Strange things you're not used to

[StillThePrettiest 4]

oh Krikit, I feel the same way as you about the walking... for over a year, I had two part-time jobs in London, which were BOTH walkable from my house, each through a different neighbourhood (and a different park)... I walked for about an hour every day (not counting any other walking I did, which was a bit) and probably covered about fifteen miles a week

now I'm lucky if I walk to the letterbox and back

and while it's fun to watch DVDs while I'm doing some exercise on the stepper, it's just not the same as getting out of the tube at Holborn so I can walk through some of my favourite streets up to Covent Garden, or seeing London Fields in all seasons and all weathers and all lights...

*getting maudlin*

I can't wait to move back to Europe

I just hope someone will take us

in other news - I have worked out why all the food here is so much cheaper than elsewhere - because it's all #######

I just got a can of Campbell's tom-AHHH-to soup out of the pantry (I'm making minestrone tonight) and when I looked at the ingredients, what do you think I saw?

yes - THE EVIL :angry:

I can't wait to move back to Europe &c &c

[Jeraly 4]

Hehehehe - I made minestrone and used canned tomatoes and broth instead of tomato soup and it worked well - at least Jeremy liked it I had to substitute in a few things we didn't have but it tasted good

I hear you on the walking thing as well - I can walk to a few places but tbh I am so not a window shopper so that's out and sitting in the park in 100+ isn't all that great either... of course now it is cooling down maybe we will have some picnics and things outside but otherwise... I just can't wait until I have a job and can cycle there and back each day

[StillThePrettiest 4]

what did you have to substitute? were you out of gallon drums of The Evil, and have to add it by the ladle?

it's a law, you know... EVERYTHING has to be at least 10% The Evil, or it can't be sold

[English Muffin 59]

I think THE EVIL is in everything here.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I'm assuming the evil is HFCS - I refuse to buy products with it, so it's possible (but not easy) to avoid it. Though sometimes I slip. There's some good websites that list HFCS-free products. Here's one of them:

http://www.stophfcs.com/list.html

[StillThePrettiest 4]

yes, The Evil (don't forget the capitals ) is HFCS... it's in EVERYTHING

no wonder people are getting used to everything being sweet...

thanks for the link

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Apparently HFCS is in everything because it's cheaper than sugar which is brought by a combination of high sugar tariffs and corn subsidies. So I guess you generally have to pay more for the real thing or natural products. In my opinion it's worth it!

[Jeraly 4]

I substituted all possible liquid with The Evil then found as much HFCS-laden candy as possible to sub in for those nasty-tasting veggies

Actually, I used chicken broth and tinned tomatoes instead of tomato soup and had to use red instead of white cabbage, extra carrots and potatoes instead of the turnip it asked for - things like that I followed a weightwatchers recipe though but it was really yummy and made loads - we had it for three days and Jeremy had seconds each time!!

[StillThePrettiest 4]

your substitutions sound excellent

I have never made minestrone with either cabbage or turnip

however, as far as I know it's a very fluctuating recipe anyway - sort of like bubble'n'squeak - so I guess you can put in anything

though I'd probably hold the licorice...

Edited October 17, 2008 by StillThePrettiest

[Jeraly 4]

though I'd probably hold the licorice...

...and the sprouts...

That's the only problem with Boxing Day bubble n' squeak

[*julez* 124]

oooohh....me likey the sprouts

[Jeraly 4]

Jeremy does too - maybe it's an American thing

[TBoneTX 48,075]

The million-dollar question is: Is there HFCS in treacle?

[StillThePrettiest 4]

no, the million dollar question is if you will ever get tired of the 'treacle' theme

[Reba 2]

that was about 20 posts ago

there are some store brands of tomato soup that don't have The Evil in it, you just have to search every store for them. I've noticed lately that even some name brands are taking it out of their ingredients and have in big blue and yellow lettering on the labels now "NOW WITH NO HFCS". I found some cranberry juice the other day without it. A famous brand thta I had actually stopped buying because it used to have it. Now it doesn't. And it was on sale

I love making minestrone. We had enough tomatoes in our garden this year that I made loads and loads of soups and sauces with fresh maters all summer. We even have a couple left that I can probably have a mater sammich tomorrow for lunch.

Last night I made a vegetarian chili with parsnips and carrots and tomatoes and kidney beans and onions. Its very yummy