Chatty Cathy wrote:
> kilikini wrote:
>> Chatty Cathy wrote:
>>> kilikini wrote:
>>>
>>>> You, too! Gosh, another Aries. I think most of my friends are
>>>> Aries. :~)
>>>>
>>> Me 3! Still gonna stick to your opinion?
>>
>> When's your birthday???
>
> April 15th

We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no idea what
we'd cook, though.

kili

In article >,
"kilikini" > wrote:

> > I am just a huge fan of my own cooking.
> >
> > lol!
>
> Do you use any ham or bacon in your bean soup? That's what I do for my
> husband when he wants to carb out in the winter time. I was just curious if
> you did that, too.
>
> kili

I know you were talking to Cybercat, but I like to use fresh pork hock
to make Lentils, and split peas. :-d
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >, "cybercat" >
wrote:

> "Chatty Cathy" > wrote in message
> ...
> > cybercat wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> I am just a huge fan of my own cooking.
> >>
> >> lol!
> >
> > LOL I wouldn't go that far... but home-cooked can be as good as (if not
> > better than!) restaurant food IMO.
> > --
>
> *sheepish look*
>
> Okay, I am only a huge fan of some of my dishes.
>
> I was a pretty bad cook for a lonnngg time, so now that
> I am building a nice array of dishes that turn out I am pretty
> pleased with myself, hahaha!

No shame luv. I know the feeling. ;-D
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
Chatty Cathy > wrote:

> kilikini wrote:
> > Chatty Cathy wrote:
> >> kilikini wrote:
> >>
> >>> You, too! Gosh, another Aries. I think most of my friends are
> >>> Aries. :~)
> >>>
> >> Me 3! Still gonna stick to your opinion?
> >
> > When's your birthday???
>
> April 15th

<hugs>!
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

kilikini wrote:
> Steve Wertz wrote:
>> On 18 Mar 2007 16:39:02 -0700, wrote:
>>
>>> There was an article in my local Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this Sunday
>>> about how thirty year olds eat most of their meals at restaurants.
>>> One guy did not even know if his stove worked, since he ate all his
>>> meals out. How can anyone not want to have a home cooked meal. One
>>> time I had to eat all my meals at restaurants for two weeks, and
>>> after four days I ready to say uncle. It was even worse than eating
>>> in the college cafeteria.
>>
>> Whenever I travel and have to stay a week or more, I always get a
>> studio-type room with at least a stove, sink, and fridge.
>>
>> -sw
>
> That's what we do, too, Steve. When we have to go up to Jacksonville
> to the Clinic, we get a cheap room ($50 a night) that has a kitchen.
> We bring our own utensils and pots and pans,

I've found I sometimes need to supplement the pots & pans provided but John
always has some of those things in his [art-show] truck. But these studio
places do offer basic pots & pans - a skillet (usually with a lid), a
medium-sized saucepan (with a lid), sometimes a small saucepan; a collander,
plates, bowls, cups, steak-type knives, forks & spoons.

> but we go to the grocery
> store and try our best to create our usual home atmosphere. It eases
> the pressure of all the tests at Mayo and we can get what we want to
> eat. Plus, it's more intimate. It's just nice. There's something
> about cooking together that's fun. The only downer is the dishes.
> LOL.
>
> kili

All the ones I've stayed in have one of those half-size dishwashers. I'm
amazed at how well they clean even if you let the scraped plates sit for a
while!

Jill

In article >,
"kilikini" > wrote:

> Chatty Cathy wrote:
> > kilikini wrote:
> >> Chatty Cathy wrote:
> >>> kilikini wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> You, too! Gosh, another Aries. I think most of my friends are
> >>>> Aries. :~)
> >>>>
> >>> Me 3! Still gonna stick to your opinion?
> >>
> >> When's your birthday???
> >
> > April 15th
>
> We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no idea what
> we'd cook, though.
>
> kili

Lamb? <smirk>
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Christine Dabney wrote:
> On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:34:16 -0500, "kilikini"
> > wrote:
>
>
>>
>> We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no
>> idea what we'd cook, though.
>>
>> kili
>>
>
> Wait til I am settled in VA to do it.
>
> And since astrology is my specialty, I can give you ideas. It is a
> fire sign, so cooking over fire would be ideal...or any type of
> grilling. Something fast.... or new...would be good too...
>
> I will look into this and give you all ideas.
>
> Christine

Great idea! Thanks!

kili

jmcquown wrote:
> kilikini wrote:
>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>> On 18 Mar 2007 16:39:02 -0700, wrote:
>>>
>>>> There was an article in my local Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this
>>>> Sunday about how thirty year olds eat most of their meals at
>>>> restaurants. One guy did not even know if his stove worked, since
>>>> he ate all his meals out. How can anyone not want to have a home
>>>> cooked meal. One time I had to eat all my meals at restaurants for
>>>> two weeks, and after four days I ready to say uncle. It was even
>>>> worse than eating in the college cafeteria.
>>>
>>> Whenever I travel and have to stay a week or more, I always get a
>>> studio-type room with at least a stove, sink, and fridge.
>>>
>>> -sw
>>
>> That's what we do, too, Steve. When we have to go up to Jacksonville
>> to the Clinic, we get a cheap room ($50 a night) that has a kitchen.
>> We bring our own utensils and pots and pans,
>
> I've found I sometimes need to supplement the pots & pans provided
> but John always has some of those things in his [art-show] truck.
> But these studio places do offer basic pots & pans - a skillet
> (usually with a lid), a medium-sized saucepan (with a lid), sometimes
> a small saucepan; a collander, plates, bowls, cups, steak-type
> knives, forks & spoons.
>
>> but we go to the grocery
>> store and try our best to create our usual home atmosphere. It eases
>> the pressure of all the tests at Mayo and we can get what we want to
>> eat. Plus, it's more intimate. It's just nice. There's something
>> about cooking together that's fun. The only downer is the dishes.
>> LOL.
>>
>> kili
>
> All the ones I've stayed in have one of those half-size dishwashers.
> I'm amazed at how well they clean even if you let the scraped plates
> sit for a while!
>
> Jill

The hotel we regularly go to doesn't always have pots or pans and no
dishwasher (except us), not even dishsoap or a dishtowel, but we know this
now and bring our own. Heck, it's normally about $165 a night, but they
give us a Mayo Clinic Patient discount. It's the best deal in town and
about 10 minutes from the clinic. The beds sag, the TV's don't work well,
but it's clean.

kili

"kilikini" > wrote
>
> Add diced onion, a little
> celery, whatever herb you want, and a little water as needed. Bean soup
> is
> such a hearty meal, isn't it?
>

Sounds good, your recipe is a lot like mine, too. When I was in school
and working and wanted to stretch a dollar, I made navy bean soup
with ham hocks and made banana nut or date nut or apple muffins
with it, because a packet of muffin mix was maybe 25 cents and a
bag of navy beans were a buck. Navy beans have a particularly
delicate flavor and a wonderful texture.

Now I save the Christmas ham bone, leave some extra on, and
freeze it. Works great! Kili, try my lentils! All you need is a bag
of lentils, a jar of salsa, two average onions and some shredded
cheddar or other cheese. You can leave out the cheese but it
won't be as good. (You can use a squeeze of lemon for the
tang, but that's just way too healthy for me! After all, I am
already eating LENTILS, you know?)

I don't know if you can have this on your special diet, though.

By the way, I am also an Aries.

cybercat wrote:
> "kilikini" > wrote
>>
>> Add diced onion, a little
>> celery, whatever herb you want, and a little water as needed. Bean
>> soup is
>> such a hearty meal, isn't it?
>>
>
> Sounds good, your recipe is a lot like mine, too. When I was in school
> and working and wanted to stretch a dollar, I made navy bean soup
> with ham hocks and made banana nut or date nut or apple muffins
> with it, because a packet of muffin mix was maybe 25 cents and a
> bag of navy beans were a buck. Navy beans have a particularly
> delicate flavor and a wonderful texture.
>
> Now I save the Christmas ham bone, leave some extra on, and
> freeze it. Works great! Kili, try my lentils! All you need is a bag
> of lentils, a jar of salsa, two average onions and some shredded
> cheddar or other cheese. You can leave out the cheese but it
> won't be as good. (You can use a squeeze of lemon for the
> tang, but that's just way too healthy for me! After all, I am
> already eating LENTILS, you know?)
>
> I don't know if you can have this on your special diet, though.
>
> By the way, I am also an Aries.

You, too? When's your birthday? (I swear, more people I know are Aries!)

kili

jmcquown wrote:
>
> Interesting thread. Must be nice to have that sort of disposable income,
> unless they are eating in incredibly cheap restaurants (and these days even
> "fast food" isn't what I'd call cheap, not if you eat it every single day).


The couple I know who do it don't eat in really cheap restaurants. They go
to good but inexpensive restaurants. They just have main course or daily
special, no appetizers, desserts or beverages. It is not cheaper than
eating at home, but they figure that for the little bit extra that it
costs, it is not worthwhile for them to cook at home. They don't have to
shop. They don't have to put away groceries, don't have to clean the fridge
(it is not used), no dishes to wash, no pots and pans to scrub.

kilikini wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> kilikini wrote:
>>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>>> On 18 Mar 2007 16:39:02 -0700, wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> There was an article in my local Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this
>>>>> Sunday about how thirty year olds eat most of their meals at
>>>>> restaurants.
>>>>>
>>>> Whenever I travel and have to stay a week or more, I always get a
>>>> studio-type room with at least a stove, sink, and fridge.
>>>>
>>>> -sw
>>>
>>> That's what we do, too, Steve. When we have to go up to
>>> Jacksonville to the Clinic, we get a cheap room ($50 a night) that
>>> has a kitchen. We bring our own utensils and pots and pans,
>>
>> I've found I sometimes need to supplement the pots & pans provided
>> but John always has some of those things in his [art-show] truck.
>> But these studio places do offer basic pots & pans - a skillet
>> (usually with a lid), a medium-sized saucepan (with a lid), sometimes
>> a small saucepan; a collander, plates, bowls, cups, steak-type
>> knives, forks & spoons.
>>
>>> but we go to the grocery
>>> store and try our best to create our usual home atmosphere. The only
downer is
>>> the dishes. LOL.
>>>
>>> kili
>>
>> All the ones I've stayed in have one of those half-size dishwashers.
>> I'm amazed at how well they clean even if you let the scraped plates
>> sit for a while!
>>
>> Jill
>
> The hotel we regularly go to doesn't always have pots or pans and no
> dishwasher (except us), not even dishsoap or a dishtowel, but we know
> this now and bring our own. Heck, it's normally about $165 a night,
> but they give us a Mayo Clinic Patient discount. It's the best deal
> in town and about 10 minutes from the clinic. The beds sag, the TV's
> don't work well, but it's clean.
>
> kili

Cleanliness is definitely important! And we haven't had a problem with
sagging beds, not in Texas, not in Kansas, yada yada yada.

The studio suites we stay in provide *all* the basic cooking stuff including
the ones I mentioned before. Plus a microwave and the fridge is full sized.
They also provide a dish cloth, dish towel and even an oven-mitt (although
there is no oven!) They don't provide liquid dish soap but there are small
packets of the dishwasher soap.

Jacksonville must be very expensive if the regular rate is $165. I think
the highest we've run into is around $55/night. But then, I've gotten very
good at negotiating the rate down from their usual single-night stay when I
tell them we're staying for 5 nights for the [insert name] art show, can
they do any better? It depends on the manager, of course, but I guess a
guarantee of them getting paid for 5 nights beats the possibility of having
the suite sitting empty for 3 or 4

We also ask for the ground floor whenever possible. A mini-grill and some
lump charcoal, you can prepare very rare burgers to your hearts content and
even grill fish right outside your door

Jill

wrote:
> There was an article in my local Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this Sunday
> about how thirty year olds eat most of their meals at restaurants. One
> guy did not even know if his stove worked, since he ate all his meals
> out. How can anyone not want to have a home cooked meal. One time I
> had to eat all my meals at restaurants for two weeks, and after four
> days I ready to say uncle. It was even worse than eating in the
> college cafeteria.
>
> Tom

Interesting thread. Must be nice to have that sort of disposable income,
unless they are eating in incredibly cheap restaurants (and these days even
"fast food" isn't what I'd call cheap, not if you eat it every single day).

I'm (almost) 47 and I've *never* eaten most of my meals in a restaurant.
Didn't matter how busy I was. But having said that, I didn't come home and
cook every night, either. I prepared multiple meals on the weekends which I
could freeze or keep in the fridge. Then I'd just reheat something for
dinner in the evening (and have leftovers for lunch, too). Many times I
simply opted for soup or a sandwich for dinner. But I still had my prepared
home-cooked meals for when I wanted something I knew would be good and
usually much cheaper than what I could get in a restaurant.

As several others also mentioned, when you cook at home you can control the
ingredients. You never really know what you're getting in many restaurants;
very often frozen side dishes which I can buy in a grocery store should I so
desire. And in the case of some southern U.S. "home cookin'" restaurants,
canned vegetables. Ugh.

Jill

"kilikini" > wrote:
>
> You, too? When's your birthday? (I swear, more people I know are Aries!)
>

March 27! I will be 48, ooo!

I've known people who consider pouring breakfast cereal into a bowl and
putting milk on top of it to be home cooking. They don't even do that,
prefering to let a diner staff take care of it for them.


In one of the saddest cases I've known, the guy had financial troubles
but still ate every meal in a restaurant. When I suggested that it
would at least be cheaper to get a coffee maker and make coffee at home,
he nodded like he agreed but didn't quite understand the concept. He
continued to walk to the Denny's around the block each morning for
cereal and coffee.


In another sad case, the man was divorced and had split custody of his
daughter. He was also overweight. He hired me to make nutritional
meals in his home and to give weight loss advice, plus cooking lessons.
I interpreted my job as one of getting him started so he eventually
could take over and start cooking for himself. Nice guy, I thought,
just doesn't like to cook. No big deal, after all, I'm not big on car
repair so I hire someone to do that for me. What's the diff? So I thought.


It turned out that, nice guy that he was, he had huge issues with food
and cooking. I'm not psychologist enough to put a name on it, but it
was as though he COULDN'T cook at home. He was completely competent in
every other way, but he COULDN'T cook. I tried to understand, but none
of my analogies worked. I'm terrible at car repair, but a friend
patiently showed me how to change the oil on my car, and I can do that.
If stayed with it, I was willing to learn more simple car maintenance
even if I never became good at it. I hoped I could teach my client to
make one simple recipe at home, then another, rather like my car repair
efforts, but this guy found excuses for everything in the kitchen.


In one case, I suggested that I'd make a big salad so he'd have the
greens and cut vegetables whenever he wanted for a snack. Per
directions, bought basic cookware, some plates, pots and pans, knives,
etc. He reimbursed me. I made the salad and dressing, put it in the
bowl, gave simple directions on having the salad at home. When I came
back 3 days later with the idea that I'd throw away the wilted leftovers
and replenish the salad, I couldn't even find the bowl. After some
looking around, it turned out his daughter had needed a container for a
school science project and used it.


That's the way they looked at everything having to do with cooking. It
was as though food prep didn't exist on their radar so a bowl of salad
greens in the refrigerator didn't look like lunch to them; it looked
like chemistry props.


No matter how basic I made the lessons, it just wasn't going to work.
Unless I was over there putting the food on a spoon and putting the
spoon into his mouth, it wasn't going to happen. I wonder what happened
to that client. I wish him well.


--Lia

kilikini wrote:

> We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no idea what
> we'd cook, though.


Ramburgers?


--Lia

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:15:00 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:
>> When's your birthday? Mine's on Wednesday. I'll be 39.
>>
>> kili
>
>4th of April. :-)

That's my son's birthday.

He was born during the blizzard of April 4 1975. Ever since then, we
don't put away the snow shovels until after his birthday. We always
seem to get a storm around then.

(I'm in southern Ontario.)

Jo Anne

Jo Anne wrote:
>
>
> That's my son's birthday.
>
> He was born during the blizzard of April 4 1975. Ever since then, we
> don't put away the snow shovels until after his birthday. We always
> seem to get a storm around then.
>
> (I'm in southern Ontario.)

I am in southern Ontario but I don't remember that one. I do remember on
in mid April 1979. I was working on a snow plow crew and got called in on a
Sunday night around dinner time and worked all night and till about noon
the next day. It was the was the worst snow fall of the year. There was
close to a foot of very wet, heavy snow. The poor old truck I was driving
could hardly push it. I went through three full tanks of gas that night.
Two years ago we had another one April 17 I think it was. There was more
than 6 inches of snow that was so wet it was almost slush. I tried to clean
my driveway with the snow blower. I made it 10 feet and it bogged right
down and clogged up the chute. Thank goodness I didn't have to go
anywhere. It was all melted by the end of the day.

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:38:04 -0400, Stan Horwitz >
wrote:

>In article >,
> "modom (palindrome guy)" <moc.etoyok@modom> wrote:
>>
>> I know a few folks like that. And it's not only 30-somethings. One
>> couple here in Cow Hill are nearing retirement and NEVER cook. I'd
>> guess their household income to be around $130K US in a town where the
>> cost of living is much lower than Pittsburgh (I've lived there, too),
>> so they're not spending money they don't have. But the restaurants in
>> this benighted little burg are few and mostly bad. I can't imagine
>> accepting their diet.
>>
>> When my mother-in-law was laid up in the hospital last month, D and I
>> ate almost every meal at restaurants for about 15 days. It became
>> oppressive after less than a week. It was mostly crummy chain places
>> we ate at, but that wasn't really the point for me. I needed to cook
>> and eat in my home with my family. I really neded it.
>
>I am 45 and I eat one or two meals a month (including breakfast, lunch,
>and dinner) in my home. Not everyone lives to eat. Many people eat to
>live, and there is a huge difference. I am not wealthy, but I am not
>poor either. I am extremely busy with a lot of interests and the
>tendency to work 50 or 60 hour weeks, so taking time to make my own
>meals from scratch is a low priority, although I do love to cook. I
>don't eat out fancy. Rarely do I spent more than $6 on a meal for
>dinner, and much less for breakfast and lunch. I usually just get a
>sandwich or a salad and I am fine.

I understand what you are saying, Stan. And Imeant no affront to you
or to other people who eat out with regularity. I only wanted to
express my need to cook and to eat with my family, especially as it
helps me address my sense of emotional connectedness to my home.


modom

Only superficial people don't judge by appearances.
-- Oscar Wilde

jmcquown > wrote:

>The studio suites we stay in provide *all* the basic cooking stuff including
>the ones I mentioned before. Plus a microwave and the fridge is full sized.
>They also provide a dish cloth, dish towel and even an oven-mitt (although
>there is no oven!) They don't provide liquid dish soap but there are small
>packets of the dishwasher soap.

My experience in the U.S. is very inconsistent -- some kitchen units
have all the utensils and pots you need, some have none at all.
The most recent one I stayed in, a Holiday Inn in Orlando, had
zilch. Whereas the Olcott Hotel in New York City (no longer
operating) had most everything you'd need.

In the U.K., the tourist board defines a standard list of stuff
that must be in a kitchen unit (including corkscrew, colander,
cutting board, wine glasses, etc. etc.) and all kitchen units
I've stayed in complied with the entire list.

Corkscrews are important now that you can no longer carry one
onto an airplane. I bet the volume of corkscrew sales has
zoomed upward.

Steve

Dave Smith wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> Interesting thread. Must be nice to have that sort of disposable
>> income, unless they are eating in incredibly cheap restaurants (and
>> these days even "fast food" isn't what I'd call cheap, not if you
>> eat it every single day).
>
> The couple I know who do it don't eat in really cheap restaurants.
> They go to good but inexpensive restaurants. They just have main
> course or daily special, no appetizers, desserts or beverages. It is
> not cheaper than eating at home, but they figure that for the little
> bit extra that it costs, it is not worthwhile for them to cook at
> home. They don't have to shop. They don't have to put away groceries,
> don't have to clean the fridge (it is not used), no dishes to wash,
> no pots and pans to scrub.

Good points all, except I can't afford to eat out every night *anywhere*.
And I wouldn't, even if I could. I really enjoy cooking and the challenge
of recreating something I did have in a restaurant at home.

Jill

Steve Pope wrote:
> jmcquown > wrote:
>
>> The studio suites we stay in provide *all* the basic cooking stuff
>> including the ones I mentioned before. Plus a microwave and the
>> fridge is full sized. They also provide a dish cloth, dish towel and
>> even an oven-mitt (although there is no oven!) They don't provide
>> liquid dish soap but there are small packets of the dishwasher soap.
>
> My experience in the U.S. is very inconsistent -- some kitchen units
> have all the utensils and pots you need, some have none at all.
> The most recent one I stayed in, a Holiday Inn in Orlando, had
> zilch. Whereas the Olcott Hotel in New York City (no longer
> operating) had most everything you'd need.
>
I think it depends on who owns the "suites" hotels. The ones I've stayed in
have all been the [now] AmeriSuites (a.k.a. Extended Stay Hotels).

> In the U.K., the tourist board defines a standard list of stuff
> that must be in a kitchen unit (including corkscrew, colander,
> cutting board, wine glasses, etc. etc.) and all kitchen units
> I've stayed in complied with the entire list.
>
That's fantastic! I did forget to mention the cutting board, although it's
one of those small cheap plastic ones. No wine glasses or corkscrew
provided, though.

Jill

One time on Usenet, "kilikini" > said:
> Omelet wrote:
> > In article >,
> > Stan Horwitz > wrote:
> >
> >> Rarely do I spent more than $6 on a meal for
> >> dinner, and much less for breakfast and lunch.
> >
> > If you know how, it's easy to make a really good and healthful meal
> > for under $3.00.
> >
> > I cannot do that eating out.
> >
> > The vast majority of restaurant foods are high in salt if nothing
> > else.
> >
> > We almost never eat out. In fact, I'm planning to cook for guests for
> > my birthday.
> >
> > Since the meal plan includes 4 cornish game hens, it won't be that
> > cheap, but it's a celebration.
> >
> > I'll be 45. ;-D
>
> When's your birthday? Mine's on Wednesday. I'll be 39.

Happy b-day, ladies... :-)

--
Jani in WA

jmcquown wrote:
> kilikini wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> kilikini wrote:
>>>> Steve Wertz wrote:
>>>>> On 18 Mar 2007 16:39:02 -0700, wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> There was an article in my local Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this
>>>>>> Sunday about how thirty year olds eat most of their meals at
>>>>>> restaurants.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Whenever I travel and have to stay a week or more, I always get a
>>>>> studio-type room with at least a stove, sink, and fridge.
>>>>>
>>>>> -sw
>>>>
>>>> That's what we do, too, Steve. When we have to go up to
>>>> Jacksonville to the Clinic, we get a cheap room ($50 a night) that
>>>> has a kitchen. We bring our own utensils and pots and pans,
>>>
>>> I've found I sometimes need to supplement the pots & pans provided
>>> but John always has some of those things in his [art-show] truck.
>>> But these studio places do offer basic pots & pans - a skillet
>>> (usually with a lid), a medium-sized saucepan (with a lid),
>>> sometimes a small saucepan; a collander, plates, bowls, cups,
>>> steak-type knives, forks & spoons.
>>>
>>>> but we go to the grocery
>>>> store and try our best to create our usual home atmosphere. The
>>>> only downer is the dishes. LOL.
>>>>
>>>> kili
>>>
>>> All the ones I've stayed in have one of those half-size dishwashers.
>>> I'm amazed at how well they clean even if you let the scraped plates
>>> sit for a while!
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> The hotel we regularly go to doesn't always have pots or pans and no
>> dishwasher (except us), not even dishsoap or a dishtowel, but we know
>> this now and bring our own. Heck, it's normally about $165 a night,
>> but they give us a Mayo Clinic Patient discount. It's the best deal
>> in town and about 10 minutes from the clinic. The beds sag, the TV's
>> don't work well, but it's clean.
>>
>> kili
>
> Cleanliness is definitely important! And we haven't had a problem
> with sagging beds, not in Texas, not in Kansas, yada yada yada.
>
> The studio suites we stay in provide *all* the basic cooking stuff
> including the ones I mentioned before. Plus a microwave and the
> fridge is full sized. They also provide a dish cloth, dish towel and
> even an oven-mitt (although there is no oven!) They don't provide
> liquid dish soap but there are small packets of the dishwasher soap.
>
> Jacksonville must be very expensive if the regular rate is $165. I
> think the highest we've run into is around $55/night. But then, I've
> gotten very good at negotiating the rate down from their usual
> single-night stay when I tell them we're staying for 5 nights for the
> [insert name] art show, can they do any better? It depends on the
> manager, of course, but I guess a guarantee of them getting paid for
> 5 nights beats the possibility of having the suite sitting empty for
> 3 or 4
>
> We also ask for the ground floor whenever possible. A mini-grill and
> some lump charcoal, you can prepare very rare burgers to your hearts
> content and even grill fish right outside your door
>
> Jill

Jacksonville is on the beach, so I assume that's why the hotels are so
expensive. But, yes, cleanliness is very important! Oh, and we also ask
for a ground floor. :~)

kili

Julia Altshuler wrote:
> I've known people who consider pouring breakfast cereal into a bowl
> and putting milk on top of it to be home cooking. They don't even do
> that, prefering to let a diner staff take care of it for them.
>
>
> In one of the saddest cases I've known, the guy had financial troubles
> but still ate every meal in a restaurant. When I suggested that it
> would at least be cheaper to get a coffee maker and make coffee at
> home,
> he nodded like he agreed but didn't quite understand the concept. He
> continued to walk to the Denny's around the block each morning for
> cereal and coffee.
>
>
> In another sad case, the man was divorced and had split custody of his
> daughter. He was also overweight. He hired me to make nutritional
> meals in his home and to give weight loss advice, plus cooking
> lessons. I interpreted my job as one of getting him started so he
> eventually
> could take over and start cooking for himself. Nice guy, I thought,
> just doesn't like to cook. No big deal, after all, I'm not big on car
> repair so I hire someone to do that for me. What's the diff? So I
> thought.
>
>
> It turned out that, nice guy that he was, he had huge issues with food
> and cooking. I'm not psychologist enough to put a name on it, but it
> was as though he COULDN'T cook at home. He was completely competent
> in every other way, but he COULDN'T cook. I tried to understand, but
> none
> of my analogies worked. I'm terrible at car repair, but a friend
> patiently showed me how to change the oil on my car, and I can do
> that. If stayed with it, I was willing to learn more simple car
> maintenance
> even if I never became good at it. I hoped I could teach my client to
> make one simple recipe at home, then another, rather like my car
> repair efforts, but this guy found excuses for everything in the
> kitchen.
>
>
> In one case, I suggested that I'd make a big salad so he'd have the
> greens and cut vegetables whenever he wanted for a snack. Per
> directions, bought basic cookware, some plates, pots and pans, knives,
> etc. He reimbursed me. I made the salad and dressing, put it in the
> bowl, gave simple directions on having the salad at home. When I came
> back 3 days later with the idea that I'd throw away the wilted
> leftovers and replenish the salad, I couldn't even find the bowl.
> After some
> looking around, it turned out his daughter had needed a container for
> a school science project and used it.
>
>
> That's the way they looked at everything having to do with cooking.
> It
> was as though food prep didn't exist on their radar so a bowl of salad
> greens in the refrigerator didn't look like lunch to them; it looked
> like chemistry props.
>
>
> No matter how basic I made the lessons, it just wasn't going to work.
> Unless I was over there putting the food on a spoon and putting the
> spoon into his mouth, it wasn't going to happen. I wonder what
> happened
> to that client. I wish him well.
>
>
> --Lia

(purposely not snipped)

I think that's one of the saddest stories I have ever heard.

kili

Julia Altshuler wrote:
> kilikini wrote:
>
>> We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no
>> idea what we'd cook, though.
>
>
> Ramburgers?
>
>
> --Lia

ROFL!

kili

Little Malice wrote:
> One time on Usenet, "kilikini" > said:
>> Omelet wrote:
>>> In article >,
>>> Stan Horwitz > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Rarely do I spent more than $6 on a meal for
>>>> dinner, and much less for breakfast and lunch.
>>>
>>> If you know how, it's easy to make a really good and healthful meal
>>> for under $3.00.
>>>
>>> I cannot do that eating out.
>>>
>>> The vast majority of restaurant foods are high in salt if nothing
>>> else.
>>>
>>> We almost never eat out. In fact, I'm planning to cook for guests
>>> for my birthday.
>>>
>>> Since the meal plan includes 4 cornish game hens, it won't be that
>>> cheap, but it's a celebration.
>>>
>>> I'll be 45. ;-D
>>
>> When's your birthday? Mine's on Wednesday. I'll be 39.
>
> Happy b-day, ladies... :-)

Thank you!!!!! :~)

kili

jmcquown said...

> As several others also mentioned, when you cook at home you can control the
> ingredients.


Step into MY kitchen!!!

Andy's Evil Twin

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:19:44 -0600, modom >
wrote:

>On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:38:04 -0400, Stan Horwitz >
>wrote:
>
>>In article >,
>> "modom (palindrome guy)" <moc.etoyok@modom> wrote:
>>>
>>> I know a few folks like that. And it's not only 30-somethings. One
>>> couple here in Cow Hill are nearing retirement and NEVER cook. I'd
>>> guess their household income to be around $130K US in a town where the
>>> cost of living is much lower than Pittsburgh (I've lived there, too),
>>> so they're not spending money they don't have. But the restaurants in
>>> this benighted little burg are few and mostly bad. I can't imagine
>>> accepting their diet.
>>>
>>> When my mother-in-law was laid up in the hospital last month, D and I
>>> ate almost every meal at restaurants for about 15 days. It became
>>> oppressive after less than a week. It was mostly crummy chain places
>>> we ate at, but that wasn't really the point for me. I needed to cook
>>> and eat in my home with my family. I really neded it.
>>
>>I am 45 and I eat one or two meals a month (including breakfast, lunch,
>>and dinner) in my home. Not everyone lives to eat. Many people eat to
>>live, and there is a huge difference. I am not wealthy, but I am not
>>poor either. I am extremely busy with a lot of interests and the
>>tendency to work 50 or 60 hour weeks, so taking time to make my own
>>meals from scratch is a low priority, although I do love to cook. I
>>don't eat out fancy. Rarely do I spent more than $6 on a meal for
>>dinner, and much less for breakfast and lunch. I usually just get a
>>sandwich or a salad and I am fine.
>
>I understand what you are saying, Stan. And Imeant no affront to you
>or to other people who eat out with regularity. I only wanted to
>express my need to cook and to eat with my family, especially as it
>helps me address my sense of emotional connectedness to my home.

Boy, do I understand this. Dining out for me is far and away the
exception. Like Stan, I am economically in the middle. Like you (not
inferring anything about your personal finances!), I have a strong
emotional/recreational/health-oriented (3 for one!) need to cook for
myself. I work both out of an office, and often at home. So I often
have the ability to whip something up here, rather than going out to a
deli, restaurant or whatever. It works for me. This is a YMMV issue.

TammyM

In article >,
Jo Anne > wrote:

> On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:15:00 -0600, Omelet >
> wrote:
> >> When's your birthday? Mine's on Wednesday. I'll be 39.
> >>
> >> kili
> >
> >4th of April. :-)
>
> That's my son's birthday.
>
> He was born during the blizzard of April 4 1975. Ever since then, we
> don't put away the snow shovels until after his birthday. We always
> seem to get a storm around then.
>
> (I'm in southern Ontario.)
>
> Jo Anne

Canada is beautiful. :-)
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
Julia Altshuler > wrote:

> kilikini wrote:
>
> > We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no idea what
> > we'd cook, though.
>
>
> Ramburgers?
>
>
> --Lia

;-D
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
unge (Little Malice) wrote:

> One time on Usenet, "kilikini" > said:
> > Omelet wrote:
> > > In article >,
> > > Stan Horwitz > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Rarely do I spent more than $6 on a meal for
> > >> dinner, and much less for breakfast and lunch.
> > >
> > > If you know how, it's easy to make a really good and healthful meal
> > > for under $3.00.
> > >
> > > I cannot do that eating out.
> > >
> > > The vast majority of restaurant foods are high in salt if nothing
> > > else.
> > >
> > > We almost never eat out. In fact, I'm planning to cook for guests for
> > > my birthday.
> > >
> > > Since the meal plan includes 4 cornish game hens, it won't be that
> > > cheap, but it's a celebration.
> > >
> > > I'll be 45. ;-D
> >
> > When's your birthday? Mine's on Wednesday. I'll be 39.
>
> Happy b-day, ladies... :-)

Cheers!
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
"kilikini" > wrote:

> > No matter how basic I made the lessons, it just wasn't going to work.
> > Unless I was over there putting the food on a spoon and putting the
> > spoon into his mouth, it wasn't going to happen. I wonder what
> > happened
> > to that client. I wish him well.
> >
> >
> > --Lia
>
> (purposely not snipped)
>
> I think that's one of the saddest stories I have ever heard.
>
> kili

What's even sadder is that he's passing it on to his kids...
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:51:52 -0500, "kilikini"
> wrote:

>Julia Altshuler wrote:
>> kilikini wrote:
>>
>>> We should do an Aries cook-along. That might be fun! I have no
>>> idea what we'd cook, though.
>>
>>
>> Ramburgers?
>>
>>
>> --Lia
>
>ROFL!
>
>kili
>

I looked up Aries in one of my astrology books, and there are a lot of
things "ruled" by Aries. Among them countries, and cities. I think
Lebanon is one country that is an Aries country, so that amongst many
others will give us many ideas for food. I am also thinking of
flaming foods...


So I am thinking that I will do a separate post on this, after I
finish all my paperwork for my new contract, and then give you an idea
of what kinds of foods could be cooked.

Christine

Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> "kilikini" > wrote:
>
>>> No matter how basic I made the lessons, it just wasn't going to
>>> work. Unless I was over there putting the food on a spoon and
>>> putting the spoon into his mouth, it wasn't going to happen. I
>>> wonder what happened
>>> to that client. I wish him well.
>>>
>>>
>>> --Lia
>>
>> (purposely not snipped)
>>
>> I think that's one of the saddest stories I have ever heard.
>>
>> kili
>
> What's even sadder is that he's passing it on to his kids...

That was my thought, too, OM! I sure hope the guy's ex-wife has some
concept of cooking since they split custody of the daughter. But somehow I
sadly doubt it

Omelet wrote:

> She used the salad for a science project........ ;-(


No, actually, she needed a container, not the salad. I don't know what
happened to the salad. At the time, it was one of those funny things
that happen when there's a 10 year old living in the house. Surely we
all have stories of kids using ketchup for fake blood in a game of
make-believe, or kids using raisins to throw at each other outside. I
don't know if the salad got eaten which would be great, but I doubt it,
or if something else happened to it. I do know that there seemed to a
pathological dislike to the idea of eating something nutritious in the
house.


The mother did cook, but she was one of these people who diets. That's
what she was teaching the daughter. (I never met the mother so this is
what I was able to piece together.) She never actually lost weight or
found something that worked, but she was great at dieting. She taught
her daughter how to weigh foods, calculate calories, keep track of
various point systems in little books, think about grams of fat, etc.,
everything except cooking, eating, and enjoying. She probably taught
the daughter about affirmations and feeling guilty for indulging. I
don't know.


I do know that I served a fat-free chicken breast over there one day. I
thought it was a little on the tasteless side, but it was what was
requested, and it was wholesome food. The daughter was hungry for
dinner when she sat down. When she returned the uneaten chicken a few
minutes later, she did so apologetically and with the excuse that she
wasn't really hungry.


All I can figure about sad situations is that we don't get to choose
what sort of sadness or illness we get. There are kids who are brought
up in families where the parents lie or cheat or steal or drink or
freeload or manipulate or take advantage of others. This kid didn't
have it that bad. She had 2 loving parents who weren't disparaging each
other though the marriage didn't work out. She also had parents with
food issues that they passed on to their kid.


I'm thinking more about my car repair analogy. Jim and I go to yard
sales when the weather warms up. Frequently I'll see a table with junk
on it, something with greasy pipes or wires or funny looking metal
pieces. You'd have to say I see the stuff meaning that I don't trip
over it, but it doesn't register with me. I don't know what any of it
is. I'll glance at it, then go off to explore the old clothes, the
wooden clocks, and the pretty cut glass. The next thing I know, Jim
will be involved in a conversation about the very stuff I've skipped
over. They'll be talking about sound equipment or plumbing fixtures or
carburators. Jim often will buy the parts and will tell me gleefully
about how much the computer stuff cost when it came out 10 years ago and
what he can make with the components. And this is all stuff that I
basically didn't see.


All I can figure is that cooking is like that for some people. After
learning to change the oil on my old Toyota, the friend that showed me
how went back home to another city, and I eventually got a new used car,
and I never learned to check the oil on that one. Jim takes care of car
maintenance now. Other than putting gas in the car and knowing to tell
Jim when something looks or smells funny, I don't do cars anymore. I
would guess that my clients don't do cooking anymore. They eat their
meals out just as I would go to a mechanic for car repair if I didn't
have Jim.


--Lia

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> > In article >,
> > "kilikini" > wrote:
> >
> >>> No matter how basic I made the lessons, it just wasn't going to
> >>> work. Unless I was over there putting the food on a spoon and
> >>> putting the spoon into his mouth, it wasn't going to happen. I
> >>> wonder what happened
> >>> to that client. I wish him well.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --Lia
> >>
> >> (purposely not snipped)
> >>
> >> I think that's one of the saddest stories I have ever heard.
> >>
> >> kili
> >
> > What's even sadder is that he's passing it on to his kids...
>
> That was my thought, too, OM! I sure hope the guy's ex-wife has some
> concept of cooking since they split custody of the daughter. But somehow I
> sadly doubt it

She used the salad for a science project........ ;-(
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
Julia Altshuler > wrote:

<snipped for space>

> All I can figure is that cooking is like that for some people.

I do actually understand... :-)
I have some mechanical ability and it floors me sometimes when people
cannot see obvious robotic connections. I have little trouble following
the directions of the phone service techs at work when I suddenly have
to attempt to fix a haywire $150,000.oo medical machine in the middle of
the night if the fix is simple and the parts are on hand.

Otherwise they are fed-exed and the service tech comes in asap.

About 2/3 of the time, I can fix it.

It's why dad finally embarassed me into being able to change my own oil.
<lol>

> After
> learning to change the oil on my old Toyota,

See above. It's a Chevy S-10.

> the friend that showed me
> how went back home to another city, and I eventually got a new used car,
> and I never learned to check the oil on that one. Jim takes care of car
> maintenance now.

I pay Bradzoil as they do total preventive maintenance, not just oil
changes. Lubes, filters, etc. I'm not big on personal car maintenance
either.

> Other than putting gas in the car and knowing to tell
> Jim when something looks or smells funny, I don't do cars anymore. I
> would guess that my clients don't do cooking anymore. They eat their
> meals out just as I would go to a mechanic for car repair if I didn't
> have Jim.
>
>
> --Lia

I actually understand. :-)
Some abilities appear to be genetic...

or ruled by priority.

Cheers!
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

One time on Usenet, "kilikini" > said:
> Little Malice wrote:
> > One time on Usenet, "kilikini" > said:
> >> Omelet wrote:

<snip>

> >>> We almost never eat out. In fact, I'm planning to cook for guests
> >>> for my birthday.
> >>>
> >>> Since the meal plan includes 4 cornish game hens, it won't be that
> >>> cheap, but it's a celebration.
> >>>
> >>> I'll be 45. ;-D
> >>
> >> When's your birthday? Mine's on Wednesday. I'll be 39.
> >
> > Happy b-day, ladies... :-)
>
> Thank you!!!!! :~)

You're very welcome -- you and Om are two of my favorites in
RFC... :-)

--
Jani in WA

An excellent thread, but the article is pretty good too.

--
Dave S

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07077/769799-51.stm

The restaurant years
Dining out's the norm if you're young and single

Sunday, March 18, 2007

By Brittany McCandless, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

They're over their ovens. Knives and cutting boards just don't cut it.

It's a trend as American as Starbucks: Young breadwinners are eating out
more, keeping restaurants in business and leaving their kitchens
untouched -- even if they don't have the dough.

Take Phil Santos, 31, who has barely used the kitchen in his Monroeville
town house. In the three years he's lived there, he hasn't even turned
on his stove.

"It might not work. I have no idea," Mr. Santos said. "It makes sense. I
don't even know if I have a pot -- what would I put on the stove?"

Instead of using the Pampered Chef, the Aerotek account manager turns to
pizzas and Panera Bread. In one particular week, factoring in all three
meals, he ate home exactly twice -- once for lunch, and once for dinner.

"I'm not a big fan of eating alone," said Mr. Santos, who has never been
married. "It gives an excuse to meet up with someone to go out."

Harry Balzer, a food trend analyst in Chicago, isn't surprised. It's not
Mr. Santos' age that makes his actions so typical -- it's his life stage.

Americans eat according to life phases, and there are two times when
eating patterns change the most: when you move out of your parents' home
and when you have your first child.

"You lived with your parents and then you moved away -- you lost your
cook," said Mr. Balzer, vice president of food consulting for the NPD
Group. "The thing you noticed immediately was the lack of food.

"Who will teach you how to cook? It will be a baby."

Those who are between relying on parents and becoming parents are the
heaviest restaurant users in America, and young couples and singles --
both men and women -- are 35 percent more likely to eat a meal bought
from a restaurant than the rest of the population. In fact, all new
restaurants depend on the twenty-something set for success, Mr. Balzer said.

"The older you get, the more difficult it gets to feed yourself --
particularly if you're by yourself," he said.

For Mr. Santos, breakfast is a rarity. When he has it, it's in bar form,
on the go.

For lunch, he typically meets up with a client or co-worker, and then
grabs a bite to eat with friends for dinner. Working from 7 a.m. to 6:30
p.m., he lives on soup and sandwiches. partly out of habit and partly
out of convenience.

Plus, he said, grocery shopping requires too much planning. You have to
go with a list, and you can't go on an empty stomach, he said. These
factors only all fall into place for Mr. Santos about once a month,
during which time he spends about $200 on such food as tuna steaks and
frozen pizzas.

He ends up using the oven to cook the pizzas, but only because they
don't fit in the microwave.

"Even if I did do regular grocery shopping, I haven't even learned to
cook," he said.

Obviously, the way around this is eating anything that has already been
cooked -- which is why takeout is taking off, Mr. Balzer said. Research
has shown that, since 1989, restaurants have become more of a place to
get food and eat elsewhere.

Time is the main issue -- cooking is a task, he said. This is why young
working people love casual fast-food dining -- and why restaurants such
as Panera Bread are thriving.

"They're today's hungry-man product," he said.

But while guys go for Chipotle, girls still go for Chex. Young adult
women are the heaviest eaters of cereal for dinner, Mr. Balzer said.
Some even eat it straight from the box, forgoing bowl, spoon and milk.
But this all changes once they become mothers.

"You're not going to say, 'Which would you like for dinner, Lucky Charms
or Cheerios?' " Mr. Balzer said.

Family or not, Americans like eating out. Four out of five consumers
agree that going out to a restaurant is a better way to use their
leisure time than cooking and cleaning up, according to statistics from
the National Restaurant Association. The average cost for food away from
home in 2005 was $1,054 per person.

So how does Mr. Santos, who spends about $150 per week on dining out,
keep up?

"Money goes in, money goes out. I take a look from time to time to make
sure it's all there," he said.

This was not always the case. When he first started working, he said he
spent as little money as possible, often reliving college days by
sharing a pizza with friends. Now that he has worked for the same
company for nine years, he enjoys his job security.

But some young singles are so fixed in their eating habits that they
continue to eat out regularly even when they're unemployed.

Bryan Shipp, 30, of Murrysville, quit his job a year ago and still eats
out almost every day. He used to sell software to medical practitioners
and says he lives on his investments.

"Why save the money? You can always pay for it later when you're not
having fun," he said.

From MTO wraps at his local Sheetz to filet mignon salads at Olive or
Twist, Downtown, he eats everywhere. He especially enjoys Chinese
takeout, which he orders at least once a week, and said he avoids eating
at fast-food restaurants -- except for Max & Erma's, T.G.I. Friday's,
Chili's, Don Pablo's and Outback Steakhouse. "I'm old now," Mr. Shipp
said. "I'm probably going to be fat and disgusting if I start chowing
down now."

Always looking for a new place to eat, Mr. Shipp likes meeting friends
for dinner and finding swanky places to take a potential date.

But rather than wooing a young lady with Atria's and Nakama Japanese
Steakhouse, maybe Mr. Shipp should think more along the lines of
celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse.

"Young men are more likely to cook when they're young and courting," Mr.
Balzer said.

Mr. Shipp said that all he needs to get the girl is a George Foreman
grill and that he enjoys making fish and teriyaki chicken from time to
time. Though he admits, "I've gotten lazy with cooking."

Except on Mondays, that is. That's the one day he forgoes spending $10
for lunch and $20 for dinner, and he often eats Chinese food leftovers
for lunch and fish sticks for dinner.

"Fish stick Mondays" have been a mainstay in Mr. Shipp's cuisine for
years, and he credits its name on its success.

"Now it's not just what you're eating, it's an event," said Mr. Shipp,
who plans to continue fish stick Mondays when he has children.

And if Mr. Balzer's research is accurate, Mr. Shipp will have to plan
for many more frozen-food nights at home if he has a family -- until the
kids leave. Though baby boomers are set in their ways when it comes to
food, Mr. Balzer said, their habits change when they become empty nesters.

"If you're successful, you go back eating out when the kids leave."

Four out of five consumers agree that going out to a restaurant is a
better way to use their leisure time than cooking and cleaning up,
according to statistics from the National Restaurant Association.
A week of dining out

This is what Phil Santos, below, of Monroeville consumed from Feb. 25 to
March 3.

Sunday
Lunch: Iron Bridge, brunch, $12
Dinner: Bravo!, Chicken Griglia, $13

Monday
Lunch: Ugly Dog Saloon, Italian sub, $9
Dinner: Bar Louie, fish sandwich, $14

Tuesday
Lunch: Harmony Inn, cheeseburger and fries, $9
Dinner: (ate in), tuna salad sandwich, $6

Wednesday
Lunch: Panera Bread, sandwich and soup, $9
Dinner: Unique Pizza, turkey sub, $10

Thursday
Lunch: Max & Erma's, sandwich and soup, $12
Dinner: Damon's, steak salad, $12

Friday
Lunch: Shanghai Tokyo, General Tso's chicken, $10
Dinner: Red Star, lemon chicken pasta, $15

Saturday
Lunch: (ate in) tuna fillets and rice, $6
Dinner: Unique Pizza, White Chicken Pizza, $13

Total
Lunch: $67
Dinner: $83
WEEK'S TOTAL: $150