Ball Jar Lids & Bands

I bought a 12 pak of 32 oz. plastic storage jars with metal lids & bands from Amazon.

[08/09/25]: I fixed a thick cut pork chop under the broiler for dinner. I microwaved an ear of corn and I fried some brussels sprouts first on the stove top, then for a couple of minutes with just a smidge of water to create steam in the microwave, and then back in the pan with a little Spicy Chili Crisp and Toasted Sesame Oil and they turned out great. Shiny green with browned bottoms and flavorful. [end]

I bought a jar of GV Brand Stuffed Manzanilla Olives at Walmart yesterday.

While at Compare Foods, in Fayetteville, I saw some pretty Thai Chilis, but didn’t buy any. I did buy a few tomatillos and a couple of Chilaca Peppers, which I don’t recall ever trying. I don’t know yet if it is mild or hot. *I just read that they are mildly hot, less than a jalapeno but more than an Anaheim.

While in the checkout line, I was behind a young Hispanic couple, which I would term as young newly weds who were definitely Americanized. He might have been military, Army, but he wasn’t in uniform. They had what appeared to be a coconut that had it’s shell removed with just the white flesh remaining as a container, for coconut water. Namzen is the company, and I see it is well known on the Internet. I asked the young woman, while looking at her husband (I suppose they were married.) if that was a coconut and she/they replied to the affirmative. Seems they were trying this “for the first time” and it was refreshingly obvious that their inquisitive nature had taken over. They didn’t know if it was going to be good or not. *And, I am now thinking of going back to Compare to buy one for myself. I think it might be about $6, which includes the water inside, but I suppose the white flesh is also edible. I shall see. **I did go back the next day, today, and bought perhaps the last Namzen Coconut Water that I saw. It was only $4.99 which appears to be a really good deal. It was simple to open and drink. Instructions on the side of the package. Take the straw and straw holder off of the package, turn the thing upside down and press down, forcing the plunger into the coconut. Peel off the protective label from the top of the plunger and insert straw and drink. I kept the protective label to put back on until I wanted to drink some more. I googled again and the flesh of the container is supposed to be edible also. What will Trump tariffs do to this product?

An Ancho is a dried Poblano.

While in Sun Asian Market yesterday, I noted that the Mung Beans that I had bought for a dollar were now $1.99. That’s a pretty good jump in the wrong direction. But, I also found some Job’s Tears and some Soybeans. I bought all three and have now started a sprouting test on the soybeans and the Job’s Tears. Not sure if these are the sproutable variety. The soybeans were only $1.25 and as I ate a couple of the seeds it reminded me of how they tasted many, many years ago when I may have eaten them out in the field on our farm.

El Catrin, and little did I know, that was her Rollator. I have my own.

Frank Howell, “the Fat Farmer,” as I called him (not to his face) leased out our farm for $3,000 a year. I think that figure was the annual tobacco allotment, and he leased multiple farms to make it profitable. Not too long ago I met his daughter at one of the Swansboro High School Alumni luncheons (at El Catrin, that day) and when I found who she was, I mentioned my nickname for her father. She laughed. Apparently she had moved to South Carolina and for many years was involved as a Home Economist (or maybe a teacher), in the Clemson area, but had now returned to the Swansboro area.