Recently someone on facebook mentioned making macaroni and cheese with a recipe by someone called "Pioneer Woman." I am always looking for good recipes, so I googled her and was led to an amazing website that I have been back to visit many times since. That's why today's pick of the day is:
#4. Pioneer Woman
Her story is fun - a city girl who fell in love with and married a cowboy and now lives on a ranch in Oklahoma raising (and homeschooling) their four children. Her talents are many, which is what makes using her recipes such a treat, because she combines her dry humor with a knack for taking pictures and her knowledge of time-tested recipes and puts them together to make the entire experience quite enjoyable. I've learned a good deal about cooking from her step by step and extremely detailed recipes. Whereas the normal recipe will give you an amount and a brief instruction, she takes you through every little last idea and shows you pictures of everything along the way.
Some of my favorites on her website - Beef Brisket, Crash Hot Potatoes, Chicken Spaghetti, Comfort Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes. Give her a try and get ready for the compliments!
(By the way, I also got her cookbook for Christmas. Good stuff!)
Pioneer Woman's Website
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Pick of the Day # 3
About this time of year my skin gets dry. Really dry. My hands look like I should be about twenty years older than I am. My skin feels tight and itchy. I'm hoping I'm not alone in this malady, but judging by my husband's cracked, bleeding knuckles I'm not...
I've tried so many different lotions that promised to take care of the problem. None of them really delivered, at least not for long. About the best was "Satin Hands" by Mary Kay, and I'm not even sure they sell it anymore. Even if they do, I don't think it was the product as much as the method.
And so I shall share with you the very best method I've found for winter's inevitable dry skin.
3. Coconut Oil and Sugar
You can find it in the pharmacy area or sometimes in the cooking oils section of the grocery store. It comes as a rather hard, white substance that will confuse you if you've never seen it before. But magical things happen when you put the jar in a bowl of warm water for a bit. It will soften right up. You can let it melt all the way to a liquid and use it directly on your skin in the shower and you will definitely enjoy the softness for a good day or two. (Be careful - it can make the floor of the shower a little slippery!) I've even been known to slather it all over my children after their bath. They giggle and try to eat it.
But the very best way to utilize coconut oil is to soften it just a bit, then put it in a bowl with a generous scoop of sugar, brown or white. Mix it up well, and add a drop or two of rosemary essential oil if you have some. (You can get essentials oils at Whole Foods Market or something similiar, but we'll get into that another day...) Take this with you when you shower, and scrub every dry inch of you with it. Rinse it off, and discover the softest skin you've probably had since you were a baby!
Coconut Oil has a light, fresh scent, and is also healthy to cook with. If you've never tried it before, it's time!
(The first place I heard about the uses of coconut oil was Ginger Garrett's book "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" which is a definite must read! You can find the link in my "LibraryThing" on the main blog.)
If you're too lazy for all the work I just suggested, then I've also found that Noah's Naturals has a wonderful new product line called "Acai Body Care" and the Body Cream smells really good and does a great job on dry skin. I found it at Walmart, it seems to be hard to find online yet. Here's the Noah's Naturals website link: http://www.noahsnaturals.com/index.shtml
I've tried so many different lotions that promised to take care of the problem. None of them really delivered, at least not for long. About the best was "Satin Hands" by Mary Kay, and I'm not even sure they sell it anymore. Even if they do, I don't think it was the product as much as the method.
And so I shall share with you the very best method I've found for winter's inevitable dry skin.
3. Coconut Oil and Sugar
You can find it in the pharmacy area or sometimes in the cooking oils section of the grocery store. It comes as a rather hard, white substance that will confuse you if you've never seen it before. But magical things happen when you put the jar in a bowl of warm water for a bit. It will soften right up. You can let it melt all the way to a liquid and use it directly on your skin in the shower and you will definitely enjoy the softness for a good day or two. (Be careful - it can make the floor of the shower a little slippery!) I've even been known to slather it all over my children after their bath. They giggle and try to eat it.
But the very best way to utilize coconut oil is to soften it just a bit, then put it in a bowl with a generous scoop of sugar, brown or white. Mix it up well, and add a drop or two of rosemary essential oil if you have some. (You can get essentials oils at Whole Foods Market or something similiar, but we'll get into that another day...) Take this with you when you shower, and scrub every dry inch of you with it. Rinse it off, and discover the softest skin you've probably had since you were a baby!
Coconut Oil has a light, fresh scent, and is also healthy to cook with. If you've never tried it before, it's time!
(The first place I heard about the uses of coconut oil was Ginger Garrett's book "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" which is a definite must read! You can find the link in my "LibraryThing" on the main blog.)
If you're too lazy for all the work I just suggested, then I've also found that Noah's Naturals has a wonderful new product line called "Acai Body Care" and the Body Cream smells really good and does a great job on dry skin. I found it at Walmart, it seems to be hard to find online yet. Here's the Noah's Naturals website link: http://www.noahsnaturals.com/index.shtml
Homemaking Pick of the Day
Ever had a dull knife to deal with? Or maybe I should say "Ever had a sharp knife before?" My pick for today is a recent purchase that I wish I hadn't waited years to make.
2. Electric Knife Sharpener
I spent years dealing with dull knives. I would buy a knife collection that was a good brand, thinking that somehow it would magically stay sharp just because of the cost. I even made use of the little sharpening instrument that comes in the package. But eventually, even my expensive knives were so dull that they wouldn't even slice a tomato. In desperation, I resorted to using the serated bread knife to cut anything... badly. I didn't enjoy cooking anymore.
One day something caught my attention at the grocery store. Electric knife sharpener? I had never thought of such a thing! I checked the price. Somehow, to my mind, even though I had spent more on the knives that presently sat in my kitchen useless, fifty dollars was simply too much for a contraption I wasn't even sure would work - after all, nothing else had.
And so I continued on my path of dullness.
Finally, desperation changed my mind. I broke down and purchased the little box that I was sure would be a waste of money I'd have to explain to my husband later. I took it home, turned it on, and followed the instructions. I incredulously pulled out a tomato to see if anything at all would be different about my worthless knife.
It easily slid through the flesh of the tomato as if it were made of butter. I tried an onion. I tried carrots. I tried everything, and the knife completed the tasks. Suddenly, chopping vegetables was rewarding! I found myself enjoying it when it was time to make dinner. I could make things I'd never made before. And all because of a humming grey and black contraption. Who knew such a thing could change a life?
All this to say, the electric knife sharpener was well worth every penny I spent. If you have issues with dull knives, here is your solution.
Presto Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener
2. Electric Knife Sharpener
I spent years dealing with dull knives. I would buy a knife collection that was a good brand, thinking that somehow it would magically stay sharp just because of the cost. I even made use of the little sharpening instrument that comes in the package. But eventually, even my expensive knives were so dull that they wouldn't even slice a tomato. In desperation, I resorted to using the serated bread knife to cut anything... badly. I didn't enjoy cooking anymore.
One day something caught my attention at the grocery store. Electric knife sharpener? I had never thought of such a thing! I checked the price. Somehow, to my mind, even though I had spent more on the knives that presently sat in my kitchen useless, fifty dollars was simply too much for a contraption I wasn't even sure would work - after all, nothing else had.
And so I continued on my path of dullness.
Finally, desperation changed my mind. I broke down and purchased the little box that I was sure would be a waste of money I'd have to explain to my husband later. I took it home, turned it on, and followed the instructions. I incredulously pulled out a tomato to see if anything at all would be different about my worthless knife.
It easily slid through the flesh of the tomato as if it were made of butter. I tried an onion. I tried carrots. I tried everything, and the knife completed the tasks. Suddenly, chopping vegetables was rewarding! I found myself enjoying it when it was time to make dinner. I could make things I'd never made before. And all because of a humming grey and black contraption. Who knew such a thing could change a life?
All this to say, the electric knife sharpener was well worth every penny I spent. If you have issues with dull knives, here is your solution.
Presto Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
My Picks for 2010
We've all found things that have changed our lives for the better. I am continually amazed by the resources out there to improve, update, and revive your life. Some of them a lot more simple then I ever would have expected! Over the next ten days I'll share my top ten useful things you might want to give a try in this new year:
1. Vinegar and Baking Soda.
I wouldn't have thought that it was possible to rid a home of hazardous chemicals and strong smelling cleaners, yet I have all but done it! One part vinegar, two parts water in a spray bottle creates a handy cleaner for just about anything! It cleans and leaves mirrors sparkling, with no streaks! Vinegar is also a disinfectant, so no need to worry about bacteria on kitchen counters while cooking. You may think the smell would be too strong and lingering, but the truth is the smell is not overbearing, and when it fades it will take with it all the nasty odors that were lurking on your bathroom sink or your refrigerator shelf.
I wouldn't have thought that it was possible to rid a home of hazardous chemicals and strong smelling cleaners, yet I have all but done it! One part vinegar, two parts water in a spray bottle creates a handy cleaner for just about anything! It cleans and leaves mirrors sparkling, with no streaks! Vinegar is also a disinfectant, so no need to worry about bacteria on kitchen counters while cooking. You may think the smell would be too strong and lingering, but the truth is the smell is not overbearing, and when it fades it will take with it all the nasty odors that were lurking on your bathroom sink or your refrigerator shelf.
Baking Soda is a great option for scrubbing sinks and toilets, helping your laundry detergent to leave clothes fresh smelling and whiter, and wonderful for removing pet odors from furniture and carpets. You can also leave it in your freezer and refrigerator to eat up those not-so-fresh smells that tend to build up.
Both vinegar and baking soda can be purchased very inexpensively and in large quantities so you can store it and not give it a thought for months. I wish someone had told me ten years ago as I set up housekeeping how much these two natural ingredients could realistically replace.
Give them a try!
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