"From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, going where I list, my own master total and absolute, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me."
Walt Whitman (1819-92)
"When I look back now over my life and call to mind what I might have had simply for taking and did not take, my heart is like to break."
Akhenaton (d. c.1354 BC)
And now, the current weather, from some random person we pulled off the street:
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Here's Your Present, Go Boil It.
I always enjoy cooking various cuisines, and lately I've been working my way through several of the oriental noodles available at our local oriental food store. Today's noodle was "Ronghe Brand Tung Kow Rice Vermicelli."
And you gotta love the directions on it. They always read like someone got a hold on a Chinese-English phrasebook and made a best guess.
"Ronghe Brand Tung Kow Rice Vermicelli is a traditional Food Stuff produced in Tung Kow. It is made from choice rice and high quality water." OK, that sounds pretty good so far, although the idea of eating something from a region where there are apparently enough places with LOW quality water to justify mentioning this makes me a bit hesitant.
"White and smooth, soft but toughthreads and easy cooking are favorable for pot luck, for entertainment of guests, or for use as a gift." Use as a gift??!? Noodles? Happy Birthday Mom, here's some noodles? Merry Christmas Boss, here's some noodles?
What a concept.
Anyway, cooking instructions. "Suggestions for cooking: (1)Frying: after softening the vermicelli in boiling water, take out to fry along with sauteed dainty ingredients until well done." OK, so if I want to FRY it, I have to BOIL it. Gotcha.
"(2)Boiling: fry the aforesaid ingredients to half done. Put in boiling water at the bubble and gether. The softened vermicelli to simmer until fully cooked." Uh, let me get this straight... if I want to fry it, I have to boil it. But if I want to boil it, I have to fry it.
If you say so. And no, I don't know what "gether" means.
"(3)Deep frying:after frying in boiling oil..." Ack!
Believe it or not, boiled until tender, the noodle was good.
And now you know what you're getting from me for Christmas.
