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cheryl carty's avatar

brownie stuffed cookies are thing in a thing and are quite delicious.

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Mike Takasaki's avatar

Good point! But are they stuffed with a full brownie or just some brownie? Because if it's not an entire brownie (which I know is kind of like saying "How long is a piece of string?") then, I think it's stuff-in-a-thing. I think a better example than I used in the post is the difference between ravioli stuffed with pumpkin vs ravioli stuffed with a pumpkin. Nouns that can be either countable or uncountable seem to confuse the issue, but I think my theory still holds true.

Unless you tell me the cookies are stuffed with full brownies, in which case my whole thesis is crumbling!

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cheryl carty's avatar

crumbling… i what you did there! 😉

maybe sweets and desserts are their own beast living outside of your theory, because while i can’t say for certain it was a whole brownie in there, i can say i’ve had a chocolate chip cookie stuffed with a entire oreo. #noregrets

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Jane Bosley's avatar

Hi Mike - Some success with this Thing-in-a-thing! Many years ago (and occasionally since) I've enjoyed a unique combo, Made-to-Order by Bruno's Meats (Toronto), that I have served for Easter dinner... Boneless leg of lamb (Ontario preferred) - and where the bone 'was', a pork tenderloin is placed with the whole thing then tied with string and roasted. The flavours are mild but lovely. It serves a crowd! I enjoy reading your newsletters - Thanks. My Best, Jane Bosley

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Mike Takasaki's avatar

You may have cracked the thing-in-a-thing code! I think it's possible, as you say, that because the flavours are mild, especially pork tenderloin, that it doesn't set up as much of a clash between them. If the pork were replaced by something like a venison backstrap there would be too much competition with the lamb, but the pork becomes more of a supporting player, even though it is very much a "thing"!

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