> On the one hand you say you found us 'long ago' but on the other hand
> your delicacy suggest a lack of experience with the unmoderated news
> group phenom??

Well, my memory is pretty pitiful, but I'm guessing maybe more than a
year ago I ran across this group. I somehow saved or kept it in a
favorites area. I kept saying, "When I have more time I'll come back
to it". As everyone knows, we don't get more tiime - we just adjust it
differently So, although I may not be here often, I plan on popping
in regardless of consistency. Also, I used to be very involved in
three related unmoderated news groups for roughly 8 years.
Surprisingly, my experience there is what prompted me to step my foot
lightly in these waters before barreling through and getting my leg
bitten off by an anaconda! LOL! Upon looking into the newsgroups, I
found AOL no longer has my comfort zone set up...it's now a google
thing, which obviously everyone here already knows. But, for me, it's
a little odd at first.

>After a while, once you understand what a 'burtchen schvitzer' he is you learn to ignore >him,

I will need to learn how to killfile...everyone talks about it, but
I've no experience with it.

I must say that this group seems lively and offers more than a few
chuckles Seems to me you all have a really neat thing going here.
I'll admit my food knowledge is not up to most of your standards, but
my waist doesn't seem to notice Quite frankly, my Great Grandma and
Nanny (Gma) were my teachers and I try to do them proud. They were
absolutely amazing cooks! I miss them - especially at this time of
year - and find cooking and baking to be very comforting and probably
my single most favorite hobby. My children (they are 4 1/2yo's) looove
cooking. They each are allowed to choose one TV show a day to enjoy.
You can bet that a food show always is chosen by one over all the
kid-friendly shows out there. Barefoot Contessa is our favorite, but
we love them all.

It would be too hard to name a favorite food, but I'm enjoying a few
recent recipes listed here. Actually, I hadn't made split pea soup
since last year until seeing a post the other day. I pulled stools up
to the counter and the girls helped me make a yummy split pea soup and
homemade sundried tomato bread (oh, that's not quite right - it was
from a bread machine - we just added herbs and sundried tomatoes).
It's great with young ones around. I think a lot of children wouldn't
have tried it...but when you make it yourself, it's extra enticing.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the very warm welcome. I'll pull up a
seat and join you more often. Seems very cozy in here
Missy in Indiana