MyHomespunHome's Profile

Gin Rickeys! Only an hour and 10 minutes to go before it's 5 o'clock for real...

The Coverlist bit was funny because now I want to read the book pictured simply because I recognized the place that's pictured on the cover (a little town on the Ligurian coast in Italy). Helpfully, Beautiful Ruins also seems to have received excellent reviews :-) Adding it to my summer to-read list!

You know what it turns out is fantastic on the grill? Carrots. Holy crap. Slices into halves lengthwise or into big coins, they soften just enough on the outside, stay crunchy in the middle, and the sugar in the carrots carmelizes the outside. They're amazing.

My porch is mostly shade so I've pretty much stuck with lettuces. And not from seed--I was so excited when my seeds started sprouting, and they got about 2 inches tall before the squirrels got them three different times (I tell myself it was squirrels and not city rats). Oddly they didn't touch the more established lettuce plants I transplanted from the garden store.

The parsley and lemon balm I planted last year ended up getting very leggy, so I'm kind of out ideas for growing food in shade.

Safety Not Guaranteed was AMAZING. I was lucky enough to happen on it when it was in about 2 dozen theaters nationwide, and I wish it had gotten a wider release. Everyone I've told to watch it has loved it as well, and the ending is possibly the best thing ever.

I made a coconut pie twice recently and discovered this as well. The first time, I used unsweetened, as called for. The filling slightly separated into two layers--a flan-like bottom that transitioned into a fluffier, coconut-y top layer that looked really pretty when sliced and was nice texture-wise too.

Then I made it for my grandparents this past weekend, and could only find sweetened coconut at their grocery store. It was still good (and not too sweet, which I was worried about, as there is no sugar to adjust) but the coconut was chewier, the layers weren't as distinct, and the custard wasn't as smooth. Still good, but I definitely preferred the unsweetened version.

All of the people saying 45 minutes to an hour are making me feel much better about my timing. I so often see people say dinner only took 30 minutes or less (no thanks to Rachel Ray) and I can't even imagine that most of the time. The only meal I can make in under 15 minutes from the time I walk into the kitchen to the time I'm sitting at the table is a fried egg sandwich with whatever cheese and veggies I have in the fridge--not coincidentally my go-to dinner when I get home at 7:30 or 8.

Even salad takes me longer than 15 minutes to chop tomatoes, make dressing, etc.!

I just stick mine in the toaster :-) Only thing is to watch out for the steam trying to escape out the top when I pull them out!

First thing I noticed is that my dad has that same pasta maker and I've been trying to get him to send it to me for years. Also that bread looks amazing.

And hey! I've seen your cards at a bunch of stores, they're super cute. Love seeing fellow Chicagoans featured here!

Someone posted a picture of their kid (pants down but parts hidden) on their potty-training toilet the other day. I was pretty amazed at how many people "liked" it.