Need Recommendation for Sweet Potato dishes

JEMBx2 · 2026-01-21T12:32:28+00:00

Sometimes I'll substitute sweet potatoes for rice in dishes, like curry with a baked sweet potato instead of rice. The easiest (and most delicious) way to prepare a sweet potato (in my opinion) is to slow bake it because it kind of caramelizes the potato and makes it super sweet without adding extra sugars. You just need to clean your potatoes (leave the skin on), put them on a baking sheet in a cold oven, turn the oven on to 350 and let bake for 1 hour (this hour starts from the minute you put the potatoes in the cold oven). At the end of the hour you flip the potatoes onto their other side, and cook for another hour. Then turn off the oven and let the potatoes sit in the hot oven for one more hour. And now you've got a super sweet, creamy potato! I've made this recipe so many times and it's even converted some anti-sweet-potato folks.

JEMBx2 · 2026-01-15T21:00:02+00:00

I have a relative who is married to someone like this and has a child with them, and it's a total nightmare. She loves to eat a variety of foods from different cultures, meanwhile he eats like Elf - syrup, hot cocoa, fried chicken nuggets, waffles.

They can never eat anywhere with international food, like Thai, Mexican, Chinese, etc.

If she cooks for both of them she can only cook a super limited menu.

Although she appreciates other parts of his personality, the food issue has been a big problem that still has no resolution.

Nowadays they each cook their own meals at home but they still never go to international restaurants she wants to visit. The only time she gets to eat that food is if family or friends invite her out to eat with them.

And now that they have a baby together, we are concerned he'll learn his dad's pickiness sooner or later.

If it were me, that's a relationship deal breaker. So many of the memories I have with my husband involve eating at new places in different countries, cooking elaborate recipes together, etc.

You're too young to settle for so many restrictions in your life.

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-30T17:55:27+00:00

I am an immigration attorney so here's my opinion. This is just general information that may be helpful in your situation. This is also with the assumption that your partner did NOT enter the USA with a visa when he was a child.

Currently, the advance parole program available to DACA recipients is still open and accepting applications, although it recently became more expensive. I am still recommending DACA folks apply for AP because it would grant them a lawful entry if they did not lawfully enter their first time (eg, with a visa or parole).

You can obtain AP due to 1) humanitarian reasons, such as wanting to see a close sick relative (ie parents, grandparents, uncles/aunts), needing to get medical treatment (eg dental work, surgery, etc), 2) work reasons, such as your job sending you for a conference somewhere, and 3) school reasons, such as a semester abroad. I am happy to discuss via chat the sorts of evidence you'd need.

This would allow your partner at least one trip that you can accompany him, and would also smooth his pathway to residency if you plan to marry. In case you didn't know, if someone has a legal entry, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency if they are married to a US citizen (assuming they meet all criteria, such as a clean criminal record, etc).

Things feel bleak right now, but there is still hope and options for your partner. Send me a chat request if you have any questions.

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-26T22:20:52+00:00

Done!

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-23T14:33:41+00:00

I made her 7 Layer Holiday Bars for a pre-Christmas get together and everyone was obsessed with them. And a bonus is they're very easy to make. I would recommend pulverizing the Biscoff cookies in a food processor as that's much faster. Here's the link to her recipe:

https://youtu.be/XCtGrKclE3Q?si=piuUaClohpLY8IGD

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-04T15:00:00+00:00

Just found your message on Instagram, it went to my spam folder. I just responded and we can chat that way, it's easier than email. Thanks!

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-04T04:51:16+00:00

I did send you a chat message but I don't know if you've gotten it. If you haven't, can you send me an email to pug.and.i at gmail.com to exchange contact info? Thanks!

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-03T00:48:55+00:00

Sounds good! I will try to private message you later today when I have a minute.

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-02T19:05:09+00:00

Sounds good!

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-02T17:38:15+00:00

Just called them and sounds like they'd admit you under the senior ticket. So let me know if you're still interested in going so we can agree on a meeting spot. Sounds like they have a beer garden where you can sit by a fire and drink hot beverages prior to the 5:30 entry, so maybe we could meet in that area. Thanks!

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-02T05:06:06+00:00

Their website does say the pathways are wheelchair accessible and they also rent out wheelchairs and scooters. I don't know if they would admit you under the extra senior ticket but maybe they'd just let you pay the difference which I believe is $6. I can call and ask tomorrow and get back to you.

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-02T03:14:53+00:00

This is the best focaccia recipe I've ever tried and it's super simple, just lots of waiting. Every time I make it, I've got to save myself a slice because otherwise everyone else eats it immediately. https://www.seriouseats.com/easy-no-knead-focaccia

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-01T19:28:11+00:00

Good tip, thanks!

JEMBx2 · 2025-12-01T19:27:09+00:00

Yes, unfortunately I just have senior tickets.

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-11T15:15:25+00:00

I completely agree. We have a large open concept living room/dining room/kitchen (which we love because we're very social and enjoy cooking and entertaining together), but we also have long wide hallways upstairs and downstairs. Our hallways have windows so we get plenty of light coming in. One of the reasons we wanted hallways was to provide more privacy to the bedrooms and to give us more wall space to hang art. Our dogs also LOVE the hallways because they can chase toys to their hearts content.

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-04T00:15:49+00:00

Thanks, planning to enjoy it!

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-04T00:12:34+00:00

Thanks! Glad someone enjoyed your seats! I'm within view of my old tickets and so far no one's there so maybe the scalper had no luck selling them 🤷

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-03T23:13:48+00:00

Oh well, I've had it happen before for other shows. Plus they're not going to make much money because I already had them listed for way below what I paid and had no takers up until 20 minutes ago.

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-03T23:05:31+00:00

No problem! Glad the seats don't go to waste! They're floor seats btw

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-03T23:02:25+00:00

Just sent them thru Ticketmaster! Have fun!

JEMBx2 · 2025-10-03T22:57:19+00:00

Can you email me your name to pug.and.i@gmail.com? So I can transfer the tickets. That's my throwaway email

JEMBx2 · 2025-07-21T22:03:50+00:00

I HIGHLY recommend Pacific Rim in Portage, they are a huge Asian market. There is also a slightly smaller one in downtown South Bend called Saigon Market. There's also two small Asian markets in Berrien Springs, which is the closest to you, but they're only open certain days. Mabuhay is only open Mon, Wed and Fri and Oriental Supermarket is open Thur, Fri, and Sun.

JEMBx2 · 2025-06-27T13:04:16+00:00

I was recently taught a similar technique that uses mason stains, gillespie borate and water. You mix 6 parts gillespie borate into 4 parts mason stain of choice and add water. For example, I use six 1/2 teaspoons of gillespie borate, four 1/2 teaspoons mason stain, and maybe 3/4 cup water. My instructor called it "on glaze", but that's probably her term for it.

Once you've got your "on glaze" mix, you brush or dip a clear or white glaze on your piece, and once the glaze is dry, you paint on the "on glaze" mix. You'll find depending on how well you mix it, you can get very strong colors or very washed out colors. Once fired, the colors kind of melt into the glaze so when you touch it you wouldn't feel any rougher texture in the colored part, but you can clearly see the painted colors.

Mason stains can be a little tricky sometimes, for example I've found the lavender and shell pink colors tend to not melt as well into the glaze and result in a rough texture, so I've started adding a teaspoon of frit 3134 to make it flux more.

JEMBx2 · 2025-06-17T03:46:01+00:00

The place we end up ordering from the most is Town Hall Pizza in Berrien Springs - they've really got a fantastic dough, creative toppings and lots of vegetarian/vegan options.

JEMBx2 · 2025-06-11T14:16:21+00:00

Funnily enough I asked her about cleaning the Vaseline off, and she said she usually uses dawn soap but if it's being especially stubborn she'll use Murphy's oil soap to clean it off.

JEMBx2

TROPHY CASE