December 1, 2005

  • The one downside to ordering gifts online is when they are delivered in multiple, large boxes.

    Don was not pleased.  Took me awhile to unpack 'em and break 'em down, though there's still a mountain of inflated packing pillow-stuff in the dining room.  Can't think what to do with that, other than getting Dmitry to attack it with scissors or something.

    Along with the Target order came my initial Melaleuca order, so in addition to toys for the grandchildren there are myriad bottles of cleaning stuff setting on the buffet, the bookcase, the dryer...

    No wonder the UPS guy's knock sounded a smidge, er, impatient.  Must have had to make a run just for us.

    Dmitry is tickled pink as he has a "free" day tomorrow, which means he can dress casually and take his Gameboy to school, for he passed TWO tests this week, including making a 95 on his science test. 
    My daughter, Jessica, is also in a merry mood, as she had an interview yesterday with the regional manager for Chili's (where she currently works) with a view to entering Chili's management program.  Yesterday she said the interview went very well, and this afternoon she called to say she has seven "mids" this month.  

    Okay, I didn't know what it meant either, though it was obviously intended to be impressive. 

    These are days one works apparently virtually all day long, shadowing the manager on duty and learning the managerial ropes.  Jessica said the most common thing is for someone who has been interviewed and passed gets maybe two or three "mids" in a month, while she has seven.  Apparently they are really pushing her along. 

    Yesterday while at Half Priced Books I came across a neat series of cookbooks called "Retro Whatever"; I bought Retro Diner and Retro Pies.  This evening I made a vegetable pie to accompany the pork chops, and it was right tasty, though I wished I'd made my own pie crust instead of wimping out and settling for a Pillsbury already-made one.  This is twice I've tried it and I didn't like it either time, so no more.  What's odd is, I tried the Market Pantry (SuperTarget private label) crust a month or two ago and liked it fine.  Pillsbury, look to your laurels.

    Anyway, the filling for the pie was comprised of sautéed onions, mushrooms, zucchini, shredded Swiss cheese, thyme, salt and pepper.  It was very good, and Dmitry liked it a lot, anxiously requesting I save the leftovers so we can have it for another dinner. 

    Speaking of thyme, you know something annoys me?  Why do dried spices and herbs come in such large quantities, comparatively speaking?  I like thyme, sage, dill and so on but I don't use that much of the stuff, yet according to the Cooking Powers That Be, spices and herbs should be used within six months.  Hey, they are not giving this stuff away (have you priced ground cloves lately?  ), so I'll be doggone if I'm going to toss nearly-full containers of herbs and spices just because six months have gone by.

    Shoot, I'm pretty sure I've got containers that have been around for six years, never mind six months. 

Comments (11)

  • I just finished up a container of bay leaves that I figure (based on the fact that I bought it when I lived 150 miles from here, and I'm pretty sure I bought it soon after I moved there) FOURTEEN YEARS AGO.

    Well, that's the LAST time I ever buy a food service container of bay leaves! LOL

    Yeah, the stuff I don't use often is years and years old. And I don't care.

  • Oh, dang! I meant to say in the first comment:

    Woohoo Dmitry and Jessica! Good show on both of ya!

  • I was annoyed that someone in my household (John or Jordan) threw away my old herbs in those little Safeway cans - with the price tags still on them.  I was saving them for nostalgia.  Dried herbs definitely last 5 years, at least (the way I look at it).

    My new "handle" makes me sould like a nun....hmmmm

  • What about the new fridge?? And congrats to Jessica and Dimi! And you for shopping the easy way. Concerning herbs etc. I may have a Safeway can Jeanne if you want to try Ebay. Ha.

  • Don's been busy as the proverbial bird dog (looks like CommWorld's getting the "T" (that's the strange name of the Fort Worth bus system) account! Was told yesterday afternoon they'd won the bid), so he's going to the Fry's in Dallas today to take a gander.

    Unless he falls crazy in love with something there, I think we'll probably go with the Maytag being forced upon our notice.

  • Melaleuca? What's that?

    Congrats to Dima and Jessica! Nice going. Not only beautiful but brainy, too. Incredible. :)

    me<><

  • Anne, find health food stores in the Yellow Pages, and call them to ask if they have bulk herbs.  That way they are fresh, and you only buy what you need, usually for pennies.  That's what I do.  But I use alot of herbs, in soups, breads and casseroles.

    Good going D & J!

  • Whoops, that was me, Eleanor.  That weird person in the picture is Meg.

  • That's a decent notion, Eleanor....thanks!

  • Cindy, melaleuca is the tea tree (Australian, New Zealand? I can't remember which).  Anyway, its oil is anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, lots of good stuff.  I buy straight tea tree oil from the health food store, but "Melaleuca" is a particular brand name, too.  They sell lots of household and health products made with melaleuca oil.

    HTH

  • You can freeze herbs. That makes their flavor last longer. But I don't. ;) I just use them till they're gone unless they've lost their scent.

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