gabrielanddorothy's Profile

Eek! This is so exciting. We live in Northwest Arkansas, and have been known to make trips to Dallas just for Ikea (5.5 hours). But KC is a modest 3.5 hours drive, and has Trader Joes! Yes, this is wonderful news.

I use mine to cover bread dough during fermentation, over pans of leftover baked goodies like fruit crisps, and pretty much anything else that needs a cover and has no lid.

My husband always brings me shower caps from his hotel stays on business trips, which is an act of true love since most of the time he has to ask for them at the front desk (and always gets awkward glances to his balding buzz-cut hair).

I handwash them with the dishes, and airdry them by hanging them from an upper cabinet knob. I have yet to wear a hole through any of the plastic, but the elastic does eventually lose its stretch.

I make mine a pound a time, simmering on the stove top. I freeze whatever I don't plan to eat in the next few days in 2 qt plastic storage containers I keep from bulk liquids (honey, olive oil, etc) purchased at our local natural foods store. I usually fill the container with the beans, and then add the cooking liquid until it covers the beans, then it's into the freezer. If I am planning ahead, I thaw them in the fridge for 1-2 days, but the microwave also works. I've never had a problem with them seeming waterlogged or mushy.

Sloppy Lentils are a family favorite. Once upon a time, I blogged the recipe here:
http://www.simplyontheearth.com/2009/01/sloppy-lentils_06.html

We are still making them and loving them.

If the oven has a self-cleaning feature, put the grates into the oven next time you clean the interior. All of the grease comes right off and they come out spotless.

An extra bottle warmer kept in the bathroom to keep the per-rinse bottle warm and ready was really helpful for me. I filled my rinse bottle with an infusion of healing herbs.

I just got over the flu a little over a week ago, and, let me tell you, it was rough. I have a nearly-three year old and a 9 month old, both boys. The first few days of it my husband came home early from work and then it was the weekend, but on Monday my husband left for a week-long business trip and I still ended up being very sick that entire week.
Luckily, my mom lives nearby and works at a preschool teaching 2 1/2 year olds, so my oldest spent a day with her beore he came down with the flu as well.
At that point, we dragged the couch in front of the computer (since we don't own a tv) and watched countless episodes of Caillou and Thomas the Train (hurray for Netflix...). My mom came over after work and did things like making us soup, bringing in loads of wood for the fire, and keeping the pets fed.
So, tv programs were the answer for my toddler, but it was especially rough for my baby who is used to a lot more entertainment than my son and I were able to provide for him.
I am keeping my finger's crossed that nothing like that hits us again this winter.

Just added it to my hold requests at the library...

My 2 year old is getting: stockmar block crayons, markers, a holiday book, a small mouse softie, train-shaped cookie cutters, smartwool socks, Japanese rice candy, animal crackers, and a candy cane.

This is hilarious. Even if it does work, I'm not sure I'd want to cook with a hunk of bread poking out of my mouth...

Then again, I'd love to see my hubby's reaction if he walked in the door after work and saw me cooking this way.

Funny funny funny.