Meems is a sweet girl and if she doesn't like to cook I don't think she has to learn a whole lot of cooking techniques that fit someone else's lifestyle. I think that's what AnnT is getting at. Everyone needs to find their own system of what works for them. My brother and BF are "plain food" people. They eat like LindaC suggests, a good cut of meat, a cooked vegetable, a quick salad and some kind of starch, all in their neatly arranged individual corners on the plate, lol! Me on the other hand, I like stir fry, a jumble of pasta, a melange of soup. That's why I can't really give quickie advice here, my quickie stuff is mostly some version of rice and beans, something most folks don't eat for dinner as the sole dish. My system is to cook some larger, more complicated dishes on the weekends and freeze them. And I love leftovers. Someone else's system might be to throw something fresh together every night. There are lots of quick and dirty ways to get a fast meal on the table. I am learning more and more of them everyday as I venture into the wonderful world of "cooking for two." Sooner or later you'll get a repertoire together that suits your new lifestyle realities. Seems like that's what you're asking for here, not a treatise on how to get along with your adult children. There are certain dishes I just won't do, not because I can't do them or they are particularly difficult, but because I just do not want to fuss with the process of making them. Pie is one example. I love pie, so I make it, but I rarely do the crust from scratch, I don't care how easy someone tells me it is or how much they enjoy homeade pie crust. I buy boxed pie crust, haven't found it to be all that much worse than my own homeade, and a whole lot less trouble. It is a compromise I'm willing to make. This week I'm making a quiche with one, which then makes quiche one of those easy, delicious, semi homeade meals. Add a salad, some good rolls and you're good to go. The pre-shredded gruyere at the market was actually way cheaper than the whole cheese, what a boon!! Sometimes it's not just the process of cooking that makes getting a meal on the table a no-fun endeavor. My kitchen set up is so awkward it has greatly reduced what I'm in the mood to cook. No matter how I've reconfigured it, it is still a pain. I love to cook with a good music or other NPR show on the radio as accompaniment. Maybe that is one part of motivating yourself to cook dinner--make the kitchen environment seem fun and welcoming to you when you come home tired from work. Unfortunately, mine is not, which explains a lot of why I don't like to cook. The other thing for me is cooking with someone else. I am WAY more motivated to cook something if someone else is helping. I am an extrovert who loves to be with friends, I love to cook with others so when BF helps me in the kitchen I am way more motivated to make things. Being a craftsman by profession, he loves the process of dicing and slicing, which I hate. So I would suggest that is part of the equation. Take a look at your kitchen and see if there are ways to arrange things that make cooking faster, easier and more enjoyable. I rotate my crockpot and my bread machine, one or the other is going on my counter almost every day. The joy of those appliances is not that they do such a spectacular job of cooking food, but that they fill up the house with wonderful, homey, mouth watering aromas, which makes you feel good about both cooking and eating. That's part of the process. A bowl of fresh fruit and nuts or a tray of muffins in a see through glass container on the counter, etc. I once lived in a big old farmhouse and the kitchen was loaded with counter space and was by far the biggest room in the house. I lived with some great roomates, we cooked together and hung out most of the time at the kitchen table. I cooked WAY more in that set up than I do now. I can't believe the baking and cooking I did back then, having no more time than I do now. Anyway Susie, I know I tend to be the alpha wolf in a lot of situations and sometimes what I need to do is ask for help, tell others I need help. Sure, you can cook everything all by yourself, but if you tell the kids you would really appreciate some help, they will find ways I'm sure!! Somtimes all you have to do is ask, because what one person automatically knows to do isn't the same for every other person.

Don't get me wrong - we adore Peet's, but their specialty has always been dark-roasted coffees. We get the French or Italian in a just-up-from-powdered-Turkish grind, brewed through Chemex filters. I long ago broke the Chemex glass pot and realized it's the filters and the cone shape that make the difference. A cheap plastic cone works just as well, but the Chemex bonded filters are a must. Compare side-by-side with a paper filter and you can tell the difference immediately. We filter into a vaccuum pot if we're not going to drink it right away; it holds it very well for about 4-5 hours. On the Left Coast we are passionate about coffee and Starbucks fans are regarded with smirks. As you enjoy medium roasts with a lower acidity than dark roasted coffees - and many people do, I do myself on occasion - I'm wondering if you have tried the national brands of Chock Full o'Nuts (which ranked quite high in a Fine Cooking taste test a few years ago) and....Dunkin' Donuts. DD is making big ripples in the San Francisco Bay Area with a report by a Millennial blogsite that was just published yesterday. They included DD for a joke in a taste test against three of the highest-regarded new artisanal coffee roasters (so new they are post-Blue Bottle, who has gone from coffee cart to Establishment specialty in less than 3 yrs). DD came in second - no small feat! I've had all three artisanal coffees, and they're very good indeed. The short column from Eater SF is linked below. (btw, PS to johnliu - we loved Stumptown on our 2010 swing through the PNW. Have heard good things about Catahoula in Richmond. Do you have access to Highwire in Oakland? They're doing some good blends over there) Here is a link that might be useful: DD embarrasses Bay Area foodies

Here is some information from Fleischmann's Yeast website. I usually buy the one pound package of instant yeast and keep half in the fridge and the other half in the freezer. I never proof instant yeast. Recently I bought a new package of yeast and instead of instant it is regular yeast with a coarser grain. I don't bother to "proof it" but I do add the water and the yeast to my mixer first and give it five minutes to soften. I use all the various yeasts interchangeably. I don't make any adjustments. How much dry yeast is in 1/4 ounce envelope? About 2 1/4 teaspoons. How should I store yeast? Store unopened yeast in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry (or refrigerator). Exposure to oxygen, heat or humidity decreases the activity of the yeast. After opening, store in an airtight container in the back of the refrigerator, away from drafts. Use within 3 to 4 months; freezing not recommended. Can I use expired yeast in my recipe? For best results, buy and use yeast before the expiration date. Yeast loses its potency as it ages, resulting in longer rising times. Proof yeast to determine whether it is still active. How do I proof yeast to test for activity? To proof yeast, add 1 teaspoon sugar to 1/4 cup warm water (100 to 110°F). Stir in 1 envelope yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons); let stand 10 minutes. If the yeast foams to the 1/2 cup mark, it is active and you may use it in your recipe. RapidRise yeast loses its fast rising capabilities if dissolved in liquid, and will require two complete rises. Can RapidRise and Bread Machine Yeast be used in Active Dry recipes? Yes. Simply follow the One-Rise Method detailed on every package. For best results, add undissolved RapidRise or Bread Machine Yeast to dry ingredients first. Add liquids and fat heated to 120°to 130°F. To use the traditional Two-Rise Method, add sugar to water before stirring in Yeast Can Active Dry Yeast be used in RapidRise recipes? Yes, but with limitations. The Active Dry has larger granules and it is necessary to dissolve completely for the yeast to work. Therefore, Active Dry works best if dissolved in warm water (100° to 110°F). To use the electric mixer method, combine yeast with 1/4 to 1/3 of the flour and other dry ingredients. What is the difference between Instant Yeast, Bread Machine Yeast and RapidRise Yeast? Mainly names, but these are all the same yeast! Use interchangeably What is the difference between fast-rising yeast (RapidRise/Bread Machine Yeast) and Active Dry Yeast? RapidRise and Bread Machine Yeast are different strains than Active Dry Yeast. RapidRise and Bread Machine Yeast are grown with a higher level of nutrients and are dried to lower moisture content. The particle size of RapidRise and Bread Machine Yeast are finely granulated to allow complete hydration of the yeast cells during the mixing process. The Active Dry Yeast larger particle size should be dissolved in water to achieve complete hydration prior to adding to the mixer. In addition, RapidRise and Bread Machine Yeast contain ascorbic acid resulting in increased loaf volumes. How do I use Fresh Active Yeast? Fresh Active Yeast is the product that Fleischmann's has been manufacturing for over 130 years. It is also traditionally known as compressed or cake yeast. It has not undergone the drying process, so it does not need to be dissolved before use: soften the cake in warm water first OR simply crumble the yeast into dry ingredients (if directed by recipe). Fresh yeast requires two rises. Yeast is available in two different sizes: 0.6 ounces and 2 ounce household cakes How do I substitute dry yeast for Fresh Active Yeast? First determine the amount of dry yeast you will need. One .6 ounce cake is equivalent to 1 envelope of dry yeast. One 2-ounce cake is equivalent to three envelopes of dry yeast. Follow the directions on the package recommended for the type of yeast you substitute Can Active Dry Yeast be used in bread machines? Bread Machine Yeast is a fast-rising yeast specially formulated for bread machines. It is finely granulated to hydrate easily when combined with the flour. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is added to promote good loaf volume and structure. Active Dry Yeast may be used but may not yield optimal results. Can any dough be refrigerated? Any dough can be refrigerated for a few hours to inhibit rising if the leavening process is interrupted. Long refrigeration is not recommended unless specified in the recipe. For best results, choose recipes specifically formulated for the refrigerator. Refrigerator doughs have more sugar and less salt than regular dough to keep the dough viable in the refrigerator. Refrigerator doughs are particularly good for rich, sweet doughs, as less flour is used. Refrigerator doughs are typically not kneaded. They become stiffer and easier to shape after refrigeration. Can I freeze my dough? For best results, use only specially developed freezer dough recipes. Freezer dough recipes are high in yeast and sugar and low in salt. Bread flour is recommended. Other flours do not hold up well. Lean dough, such as pizza, freezes better than rich dough. How is freezer dough prepared? After kneading, flatten dough into a disk and wrap airtight, in a freezer-proof plastic bag for up to 4 weeks. When ready to use, thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Once thawed, remove dough from bag; shape, let rise, and bake as directed. To shape before freezing, cover kneaded dough and let rest 20 minutes. Shape as desired and freeze as quickly as possible. Examples of freezer dough recipes in breadworld.com include: Cheese Coffee Cake Freezer Rolls Giant Pecan Sticky Buns Master Bread Dough Master Pizza Dough Can I rescue dough that does not rise? Dough can be 'revitalized' with a fresh sample of Active Dry or RapidRise Yeast. 1. For each envelope of yeast in the recipe, combine in a large, warm bowl: 1/4 cup lukewarm water (100° to 110°F), 1 teaspoon sugar and one envelope (2 1/4 teaspoons) of yeast. Stir to dissolve. 2. With an electric mixer, slowly beat in small (walnut size) pieces of dough until about 1/2 of the dough is mixed into the yeast. 3. With a spoon, stir in the remaining dough. Knead in just enough flour so the dough is not sticky. 4. Let rise, shape and bake as directed in the recipe. Should recipes be adjusted for high altitudes? Yes. But there are no exact rules for adjusting yeast breads at high altitudes. Altitude affects the ingredients and the entire breadmaking process. We suggest these general guidelines for baking above 3,000 feet. * Because atmospheric pressure is lower and leavening gases expand more quickly, yeast dough rises 25 to 50 percent faster at high altitudes. Begin checking the dough halfway through the rising time listed in the recipe. Continue to check frequently. * Flour tends to be drier and absorbs more liquid at high altitudes. Therefore, it is very important to store flour in an airtight container. * When mixing the dough, you may need less flour than called for in the recipe. To compensate, add flour slowly and work in only enough to make the dough easy to handle. Because recipes call for varying amounts of flour, there is no standard measurement for reducing flour. * If dough is slightly sticky during kneading, use greased instead of floured hands. This way, you won't knead in too much flour * Dough dries out faster at high altitudes. To prevent drying, grease or lightly oil the exposed part of dough (whether in a bowl, on a board, or in a baking pan) and cover with greased plastic wrap instead of a towel. * Baking temperature and time should not change at high altitudes, but check for browning at the shorter time listed and use traditional doneness tests * Just as dough dries out faster at high altitudes, so does the finished product. Store cooled bread in airtight plastic wrap, bags, or containers. * If you are using a bread machine at high altitude, refer to the manufacturer's instruction book. Since flour may dry out faster at high altitudes, you may need to adjust the ratio of liquid to flour. Experiment by reducing the amount of yeast, flour or sugar (yeast feeds on sugar), and/or adding liquid or a little gluten. Or try a shorter baking cycle, such as rapid bake, if available.

Those do sound good. Great flavor combination. I love pomegranates but rarely bother, they are so fiddly! The freeze dried seeds sound like the way to go. Eileen