Tuesdays Throwdowns Our Daily Dinner

Tuesdays Throwdowns

pointsevenout 14 years ago

I'm playing the part of the night owl. Cool enough to have the windows open. I'm antsy about today's dentist appointment.

Have plenty of minestrone to munch on today.

Tractor part is fixed. Needs to be installed then back to work clearing some acreage for the neighbor. Can't get too involved with it and be spent before the dentist appointment.

Going to have a heart to heart with the dentist. Recieved an unexpected bill from a biopsy lab. Don't know where the money is going to come from to pay the bill. It's something he did while I was under, to test if any of the cysts were cancerous. I'm sure I signed paperwork to allow the dentist a free hand during the procedure. I'm sure its a CYA move on his part in an attempt to be thorough. Going to try to get the bill reduced some or maybe payments set up with the lab.

I had to borrow the cash for the dentists work and thought I had all angles covered.

Dawn is just around the hour and it's time to put on a load of dishes while the house is still cool.

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

It stinks when you get unexpected bills like that Points! I do wish you luck with the dentist today.

Very humid and hot already and only 7AM. Hamburgers and salads by the fan tonight!

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notyourmomma 14 years ago said:

Best of luck Points.

I'm on the payment system with the hospital, too. Every two weeks, they get something.

I've got 4 cups of cooked cooled chicken and enough veggies to make chicken and dumplings. Family request. So that will be supper. Sounds like an odd meal with the heat we've been experiencing, but sometimes it is the internal comfort factor that wins over the external comfort factor. I add dill weed to the dumplings and a bit of chicken base to the dumpling dough to give it more flavor.

Pulled a blueberry pie from the freezer to bake in the toaster oven....Have put a big stickie note on it. "MUST BE COOKED Before eaten." Hopefully Fred won't eat it raw, like the apple pie debacle of last month.

Hope all the well with you and yours this fine day.

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laurieg 14 years ago said:

points I am on the payment system with the dentist. I am down to owing him $77.00 and now I need a crown. We have Dental Insurance but the bills are so high and you have to counter that times 4. then my youngest had sealants put on so she wouldn't get cavities and the insurance company decided it wouldn't pay for 3 of the 4 of them. They said they only pay once during a certain time frame. I fought it, the dentist fought it , his secretary fought it and they wouldn't budge. she needed them. She grinds her teeth and wore away the first set.
not sure whats for dinner tonight, either eggs benedict, or an egg frittata, have a ton of eggs. youngest wants chocolate chip pancakes today. I haven't made them in a while. gonna make a huge batch. i freeze them in little baggies of 3 and she loves to have them for breakfast before school. School starts the 1st! This summer went by so fast.

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pointsevenout 14 years ago said:

We have a very light drizzle this morning. Enough so, that there are several chores outside that will not get done today. Can't say I'm not pleased. Have some paperwork for mother to fill out to get her on food stamps.

Drizzle is getting harder. Will have to find some inside stuff to do today. Soon as all the dishes are cleaned, maybe I can do that peach upside-down cake.

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

I would be happy to get some rain,maybe break the heat!

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laurieg 14 years ago said:

muggy here today. but love it! I hope the weather holds out for September because our summer was so rainy. Love to get the pool usage.

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

Sorry Laurie,I love fall and I would love to see cooler weather while we are on the Cape Labor Day week. Can't stand the humidity!

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pointsevenout 14 years ago said:

Peach upside-down cake is made. Going to wait until after I see the dentist to cut into it. Just hope mother doesn't slaughter it before I get back. I need to try to take one more picture for the recipe page of the sliced piece.

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

Good luck, Points

Took a meatloaf out of the freezer last night for tonight but now I don't want meatloaf....I hate when that happens!!!!..Maybe I'll change my mind again.....LOL

This heat is awful!!!!!

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

Points, you can most definitely haggle with the dentist in this economy. I saw a whole segment on it on Today show last week. They even haggled at Whole Foods! Good luck! Hope Mom doesn't slaughter the cake too, LOL, love to see a pic!

I hate the humidity too Pat, but we don't get anywhere near what you do, but I remember in Savannah just dying, like having your head in an oven! Ugh! We're having hamburger tonight too. With leftover potato salad. Gonna be in high 80's today, and 90's tomorrow, before it cools down dramatically. Hopefully we won't get as hot as Seattle, usually don't.

Tina, those dumplings sounds divine! I love the note on the pie - LOL

Laurie, I'm on MY OWN payment system with a drug company - outrageously priced - I owed them for back payments of over $2,300.00 and they keep sending me threatening stamps on the bill that say "last bill you will receive before we hand this over to a collection agency" Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah, get in line LOL I'd been giving them $500 a month, then $300, then $100 when we got tight, and they have the gaul to say that! They've been getting $50 a month now for 3 months and nothing more. I'm still getting the bills with that 'note' - LOL - no collection agency. I've got it down to $1200 and something. Screw them! Sorry - sore subject.......

Wynne, I don't think you want the oven on in that heat you're having, and I don't think you can nuke a meatloaf - LOL

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

The meatloaf is already cooked...Just gotta heat it up....Still not in the mood for it!!...LOL

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mrtnzangel8 14 years ago said:

Sorry you guys are having such hot muggy weather. The last week before school starts is all rainy and dreary. I'm sure that has something to do with the down in the dumps feeling I've been having lately. But, I made myself go to bed early last night, (yes, 11:30 is early for me. lol) and woke up feeling a bit better today. Just so much to do and the Summer just flew by!

The Swiss steak stew turned out pretty good last night. Tastes just like a beef stew. When I do Swiss steak I use those bag 'n' season things and made a double batch of it because it was a family pack of meat. I saved the meat and the gravy, chopped up the meat, sauteed some green pepper and onion, threw all that in a crock pot with some leftover canned peas/corn/green beans, not quite a cup of water, 4 little white potatoes and a half can of diced tomatoes.

Not sure about tonight but NYM's got me thinking of chicken and dumplings...I have a few legs and thighs left from the savory chicken the other night. No chicken broth or cubes, though...hmmmm

Maybe some chicken tacos...

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sparow64 14 years ago said:

Love swiss steak Ang, that stew sounds good! Great idea for the leftovers. Chicken tacos sound good.

JJM - I ALWAYS do meatloaf in the microwave. It's the only way to go. Is done in about 18 minutes, nice and brown, a little crusty around the edges. Learned that little trick from my Mom.

Love chicken and dumplings, Tina! Yours sound awesome.

Good luck with the dentist, Points. Can't wait to see the pictures, that cake sounds great.

I found a turkey tenderloin, (looks like a pork tenderloin), on sale at Ingles. It's already marinated "rotisserie" flavor. Yeah, I'm cheating. lol Gonna throw that on the grill. Not sure what I will do to go with it. I have just been a complete and total blank when it comes to cooking lately. Can't think of anything I want to cook...and I love to cook. Just don't want to right now...what's up with that? lol

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

I know exactly what you mean, Lori.....This heat really has me not even wanting to eat, let alone cook

Never had chicken and dumplings!!!

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knoxcop 14 years ago said:

Well, late check-in for this old girl. Hubby's gone on a long run to pick up a bad Marine in SC at Parris Island---won't be back until later tomorrow evening.

It's just the kiddo and me tonight---It's one of those Hamburger Helper kinda nights, y'all. He really loves the stuff, and it's easy. After all the cooking I've done --- I can certainly use an easy squeezy night!!

Gah. Off to the cake supply. Have a simple little sheeter to make for an LSU fan--- and I am not thrilled to be baking, let me tell ya. Oh well--I can use the whipped cream pre-made on this one. That was their request --- lawwwd knows if it's not an ALL BUTTER buttercream, I don't like it. LOL

Hey--wasn't I supposed to be on SABBATICAL by now? LOL

--Kn0x--

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

I use dill in my dumplings but I will have to try a little chicken base!

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sparow64 14 years ago said:

WYNNE! NEVER? As in never EVER??????????? WOW....

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

I have had chicken and dumplings but never made them.......................

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

Anyone want to reference a good recipe. Tina ,maybe or whoever. Would like to give them a try!

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

I have NEVER EVER had chicken and dumplings....I know, sometimes I feel like I live under a rock.....Or the Northeast!!!....LOL

Pat, I'm always interested in a good recipe!!!!

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mrtnzangel8 14 years ago said:

If I remember right, you've never had biscuits and gravy, either. Girl, you need to channel your inner Southerner! LOL

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sparow64 14 years ago said:

O-M-G! NO biscuits and gray either? WOW... ok, we gotta get some real food in you, GF!

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

I have never had biscuits and gravy but I am willing to try!

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

We don't live under a rock Wynne but we do livee in the Northeast. I remember being in Atlanta and having Hush Puppies. Loved them. Now tat I think of it< i may have had biscuits and gravy. It's a country gravy,right!

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mrtnzangel8 14 years ago said:

Yep. Sausage gravy or bacon gravy...mmmmmm

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

I've had country gravy.....It's the gravy you make for chicken fried steak.....but no, no biscuits and gravy either.....Love hushpuppies, I've had those and love them.....Deep fat fried is how I got a stomach roll, girls!!!!.....LOL

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

LOL....I was thinking, I did live in Alabama for 18 months when I was a kid and the only thing I remember is figs I could pick off a tree in the back yard and raw oysters....Yuck...Was seriously traumatized by them when forced to try one....Probably why I don't eat shell fish

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

Wynne,you didn't mean you picked raw oyster off a tree! LOL!!

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

No Pat.....FIgs off the tree and then raw oysters....The 2 things I remember from Alabama....LOL

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

I was just kiddin you!

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notyourmomma 14 years ago said:

Oh, my oh my.......ya'll seriously need to get some Southern comfort food.
Sawmill gravy or sausage gravy over biscuits is a wonderful food. Splash of hot sauce if you want it.
Chicken and dumplings are an art onto themselves. Think chicken potpie filling as your stew with fluffy dill/dumplings, all puffy and floating in the liquid. A southern version of a matzoh ball.....you want floaters not sinkers. Carrots, peas, onions, chicken chunks, thickened broth, thyme and I mix up bisquick dumplings but add a spoon full of chicken base and a bunch of dried dill with a pinch of pepper. Just drop the batter in bubbling broth and cover and let it simmer until the batter cooks through.
Some people like rolled dumplings...like Paula Deen and Cracker Barrel. They make a dough similar to a pie crust and cut it in strips or squares and drop them in the simmering broth and it makes a cooked dough goodie to nibble with the soup/stew.

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

Okay all this talk about Southern food has really got me wanting some black-eyed peas, and corn bread with Karo syrup. The only dumplings I've ever had were made by my grandmother and my aunt, both dyed in the wool Southerners - and they were the doughy kind which I hated, just a kid, - but my mom said her mom made them fluffy. That I might like! Yours do sound incredible though, Tina! Biscuits and my mother's fried chicken gravy! Seriously good stuff!!!!

Wynne, you were in AL for 18 months and all you remember having is oysters and figs! GF, you must've been a kid then. There's some serious bbq in Bama!

Lori, I'd have never thought nuked meatloaf would be browned? I just pictured some soggy greased soaked light brown mess.....LOL Sorry for the graphic... Who knew....

Walked with my mom this morning, ate my leftover gumbo on her back deck and played Rumikub till 3. It's managed to stay nice and cool at my house - hot in the sun, but not in here, thank God.

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

Oh and Ang, that swiss steak stew sounds marvelous - did you post it? Are you gonna? huh? huh?

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

Now I want souther food. Remember having some wonderful food in Atlanta!

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notyourmomma 14 years ago said:

http://www.grouprecipes.com/39902/chicken-and-dumplings.html by Riverrat is a close proximity to what I do. I just add the chicken base and dill to pump up the flavor of the dumpling itself. Mom used to make her dumplings from scratch and they were fluffy with the baking soda and buttermilk and seasoned with poultry seasoning. So what ever floats your boat!

I looked at the chicken and dumplings from southernplate and it didn't look at all like the dish my mom taught me. It is more like the Cracker Barrel Version. Best advice is DON'T stir and break up the dumplings. Gently spoon the bubbly broth over them to cook them on all sides. Plus, I like the color the peas, carrots, onions, and corn add to the broth.

Oh, dear me, know I want black eyed peas too.

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

LOL....Never had black eyed peas either!!!!!

Gotta say though, chicken and dumplings sounds like something I'd like

I was a kid when in Alabama....8-9....And hated it, that's why I came home.....Sorry, Points....

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laurieg 14 years ago said:

wynne must be a Northeast of Mass thing, I never had chicken in dumplings or black eyed peas. When I made gumbo for the first time I had to ask someone what OKra looked like (totally not what I thought it was).
One of you Southerners need to come to Mass and cook poor Wynne and I up some home cooking LOL
Didn't wind up cooking the eggs tonight, went to the mall & we had food at the food court. & the worst Ice cream at Brighams I was so dissapointed. My favorite Ice Cream is their peppermint stick, and there are not too many of the Brigham's franchises left so when I see it at the mall, I gotta have it. Wouldn't you know they were out of it. and so I got soft serve YUK it was so bad tasted like icy milk with some sugar.

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

Is THAT where Points IS? OMG, I didn't realize that.... Wynne, black-eyed peas are a 'either you love 'em or hate 'em" thing I have found from people. I happen to LOVE them, but only when they're cooked from scratch (not the canned sh@!) the way my Mom makes 'em. And over rice is to die for........ or a little tabasco as my Dad would eat them.

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pointsevenout 14 years ago said:

No umbrage taken. I wasn't issued here.

Just had a nice slice of peach upside-down cake. Pics and reviews are posted in the IMI group.

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mrtnzangel8 14 years ago said:

JJM...don't rush me! hahaha
I do drag my feet when it comes to posting recipes, huh? I'll try and work on that...hey, I got the Alfredo sauce finally posted after having it for a year...

Oh Southernplate...she is the simplest of the Southerners I believe. Not much fancy there but I love it anyway.

Hanging head in shame, haven't had black eyed peas that didn't come out of a can since grandma passed, I do miss her so much. Maybe this New Year's I will make a resolution to do them from scratch. Far as I know, me and Mighty Mouth are the only ones that like them. Maybe they will change their tune if I do them homemade?

Rummikub! One of my favorite games...I've got to put that on the list to get.

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mrtnzangel8 14 years ago said:

Oh, dinner turned out to be another bag 'n' season one. Country chicken...I was thinking maybe I could get some chicken and dumplings out of the leftovers of this one....we'll see.

I know all you store bought mixes haters might be wrinkling up your noses at me right now, but I've fallen prey to that cooking doldrums myself lately. The swiss steak stew is probably the most inspired I have been lately. Maybe I feel the need to figure out different things to do with leftovers....hmmm

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

Ahem...Ang, I AM the leftover Queen. LOL I think I've re-vamped everything from pork roast to chicken! No head hanging in shame necessary - I have NEVER made black-eyed peas from scratch or otherwise - why do it, when your mom makes 'em! LOL Rumikub was fun... Gonna go check out that peach upside-down cake Points!

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

That cake DOES look good, Points! Great pics.

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wynnebaer 14 years ago said:

I am a confessed user of store bought mixes...There are some really good ones out there and why not if it saves time, and money for that matter.....You know how much money I've spent trying something and needing the ingredients just to find out I didn't like it......And then what, try to find something else to use that ingredient for, when it was the one that made the meal unappealing in the first place...Did that make any sense at all?

I've even been guilty of making hamburger helper....The kids love it....And I mean everytime the boys come over, Ricky asks me to make it...That's sick but hey, if he loves it, he loves it and I make it..

Laurie, I think you're right in that one of our southern friends should get up here and cook for us....Your house, you have the pool....LOL...I'll bring the drinks...Any volunteers?

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pleclare 14 years ago said:

O.K.,I would be ready to put up one of our Southerners to cook for us Massholes! LOL!

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notyourmomma 14 years ago said:

I'd absolutely volunteer to come North of the Mason-Dixon and cook for all of you.

I'm not above using Hamburger Helper.....except I make my own mix with the Master Mix from the Hillbilly Housewife. I make a huge batch and keep it in big tin. And it makes great seasoning for meatballs too. And into a Tuna noodle when I have extra tuna from AF. I make big batches of the stuff with recipe cards for the kids going off to college along with a collapsible laundry basket stocked with essentials.....canned soup, ramen noodles, peanut butter, crackers, packed in cookie tins and the jar of Master mix. It saves the kids money and it might get someone who never cooked before interested in cooking. I did it for Liv when she said she wanted to cook once a week....which lasted 3 weeks. LOL (Other Must haves in the "off to college kit" Mr. Clean Eraser,.Tide To-Go Sticks, Stick Spray-n-Wash, Stick-ums Air Fresheners, Clorox Pens, and laminated laundry instructions--along with a big bottle of Tylenol, Tums, Alka-Seltzer and a bottle of Pepto-Bismol) MOM in a basket.

Now, I've cooked black-eyed peas from dry, frozen and even heated canned in a pinch. Personally, I prefer the frozen peas and cooking them with all the seasonings including the smoked ham hock (or low fat with a smoked turkey wing) the way my momma taught me. Other times, I pressure cook the dry ones, with no fat and some garlic and onion seasoning and then dress them into pickled black-eyed peas. Southern Caviar!!! Oh so good.

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notyourmomma 14 years ago said:

Okay, what is Rumikub? I've never heard of it?

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laurieg 14 years ago said:

I think the hamburger helper mixes are too small, it is supposed to feed a family? I like the doctored up mac and cheese from this site, The Kids absolutely LOVE it. and it kind of tastes like hamburger helper. I do take the shortcuts myself but hubby doesn't really like it & always threatens to report me to the Powers at Group Recipe. I don't know who he thinks he is gonna get? and what would actually be done to me. But for some reason he thinks I will get in some sort of trouble if I am reported. I am not a big fan of can of "whatever" cream of soup recipes, for some reason I feel like I can taste the can. Crazy cuz I love progresso canned soup for lunch in the winter.

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

WOW! Tina I'll say it again: YOU ARE REALLY SOMETHING! Where you get your cooking ambition is beyond me!

Rumikub is a game from, oh I'd guess it came out around 1980 or so, plastic tiles with No. 1 -13 with 4 different colors and you draw 14 each and keep on your tray, taking turns drawing one tile from bag (easiest way) till you have 50 pts., when you can lay down your tiles (same as rummy runs) people can lay on what you put down, vice versa, and they are face value, goal to get rid of all your tiles first. TMI! Huh? Now you know. It's fun... Easy non-threatening game. My kind. LOL

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notyourmomma 14 years ago said:

I like non-threatening games, I like the sound of Rumikub....my MIL was a cut-throat pinochle player and berated me no end for not "getting the killer instinct" in the game.
If Fred could still reason and count, it sounds like a game we could play, he is too easily frustrated with cribbage anymore. He hates backgammon and won't contemplate chess. Forget scrabble, he can not spell.

Donna, I don't know if it is as much cooking ambition as much as it is that I love to fix foods that make other people happy. I like the nurturing aspect of it. When they told me Tyler would "never eat again" I was devastated and I spent the better part of three years taking him to feeding and swallowing therapy twice a week, teaching him to swallow. Food was one of his greatest pleasures and I could not take that away from him, too. My mom was very frugal, worked split shifts and she had me in the kitchen early to cook for my sisters and maybe being the little "momma" at eight influenced me for life. I did the same with Olivia (not of necessity but for fun) and she despises cooking.....she only likes the eating part. So who knows, maybe there is a cooking gene and I have it in excess???? If I have to be addicted to something, it might as well involve chopping onions and making messes in the kitchen.

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justjakesmom 14 years ago said:

LOL - you go GF!

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