Dear Janet and Tanis,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I had a craving for some Zweiback Casserole and I am on a DIET (ugh). Neverless Saturday guess what I cooked. You guessed it thanks to you ladies I managed to stay on my diet and make a low calorie version of my Zweiback casserole. I used whole wheat toast, stewed tomatoes, cinnamon, tomato paste, cardermon,......Equal for the sweetener. (Not exactly kosher heh, but in a pinch it will do).

Well my mother would not have approved but I stayed on my diet and managed to lose one pound this week. In spite of summer school finals!

I think next time I will try the casserole Tanis style with macaroni. Not to mention a nice slice of cornbread and buttermilk....yum yum.

Ok where are my roots well my mother is from San Marcos, TX and my father is from Philly, PA. My mother grew up on a farm while my father spent half his childhood on a farm and in the city. When my mother cam to California she was happy to get away from the farm. She hated cooking but she was good at it. So good she use to bake the pie on the Southern Pacific Railroad line. My father loves country/soul food while my mother would prefer to something that took less time in the kitchen.

So I grew up in San Francisco, California eating cornbread with sweet and sour pork, chile rellenos, and cakes/cobblers for dessert in one meal were not uncommon. Living in California as allowed me to experience a variety of cooking styles.

My husband is always amazed how I like to eat spicy and cool foods together or sweet and sour foods together. I just tell him his stomach is to tender to handle the good food (smile).

Where are you ladies born and raised. I did not know the Zweiback Casserole was a Southern style of cooking. If it taste good eat it.

Just to let you ladies know I only have acess to the NET Monday thru Friday because that is when the campus is opened.

Janet Please! Please! Please! Share your Scalloped Tomatoes Dish. The only thing that is keeping me sane is I can eat Tanis' version with macaroni.

Well I got to go they are going to close down this place soon.

Many thanks,

Vivian