The Joke is on me
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| Thu, 01-07-2010 - 10:45am |
Good morning everyone in the garden. The time goes by so fast and before you know it I have been MIA here in the garden. I am not liking this cold we are experiencing down here in Paradise. Brrrrrr! It has been far colder for far longer than we are used to.
Which brings up my Question for the Day: Why is it when we think we know something we disregard the information from our eyes and nose and intuition?
First I need to explain that I am the queen of containers. Whether it be big bins or tiny little food storers. When we were first coming to Florida for only a few days or weeks I would never buy anything I couldn't use up in the time we were here like cocoa, baking pouder, or spices. When we left I would either throw or give away anything we hadn't used leaving the cupboards empty. Now though since we are only gone a few months I try to keep a few things that I know will not spoil or go bad over the summer. Of course my handy dandy little airtight containers fit the bill. Since you can't find Maltomeal down here in Florida I brought it down from up north last year and wasn't about to through the bit I had left away.
This morning I decided to make hot cereal for breakfast and opted for Maltomeal rather than oatmeal, when rummaging through my cupboard to find the Oatmeal box my eyes landed on my little plastic container of Maltomeal. I noticed that it seemed a bit darker than it should but since it was loose and not clumpy I figured it was fine. I got out my pan and using equal parts water and mild added a shake and a half of salt and when the liquid boiled I added my cereal. I immediatley noticed a strange smell. Not bad really just not like Maltomeal. I smelled a bit like chicken stuffing. It boiled up and thikend just like Maltomeal.
My first thought was that the pan must have retained a bit of smell from when I cooked up some Stovetop Stuffing. I shut the burner off and set our our bowls. As I kept getting our breakfast ready the aroma was not going away. I began to wonder if I had accidentally put onion salt in my shaker, did my milk get tainted somehow, or was there something wrong with my smeller. I never onced questioned whether or not the container of Maltomeal was really Maltomeal even after noting it wasn't quite the right color.
I went so far as to fill our bowls, add mild and sugar and begin to eat my porrige. After 2, not 1, spoonfuls I decided it was too salty and whatever was wrong I just wasn't going to eat it. This stuff was the exact consistancy as Maltomeal and even had a lumb or 2 in it. So into the sink it went and after washing it all down I washed up the pan and sniffed it realy well and returned to the burner with equal parts milk and water again. I then shook a bit of salt into my palm and after smelling it put into the pan. Nothing out of the ordinary. When the liquid boiled I picked up the little container of Maltomeal and after opening in gave it a good sniff. Whew! It smelled like onion flavored stuffing. Hmmmmm??? I then and only then took a better look at it. Now I could see little bits of herbs in it. I had used seasoned breadcrumbs to make my porrige. Yuck! I didn't even remember I had any.
Anyway that is my funny story for today. I rummaged in the cupboard and found the REAL Maltomeal and a good warm breakfast was enjoyed. My advice for the day is:
It doesn't hurt to question what you know once in a while. You might be surprised and don't disregard the information your eyes, nose and intuition are trying to tell you.
Have a great day in the garden. Will be back soon. Mary Mary

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You're too funny Mary! I love the story!!
That is so funny... but I know what you mean with us being at the camper all summer I bring everything home that is any kind of food.....but here is what I do.
For things that go in the cupboard like flour, equal, pastas, bisquik, panko you know those things. I got Lock and Lock....I love those things you can kick them from here to there and the lids can't come off.....anyway when I fill something I tear off the name from the top of the box and drop it in there so I can look in and see the Bisquik name or the panko name. So far I haven't tried to make pancakes with the panko.....lol....
They finally had a L&L for eggs. When my son asked me why I couldn't leave them in the paper carton I said just once drop the egg carton on the floor in the morning and have to clean up that mess and you would never ask that again......my eggs don't break when I drop them and if they happen to land not right one might crack but I can use it right away....
Makes camping life a little easier...
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
Go Minnesota Twins
Go Minnesota Wild
Go Timberwolves
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
You see what I mean, Deb, No matter that your tastebuds were telling you you were not putting salt on your tater your mind was telling you you were and to just do it again. You began to mistrust everything including your sense of taste but it never occured to you that it wasn't salt you were putting on because you were sure it was. Humans are so funny aren't we. Maybe I can learn from this in other areas of my life. The truth will always stand up to questions. Interesting. Hope you are staying warm. Better night here than the last few but the freezing temps back for tomorrow and then right on through to Monday. I cover and uncover my plants. But not tonight. ( Happy sigh)Mary Mary
Ps I am just hearing on the news that a record high Manatees are dying because of the cold and boating accidents. Too bad.
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
Go Minnesota Twins
Go Minnesota Wild
Go Timberwolves
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
Mary I found Maltomeal at Publix and I live here in Georgia. Check it out. But also, Cream of wheat taste the same as Maltomeal to me.
Mary, what you did is so easy to do.
K
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
Go Minnesota Twins
Go Minnesota Wild
Go Timberwolves
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
Go Minnesota Twins
Go Minnesota Wild
Go Timberwolves
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
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