Thanks for all the replies regarding nopalitos. It is quite handy, as my flat mate is off to San Francisco in two weeks, so I am giving her a list of things I would like her to bring back (tins of tomatillos, chipotles in adobo & now I hope, some nopalitos!). By the way way, are nopalitos the things that look more like your average cactus leaf (ie. roundish with spikes on all surfaces), or are they more like agave (maguey?) leaves. Anyway, you folks are lovely and helpful, it was nice to receive a mail box full of replies, when I haven't even received the digest that I presume my question was in! Peace, love & heat Paul (with a few beers inside him, to accompany the garlic & green chilli chicken masalla (sp?) I had for dinner)