Spices: Mc Cormick's Crushed Red Pepper and Cardamom seeds

Hello everyone!

I have been looking for two very specific spices. I have seen the old Mc Cormick's Red Pepper spice at my parent's place, my friend's family's home and pretty much every family's home I have been to.

It just so happens that Danny is running out of the Mc Cormick's Red Pepper spice and I have embarked on a journey to find a good source to replace it. 

I found this in a supermarket, I believe close to Bay station.

Yikes, $5.29 + tax.

I found the Amazon.com website 13-Ounce container of crushed red peppers for $8.42 in American Dollars which will be taxed once it crosses the borders. It's about $0.65 / oz but this is in American dollars and will have to pay for shopping if you are ordering under $35.  Mc Cormick is definitely the taste that I trust. 

I had no idea a small jar of Cardamom seeds would be $6.99 + tax. These seeds are great in hot beverages. I was studying at my colleague's place and she made me plain red rose tea seeped in hot milk, sugar and some cardamom seeds. It was a fragrant, fantastic delight! 

Chinese Culture+Pork+ Awkward Moments

Hello everyone!

I haven't wrote in my "I'm Hungry" blog where I post up random thoughts about food.

I have been dating a Chinese guy for over a year and have learned how Pork is deeply embedded in the Chinese Culture.

You can easily say that most of the Chinese population are not vegetarian and are meat lover and they worship pork.

When I told Danny's parent's, "I don't eat Pork by choice." His Father and Mother freaked out and they started bursting out with the "Why Not?" ," Why can't you eat Pork?" So I informed them due to religious reasons and the way I was raised, I don't eat pork by choice. 

I have eaten pork accidentally a few times and to be polite. I don't want to make a scene at times. You have no idea how much attention it draws when you reject a dish. All eyes on you! Then comes the questions!

I think I may have even offended Danny's parent to some level. They are always trying to encourage me to consume pork. Sometimes, their methods of trying to get me to eat pork can be sneaky.

I know whenever we visit the Very Fair Chinese Restaurant, usually, the appetizer soup is this Pork Bone Soup.

They always pour me a bowl but I gently decline.

I have a cousin who married a Polish guy and she shared stories of how she visited his parents place and they really wished my cousin to taste the mother's home-cooked meals. My cousin felt really awful to push away what was offered to her and she ate it despite of her values, beliefs and religion.

Have you guys were ever placed in the spot light to eat something you didn't want to eat but you didn't want to offend anyone? It could have been due to religious reason like me or you just didn't want to eat whatever that was offered to you?