If you’ve enjoyed reading my blog (my general ramblings on life and diabetes), you may want to check out one of my other sites as well - my ramblings on food, (specifically recipes and cookbooks) is at www.ellenloves.com/cookbooks and my ramblings on Vancouver-area restaurants is at www.ellenloves.com/restaurants.

One of the newest additions to my cookbooks site is a weekly post of one (or more) of my favourite recipes.  It’s something that I have cooked during the preceding week and is called my “weekly FILL (food I love lots).”

Hope to see you there!

I finally figured it out.

While having dim sum today (did I mention how much I love dim sum?), I finally figured out the Chinese restaurant hierarchy. You know what I mean right? Who is allowed to take your order; who is allowed to bring food to your table; who is allowed to refill your teapot; who is allowed to give you your bill, etc. And everything has a specific level and those below cannot do the jobs of those above, but can only relay the information to those above so that everyone does the right thing.

Well, I finally figured out that more clothing = more power.

The top guy wears a suit.

The middle guy wears a vest and tie.

The bottom guy (usually a woman) wears an apron-y thing.

We also discovered the perils of ordering off an all-Chinese character menu. We were able to match up the numbers and English with the Chinese on the order form (or so we thought). All was going well until “steamed duck tongues” showed up on our order, instead of “spring rolls.” I have images of thousands of quackless ducks. Is it just me?

It’s hard to believe, but Wednesday June 20, 2007 marks my first anniversary of blogging.

To celebrate the 90 some-odd posts on my life (in general and specific), my family, my friends, my diabetes, my obsession with food and all things tasty, and my overall conviction to have some laughs while still upright, I’d like to invite you all, dear readers, to post some comments.

I know, I know, you don’t really want to post anything because you’re enjoying your anonymity while being a voyeur into my life. But what about if I promise you a chance for some nifty prizes? Or at least an opportunity to be read by tens of people (who can resist that?) Or you could see it as a chance to use up that vast resource of puns you have at your ready disposal. Or just an avenue for congratulating me on sticking to something for a whole year (did I mention I get bored easily?)

The reasons are countless and my gratitude would be fathomless. So please, take a moment to post a nifty little comment. I so want to hear from you.

This past weekend my family and I were “tourists in our own town.”

It has become our annual ritual - we stay at a downtown hotel and do all the tourist-y stuff we wouldn’t do otherwise.

This year we took a horse-drawn carriage tour, went to the art gallery, shopped, swam, and ate a ton of food.

I confided in my husband that what I’d really like to do one day is to map out a tour of eating at all our best local restaurants. There are so many places I’ve heard about but have yet to try.

It would end up costing as much as a “real” trip but would be so much more tasty and convenient!

I keep harping on the fact that I’m high maintenance, but the truth is, I’m pretty darn expensive too.

For instance, I’ll pass on the mashed potatoes, but have a lobster tail with my dinner instead.

I had a girlfriend at university who said that if she wasn’t sure what to have when she went out to a restaurant, she’d just pick the most expensive thing on the menu.

It works for me.

I recently went with a friend to Rangoli in Vancouver.

Ever since, I swear I have been fantasizing about the incredible meal I ate there.

It was this unbelievably rich and delicious curry - portobello mushrooms, sweet red peppers and paneer (the Indian cheese).

Heaven on a plate.

On June 30, 2006 I e-mailed Karen Barnaby at the Fish House to regale her with stories of how much I adored her cookbook “the Low Carb Gourmet.” Alas, she never replied. Do I sound like a stalker? Following is a verbatim copy of my e-mail. I’ll let you be the judge …

Dear Karen:

I’m convinced we shared a palate in a former life, or at the very least are identical twins separated at birth.

The reason I say this is because I believe every recipe from your cookbook, “the Low Carb Gourmet” was created specifically for me.

I’ve tried dozens of recipes from your book and have savoured every one! My family is getting used to the “triple threat” - three recipes from your cookbook all in the same meal, and have also begun to refer to you as “mommy’s hero.”

I have hundreds of cookbooks, most of which I use a recipe or two out of, and often have to modify to my own liking. With your book I know I will love the way the recipe tastes before I even make it.

Last night I made the prawns and tomato coconut cream, the cinnamon spiced lemon chicken and the cucumber lime peanut salad. Absolutely delicious. I threw some fresh sugar snap peas from the garden in with the prawn dish - ooh la la, it was incredible.

The night before I made the lamb feta meatballs - but converted them to burgers to cook on the bbq. They were so moist and flavourful - a great summer time meal.

Earlier in the week I made the bbq ribs and the edamame with chili, garlic and soy. Another night I made the Korean style tofu, and pork shiitake meatballs. I could go on and on but it makes me too hungry.

My 5 year old daughter made me some bookmarks just for your cookbook so I can refer to several recipes at once.

What’s also great about your book is all the excellent information on ingredients, low carb-ing, cooking tips and techniques, etc. I only wish there was a photograph for every recipe.

I have NEVER written a letter like this to anyone else before. But I felt compelled to write to you to thank you for your amazing taste, passion and willingness to share your love and knowledge of food through your writing.

I’d love to cook you dinner one day!

Sincerely,

Ellen Kurz