@ Mara: That was a disasterous meal! Fortunately your guests were your parents and may forgive you more easily 😉

@ Andrea DeBell: Glad you enjoyed my story. Of course we all have had cooking disasters, and burning the food is often one of them. As long a you have good friends, it’s not the worst thing that can happen.

@ MaryWitzl: I love the two choices of flour: with or without weevils. Ah, the expat life. It aint all Paris!

@ Nancy Atkinson: Noodles with peanut sauce? Doesn’t sound bad to me–I have a delicous recipe! It’s a cold eastern-inspired rice pasta salad. But of course, that can be ruined too. 😉

@ Laura in Cancun: too much salt, well even pasta water has its limits 😉 “You burn water.” I’ll remember that!

@ Gutsy Writer: I was just wondering about the formaldehyde. Can’t imagine why else the beans didn’t decompose! I love catfish — had it last night. Sorry!

@ LadyFi: Boiling cabbage without water is rather a trick. Burned cabbage is not an aroma that appeals. It must have hung around the house for a while. Fortunately you have other talents. Your photos are stunning!

@ Guyana gyal: Yes, I’ve done that experiment myself! Boiling an egg until all the water goes. Then things do get interesting.