Thanks for the recipe! Which ones of mine do you want?

If so, do you wanna swap? I am sitting here eating chicken pot pie that I consider absolutely a treasure. I would literally cry if I lost the recipe (except that I know where to find it again online, lol!). I have never tasted pot pie filling that I thought was this good. If I had to pick a last meal, this might be it. I also have a peanut butter chocolate dessert recipe that I feel the same way about (except that I have it memorized). It's very, VERY good, and I am not kidding you when I say that people wax philosophical about this dessert. I make a lot of desserts for the restaurant, and there are lots of good ones, but fans of this particular dessert actually whine when we run out. Mmmm....I also have a pulled pork sandwich recipe that I love. It's pork, after all, how could you go wrong? Still, this one makes my mouth water. I'd consider pm'ing any of these treasure recipes of mine, if anyone has a "treasure recipe" that they just KNOW I would want. :bigear: :lurk5: ETA: It doesn't have to be a recipe that you personally composed. It can be one that you made up, were given, found online or on the back of a can. The point is that it has to be one where people are uniformly blown away when you serve it to them. :thumbup1:

Touching a nerve is right! It isn't as though I haven't done the childbirth thing (I have, lots!), and no one is descending up on her. She's not even being asked to allow people to hold the baby. I just think that sequestering the baby such that family cannot even take a peek is a bit much. She's having people deliver meals to her for 2 weeks (which we are glad to do), so it's not as though she delivered yesterday and we're all flocking there in droves insisting that she has glam hair & makeup. Squirting germ gel doesn't signal that you take motherhood seriously, it signals that you've decided not to inform yourself about which things are extreme risks, and which things are not. If anything, perhaps the uptight moms need a bit *more* exposure to women with more experience, not a bit less. It can be viewed as trash talk (even though everyone is bending over backwards not to make her feel she has to defend her choices), or it can be viewed as what it is: older, more experienced relatives doing a mostly mental eyeroll as we acquiesce to her request for help as well as resist any urge to mention her choices. So...criticism and condescension are sometimes earned, but rarely given. While I might mention it here among friends who've been there, *of course* I have no intention of challenging her interesting ideas regarding the value and place of family in the life of her child. The bonds built/neglected may be something she later wishes she'd cared about more than whether a stray germ would blow in through the open door as she accepts meals & housecleaning help. -Just sayin'. As always though, I reserve your right to disagree with me, and mine to disagree with you. :thumbup1: ETA: Where in the world did you get the idea that everyone was descending upon her in droves and asking her to wake the baby and pass it around to visitors? I don't think I wrote anything of the sort, though I'll go back and check, and then edit to correct it if I said that.

I wish I could wait until I hear how you like it, but the sale voucher thing is only good for today, I think. It was hard to tell from a lot of the online reviews if they were sort of "sponsored" by the company or not. I did find a couple that claimed to be unbiased, and even they seemed pretty satisfied though. I really kind of want to try it, and the price is right with the coupon. I'd even get it for my dd so that she could eat the same things I do (which would really help us both!), but it's *really* hard to tell if we'd like it or not. It sounds like just what we'd like. ETA: You used the Moolala coupon, right? It's a lot cheaper that way than through the website, I think, and I've had good luck with things I've bought through Moolala.

My Kenmore Elite was AWFUL! I kept the door open, never left wet laundry in it, and ran the sanitary cycle. The sanitary cycle would help a little bit, but not enough. Now I have a new washer that runs a "clean" cycle. I have to pour a cup (?) of bleach into the detergent dispenser and then run the cycle. I wonder now if I could've done the same kind of thing with my Kenmore, putting bleach into the detergent cup but using the sanitary cycle, and if that would have helped?

This popped up in my Moolala email for today. I'd usually disregard diet meal stuff, but this actually looks/sounds good to me. Has anyone tried this in real life? http://www.moolala.com/deals/id/6NZEP9E?hsp=1&cid=ZL67A8A&pid=Y2JEBQG&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%20Deal%20List%20w%2F%20Locations&utm_campaign=Deals%20Mon-Sun%20AM%202013-07-27 ETA: Grrr....just realized I linked the wrong thing. I am *not* trying to sell anyone on this. Maybe this link will work better: http://www.personaltrainerfood.com/orders/nutrition.php

I wouldn't bet on it. I have a new grand-niece that lives across the street from our dairy. Family members have been bringing in meals for them, and have not seen the baby except for pictures posted on Facebook. The baby is always "sleeping" when people arrive, no matter when they arrive, even if it's family, even if they're very kind & clean & healthy. I just think it's a sign of how far we've come from common sense. I don't know what these people are thinking. Somehow we managed to keep our children alive before germ gel and sequestering of babies. :001_rolleyes:

Taco Bell's action is indeed a good move for all of those parentless children at Taco Bell who had no one to make decisions for them (like parents). There is absolutely no way that "the nanny state" can legislate or litigate our way to perfect health. Sure, go ahead, ensure that there are no toys with my kids' food. That'll surely help, for someone else to make the choice about how healthy is healthy enough, right? In the end, there will be people who determine that others can make their decisions for them, and there will be those who oppose other people controlling every detail of their lives. Those willing to let other people determine what is right for them and their families deserve what they will surely get--zero control over their own choices. Hey, for that matter, my kid is likely to notice that my life is a little (or a lot stressful) right now. But...STRESS KILLS! Someone should either force me to take an anti-anxiety med or take my children by force to protect them from my bad choice to worry in spite of the health dangers of doing so. Where will it end?

I think part of the point is that we can speculate about why and not get *anywhere close* to the reasons/motives that might be true in their case. Perhaps it is that she doesn't want her child to have to bounce back and forth between households. Perhaps she doesn't want her child to have to spend time with a perv dad without her to buffer the contact. Perhaps her husband was abused as a child, and though he clearly has a problem now, she's trying to help him along through the ramifications. Perhaps she's ill and realizes that her husband will eventually be the one that ends up with her kid, and doesn't see the point of splitting now. Perhaps for some reason there is a financial hardship in her life that would make it difficult for her to subsist on her own. Perhaps she's a chronic worrier with a raging ulcer, and he's the one that's able to help her feel calm and on track. Perhaps she hates sex and never intends to engage in it again, and has, as a result, agreed to looser boundaries wrt sex with other people. Perhaps she's a little twisted herself and finds it a bit interesting to have an unusual sex life. Perhaps she's had some inappropriate relationship that crossed the boundaries and now no longer feels justified to complain about his inappropriate actions. Perhaps she has religious convictions that preclude leaving the marriage. Perhaps... Perhaps... Perhaps... There's literally a MILLION reasons she could be making the choice she is. We just don't know, and since I don't know, I absolutely cannot make a judgement about what she's choosing to do.

There are a hundred good reasons that you've not even thought of. I cannot tell you how sure I was that I'd never stick with a cheater. Really, truly, COMPLETELY SURE! It's more complicated than you think.

There's one little phrase missing. I have decided to stay "for now". Staying "for now" does not mean staying forever. I have no clue how things will go in the future. Right now I'm trying to help get everyone better while planning for whatever happens later on.

I have a large amount (like 2 qts) of drained, canned mandarin oranges. Is there a special dessert that calls for them? ETA: They're not totally drained. There's still juice in the container.

Dh is still going to church, and has done so the entire time. He's crushed in a way I never imagined he could be, but he's still standing. He is not in counseling, and I think the mental contortions he's needed to engage in just to keep from taking his own life have left him in denial wrt how far the relationship went with the other woman. He does not deny talking to her, and has been firm the whole time about how horribly wrong that was, but he denies that it went any further than that. I see no point in pushing him about that. Either we will divorce, or we will stay together, and I don't know which it will be yet, but I see no value in trying to force him out of the denial that is what's keeping him mentally able to continue on with life at this point. He's a good guy (I still firmly believe that part) who did something so contrary to his own value system that he's barely able to live through it. This is not my dh saying these things in order to dodge responsibility, but it's my thoroughly-thought-out assessment of the situation. I am still seeing a counselor occasionally, though I've found that the best action on my part seems to be building a busy life. It serves two purposes: keeping me busy enough to not be so sad, and it's building a life that I can live regardless of whatever ultimately happens with dh. I have been blessed in many ways, both before this whole horrible life change, and even now. My children are healthy and happy, we have a roof over our heads and everything necessary for life. I have a business plan that has taken on a life of it's own, almost in spite of me, not because of me. The fact that I'm receiving huge blessings makes me feel like a spoiled child, stomping my foot and saying, "but those aren't the blessings that I *wanted*!". I wanted to live my life as a woman who loved the Lord and her family, and served them all her life long. I wanted that to be enough, and it would have been enough for me. That was not the plan for my life, and now I'm trying to be happy with this other life. I'm probably making little to no sense at this point, but it's useful for me to explain my perspective to other people. It keeps me on-point and reminds me of where I'm trying to head. Thanks for asking.

It is too late to try and move. Dairies aren't of any financial worth as dairies, and we live in an area where the land would not be in demand for development. We wouldn't be able to sell and get enough money to buy somewhere else, and since financing through banks is tightening up, there would be no help there, even though in the past we've been *extremely* financially stable. My dh and his seven brothers will be the last farming generation in his family. His dad came here from Holland, and the family was a dairy farming family for generations & generations before then. I think that contributes greatly to my dh's feelings of failure. In his eyes he has not only failed his own family, but his family heritage. It's emotionally complicated and his suffering is beyond what I think he can handle (well, obviously, huh?).

It's very true--the farmer dies with the farm. My dh will be the last in a long line of dairy farmers, and is one of seven brothers. All are dairy farmers, and all are failing. Are you doing well with dairy farming? If so, do you mind saying where? It can't possibly be this bad everywhere, though it's super-specially bad in California. :-(

They're fine in cookies, but I'd expect the fondue to need adjustment. The ganache recipe that I make uses 4 oz. cream per 5 oz. chocolate chips. When using the Kirkland, I have to use appx. 6 oz. cream to 5 oz. chocolate chips.

I'm here. Still. Where to start with an update... I am still, at this time, married. I have decided to stay for now, to help my dc with their last years before leaving the nest, to help my dh try to get back to...whatever normal can be at this point., and to help my family through the hardship of farm failure that is still looming in the future. For now, the dairy is still running. I don't know how long that will last. Ds's wedding went well. It was difficult for me emotionally because I always had such expectations for what it would feel like when our first dc got married. I never guessed that the day my dc got married would be filled with such personal sorrow along with the joy. I had to consciously remind myself that thinking "It wasn't supposed to be this way..." was not productive. What happened in my marriage is sort of water under the bridge. The wedding was nice, I got through the hard parts, and ds and his wife seem happy together. Dh held it together and didn't do anything flat-out crazy even though I know he was sharing my stress. He did nothing wrong, and much right. Small blessings, and all that. My new dil loved the shower gift. I ended up giving her a basket with an heirloom pan, a recipe for the Dutch pancakes that have been a family tradition, a hand mixer, and some of the Lyle's syrup we enjoy on Saturday pancakes. I wrote a heartfelt note to tuck in the basket. She has called me mom ever since. <3 I asked if she would mind if I left a gift in their apartment while they were gone, and she said that of course I was welcome to do so. I was so glad to get to leave her that red Kitchenaid mixer to find when she arrived home from their honeymoon. My ds said she couldn't contain her excitement, which makes me so very happy! In other big news, I've been taking one little step after another towards starting my own business--a little breakfast & lunch cafe and bakery. The way that the plan has come together can be nothing other than a direct message from the Lord, and I don't say such a thing lightly at all. Every single detail has fallen into place, including a super-generous lease agreement for my chosen location, and the building inspector & health inspectors deeming one restroom to be sufficient, contrary to the usual way that things go. I've been blessed with the business situation, though it's still not a sure-thing. I'm trying to come to terms with the business plan. The amount of blessings that have been heaped upon the idea is truly staggering, and if anyone wants to hear more about that, I'd be fine with sharing. It does make for a story that's kind of inspirational. The fact that part of me still wants to say, "But Lord, this is not the blessing that I *wanted*" is, well, something I'm still working through. So, for now, I'm okay. I'm building a life (even if it's not the one I wanted) that can see me through regardless of what happens with our farm, regardless of what happens with my dh, etc. I'm still breathing & going through my days, even if on many of them, I wish I didn't have to. I smile a lot again, much like I used to, and once in a while, it's even sincere. I'm so thankful for having friends here who care. Thank you. :-) ETA: Just in case anyone would be interested in helping me along, I have a fledgling Facebook page for my cafe/bakery. I'd love to have more "likes". You can always block my status updates if they're not something you're interested in. ;-) https://www.facebook.com/4thStCafe/info

Well {sigh}... I think the Kirkland product is a "better" product. At the same time, I've been using Nestle Semi-sweet for many, many years, and have really had nothing but good comments about my desserts. My recipes are not working well with the Kirkland choc. chips. The ganache recipes that worked well are coming out *much* too solid with the Kirkland. Yes, I can (and do) add extra cream to make up for the difference, but still, I miss buying the big bag of Nestle from Costco. I will have to check with the restaurant supply now to see if they carry the TH.

Thanks all! I had thought of a few ideas, and I'll try to run them by the hostess. I'd thought maybe chicken marsala, or perhaps chicken with a light mushroom/cream sauce, because then the chicken should be fall-apart tender and without bones. Maybe some braised beef with sauteed onions and a touch of gravy (these are farmers, so likely beef eaters). Maybe a wild rice blend or garlic mashed potatoes if they're true traditionalists. Roasted seasonal vegetables or sauteed green beans with toasted chopped pecans. Green salad if they'd like it, and some type of bread/rolls and butter. Alternatively, perhaps a traditional ham/turkey meal with roasted, sliced turkey and ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, sauteed apples, green salad and/or rolls if they want them. I have a feeling that they'll shy away from anything that seems like "ethnic cuisine", but homemade lasagna, green salad, and homemade garlic parmesan soft bread sticks is always well received, and is easy to eat. Thanks for the additional ideas! I will write them down. It doesn't sound like I'm too far off in my impression of what they might want though, since it seems like many of us are thinking along the same lines. I have other ideas, but this seems the most likely to please them.

I am not doing the beverage service or dessert. I have lots of nice meals that I could offer, I'm just having difficulty knowing what might appeal to them, and since its during a time of bereavement, I don't want to annoy them by offering lots of things before I figure out what they might have in mind. This part is usually not difficult!

If someone told you that for a catered luncheon after an 11 a.m. memorial service that they weren't interested in sandwiches and salads, and that they wanted a meal that was both easy to eat and substantial, but not as heavy as prime rib, what would you think they were asking for? ETA: Budget is not a big concern for them.

I was never overweight until I had my dc, and even then, I was okay until I piled on 5 pregnancies in 7 years. Since then, it's been a neverending struggle to try and lose the weight I put on with those pregnancies. I took a trip to Paris & Rome with my ds. The food was wonderful, and I ate whatever I wanted during that time. In the 10 days that we were gone, I lost ten pounds. I enjoyed public transportation, and along with that came frequent walks to metro stations, bus stops, etc. If our destination was close, we walked there. In my real life I life in an area where public transportation is non-existent, and the only way to get anywhere is to get in my car and drive there, since I live appx. 8 miles out of town.

My guess would be that the bride-to-be was taken aback when asked about when the rehearsal dinner would be, since she probably assumed, as is fairly customary, that the groom's family would be planning (and paying for) that event. She probably felt awkward about it after that, and yes, probably a little put out at having to unexpectedly do the planning & budgeting for the rehearsal dinner as well as the wedding. I would, at a later date (but asap) apologize for the misunderstanding. I would not feel snubbed, though I would feel apologetic and eager to clear up any miscommunication with my new dd.

Not to sound critical, and I hope it doesn't (I've missed the backstory), is there some reason you can't get on that plane with him? I agree that you can't do anything to stop this from happening, but there's also nothing to stop you from being right there at every possible opportunity. If the moment comes when he can't take it, you could be only a hotel room away rather than 2 1/2 hours or across states. At the same time, if I were in your shoes, I might feel ready to step back a bit from a terribly difficult parenting situation and let things unfold however it goes. That'd be completely understandable. Either way, (((hugs))).

I will be sure to check that. THANK YOU so much!