"Sheldon" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On Aug 27, 1:54?am, Omelet > wrote:
>> In article >,
>>
>> Goomba38 > wrote:
>> > > I loathe those foil wrapped things most restaurants serve ya. If I
>> > > want a baked potato, I make this decision around 4 pm, then get 'em
>> > > into my toaster oven at 450 for at LEAST an hour and a half. Love
>> > > that crispy inner skin which I don't think any other method can
>> > > produce.
>>
>> > I hear you! I don't own a toaster oven but do them in the regular oven
>> > for about 90 min or so too. Nice dry skins, crispy and begging to be
>> > scooped out of potato then the skins loaded up with butter, salt and
>> > pepper. No disgusting foil on *my* potatoes, please!
>>
>> We've never wrapped them in foil either (except for yams).
>> Do you ever use potato spikes to speed cooking?
>>
>> I've actually started pressure cooking yams since the peel is not edible
>> anyway. It's worked really well. 12 to 15 minutes at pressure.
>> --
>
> WTF! Baked yams are wonderful, baked till the sugars come oozing
> out.. the skin is the BEST part.. now I really wonder about your
> diet... you need to shit can that fercocktah pressure processer and
> learn how to cook... begin with the very basics, like baked yams.
>
> When I was a kid growing up in NYC every neighborhood had a "sweet
> potato man" (I'm sure they were yams).........


Suddenly, I'm having visions of knishes bought on the street when I was a
kid. Where was Fortunoff's? Was that Brooklyn? My mom would shop, and my dad
would stuff us with knishes & soakers from the vendors outside. To die for.

In article >,
Omelet > wrote:


> Consider putting the fan unit underground.
> I read a website once on underground AC units to increase efficiency.
> I moved mine into full shade and it's helped a bit. Supposedly putting
> the condenser underground helps too.

Shade makes some sense to me. However, I think that dirt is sometimes a
good insulator, so that wouldn't work. I'm no expert, though.

In article <VYAAi.1385$Ya2.1194@trnddc05>,
"James Silverton" > wrote:

> Omelet wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:55:46 -0500:
>
> ??>> Returning to potatoes! I like to make mashed potatoes with
> ??>> baking potatoes usually nuked. There is one bonus in that,
> ??>> after removing the potato, the skins can be crisped
> ??>> quickly in the conventional oven as a bonus!
> ??>>
> ??>> James Silverton
> ??>> Potomac, Maryland
>
> O> I pressure cooked potatoes for mashed.
> O> Easy to peel.
>
> O> And faster.
>
> I don't have a pressure cooker but is it really quicker than a
> microwave? In any case, as I said, I use baking-type potatoes
> and I've never boiled them. Nuked or conventionally baked they
> make very good mashed potatoes.
>
> James Silverton

My Microwave does not do multiple potatoes (or other bulk items) that
well.

If I were to do, say, 8 baked spuds in the M-wave, I'd have to set it
for at least 1 hour and it would overheat. I'd have to do them 2 or 3 at
a time at 20 minutes or so.

I can put 8 to 10 potatoes in the pressure cooker and put about 1" of
water in it. It will come to pressure in 10 minutes with that, and I can
set a timer for 15 minutes.

Done to perfection in a total of 25 to 30 minutes.
--
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 .com>,
Sheldon > wrote:

<snipped silly venom>
>
> Sheldon

I was never taught to eat Yam skins.
Mom and dad always tossed them in the compost.

Learning new stuff is one (of many) reasons I belong to a cooking list...

I learn new stuff all the time. ;-)

Next time I cook yams, I'll try the hides.

Okay?
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

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

On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:42:07 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:


>Next time I cook yams, I'll try the hides.
>
>Okay?

But don't pressure cook them. Either roast them in the oven, or on
the grill. The caramelization that occurs then makes the skins really
wonderful. You don't get that if you pressure cook them.

Christine

In article >,
"Pete C." > wrote:

> > > Geothermal (ground source) heat pumps are quite efficient. The ground
> > > down 6' or so is a nice stable temperature and is a great thermal mass
> > > to extract heat from or dump heat to.
> >
> > It's an interesting concept I've only skimmed the surface of.
> > More study is needed.
>
> It's the same basic idea as the earlier air source heat pumps, moving
> heat from indoors to out for cooling and from outdoors to indoors for
> heating. The difference is instead of trying to move that heat to/from
> outdoor air which wildly varies in temperature, the heat is moved
> to/from coils that are buried in the ground where the temperatures are
> stable and the thermal mass is so great that the heat you add or remove
> has little effect on the soil temp. Just makes for a more efficient
> system.

I've got to check out the local cave maps. "Wonder World" cave is only
about 4 or 5 blocks down the street and they have a map of the local
system. Not sure of the depth... but I think they are shallower than
many.

But if a large room runs under my property, I'll have to seriously check
it out when I pay the morgage off in 4 more years and I can free up some
income. :-) Worth a looksee for more than one reason.

> > Solar is free. ;-) Therein lies the beauty except for cloudy days and
> > hot nights? Would you use storage batteries? (I may have missed that
> > part if you mentioned it).
>
> That was the idea, charge a battery bank for the evening hours. If the
> absorption chiller is big enough, you can "ice bank" and use excess
> capacity to freeze a tank of water during the day while you have the
> solar energy, to provide cooling at night. Some big buildings also use
> ice banking, just doing the ice generation at night when electric rates
> are lower.
>
> Not cave diving. Air space varies from about 6" to 10' and water depth
> from about 0" to about 20'.

I'm mildly claustrophobic.
NO underground (or ice) diving for me.
I just know I'd die.

Panic is generally what kills divers. I'd rather not put myself in a
position for that to happen.

"Know thyself" and all that.
Know thy limitations.

>
> >
> > Gods. I've not used my stuff in years. For safety's sake, I'd be best
> > off doing a couple of pool dives to re-familiarize myself with my
> > equipment.
>
> Yep, good idea to take a refresher class.

Indeed. :-)
Even if it's just at Canyon Lake.

But, the local dive shop has a pool for classes.
I'm sure I could afford a refresher course, plus I'd need to get my
regulators checked out.

Scuba is not for the careless.

> > So many crafts, so little time.
>
> So many tools I don't have yet, need projects to justify them

That's not generally difficult. <G>
--
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 om>,
Sheldon > wrote:


> But, but with the grill going there's a better way... a much better
> *tastier* way... scrub potatoes and with skin on make about 3/16"
> slices, deal like playing cards onto a sheet of heavy foil, with a
> slice of onion, a sprig of parsley, s n' p, and a blob of butter...
> wrap tightly into a packet and slap on the grill.

You've brought up some fond memories here. My BIL made these once, with
potatoes out of the ground just a few minutes. He put a half slice of
bacon in each packet. I've never had such good potatoes.

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >,
> "Pete C." > wrote:
>
> > > > Geothermal (ground source) heat pumps are quite efficient. The ground
> > > > down 6' or so is a nice stable temperature and is a great thermal mass
> > > > to extract heat from or dump heat to.
> > >
> > > It's an interesting concept I've only skimmed the surface of.
> > > More study is needed.
> >
> > It's the same basic idea as the earlier air source heat pumps, moving
> > heat from indoors to out for cooling and from outdoors to indoors for
> > heating. The difference is instead of trying to move that heat to/from
> > outdoor air which wildly varies in temperature, the heat is moved
> > to/from coils that are buried in the ground where the temperatures are
> > stable and the thermal mass is so great that the heat you add or remove
> > has little effect on the soil temp. Just makes for a more efficient
> > system.
>
> I've got to check out the local cave maps. "Wonder World" cave is only
> about 4 or 5 blocks down the street and they have a map of the local
> system. Not sure of the depth... but I think they are shallower than
> many.

A lot of caves around, many not open to the general public.

>
> But if a large room runs under my property, I'll have to seriously check
> it out when I pay the morgage off in 4 more years and I can free up some
> income. :-) Worth a looksee for more than one reason.

Drill a shaft down from your living room eh?

>
> > > Solar is free. ;-) Therein lies the beauty except for cloudy days and
> > > hot nights? Would you use storage batteries? (I may have missed that
> > > part if you mentioned it).
> >
> > That was the idea, charge a battery bank for the evening hours. If the
> > absorption chiller is big enough, you can "ice bank" and use excess
> > capacity to freeze a tank of water during the day while you have the
> > solar energy, to provide cooling at night. Some big buildings also use
> > ice banking, just doing the ice generation at night when electric rates
> > are lower.
> >
> > Not cave diving. Air space varies from about 6" to 10' and water depth
> > from about 0" to about 20'.
>
> I'm mildly claustrophobic.
> NO underground (or ice) diving for me.
> I just know I'd die.

Caving certainly isn't for the claustrophobic, it isn't for the
inflexible either as you sometimes have to do some interesting
contortions to get through an area.

>
> Panic is generally what kills divers. I'd rather not put myself in a
> position for that to happen.

"Stop, think, act" as they say.

>
> "Know thyself" and all that.
> Know thy limitations.

Yep.

>
> >
> > >
> > > Gods. I've not used my stuff in years. For safety's sake, I'd be best
> > > off doing a couple of pool dives to re-familiarize myself with my
> > > equipment.
> >
> > Yep, good idea to take a refresher class.
>
> Indeed. :-)
> Even if it's just at Canyon Lake.
>
> But, the local dive shop has a pool for classes.
> I'm sure I could afford a refresher course, plus I'd need to get my
> regulators checked out.

Yep, refresher courses are cheap. My dive shop has classes at a pool
just about every weekend, and their customers are invited to show up
whenever and get some pool time in. Good to just go puddle diving there
once in a while to stay in shape.

>
> Scuba is not for the careless.

Nope. Plenty of ways to kill yourself if you're careless.

>
> > > So many crafts, so little time.
> >
> > So many tools I don't have yet, need projects to justify them
>
> That's not generally difficult. <G>

Sadly for my budget, it isn't.

> --
> Peace, Om
>
> Remove _ to validate e-mails.
>
> "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

On Aug 25, 2:09 pm, George > wrote:
> wrote:
>
> > Nothing shill about telling you guys about a good potato. This company
> > supplies national restaurant chains and now their potato is online.
> > You are wrong about it being more convenient to use a fresh potato.
> > Cheaper maybe but not more convenient. Who has time or wants to wash/
> > scrub a bag of green potatoes you get from the grocery store?
>
> You are right. It is an incredibly intense and physical operation and it
> does take a large amount of time to wash a potato. Sometimes I start in
> the afternoon and it is sunset before I am finished washing potatoes.

That toothbrush that came with the Barbie set is too small. Get a
larger one.

>
> It makes far more sense to buy frozen potatoes as used in industrial
> national restaurant chains so we can enjoy that same mediocre quality
> and convenience at home.

On Aug 25, 2:34 pm, zxcvbob > wrote:
> wrote:
>
> > Who has time or wants to wash/
>
> > scrub a bag of green potatoes you get from the grocery store?
>
> Because you are so busy doing what?
>
> Bob

Err, green potatos? Are they not sunburnt and a bit carcinogenic? I
don't buy green ones myself.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

"John Kane" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Aug 25, 2:34 pm, zxcvbob > wrote:
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Who has time or wants to wash/
>>
>> > scrub a bag of green potatoes you get from the grocery store?
>>
>> Because you are so busy doing what?
>>
>> Bob
>
> Err, green potatos? Are they not sunburnt and a bit carcinogenic? I
> don't buy green ones myself.
>
> John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

I just read that the green potato "threat" is overrated, but even so, no
store should be selling them.

Omelet wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:39:56 -0500:

??>> Omelet wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:55:46 -0500:
??>>
??>>>> Returning to potatoes! I like to make mashed potatoes
??>>>> with baking potatoes usually nuked. There is one bonus
??>>>> in that, after removing the potato, the skins can be
??>>>> crisped quickly in the conventional oven as a bonus!
??>>>>
??>>>> James Silverton
??>>>> Potomac, Maryland
??>>
O>>> I pressure cooked potatoes for mashed.
O>>> Easy to peel.
??>>
O>>> And faster.
??>>
??>> I don't have a pressure cooker but is it really quicker
??>> than a microwave? In any case, as I said, I use
??>> baking-type potatoes and I've never boiled them. Nuked or
??>> conventionally baked they make very good mashed potatoes.
??>>
??>> James Silverton

O> I can put 8 to 10 potatoes in the pressure cooker and put
O> about 1" of water in it. It will come to pressure in 10
O> minutes with that, and I can set a timer for 15 minutes.

O> Done to perfection in a total of 25 to 30 minutes.

Microwave: 8 potatoes: 24 minutes.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> Suddenly, I'm having visions of knishes bought on the street when I
> was a kid. Where was Fortunoff's? Was that Brooklyn? My mom would
> shop, and my dad would stuff us with knishes & soakers from the
> vendors outside. To die for.

Joe, if my questions bother you then just ignore, but I haven't a clue what
you just said

What are knishes and soakers please?

In article >,
Christine Dabney > wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:42:07 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
>
> >Next time I cook yams, I'll try the hides.
> >
> >Okay?
>
> But don't pressure cook them. Either roast them in the oven, or on
> the grill. The caramelization that occurs then makes the skins really
> wonderful. You don't get that if you pressure cook them.
>
> Christine

Ok. Next time I grill, I promise.

And I'll take pics. ;-)
--
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 <8qDAi.5310$oh1.1048@trnddc04>,
"James Silverton" > wrote:

> O> I can put 8 to 10 potatoes in the pressure cooker and put
> O> about 1" of water in it. It will come to pressure in 10
> O> minutes with that, and I can set a timer for 15 minutes.
>
> O> Done to perfection in a total of 25 to 30 minutes.
>
> Microwave: 8 potatoes: 24 minutes.
>
> James Silverton

In YOUR microwave. ;-)

Next time I have to replace one, I'll spend more.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

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

"Ophelia" > wrote in message
...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> Suddenly, I'm having visions of knishes bought on the street when I
>> was a kid. Where was Fortunoff's? Was that Brooklyn? My mom would
>> shop, and my dad would stuff us with knishes & soakers from the
>> vendors outside. To die for.
>
> Joe, if my questions bother you then just ignore, but I haven't a clue
> what you just said
>
> What are knishes and soakers please?
>

"Soaker" is an affectionate term for hot dogs that have been sitting in hot
water, probably for too long. They're delicious, although sometimes the
attraction can be related to extreme hunger, or the surrounding atmosphere.


For knish, I'm too busy to explain. Wikipedia's explanation is fine:
A knish is an Eastern European snack food popular in Jewish communities. A
knish consists of a filling covered with dough that is either baked or
fried. Knishes can be purchased from street vendors in urban areas with a
large Jewish population, sometimes at a hot dog stand.

In the most traditional versions, the filling is made entirely of mashed
potato, ground meat, sauerkraut, onions, kasha (buckwheat groats) or cheese.
More modern varieties of fillings feature sweet potatoes, black beans,
fruit, broccoli, tofu or spinach.

Many cultures have variations on baked or fried dough-covered snacks similar
to the knish: the Jamaican patty, the Spanish and Latin American empanada or
Papa rellena and the South Asian samosa and the Bahavian Nakishka.

Knishes may be round or square/rectangular. They may be entirely covered in
dough or some of the filling may peek out of the top. Sizes range from those
that can be eaten in a single bite hors d'oeuvre to sandwich-sized knishes
that can serve as an entire meal.

By the way, it's pronounced with two syllables: k-nish. Not "nish", unless
you want to sound like you're from Iowa.

In article
>,
Dan Abel > wrote:

> In article >,
> Omelet > wrote:
>
>
> > Consider putting the fan unit underground.
> > I read a website once on underground AC units to increase efficiency.
> > I moved mine into full shade and it's helped a bit. Supposedly putting
> > the condenser underground helps too.
>
> Shade makes some sense to me. However, I think that dirt is sometimes a
> good insulator, so that wouldn't work. I'm no expert, though.

Hm. Let me do some googling.
An Orkin man at work that dabbled in this stuff introduced me to the
concept:

http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html
--
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 >,
"Pete C." > wrote:


> > I've got to check out the local cave maps. "Wonder World" cave is only
> > about 4 or 5 blocks down the street and they have a map of the local
> > system. Not sure of the depth... but I think they are shallower than
> > many.
>
> A lot of caves around, many not open to the general public.

"Mine" would not be.

>
> >
> > But if a large room runs under my property, I'll have to seriously check
> > it out when I pay the morgage off in 4 more years and I can free up some
> > income. :-) Worth a looksee for more than one reason.
>
> Drill a shaft down from your living room eh?

That's the general idea. ;-)
IIRC the WW cave system is shallower than most.

And dryer.


> > I'm mildly claustrophobic.
> > NO underground (or ice) diving for me.
> > I just know I'd die.
>
> Caving certainly isn't for the claustrophobic, it isn't for the
> inflexible either as you sometimes have to do some interesting
> contortions to get through an area.

Yes. Spelunking is a specialized art.

>
> >
> > Panic is generally what kills divers. I'd rather not put myself in a
> > position for that to happen.
>
> "Stop, think, act" as they say.

Yes.

>
> >
> > "Know thyself" and all that.
> > Know thy limitations.
>
> Yep.

Live to dive another day.
I've been a cavern tour guide early in my job career.

>
> Yep, refresher courses are cheap.

Cheaper than a funeral. ;-)

> My dive shop has classes at a pool
> just about every weekend, and their customers are invited to show up
> whenever and get some pool time in. Good to just go puddle diving there
> once in a while to stay in shape.

Yes.
Dibble is a nice guy too so I'm sure it'd be no trouble.

>
> >
> > Scuba is not for the careless.
>
> Nope. Plenty of ways to kill yourself if you're careless.

Diving and spelunking... Double trouble!

>
> >
> > > > So many crafts, so little time.
> > >
> > > So many tools I don't have yet, need projects to justify them
> >
> > That's not generally difficult. <G>
>
> Sadly for my budget, it isn't.

<lol> I know the feeling!

I meant the justification.
The finances are a separate issue.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

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

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Ophelia" > wrote in message
> ...
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> Suddenly, I'm having visions of knishes bought on the street when I
>>> was a kid. Where was Fortunoff's? Was that Brooklyn? My mom would
>>> shop, and my dad would stuff us with knishes & soakers from the
>>> vendors outside. To die for.
>> Joe, if my questions bother you then just ignore, but I haven't a clue
>> what you just said
>>
>> What are knishes and soakers please?
>>
>
> "Soaker" is an affectionate term for hot dogs that have been sitting in hot
> water, probably for too long. They're delicious, although sometimes the
> attraction can be related to extreme hunger, or the surrounding atmosphere.

"dirty water dogs" is the popular current expression.

>
>
> For knish, I'm too busy to explain. Wikipedia's explanation is fine:
> A knish is an Eastern European snack food popular in Jewish communities. A
> knish consists of a filling covered with dough that is either baked or
> fried. Knishes can be purchased from street vendors in urban areas with a
> large Jewish population, sometimes at a hot dog stand.
>
> In the most traditional versions, the filling is made entirely of mashed
> potato, ground meat, sauerkraut, onions, kasha (buckwheat groats) or cheese.
> More modern varieties of fillings feature sweet potatoes, black beans,
> fruit, broccoli, tofu or spinach.
>
> Many cultures have variations on baked or fried dough-covered snacks similar
> to the knish: the Jamaican patty, the Spanish and Latin American empanada or
> Papa rellena and the South Asian samosa and the Bahavian Nakishka.
>
> Knishes may be round or square/rectangular. They may be entirely covered in
> dough or some of the filling may peek out of the top. Sizes range from those
> that can be eaten in a single bite hors d'oeuvre to sandwich-sized knishes
> that can serve as an entire meal.
>
>

In article >,
says...
> In article >,
> "Pete C." > wrote:
>
> > Omelet wrote:
> > >
> > > In article >,
> > > "Pete C." > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Omelet wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > In article >,
> > > > > "Pete C." > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Various solar cooker designs at: http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/
> > > > >
> > > > > I'll have to try Rice in this one just for grins.
> > > > > Wonder if it has to be aluminum or if cast iron would work?
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/tire_eng.htm
> > > >
> > > > Cast iron ought to work, probably take a little longer to get up to temp
> > > > though. In the TX sun this might not be an issue.
> > >
> > > <lol> True!
> > > We are actually having a cooler than normal summer. It has not yet
> > > broken 100. Just running in the high 90's.
> >
> > I know. I'm north of Dallas and my power bill hasn't hit $200 yet
>
> Mine's been running around $170.00.
>
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > It's not hard to get tubes around here. They use them on the river. :-)
> > > >
> > > > Which river?
> > >
> > > Locally, the San Marcos.
> > > Most often, the Comal.
> >
> > I was tubing on the Comal a few weeks ago, the weekend they didn't let
> > enough water out of the dam during the week and the Guadalupe was
> > closed.
>
> It's running pretty high right now in New Braunfels.
>
> I think the San Marcos is safer!
>
> Cleaner too, especially up near the source at Clear Springs.
>

That's ok, last place I was in had an electric water heater. But during
the winter my electric bill would shoot up to $350.

Here the electric bill hovers between $80 and $112 winter/summer.

In article >,
T > wrote:

>
> That's ok, last place I was in had an electric water heater. But during
> the winter my electric bill would shoot up to $350.
>
> Here the electric bill hovers between $80 and $112 winter/summer.

Mine runs about $170.00 to $270.00.
Depends on how cold I want to keep the house.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

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

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Ophelia" > wrote in message
> ...
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> Suddenly, I'm having visions of knishes bought on the street when I
>>> was a kid. Where was Fortunoff's? Was that Brooklyn? My mom would
>>> shop, and my dad would stuff us with knishes & soakers from the
>>> vendors outside. To die for.
>>
>> Joe, if my questions bother you then just ignore, but I haven't a
>> clue what you just said
>>
>> What are knishes and soakers please?
>>
>
> "Soaker" is an affectionate term for hot dogs that have been sitting
> in hot water, probably for too long. They're delicious, although
> sometimes the attraction can be related to extreme hunger, or the
> surrounding atmosphere.
>
> For knish, I'm too busy to explain.

Thanks I am UK so I doubt if i will come accross them

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> By the way, it's pronounced with two syllables: k-nish. Not "nish",
> unless you want to sound like you're from Iowa.

How about if i come from Scotland? (which I do) )

"Ophelia" > wrote in message
...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> By the way, it's pronounced with two syllables: k-nish. Not "nish",
>> unless you want to sound like you're from Iowa.
>
> How about if i come from Scotland? (which I do) )

Then you say "Pour me a Lagavulin and you're wearing way too many clothes,
lad". :-)

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Ophelia" > wrote in message
> ...
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> By the way, it's pronounced with two syllables: k-nish. Not "nish",
>>> unless you want to sound like you're from Iowa.
>>
>> How about if i come from Scotland? (which I do) )
>
> Then you say "Pour me a Lagavulin and you're wearing way too many
> clothes, lad". :-)

hehehe cheeky)))))

Ophelia wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:16:52 +0100:

O> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
??>> "Ophelia" > wrote in message
??>> ...
??>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
??>>>> Suddenly, I'm having visions of knishes bought on the
??>>>> street when I was a kid. Where was Fortunoff's? Was that
??>>>> Brooklyn? My mom would shop, and my dad would stuff us
??>>>> with knishes & soakers from the vendors outside. To die
??>>>> for.
??>>>
??>>> Joe, if my questions bother you then just ignore, but I
??>>> haven't a clue what you just said
??>>>
??>>> What are knishes and soakers please?
??>>>
??>> "Soaker" is an affectionate term for hot dogs that have
??>> been sitting in hot water, probably for too long. They're
??>> delicious, although sometimes the attraction can be
??>> related to extreme hunger, or the surrounding atmosphere.
??>>
??>> For knish, I'm too busy to explain.

Then you will be missing treats! There are several flavors of
knishes which are pastries stuffed with potatoes, meat and often
both. The information on "soakers" was new to me: you live and
learn!

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Aug 27, 2:09 pm, "kilikini" > wrote:
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> > "John Kane" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >> On Aug 25, 2:34 pm, zxcvbob > wrote:
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>> > Who has time or wants to wash/
>
> >>>> scrub a bag of green potatoes you get from the grocery store?
>
> >>> Because you are so busy doing what?
>
> >>> Bob
>
> >> Err, green potatos? Are they not sunburnt and a bit carcinogenic? I
> >> don't buy green ones myself.
>
> >> John Kane, Kingston ON Canada
>
> > I just read that the green potato "threat" is overrated, but even so,
> > no store should be selling them.
>
> I found this explanation:http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/...jsp?publicatio...
>
> To cut the article to the chase.....
>
> By itself, chlorophyll is not a health concern. It is harmless and
> tasteless. In potato tubers, the greening is a sign that there may be an
> increase in the presence of glycoalkaloids, especially the substance
> solanine. When the potato greens, solanine increases to potentially high
> levels. Increased solanine levels are responsible for the bitter taste
> resulting from a high solanine concentration in potatoes after being cooked.
> Solanine biosynthesis occurs parallel but independent of chlorophyll
> biosynthesis; each can occur without the other. Unlike chlorophyll, light is
> not needed for solanine formation, but, with light, glycoalkaloid formation
> is increased. In potatoes solanine formation is localized near the skin,
> usually no deeper than one-eighth of an inch (3 mm). In processed potatoes
> such as chips (Figure 2) and fries, little hazard exists since peels are
> usually removed. Potato breeding programs release only potato varieties that
> are tested to be safe and contain low levels of solanine.
> Note: All members of the botanical family Solanaceae - not just potatoes -
> produce glycoalkaloid toxins. Two common examples are tomatine from tomato
> and nicotine from tobacco. Some members of this family are historically
> notorious such as belladonna, now used for treating asthma, and the
> nightshades.
>
> Ultra-violet radiation as well as visible rays are contained in many light
> sources such as flourescent bulbs and sunlight. Ultra-violet and visible
> light in the blue-violet region promotes the formation of glycoalkaloids,
> steroid-like compounds, and, for potatoes, most notably solanine. When
> potato tubers are exposed to light, the solanine content in the peel may
> increase as much as ten times. Toxic levels for people are about
> one-hundredth of an ounce for a 200-lb person. This 200-lb person would need
> to eat about 20 lb of normal whole potatoes in a day to reach this level.
> But, with UV light-exposed whole tubers in which solanine had increased
> ten-fold, only two pounds could cause a reaction. Potentially high levels
> for a 100-lb and 50-lb person would be 16 and 8 ounces of a fully green
> potato, respectively. Removing the green areas, skin and underlying core,
> the light-induced solanine is removed. A large baked potato frequently
> weighs about one pound (16 ounces), but common sizes in restaurants are six
> to 11 ounces. Potatoes containing more than 0.1 percent solanine (.01 oz/10
> oz potato) are considered unfit for eating. Cooked potatoes cannot turn
> green or produce solanine because cooking destroys the enzyme mechanism
> required for its production; however, any chlorophyll and solanine produced
> before cooking will remain after cooking (Figure 2). A good guide is "if the
> potato tastes bitter, don't eat it."
>
> kili

Thank Kili.
So the stuff is toxic but if I don't have more than 5-6 baked
potatoes at a meal I'm okay. I hadn't heard about the
bitterness .

Omelet wrote:
>
<snip>
> >
> > A lot of caves around, many not open to the general public.
>
> "Mine" would not be.

Might be tough to keep that way, since the caves typically pass under a
lot of people, you just get to be keeper of your entrance.

>
<snip>
> >
> > Drill a shaft down from your living room eh?
>
> That's the general idea. ;-)
> IIRC the WW cave system is shallower than most.
>
> And dryer.

Make a nice root cellar.

<snip>
> > Caving certainly isn't for the claustrophobic, it isn't for the
> > inflexible either as you sometimes have to do some interesting
> > contortions to get through an area.
>
> Yes. Spelunking is a specialized art.

For whatever reason, in the US at least spelunking has come to refer to
the untrained folks who typically get themselves lost and/or hurt in
caves, while caver has come to refer to those with the skills and
training to not get lost or kill themselves on the vertical sections.
This information came from one of the NSS News issues BTW.

>
> >
> > >
> > > Panic is generally what kills divers. I'd rather not put myself in a
> > > position for that to happen.
> >
> > "Stop, think, act" as they say.
>
> Yes.

Applicable in a lot of activities.

>
<snip>
> >
> > Yep, refresher courses are cheap.
>
> Cheaper than a funeral. ;-)

Not for you You next of kin gets to deal with that cost.

>
<snip>
> > >
> > > Scuba is not for the careless.
> >
> > Nope. Plenty of ways to kill yourself if you're careless.
>
> Diving and spelunking... Double trouble!

Yep. I'm progressing on both. Triple trouble actually since progressing
tends to also impact the budget with more equipment. Caving is a lot
cheaper than diving though.

>

In article >,
"Pete C." > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> >
> <snip>
> > >
> > > A lot of caves around, many not open to the general public.
> >
> > "Mine" would not be.
>
> Might be tough to keep that way, since the caves typically pass under a
> lot of people, you just get to be keeper of your entrance.

Entrance on private property. I could not keep out spelunkers tho'.
They are generally respectful tho' so that is cool.

It's still a pipe dream at the moment. ;-)

>
> >
> <snip>
> > >
> > > Drill a shaft down from your living room eh?
> >
> > That's the general idea. ;-)
> > IIRC the WW cave system is shallower than most.
> >
> > And dryer.
>
> Make a nice root cellar.

No kidding!
Caverns here tend to be a bit damp tho.
Shallower ones are dryer.

>
> <snip>
> > > Caving certainly isn't for the claustrophobic, it isn't for the
> > > inflexible either as you sometimes have to do some interesting
> > > contortions to get through an area.
> >
> > Yes. Spelunking is a specialized art.
>
> For whatever reason, in the US at least spelunking has come to refer to
> the untrained folks who typically get themselves lost and/or hurt in
> caves, while caver has come to refer to those with the skills and
> training to not get lost or kill themselves on the vertical sections.
> This information came from one of the NSS News issues BTW.

Ok, that's odd. The local cavers seem to be pretty responsible for the
most part.

>
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Panic is generally what kills divers. I'd rather not put myself in a
> > > > position for that to happen.
> > >
> > > "Stop, think, act" as they say.
> >
> > Yes.
>
> Applicable in a lot of activities.

No kidding.
Life in general.

>
> >
> <snip>
> > >
> > > Yep, refresher courses are cheap.
> >
> > Cheaper than a funeral. ;-)
>
> Not for you You next of kin gets to deal with that cost.

<snork> But that'd be rude. <G>

>
> >
> <snip>
> > > >
> > > > Scuba is not for the careless.
> > >
> > > Nope. Plenty of ways to kill yourself if you're careless.
> >
> > Diving and spelunking... Double trouble!
>
> Yep. I'm progressing on both. Triple trouble actually since progressing
> tends to also impact the budget with more equipment. Caving is a lot
> cheaper than diving though.

I'll pass.

I'm too fat. At least I float! <lol>
--
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 >,
says...
> In article >,
> T > wrote:
>
> >
> > That's ok, last place I was in had an electric water heater. But during
> > the winter my electric bill would shoot up to $350.
> >
> > Here the electric bill hovers between $80 and $112 winter/summer.
>
> Mine runs about $170.00 to $270.00.
> Depends on how cold I want to keep the house.
>

Ouch! Electric heat huh?

Well, come winter the oil bill will be interesting. It's a 150 gallon
tank and prices are hovering around $2.50 a gallon right now. A tank
lasts about a month and a half.

In article >,
T > wrote:

> In article >,
> says...
> > In article >,
> > T > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > That's ok, last place I was in had an electric water heater. But during
> > > the winter my electric bill would shoot up to $350.
> > >
> > > Here the electric bill hovers between $80 and $112 winter/summer.
> >
> > Mine runs about $170.00 to $270.00.
> > Depends on how cold I want to keep the house.
> >
>
> Ouch! Electric heat huh?

Electric cold.<G>

>
> Well, come winter the oil bill will be interesting. It's a 150 gallon
> tank and prices are hovering around $2.50 a gallon right now. A tank
> lasts about a month and a half.

Damn.

My house is all electric. On purpose...
--
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 >,
says...
> In article >,
> T > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > says...
> > > In article >,
> > > T > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > That's ok, last place I was in had an electric water heater. But during
> > > > the winter my electric bill would shoot up to $350.
> > > >
> > > > Here the electric bill hovers between $80 and $112 winter/summer.
> > >
> > > Mine runs about $170.00 to $270.00.
> > > Depends on how cold I want to keep the house.
> > >
> >
> > Ouch! Electric heat huh?
>
> Electric cold.<G>
>
> >
> > Well, come winter the oil bill will be interesting. It's a 150 gallon
> > tank and prices are hovering around $2.50 a gallon right now. A tank
> > lasts about a month and a half.
>
> Damn.
>
> My house is all electric. On purpose...
>

That's ok, in my last apartment it was gas forced hot air. I was getting
gas bills for $900 a month. I complained to the building management and
they said tough shit, you're not cross connected, etc.


Last November a guy from National Grid knocks on the door and asks did
we know we're cross connected not only on gas but electric to the retail
store downstairs.

Had my attorney contact the landlord. We look at it that I shelled out
$5,000 that I shouldn't have had to. The case is winding through the
civil courts now and the amount is up to $45,000 with damages and
atttorney fees.

So a warning to you landlords out there, when a tenant tells you
something is wrong, look into it and don't bullshit the tenant.

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >,
> "Pete C." > wrote:
>
> > Omelet wrote:
> > >
> > <snip>
> > > >
> > > > A lot of caves around, many not open to the general public.
> > >
> > > "Mine" would not be.
> >
> > Might be tough to keep that way, since the caves typically pass under a
> > lot of people, you just get to be keeper of your entrance.
>
> Entrance on private property. I could not keep out spelunkers tho'.
> They are generally respectful tho' so that is cool.
>
> It's still a pipe dream at the moment. ;-)

A lot of work to drill an entrance into a cave, not the least of which
is locating the surface point above the cave.

>
> >
> > >
> > <snip>
> > > >
> > > > Drill a shaft down from your living room eh?
> > >
> > > That's the general idea. ;-)
> > > IIRC the WW cave system is shallower than most.
> > >
> > > And dryer.
> >
> > Make a nice root cellar.
>
> No kidding!
> Caverns here tend to be a bit damp tho.
> Shallower ones are dryer.

The one I was at in NB certainly was wet, another couple a fair distance
to the west were quite dry.

>
> >
> > <snip>
> > > > Caving certainly isn't for the claustrophobic, it isn't for the
> > > > inflexible either as you sometimes have to do some interesting
> > > > contortions to get through an area.
> > >
> > > Yes. Spelunking is a specialized art.
> >
> > For whatever reason, in the US at least spelunking has come to refer to
> > the untrained folks who typically get themselves lost and/or hurt in
> > caves, while caver has come to refer to those with the skills and
> > training to not get lost or kill themselves on the vertical sections.
> > This information came from one of the NSS News issues BTW.
>
> Ok, that's odd. The local cavers seem to be pretty responsible for the
> most part.

The "Cavers" are the "pros" and the ones affiliated with the NSS
generally.

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >,
> T > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > says...
> > > In article >,
> > > T > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > That's ok, last place I was in had an electric water heater. But during
> > > > the winter my electric bill would shoot up to $350.
> > > >
> > > > Here the electric bill hovers between $80 and $112 winter/summer.
> > >
> > > Mine runs about $170.00 to $270.00.
> > > Depends on how cold I want to keep the house.
> > >
> >
> > Ouch! Electric heat huh?
>
> Electric cold.<G>
>
> >
> > Well, come winter the oil bill will be interesting. It's a 150 gallon
> > tank and prices are hovering around $2.50 a gallon right now. A tank
> > lasts about a month and a half.
>
> Damn.
>
> My house is all electric. On purpose...

It's not a big deal really, when you have an oil bill for heating you
have a low electric bill. Spend $100 on oil instead of electricity, it
mostly balances. Of course in the summer you're using electric for A/C,
but you are using little or no oil during those months.

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
news:k0HAi.3$cA6.0@trnddc05...
>>
> Then you will be missing treats! There are several flavors of knishes
> which are pastries stuffed with potatoes, meat and often both. The
> information on "soakers" was new to me: you live and learn!

So is a knish like a pasty then, James?

In article >,
T > wrote:

> > My house is all electric. On purpose...
> >
>
> That's ok, in my last apartment it was gas forced hot air. I was getting
> gas bills for $900 a month. I complained to the building management and
> they said tough shit, you're not cross connected, etc.

Geez. That would have destroyed me! I'd have shut it all off and gotten
electric space heaters.

> Last November a guy from National Grid knocks on the door and asks did
> we know we're cross connected not only on gas but electric to the retail
> store downstairs.
>
> Had my attorney contact the landlord. We look at it that I shelled out
> $5,000 that I shouldn't have had to. The case is winding through the
> civil courts now and the amount is up to $45,000 with damages and
> atttorney fees.

I hope you win. ;-)

>
> So a warning to you landlords out there, when a tenant tells you
> something is wrong, look into it and don't bullshit the tenant.

Indeed.
--
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 >,
"Pete C." > wrote:

> > Entrance on private property. I could not keep out spelunkers tho'.
> > They are generally respectful tho' so that is cool.
> >
> > It's still a pipe dream at the moment. ;-)
>
> A lot of work to drill an entrance into a cave, not the least of which
> is locating the surface point above the cave.

It would take some research and I'd want it drilled at a 45 degree angle
or so to make stairs more practical.

> > > Make a nice root cellar.
> >
> > No kidding!
> > Caverns here tend to be a bit damp tho.
> > Shallower ones are dryer.
>
> The one I was at in NB certainly was wet, another couple a fair distance
> to the west were quite dry.

Natural Bridge is a deeper cave than Wonder World.

> >
> > Ok, that's odd. The local cavers seem to be pretty responsible for the
> > most part.
>
> The "Cavers" are the "pros" and the ones affiliated with the NSS
> generally.

Hm. More research needed.... but the local explored map of WW cave is
posted. I think I could see about where it runs since I'm not that far
away.

I might simply be SOL.
--
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 >,
"Pete C." > wrote:

> > My house is all electric. On purpose...
>
> It's not a big deal really, when you have an oil bill for heating you
> have a low electric bill. Spend $100 on oil instead of electricity, it
> mostly balances. Of course in the summer you're using electric for A/C,
> but you are using little or no oil during those months.

LP keeps going up every year. I know people with tanks that are
seriously hurting in the winter. So much so that the heat gets shut off
and they use space heaters.

And convert over to electric stoves.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

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

Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> "Pete C." > wrote:
>
>>> My house is all electric. On purpose...
>> It's not a big deal really, when you have an oil bill for heating you
>> have a low electric bill. Spend $100 on oil instead of electricity, it
>> mostly balances. Of course in the summer you're using electric for A/C,
>> but you are using little or no oil during those months.
>
> LP keeps going up every year. I know people with tanks that are
> seriously hurting in the winter. So much so that the heat gets shut off
> and they use space heaters.
>
> And convert over to electric stoves.

Everyone has to do their part to keep all of those fashion statement
SUVs running...