In article >,
"cshenk" > wrote:

> >> We aint even faintly bashful about telling one another what we can't or
> >> won't eat.
> >
> > How fun! :-)
>
> It is! For all that I was in Japan for almost 7 years, we both the house
> here back in 1996 so when we came back, it was to people we'd known. A few
> new ones, some gone (moved, and 1 died).
>
> I'd say offhand there's 7 regular families and 5-6 'now and again' folks.
> We have most of each other in a little email group so somtimes when ya check
> email you see, 'damn, I just dont feel like cooking, anyone wanna feed me?'.
> Party develops. (Generally non-alcoholic though we may have a bottle of wine
> or a 6 pack for those who like to have a little).
>
> When one of the ladies went in for sudden hip surgery, we just rotated her
> husband from house to house for a week (guy can't cook but is always fun.
> His wife is a great cook). Then we held 3-4 at her house when she got home
> (cleaning up after ourselves) so she didnt have to cook. He's real good at
> returning your tupperware (grin). Lets see, she's lactose intolerant with
> osteoporosis so we feed her up with milk-free high calcium foods. He's got
> no special diet needs (but hates okra) and she has no others.
>
> We had both of them over last Friday along with the fellow with kidney
> cancer (low protein diet required) and his wife (dieting, no other concerns
> except thinks melons are slimy).
>
> For dinner I made:
>
> (Scored! Fresh sashimi grade tuna and convinced the fish fellow, yes, I
> want the bones please) Salt fried Aku bones with side of sashimi over sushi
> rice (hand sushi) (High calcium, very high)
>
> Sushi rice balls (with no fish) with various slivered vegetables and avocado
> (all low protein)
>
> Baked eggplant lightly coated with *good stuff level* olive oil, bread
> crumbs, touch of parmesan cheese (left one piece without parm but added
> bacos to that piece and black pepper). (low protein main dish but scrape off
> the few bacos if taking that piece).
>
> Fresh udon in dashi with spinach and mushrooms (has some protein but not too
> much)
>
> Pork loin steaks with spicy seasoning, sliced down to 1 oz or so servings (2
> are allowed for our friend with low protein diet), take as many as ya want.
>
> Steamed green beans tossed with a little sesame oil and some of the last of
> my shiitake mushrooms.
>
> Steamed carrots with baby bok choy and a side curried mustard sauce for
> dipping or pouring. (little dip dishes from Japan to fill if you like it
> that way).
>
> Mulled wine (this particular group likes warm red mulled wine) with honey
>
> Green or black tea with honey or sugar (Tea kettle, bags, suit yourself).
>
> Peeled grapefruit, oranges, and bannanas with a drizzle of honey.
>
> Grin, see how easy it is to fit all in? I could have made a melon dish or a
> dish with okra too and the ones who didnt like that, would just have
> selected something else. Before you think I went broke, naw. They also feed
> us often and normally they all bring something. This time, it was someone
> elses' store bought pork loin, fruits, wine, and avocados.
>
> The only down side to my place is I dont have enough chairs so some end up
> chatting in the livingroom while some are with me (about the table) while we
> cook it all up. Once we eat, my japan floor table fits us all. I've got a
> pile of cushions and a low 'chair' for my friend with the hip problems that
> works for her quite comfortably. We just laugh and lower her into it.
>
> Wink, long but fun post. Every time I see a thread that folks think it's
> too hard to do specialty cooking, I just laugh and tell ya my most recent
> escapade.
>
> Got email as I was typing this that another snagged the group this weekend
> but he's waiting to see how the weather is as he wants a sort of cookout.
> He asked me to check the fish market as he's doing pork and we normally have
> 2 mains at these things. Since i'm headed there tomorrow anyways, will do!

That all sounds wonderful. Family and friends are lucky to have you!
--
Peace! Om

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Anon.