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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I am a QVC junkie started when they did back in the 80s. They always have stuff that I never saw before most of the time it is good stuff sometimes it is just ok. I have had good luck with them.
Here is their L&L http://www.qvc.com/cgen/render.aspx?qp=class|4531&rewrite=no&cm_re=MH-_-KITCHENFOOD-_-LOCKLOCK&cm_sp=MH-_-KITCHENFOOD-_-LOCKLOCK
I have found a few in the grocery store too. But not in the sets that you can get at QVC.
I saw that Rubbermaid has come out with something like them too they are in the stores also...
All I know is that even with Tupperware if you drop it on the floor that lid can come off.
Also I always buy jumbo eggs and the L&L containter hold them perfectly.
Where I keep my dry goods in the camper is not very deep and it is just inside the door. I am able to put tons of stuff in there that I can see what is going on and if it happens to fall out while I am getting something I just pick it up and put it back.
I am loving the L&L I think I will order the canister set and maybe some bowls to see how well I like them. But I love the Canisters with the flip top lid. Thanks Janet for hooking me up
MM
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
Go Minnesota Twins
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MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
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