Wow!

I was browsing the Aggie Horticulture website, from Texas A&M...and came across this article by George Washington Carver - the guy who found over 300 uses for the peanut - This article is all about growing tomatoes, and 115 ways of preparing tomatoes. I usually don't care for tomatoes (I don't like the guts inside) but the Tomatoes and Macaroni #1 sounds really tasty. I could see myself eating it. Same with the Tomatoes Smothered with Beef Steak. I think it would be good using chicken breasts in place of the steak, being white meat is usually dry.. would juice it up good. Anyway, here's the link, and enjoy!

Chopsticks

Lately I've been buying various things that catch my eye - it was teapots for a while.. but I have to knock that off, as I am out of room for teapots, and as hubby says.. how many teapots does one need? I have 6 teapots in various sizes, ranging from 16 ounces to 48 ounces, and use them at different times, 4 tea-for-ones. I guess enough of those. Lately its been chopsticks. Yes, chopsticks! Why? We eat with them. They make some gorgeous enamelled ones, and cloisonned chopsticks.

Chinese people have been using chopsticks as main tableware for more than 3,000 years.

Japanese Chopsticks are slightly different form Chinese Chopsticks, in that they are more tapered. In Japan they are called "Hashi" which means bridge.

Even our HEB has chopstick sets now.. although they are plastic and in these funky bright colors, not very pretty.. kind of cartoony looking. They are expanding their Asian food section there. They now carry Vietnamese rice wrappers, I noticed. And they also carry sushi rice, which we have a fondness for, instead of long grain fluffy rice. Nice sticky rice anyday!

Foods

Mercury found in high fructose corn syrup? yep! and here you thought it was 'safe' according to their commercials. Never mind the fact that it doesn't give you a feeling of fullness and you will keep sucking down the sodas that have it instead of sugar or some other sweetener - something to do with the insulin. USAToday has an article about mercury being found in HFCS - HERE so if you are interested in that, go read. Here is a page that lists some foods that do not contain HFCS > http://www.stophfcs.com/list.html and probably has some good ideas for NOT using it. I use Splenda when I bake, or stevia. When I make tea, I use a bag of licorice tea. Works great, just don't leave it in too long, or it will be very sweet.

On another note in foods, our grocery store started carrying Bacon Salt! Comes in a little jar, its salt..that tastes like BACON.. without the fat, and calories. I am going to buy a bottle of this, and try it.. not sure one what one would USE it? Eggs? Popcorn? Maybe with a porkchop. Jazz that puppy up! Normally I use Tony Chachere's on popcorn, or during the fall when I buy a pumpkin or two, and make roasted pumpkin seeds.

This coming March is our church's Preacher's Fellowship, and I volunteered to cook more so that the church would not have to purchase more food from local restaurants. Now to figure out *what* to cook. Figure 75 people, I am going to need more pans! Those disposable foil pans are going to come in handy during this time, I can tell. I am actually looking forward to this, because since the church did not start up a school year this time, I have not had much of anything to do, no class to teach.. so this really gives me something to do that I can enjoy.