Hi Nancy,

(I had to go look it up on my calendar) Actually, neither...
That was the day I went out to the CharBroil Family Restaurant
with other female members of our HS class... :) It was ok,
but not something to add to our list...

Charbroil Family place sounds like a nice "safe" place, one my parents would have enjoyed.

It was your typical slightly overpriced diner... :)

Interesting, most of the diners we've been to have had a good meal for a reasonable price. There's one in NJ near my aunt's that has a selection
of $8. meal choices--they all come with soup, salad, generous entree and dessert.

Thinking back, in the years we were in TX and AZ, they never tried
a Mexican restaurant. There was a German one in AZ for a while,
so they would go there but nothing other than maybe Italian for
ethnic cooking. Most of my siblings are closer to them in tastes than
I am, but part of that comes from having lived in so many different places, and the echo here.

And apparently enough of an adventurous streak... :)

A bit of that too.

[snippage] We both enjoyed the soup, I managed to eat the whole
thing there, Cathy took half home for later... Cathy was a

little NB>> put off by their lack of having things available, but we
both

agreed that the food was good... We might go back... :)

Sounds like it was a good meal. Putting American in the name might
bring in customers who might be a bit put off by what they think it too exotic, but not really, once they try it.

Dunno... I'm still leaning to the two menus theory... If we were to go back, it might be worth checking to see if there is a separate menu of "American" food.... maybe... ;)

Worth a try. (G)

One nice thing about Nam Vang vs Saigon Pho... the former does better NB>> at math... ;) Saigon Pho, I'm not sure how the final reckoning had NB>> anything to do with the printed price in the

menu... I'd thought I got NB>> something that was 7 or at most 9 dollars... it turned into 12 by the NB>> time we went up to pay...
At Nam Vang, the menu said 9 dollars... NB>> when it came time to
pay, it was 9 dollars... and the tax was included NB>> in that 9...
:) I felt better about leaving a tip there... ;)

Sounds like the calculator (human or otherwise) was having an off day.

I suspect that it was more the norm that the calculation is "creative"
at Saigon Pho... but still not too expensive for what it is... I heard that others have had the same issue there... :)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

I hadn't before, either, but it was part of a thread with
Michael, so I did the extra step... :)

I know, and it is interesting to follow some threads to full
conclusion. Speaking of, if you do go thru his books, if one or 2
really jump out at you as ones you think I'd like, please get them. Nothing on the Catholic bent, more so the biographies, art or classics, and no more than 2 unless there's something extra extra-ordinary.
Thanks.

I'm not too sure on what you'd be wanting, but I can try... :)

Worst that can happen is that they end up at a Good Will in NC.

They're one of the canned veggies I do buy a lot of to use in
chili, sometimes pasta sauce, beef stew, other dishes.......

And I rarely make chili or other tomatoey dishes any more...
pasta sauce I'm usually using Wegmans Italian Classics Grampa's
Sauce (has a hot-peppery kick from the hot Italian sausage in
it)... beef stew nowadays has no tomato in it here... haven't
made ratatouille for ages... etc... ;)

All depends on what you're cooking and how you're cooking. We've
evolved our beef stew over the years. I used to make it very similar to
my mom's but then began tweaking it a bit here and there............

Exactly... My parents' beef stew had tomatoes in it and a fairly thin broth... stew beef chunks, potatoes, carrots and canned tomatoes...
with parsley, dried onions, s&p probably... and cooked in the pressure cooker... ;) I didn't make it very often once I left home, mostly
because of the quantity it made.... :)

I started doing it in a crock pot, then switched to my mom's stove top
recipe with a slight twist to it. Now it has more of a twist but it may
not be done evolving yet. (G)

To get extra cents off BJ's gas at one point, I bought a pack
of canned tomatoes there (a dozen maybe?)... haven't opened
the package at all yet...

Understandable. I'd probably have the box gone thru, or close
to it. (G)

Probably... ;)

Just the way I cook. (G)

They had it last year also, but I couldn't go as it was the
same week as our Vermont VBS.

Oh, well... at least this year the dates fit better... :)

Yes, so I asked Steve if we could wait on leaving until I could
get there at least one day. I'm sure he will want to go also.

(G) NB>> That's being held right in the Raleigh area, then...? I'm
sure

you both will enjoy it... :)

Yes, it is in Raleigh so I don't want to miss it. A few years ago when
we worked it, there was a quilt hanging a couple of rows over from us
that kept drawing our attention. Finally we went over to look closer, ended up buying the kit. It's the one Steve is working on now. (G)

So maybe he'll get a new quilt kit this time... ;) Are you going to
be there just the one day, or can you fit in more...?

Steve doesn't think he will be buying any more kits any time soon. He
wants to get this one put together first. (G) I may be down there more
than one day; Steve isn't sure how much he will be there.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)

On 06-03-18 23:31, Ruth Haffly <=-
spoke to Nancy Backus about pickled beets <=-

It was your typical slightly overpriced diner... :)

Interesting, most of the diners we've been to have had a good meal for
a reasonable price. There's one in NJ near my aunt's that has a
selection of $8. meal choices--they all come with soup, salad, generous entree and dessert.

There is a diner that is not far from us and is also a local chain,
called the Double T diner. They have a menu that is perhaps six pages
long, maybe more. Most of the items are mostly as you say, decent food
for a good price. BUT every now and then one hits an exception. Gail
likes Liver & Onions, and often gets it there rather than cooking it at
home. One time we were with friends and her liver came out as hard as a
rock. For some reason, she did not send it back but admitted later that
she should have done so. I once ordered a T-bone steak from them. I
asked for my usual medium rare but what I got was a steak that was
perhaps 1/4 inch thick and gray all the way through. OTOH, they have
many other good dishes, most of which are enough to feed the both of us
these days or enough to bring home half for next night's dinner


MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: Roast Tarragon Chicken
Categories: Main dish, Chicken
Yield: 4 Servings

1 (2 kg) chicken
Salt & pepper
1 Knob of butter
1 Bunch tarragon =OR=
3 ts Dried tarragon
4 tb Vegetable oil
2 Bacon rashers

Wash chicken and shake salt and pepper into the cavity, add butter and
some of the fresh tarragon or 2 ts of dried tarragon . Place the bird
in a baking dish, pour the vegetable oil over it, sprinkle with salt
and pepper, and put a spray of tarragon or 1 ts of dried tarragon on
top. Place greaseproof paper or a piece of brown paper over the
chicken and put in a moderately hot oven 190~C (375~F) for 1 1/2
hours. After 20 - 30 minutes, take the paper off the bird and baste
it with the liquid from the dish, then replace the paper. If roasting
vegetables, put them in the baking dish now with the chicken. Baste
again in another 1/2 hour. During the last 20 minutes, remove the
paper and cover the breast with bacon rashers.

Hemphill's Book Of Herbs.

From: Greg Mayman Date: 02-17-97
Fido-National Cooking Echo

MMMMM


... Shipwrecked on Hesperus in Columbia, Maryland. 02:27:31, 05 Jun 2018
___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30

--- Maximus/NT 3.01
* Origin: Owl's Anchor (1:261/1466)

Hi Dale,

It was your typical slightly overpriced diner... :)

Interesting, most of the diners we've been to have had a good meal for
a reasonable price. There's one in NJ near my aunt's that has a
selection of $8. meal choices--they all come with soup, salad, generous entree and dessert.

There is a diner that is not far from us and is also a local chain,
called the Double T diner. They have a menu that is perhaps six pages

I've seen them but we've never stopped at one.

long, maybe more. Most of the items are mostly as you say, decent
food for a good price. BUT every now and then one hits an exception.
Gail
likes Liver & Onions, and often gets it there rather than cooking it
at home. One time we were with friends and her liver came out as hard
as a rock. For some reason, she did not send it back but admitted
later that she should have done so. I once ordered a T-bone steak

We've never had a problem with the food except that the serving sizes
are on the large side. Usually with the all in one meals, I end up
taking some of the entree and the dessert home.

asked for my usual medium rare but what I got was a steak that was
perhaps 1/4 inch thick and gray all the way through. OTOH, they have

SIgh! It was cooked the way my parents would have enjoyed it.

many other good dishes, most of which are enough to feed the both of
us these days or enough to bring home half for next night's dinner

We tried a couple of new to us places for lunch yesterday and today.
Yesterday we went to "The Habit" which is basically a burger place. It
does have grilled chicken and salad available also but the emphasis is
on the open flame chargrilled burgers. Couldn't get it done to a
specific done-ness but it was good! Probably at least 1/3 pound of meat
topped with caramelized onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a
sturdy bun. Steve had a double cheese, I had a single, no cheese. It
came with fries but we could sub out other sides so Steve had sweet
potato fries; I had a fresh made side salad (croutons on top were
crunchy, not soggy). They serve Coke products plus a variety of herbal
teas.

Today we went to "The Village Bakery", another local chain. They
specialise in sandwiches, salads and pizza; we had the hot pastrami with provelone (also came with pickles and--yellow--mustard on squaw brad,
which was basically a fluffly dark rye. The bread was thick cut, about
half again the width of a standard slice. The amount of meat was
generous so we each ate 3/4 and took home a half sandwich. We got the
combo here which included a drink and a cookie (saved that also) of
choice. Steve went for a pumpkin chocolate chip; my choice was chocolate chocolate chip. They also had the basic Coke line up of drinks. Of the 2 places, we'd probably be more inclined to go back to "The Habit" but
both were very good. Paid a bit less in the first (under $20.) than the
second (under $25.) but the food was much better than the average fast
food place.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Are you sure you really want to know that?

--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)

Hi Nancy,

Charbroil Family place sounds like a nice "safe" place, one my
parents would have enjoyed.

It was your typical slightly overpriced diner... :)

Interesting, most of the diners we've been to have had a good meal for
a reasonable price. There's one in NJ near my aunt's that has a
selection of $8. meal choices--they all come with soup, salad, generous entree and dessert.

That sort is hard to find around here... admittedly I've not tried all
the possibilities... but the places I've been, entrees are more like
$12, and only come with potato and veggie... soup or salad is an
upcharge, dessert is extra. And sandwiches are $8 and up, and only
come with chips and a pickle, or, for a little more, a side of something...
as I said, slightly overpriced.....

They've lost the old concept of a diner--fill you up for a reasonable
price.

Thinking back, in the years we were in TX and AZ, they never
tried a Mexican restaurant. There was a German one in AZ for a
while, so they would go there but nothing other than maybe
Italian for ethnic cooking. Most of my siblings are closer to
them in tastes than I am, but part of that comes from having
lived in so many different places, and the echo here.

And apparently enough of an adventurous streak... :)

A bit of that too.

That always helps develop an expanded taste repertoire... ;)

Yes, and wanting to break away from the way of eating I was brought up
on. To this day I'll usually have an alternative to mashed potatoes,
whether it's eating out or cooking at home. I'll make mashed for certain
meals, but not nearly every night like Mom did.

[snippage] We both enjoyed the soup, I managed to eat the whole
thing there, Cathy took half home for later... Cathy was a
little put off by their lack of having things available, but we
both agreed that the food was good... We might go back... :)

Sounds like it was a good meal. Putting American in the name

might RH>> bring in customers who might be a bit put off by what they think

it too exotic, but not really, once they try it.

Dunno... I'm still leaning to the two menus theory... If we were
to go back, it might be worth checking to see if there is a
separate menu of "American" food.... maybe... ;)

Worth a try. (G)

Well... I was back, this time because Edith requested going there...
and I wimped out and didn't ask... ;) Another time maybe... (G)

You're close enough that you can go back easier than I can. (G)

One nice thing about Nam Vang vs Saigon Pho... the former does
better at math... ;) Saigon Pho, I'm not sure how the final
reckoning had anything to do with the printed price in the
menu... I'd thought I got something that was 7 or at most 9
dollars... it turned into 12 by the time we went up to pay...
At Nam Vang, the menu said 9 dollars... when it came time to
pay, it was 9 dollars... and the tax was included in that 9. :)
I felt better about leaving a tip there... ;)

Sounds like the calculator (human or otherwise) was having an
off day.

I suspect that it was more the norm that the calculation is
"creative" at Saigon Pho... but still not too expensive for what
it is... I heard that others have had the same issue there... :)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

I think you'd enjoy eating at either (or both) of them, even so... ;)
An interesting tidbit... when we went with Edith on Sunday, there were
the same people there at Nam Vang, but when I paid the check with a
credit card, the tax got added onto the total after all... Still not
as creative as next door... ;) Maybe it's a discount for cash... ;)

It's possible.

Speaking of, if you do go thru his books, if one or 2 really
jump out at you as ones you think I'd like, please get them.
Nothing on the Catholic bent, more so the biographies, art or
classics, and no more than 2 unless there's something extra
extra-ordinary. Thanks.

I'm not too sure on what you'd be wanting, but I can try... :)

Worst that can happen is that they end up at a Good Will in NC.

I might be giving you a phone call from there... ;)

OK, but let's take this thread to e-mail.

Exactly... My parents' beef stew had tomatoes in it and a

fairly NB>> thin broth... stew beef chunks, potatoes, carrots and
canned

tomatoes... with parsley, dried onions, s&p probably... and
cooked in the pressure cooker... ;) I didn't make it very often
once I left home, mostly because of the quantity it made.... :)

I started doing it in a crock pot, then switched to my mom's stove top recipe with a slight twist to it. Now it has more of a twist but it
may not be done evolving yet. (G)

I do a semi-homemade quickie version nowadays, using fresh veggies
nuked to almost done and then mixing in a package of Hormel beef tips
and
gravy... sometimes I add turmeric and black pepper... and nuke them
for a few more minutes to blend... :)

Quick and easy for you. That might work for a camper meal for us, or a
night when we need a quick and easy supper before we head out again.

Yes, it is in Raleigh so I don't want to miss it. A few years

ago when RH>> we worked it, there was a quilt hanging a couple of
rows over from us RH>> that kept drawing our attention. Finally we
went over to look closer, RH>> ended up buying the kit. It's the one Steve is working on now. (G) NB>> So maybe he'll get a new quilt kit
this time... ;) Are you going to NB>> be there just the one day, or
can you fit in more...?

Steve doesn't think he will be buying any more kits any time soon. He wants to get this one put together first. (G) I may be down there more than one day; Steve isn't sure how much he will be there.

That makes sense... :) I know you'll enjoy yourself there... :)
You'll

Planning to really enjoy it. (G)

CONTINUED IN NEXT MESSAGE <<

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Gone crazy, be back later. leave a message at the Beep!

--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)