Carrie R

Ok. Just for fun. I promise to take all serious answers seriously.

My old car has 164K on it and is a 1995. So I'm looking for a new car this summer or fall. I like smaller cars - no SUV for me! Gas mileage of 27 mpg or better is a must. And price IS a consideration. I was seriously looking into the Toyota Yaris but with the recalls I'm unsure. I also like the Nissan Versa and Chevy Aveo. SO, taking my taste into account, what kind of car should I get???

I'm making a new recipe tonight. Its a vegetable pie similar to a Shepard's pie. One the ingredients is 1 lb of dried porcini mushrooms. I looked at two different stores but they didn't have dried mushrooms. I bought fresh porcini mushrooms. Should I still use a pound of them even though they are fresh or should I use more? Does the flavor concentrate when they are dried? I enjoy mushroom flavor and mushroom is one of the many vegetables in the pie. What would you do ?

Here's what I'm thinking. It would be really neat if there was a website where you could input your grocery list and it would tell you the average total bill so you could estimate how much your trip to the grocery store was going to be. Anyone know of one?

Ok. Here's the scene. I was driving along a main road. An idiot came off a side road, ran a stop sign and ran into me. The cops told him it was his fault - 100%. So you'd figure I'd be fine, right? Wrong!

The idiot has a cut rate auto insurance who wants to total my car for $200. I can't afford a new car and certainly not with their crappy offer. The damages to my car are *AT LEAST* $1,000 which I can't afford either. I don't like the idea of a frivolous law suit, but this idiot ran a stop sign and now he's totally screwed me over.

SO, can someone give me some cheap advice here. I'm thinking small claims court. With the police report, pictures, etc. I should easily win. Thanks!

I made this recipe tonight and it was wonderful, except as it got cooler, it left an unacceptable dry taste in my mouth. Was it the evaporated milk like hubby thinks or was something wrong with it? How can I fix it next time??? Thanks!!!

Tortellini Soup

By Better Homes and Gardens

1 1.8-ounce envelope white sauce mix

4 cups water

1 14-ounce can vegetable broth

1½ cups sliced fresh mushrooms

½ cup chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon dried basil, crushed

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 7- to 8-ounce package dried cheese tortellini (about 2 cups)

1 12-ounce can evaporated milk

6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

Ground black pepper (optional)

Finely shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Place dry white sauce mix in a 3-½- or 4-quart slow cooker. Gradually add the water to the white sauce mix, stirring until smooth. Stir in broth, mushrooms, onion, garlic, basil, salt, oregano, and cayenne pepper.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2-½ to 3 hours.

3. Stir in dried tortellini. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 1 hour more or high-heat setting for 45 minutes more.

4. Stir in evaporated milk and fresh spinach. If desired, sprinkle individual servings with black pepper and Parmesan cheese.

My husband and I are regulars at a local Japenese sushi bar. I've consistently given the Japanese sushi chef a good tip and told him thank you for making my sushi special for me (vegetarian substitutions). Tonight with my usual, he made a beautiful butterfly garnish out of carrot and placed it on top of a tower of sushi. What is the ettiquete for this? Should I eat it, leave it on the table, etc.? Tonight I took it home with me and made sure to say several times in front of staff that it was beautiful. I don't want to offend such obvious kindness.

I'm relatively new to being a vegetarian and I'm doing great on days I have time to cook or plan ahead to have leftovers or put stuff in the crock pot. However, I'm having a hard time finding things to make QUICKLY on a vegetarian diet. I've already got the idea of frozen pizzas or burritos. I do not like the taste of fake meat. Ok. I need some ideas! Go for it!

I want to make a cake for a vegan friend's birthday. I think this one is vegan but since I'm not vegan I don't know about the hidden animal ingredients. So, will someone please let me know if this is vegan? BTW, I know its a great recipe. Its what my parents made when I was growing up because its cheap and the ingredients are easy to keep in the house.

Crazy Cake

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

6 T. cocoa

1 cup oil

2 tsp. baking soda

2 T. vinegar

2 cups cold water

Mix dry ingredients in order given, pouring vinegar on top of the soda. It will fizz. Put in oven for a half hour at 350 degrees.

If so, what brand did you buy, where did you buy it, how much was it, and how satisfied are you with it? Have you seen lower utility costs?

I'm just curious. I'm having gourmet mac and cheese with Danish blue cheese and natural cheddar.

How much trouble is it to install a dishwasher in a house that has never had one? How much space do I need? I'm sure I'll need to call a professional because I have no clue. Anyone out there ever do this? Who do I call? I want to buy the dishwasher from Home Depot if that matters.

Anyone have any ideas? Its three days later and Missouri still hasn't been declared to be red or blue. I'm curious. Anyone from Missouri maybe know what's being said on their local stations?