For most of my life, tomato sauce was made for me, either from a jar or at a restaurant. As much as liked what I got from a jar, it wasn't really great. So I end up making the jar sauce more exciting by adding sauteed mushrooms, soy sauce, peppers and whatnot. At restaurants, I often find their tomato sauce either too acidic or just bland. So for most of my life, tomato sauce makes and easy dinner, but not a very exciting one.
Then one day, I ran out of store-bought sauce. I had a big can of peeled tomatoes so I thought, maybe I should just try making my own? I wanted to keep things as simple as possible and the ingredients list as short as possible. So I diced an onion, minced a couple of cloves are garlic and sauteed them in some butter. Yes, butter is fatty, but butter also makes the sauce taste smoother and less acidic, which is what I'm afraid of. Anyways, after the onion and garlic have cooked for a few minutes, I pour in the can of tomatoes. You can get the can with crushed tomatoes or whole tomatoes. Using whole tomatoes requires a bit more work, but not much. Anyways, once the sauce has cooked a bit, if you're using whole tomatoes, just start mashing them to bits with your spoon. This is great if you like your sauce chunky. If you like your sauce super smooth, you can run the sauce through a blender or use an immersion blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook until you get the desired consistency. I will confess now that I also seasoned with soy sauce to taste. I know it's weird, but I kind of like it that way.
After having made this, I can never go back to store-bought sauce without turning my nose up at it! It was SO good! It was packed full of bright, fresh tomato flavor without being too acidic. Hubby loved it too and we both kept eating more and more of it until it was gone. Hubby likes a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan on top, which is also really good, but certainly isn't necessary. So if you've never tried making your own tomato sauce before, I highly recommend it!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Living efficiently
Right now, my goal is to settle into an efficient lifestyle and routine. That means refraining from impulse buys, minimizing waste and being all-around frugal. Of course, this is easier said than done.
I have found that ever since we have moved into our cozy little house, I am more and more tempted to shop for the house. I feel the urge to accessorize it the way I accessorize myself with bags and jewelry. There are a number of things that we don't really need, but would be nice to have. For instance, I would like to get a new bamboo hamper, but we already have a hamper left to us by the previous owners. The old hamper is a perfectly serviceable hamper, but I keep thinking a nice bamboo one would just be so much nicer! Other desirable, but unnecessary items include a vanity organizer, a wine cabinet, extra flatware, serving platters, a big vase, an accent table, etc.. The good news is that I haven't indulged too much yet.
I try to ask myself a few things before I buy. The first question is, do I really need it? Often the answer is no because everything we need to use to live comfortably in the house, we already have. However, in a recent scenario, we had to buy a sump pump for our basement. Although it was something we wouldn't use often, it was definitely needed. So the second question is, if I get it, how often will I use it/enjoy it? Asking this question puts the hamper above serving platters or extra flatware because it would be something we'd use every day. This doesn't negate the fact that we already have a hamper and getting another one would be rather frivolous. So the third question is, do I have anything that can serve the same purpose? For instance, I want to get a vanity organizer, but I already have my combs toiletries placed in random glass cups on my night table. In a way, I already have a makeshift organizer so really, I could just save myself the money and not get a vanity organizer. On the other hand, there's that very last question, how bad do I want it? Another form of this question is, if I don't get it, will it haunt me? To be very honest, I am haunted by the stuff I want because I am being haunted by "the hungry ghost." The being with a huge stomach and tiny neck and is always hungry and never feels like enough is enough.
At the crux of all these questions that I ask myself before I purchase anything is, is it worth it to spend the money? At this point, I haven't bought too many of my desired items. I am thinking that in time, when I realize I still haven't bought these items and the house is still a great place to live, I won't want them anymore. Desire and consumerism is a tantalizing duo, but I think I'd rather not break the bank indulging in my consumerist impulses. Hmm... I guess we'll see. :-)
I have found that ever since we have moved into our cozy little house, I am more and more tempted to shop for the house. I feel the urge to accessorize it the way I accessorize myself with bags and jewelry. There are a number of things that we don't really need, but would be nice to have. For instance, I would like to get a new bamboo hamper, but we already have a hamper left to us by the previous owners. The old hamper is a perfectly serviceable hamper, but I keep thinking a nice bamboo one would just be so much nicer! Other desirable, but unnecessary items include a vanity organizer, a wine cabinet, extra flatware, serving platters, a big vase, an accent table, etc.. The good news is that I haven't indulged too much yet.
I try to ask myself a few things before I buy. The first question is, do I really need it? Often the answer is no because everything we need to use to live comfortably in the house, we already have. However, in a recent scenario, we had to buy a sump pump for our basement. Although it was something we wouldn't use often, it was definitely needed. So the second question is, if I get it, how often will I use it/enjoy it? Asking this question puts the hamper above serving platters or extra flatware because it would be something we'd use every day. This doesn't negate the fact that we already have a hamper and getting another one would be rather frivolous. So the third question is, do I have anything that can serve the same purpose? For instance, I want to get a vanity organizer, but I already have my combs toiletries placed in random glass cups on my night table. In a way, I already have a makeshift organizer so really, I could just save myself the money and not get a vanity organizer. On the other hand, there's that very last question, how bad do I want it? Another form of this question is, if I don't get it, will it haunt me? To be very honest, I am haunted by the stuff I want because I am being haunted by "the hungry ghost." The being with a huge stomach and tiny neck and is always hungry and never feels like enough is enough.
At the crux of all these questions that I ask myself before I purchase anything is, is it worth it to spend the money? At this point, I haven't bought too many of my desired items. I am thinking that in time, when I realize I still haven't bought these items and the house is still a great place to live, I won't want them anymore. Desire and consumerism is a tantalizing duo, but I think I'd rather not break the bank indulging in my consumerist impulses. Hmm... I guess we'll see. :-)
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Minimalism
On and off, I get fascinated with the minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism, in my opinion, is the reflex action against a consumerist and materialistic culture. It has become a trend featured in newspapers, magazines and blogs. The idea is to de-clutter your life to the bare essentials and to resist acquiring new things that you don't actually need.
For instance, this blogger here:
http://www.missminimalist.com/
is an example of someone who advocates a clutter-free life. She recommends a bare 10 pieces of clothing as your "core" wardrobe, which is reminiscent of:
http://consumerist.com/2010/07/woman-wears-6-items-of-clothing-for-a-month----nobody-notices.html
http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/
and trying to pare down the number of items you own down to 100, like this one:
http://guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge/
Now some of the goals in these challenges seem a bit extreme to me. I'm not sure I can actually pare down my wardrobe to 10 core items and the total number of things I own down to 100. However, I do love the look of minimalism. If you peek into the bathroom of a minimalist, there is almost nothing sitting on top of the sink or tub. Everything looks so clean and airy. In truth, I enjoy relaxing in a room filled with almost nothing.
So with the minimalist lifestyle in mind, I am going to think about how I want the rooms in my house to look. Everything should have a place and at the end of the day, everything should be put back into its place. It's easier to maintain a clean look and feel if there is less stuff to take care of and move around.
Currently, I think our bathroom has the most minimalist look. Everything is put away neatly and there's a place for the stuff we need for our daily routine. For a while, the bathroom was without a garbage can. The room was so small that no regular trash can would fit anywhere. So I bought a plastic magazine holder, placed it open side up, put a liner in it and voila! bathroom wastebasket problem solved!
The room I'm still struggling to get right is the kitchen. We have a lot of kitchen items. Not only are there pots and pans and lids and utensils, there are also lots of stocked food. I'm still trying to find a way to place and organize things that make sense and work well with how I cook and bake. We have a lot of cabinet space, but much of it I can't reach even with the small step stool. So this room will probably take a few or several more different configurations before I settle on one I like.
Of course, in the back of mind is always the question, what can I get rid of? De-cluttering is key to keeping things neat and organized. Like I said earlier, the less things you have, the less you have to worry about and maintain. I would say my hubby is more of a pack rat than I am, so it's more of a struggle for him than me. Still, I'm going to keep trying!
For instance, this blogger here:
http://www.missminimalist.com/
is an example of someone who advocates a clutter-free life. She recommends a bare 10 pieces of clothing as your "core" wardrobe, which is reminiscent of:
http://consumerist.com/2010/07/woman-wears-6-items-of-clothing-for-a-month----nobody-notices.html
http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/
and trying to pare down the number of items you own down to 100, like this one:
http://guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge/
Now some of the goals in these challenges seem a bit extreme to me. I'm not sure I can actually pare down my wardrobe to 10 core items and the total number of things I own down to 100. However, I do love the look of minimalism. If you peek into the bathroom of a minimalist, there is almost nothing sitting on top of the sink or tub. Everything looks so clean and airy. In truth, I enjoy relaxing in a room filled with almost nothing.
So with the minimalist lifestyle in mind, I am going to think about how I want the rooms in my house to look. Everything should have a place and at the end of the day, everything should be put back into its place. It's easier to maintain a clean look and feel if there is less stuff to take care of and move around.
Currently, I think our bathroom has the most minimalist look. Everything is put away neatly and there's a place for the stuff we need for our daily routine. For a while, the bathroom was without a garbage can. The room was so small that no regular trash can would fit anywhere. So I bought a plastic magazine holder, placed it open side up, put a liner in it and voila! bathroom wastebasket problem solved!
The room I'm still struggling to get right is the kitchen. We have a lot of kitchen items. Not only are there pots and pans and lids and utensils, there are also lots of stocked food. I'm still trying to find a way to place and organize things that make sense and work well with how I cook and bake. We have a lot of cabinet space, but much of it I can't reach even with the small step stool. So this room will probably take a few or several more different configurations before I settle on one I like.
Of course, in the back of mind is always the question, what can I get rid of? De-cluttering is key to keeping things neat and organized. Like I said earlier, the less things you have, the less you have to worry about and maintain. I would say my hubby is more of a pack rat than I am, so it's more of a struggle for him than me. Still, I'm going to keep trying!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Furniture
We bought furniture for the new house. Yes, we did! We got rid of most of the old furniture and got new stuff. It was expensive, but at least we don't have any unstable night tables and couches with the stuffing already scratched out in certain places. Having a cat around does mean that I have to resign myself to the fact that our new furniture will probably see some more tear than wear, but so be it. Our cat is worth it!
Anyways, I'm just glad it's done. Going through the process of shopping and buying furniture is a real pain the rear. First of all, there are tons of choices out there and like a kid with too many crayons, I end up freezing like a deer in headlights. What the heck do I want? In the end, I chose convenience over everything else and tried to order as much furniture from one place to be delivered on one day as much as possible. I simply can't be taking multiple days off to get furniture delivered from multiple places on multiple days. It wasn't cheap, but it's done!
Now all that's left are the little pieces such as shelving, place mats, wine racks, etc.. Those are much more manageable and often don't require someone to be at home to sign for the stuff or watch them install and move things. Anyways, obviously if you don't have the money up front (we saved and saved for this), you'll need to buy piece by piece, which is also good because you'll have more time to really figure out what you want and how you want your place to look.
So right now, the house is still a work in progress. It probably will always be a work in progress as I've re-organized the stuff in the kitchen a couple times now and we've only been living there for about two months. The basement is still disorganized and so is the spare bedroom. There's lots to be done, but at least the big deliveries are over with!
Anyways, I'm just glad it's done. Going through the process of shopping and buying furniture is a real pain the rear. First of all, there are tons of choices out there and like a kid with too many crayons, I end up freezing like a deer in headlights. What the heck do I want? In the end, I chose convenience over everything else and tried to order as much furniture from one place to be delivered on one day as much as possible. I simply can't be taking multiple days off to get furniture delivered from multiple places on multiple days. It wasn't cheap, but it's done!
Now all that's left are the little pieces such as shelving, place mats, wine racks, etc.. Those are much more manageable and often don't require someone to be at home to sign for the stuff or watch them install and move things. Anyways, obviously if you don't have the money up front (we saved and saved for this), you'll need to buy piece by piece, which is also good because you'll have more time to really figure out what you want and how you want your place to look.
So right now, the house is still a work in progress. It probably will always be a work in progress as I've re-organized the stuff in the kitchen a couple times now and we've only been living there for about two months. The basement is still disorganized and so is the spare bedroom. There's lots to be done, but at least the big deliveries are over with!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sausage, the riot dog!
Interesting article. Cute, excitable dog! Watch the video!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/06/us-greece-dog-idUSTRE7952LX20111006
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/06/us-greece-dog-idUSTRE7952LX20111006
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Older sister saves younger sister, bus driver saves older sister
How great it is to know that great acts of selfless heroism still exists today:
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/25/anaiah-rucker-9-saves-sister-by-taking-blow-from-oncoming-truc/
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/25/anaiah-rucker-9-saves-sister-by-taking-blow-from-oncoming-truc/
Monday, October 10, 2011
Recipe for just two cupcakes
So let's say you've read my mayonnaise and aioli post and tried it out. Now you're probably left with an egg white thinking, ugh, I guess I'll have to make an egg white omelet now. Normally, I'll make a regular omelet and just whisk in the extra egg white, but sometimes, I don't want to eat an omelet. Sometimes, I want cake!
Awesome online recipe to the rescue!
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/
This recipe makes enough for just two cupcakes and they are sooooo light, fluffy and vanilla-y. Not only is it yummy and easy to make, it doesn't generate a lot of dishes to clean afterward - always a plus! So anyways, there are a couple of things to note. I use turbinado or raw sugar in place of white sugar. Raw sugar has some molasses in it, which has the effect of creating a more chewy, denser texture than white sugar. I've tried this recipe with both types of sugar and personally, I like the raw sugar version better. Also, the more baking powder you use, the more the cakes will fluff up and rise.
I've made the recipe a few times and each time, hubby and I would scarf them down before they've had time to cool. They're really good and easy, and can be made on a whim with just a little effort. Highly recommend giving this recipe a try!
Awesome online recipe to the rescue!
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/
This recipe makes enough for just two cupcakes and they are sooooo light, fluffy and vanilla-y. Not only is it yummy and easy to make, it doesn't generate a lot of dishes to clean afterward - always a plus! So anyways, there are a couple of things to note. I use turbinado or raw sugar in place of white sugar. Raw sugar has some molasses in it, which has the effect of creating a more chewy, denser texture than white sugar. I've tried this recipe with both types of sugar and personally, I like the raw sugar version better. Also, the more baking powder you use, the more the cakes will fluff up and rise.
I've made the recipe a few times and each time, hubby and I would scarf them down before they've had time to cool. They're really good and easy, and can be made on a whim with just a little effort. Highly recommend giving this recipe a try!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Aioli
Simply put, aioli is nothing more than garlic mayonnaise. So if desperate, you can try crushing fresh garlic into some store-bought mayonnaise. However, if you want really, really good aioli, or mayonnaise for that matter, you need to make it from scratch.
Making mayonnaise from scratch does a couple of things for you. First, all that whisking will pre-burn away some calories before you ingest it. Second, it just tastes soooo much better than the store-bought stuff! Plus there's the added bonus of making the mayonnaise taste however you want it to by experimenting with different herbs, flavorings and oils.
Most mayonnaise recipes will call for a neutral oil, such as safflower oil. Mayonnaise made with pure olive oil has a very distinctive taste and smell that some people might not like right away. I happen to like olive oil mayonnaise, but most of the time, I prefer to use half olive oil and half neutral oil.
Anyways, a basic mayonnaise recipe starts with on egg yolk. If you have any concerns about eating raw eggs, don't make homemade mayo unless you can get those pasteurized ones in the shells. Start whisking the yolk and add some dijon mustard (or whatever kind you have, about a half teaspoon), salt, white pepper and a few drops of white vinegar or lemon juice. Keeping whisking and start adding the oil drop by drop. Once the emulsion looks pretty stable, you can increase the flow of oil to a thin, steady stream. Keep whisking until you've whisked in about a cup to 1 and half cup of oil. By the time you're done, your arm is probably ready to fall off. There is an easier way if you have a stick blender, but that takes the work out of making something so fatty and delicious!
Now that you've got the gist of basic mayonnaise down, let's talk aioli. David Lebovitz has an awesome aioli recipe that I've used over and over:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/07/aioli-garlic-mayonnaise-recipe/
I usually make it my little porcelain mortar and pestle and my mother-in-law's awesome home-grown garlic. The store-bought garlic just doesn't have anything on my mother-in-law's garlic! Anyways, you start by crushing a few cloves in your mortar and pestle and grind it into a paste with some coarse sea salt. Then add the yolk and start whisking. Then add about a cup of olive oil while whisking.
If your emulsion breaks, start whisking an egg yolk in a fresh bowl and then slowly add the broken mix, drop by drop, into the new emulsion. Personally, I have not had an emulsion break on me so far (knock on wood) probably because I get so tired from whisking and just can't keep it up. Lol!
Anyways, homemade aioli tastes awesome on zucchini faux crab cakes, whose recipes can be found here:
http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/recipes/those-curious-zucchini-faux-crab-cakes/
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1611
Aioli also tastes great on plain old toast as well. How about next time you make eggs benedict, instead of hollandaise, spread some aioli? Personally, I prefer making aioli over hollandaise because I find making hollandaise even more labor intensive since I have to whisk over a stove.
Anyways, that's my post for today!
Making mayonnaise from scratch does a couple of things for you. First, all that whisking will pre-burn away some calories before you ingest it. Second, it just tastes soooo much better than the store-bought stuff! Plus there's the added bonus of making the mayonnaise taste however you want it to by experimenting with different herbs, flavorings and oils.
Most mayonnaise recipes will call for a neutral oil, such as safflower oil. Mayonnaise made with pure olive oil has a very distinctive taste and smell that some people might not like right away. I happen to like olive oil mayonnaise, but most of the time, I prefer to use half olive oil and half neutral oil.
Anyways, a basic mayonnaise recipe starts with on egg yolk. If you have any concerns about eating raw eggs, don't make homemade mayo unless you can get those pasteurized ones in the shells. Start whisking the yolk and add some dijon mustard (or whatever kind you have, about a half teaspoon), salt, white pepper and a few drops of white vinegar or lemon juice. Keeping whisking and start adding the oil drop by drop. Once the emulsion looks pretty stable, you can increase the flow of oil to a thin, steady stream. Keep whisking until you've whisked in about a cup to 1 and half cup of oil. By the time you're done, your arm is probably ready to fall off. There is an easier way if you have a stick blender, but that takes the work out of making something so fatty and delicious!
Now that you've got the gist of basic mayonnaise down, let's talk aioli. David Lebovitz has an awesome aioli recipe that I've used over and over:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/07/aioli-garlic-mayonnaise-recipe/
I usually make it my little porcelain mortar and pestle and my mother-in-law's awesome home-grown garlic. The store-bought garlic just doesn't have anything on my mother-in-law's garlic! Anyways, you start by crushing a few cloves in your mortar and pestle and grind it into a paste with some coarse sea salt. Then add the yolk and start whisking. Then add about a cup of olive oil while whisking.
If your emulsion breaks, start whisking an egg yolk in a fresh bowl and then slowly add the broken mix, drop by drop, into the new emulsion. Personally, I have not had an emulsion break on me so far (knock on wood) probably because I get so tired from whisking and just can't keep it up. Lol!
Anyways, homemade aioli tastes awesome on zucchini faux crab cakes, whose recipes can be found here:
http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/recipes/those-curious-zucchini-faux-crab-cakes/
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1611
Aioli also tastes great on plain old toast as well. How about next time you make eggs benedict, instead of hollandaise, spread some aioli? Personally, I prefer making aioli over hollandaise because I find making hollandaise even more labor intensive since I have to whisk over a stove.
Anyways, that's my post for today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)