REBLOG: Homemade Vanilla For Gifts

Rebloged from November 26, 2010- I explore my craft yet chef side and make some home made vanilla for Christmas, as well as homemade vanilla sugar! 

 

I got 7 bottles of home made vanilla out of a 5th of bourbon! I got my small bottles today. So scratch 6 gifts off my list (Yes I have 7 bottles... you think I ain't keeping one?). I am giving these, along with a quart jar of vanilla sugar for gifts this year. Thanks so much to Abbie for this gift idea from her blog

Of course, as always I party with the best:

REBLOG- Hunting the Wild Tofurkey

From November 15, 2010- Before the upcoming holiday, I thought this should be looked at again. Come and explore with me while I try my first "TOFURKEY" and was amazed that I actually liked it! 

 For my mother- Ok, Mom. So I bought a ToFurkey. Deal with it. Get over it. I am not swearing off turkey (or chicken, duck or goose) I just thought I would try this TOFURKEY to see if I liked it.

My mom's first reaction was "you're such a bleeding heart". Which pissed me off. Since when is entertaining the idea of not killing a bird for a meal make you a "bleeding heart?" Really, mother? You are the one who raised me to eat different foods and trying other's cultures, not keeping a closed mind. Well anyway I have ranted enough about mother.
So I had this TOFURKEY to cook. It had wild rice stuffing already in it. So I Just followed the directions on the package and roasted it for an hour and a half. I have to say - the texture is meat like and very pleasing; the aroma is very good; my tofurkey roll came stuffed and with gravy- the stuffing was unbelievably tasty, the gravy, as with most "store bought gravies" was a little salty. And best of all Tofurkey passed the "sandwich-ability test" Made a great sandwich the next day! So I would definitely buy it again and I would definitely serve it to guests! And lets talk affordability- I bought a "6 serving" tofurkey, it comes with Stuffing and gravy for under $10 at Trader Joes- that comes to a measly $1.67 per serving!

TASTE- 8 out of 10
Texture- 8 Out of 10
"Sandwich-ability" 8 out of 10
Cost- 9 out of 10
So in short, The TOFURKEY Surpassed my expectations! A few turkeys are breathing a sigh of relief!
Whatsmore? There are tremendous recipes on the inter-webs for some amazing things to so with your Tofurkey, you can deep fry it, use the left overs in a stroganoff. Makes a Meat Free Monday so much more interesting!

REBLOG- Firestarter Logs

From December 20, 2010- A cheap and easy gift thats easy to make as well... and uses some of those daily items a person never knows what to do with like laundry lint and toilet paper rolls. A gift item really easy for kids to make as well as adults!
Ever wonder what to do with some of your household items that collect. Here's a gift you (Or your Kids) can make that costs nothing. FireStarter Logs- the perfect gift for someone who has a fireplace or goes camping... All you need is some common trash to make them! Dryer lint is highly flammable, which is why your dryer should always be vented to the outside, and you should remove lint from the lint trap regularly.
I made 6 of these Firestarter log's in about 10 minutes. They look like Christmas Crackers!

To Start: you need some empty Toilet Paper Rolls, Some Tissue paper (or News print), Some string or Jute Twine, and of course the laundry lint. Great opportunity to clean the lint trap of your dryer!!!
Cut the tissue paper or news print about 2 inches larger on each side of the TP roll
Stuff the TP Roll with the dryer lint.
Roll up the stuffed TP roll in the paper
Tie the ends of with string

There you are done making a Firestarter log. Just place under the kindling and light! Should stay lit long enough to start a Beautiful Fire. Just remember to extinguish on Christmas Eve - You don't want to burn Santa's Butt!

I only party down with the best at:

REBLOG- Penn and Teller BULLSHIT!

From October 28, 2009- I uploaded a you tube video from Penn & Teller's BULLSHIT Series on bottled water and hoe the major bottling companies are fleecing us...Caution- The word Bullshit as well as the F-bomb appear throughout this video, so if you are offended by those, you have been warned!
 

Think bottled water is bottled at the sources like Alaska or Yosemite? Well Penn & Teller take their show "Bullshit" to the level of the Bottled water- showing how bottled water is just a Madison Avenue gimmick.
I understand that there is a need for bottled water, people traveling through the desert- maybe. Of course If I am going through a desert on a horse with no name I choose to take a water jug, but that's just me and how I roll.
Bottled Water?- pretty much it's all BULLSHIT!

Fake Plastic Fish has a great interview with Jackson Browne and some great links to you tube on Bottled water

REBLOG- Pickled Strawberries

Strawberries are so great... I love pickled strawberries- a good idea for next spring!

Want a super easy way to keep those strawberries? Why not pickle them. A great treat for summer- slightly tangy.

1 1/2 cups of White Vinegar
1/2 cup of Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1-2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 1/2 cups of Strawberries, stems removed

Simply bring the Vinegar to a boil, add the sugar and salt to the vinegar, making sure it dissolves. Place the strawberries in a pint Mason Jar (or any jar with a good closing lid), adding the Cinnamon stick(s) about halfway. Fill jar with vinegar solution, leaving about 1/2 inch headspace. Seal with lid; let cool; refrigerate. Keeps up to two weeks in refrigerator, The pickling juice is good to keep later for using as a vinaigrette for salads and such.