> Question?  Is there a support group for folks like me?

 > Answer. Yes, it's known as the Fido Cooking echo & you're a member
 > already.

 CS> Ah, thanks!  Next time, say the mantra of Basil, Oregano, parsley and
 CS> !down Zataar Down!.

Sounds good here.  Tell the Zataar to go play somewhere else but to send
the garlic your way.  Think green. (G)


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly@earthlink.net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... A truly wise person knows that he knows not.

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)