Dave Smith wrote:

> On 2020-05-09 3:56 p.m., Sheldon Martin wrote:
> > On Sat, 9 May 2020 18:56:36 +0100, "Ophelia"
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Cindy Hamilton" wrote in message
> > > ...
> > >
> > > On Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 11:09:16 AM UTC-4, Ophelia wrote:
> > > > "Cindy Hamilton" wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > >
> > > > On Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 9:45:32 AM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
> > > > > Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > > > > > Take-out Chinese. I had Szechuan Chicken and he had
> > > > > > General Tso's Chicken
> > > > >
> > > > > I like both of those and also Sweet&Sour Pork, spring rolls,
> > > > > and always a quart of Hot&Sour soup.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > I also brought home two quarts of hot and sour soup, but we
> > > > didn't eat any. It'll be portioned, frozen, and used for my
> > > > husband's lunches.
> > > >
> > > > > Whenever I do Chinese take-out, I always buy enough for
> > > > > about 3 meals. Good stuff but I'm too lazy to go often.
> > > >
> > > > I don't like leftover Chinese food. The vegetables are mushy.
> > > > I will eat the half portion of Szechuan Chicken for lunch today
> > > > or tomorrow. Waste not, want not. I ate almost all the
> > > > vegetables out of it last night. I have some fresh snow peas
> > > > that I can add when I reheat it.
> > > >
> > > > > Mainly though is because most places don't even start serving
> > > > > until 11am. I get up at 4am each day and by 11am, I'm over
> > > > > driving out for anything. This is also why I rarely even go to
> > > > > McDonalds or Burger King.
> > > >
> > > > I don't mind driving for takeout. My 2020 record is 14 miles
> > > > (one way) for German food some time in the last month.
> > > > However, on that same trip I picked up a prescription for my
> > > > husband and a loaf of bread at the bakery, so it was a
> > > > three-fer.
> > > >
> > > > Cindy Hamilton
> > > >
> > > > ===
> > > >
> >>> What German food did you buy?
> > >
> > > With restaurants closed for dine-in service, they're providing
> > > cold side dishes and wursts of various kinds, with instructions
> > > for reheating.
> > >
> > > We got mettwurst, spatzen, and sour potato salad. If I recall
> > > correctly, I made tossed salad to go along with the meal.
> > >
> > > We also got carrot cake--which isn't German, but they make a very
> > > nice one.
> > >
> > > Cindy Hamilton
> > >
> > > ===
> > >
> >> Nice! If I want stuff like that I have to make it -as much as I
> can I
> > > do make spaetzle though. She gave me a fancy cutter )
> > >
> >> My daughter and family live in Germany. I don't go over there
> any more
> > > so I miss it. She will have to try and bring me some nice stuff
> > > next time she visits
> >
> > Most ethnic food is easy and fast to prepare at home... simply keep
> > a supply of the spices... Oriental is the simplest, it's mainly all
> > in the spices/sauces
> >
>
>
> Silly me. I had not realized that Oriental dishes comprised most of
> ethnic cook. How many seconds on a hot pan would recommend for a
> shwarma or rice and beans?

She didn't say oriental was most of them, only that it is the easiest
one for her.

I happen to agree that it tends to be easier to replicate from basic
ingredients as a very general rule of thumb if you have the right
spices and/or sauces handy. Obviously not all of the dishes, but you
can get something decent with a head of cabbage, some carrots and
onions, soy sauce, beef or pork broth and cornstarch plus some spices.