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Post by Quettalee on Jan 1, 2007 13:01:01 GMT -5
New Year's TraditionsTraditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.
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Post by gams on Jan 1, 2007 14:50:57 GMT -5
Interesting, Q. I knew about the "ring" foods, heard about black-eyed peas, but never cabbage. I have cole-slaw; I'm thinking that'll work just fine.
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Post by Quettalee on Jan 1, 2007 18:18:37 GMT -5
We had beans, but no black-eyed peas. I had greens and we had rice. I have started keeping rice made most all the time. It is really healthy if you skip the Lipton's packs of preservatives and start from scratch. I season it differently all the time depending on the other dishes and sometimes I just add mushrooms and English peas--which is a personal favorite. Cole slaw works; I'm sure of it.
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Post by gams on Apr 3, 2007 6:49:54 GMT -5
Remember that whole apple storage conversation we had what seems like years ago? Apples hanging about in gas chambers, waiting to make their way to the grocery store, and into our carts.
It's time, Q. The gas has done all it can do, and the stock left in storage will start losing all flavor and become styrofoam tasting.
I'm all for buying produce grown in this country, but the apples are now past their prime. Instead, look for apples grown in New Zealand or Chile - they're newly picked.
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Post by Quettalee on Apr 3, 2007 9:33:55 GMT -5
Thank you, my little agricultural guru...with the inside line, of course. Good to know. Number two daughter has been sluffing off her morning fruit--Mary busted her this morning, so I let her know that I had been noticing for the past couple of weeks that she was skipping. I make her have one if I'm at home and catch her, but I don't tattle--unless asked. Seems to work better that way. Anyway, I'm thinking I have never seen apples anywhere around here from anywhere but North. Might have to look for those at Whole Foods.
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Post by Quettalee on Apr 9, 2007 4:37:44 GMT -5
Hope you all are diggin the "background de jour". I was up all night long deviling all those eggs!
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Post by Quettalee on Jun 13, 2007 14:55:40 GMT -5
OK, so you didn't think I was going to a good ole southern family reunion without running down the menu, did you?? Even tho I didn't eat any of the meats, I did have to fork through them to make mom and Lloyd's plates. And I must confess, there was a slight drool at the corner of my mouth. I even tried to eat a bite of mom's bar-b-qued pork, but it just kept getting bigger the longer I chewed it. Let me say there were approximately 200 people in attendance and there was enough food left to feed that many more at least two more times. I have never seen so much good food in one spot. There was pork roast, bbq'd pulled pork, fried chicken, chicken & dumplings, chicken & rice, ham, sliced turkey, lasagna, smoked sausage...and pigs in a blanket! On the veggie table...fried squash, squash cassarole, broccoli cassarole, at least four bowls of potato salad, cole slaw, butter beans, (but no speckled, it's been too dry), tomatoes, cukes, fried corn, corn on the cob, cornbread, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, green beans, green bean salad, 7-layer salad, deviled eggs, and some kind of fried Asian-type noodles in a skillet that Inez loved. Desserts were no disappointment either....Red velvet cake, German chocolate cake, pound cake, cheesecake, lemon pie, chess pie, cookies, and a 7-layer fruit bowl that was about three feet deep! Of course, there was tea...and more tea. One gallon of unsweetened tea and 14 gallons of various levels of sweetened tea--all the way up to diabetic-coma sweet! Lemonade--fresh, of course--in a wash tub with lemons...and four coolers of soft drinks. Whew! Roll me out the door, please! I didn't really eat until I was miserable; it was too hot and I was running around trying to keep mom comfortable and breathing easy. I think we ate more from the bring-home plates than we did at the dinner. Is it nap-time yet??
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Post by Joxcee on Jun 14, 2007 17:34:28 GMT -5
Okay, my mouth is dripping in drool. And I just got through eating left over pizza.
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Post by Quettalee on Jun 14, 2007 22:56:52 GMT -5
I know I didn't get my fill, because I keep thinking about what I didn't get on my plate!
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Post by gams on Jun 17, 2007 5:39:31 GMT -5
I think having left-overs to take home is one of the best things about large family functions. My Mom is a trip - she'll cook an extra turkey at home, (my sis-in-law usually does the turkey), just to be sure we have enough left-overs.
Cuisine for the weekend: Festival foods; Harbor Fest was this weekend, and in the last two days I’ve had my fill, and though I’m full, my wallet is empty. Four dollars for a plain hot dog on a bun! Sheesh! Greasy french fries, snow-cones, hotdogs, and lemonaide for the girls. A pulled-pork sandwich for me and Hubs. I was able to stay away from funnel cakes, cotton candy, (ick), and those elephant ear thingies though my sweet tooth was yelling at me that I needed to soothe its cravings. Frozen coffee drinks quieted it down. Yum. A mocha coffee slushy – a perfect caffeine and sweet fix on a ninety degree day.
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Post by Quettalee on Jul 16, 2007 20:36:06 GMT -5
I am sooo proud! Mary gathered the first cuttings of her herbs yesterday and today she had fresh dill on her fish! We also got a whole grocery bag full of fresh catnip. She has been drying it in the oven all afternoon and it has filled the house with the most wonderful bouquet you could imagine. My little herbal delight...
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katmandu
Kenin
kenin
Don't Mess With Me, I Bite! =D
Posts: 2,803
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Post by katmandu on Jul 17, 2007 1:28:54 GMT -5
Well done, nothing beats produce straight from ones own garden, beats the store bought stuff hands down.
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Post by Quettalee on Jul 25, 2007 1:08:02 GMT -5
Desserts of the day... "Clafouti"--a traditional French custard/pastry. Very easy and extremely versatile. I made one with the traditional cherries today, but you can substitute most any fruit which makes it a staple all year long. Let's see now...what fruit comes in season next? In the oven as we speak...another easy summery dessert...vegan pineapple upside down cake. This one is made with pineapple (of course), 20 more ounces of whatever other fruit you choose (strawberries and blueberries tonight), a little natural cane sugar, butter (this actually makes mine not vegan, but real butter is all I had), a yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines is usually vegan), a little coconut, and a little brown sugar. Pop it in the oven for about 40 minutes and we now have cake...no icing necessary. I'm hoping these will impress tomorrow when I meet one of my oldest and dearest friends for our "business" lunch. Without getting my cart before my horse and saying too much, he has offered me a proposition...and an opening to getting our feet wet with our own...umm..."vision for the future" you might say. I'm really excited--we both are. More to follow, no doubt.
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katmandu
Kenin
kenin
Don't Mess With Me, I Bite! =D
Posts: 2,803
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Post by katmandu on Jul 25, 2007 2:33:15 GMT -5
Sounds great champ, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you as well, hope things work out as you hope. Oh and if those desserts don't impress him he's a hard man to please, I had to get a tissue and clean the keyboard just from reading about them I was salivating that much.
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Post by gams on Jul 25, 2007 7:29:28 GMT -5
<carefully steps over puddle of drool> Sheesh, Katina, I narrowly escaped slipping and breaking my neck getting in here. Sure, clean your keyboard, but leave a mess on the floor.
Blueberries! And peaches too! Which I found the other day, is a wonderous combination: Blueberry Peach Cobbler, mmmmmm.
Sounds like you've been quite busy, Quetta Crocker! Hope all goes well for you during the business lunch today. Awaiting the details, (if that's not being too nosey).
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Post by Quettalee on Jul 25, 2007 10:30:54 GMT -5
Thanks a heaping, you two! You're not being too nosey, Gams, and I am just busting at the seams...I just don't want to jinx anything by getting ahead of myself. We have been semi-estranged for about the last year and a half--he's super busy all the time--he and his partner have two businesses and Bryan has a five-year plan that began about three years ago. He wants to retire in two more years and he'll turn 40 in August. One of the most driven individuals I have ever known and perhaps the only man (besides Katman, of course) that I would have ever considered hooking up with. He was married--to a woman--for about 15 minutes when he was younger. He and Jerry have been married--yes, legally, in Hawaii--for almost eight years. He 'bout creamed his jeans when he found out I was "available" and we have been trying to get together to talk for over a week now. Today is the day. This is the place The Widow's Walk--right on the river. Can you imagine the possibilities?! OK, it's almost time to bolt. I gotta chill and practice my wiley-ways to make him really, really want me and the deal ends up being as sweet as my desserts! Smooches!
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Post by Joxcee on Jul 25, 2007 18:23:44 GMT -5
Good Luck! I hope you get your bliss!
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Post by Quettalee on Jul 25, 2007 19:06:58 GMT -5
It went pretty good. We both put our cards on the table, so to speak. No decisions made today, but a valuable amount of progress. So...so much to think about!
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katmandu
Kenin
kenin
Don't Mess With Me, I Bite! =D
Posts: 2,803
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Post by katmandu on Jul 25, 2007 22:37:10 GMT -5
<carefully steps over puddle of drool> Sheesh, Katina, I narrowly escaped slipping and breaking my neck getting in here. Sure, clean your keyboard, but leave a mess on the floor. Sorry about that Gams, must have missed that spot.
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katmandu
Kenin
kenin
Don't Mess With Me, I Bite! =D
Posts: 2,803
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Post by katmandu on Jul 25, 2007 22:39:36 GMT -5
It went pretty good. We both put our cards on the table, so to speak. No decisions made today, but a valuable amount of progress. So...so much to think about! Sounds encouraging champ, just be sure and take your time before committing to anything, sounds like this could be a BIG decision.
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