Savour's Profile

I make this strawberry meringue layer cake which is amazing - kind of like a pavlova on steroids. It's not particularly difficult to make or assemble, can be scaled up or down, and is DELICIOUS.
http://savour-fare.com/2011/06/21/swedish-midsummer-strawberry-meringue-layer-cake/

You might try to try sheet straps to pull the bunching under the mattress. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/HomeDeluxe-Deluxe-Sheet-Straps/dp/B002DN6COU

I'm happy with the results every time I use mine, but don't have a lot of ideas on how to use it. Still, last night I steamed artichokes in 10 minutes, which was awesome.

http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_Poster%20Hangers_10451_10001_53808

I agree that bagna cauda could be wonderful -- we always eat ours with radishes and radish greens.

Another option is to do a "relish tray" of roasted veggies/crudites -- brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli. Add some aioli for dipping.

Bedlinens first (last packed, first unpacked) and the coffee maker. Daughter's bedroom was early, too, to make it easier on her, then the kitchen (The kitchen is nice because all the furniture is built in -- everything has a place. There's no "hmm, we really need another bookshelf"). Plus it's a big accomplishment to unpack the kitchen, and kitchen stuff clearly goes in the kitchen (no livingroom vs. den discussions).

I'd also have to recommend Rittenhouse Rye -- at about $17-$20 a bottle, it's a great quality rye and makes a fantastic Manhattan.

I have edited my shopping so I can get 90% of it done at Trader Joes. The TJ's products that are on my regular shopping list that I would go to TJ's specifically to get (as opposed to things I buy because they're there, like flour) are:

Dairy:
Butter, Milk, Heavy Cream, Eggs (all much cheaper than anywhere else. Their HC is awesome, too), Greek Yogurt, Organic Baby Yogurt

Frozen:
Macaroni and cheese (seriously, their frozen mac is awesome)

Produce and Meats:
Nitrate Free Bacon
Nitrate Free Hot Dogs (I have a 2 year old)
Wild Nova Smoked Salmon
Wild Arugula
Southern Greens

Pantry Foods

Jarred Piquillo Peppers (even better than the roasted red)
Spanish or President's Choice Olive Oil
Orange Champagne Vinegar
Maple Syrup
Organic Ketchup (no HCFS)
TJ's Real Mayonnaise
Canned Beans (they're BPA Free)
Nuts and dried fruit (try the Trail mix with the macadamia nuts and Crystallized Ginger)
Sunflower Seed Butter
Raspberry Jam (it's better than Smucker's by a long shot)
Quick Cook Steel Cut Oatmeal
Organic Chicken Broth (it's a million miles better than the Whole Foods House Brand)
Tomato and Roasted Pepper Soup

Beverages:
Green Juice (the refrigerated kind with the fruit too -- it gets spinach into my toddler)
Sparkling Berry Flavored Water
Hansen's sodas
WINE

I love these! When I made Nanaimo Bars a couple weeks ago, I got around the Bird's issue by subbing in a Nutella frosting, but I just love the Olympics cookie cutter!

Makes you wonder if artichokes themselves are very sweet and we just can't taste it because of the cynarin.