Wednesday, February 28, 2007

2 posts in one day!

Aren't you all lucky? You should look at my shared reading and read about Zaatar.

We had a Lebanese restaurant here that closed (he was supposed to be moving), but their mezza and other food was amazing! Mezza was 18 small dishes which changed every night. It was supposed to be an appetizer, but we ate it as dinner! Usually had hummus, tabbouli, falafel, feta, olives, great veggie dishes and ususally two small round baked pitas with zaatar! I loved it and would ask him for it when it didn't come. Our friends joked that we drove farther for food than anyone else they knew.

Someone in their comments on Zucchini and Chocolate mentions Penzey's. One of these days, I am making a trip down to the Galleria in search of this spice mecca. We got some of their spices for our wedding, but I am excited to go down to their store and wander. It is a miracle that Dallas actually got one, as we are the capital of chain restaurants in the US. Don't get me started about that issue!

Bath Salts almost perfected

OK, here is my recipe. I used the 6 lb. bag of epsom salts from Costco (around $3), so I had to increase my recipe below to adjust. I ended up using 40 drops lavender oil and 15 drops rosemary oil for 5 lbs. of salt (I had used some from the bag before). Even with all that, I still have tons left in my essential oil bottles - about $15 for the oils.

I was going to omit sea salt, but then found it at Sprouts (health food store) in the bulk section for $.29 lb. It was so cheap that I bought a couple of pounds.

1 cup epsom salt
1/4 cup sea salt
3 Tbsp baking soda (12 lb. bag $4)
2-3 drops essential oil

It smells heavenly in the bag, I think if you use a quarter cup per bath, it should be fine. The fragrance is not as strong, but is still nice and relaxing. I may tweak it some more and grind up oatmeal to add in as it softens skin. Glycerin is supposed to be good, but I don't have any of that.

My next batch perhaps will be scented with rose oil! I love the smell of roses. Lately, I have been wearing Stella (by Stella McCartney) fragrance. It is roses and amber and I think smells heavenly. http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P50714&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5689
She has a fragrance called Rose Absolute, but I don't smell the rose as much as I smell amber. I need to wear it and see how it dries down as I think Stella fades quickly.

I am also toying with Rose Essentielle from Bvlgari. It may be too sweet, but once again, wearing should tell. I have been searching for a signature fragrance for a while, one that had longevity and that I can wear for years.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=3595&contentId=C15139

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Best use for $1

If I only had $1 to my name, I would use it to buy a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (OK, I would have to have $1.08 to my name, if we were being exact).

I hate our shower, especially the fiberglass floor with raised dots. Even after scrubbing with a brush and Soft Scrub with Bleach, it still looks dirty! I had given up on a sparkling shower, until my sister-in-law raved about this item, and I saw in Real Simple where a staffer said she couldn't live without them.

It worked wonders! Of course, I used the whole eraser on just my shower, but it was fantastic!We have the Scrubbing Bubbles shower sprayer, but I am thinking that it is just hype and a way to get you to use tons of their product. Using it 10 days in a row and every day after seems to me to be a marketing ploy. Not completely sold on this item. However, if Costco ever carries a bulk pack of the Magic Eraser, I am buying them in bulk!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Pot Roast with Dill

I thought this was an odd combination, but I bought chuck roast at Costco, as it is less expensive than flank steak and perfect for the crockpot.

This was really good! I didn't have yogurt, so I used some Laughing Cow cheese (2 wedges), flour and milk to make the sauce. You can also use this sauce (see below) from Kraft Foods website (I have a link) that calls for 4 oz. of Neufchatel (light cream cheese). I make it when I need a cream sauce.

** Place Neufchatel cheese, flour and broth in skillet. Cook and stir with wire whisk until boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min., stirring frequently.

Definitely a keeper of a recipe and super easy to make.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Chicken stock

OK - I was reading an article that said Paula Wolfert loved to use her crockpot for making confits, etc. I thought perhaps that would be the best way to make chicken stock as it could cook for a really long time at a low heat and not raise my gas bill astronomically!

Here is what I did.
One carcass from a roasted chicken (I have heard for more flavor, buy raw chicken wings and throw them in)
Quartered onion, with skin on (it gives nice color to the stock)
Celery, roughly chopped
Carrot, roughly chopped (I threw in a handful of baby carrots)
10 black peppercorns
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 bay leaf
Salt
Dried parsley or fresh

1. Preheat the crock-pot on high.
2. Try breaking up the bones as small as possible, place with all the other ingredients in the crock-pot.
3. Cover with as much boiling water your crock-pot can take.
4. Switch to LOW and cook for 12 or up to 24 hours.
5. Strain, cool, skim of the fat, use the stock or freeze.

After a couple of hours, it smells amazing, but it takes time to get to that point.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Carpet Deoderizer

If you buy the big 12lb bag of baking soda at Costco, try this recipe.

For general deodorizing, sprinkle baking soda on carpet, as needed, before going to bed and let it set overnight. Vacuum the next day.

Carpet deodorizer recipe:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
15 drops of your favorite essential oil fragrance

Monday, February 05, 2007

Banana Bread Pudding

I said I would post this and never did!

Banana Bread Pudding
Takes approx. 1 1/2 hours to make.
Oven temperature: 325 degrees

1 loaf stale (day-old) French bread, cubed, with crust left on
4 cups milk (whole or 2%) - I used skim
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup raisins (I used Craisins)
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup roasted pecans
2 Tbsp. rum (optional)

Soak the raisins in 2 Tbsp. rum for 20 minutes.

Put cubed bread in a large bowl with 2 cups milk, let stand for 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 325. Toast pecans in skillet, or put on a small plate in microwave for 1 minute.

In a blender or food processor, blend the eggs, 2 cups milk, sugar, bananas, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla until smooth. Pour this mixture over the French bread pieces. Fold in the raisins and the pecans and let the mixture set for 20 minutes.

Pour evenly into 9 x 13 dish. Place uncovered in center of oven, bake 1 hour 10 minutes or until edges are golden and and toothpick inserted in center comes out nearly clean (same test as for cakes).

Remove from oven, cool to room temperature. Serve with rum sauce and whipped cream (optional).

Rum Sauce:
Makes about 1 cup

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup whipping cream (I used half and half)
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
Pinch of salt3 tablespoons dark rum

Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cream, sugar and salt. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in rum. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat, stirring constantly.)

This was fabulous and everyone raved about it!! Easy and impressive!!