LIMOM's Profile

Made this last night. Whole family loved it. The gravy came out a bit darker than in the picture, but it was rich and tasty. Will definately make this again.

I totally disagree with the assumption that IKEA is disposable. How you use it, how you care for it is what matters. A $10,000 Baker couch in an of the moment, trendy style is more disposable than a Billy bookcase.

The truth is that I've purchased things from IKEA that have outlasted items from Ethan Allen. IKEA done right is great for a households bottom line.

I had never heard of Cincinnati Chili until your website, and it has quickly become a dinnertime regular. Easy to make, cheap, uncomplicated, kids love it. DONE!!

I do make a minor modification for the sake of the kids, I only use 1 tbsp. of chili powder.

Thanks for the great recipe.

A fearless mix of modern and Victorian. The airy, clean lines of the furniture balances the heft of a lot of the accessories.

The kitchen and the dressing area were high points for me.

Not at all surprised it folded. I am a fan of Oprah but I think she missed the mark on this one.

While there were wonderful moments, such as the coverage of Oprah's Legends Ball, great articles by Suze Orman, and a tour of a curator's NYC apartment, a lot of it seemed scattered. I remember vividly the issue where Oprah gives us a tour of the tea house in the middle of the enormous rose garden on her CA estate. The editorial was filled with her trademark psycho-babble about her need to "get centered" etc., etc. It was just over the top self-absorbtion. Other misses included pampered princesses with five-figure home offices who where too dense to put anything away - who cares.

Pretty, but slightly out of touch.

With just a little planning and organization, I have greatly lowered my families weekly food costs. Here are some strategies I swear by.

1) Menu plan. This one habit alone keeps a lid on purchases of processed dinners and take-out.

2) Read you weekly grocery flyer. Make a grocery list and stick to it.

3) If you use coupons, try to shop somewhere that takes double coupons.

4) Every week I make a large batch of brown rice. This inexpensive staple works as a side dish, in burritos, with chili, stir fry, stuffed peppers, etc., etc.

5) If you come across a protein you eat on sale, double up and put half in the freezer. One week when you're feeling the pinch you will be greatful to have a protein on hand without having to dip into the weeks budget.

7) When bananas start to go bad just stick them in the freezer to use in smoothies or baking later.

8) Eat vegetarian at least once a week.

9) Use your slowcooker. Nothing is better at making tasty food out of cheap, unglamorous cuts of meat and grains.

The main projects of my Cure will be cleaning out my basement, reorganizing my kids playroom, reworking my pantry, and preparing for a complete renovation of our main bathroom.

Right now I'm in the final stages of renovating a bathroom on the first floor. I also have about 20 people coming to my house next Sunday for my daughters First Communion. So I'm starting off the Cure with a good old fashioned crisis cleaning. Here's what I hope to accomplish this week:

Still left to complete bathroom:

Purchase shower curtain rings
Purchase towels/bath mat
Purchase accessories
Purchase shower curtain
Finish painting
Install medicine cabinet

This weekend

Friday:

Paint bathroom
Declutter/clean dining room and living room

Saturday:

Finish bathroom
Declutter/clean den and kitchen

Sunday:

Work in garden
Replace bedroom furniture with some new heirlooms passed down from relatives
Try to hang some artwork and pictures on some walls (putting this one off a long time).

The rest of the week will be spent on general projects necessary to pull the party together. The work this weekend should get the Cure off to a good start.

Raymond Boozer has fabulous taste and real understanding of apartment living. His shop is filled with functional, lovely, intriguing items. He is sweet and helpful, making shopping there all the more enjoyable.

A wonderful place for gifts, with great items at every price range. I have not been to the new location, but I'm sure it's as delightful as the original.

Oh yes, it shall be mine!

Long before "Martha" became an adjective, my mother was cooking and sewing and hostessing with the best of 'em. She is a fearless homemaker and an adventurous cook, making crepes on Wednesday nights for my Dad, my four brothers and sisters, and me. We never once ate Hamburger Helper. When my sister asked to be married at our family home on Long Island, my mother cooked the food - seafood newburg, chicken marsala, and some amazing beef dish for 145 people - and at the end of the night the caterer requested the recipes.

Thank God, I inherited Mom's cooking gene. My husband and I lived in NYC for 13 years, with the typical windowless, galley kitchen. While I never really got excited about baking in it, I cooked up a storm five nights a week.

The culinary high point of those 13 years was a pre-Christmas dinner for eight - my husband and I plus my two best friends and their signficant others. Every year one of us would host the group to exchange gifts before the holidays, it was my year and I decided to go all out and cook a full meal instead of the usual cocktails. No one realized it was a full dinner until they asked what to bring, and the fellas were overjoyed by the prospect of red meat. I made a wonderful roast purchased at Tom's Meats along with baby green beans and an incredibly decadent scalloped potato recipe I got from Food and Wine. My husband picked out the wines and guests supplied dessert.

The food was simple but well prepared. Everything came out great, and as I served the meal one of the male guests looked adoringly at the his plate, then at me, then at group and then deapan pronounced, "I'm so turned on right now". Mission Accomplished!!

The evening was a joy from beginning to end. Even planning it was fun. The butchers at Tom's demanded to know how I planned to cook their pristine product, and when I told them, they gave enthusiastic approval. It was one of our first real dinner parties since getting married, and for me that night held the promise of many more wonderful nights to come.