Favorite Things: Williams Sonoma Nesting Bowls

One of my favorite stores is Williams Sonoma. I don't own many items from this place(my hubs says I'm tight because if it's not on sale, I usually don't buy it) but it's a favorite. Just one step into their store, fills your heart with the aroma of a cozy home. While registering at Williams Sonoma before I got married, I somehow overlooked these versatile mixing/nesting bowls. Luckily an aunt of B's felt we couldn't live without these, and she was right! I use these bowls almost every time I cook. These make the Favorite Things list my list because while they're not on sale, they're not expensive and they'll never go out of style because they're clear! Timeless.

This gift would be ideal for: someone who cooks, newlyweds, new home owners, practical gift giving, long distance gifting.

Cost: $38.00 + s&h if you're mailing it.

Favorite Things: Purse

This is a recent purchase of mine that I absolutely love! It's a great value and looks super cute for the holidays. I get compliments all the time with this purse from both women AND men!! It's versatile and can store a bunch of stuff. The two side "jean style" pockets are great for quick items like cell phone and keys. I use this for work, shopping, and running around town. The quality is amazing and is very durable. This purse has it all!

Kathy Van Zeeland Patent Triple Compartment Hobo

click on the pic to go straight to QVC!

This gift would be ideal for: Women with children, Busy career women on the go, stylish divas ;-). Ages 21-75 (may be too cumbersome for the frail older lady). This is a great long distance gift (QVC ships anywhere with a gift card inside and no prices displayed, optional). This purse is big but offers a lovely slouchy look that doesn't look like you're carrying around a suitcase. It's great for casual day or night. Not ideal for dressy night.

Colors: This cute thing comes in an array of colors to suit anyone's needs.

Cost: $76.92 + S&H QVC

Risa's Favorite Things!

Christmas or Hanukkah will be upon us before we can say "more eggnog or another macaroon please!" Until Christmas, I'll post a new "Favorite Thing" that could be a great gift for the Holidays. I'll try to cover several bases for different people, but I'll be honest, I'm not good at children's gifts.

If you're in a Reader, and you want to thumb through past Favorite Things, just click on the icon in the top right of my blog.

I hope you all enjoy My Favorite Things!

Product Review: Zip'n Steam

I'm not some granola cruncher, in fact I'm far from it, but I am one of those people who fear cooking in plastic (I feel like I'm going to get some sort of cancer or something when the plastic heats up and the molecules and plastic properties change). I'd rather cook my food in the oven or stove top via stainless steel or glass. Curiosity got the best of me while reading Abby's blog who raved about the Zip'n Steam bags. Who doesn't need a new way to make veggies easy to eat?My Review:

I used these tonight and steamed a little corn and peas with salt and old bay seasoning and it turned out great! It couldn't have been easier to eat veggies!

Easy Yummy Reduced Fat Alfredo Sauce

While I love Mexican food (I could eat queso dip for BL&D), I've always had a spot in my tummy for Alfredo Sauce. The bad side to it--it's enormous fat and calorie content! When B and I go to Olive Garden we order a side of it for our bread sticks and refer to it as our "lard boat." I never order the whole dish, it's just a gut bomb.

I came across this recipe and thought, "Hey, that looks like it'd be good." So I made a few modifications and came up with my version. It was divine!! Tons of flavor and yummy texture too. I love it with Dreamfield's Rotini.


Reduced Fat Alfredo Sauce
adapted from Our Best Bites

1/2 C skim milk
1/8 C reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 C fat free evaporated milk
1 Tbsp whole wheat pastry flour
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t dried basil
1/2 Tbsp butter
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 C Parmesan cheese

1. Toss the milk, cream cheese, flour, pepper, basil and salt in a large cup and process with an immersion blender (or regular blender). Process until smooth and set aside.
2. In a pan, melt butter on med heat and add garlic. Let the garlic saute for about 30 seconds, you don't want to burn it. It should be nice and bubbly.
3. Then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now. When it's nice and thick (it's almost as thick as a normal Alfredo sauce) remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, stir it up. Let stand for at least 5 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Add additional garlic powder to your taste.
4. Toss with your favorite cooked pasta and enjoy!

(I hate the flash on my food, I swear it's not cafeteria food)

I can't believe I wasn't being bad...until my second helping. Hey that's spinach salad on that plate so I consider that nutritious.

Sunday Brunch and Couch Shopping

For those of you who have some non-sporty husbands, let me fill you in. When one marries a sports fanatic, they become a widow--a football widow all fall! Most weekends, I spend cleaning, working out and shopping since I can't pull him away from the TV. Sunday was a different story, I actually got to spend time with B! After church, we went for brunch at Le Peep. B didn't want to go there at first because he thought it "sounded fruity". He lost the battle.

I ordered a yummy Cinnamon Roll Latte. One of the best lattes I've ever consumed! (Because I'm an addict, drugs on the side please.)

For my meal, I ordered the pumpkin stuffed french toast. It was even better this morning for leftover breakfast!

Brian got the Cinnamonster (and other food but I didn't capture it)...he's giving his monster look too!
After brunch we went to the only furniture store in Nebraska-- Nebraska Furniture Mart. FYI, this place makes all other furniture places go out of business because it's so big. We've had our current couch for a hefty 3 years and it's complete crap, and looks like crap too. Brian, with his geriatric ways, wants a recliner. I simply hate the look of recliners--so old fashioned. I want leather since it seems to last forever. So we're looking at leather recliner couches.

#1

...but in the color of the chair below.

#2

#3

which is your favorite?

Fabulous Pie Crust and a Cutie Pie

I decided to be nice to my co-workers and make my favorite Autumn Apple Pie to spice up a fun fall Friday. I think baking for people really makes them happy and brightens up a dreary day like it's been here lately in the Midwest.
After misplacing (I don't lose, I misplace things ;-) my pie crust recipe, I came across this one and it's divine. It has vodka in it!! Now that's my kind of pie crust. Don't worry goody goodies, it cooks out and ads no flavor. It just ads moisture without aiding in gluten formation. It rolled out beautifully! Please try and let me know how you like it.
Foolproof Pie Dough by Cooks Illustrated
- makes one 9-inch double-crust pie -

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons sugar (I added a smidgen more for sweetness)
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup cold vodka
1/4 cup cold water

Procedure
1. Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about 2 one-second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until homogeneous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour). Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.
2. Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Divide dough into two even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.

And now for the CUTIE PIE recipe:

Any Animal Shelter in the U.S.

Look at that sweet face!! This is the "Dukie stare down."

"Mommy, can I have a slice of pie please? I've been a good boy, I promise!!"