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Living overseas

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Living in the US - Where we say TO MA TOE and you say TO MAH TOW

971 replies

alipiggie · 15/07/2008 04:49

Wow we filled the thread guys. So as I was about to Say UR you've probably had squirrel if you've eaten Chinese . Think I've had most things. Just don't ask eat. Roasting hot here, very busy but having a blast. Enjoyed our new gym yesterday and picnic in the park tonight which was wonderful. Live music, handsome young men - need I say more.

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 29/12/2008 00:39

Thanks, anorak. Some ideas I would never have thought of. The salad sounds really good, I'll have to try that in a few days. I ALWAYS forget about eggplant, too for some reason. I love me some cottage pie, and doing it with veggies is a great idea.

So anybody have a bad Christmas present story? I have one, but it was MIL who was on the receiving end, not the giving one. Her ex-DIL sent some presents up to her, and they brought them and opened them here. MIL got a really slinky shirt I wouldn't have the guts to wear. She wanted me to try it on, but fortunately it was so small, I could only get it zipped up a few inches. And she got another shirt, too, but this one was a maternity shirt. So she got one I think a 12 year old with no boobs could wear, and a huge one for pregnant people. How's that for a lot of thought into a present? It gave us a good laugh the past few days.

We totally took everything down already. We've had no garbage for 3 weeks, so all the recycling and Christmas garbage has been in our house. DH took everything out, and hopefully since it warmed up a whole lot the past 2 days and the roads are finally clear they will come Tuesday, because I can't take it anymore.

SuperBunny · 29/12/2008 02:31

That is a great list, Anorak. I am going to start cooking properly again. CHeese and potato pie sounds delicious. I wish DS would eat mushrooms. He'll scoff them if they are tiny or mushed up but if they are visible, he'll refuse. It's a shame cos I like nothing better than a pile of buttery mushrooms.

What odd christmas presents, Dooney. I took down our cards and put theplaymobil advent caelndar away but the tree is still here. I thouyght I'd leave it til Thursday.

jabberwocky · 29/12/2008 21:52

Thanks for posting that list anorak. I was just saying today that I really need to expand the boys' diet. I'm such a terrible cook though

Virus has come and (hopefully) gone. Ds2 has had some loose poo today but I think it's just teeth

expatinscotland · 29/12/2008 22:03

this is one of my all-time fav meatless meals, and it doesn't have to be spicy at all.

or curry from a paste in a jar or can but sub in a can of chickpeas for the meat.

black-eyed pea salad with pittas.

anorak's spagetti and add in toasted pine nuts.

expatinscotland · 29/12/2008 22:07

falafel, too.

i use tofu, but not as much as in the US because IMO it's better there .

i would buy the stuff in the fridge section and squeeze out all the water.

freeze it.

take it out, crumble it up like hamburger meat and marinade it in whatever you fancy - spagetti sauce, BBQ sauce, teriyaki sauce, fajita mix, etc.

then fry it up just like ground meat.

dooneygirl · 29/12/2008 22:57

That's excellent timing, expat. Am making a yellow daal with spinach tonight.

I just cannot make friends with tofu. I've tried several kinds and they are awful. Even marinated. The one and only thing I've ever been able to eat it in is a spring roll at a certain Thai restaurant here. I don't know what they do, but I actually like it. Other restaurants make the same thing, but it still tastes like tofu.

Falafel, OTOH, is a friend to everyone in the family. The kids will chow it down when we have it.

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 00:57

i can't make friends with tofu in the UK .

the best i've been able to get is the Mori-Nu stuff off the shelf.

it's just not the same.

i can't take it cubed up.

some climbing friends of mine would cube it up and stir it into Progresso lentil soup, but i just couldn't go there.

dooneygirl · 30/12/2008 01:09

Not sure which is worse, tofu or Progresso lentil soup. I'll go with the tofu, but not by much. (And I do like lentil soup)

expatinscotland · 30/12/2008 01:09

i found it all pretty gross, but you'll eat anything after a full day of climbing .

dooneygirl · 30/12/2008 01:16

I shall have to take your word on that, as I've developed a crippling fear of heights since the DC's have been born. Just thinking of all the times I went skiing about makes me ill.

poetmum · 30/12/2008 01:18

ExpatInScotland - is there an Asian area near you? I couldn't make friends with tofu in London until my husband's friend (from Taiwan) took me round to the Asian stores. I wanted really extra firm tofu that I could fry and then put in great sauces. I was able to find that at Asian markets. For awhile, I had to travel...until I found one right behind my flat off of Ridley Road Market.

kickassangel · 30/12/2008 01:18

Hi, another US based MN, here. Been here a couple of months now.

poetmum · 30/12/2008 01:22

DooneyGirl - try this

Grilled Tofu

I cook by eye and smell, so my recipes are often guidelines. I try to make this tofu once a week in good weather so my daughter has something quick and easy to pack as a sandwich for lunch. It makes a heck of a sandwich. This takes some time, but, if you cook enough, it keeps for a week. (Unless folks are greedy.) You can slice it and use on salads, or in tortillas.

You need a really, really firm tofu for success. Best results if marinated the day before.

Step 1. In a baking dish combine:
3/4 cup vegetarian broth
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup toasted sesame oil
1/8 cup umeboshi plum vinegar
1 tsp lemon juice.

Step 2. 2 blocks White Wave extra firm tofu. Cut into 1/2 inch slices. (Yield approx. 6 rectangle shaped slices per block.)

Step 3. In a small bowl combine:
4 tsp. ginger
4 tsp. chili powder
4 tsp. paprika
4 tsp. garlic powder
4 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. Italian seasonings.

Step 4. Place tofu in marinade. Drizzle a bit of honey over the tofu and sprinkle spice mixture on each piece. Flip tofu cutlets over and repeat. Cover and refrigerate over night. (Or marinate in the morning for an evening grill.)

Set aside a spring of fresh rosemary, a handful of sage and fresh oregano and hickory chips for the grill.

Step 5. Start up the grill. Reserve grill plate while coals heat. Have tofu and whatever else is needed for the grill ready. When the coals get hot, spread evenly and throw the fresh herbs and chips into the fire. Place grill back on. Place tofu on grill and close. (The smoke from the herbs is what gives this dish it's special flavour.)

Step 6. Open grill after about 5 - 7 minutes. Flip tofu. It should be seared like a steak. Allow other side to cook and seal.

Remove to plate.

Super Tasty - Remove from grill to baking dish marinade. Place baking dish on top shelf of bbq for 15 minutes or until bubbly. It allows the tofu to absorb even more marinade.

Make it fancy - Make a gravy by browning a small onion and wild mushrooms in a skillet. Add marinade. Bring marinade to softly bubbling mixture. Thicken by stirring 1 tablespoon corn starch into a 1/2 cup very cold water, then slowly adding to the bubbling mixture.

poetmum · 30/12/2008 01:24

As to the above recipe, you can always bake it in the marinade on high heat for 30 minutes. It is less firm, but, still tasty. DD (age 22) frequently calls for this recipe when she is having mates around.

dooneygirl · 30/12/2008 01:29

Hi Kickassangel!!! Whereabouts are you? Good to have you here.

Hmm, might have to try an Asian market. Unfortunately there aren't any around me, being in the 'burbs and all, but I do make the trek to one a few times a year to stock up on stuff you can't get in a normal store.

I think tofu might be a textural thing with me. I do get the firmest tofu, but it is still . I have the same problem with mushrooms. I like the flavor, but won't eat them.

kickassangel · 30/12/2008 01:44

sorry i disappeared, dh wanted to talk to me!! (how very dare he) we're near ann arbor in michigan. moved into our house nearly 4 weeks ago, and just trying to to sort out the insurance claim for damaged stuff!

is it just me, or is MN/this thread really slow tonight? having problems here, but none on facebook

kickassangel · 30/12/2008 01:50

Would be interested to know how anyone got work visa? i'm here on residency, but taught scondary english until the end of summer term, so would like to know of any info about how i might be able to start earning some money again!

alipiggie · 30/12/2008 02:10

kickassangel Welcome. I got my work permit as we'd applied for the beloved Green Card and that came within about 8 weeks of the application going in. I was lucky to already have a great job lined up and they were waiting on me getting the permit. When you say residency to you mean Green Card or another type of residency permit? Just curious. Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you.

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 30/12/2008 02:36

Hey, Bunny! How are you doing with the weather? Staying above water?

We have a huge, disgusting worm die-off in our yard. The snow finally melted, and it has been pouring down rain. I think they got flooded out from underground, and came out, somehow ended up in our garage and dried out. It is almost impossible not to step on one.

AnnieLaurie · 30/12/2008 03:57

Hello everyone from Seattle!! Hope you all had a good Christmas.

I have fleetingly checked in here over the past few months in the run up to moving from Edinburgh, but thought I should FORCE myself to be brave and jump in here and post something.

Have absolutely no idea what this thread is about - had a quick scroll through, saw the lists of who is where, not really anyone in the north west is there!

Anyway, I am doing not too bad, got through the corporate flat hell, found lovely house to rent, slowly starting to meet people with my DS 2.5, and now getting more and more freaked out about the New Year approaching...

Expecting DC2 at the end of Jan, really starting to get myself in a right old state, panicking about whether I can go through it all again in the American system - with no gas and air - and really, really missing home, just wish I was having baby in Scotland .

So, that's me

I am generally quite cheerful, when not 8 months pg and bloody exhausted from lugging DS about (he seems to be wanting to be carried all the time at the mo, and says 'Im a baby' a lot )

Will now sit back and see whether this post is picked up on this super-speed thread...!

SuperBunny · 30/12/2008 04:01

Oh, we were talking about daal on the 10/10 thread earlier and now here I WANT Daal. Tpfu is growing on me. If it is doused in soy sauce and fried it is ok> Better if it was frozen first because then it goes all rubbery I'm going to try poet's recipe.

Welcome Kickass. You're in my neck of the woods. Ish. Well, on the other side of the lake.

Dooney, it's wet here. But quite warm. Above 20F, I think! Hooray! Will you eat quinoa? DS loves it.

SuperBunny · 30/12/2008 04:04

AnnieLaurie, you posted! Welcome.

SuperBunny · 30/12/2008 04:08

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SuperBunny · 30/12/2008 04:09

Is Michigan MI?

And Bermuda is not in the Carribean is it? It's quite a long way from there, isn't it?

SuperBunny · 30/12/2008 04:10
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