Comments | laynamarya: This is a post about me whining that I cannot get what I want.

laynamarya

This is a post about me whining that I cannot get what I want.

Nov 27, 2009 00:15

Things I cannot get at the grocery store, but which I want ( Read more... )

Comments 13

kahn November 26 2009, 20:31:25 UTC

That's a lot of stuff you don't get to have!

....THAT MEANT TO SOUND MORE SYMPATHETIC.

But, hey--octopus! Mmmmmm

OMG, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?? YOU NEED TO DO IT, NO FOR SERIOUS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAs_DJCjG4

laynamarya November 27 2009, 01:24:42 UTC

I only like octopus that is drowning in spicy sauce. Otherwise it is NOT delicious!

My friend Susie has done the octopus compromise: they chop up the octopus so that you are eating squirming pieces of octopus rather than an entire living creature. I might do that. But for a whole octopus, I'd either have to drink a lot of soju first, or be promised authentic tiramisu for dessert.

kahn November 28 2009, 18:26:40 UTC

I actually LOVE octopus, in all its forms! Perhaps it's a Asian in me? Anyway, I even love it as an animal. They're really really cleaver! Which would mean I'd feel guilty eating them alive. Fortunately, I don't think they have pain sensors, at least not like we do.

purplegryphon November 27 2009, 05:38:00 UTC

Well... You can make vanilla extract, if you can get vanilla beans, and something like vodka, bourbon or rum. It takes two months, but... tinyurl.com/VanillaforLayna

It's something! *hugs*

laynamarya November 28 2009, 00:33:46 UTC

Aww thank you!

Are you gonna send me vanilla beans, then?

;)

Fortunately I bought a whole bunch of vanilla extract when I went to the US last so I am okay for now.

purplegryphon November 28 2009, 00:35:34 UTC

*laughs* Good!

Tell me what you're lacking, I'll send you some foodlove!

laynamarya November 30 2009, 03:21:42 UTC

If you sent me cinnamon sticks or dried calimyrna figs, I would be eternally grateful. Is there anything you would like from Korea?

danae November 27 2009, 08:06:04 UTC

where exactly are you?
Because I can get:
Marshmallows (homeplus & costco & Itaewon)
Ricotta cheese (I can make this)
Lasagna noodles (Homeplus)
Molasses (Seoul - Hannom market)
Cinnamon sticks (Itaewon)
Vanilla extract (also almond extract, peppermint extract, etc.) - Itaewon, my baking store in Daejeon has Lemon, Orange and Vanilla but not the others
Italian sausage - costco
Lentils (Itaewon & Daejeon)
Turkey (Costco)
Oatmeal - lots of places
Pizza dough - I can make this
Orange pumpkins -lots of places
Chocolate chips - Homeplus
Thyme - dried I can find in Korea
Basmati rice - Itaewon
Chickpeas -Itaewon and Daejeon
Boneless skinless chicken breasts (how do you LIVE?) - Homeplus
Sour cream -Costco
Vegetable shortening -Itaewon

laynamarya November 28 2009, 00:31:59 UTC

Thank you for the information. It's really kind of you to write it all down for me. But this post was about more than food ( ... )

danae December 2 2009, 03:35:26 UTC

I understand, and I make special trips to go up to Seoul or Costco just to get what I want, or I get my family to mail me packages. It's ridiculous what i go through to buy groceries, but I want things that Koreans don't eat and I'm sure that Koreans would have the same problem in America.

laynamarya December 2 2009, 13:34:43 UTC

Yeah, you're right. A lot of grocery stores don't even have napa cabbage, never mind pre-made kimchi. A new Korean market opened up recently near my old apartment, but it's not accessible by public transportation. It's tough for anyone living surrounded by a different food-culture. As my boyfriend says, it's not "comfortable" food.

masscooper November 29 2009, 01:10:19 UTC

For apple pies I usually use sweeter apples and the old joy of cooking apple pie recipe with the smaller amount of sugar. I use brown instead of white sugar - I find the combination of these things makes for a richer flavor than when I've made it with granny smiths. If the apples are really really too sweet you could add some molasses for part of the sugar. You might also consider a pear instead of or in addition to the apples - i know the pears there are somewhat different but maybe there's one that's less sweet than the apples? I'd be glad to give you my recipe if you don't have it.

I'm sorry you're feeling so unhappy. The holidays are hard when you're far from home. I'm very cranky about where I'm living and I'm only two time zones away from my home. I hope you find a means of resolution soon.

laynamarya November 30 2009, 03:24:14 UTC

That's a good idea, I like brown sugar better anyway. I can't buy molasses here but I think the brownsugar is dark enough to counteract the sweetness. And I like the idea of throwing in a pear, which are actually a little less sweet than American pears but actually more apple-ly tasting.

I would LOVE your recipe please and thank you.

Life would be so much better if we all had teleportation devices.