Archive for Random Mess
Cooking In Stilettos – There’s An App For That
Posted by: | CommentsOften when I’m grocery shopping, I will whip out my iPhone to see what I could make with a certain ingredients. For example, I was looking at some short ribs and saw an amazing pork shoulder so I whipped out the phone, started playin’ around and sure enough, I was able to get the ingredients for Rick Bayless’ pork tinga which is currently simmering away in the slow cooker. Now I have never done well with a written grocery list or to do list as I’m a gal who lets culinary inspiration guide my shopping excursions. I am, however, thankfully an owner of an iPhone who has a bunch of culinary (and fashion of course) apps.
Well Cooking In Stilettos finally has its own app for when you are away from the computer and, here’s the best part - it’s FREE!
So, feel free to check us out on iTunes and you can get some culinary inspiration when you are out and about. Just click on the link or the logo and enjoy!
Cooking In Stilettos App on iTunes.
Question to the Readers: Ingredients
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Weekly question time:
What was the most unusual or hard to find ingredient that you had to find for that recipe you just had to make?
For me, it’s a toss between Cajeta (goat’s milk caramel) or Tapioca Flour for some upcoming recipes. Thankfully I was able to locate these ingredients at MexGrocer.com (who gives cash back by the way) and Whole Foods that just opened here in Plymouth Meeting, PA.
We Interrupt Previously Scheduled Programming…
Posted by: | CommentsAs this gal has suffered a bit of a casualty. While making my honey garlic slow cooker chicken last night, this gal got the bright idea to add onions to the recipe at last minute. Well, I grabbed the onion and my new Global veggie knife which looks like a cleaver of sorts – see
and while chopping away while using my newly learned knife skills, I forgot one of the most important commandments – ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOUR THUMB IS. See, while I was steading the onion, the thumb just got in the way and *swoosh*
Damn that knife was sharp!!! Needless to say it was a pretty deep cut, no stitches needed but who knew that a gal’s thumb plays a major role in most things. So now my typing is more of a hunt and peck of sorts, the texting – yeah, so not happening and the cut is pretty gross. I’m just thankful that my thumb is still attached. I was highly thankful that I kept a package of bandaids in the kitchen and applied the Girl Scout First Aid skills.
That onion didn’t fare so well – it never did make it into the recipe…
What Happens When A Laptop Hits The Floor…
Posted by: | CommentsI was hoping to be able to tell you all about the knife skills class I recently took at Fosters – I was so excited to blog the other night and recount the 10 commandments of cutlery. But first, since I got home so late, I headed to the kitchen to make something light due to the Eat In Challenge (and no takeout! Day 8 – huzzah!) I really wasn’t paying attention to the constant fight of the furballs and figured I’d write after dinner.
The Furballs fight – CONSTANTLY. See, Shadow, my cat, has this habit of driving my pug and sous chef Wiggy crazy and entices him to leave his kitchen station and chase her down the long hallway. I had moved the laptop to a small table so I could blog from the comfort of the couch. Sadly, the wireless router I moved here with is beyond ancient and is not supported by Comcast so for the past few months, I have operated solely connected to the cable modem by means of a VERY long cord. So, that evening Shadow decided that it was time to get Wiggy in trouble and started her evening torture. Wiggy took the bait, began the chase – into the cable internet cord – and *boom* I heard a shaking thump. Yup, you guessed it, my laptop took a nose dive onto my “non-plushy” carpet and went boom and it refused to power up. I tried everything I could and I had to bury the Gateway. In other bad blogger news, I haven’t backed up in about 2 weeks so those recipes I bookmarked to try, the food photos I took to write about, the partial posts on my Windows Live Writer – all gone. A moment of silence please….
So, after doing much research on my iPhone (thank heavens for that internet connection!), I was able to figure out a new replacement Toshiba laptop, the correct WIRELESS modem and, ta-dah, we’re back in business. The only thing I hated was not being able to buy it online and get cash back but in the end, lesson learned.
The Dog/Cat chase and Cords = Non-Mixy Things.
Question to the Readers: Cooking Classes…
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So, dear readers, while watching Julie & Julia for the umpteenth time (LOVE this film), I decided that I need to bite the bullet and take some cooking classes – starting with a knife skills class. Fosters in Center City has some really good classes – check out the course schedule HERE. I’ve had one too many “close calls” with the santoku for me to put it off any longer.
Have any of you ever taken a cooking class – and, if so, what can one expect?
I have visions of my first day of college and, I have to say, I’m terrified. I’m not really one for being the “new gal” – way too shy for one’s own good (Mel – shush!). Any insight would be most helpful…
Cool New Blog Alert: Melly’s Kitchen…
Posted by: | CommentsIndulge me a bit would ya – my gal Mel has decided to jump feet first into the foodie blog world and, of course, having some of the best readers on the planet, I was hoping that you might be able to drop by her spot and welcome her to the Foodie world… She’s one heck of a spunky gal and, from what I hear, can throw down in the kitchen…
You can find her spot here: Melly’s Kitchen
Thanks in advance!!!
The Joys of Moving or In The Alternative – Where The Heck Is That Spatula??
Posted by: | CommentsFirst of all – let me just say that moving over 1,000 miles will NOT be an option. It took about 3 weeks of unpacking and lugging HUGE boxes around the new abode to find my pots at the BOTTOM row of boxes. And, to make things worse – I’m still looking for things here and there. I figure I have about 10 boxes or so I need to finish going through and then I can move onto reorganizing the den which is currently known as “Moving Box Central”. The amount of boxes I’ve had to break down has been insane.
So, 3 weeks of take out, delivery and micro meals does not make a happy food blogger.
Before I left, my friends came over and kicked my butt into moving overdrive. SL, Jay & Kar helped me box up the hell known as my kitchen and also helped take a bunch of things off my hands – specifically my pantry and liquor cabinet; both of which were not coming with. SL now has a spice cabinet to die for loaded with some serious goodies like truffle oil, meyer lemon oil, coffee and goodies shipped from the Italian Market. Heck, since I could go to the Italian Market on Saturdays, I could replenish it – right? However, one thing I haven’t been able to find is my creole seasoning – for some reason they just don’t seem to have that here. I’m hopeful that maybe Whole Paychex or Trader Joe’s might have or else I’m calling SL to ship some to me stat.
I can say that my kitchen is MUCH bigger in terms of counter space and, while I don’t have an island, I might just not need it. And, now that the pans have been located, I’ve been getting back my cooking mojo. Won’t my neighbors be thrilled 
The pantry is a bit smaller so it’s going to mean I’m going to have to find some new ways to keep everything moving along.
Now please excuse me while I make plans to have yet another run to Crate & Barrel in the morning for more spice jars and a few more organizing ideas so I can actually have this kitchen running smoothly. Oh, and so I can make room for the *ahem* new goodies coming from RueLaLa from the Calphalon sale… *shhhh* just don’t tell anyone.
Reason Why You Should Make Friends With Salespeople…
Posted by: | CommentsI always say when something stinks, I’m going to tell you and when something is amazing, I’m REALLY going to tell you. I may be tough but I only expect good customer service. Above average customer service really makes me take notice.
Here’s why I advocate being friendly with salespeople in your favorite stores – they will alert you to some good deals coming up, they will take care of you and other perks. I have stores I go to time and time again in Orlando – especially when it comes to all things kitchen and entertaining. At the top of my list, of course, is the Le Creuset outlet at the Prime Outlets.
Greg and his staff always take care of me. They know that I obsess over everything Caribbean Le Creuset and a couple weeks ago I got a call from one of his top salespeople going “Lys, we just got in the Le Creuset soup pot in Caribbean and we’re holding it for you if you want to drop by.” Can I tell you at the first opportunity, I flew to the outlets and didn’t make my usual rounds to Saks Off Fifth, Neimans or Stuart Weitzman – it was straight to LE CREUSET to see the latest addition to my household. And, mind you – I’ve had my eye on it for a bit since I saw it at Sur La Table a few months ago. (Sidenote – hello - Williams Sonoma – When are you going to *ahem* start carrying Caribbean? Seriously – love that color!) Not to mention, hello – the outlet had it on SALE! Double score. Let’s just hope the outlet gets more Caribbean because I still have a couple more things I need for my kitchen *cough* wide oval dutch oven *cough*
Ahhh – isn’t she lovely? Almost as lovely as my new Loubous but that’s another post for another blog on another day…
Much thanks to Greg and his staff at the Prime Outlets in Orlando. I can’t recommend a better store for all things Le Creuset.
Bookmark This: Kitchen Essentials: 10 Techniques Every Cook Should Know..
Posted by: | CommentsNow – don’t roll your eyes and go “Ugh, do I HAVE to”. It’s always good to get a refresher now and then, right? Just indulge me a sec, please.
The SFGate ran a great article called “Kitchen Essentials: 10 Techniques Every Cook Should Know” and not only do they provide sound advice and tips, but also great photos and videos for you to refer to.
Check it out HERE.
Thanks to TheKitchn for alerting a gal!
Cooks Illustrated & America’s Test Kitchen…
Posted by: | CommentsFYI- you are hereby on notice. I read this post and am OUTRAGED at your representative’s behavior, condescending tone and superiority complex. As I deal with IP law quite often, for your representative to act like this is just horrid – over a modified potato salad recipe.
That being said, Cooks Kitchen and America’s Test Kitchen – we’re breaking up. I’m not buying your magazine or frequenting your websites. Your emails will be deleted. Conde Nast will get my attention from here on out. You have lost a loyal reader.
Foodie Bloggers, check this post out and register your comments if this is something that gets your goat. Melissa should have NEVER gone through this drama. Much thanks to Don for the heads up.
