Shrimp paste is - wow. I used to think fish sauce was stinky. Not compared to shrimp paste. 

I totally understand it’s a complicated piece of dirt. But I also understand that in a few centuries our complicated pieces of dirt will be forgotten and not complicated, but in the meantime people who lost their lives over that strip of land will be mourned and deeply missed. 

I know it’s inexcusable to be completely ignorant, but no matter how much I read - it’s still a piece of dirt and people are killing people. That’s difficult to understand on a fundamental level.

Just like olive oil where you need a cooking olive oil and a finishing olive oil - you need two fish sauces, one for cooking and one for salads. I use Three Crabs for cooking. It’s salty and fishy but not too salty or too funky-fishy. Red Boat for papaya salad and other uses where the mellower flavor is beneficial.…

How does the Israeli state serve our interests?

How does the Israeli state serve our interests?

As a devout Atheist, I don’t have much understanding of this conflict. People are killing one another over piece of land deemed “holy.” Is that right? I’m asking seriously. I have done some googling and still can’t wrap my head around it. 

As a devout Atheist, I don’t have much understanding of this conflict. People are killing one another over piece of land deemed “holy.” Is that right? I’m asking seriously. I have done some googling and still can’t wrap my head around it. 

My friends and I like to look back at our old pictures. We laugh at how everyone dressed “back then.” Most of those were of us wearing various styles of jeans throughout the decades. We thought we looked hot! That’s why I no longer wear jeans. Plus, with modern, stretchy, soft fabrics, I don’t see a need for jeans. I…

I just make a guava cream cheese pound cake and serve it with vanilla ice cream. Best of both worlds. (I’ve never had homemade ice cream that was all that...but then again, I’m not an ice cream person. So take that as you will.)

I used to be able to find shredded imitation crab - like you see on top of rolls at sushi restaurants. I can’t find it anymore. I was great for a last minute salad with kewpie mayo and minced green onion. 

I (fully vaccinated) went to brunch (indoors) for the first time on May 2nd. I wore a mask walking through the restaurant, but took it off at the table where everyone else was vaccinated as well. It felt strange.

I adore sardines and my current obsession - smoked sprats. Was at the Thai market yesterday and saw a bag of dried smelt. They were larger though, not tiny. I asked the young clerk and she said people fry them. I asked if they rehydrate them first and she didn’t know. So now I have to go research that.

I find jeans deeply unflattering on almost everyone. They are so easy to get wrong. And if you’re like me - short, slight menopausal pudge, curvy - length is important, rise is important, fit through the hip and thigh are important, etc. I’m just never wearing jeans or even pants with zippers ever again. 

I’ve seen that Emmy video. I love her!

I try (try) to reduce produce waste by placing any vegetable scraps - like half and onion or bell pepper scrap in a zip lock bag in my fridge door where you might normally place the eggs (but I don’t store mine there). Like, you see it RIGHT when you open the door. After years of doing this I know to check the produce …

I try (try) to reduce produce waste by placing any vegetable scraps - like half and onion or bell pepper scrap in a zip lock bag in my fridge door where you might normally place the eggs (but I don’t store mine there). Like, you see it RIGHT when you open the door. After years of doing this I know to check the produce …

Truffle oil.  I shuddered as I typed that.

I thought this was going to be “why coffee makes you shit so damn much,” because that’s why I can’t drink coffee. Pee I can handle.

I thought this was going to be “why coffee makes you shit so damn much,” because that’s why I can’t drink coffee. Pee I can handle.