FWIW, domestic basmati is the same variety of rice as imported basmati, but the imported stuff is aged for several months. This does make a difference in the flavor. You can get the real deal at an Indian grocer. I generally cook rice like a pasta using a steamer insert. Boil the pasta in water (at least 4 times the volume of rice) for about 8 or 9 minutes, drain it into the steamer insert, run hot tap water through the rice in the steamer to flush away excess starch, put about one inch of hot water in the bottom of the pot and place the steamer insert over the hot water, cover the steamer insert and boil the water at a low boil for about 10 minutes. Basically, boil for 8, rinse, steam for 10. Makes nice fluffy individual grains, not at all sticky. (So this wouldn't do well for sushi rice.) One of these days I will try to learn how to cook basmati the way my local Indian restaurant does it. Delicious, fluffy, the epitome of rice...

I am not sure that I agree Rosewood, even though what you suggest is the direction most people are taking. I stand by my entries on this thread that I made on Wed. March 16, 05 and Thursday, March 17, 05. Scroll up. Please read if you passed over it, because I still feel the same today, ten months later. After hanging out in the step parent forum for awhile, my views on this are stronger than ever. Letter after letter talks about re-marriage after the divorce, and when many of these men re-marry, several of these new young wives on the forum resent and hate the children from the previous marriage...especially after they have new babies with the husband...and they want to have their own new little family, without the previous children, in fact, they want those children to just disappear! To some extent, I am now beginning to think that when we become parents, it is no longer about following our whims, or our feelings (which are fickle at best, and deceive us) but about what is in the best interest of the children we have brought into this world, and loving these innocent, beautiful children enough to fulfill our responsibility to them, by giving them the best possible childhood we can, whether we feel like it or not. IMO, when he made vows to love and honor his wife, and brought these two babies into the world who have their whole childhood ahead of them yet, he lost the right to chase after the new honey at the office. IMO, he has lost the right to whine and say he does not know if he is happy right now, and run around with the girl friend while he decides. It is such an incredible injustice to his wife and two babies, who trusted him to lead this family like a man, and put aside his childish whims. He is robbing his wife, by threatening her future, and the future of her children. It will affect them on every level, for years to come. He has robbed his wife of the ability to enjoy her new baby, and her two year old, because she must now worry where he is, who he is with, why hasn't he called, and the security of knowing their future is safe. Then, I imagine he will marry one of these honey's - and then, the step parent issues begin for these children. His new honey will hate money leaving her household, to his ex-wife, and his kids, and will resent her and the kids for this. It cheats his wife and children out of the future they SHOULD have had. A future with two parents who love them and strive to give them the best childhood they can. A family of their own, with two people who are willing to step up to the plate and do the right thing...whether they feel like it or not...with a smile for these beloved children. Giving them the gift of a family who loves them and are on their side rooting for them every step of the way. Parenting is hard under the best of circumstances. But we are called to do our very best, for these children, and not give up! There are days in parenting and life that we all will look at our spouse and wonder "what in the world was I thinking, when I chose him/her". Or we will look at them and may not feel anything at all. But on other days, we are so thankful that this person is by our side, and feel so blessed to have them share our life. Our feelings evolve over time, and can become so rich if we treat each other with excellence!

I was expecting the answer to what the 120 yr old gal drinks daily to be urine - I knew a lady that swore by a glass of that every day. Never could go there meeself. Lots of things I never would have thought of for Olive Oil, I'll have to add it to my shopping list. Suzan J

When we lived in Korea, over 45 years ago, we had to boil all of the water from the well on our farm that we used for drinking or cooking - and used it to wash any of he few uncooked veggies that we used. When I travelled out to the country to spend time with Koreans, even though I was careful what I ate, usually I'd end up getting diarrhea. ole joyful