BILL GRAY with CHOP SUEY VOLCANO ERUPTION story

Chop Suey. For whatever reason Mom had a great recipe for chop suey. And like all things she cooked there was always enough to feed at least 13 people, an odd number, huh? At any rate, there was always enough left over for dinner the next day and we could always count on having it at least 2 days in a row. This was another dish that Dad wouldn't touch. Mom didn't care, she made it anyway. But the 2nd day always required a bit of a thickening agent as it would separate slightly overnight in the fridge. I knew Mom put something white in it and it wasn't flour because it came from a fairly small box. On night 2, she's working a banquet at the Villa so Deb and I are on our own for dinner. I just need to heat it up and make some rice. No problem. But, exactly what was the stuff that thickens it? There are two boxes about the same size in the kitchen cabinet - corn starch and baking soda. Corn starch was the better choice but what did I know? About 2 tablespoons of baking soda later and the kitchen turned into the "mad scientists lab." This stuff starts gurgling and boiling and erupts into a huge cloud of chop suey that is soon all over the stove and counter top before I can get the stove turned off and the mess in the pan cooled down. Of course, since I had ruined her dinner I caught hell from my sister who showed no sense of sympathy for my situation or the mess. Can't remember what we did eat, probably Kraft mac & cheese and chocolate ice cream.