Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Using Turbo Tax for Years Has Been a NIght Mare...and it just continues

I need to pay estimated taxes for next year.  So I opened TurboTax on my Mac Book Pro, inported last year's taxes and tried to save the file.

I got "the document could not be saved" error message.

When to Turbotax support website and they asked me what the issue is and then gave me a ticket and phone number to call.  Called it and they said they would call be back.

They did and the automated system clicked around and hung up.

I called again and the system said my issue has been resolved.

Tried to use their online support system and they had to do double factor identification.

So far 45 mins wasted and no resolution.

I wonder if they consider the customer's satisfaction when they set up such a system? 

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Essential Oils used in Aroma: The Magic of Essential Oils in Food and Fragrance

Just got Aroma: The Magic of Essential Oils in Food and Fragrance by Mandy Afel and Daniel Patterson.  I was interested in it because Heston Blumenthal, so he writes, works with a perfumer in Switzerland.

The book has receipts and sources for the oils.  But there is no shopping list one can just go out and buy them and work their way through the cookbook.

Until now!  Here is the list and on what page the essential oil is used. Everything listed is an essential oil unless otherwise noted.

First is a list by page in order.  Then an alphabetized list for ordering.


  1. Coriander essential oil 39
  2. Basil 39
  3. Spearmint 39 42 43
  4. Bergamot 39
  5. Cucumber Hydrosoil 45 46 47 48
  6. Rosemary Hydrosoil 45
  7. Fir  50
  8. Lime 50
  9. Lavender 50
  10. Geranium 55
  11. Sweet orange 55 57
  12. YLang YLang 55
  13. Blood orange 56
  14. Bitter orange 58
  15. Tarragon 76 78 79
  16. Perilla 82
  17. Lavender 89
  18. Litsea cubeba 95
  19. Chamomile 100 101
  20. Orange flower water 107 108
  21. Neroli 109
  22. Jasmine pearls 111 112 113
  23. Rosewater 116 117
  24. Moroccan rose absolute 118
  25. Cepe absolute 130
  26. Cinnamon bark 151 152
  27. Black pepper 155 156 57
  28. Ginger 160
  29. Cumin 165 168
  30. Coriander 170 171
  31. Saffron threads 193


Alphabetized 


Basil 39Bergamot 39Bitter orange 58Black pepper 155 156 57Blood orange 56Cepe absolute 130Chamomile 100 101Cinnamon bark 151 152 Coriander 170 171Coriander essential oil 39Cucumber Hydrosoil 45 46 47 48Cumin 165 168Fir  50Geranium 55Ginger 160Jasmine pearls 111 112 113Lavender 50Lavender 89 Lime 50Litsea cubeba 95Moroccan rose absolute 118Neroli 109Orange flower water 107 108Perilla 82Rosemary Hydrosoil 45 Rosewater 116 117 Saffron threads 193Spearmint 39 42 43Sweet orange 55 57Tarragon 76 78 79YLang YLang 55




Temper Chocolate Sous Vide

Seal in bag and place in water bat at 115 degrees F.  Should melt in about 5 minutes.

Reduct temperature to 81 degrees and add ice to cool.

Increase temperature to 90 degrees F.  Every minute lift the bag up and squeeze to mix it up.

Hold at 90 for use.

Cut off end of bag to dispense and reseal to keep.