annzeepark914

@3pwood: Thanks for the link. Two of the stores on there (for my zip code) don't carry Diamond Crystal (the box) so I think I'll call the others on the list and I've bookmarked the link so I can call the 800 number if no one around here carries it. While at Wegman's yesterday, there was a young man walking around produce with a tray of tiny cups holding pieces of Champagne Mango. I discovered these at Harris Teeter 2 weeks ago (but they no longer have them) so was thrilled to find them again - 88 cents! For anyone who can't handle the taste of regular mangoes, these champagne mangoes are perfect. They don't have that odd, semi-metallic taste that I dislike in regular mangoes. Walmart is also selling them at the same price. They're small and yellow and delicious!

Well, today I tried to find Diamond Crystal Kosher salt at Wegman's, the only supermarket in our area that has carried it so far. Nada! They had a small 13 oz canister: Diamond Crystal Iodized Salt Sense (Real Salt, 33% Less Sodium per teaspoon) which I bought just for the heck of it. Went to customer service to ask where the heck is the box. The staffer looked it up and said it's no longer being sold in my Wegman's (but it is in other Wegman's...none of them nearby). Why is it so hard to find the box of Diamond Crystal kosher salt? If I haven't mentioned it already (over at TWOP), I've discovered that a pretty good, inexpensive e.v.o.o. is at Trader Joe's. It's called California Estate Olive Oil (extra virgin) and it's only $5.99 a bottle. Love it! I'm also crazy about TJ's frozen latke's - bake them and then when they're crispy, I love to squirt fresh lemon juice on them - so refreshing, crispy & delicious!

The all time classic episode for me was the one in which the husband was a grumpy safety inspector who nitpicked everything in each house David showed them ("this outdoor step is a little slanted") and then Hilary discovered the old house was filled with asbestos! I could't wait for that gasbag to get back to his decrepit house and be told that he, the beady-eyed safety inspector, was living in a house filled with asbestos.

Wish I lived nearby--I'd definitely be there complete with an Orioles cap (as a Nats fan it would be a major sacrifice--but worth it). Hope they sell Junior Mints at the stadium.

Unfortunately I can't remember those classic lines (haven't seen any re-runs in quite some time). I loved the scenes in which Carla and Nick fought; also when her oldest son, ANT-nee and his acerbic wife came to visit Carla in the bar ("Sooo, Mother Tortelli"). Just loved hearing those Beantown haaahdcoah accents.

The writing was crisper, more articulate when Diane was in the cast (but of course...they had such a wonderful character to write for).

I loved that little studio apartment and wished she had stayed there (but was pleased to see the "M" hanging on the wall in her new apartment). Once Mary Richards moved to the new apartment (and Phyllis & Rhoda were gone), the show just wasn't as much fun for me (never could stand Georgette) unless Sue Ann Nivens was given some shenanigans and great dialogue. Always loved it when Mary had to work up her courage to be assertive.

Her hairdresser probably applies a glaze after coloring. Glaze makes one's hair look like the hair in a shampoo ad. Ina's beautiful skin is probably part genetics and part chemical peels, facials and daily use of fabulous skin care products. That girl may wear high-water pants but she sure does take good care of her skin and hair!

Preteen World was one of my favorites...especially when the "band" played that song (Gone Gone Gone She's Been Gone So Long...). Also, skits w/ Mrs. Falvo and John Candy as the kiddie clown. And the Shmenge Brothers TV Shows.

Billy Bob's character reminded me so much of that cranky patient of Bob Newhart as psychologist on The Bob Newhart Show (back in the 70's)...with a little Norman Bates mixed in.

So, Small Talk: Don't Tell Jeffrey! should be about anything but the BC Show, Ina Garten, her recipes, friends, etc., right? I've been confused myself. In this thread we can talk about books we've read, movies we've seen, non-BC recipes we've made??? (sorry to be so thick...I'm loving previously.tv, am having fun reading/posting in so many different forums :>)

I liked it and didn't mind the reminders of the movie. These characters weren't as OTT (constantly talking about the weather as they did in the movie). So, I'm wondering: how did Lorne get into town after he deserted his car and where did Lorne go after he went into the basement (he'd disappeared from there by the time Lester came down to look for him). Does it have something to do with him somehow knowing that the patrolman (Hanks) has a daughter? Can he walk through walls? Can't wait for next Tuesday!

I read Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And All the Brilliant Minds Who made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (2013). It's great. You learn how difficult it was to get this show on the air (CBS wanted Mary to be a divorcee; they didn't think a show about an unmarried 30+ year old working woman would be interesting to anyone). Thank goodness they couldn't get Andy Williams to sing the theme song. He was a crooner and his highly recognizable voice would've distracted from Mary driving to the Big City, looking at food in a case at the supermarket, riding an escalator, etc.

This is gonna drive me nuts! I can see the guest room and Ina mentioning the little extras she likes to place in the room for her company. I think her guest was a female (not a couple)...but I'm not positive. I keep a basket in the guest bathroom...filled with sample shampoos, travel toothbrushes and toothpaste, little soaps, all those little things hotels/motels put out (I always take a few with me ;>) + small bottles of Deer Park water. But I don't do chocolates a la Ina. I'd love to be a guest in her home--you just know it would be a divine experience (lovely bed linens, treats on the night stand and then, breakfast in front of the fire in the living room or out on the veranda overlooking the garden). ~sigh~

@Lura - heh heh...yup! Re: "Ina's flower"...I can't remember which one that is (it was discussed by many over at the old BC forum maybe a year ago). The name of that flower is not easily remembered if I recall correctly. Every time she puts together an arrangement of creamy white flowers & tucks in some greenery, I swoon. I noticed someone mentioned roast chicken (well, yeah--this is a BC forum ;>) and so I must confess that even tho' I love roast chicken, it always makes a big mess in the oven thanks to the butter/oil squirting all over the place. Does this happen to everyone? Or am I doing something wrong? I'm trying to remember if we've already had a discussion about this and someone suggested putting the chicken in the oven with nothing on it. Is that an "ok" thing to do?

I just don't get unsweetened whipped cream when it's used for desserts. If you don't want to end up with sweet overkill, cut way back on the sugar. I use confectioner's sugar from a container in which I've placed a vanilla bean. This way it's semi-sweet, very muted, but also a nice contrast to a very sweet dessert. Hey, Lura - welcome to the new Land of BC :>)

I think if they had cast a better looking actor to play Cora's brother, then I could see M. Allsop's character being interested in him. I too was disappointed when it was discovered that Blake inherited a title and estate from his uncle...it just seemed too convenient. Still don't trust Tony Gillingham's motive for going after Mary due to his dire financial situation.

BJ, the character, was too bland to have any snarky title. Makes me wonder if Alan Alda had a heavy hand in deciding BJ's personality - be the straight man for Hawkeye, be quiet enough for Hawkeye to babble on and on throughout their scenes together.

In the beginning of the show's run, Hawkeye was fun (along with Trapper John). Then he became a bit too preachy and became more overbearing as the years went on (probably due to Alan Alda getting more control of the show). I read a long time ago that the actor who played Trapper John left the show (hated that!!) due to his character getting fewer and fewer lines (since most were going to Hawkeye).

I picked up a lot of old goofy sayings from MASH and thanks to Frank, nerts is my favorite. Loved the home movies that his wife would send to him.

Count me in as another TMTM Show fan who didn't like the divorce. It was a downer for me. I thought Patricia Morrill was fine in the role of Edie - she looked & sounded like a woman Lou would be married to IMO. Of course it did open up opportunities for overly assertive single women to go after Lou & make him so uncomfortable which was funny (especially Sue Anne, "Oh Lou, Lou...") (OMG...the night shift episode - my all time favorite on the Lou Grant Show).

"Imagine if you're Canadian!" Terrific writing for this show (and they're all Canadians so why didn't Lorne hire them for the increasingly sad SNL?)

Thanks for the tip, chessiegal. I need to make an effort to catch those re-runs since her current show's recipes IMO are very unappealing (altho' I did make one recipe from her newer show, her veggie fritto misto, which is wonderful). Gosh - I'd forgotten about that "did she or didn't she" story (~shudder~ can't imagine what the heck any woman sees in John Mayer so I'll go with she didn't!)

Maybe Cousin Amy was the source for modern slang like "bromance" (has Cousin Amy disappeared?). Back to the idiotic so-called parents at mini-golf. I noted the little pop-up that appeared while JimBob and Michelle were taunting the young couple about taboo behavior before getting married (the pop-up mentioned that they held hands before getting married). It reminded me of something J & M talked about in some interview a while back in which Jim Bob remembered the first time he saw Michelle she was watering her family's front lawn wearing a bikini. Their behavior is getting worse and worse each season with Jim Bob unable to keep his hands off Michelle. Their children behave more maturely on camera than the parents. Whoops - just read in another thread that Cousin Amy has moved to Nashville to start her singing career. Good for her! (yet I hope she'll stay in touch with her slave cousins back at the compound--she seems to be their connection to the outside world).

I used to get a kick out of Alec Baldwin. Now I cringe whenever I see him on TV (and in the Eton Mess episode). Years ago, when I first learned about Eton Mess (pre-Ina), I tried to make something like it - breaking up meringue (Forgotten) cookies and layering with ice cream + berry sauce. It was good (Mr. P914 loathes meringue so I no longer make it). I appreciate very much all the warnings I've seen (over at TWOP) re: how awful the cucumber soup is...so I won't waste time making it. @CheeseBurgh: that's so interesting about your stepson enjoying Ina's show...for the same reason so many of us do--that soft voice, the serene colors in her home and barn and garden. When I watch her show, I just relax as I'm pulled in to her world. Her show would definitely not appeal to the folks who need razzmatazz in their lives (cupcake war, supermarket grab competitions, hyper camera work bouncing all over the place, raucous laughter & goofy antics, etc). I hope she enjoys creating these shows and will continue to do so for a long time (on her terms of course--we want our BC to be happy!)