The Joke is on me

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Registered: 03-25-2003
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

MM


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 11:16am
Do you call this a "Drive-by funny" this morning, Mary?
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Avatar for blueyz_13_2000
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 12:58pm

You're too funny Mary! I love the story!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-2004
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 2:16pm
So you gave "creative cooking" a try this morning.

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Avatar for emty_nstr
Community Leader
Registered: 05-25-1999
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 2:54pm

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...


Avatar for quite_contrary
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 5:19pm
point me in the direction of thos L&ls will you. I have never heard of them. Where did you get them. Yes I have dropped the whole carton a time or two. I guess I was just so surprised at how dumb I was to just keep on believing I was right no matter how many things were telling me I was wrong. I loved you comment on Facebook. "Frozen Huricane." posted it on my page. Mary

MM


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Avatar for quite_contrary
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 5:26pm

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


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 7:00pm

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.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2009
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 7:31pm

Mary, what you did is so easy to do.

K

Avatar for quite_contrary
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 10:18pm
That is the funny thing because I always do that too. I cut the name and the cooking instructions off the box and put into the container. I remember thinking too myself, "Hmmmmmmm, I wonder where the cooking instructions are? But even with tha evidence I just kept on cooking. When I found the 'real' Maltomeal sure enough the directions were in there. Guess I didn't think I needed to do that for the bread crumbs when I stored them. We shut down our electricity while we are away so no refrigerator. This year I tried even keeping my oils,vegetable and evoo. Nope they smelled bad and I just threw them away and bought new. Have ahppy night. Mary

MM


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Avatar for quite_contrary
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 10:25pm
Yes I can get Cream of Wheat down here too and also they sell Chocolate flavored Maltomeal but for some reason the real Maltomeal is very scarce. I asked at every store from here to Orlando and back down to West Palm Beach. None of them carry it. A friend of mine brought some down for me cuz I realy love my Maltomeal. I do not like Cream of Wheat. Never have. When My mom bought Cream of Wheat instead of Maltomeal I wouldn't eat it. For me it has to be Maltomeal. It tasted so good this morning I think will have it again tomorrow. Nummy. Have a good night. Mary Mary

MM


http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/


Go Minnesota Twins


Go Minnesota Wild


Go Timberwolves


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