rachel32's Profile

My fiance gave me this fantastic Smith and Hawken orchid cloche for my birthday and I was dubious about it when it arrived as it seemed HUGE, but I've had a cheap Ikea orchid in it since November and it not only survived but has put out new flowering stalks. It seems to keep the plant in a level of humidity it enjoys. I only water it infrequently, so it's a sort of a terrarium effect. So, $70 for the cloche and $14 for the orchid... seems like a good deal to me since it is a lot cheaper than the amount I might have spent on cut flowers in that time...

One thing to keep in mind when you take houseplants outside for the summer is to gradually acclimatize them to the sunshine if they are not used to it. Plants can get sunburn too!

I agree with Monika1 - Barbara Ehrenreich worked for one of these services in researching her book "Nickel and Dimed" and the exploitation was horrible. Also, their 'methods" were intentionally slapdash to minimize the time they spent in every house.

I have thought for a while that packet mixes of most kinds are not really convenient in the making, but actually are just a crutch for people who don't know how to cook, i.e. the recipe is on the box - they don't need to know what to put in anything while shopping, or think about or plan what they are going to make before going to the store.

Sorry, no scoop, but I'm disappointed to hear from AT that the Adams Morgan Teeter is actually not opening after all. I was really looking forward to having some local competition to give the very lacklustre Safeway a well deserved kick in the ass.

I agree with JenPDX that exploring different vegetables is a great way to enjoy being vegetarian. As a vegetarian for 10 years and a vegan for two I have to say that I have found vegan cookbooks by far the most innovative and interesting. My cooking and interest in food have really improved since switching to a completely plant-based diet. I eat a MUCH wider range of foods - new vegetables, a range of whole grains etc - than when I was vegetarian, when I was stuck in a pasta-and-dairy rut. Vegans are much more aware of nutrition, I think, and this seems to make them more prone to seek out a wide range of foods. I have loved eating this way and would recommend it to anyone concerned with animal welfare, their health and also needing a push into a more varied and interesting diet. I actually find it weird that people perceive veganism as a restrictive way of eating - when I cook for myself as a vegan I eat so much better than I ever have before.

I just recently found one of these - with the cross handle on the top - in red. One of my best thrifts ever!

The grill pan - to grill vegetables, served with whatever sauce I come up with for the saucier!