MaryWynn's Profile

I like to listen to the radio or play with my phone, but I don't always need to be distracted.

A meal alone is a moment of personal time. Sometimes I look out the window at my garden or other views, or pet a cat, or consider the comforts of home. In a restaurant, I like to watch others and make up stories about them, or just daydream. In either instance, I make a point of savoring my food. Food is amazing, why not enjoy it!

And I love to eat alone because it means I can make whatever the heck I want. Chocolate chip cookies are totally a legitimate dinner, right?

Silicone is not compost-friendly.

In general, paper products are water-intensive to produce so the argument that you're saving water probably isn't valid. In terms of environmental impact, there's also the packaging, transportation footprint, etc. You have to consider the entire supply chain of a product when making such a claim.

When roasting this way, I usually just soak the pan at the end of washing dishes and everything comes right off.

Woah, this is freaking genius. I'm totes doing this for my next fancy potluck!

That vid is hilarious @anniet, thanks for sharing.

As for the yuck-sayers, you're boring. If you don't want to try something new, this probably isn't the blog for you.

This could be an awesome planter too.

Minestrone. I used to make it as a way to use up bits & bobs, but now I sometimes intentionally make extra bits & bobs for it because it's so good. The key is to use really good leftover tomato sauce as your base.

Basically, sautee an onion or mirepoix, add plenty of crushed garlic, your favorite seasonings (I like bay and an Italian blend) and then a generous quantity of sauce. When it's bubbling, add a liquid (water is OK) and any of your uncooked vegetables, plus a parm rind if you have it. Simmer until the veg is tender, than add cooked (leftover) vegetables. Return to a simmer and add pastina. When the pastina is cooked, pull out the parmesan rind and serve with a grating of your fave hard cheese.

This one can be anywhere from meat-tacular to completely vegan depending on my mood and the contents of my fridge. Rendering pancetta as a first step adds amazing depth, putting butter in with the sauce is nice, using a meat sauce, etc. Never the same twice, always delicious.

What about the several excellent non-electric options out there? I love my immersion blender, but it does not yield the smoothest possible result. For that, you need to push it through a food mill or sieve. <3 my food mill, and we use it allll the time.

Though I've never tried it, several of my favorite cookbooks recommend a Chinoise or "China Hat" strainer for the silkiest of soups.

That jar lifter IS amazing!

Thanks for sharing this kitchen - it is just like most of the kitchens I've had, scary cabinets and all. It just shows to go ya that a hard-working kitchen is always full of joy and pleasure.

And thanks for showing the cookbook shelf. (Cook)bookshelves are often my fave part of these tours.

That space could have been a garden. Now it is a driveway. Thumbs down.

I hatehatehate most store tomato sauces. They're either too acidic or way too sweet, or have corn syrup in them which is an auto-no for me. Bad sauce is also my main problem with many pizzas. My husband's recipe, and his aunts, are awesome though. They have redeemed pizza for me.

I'm with the other canners though, you've got some crazy expensive canned tomatoes. We can our own from farmers-market "seconds," the ones that aren't pretty enough to sell to fussbudgets. It's about $5-$7 for enough to make 16-20 quarts. Next year we're going to make sauce from the tomatoes first and can that, in addition to the whole tomatoes I like to have.

I'm with Christine - some things don't go on sale often/ ever and are good "investments" for your pantry. I have a secret stash of cash for that miraculous day when I find cheapo pine nuts (this has never happened), and they are probably the #1 thing I would go for to the point of angering other shoppers.

Invest in high-quality low-moisture cheese like Parmesan/ Romano and the similar lovely Greek cheeses none of which I can spell.

Buy saffron. Buy outrageous teas, if you like tea. Dried mushrooms and nuts are also excellent suggestions. Chocolate. Get some really awesome dutch-process cocoa.

And be sure to try something new!