hot food steam

Particles are rocket science to me - and yes I've been to the tutorial site(s) - I want steam coming off hot food - just the slightest suggestion of heat - I have a steam script from the free script library but can't get it adjusted to give off minimal steam - has any one got any ideas or suggestions?

I threw the following together very quickly, since I can't get in-world to test it out I'll have to give you some pointers on what to adjust and why.

state_entry()
{
llParticleSystem(
[PSYS_PART_FLAGS,0 | PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK,
 PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, PSYS_SRC_PATTERN_ANGLE_CONE,
 PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 0.7,
 PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1.0, 1.0, 1.0>,
 PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 0.2,
 PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1.0, 1.0, 1.0>,
 PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <0.2, 0.2, 0>,
 PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0, 0, 3>,
 PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 1.0,
 PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN, 0.7 * PI,
 PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 1.0 * PI,
 PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 6,
 PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.75,
 PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 0.1,
 PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.0,
 PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.0,
 ]
);
}

What you might need to adjust:
START_ALPHA (0.0 to 1.0), this gives you the transparency, 1.0 being opaque, 0.0 being transparent
END_ALPHA as above
START_COLOR (and END) vector with values from 0.0 to 1.0 in <R,G,B> format.
START_SCALE vector with values from 0.01 to 4.0, the size of each of the particles.
SRC_ACCEL vector of acceleration, <0,0,z> adjust z to get some good bouyancy on the steam effect.
MAX_AGE will determine how high your particles get (though really it's how long they last for before they disappear).
ANGLE_BEGIN and END will determine where the particles start off from, I expect that 0.7 for BEGIN should allow you sufficient area for a plate but adjust this value to suit. Anything down to 0.5. (values are similar to dimple on a sphere, with the PATTERN set to ANGLE_CONE we're effectively starting the particles on the surface of a sphere).
BURST_PART_COUNT is the number of particles per burst
BURST_RADIUS, as the name suggests, the radius from the centre of the prim to where the particles start off, adjust to suit the size of your food.
BURST_RATE how often the particles are emitted
BURST_SPEED_MIN and MAX set to 1 to give the particles a little speed as they start off.

Effect was generated using http://www.nandnerd.info/particlesystem.php

Wow! Thanks - I'll test it next time I'm on line