Lots of fun things in your package. Teresa sent me some cheese straw that were out of this world. I know you'll enjoy yours. Have you used the mini pans yet? I have some little pans similar to yours but I haven't used them. The first one of us to try a recipe in them needs to share, please. Can you tell that I think the first one might be you? I hope there might be a picture of Chef Sebastian and the cookies too. It's a lovely, thoughtful package Teresa. Lee

I have a similar cookbook by Giuliano Bugialli and use it quite frequently as a reference. I think I actually cook Italian food more often than any other cuisine. Will love to hear how the wine tastes - I got some NY wine also, but a cab instead of a white. The pasta will be very enjoyable too. Was it dried? I've never done that with homemade pasta, but it seems like a good idea. Let us know what sauce you make for it! Lars

I forgot to mention that I, too, am one to wait a couple hours till I eat breakfast, usually. DH, on the other hand, will practically wake up eating. Sweets first thing are fine for him, too. If I've made some cookies or something, he'll grab one or two as soon as he climbs out of bed. He doesn't get that I'm not hungry when I first wake up, and I don't see how he can stomach eating that soon after waking up. I never liked tomato juice until I tasted my MIL's home made tomato juice from the tomatoes my FIL grew. I was stunned at how good it was. Decades later, and a bit more educated on processed foods, and food in general, I realize why I never liked it before tasting her tomato juice. Quality ingredients, freshly made, without all the additives and the taste of tin can (which the store bought tomato juice used to always come in), makes all the difference in the world. Sally

Had lunch with my Chinese friends (in a pizza joint LOL) Got another lesson in dim sum culture: 1. Dim Sum does not really mean âÂÂa little bit of heartâÂÂ, âÂÂsmall heartâÂÂ, etc. it is a common misinterpretation of the essence of the concept. Dim means to point, or to focus. In other words, itâÂÂs all about the heart. 2. Dim sum is not about eating originally. Even today, a Chinese will not invite you to eat dim sum, instead, he/she will say,â LetâÂÂs go sip teaâÂÂ. 3. WiKi is inacurate in saying that: â At first, it was considered inappropriate to combine tea with food, because people believed it would lead to excessive weight gain. People later discovered that tea can aid in digestion, so teahouse owners began adding various snacksâÂÂ. It was a common greeting in China, â Hey, congratulations, looks like you have gained a few pounds.â Fat was considered a very good thing, because you would be looking like Buddha. 4. Not too long ago in China, dim sum eating was a different thing. In the morning thatâÂÂs where scholars would meet, with their pet canary birds in exquisitely crafted bamboo cages to compete to see whose bird could sing better and they would exchange poetry and artwork. Commoners would bring their pet cricks in highly decorated boxes to have cricket fights with each other. Much like dog fights elsewhere, a lot of money would be involved, and the well known lineage of crickets could be very expensive. Little kids would bring their per spiders in match boxes, a special kind of spiders known as âÂÂGolden hair catsâÂÂ. They would have spider fights also. House wives and concubines would walk around the room to chat with relatives and friends they knew. Matchmakers would also be around to drum up business in arranged marriages. Cricket fights Such picturesque imagery. I asked him to recommend a few movies which would depict China in the old days. Hopefully with subtitles of course. dcarch