 |
| I used to call these posts "a little of this.....and a little of that" They tend to be on the long side so grab a cup of coffee...or tea......Sally my dear...this one is for you... a few of these things you might already know about but they are so good I thought I would get the word out since Marguerite up in Jersey had no idea that the very best thing to clean your stainless steel appliances with is... WD-40!! so I'm figuring if she didn't know someone else might not know...I use the can with the little red thingie...you just flip up the lid and spritz and give your appliance a good wipe down and the shine is unreal.... it only smells funny for a few minutes but the shine it gives is worth it... |
 |
| I'm married to Georgia's version of Tony Soprano so you know I have to produce a good sauce for the Boss... or as Italians call it...."Sunday Gravy" Rao's is expensive in terms of jarred gravy.... But.....nothing and I mean nothing has to be done to it.... I confess I do drizzle a bit of olive oil on top when heating and maybe a teaspoon or so of sugar.... Other then that if you decide to.... you can just pop this open...heat it up... and enjoy....it's excellent... on sale you can expect to pay about $6.99 for a good size jar. |
 |
| Best appliance of the Century! the Cuisinart crock pot... Ever since 1994 when the Cobb County fire department had to be called out to the house by my neighbor when smoke was pouring out one of our windows....I was advised to try cooking using a crock pot... I have used one a few times a week every since... it seems Sue is not suited to multi-task...... as in wanting to eat an egg salad sandwich and going to the mall.... Anyhoo.... Crock pots are cheap right? You probably have one in your kitchen and never use it... You can get one as cheap as $12.99 at Walmart.... and they work just fine....But when you get to be an "Ar'teest" at crock pot cooking you yearn for something fancy... So last year daughter bought me a gorgeous All-Clad stainless model with a porcelain insert....beautiful to look at.. your basic temperatures and very heavy to clean. It died in less then a year....But!! when you buy things at Williams Sonoma you can pretty much not worry about these things...They are always happy to replace things that go bad.... so they suggested I try the above model.... Fantastic is all I can say....it does everything.....from sauteing...a wonderful feature so you can brown your ingredients first and save cleaning another pan.... to high/low/simmer/warm....a light weight non stick finish makes it a breeze to clean even the heaviest soil....soak it a few minutes and wipe it clean....About $200.....if your in to crock pots. This is the one for you....You will love it! Great "Idea" for 2013 to pre-heat your oven..... I find myself sometimes at midnight being asked to make the Boss his favorite dessert....Pepperidge Farm Turnovers... you know the frozen kind that need to be baked at a 400 degree oven after you have pre-heated it to 450 then they need to bake for 20 minutes and then cool.... This was getting to be old...so I called Wolf/SubZero and asked how long should my oven take to pre-heat to 400. 20 minutes at least I'm told......well come on....it's midnight I want to go to bed..... here's a trick.... turn on your broiler.....it heats up in less then 5 minutes... then shut it off and turn on your oven to your needed temperature. and you will find it's either at the needed temperature or seconds away from getting to it....this works like a charm when you need a hot temperature...for lesser degrees...less time on broil |
 |
| sorry......I love my appliances...someone suggested I had some sort of issue by owning two of every thing... Not true... I had the Kitchen Aid on the left....got the new house and the Boss bought me the one on the right.... If your thinking of buying one or if you have the left model and thinking of upgrading to the one on the right.... DON'T DO IT..... if your a cake baker or actually anything that will have a lot of batter or anything that will fill the bowl at least half way up.... this mixer is awful. With the head that lifts up instead of tilting back like the one on the left....it's a real pain to remove the attachment without making a mess..a bad design in my eyes... |
 |
| Cheese????.....No..... glass plates.....love love love them.. they cost about $1.00 a piece...a little larger then a sandwich plate...not as large as a dinner plate...If you are in the kitchen all day long like I am...which is probably not likely unless the Boss has a twin somewhere...here is what I do.... I keep a big stack of these out on the counter all the time... you don't even notice them because....well....they're glass. this prevents me from breakfast lunch and snacks having to reach up into the cabinets for a real plate...they are a perfect size for a small breakfast....a lunch time sandwich or a late night snack.....Our kitchen does not shut down until well after midnight....I go through a stack a day. These are also good if you ever find pretty paper plates for a party or have old plates from the 40's or 50's where you're not sure if they are safe to eat on.....like my 1950's souvenir state plates....Just pop one of these on top..you get to see what's beneath and your eating on a real plate that is safe! |
 |
| With the New Year of course comes the ever popular Diet..... I have lost 20 pounds in the past three months....with a little help from my beloved Dr. H after he realized I needed a jump start.....But I have changed the way I was eating....I discovered it's not necessary what you eat....it's how much you eat... here's a very satisfying breakfast.... I scramble that egg and I make an egg sandwich on one of these wonderful little potato rolls.... egg=99 calories.....roll= 80 calories....great way to start the day. And it is true that you have to have something to eat in the morning to get you jump started... |
 |
| lunch.....I do salt up the cottage cheese for that whole salty/sweet combo and at 100 calories...I often have these as a late night snack too.... Publix our grocer here in the South just ran these this week on sale 10 for $5.00.....yup 50 cents a piece.... |
 |
| after dinner treat.....60 calories for the little puddings and jello....I add an extra amount of Land O Lakes sugar free Whipped Cream....a normal amount = 20 calories... I no longer drink Coke Zero all day long.....it just turned out not to be a "good thing".....I switched to water....much better... I never leave home without a bottle of Dasani.... I eat a steak usually twice a week......grilled cheese sandwiches... pasta....But I have given up mashed potatoes...It seems to be working...still enjoying a good pizza too...just not the whole thing.... |
 |
| it seems to be bad weather all over blog land.... treat yourself to some fresh flowers.... I buy old fashioned carnations and whatever these other things are called...You all know what they are.... they never die is what they are!! Good for a good two weeks...they make the house Happy I buy three bunches....I alternate colors every other week... $12.99 for 3 bunches... |
 |
| here is pure Heaven in a Bottle.... I treated myself at the airport in Paris to this stuff.... if your looking to change perfumes.....beautiful smell that lasts and lasts....I go to bed at night and I can still smell it.... Cartier describes it as having a "limpid freshness....an ode to simplicity" I couldn't have said it better myself if I were French...... about $90. for a good size bottle... one spritz a day this should last a very long time.. okay prepare yourself for this next one.... You know I have been known to talk about "boobs".... no no.....not my ex-son-in-law..... |
 |
| what women hasn't had a problem finding a really good strapless bra.....discussing this the other day with my good blog friends Linda and Sandie over lunch....This one found at Target is a winner....at $16.99 it's a steal compared to all the custom bra shops that are popping up all over.... the discussion started over Sandie's visit to a shop here in town called "Livi Rose"....it seems they even scored themselves their own reality show.....I have not seen it but seems like an interesting concept? |
 |
| the quest for a good strapless bra came from the fact that almost all my tops I wear seem to be boat neck... and there was the day in Publix when I was making a complaint to one of the managers about a deli employee when during the entire conversation she kept looking down in the area around my waist.....You do know where this story is headed....luckily it was a women manager.....I get home and ask the Boss if something looked funny on me....he told me to look down.... at which time I realized my "bandeau" style bra had slipped down and was around my waist....It looked like I had a huge goiter..or worse four boobs.... Horrifying..... So no matter how big or how small those boobs are this bra....... I guarantee..... will stay where it's suppose to.... |
 |
| Here is my second good idea for your New Year..... no matter how old you get you are never too old to take something you have disliked or in my case hated all my life and re-think your opinion.....Give it a try.... I'm still not comfortable enough to make too much contact with Miss Coco Chanel.....but we are slowly getting attached to one another....she's a wild cat and my friend Necie tells me wild cats have rabies....but look at that face.... she now basically lives on our back porch....we even bought her a house for the winter..... Always a dog person....this one is even surprising me.... |
 |
| and lastly.....see how good this looks....and Oh it smelled just as good.....similar to the hot breads served at the Macaroni Grill and other Italian chain joints.... BUT.... |
 |
| it's a "bad thing"..... horrible....horrible....tastes like...wallpaper paste with Italian seasoning....stay away from being tempted to buy this at all costs.... |
 |
| and as I hear a sigh of relief coming out of my computer.. I have come to the end of my picks for "Good things for 2013" the best thing for the New Year is to just have fun at least for a few minutes every day.....and in the words of my father "Siggy"..... "Reeeeeeeeeeeeelax" *****my neighbor read this post and asked if WD-40 can be used on appliances because she thought it was flammable. YES..... it is according to the can. I use this on the front of the fridge, dishwasher, warming tray and the front (not near the burners) of my stove when NOT in use or if it's hot after use. The use of this product was told to me by the delivery and installation folks at Guy T. Gunther Associates in Atlanta sellers of commercial appliances years ago and I have used it ever since never with a problem. Just make sure you don't use it when the burners are on!! and wipe off thoroughly.... |
16 comments:
Great post! I read every word, smiled, giggled, and totally enjoyed this! ~ Sarah
I love posts like this! Gives me some new ideas and things to try.
Another great post, Sue! I'm definitely going to use the broiler to preheat the oven. I'm already a fan of your jello with whipped cream dessert and I use my crockpot... the cheaper kind though... often. You are too funny!
Once again you have managed to make me Laugh out Loud while sitting at my desk at work! Love your posts!
Some good information and I like your reviews. I love my kitchen aid mixer, couldn't do without it. I don't use my crock pot as much as I probably should.
Ahh...so the little fur scamp has wormed her way into your hearts. I am surprised too.
Your posts always give me a chuckle and brighten my day. Must try the WD-40 trick. Oh, and the "other" flowers are alstroemeria lilies. I know because I carried them in my bridal bouquet.
Of course, I enjoyed this post! You do this type of post better than everyone. I already use my crockpot at least 3 times a week; and I've had my small kitchen aid mixer since the l970s - it still runs like a top. I can't afford the perfume (nor would I use it) or the fancy convenience foods; but I'm going to buy some little jellos and whipped cream just for me. That was my favorite dessert as a child. I do make jello for the troups; but those little jellos would be just for me!!! Thanks --- Sally
Great post, Sue! I love my crockpot (I have 1 big one, 1 medium one and one small one). That is an investment that you have but sounds like it might be well worth it.
I had that same thing happen with my bra years ago-worse though-as only one side rolled down...and it was a minimizer -you can imagine that!
I will sniff that perfume next time I can-I am ready for an update, I think- xo Diana
Sue you know I love your posts! This was so much fun and gave me some new products to try. I'll have to check out that bra since we discussed it at lunch the other day. Oh and Miss Coco Chanel is a charmer!
hugs, Linda
Girl you are telling our secrets of lunch - but that's okay. Lol
I knew about WD-40 and the bras. lol
Good idea about the sugar free cool whip and cottage cheese with jam. I bought cottage cheese and it is sitting in the icebox just looking a me - blah.
Now at what store can you find Rao's I am looking for just that same thing.
sandie♥
What a fun post - and full of useful stuff! Thanks!
Neighbor Kathy mentioned that WD-40 is flammable and yes it is.....See new addition to end of post as I state who told me to use this on stainless. Use with care and wipe off....I've used it for 20 years and have never had a problem....
Wow, there is a treasure trove of information here, Sue. Most of the brands I don't recognize but I always have a can of WD-40 in the cupboard. Never thought to polish my SS with it. Of course, I'm going to give it a try. Love the suggestion about the glass plates. That is a great idea. And hats off to you for losing 20 pounds. I'm so envious. I would rather hang by my thumbs than go on a diet. You do share some good suggestions which I appreciate. I do need to use my crockpot more.
Wow, you really covered a lot of territory in this post! I love your new way of eating (especially the whipped cream) and the fact that you have been able to manage to limit the amounts so consistently that you have lost 20 pounds - hooray! which I have been an abysmal failure at despite lecturing myself for five months now; however you have inspired me to pick myself up and start again! The boobs story has me falling off my chair in giggles. Nothing strapless, I don't care how good it is, would stay on me where it belongs - they'd all be down at my waist in no time. Thanks for the morning pick me up as I read your post today!
GHood tips amd warnings, Sue! i love WD 40 for many uses --just wished it smelled better. The perfume sounds amazing --I will look for it locally. I love the broiler tip--my new oven is electric and I can't get used to it or high altitude cooking for that matter.
You were a wealth of information today, Sue. I've used the broiler trick before- what a time savings boon! Loved your post today. so is this Rao's sauce a local product? It sounds like the real deal. Kudos on the weight loss. I have so self control. LOL
Post a Comment