I'm just grateful that he didn't stick it in the microwave first, that would have been nasty. Next time I'll stick to marmalade filled ones.

Very funny bilbo! Maybe thats one one the reasons I prefer plain cornetti.

Now we get to the differences between American and British English. Whats a snow ranch? Ski resort or a ranch where they get snow?

When your temp pause in the US is over, come on out!

4 years or so unless it's 8. ;-)

Well she seemed to think it was where people skied and paid her money for the facilities. That year the snows had some late so she came north to get fighting fit. Not a British term at all, all her's.

Re veggies - my benchmark for the quality of produce is iextremely low. As a kid I remember my mother occasionally investing in fresh tomatoes during the long Canadian winter. Invest being the right word - the price for a cellophane wrapped box of three pale red tomatoes was exorbitant. As for said fruit, rumour had it that they were picked green so as to survive transit and then gassed somehow to supposedly ripen a little. I kid you not, they were almost hard enough to do double duty as squash balls, and I'm pretty sure the squash balls would have tasted not much worse. Now one can get hothouse toms that are way better.

Also some years ago, a local reporter flew down to Florida to show a citrus grower in what state his produce arrived at some markets. He was appalled. I don't know how or why, but produce quality here in the winter, while far from ideal, is much inproved since those days. Still very expensive though.

Bilbo--Thanks for the report. It brings back memories.


We loved Palermo, BTW.

Great report. Thank you so much!