Ruth Haffly wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Diet "any soda" used to be verrrrrry strange tasting. It has improved
a lot over the years but I still get the off-putting metallic taste.
There used to was a soda calle Diet Rite Cola. I've not seen it for a long time,

I remember seeing it but never tried it. Drank a lot of the regular
Coke for years, then Steve suggested that I trade off for diet Coke.
Saved calories for other goodies, carbs when I was diagnosed diabetic.

Aspertame is what makes the diet colas taste metallic to me. Coke Zero
uses *some* aspertame but mainly acesulfame potassium and stevia. It's
flavour profile is very much closer to the "realMcCoy".

I note that Coke is going back to cane sugar for its sweetner and drop\
kicking the HFCS to the curb. Now I won't have to se3arch out Mexican
Coco Cola if I need the fully leaded stuff as an ingredient.

I did discover a Dr. Pepper product Iquite like,mthough. Sugar free
Pwppwe mixed with Cream Soda. Apparently other like it as well DD>

becaouse it's hard to find it not store shelves. Bv)=

Kinda like my Dannon chocolate/raspberry/fat free yogut. Hard to keep
in stock.

And not one that can be replicated with just a scoop of raspberry jam
in plain yogurt. You need a source of good chocolate also.

The "Fruit on the bottom" yoghurts are nice. The 4 1/2 oz little tubs are
a pleasant snack if I get hunger pangs twixt meal times. Or just because.

I do tomato juice and the cranberry juice - which my nephrologist
(kidney doc) recommended as being good in several ways for my kidney

So far my kidneys seem to be doing well without cranberry juice. Had a scare a few years ago with some blood work that indicated maybe
otherwise so my primary care dr. referred me to a nephrologist. He said all was well, just come back once a year to keep an eye on things. Last time I saw him, he suggested drinking more water (or whatever) to stay better hydrated; this was not too long after our most recent long cross country trip.

Staying hydrated on a long trip is easy for guys. Andy bush, tree or
the vehicle itself provides enough of a "fig leaf" for easing of the pressur. Women don't have the same advantageous plumbing.

No, but having the camper has been handy for both of us. Just have to
find a relativly level space and pull off the road, lower the steps and make sure the water pump is turned on.

Not everyone brings their own Extended Stay America suite with then. Bv)=

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Coca-Cola Pot Roast
Categories: Beef, Vegetables, Sauces
Yield: 8 Servings

3 lb Beef chuck roast
2 tb Oil
16 oz Can crushed Tomatoes
12 oz Coca-Cola *
1 lg Onion; chopped or sliced
1 pk Spaghetti sauce mix
1 1/2 ts Salt
1/2 ts Garlic granules

* Use non-HFCS (Kosher for Passover/Mexican) Co'Cola.

Brown meat in oil for ten minutes on each side; remove
to crockpot. Drain fat.

Break up tomatoes in their juice; add remaining
ingredients, stirring until spaghetti sauce mix is
dissolved. Pour over meat. Cover; simmer until meat
is tender.

Thicken gravy; serve over sliced meat.

MM by Sylvia Steiger

Uncle Dirty Dave's Kitchen

MMMMM

... Almost anything is edible with a dab of French mustard on it.
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Phoenix BBS * phoenix.bnbbbs.net (1:320/219)

Sean Dennis wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Not well enough to go to WalMart/Scams Club which are the only places
it is sold currently.

I didn't know Grapette was its own brand. I thought it was a Walmart store brand. Shows what I know.

And now you do. Grapette was around before Sam Walton was a gleam in his daddy's eye.

Pedant mode on: It's got beef so it's a cottage pie. Shepherd is from "Sheep Herder" and a Shepherd's Pie is *only* made with lamb/mutton.

I remember your discussion with Ben about that recently.

That doesn't mean it's not good - just mis-named. Bv)=

Yeah and that can cause confusion.

... Bake the bread - buy the butter!

I'd like to try to make "farmer's cheese" at home sometime.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Farmer Cheese Cheesecake
Categories: November 19
Yield: 1 Servings

First trick is finding raw milk. Then you probably would want more
available space than a VA apartment.

I stand/sit corrected. This recipe uses pasteurised milk as it
doesn't look like it would take a lot of space. Certainly not
as much as I grew up with when we were milking 25 cows.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Farmer Cheese
Categories: Five, Dairy, Herbs
Yield: 4 pounds

1/2 ga Wole milk
1/4 c White vinegar
3 tb Fine chopped fresh dill
1 ts Kosher salt

In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, bring 1/2 gallon
pasteurized whole milk to a slow boil, stirring
occasionally. Keep the heat at medium or medium-low;
otherwise, you risk scorching the milk on the bottom of
the pot.

When small, foamy bubbles begin to form in the milk, but
it is not yet at a rolling boil, turn off the heat. If
using a thermometer, the temperature should be about
190ºF/88ºC.

Slowly add 1/4 cup white vinegar and stir the milk.
Curds will immediately begin to form.

Let the milk sit for 15 minutes without stirring.

After 15 minutes, add 3 tablespoons finely chopped dill.

Place a colander over a large bowl or pot. Drape either
a dampened cheesecloth or thin dampened clean dish towel
over the colander. Pour the curds into the cheesecloth.
The whey, all the liquid in the mixture, will drain and
be collected in the bowl below, while the solid curds
will be caught in the cheesecloth.

Lift the cheesecloth and wrap it around the curds,
twisting and squeezing to remove as much moisture as
possible.

After squeezing out the moisture, the curds for farmer
cheese will be dry and crumbly. If you want a creamier
texture, mix a little of the reserved whey back into the
curds.

Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and stir it together.

To shape the cheese, keep it wrapped in cheesecloth and
form it into a mound on a plate. Set another plate on
top and press the curds into a flat disc that is 1 to 2
inches tall. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or so
before removing the cheesecloth.

To make a ball, tie the cheesecloth with a length of
butcher's twine, attach it to a shelf in the 'frige or a
wooden spoon, and suspend it over a bowl. Gravity will
help shape the cheese into a ball and remove any excess
moisture.

Enjoy the cheese as is or in any of your favorite
recipes.

By Jennifer Meier

RECIPE FROM: https://www.thespruceeats.com

Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives

MMMMM

... Politics is either passing the buck or passing the dough.
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Phoenix BBS * phoenix.bnbbbs.net (1:320/219)

Sean Dennis wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Dave Drum wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Yet, from that one association I get e-mail and snail mail from every
(or nearly) Democratic cause in the world. I got on yesterday from the DSCC (Democratic Senate Campaign Committee) listing an impressive
litany of well-known personages saying "(NAME) asked you, (NAME) asked
... through a long list of names.

I asked my postmaster in-person if they can stop delivering the
constant junk mail and he said since the previous resident didn't
submit a change of address, they legally have to deliver the junk ail
to me. *eyeroll*

Business has reasons. Bureaucrats have a rule book. What you can do is
get a 3375 form from your post office a do a C.O.A. (to a vacant lot) for
the previous folks. If you can find an address where the house has been
razed ... or that has become a homeless ancampment, well there y' go.

Yesterday I replied to the dialy e-mail with IIf I didn't share my treasure with them why would you think your sorry a$$ is any
different>" Apparently their mail robot doesn't understand plain (and snarky) American idiom

Bots have no sense of humor.

Nor porportion.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Onion Soup w/Coke
Categories: Soups, Vegetables, Beef, Breads
Yield: 4 Servings

1/4 c Butter
4 c Onions; thin sliced
2 cn Beef broth; (10.5 oz ea)
7 oz Coca-Cola(original bottle) *
1 ts Salt
1/2 ts Vinegar
1/8 ts Pepper
French bread; thick slices
Parmesan cheese; grated

* Nearly impossible to find. Substitute a "mini Coke" in
the 7 1/2 oz size.

In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter. Add onions and
cook until they are golden, do not brown.

Add the undiluted beef broth, 1 broth can of water,
Cola, salt, vinegar, and pepper. Cover and simmer 20
to 25 mins.

In a broiler, toast one side of the French bread slices.
Turn and generously sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.
Toast until browned.

Into deep bowls, ladle the soup and top with the toast,
cheese-side up.

Makes 4 servings or about 6 cups.

Recipe from: http://www.recipesource.com

Uncle Dirty Dave's Kitchen

MMMMM

... Fruitarians won't eat seeds that contain baby plants,
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Phoenix BBS * phoenix.bnbbbs.net (1:320/219)

Hi Sean,

first couple of swallows vowed never to drink it again. Don't remember what the sweetener was but the combination of that and Dr. Pepper converted me to a life long Coke drinker.

In the Army, we'd use regular Coke as a degreaser/cleaner for the
engines in our vehicles ijn the motorpool. Coke has so much
phosphoric acid in it that i cleans wonderfuolly, rinsing it off
leaves a nice clean object.

I know, I've heard about that too. But it won't stop me from drinking
the diet version.

So far my kidneys seem to be doing well without cranberry juice. Had a

Unfortunately, right now, my kidneys have rduced functionality after I
was dignosed with renal tubular acidosis. Once I get the insulin
pump, I am hoping that I will regain my kidney function.

Hopefully you will get it soon, and that you can regain some function.
Hooked to a machine for several hours, several times a week does not
sound like fun.

We just lost a good friend of ours--former Navy, retired FDNY, had a
long list of health issues. He passed away on Tuesday, after having a
massive heart attack last week. Initially they thought he'd need
dialisis but his kidneys came back, then faded out, like the rest of his
body. At his visitation last night and service today, the funeral home
was packed tight with people. He was the one who made chicken piccota
for a lot of our Legion get togethers; after I made it for the first
time several months ago, I told him and got a "good for you!". I'll
never make it again without thinking of him.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


... If you focus only on the thorns you will miss the beauty of the rose.

--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)

Re: Re: Extra Sweet
By: Dave Drum to Sean Dennis on Sun Oct 26 2025 07:08 am

Title: Onion Soup w/Coke
7 oz Coca-Cola(original bottle) *
* Nearly impossible to find. Substitute a "mini Coke" in the 7 1/2 oz
size.

I've been told that Mexican Coke can be found on Scamazon and in Mexican grocery stores. Here's a recipe for OpenCola. Just like Coke, it does
*not* contain any kola nut.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: OpenCola Version 1.1.3
Categories: Beverages
Yield: 24 Liters

MMMMM---------------------FLAVOURING FORMULA--------------------------
10 g Food-grade gum arabic
3 1/2 ml Orange oil
3 ml Water
2 3/4 ml Lime oil
1 1/4 ml Cassia oil
1 ml Lemon oil
1 ml Nutmeg oil
1/4 ml Coriander oil
1/4 ml Neroli oil
1/4 ml Lavender oil

MMMMM-----------------SYRUP CONCENTRATE FORMULA----------------------
2 1/3 kg Sugar
2 1/4 l Water
30 ml Caramel color
17 1/2 ml Phosphoric acid (75%) or
- citric acid (3-1/2 ts)
10 ml Flavouring formula (2 ts)
2 1/2 ml Caffeine (1/2 ts)
- (optional)

Flavoring Formula:

Mix oils together in a cup. Add gum arabic, mix with a spoon. Add
water and mix well. I used my trusty Braun mixer for this step,
mixing for 4 to 5 minutes. You can also transfer to a blender for
this step. Can be kept in a sealed glass jar in the fridge or at room
temperature.

Please note that this mixture will separate. The gum arabic is an
essential to this part of this recipe, as you are mixing oil and
water.

Syrup Concentrate:

In a 1 gallon container, take 10 ml (2 ts) of the flavoring formula,
add the 75% phosphoric or citric acid. Add the water, then the sugar.
While mixing, add the caffeine, if desired. Make sure the caffeine is
completely dissolved. Then add the caramel color. Mix thoroughly.

Cola:

To finish drink, take 1 part syrup and add 5 parts carbonated water.

Recipe by Grad Conn, Cory Doctorow, and John Henson

Recipe FROM: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCola_(drink)>

MMMMM
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: The Fool's Quarter, fqbbs.synchro.net (1:105/500)

Dave Drum wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Not well enough to go to WalMart/Scams Club which are the only places
it is sold currently.

I didn't know Grapette was its own brand. I thought it was a Walmart
store brand. Shows what I know.

Grapette was its own brand back in the long ago. IIRC, WalMart bought it
and brought it back. That said, the last time I looked for Grapette in the local WalMart store, it had either been replaced or rebranded as the
"Grapette" name was no longer on the WalMart brand grape soda.

Maybe they no longer own it, or maybe that is just local anomally.

Mike

* SLMR 2.1a * In his hand a moving picture of the crumbling land
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Ruth Haffly wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

I know, I've heard about that too. But it won't stop me from drinking
the diet version.

Oh, I wasn't trying to put you off of drinking diet Coke.

If I am going to drink Coke, as I occasionally do at places who do not
offer Pepsi or Dr. Pepper products, I prefer to drink Coke Zero Sugar
rather than Diet Coke as the latter has always had an astringent, bitter
taste in the background to me that I do not like.

Being born and mainly raised out West, it was much more common for me to
drink Pepsi products than Coke products.

My personal favorite is diet RC which I can only find in 2-liter bottles
at Kroger. Canned diet RC is all over but I prefer 2-liter bottles.

These days I am more likely drinking water with lemon (to hide the nasty
taste of our city water).

Hopefully you will get it soon, and that you can regain some function. Hooked to a machine for several hours, several times a week does not
sound like fun.

That and my doctors told me that in my case, if I get to that stage, I
will most likely not live much longer.

That reminds me, I need to get to the VA tomorrow for an electrolyte lab
test and to uh, drop off a sample. Tests and more tests these days...

We just lost a good friend of ours--former Navy, retired FDNY, had a
long list of health issues. He passed away on Tuesday, after having a massive heart attack last week. Initially they thought he'd need
dialisis but his kidneys came back, then faded out, like the rest of
his body. At his visitation last night and service today, the funeral
home was packed tight with people. He was the one who made chicken
piccota for a lot of our Legion get togethers; after I made it for the first time several months ago, I told him and got a "good for you!".
I'll never make it again without thinking of him.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's always so difficult losing friends and
family but it's a part of life we have to accept. All part of His plan.

I am afraid that I may suffer the same fate (kidneys working, then
failing again).ÿWhat angers me is that, once again, a majority of the
problems that lead to my kidney failure were the fault of the spotty
care I get from some providers at the VA. I now know better.

As for the chicken piccota, it's nice you have something to celebrate
your friend's memory with.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: Impossibly Easy Breakfast Bake (Crowd Size)
Categories: Breakfast, Cheese/eggs, Cassaroles, Seandennis
Yield: 12 Servings

2 Packages (12 oz each) bulk
Pork sausage
1 Medium bell pepper, chopped
(1/2 cup)
3 c Frozen hash brown potatoes
2 c Shredded Cheddar Cheese
(8 oz)
1 c Original Bisquick(TM) mix
2 c Milk
1/4 ts Pepper
4 Eggs

Prep time : 20 minutes Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Breakfast casseroles don't get any easier than this! Prepped in just
20 minutes and easily made-ahead and stored for the next morning,
this is the breakfast casserole recipe you need to conquer your next
brunch. The best part? It's crowd-sized, so everyone can enjoy a
piece (and then some)!

1. Heat oven to 400øF. Grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.
Cook sausage, bell pepper and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium
heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
Stir together sausage mixture, potatoes and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese
in baking dish.

2. Stir Bisquick mix, milk, pepper and eggs until blended. Pour into
baking dish.

3. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center
comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 1 to 2 minutes
longer or just until cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes.

From:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/impossibly-easy-breakfast-bake-cro
wd-size

MM'd by Sean Dennis on 20 January 2017.

MMMMM

-- Sean

... Parkinson's Second Law: expenditures rise to meet income.
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Mike Powell wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-

Maybe they no longer own it, or maybe that is just local anomally.

I asked Bing and it spat out Wikipedia's entry:

"Grapette is a grape-flavored soft drink that was first produced and
marketed in 1939 by Benjamin "Tyndle" Fooks. Grapette is now produced
by Grapette International, and is marketed in the United States by
Walmart as part of its Sam's Choice line of soft drinks."

A better and much longer answer is provided by Grapette International themselves at https://www.grapette.com/read-more:

"In the late 80s, Grapette International's chairman, Brooks Rice, met
Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. Without wasting words, Walton told him,
"I want Grapette in my stores." Rice explained that although he couldn't provide the use of the brand names in the United States, he could offer
the flavors that once made the famous brands. Rice also personally
pledged that he would fulfill Walton's request to have Grapette and
Orangette in his stores someday.

Soon, Walmart was using some of the authentic Grapette Company flavor
profiles in its Sam's Choice line of signature sodas. The flavors fit
perfectly within the Sam's Choice brand, offering innovative, quality
products at a better value than the leading national brands. But it
always felt like something was missing - specifically, the famous
Grapette and Orangette brand names.

In early 2000, Grapette International was able to purchase the U.S.
rights to the Grapette and Orangette trademarks, finally reuniting the
flavors with their brand names. Now the third generation of founder Paul
May's family has given Walmart what Sam Walton requested almost twenty
years earlier.

In 2005, Grapette and Orangette became available exclusively in Walmart
stores nationwide."

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

Title: SAUSAGE, BREAD AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Categories: Cheese/eggs, Italian, Main dish, Vegetables, Seandennis
Yield: 8 Servings

3 tb Extra-virgin olive oil
8 oz Sweet Italian sausage,
--removed from casings
--(about 2 links)
1 Large bunch scallions, cut
--in 1/2" pieces
1/2 ts Kosher salt
1 Red bell pepper, cut in
--1/2" strips
8 Large eggs
1/4 c Milk
1 1/2 c 1/2" bread cubes, from a
--day-old loaf of country
--bread
1/4 c Grated Grana Padano

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet
over medium heat. Cook the sausage, crumbling with the back of a
wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the
scallions, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until
the scallions begin to wilt, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add bell pepper,
and cook, stirring until wilted but not completely limp, about 8 to
10 minutes.

In a bowl, beat eggs with the milk and remaining salt. Let the bread
cubes soak in the egg-milk mixture until moistened, about 2 to 3
minutes. Reduce heat under skillet to medium-low, then pour in eggs
and bread and let cook until the eggs begin to set around the edges
of the pan, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Sprinkle all over with the grated cheese. Put the skillet in the
oven, and bake until frittata is set all the way through and the top
is golden, about 18 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes, then run a
knife around the edge of the skillet and invert onto a plate or
cutting board. Serve in wedges, warm or at room temperature.

Chef's notes: "Frittata is the quintessential Italian meal. You can
flavor it with anything you have on hand, and one of my favorite ways
is adding day-old bread with vegetables and sausages. When there is
nothing else in the house except eggs, this is the meal to make. From
what I recall, sausage, bread and egg frittata was a dish my
grandmother in Istria made often whereas the addition of peppers was
something more Italian American. It is nonetheless a delicious
combination. This recipe makes a great lunch with some salad on the
side."

Recipe by Lidia Bastianich

From: http://lidiasitaly.com/recipes/sausage-bread-pepper-frittata/

MM'd by Sean Dennis (1:18/200) on 14 November 2017.

MMMMM

-- Sean

... Pardon me, but would you have any Blue Poupon?
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Hi Sean,

I know, when we were in Kentucky for an RV rally in 2018, at the pot
luck supper, there was an assortment of drinks. I told Steve to get me something so he came back with Ale 8 One, diet (now Ale 8 Zero). That
was good, so we took home a box of 12. Got another box on our way home from a western trip some years later, most recently one of the couple
in our neighborhood gave me a couple of boxes (We tend their dog on
some of their trips.) after a trip back to see family.

I've seen Ale 8 at my local Kroger and Walmart stores. Walmart has recently really stripped the amount of choice in their soda offerings
so I prefer to go to Kroger to get soda (Kroger's house-brand soda is
much cheaper and just as good, if not better, than brand-name soda)
these days. They even have Diet RC (RC is my favorita cola) and
they're the only ones who have it in my area.

I should have looked for it when we were out in Pidgeon Forge last year.
(G) First couple of days were nice and sunny, then, Tuesday night as we gathered for supper, the first rains of Helene hit us. It was still
raining Thursday when we pulled out about noon, hitting eastbound I-40
about an hour later. Less than 24 hours later, that part of I-40 was in
the river.

I've not had an RC cola in decades as either Coke or pepsi is a lot more available across the country. I'll have to see if it's available locally
and if so, give the diet version a try. I prefer diet Coke; diet pepsi
seems to be just a bit sweeter but I'll drink it from time to time if
Coke isn't available. Since pepsi is a NC product (developed in New
Bern), it is a lot more popular in the state, especially at big name events/venues.

... I'm not afraid of heights. I'm afraid of widths.

Cute (G)


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Our necessities are few but our wants are endless...

--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)

Hi Mike,

I know, when we were in Kentucky for an RV rally in 2018, at the pot luck supper, there was an assortment of drinks. I told Steve to get

me > something so he came back with Ale 8 One, diet (now Ale 8 Zero).
That > was good, so we took home a box of 12. Got another box on our
way home > from a western trip some years later, most recently one of
the couple in > our neighborhood gave me a couple of boxes (We tend
their dog on some of > their trips.) after a trip back to see family.

LOL, I am enjoying an Ale 8 right now... non-diet. ;) I just opened
it and then opened this message.

I'd never heard of it until we went to that rally. It quickly became a
favorite but since we can't get it in NC, I drink diet Coke for the most
part. Yes, the non diet would be nice but I keep my blood glucose in
better check by drinking the diet version. In theory, I'm diabetic but
I keep it well controlled by diet alone. Most of the time my carbonated
drink of choice is sparkling water; I might have a soda maybe once a
week/10 days.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28


... You learn something useless every day.

--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)