On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 17:37:09 -0800, Terry Pulliam Burd
> wrote:

>I went to the market today to do as much do-ahead grocery shopping as
>I could in preparation for Christmas Day dinner. I'll do a Friday
>swoop-and-grab for perishables on Friday on the way home from work and
>if Friday's expedition is as unsuccessful as today's, I'd better plan
>a route home that includes multiple markets.
>
snip tale of woe
>
>Popped by Albertson's and they didn't have any of the missing
>ingredients and the deli clerk, when asked, thought he'd "heard" that
>parmesan was a good substitute for asiago. I am devoutly praying that
>the Market Fairy hits Gelson's before Friday.

You can substitute parmesan or in a pinch, Romano. You'll get a bit
more tang than with asiago.
>
>* I bought a small tin of one of those instant fake espresso "coffee
>drink" whatsits hoping that that will do if I can't find "real"
>instant coffee.

I keep Medaglia D'oro instant espresso in the freezer for just such
uses. If you have crystals that are too large, crush them with a
mortar and pestle. You'll be fine. Or brew yourself some wickedly
thick espresso and put in a tbsp or two, being careful with your
liquid in the recipe.

Try a health food store for the dried cherries or a Trader Joe's.

The chocolate wafer cookies are hard to come by, especially at this
time of year. I don't think they are the big seller they used to be
and the little the stores carry gets swooped up at holiday time.

Hey, I'm lucky...I found a nice goose.

Boron