I somehow started getting a free subscription to Elle Decor - the magazine is so not me, but it's entertaining to flip through and has some gorgeous stuff. One regular column that always cracks me up is when they ask some designer or celeb to list the 12 things they can't live without. Golden unintentional humor. Undoubtedly, the list always features utterly useless, sometimes beautiful, often delightfully tacky, totally overpriced items. Like a $1200 Hermes iPhone case. I love fashion and design, but c'mon, if you're carrying a $1200 iPhone case, you've got issues.
But, I thought it would be fun to make my own list of 12 Things I Love but Could Totally Live Without. If you're reading this and feel so inclined, consider yourself tagged! It is Friday, after all.
- Elbow-length black leather gloves. I feel so Audrey Hepburn in them. It seems like something every girl should have.
- My Karim Rashid-designed "Orange" acme pen. It makes office life a little more 'me'.
- The vintage LP record collection I stole from my parents. These things deserve to be played. Party guests love 'em.
- Yves Saint Laurent faux cils black mascara. It gives you Snuffleupagus lashes.
- Our tiki mug collection. This doesn't really require an explanation.
- My pool cues. I have some good memories with those babies.
- Gelato, coffee and prosciutto. But you already knew that.
- My Canon Rebel digital camera. Canon cameras take beautiful photographs, and they're amateur-friendly.
- Good stationery. I like sending little notes randomly.
- Moleskin notebooks. They're just right.
- The Bamix immersion blender. It's heavy-duty commercial quality and I use it constantly.
- Drumroll please.... my final item in my ode to Elle Decor's "screw you, peasants!" mid-recession attitude is... my fake teeth. Boy, I really don't like to go outside without them. (For those of you jumping in recently, I'm about halfway through an 18-month long dental implants/bone grafting series of procedures. The down side is I have to wear these removable fake teeth. Pretty!)
How will you use technology or the Internet to help you plan and prepare this year’s Thanksgiving feast?
Sponsored by LifeScoop: Bringing You Tips for a Connected Lifestyle.Ooh, good question, Vox. I have been thinking much about the feast this year, because it's the first time that I'll host my family. I'm quite excited to cook for them, and to not have to travel on Thanksgiving weekend. Yay!
I'm keeping the menu traditional. I mean, it's hard to improve upon things you know everyone likes. And we don't eat cranberry sauce and turkey much year-round, so I don't think it's a bad thing having the same menu every year.
As far as technology, there's not a ton I do to pull it in for Thanksgiving. I don't even have a digital thermometer. ;-) However, I do use Cook's Illustrated online quite a bit (thanks to Aquanetta). The team at Cook's Illustrated doesn't necessarily use a lot of technology, but they are very scientific.
If you want a guaranteed-to-please recipe, Cook's Illustrated is the place to go. The idea behind it is that they take a recipe, try it 100 or so different ways with slight variations, each time testing with a tasting panel, and they tell you the exact best way to cook it. And to top it off, the editor is a chemist, so he explains why these methods work best. It is, by far, the most reliable source of recipes -- and I've read a lot of cookbooks and cooking magazines.
Here's my Thanksgiving menu. All the recipes are from Cook's Illustrated except where noted otherwise.
Roast turkey (brined, stuffed with an herb paste)
Gravey
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Roasted brussels sprouts with bartlett pears (Body+Soul magazine)
Green beans with toasted walnuts and roquefort cheese (Body+Soul magazine)
Creamed spinach
Pumpkin pie (Libby's recipe)
Pecan pie (from a Thanksgiving cookbook I have, forgot the name, but it's great. My pecan pie secret is to include chopped pecans in the filling, as well as a layer of halved pecans on the top for looks)The fam is bringing rolls, candied yams, stuffing and butternut squash soup. Yum!
Btw, Cook's Illustrated also tests cooking equipment - someone put together their list on Amazon as a shared list if you want to find any equipment. Geez, I sound like a commercial!
Nothing too exciting going on, but definitely some updates.
Not a whole lot to remark upon lately, but last night I made a new dinner. I "fanned" Sunset magazine on Facebook, and now and again they'll cull useful ideas from their readers. A few days ago, they asked "what do you do with leftover rotisserie chicken?" I got a couple good ideas. Rotisserie chickens are great for when you don't have the time or energy to cook but want a homecooked, healthy meal. Idea #1 was to shred the chicken, pour barbecue sauce on it, and put it in a sandwich. Oh so simple but sounds tasty, no?
Idea #2 was last night's dinner -- chicken and biscuits. Cut the chicken (I wouldn't shred it with forks, but using spoons gets just the right size pieces). If you have time to sautee an onion, put that on top of the chicken. Pour a can of cream of mushroom soup (Amy's Organic is the best) on top, followed by a package of frozen peas and carrots. Then top with biscuit dough, and bake according to the directions for the biscuit dough. I used Bisquick, so the whole thing was super easy. It turned out great, and I think was reasonably healthy, too.
This morning, I actually hauled my butt out of bed early and went to the gym! For me, this is a major accomplishment. I haven't been active for the last few months. My workout felt great. Woo hoo!
Are you prepared in case of a natural disaster? What do your plan and preparations include?
oh crap no...
yes, i live in Florida, it's the Lightening capitol of the US. We also regularly have hurricanes.
I don't even have one working flashlight. No extra food....nothing...
But lucky for me hurricane season is pretty much almost over, some rain from Ida and then the dry season will come on full force.
