Text 26000, 95 rader
Skriven 2009-07-15 10:21:38 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
  Kommentar till text 25977 av Nancy Backus (1:261/1381.0)
Ärende: mint  was: picnic stuff 789
===================================
Hi Nancy!

>> So Carmeline (my aunt) who is quite the mover these days at 87 (born
[...]

> I've known 75-y-o's that I'd not want to be in the same vehicle they were
> driving, and 90-y-o's that still drive safely...

I know what you mean, it's so true.  Well, while my mother can't get around as
well as her sister driving or walking, her sister is fraught with food and
other types of allergies ... so as we often say in our family,
'everybody has "something"'.

>> of us for lunch.  "I put mint in it", she said, "Like Mama".
>> My mother  (who looked so thrilled at that) looked at me and said yes,
>> remember I told you about that..
>> I told her I always wondered about that. And she then told me that my
>> dad first tasted her lasagne/ravioli (with mint) and he had said
>> "what's wrong with this?? it tastes.... funny"
>> That was the last time she used MINT in her cooking.
>> From then on it was parsley in the ricotta for the lasagna and ricotta
>> for everything.. (!) very sicillian, because that's what they use.  I
>> hadn't realized that until this weekend, seriously. It was the
>> northern Italian side of the family only that used mint - grandma
>> Florence's mother's family was from Naples, and were Jewelers (grin)
>> and.... they cooked with MINT Lol.. NOT PARSLEY (VBG).. well some

> Makes sense.  :)   Regional cooking differences...

very :) and probably cream which I could do without sadly enough), rich cooking
compared to the sicilian side given my allergies to milk (g).

>> So now I am going to try to find out what kind of MINT grandma
>> Florence used in cooking.  I expect like parsley there may be
>> different types. Flat-leaf, etc.. (spearmint, etc..?) Now it's going

> Lots of different mints.  And if you grow different ones in your garden,
> you may end up with a cross-pollinized hybrid...  There's lemon mint,
> spearmint, peppermint, just to name a few.  I think I had some sort of
> "basic" mint in my garden once, it tasted somewhat of a cross between
> the more distinct varieties.  Catnip is also in the mint family... and I

Michael mentioned that and I thought he was kidding :) :)  I had no idea it was
a mint. :) :)

> think that oregano may be as well.  :)  The garden stores usually have
> number of varieties for planting, at least around here they did, back a
> when I was doing any gardening.  :)

I wonder which ones will taste best with Ricotta and the various cheeses I use
in Ravioli and Lasagna  - that will be an interesting test (g).

>> to drive me crazy. The one good thing is, in my quest, most of
>> GrandMa's family is living right here in the Binghamton area, what is
>> remaining of them, at least :( I hear my Great Uncle Bucky is a little
>> senile <grin> but my great great aunt Bernetta is all there <g> >>

> Pick their brains sooner than later... (G)  And even Great Uncle Bucky
> might remember stuff about mint, if you have some samples for him to
> sniff and taste... ;)

I have some mint in my garden I grew this year just on a lark.. I didn't even
remember buying those plants :)

>> The kitty we thought we'd adopt in the neighborhood didn't work out,
>> so we're still on the look out for a meowser.. the gartersnakes and
>> toads are having a field day in the yard.

> Too bad.  :(  Hope you find a viable one soon.  :)

We're still looking, hopefully soon ... we're taking our time.  We were talking
to one lady about these two Maine Coon/Bengal Cat Mix cats, but she wants
$350.00 for them.. (ouch).. it's a bit beyond us :( They're beautiful, but.. :(

>> Toby is TOTALLY terrified
>> Lol :) what a joke of a dog he is (g).. well, Matt is planning on
>> taking him against my will (g) to Baltimore when they move to
>> Baltimore when  Alana goes to Gaucher college.. :)

> He may be back later... ;>  How's Priscilla doing, btw?

She's having a rough time breathing in general lately... especially when it's
humid, which it seems is ALL the time lately. I swear NYS has developed a RAINY
season.  Did you notice that as well?? What is going on with that?? My poor dog
can barely catch her breath on those muggy days.. it's miserable for her..
Today she is doing better .. the sun is out, the air is crisp this morning and
it's chillly.. this afternoon it's suppossed to hit 80, so I don't know how
she'll do.. she doesn't do too well out in the heat so I try to keep her inside
as much as I can when I know it's going to be hot but you know dogs (g).

Take care,
Janis

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