PRgal

Made my version of tofu Parmesan last night - a good alternative to eggplant parm if you want something vegetarian. Served it with quinoa.

Maybe it's because I haven't seen too many episodes, but I was under the impression that Pops was a widower until last night's episode.

What about soft pretzels?

Hello, my name is PRgal and I'm a Sephoraholic. I've been a VIB Rouge member since its launch. I am also a lipstick/lipgloss hoarder and have been, on and off, since high school. My favourite products are Fresh's Sugar (especially honey (both the gloss and balm), berry and petal), Clinique's Chubby Sticks (eyes and lips) and Smashbox's CC creams and primers. I mostly buy beauty products at Sephora or at Shoppers Drug Mart (love the fact that they don't just carry traditional "drugstore" brands like Maybelline and Covergirl. I can buy my toilet paper and vitamin pills along with Benefit mascara) because I get points! :) Anyone else a Sephoraholic?

I have not stepped inside a McDonald's in about two years and have not had a burger there in almost five (the last time I ate at McDonald's was for breakfast). I have to admit that their coffee is good now that they're doing espresso. The last time I ate at Burger King was in 2006. I tend to get my burgers at places like Big Smoke (quick service, but not fast food) these days. In terms of actual fast food, I like Subway and a bunch of smaller pita/wrap places but prefer salad/healthier choices outlets like Freshii for lunch.

Yum! Steamed flounder was one of the only kinds of fish I would eat when I was very young. As for what I'm making tonight: Socca (chickpea flour flatbread) with leftover Chinese style BBQ pork and onions. Cheated and purchased prepped side dishes (broccolini and beets).

I use the elliptical four times a week for about 50 minutes, take (ballet) barre once a week and work with a trainer another day. I also take hour-long walks almost daily and try to eat well. I've found that over the past few years, I've become a slightly intolerant to starchier foods such as potatoes, rice and most breads so I tend to only include them in two meals each day.

Aren't most black people in the UK mostly first and second generation British by way of former colonies in the Caribbean? Most of the black people I know here in Toronto are the same and they tend to have names like Katherine, John and Michael. Interesting that even fourth generation UK Indians carry on traditional names while Chinese rarely do.

Reservations. It's Friday and I don't feel like cooking. :P

A few years ago, I made spelt rolls for Thanksgiving that came out as hard as rocks. It was the same recipe I used for soda bread a few weeks before, but for some reason, it didn't turn out. Maybe it's because I put them in muffin cups instead of making an entire loaf. Probably spent a little too long in the oven.

There's a difference between a name like Rainbow and a name that is representative of non-Anglo cultures. I'm sure people would take a Dr. Mei Tsin Wang more seriously than a Rainbow Johnson. Rainbow/Bow screams (as I've said earlier in this thread) "how high were your parents when you were born, anyway?"

Milk, cheese and bread together sounds gross. And I like milk and cheese. Cheese and bread go together (I love my grilled cheese!!!), but the thought of having milk, bread AND cheese in the same bowl sounds...pukey...

Made beef, broccoli and bell peppers cooked in a green Thai curry sauce with a bit of coconut water and plain yogurt. Served it over quinoa.

I thought this show was gone, after disappearing last season. I guess I was wrong.

Starbucks Teazzi (or however you spelled it). It was kind of like a frappucino with juice and tea. They got rid of it about 10-12 years ago.

Middle eastern. Love falafels. I also like Indian and Italian. Chinese, not so much. When you grow up eating it, it can't really be a favourite - LOL!

In terms of more "traditional" flavours, I like chocolate chip and strawberry. An ice cream parlour near me serves up apple cinnamon ice cream, which tastes like apple pie. A gelato place has Nutella. Other favourites: Muskoka Maple Mocha, Basil Gelato and Wild Blueberry Cheesecake from a local ice cream brand called Belly (they also have a flavour called Muskoka S'mores, but it seems to lack a bit in the graham crackers. It ain't s'mores without graham crackers.

A small list of things I won't eat/don't like: Duck of any kind Most shellfish (though I will eat shrimp in fried rice) Crunchy, packaged cookies unless they're sandwich cookies (but even then it's a bit low on my list) Potatoes, especially in large amounts (makes me feel bloated. I will eat them in very limited amounts and only when cooked in stew has lots of flavour) Canned cranberry sauce (I make my own...with maple sugar) Froot Loops, Lucky Charms and any high sugar/high colour cereal Anything super hot/spicy Taro Overly sweet soy milk, especially served hot (the kind you find in some Chinese restaurants) Watery congee (rice gruel/cereal) my parents often make, especially after Thanksgiving Pepperoni pizza Peanuts (I had a bad reaction to airplane peanuts when I was a kid, but was later told that I was NOT allergic. Still, I avoid them) McDonald's "sausages" Kraft Dinner (known as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in the US) Cheez Whiz Chinese red bean "soup," a very standard dessert at Chinese restaurants. Also won't eat tofu pudding, even though I LOVE tofu otherwise, or black sesame dessert soup. As for what I DO like? Quinoa, chickpeas (especially in hummus or falafel form) kale, avocado, eggplant, tofu and wild pacific salmon. If I only had those foods, I am good - especially if there's garlic to go along with it.

When I was little, my parents made Thanksgiving stuffing with sticky rice, taro and mushrooms. I'm not a fan of sticky rice, so as an adult, my stuffing is made with quinoa! I've experimented with various items since I married, but lately, I like onions and sun dried tomatoes. I also make slow cooked or baked apples (i.e apple pie filling) as a dessert. Save for bread, my Thanksgiving/Christmas meal can be completely gluten-free.

I like more "alternative"-y toppings and alternative grain crusts. My favourite pizza place here in Toronto is Magic Oven, where I often get a 10" pizza on spelt crust with toppings like kale, feta, spinach, tofu or grilled salmon. Once, I had about 16 toppings!

I'm Asian (Chinese) and a Cantonese speaker and STILL have issues remembering certain Chinese (given) names - especially if they're Anglicized pronunciations. It's very foreign/confusing to me as it isn't quite Cantonese nor is it quite English/western. Family/last names are easier to remember for the most part. Also, most non-related Cantonese speaking/people of Cantonese (Hong Kong) heritage I know have (official/legal) western names and I know them through work or school. Those are the names they use in that situation. Mozelle: Is Chimamanda Ngozi pronounced : Chee-ma-MAN-DAH GNO-zee? (ngo as in gnocchi) Wondering because the Cantonese pronunciation of the family name Ng sounds more like the gno in gnocchi than the Anglicized "ing."

I'm sure Rainbow herself had issues being taken seriously based on her name. Rainbow = "were your parents high when you were born?" I think each culture has unique naming methods for their kids. Hong Kong Chinese parents often give their kids "y"/"ie" names, especially for females. And sometimes, the names are from an older generation. I'm 35 and I went to school with a girl named Peggy, for example (other "y/ie" names were Amy, Patty and Mandy. There were also LOTS of Jennifers, but that's generational, not just for Asians but for white people, too). The white girl with a Margaret derivative was a Megan. My parents legally named me Cindy until I officially changed it to Cynthia when I was 20. I didn't think "Cindy" would be taken as seriously as Cynthia. It DOES sound like a mallrat sort of name. And dated, too.

They're doing another season of Celebrity Apprentice? I thought it was over!

I think the cultural barriers, at least now, has more of either historical (especially regarding golf and tennis) or just something that the older generations don't "get." I don't think Asians not playing hockey (I'm in Canada, so I have to bring this up - LOL!) is necessarily due to historical segregation, since there were relatively few Asians in Canada when the NHL was white-only compared to today. None of the full-Asian kids I went to school with had parents who were born in Canada - the parents mostly came as adults or younger teens. Therefore, they wouldn't have grown up watching hockey, so the kids don't play, even though the kids took skating. Of course, size may be an issue, too. I mean, a 5'8" or 5'9", 150-160 lb Asian being bodychecked by a 6'1", 200 lb player...ouch. Probably reason why there aren't a lot of Asians in football.

It might be an Anglo thing. I'm pretty sure the belt/strap at British boarding schools were done on the behind. I know that Hong Kong families (perhaps due to British colonialism/influence) also spanked on the bum back in the day. They also slapped on the palm.