Longwood Gardens is gorgeous.
I don't have any kind of slow or pressure cooker because I'm afraid I'll blow up the house.
Well THAT doesn't sound bad then. My BIL or someone was telling me that they only have one restaurant, and it's a pre-fix menu, so if you don't like what they are serving, you are SOL. And a friend of mine goes on cruises all the time and she posts pics on her facebook and they are always really formal and it's fancy food, which I want something simple and recognizable. So it's all intimidating and scary. But if there are snack bars and things like that, and I know I'm not going to have to starve if I don't like what they are serving in the main restaurant, then it doesn't sound as scary. I'd still have to look into anti-nausea stuff for the motion sickness, but it sounds like it might actually be an option some day. Thanks!If you get a list of the foods that are available on any given cruise you will find that they have the ingredients to make just about anything that you can make and chances are good that they do that daily. Unless it's baked worms I cannot think of any food item that I didn't see on the ships buffets. Anyway, it is really not a realistic fear as far as I can tell, but, if you feel it, well you do and unless you test it, you will never see differently. Not to mention that every cruise ship has a formal dining room(s), a huge constantly operating buffet, multiple full service restaurants, snack bars and places to buy other food items. The only way that you would not find something is if you were comatose.
As far as the boat leaving without you, you are never that far away to begin with and unlike 30 years ago communication is almost foolproof. If for some reason you are delayed for a foreseeable time frame, they will wait. You use your ticket to scan when you leave and scan again when you return. They know who is off the ship, when you left, and when you have returned. All you have to do is let them know, if delayed. I know that we waited in port 2 hours in Barcelona for a person that was joining the cruise there. They even told us why we were waiting. No one cared, that's what the buffets were for.
You know, refried beans are VERY easy and actually pretty fast. Do you use fresh, dried beans or canned? If you use canned, you can just throw the whole can/jar with the liquid into a blender with chopped onion and olive oil. (I put the onion in my blitzer thingy first and let it chop that, then add the beans and a couple tablespoons of olive oil) Add a bit of salt and pepper, and blitz it and then fry it in a pan with a little olive oil until it's the consistency you want. That's it. (This is how my friend from Mexico taught me) If you are using dried beans, you soak them overnight in water, then boil them until they start to split and you can stick a fork through them. Then do the same thing as with the can. You usually need some of the water you used to boil them or they come out too dry. But they are sooooo easy. I make them a lot now.It was gorgeous. They do this thing called "Nightscape" and it's projection mapping onto the trees and bespoke music. You follow this path and there's a new set around each corner. They made these trees look like they went through the seasons with this soaring soundtrack. It was very moving.
I only made basmati rice to start. But it was great. I am going make refried beans tomorrow.
THNX it looks like I'm far northwest enough I won't get much of anything but my dh also filled the propane using the same excuse
That sound like so much fun. I want raised beds but the deer here would mow everything to the ground. Most of my gardening is done in earth boxes up on my deck. I'm lucky to have a huge deck.Good evening,
I just completed a 45 minute dance workout. It was a bit of fun. I spent the day killing weeds and mapping my yard. I need to clean it up and I want to make some raised beds to grow some veggies.
Today the new one goes in and I'm sure that won't be loads of fun either At least I managed to make some Sri Lankan eggplant curry and a nice large salad for dinner last night. It's a good thing I had some left over rice and some cooked spicy lentils in the fridge.
We are headed over to the farmers market at Celebration this morning and then a long day by the pool.I'm skipping a formal workout yet again. Pulling the well pump out turned into an adventure and quite a bit of work. At one point I wound up in goddess for almost 20 minutes.
Have fun. It's a nice little market, thank you for suggesting it!
DisneyGood morning! After working outside all day, I am done. I am taking a break today. Gotta run some errands this morning. This weather is gorgeous! The storm really cleared the skies!
DH still out of town working. They moved them to another city to help this morning. So, keeping fingers crossed, they finish early and can head home. He is only 3 hours away now so that wouldn't be a terribly long drive.
Hope everyone is taking it easy. Sounds like @epcotisbest has the best idea for today!!! Now where do I find a pool?
By a pre-fix menu, they mean that they have certain set daily offerings every meal, (they change daily) but, there are usually about 5 different items to choose from. They post it ahead of time, usually via your in room TV, so if it doesn't line up with what you need or want, then you can go to the Buffet where if you don't find something you like, then you must be starving most of the time. There's only a few major food groups at best!
Sri Lankan eggplant curry...is that like "Hal"? With lentils and rice and cumin seeds? One of my friends here...well, she just moved to Germany a couple months ago, but I met her here, is from Sri Lanka and she taught me to make it, but MAN is it time consuming. I've never made it because you have to soak the lentils forever, and then you have to let all the spices steep for ages....it's delicious, but not conducive to work and school schedules.I'm skipping a formal workout yet again. Pulling the well pump out turned into an adventure and quite a bit of work. At one point I wound up in goddess for almost 20 minutes.
I will have to look into it. I don't even know what cruiselines are available in the Netherlands. Research time! I LOVE doing research. (Did I mention I'm a nerd?) Well, I guess it depends on what I'm researching...but vacation research is fun!By a pre-fix menu, they mean that they have certain set daily offerings every meal, (they change daily) but, there are usually about 5 different items to choose from. They post it ahead of time, usually via your in room TV, so if it doesn't line up with what you need or want, then you can go to the Buffet where if you don't find something you like, then you must be starving most of the time. There's only a few major food groups at best!
I don't believe in the history of cruising anyone has ever gone hungry. Quite the opposite. The formal dining rooms have the "fancier" fare, but, most of it is really basic. I could have lived on the French Onion Soup alone. That is an appetizer but you can order more then one if that is all you want and skip the main course. The Prime Rib is also to die for. The buffets are much more along the lines of just plain old regular food. You want Ham... they got it. You want chicken.. they got it. You want a hamburger or pizza, guess what... they got that too! Spaghetti your thing... they got you covered. Fish, of course. Salad bars, desserts, all types of potatoes, rice and about a million types of bread. (Caution.... possible starch overload. Atkins will not be happy!)
I'm not sure what kind of cruise your bil was on, but, he apparently didn't look around or read what was available. I know I sound like an employee for a cruise line, but, really, cruising isn't for everyone, but, it is quite an experience. The independent Restaurant settings are usually upcharge... meaning you have to pay extra to eat there, whereas the dining room and buffet and even most of the snack bars are included in your prepaid cruise cost. However, the restaurants are an option and usually have a specific specialty be it Italian cuisine or American or Mexican or French or whatever.
Like I said, Cruising is not for everyone, but, should be experienced at least once, twice to really get the feel of it. I think that there is more then one line that originates in that area, but, even if not so named it is a popular destination so almost all the major lines go to the area.
