MindComet

Is Kitchen Equipment Really The Way to a Healthier You?

There are a lot of articles out this week in preparation for the “New Years Eve” Resolution phenomenon.  Most have to do with the classic resolutions of losing weight or increased exercise.  While reading,  I ran across an article that said your kitchen equipment has a lot to do with your health.  They recommend you have the following ten items on hand.

1.  A Blender - I do not have one of these, mainly because I don’t really like frozen cocktails.  I guess I could use it for other things (like smoothies)
2.  A Cookbook - I do not have this either.  I mainly use recipe engines online to get ideas and recipes.
3.  A Crockpot / Slow Cooker - Finally!  I do have this and I use it.  I make a mean barbecue pot roast!
4.  A Grill pan - I have this too and have never once used it.  I cannot figure out what to cook on it that won’t be a gross mess to clean up.
5.  A Kitchen Scale - I always thought that my measuring cup would do the trick here… I believe that if I have to weigh it, it’s too much trouble.
6.  9 Inch Dinner Plates - Thanks IKEA!  I have those too.  What am I now, 4 for 6?  67% isn’t bad!
7.  Nonstick Pans - Unless you’re getting professional grade cookware, isn’t it all non-stick now?
8.  Rice Cooker/Steamer - I do not have this and really do not see a reason to get it.  The article says it saves time.  You know what else saves time?  Minute Rice.
9.  Spices/Seasonings - I will admit, I don’t have as many of these as I should.  In fact, I had to substitute maple syrup for vanilla extract this cookie making season.
10. Subscription to a specific magazine - I will not give you the name but you can follow the article link if you want to find out.

Based on this list, my kitchen measures only at 50% health capacity.  Hmm… Maybe I will buy that blender after all.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 30, 2009

My Holiday Traditions - The Series (Part 3)

One of my favorite traditions, one I started on Cabooses’ first Christmas, is the Christmas Pajamas.  Every year, I buy matching pajamas for everyone in the family.  I’ve bought sock monkey, polar bear, red plaid, cartoon character, and gingerbread man pajamas, among others.  I wash all the pajamas in a special lavender wash so they’re soft and smelly and ready for unwrapping on Christmas eve.  We all go to sleep with our special matching pajamas and in the morning we’re fresh and ready for the Christmas festivities.  Pajamas might seem silly, but I still have all of mine and I remember the holidays they were bought for…  So I suggest you start your own silly tradition and run with it.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 10, 2009

My Holiday Traditions - The Series (Parts 1 and 2)

In this series, I am sharing the traditions and memories I have and observe during the holiday season.  As a kid, you grow up with the traditions of your family and those of your local area.  As an adult, you practice those same traditions and occasionally create new ones.  If for some reason, you move away from your family or hometown you begin to see how your traditions match up or differ with those of your new area. 

I grew up in Cincinnati as part of a German catholic family.  As a child, I would excitedly wait for the start of the Christmas holiday and eagerly embrace the traditions.  It would start with the Advent Calendar (You know, that December 1st count-down mechanism to Christmas.  Some were as simple as paper chains, others more elaborate like little houses with 25 opening windows each with a little present inside - Mine was a red and green construction paper chain.).  On my paper chain, I would always mark the 6th link, as “St. Nick Day”.  This was a big day.

The Feast of St. Nicholas was the way we delivered our Christmas lists to Santa.  On St. Nick eve, we would put our final Christmas wish lists in a stocking for St. Nick to collect.  (SIDEBAR - Let me elaborate on the “stocking”.  It was not the fancy holiday stockings they sell at Target or WalMart.  We used to use my fathers knee-length tube socks.  We elected to use these because, surprisingly, they held more “stuff”.)  We would then go dutifully to sleep and in the morning our lists would be gone and in their place were traditional presents.  Traditional presents consisted of; Apples, Oranges, Nuts, Chocolates, and a single small present.  To clarify, the nuts were not shelled.  We had to use the nutcracker to get to the nut, which was a lot of fun and probably a huge mess for my mother.

As an adult, I’ve brought the traditions of the Advent Calendar and the Feast of St. Nicholas to my son, Caboose.  His Advent Calendar is much nicer than mine.  He has a wooden Santa that slowly falls down a chimney.  He really likes puling the sticks and watching Santa fall.  As for St, Nick, we finalized his list on Sunday and now it’s patiently waiting for the December 5th pick-up.  Unlike when I was a child, Caboose doesn’t receive the traditional gifts.  Instead, he gets a few small toys and non-chocolate candy.  But he is as excited about it as I was as a child and I am hopeful that he will carry the tradition along.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Dec. 04, 2009

Attention Moms!

I usually do not do this, however I feel compelled as a parent.  I took my eight year old son, Caboose, to see Disney’s holiday animated movie and was completely underwhelmed and just a little appalled.  A Christmas Carol is a beloved holiday story by Charles Dickens that has been told many times and in many formats, as it is a wonderful story of redemption.  I will go on record and say that I love this story so much that I have seen countless versions (my favorite is Alastair Sims’ “Scrooge“), so I am extremely familiar with the story.  This latest rendition, Disney’s A Christmas Carol by Robert Zemeckis, is a crime against Dickens.  I am unsure where to start this little rant…. Oh, let’s start with Jim Carrey.

Zemeckis tried to recreate the Polar Express formula with A Christmas Carol, in that he used a single actor or “give life” to multiple characters in the film.  It worked with Polar Express because Tom Hanks is an extraordinary dramatic actor.  It did not work in A Christmas Carol because Jim Carrey is not an extraordinary dramatic actor.  Every character, with the exception of Ebenezer Scrooge, is an over-the-top, over-done, and ultimately irritating hallow imitation of Dicken’s original characters.  At no point did I feel compassion, empathy, or connection with any of the characters.  The redemption of the character and the moral of the story didn’t reach me (or anyone else) as the focus of this movie was action.  Zemeckis tried to turn a dramatic masterpiece into a Michael Bay’esque blockbuster.  It’s an #EPICFAIL.

Ultimately, I am unsure who this movie is for…. Not for young holiday movie viewers (as it is way too intense) and not Dicken’s fans.  I am searching very hard to figure out who this movie was supposed to target?  This is just one Mother’s opinion, but I like my holiday animated movies to be tender, heart-warming, and fun.  Disney’s A Christmas Carol was none of these.  Don’t waste your holiday time or holiday money on this offering.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Nov. 12, 2009

Daylight Savings Time and You

Usually, I am not one to complain about extra sleep (this time in the form of DLST), but Caboose (my eight year old son) just isn’t getting with the program.  On Sunday morning, he woke at his usual 6:00a, but thanks to the end of DLST that was a not-so-sweet 5:00a.  Monday morning was worse, as he was up and chipper (by chipper I really mean LOUD) at 4:50a.  So instead of slowly moving toward the correct time, he is in fact moving in the opposite direction.  I found an article that lists coping tips.  I was planning on trying these, but frankly they are all geared toward adults.  Caboose doesn’t drive, doesn’t drink stimulants, doesn’t sleep in, and really isn’t the one stressed out about his sleeping habits.  I think my only hope is employ the strategy that I used when he was a baby…. Sleep when he sleeps, wake up when he wakes up.  Oh boy.  4:40a here I come!

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Nov. 05, 2009

Halloween, You’ve Always Been My Favorite

I have always been in love with Halloween.  As a kid, I could not wait to pick-out a costume and wear it around the neighborhood with my brother and sisters.  I’ve had quite a selection of costumes over the years, as that has been the one thing that has never changed.  I still love to dress up in Halloween costumes.  This year I had a dilemma, as I had prepared to wear a bumblebee costume (notice, I did not say “Slutty Bumblebee”).  This costume is large, heavy and round like an actual bumblebee.  When Caboose tried on my costume, it covered almost his entire body and when he shook his very hidden back-side and say “Does this make my butt look fat?“.  The dilemma this year, however, is that it will be close to 90 degrees and wearing a furry heavy costume is less than enticing.

Last year, I made up a costume (I usually buy) and it was a horrible failure.  I was told that it was too obscure and no one got it.  It really stinks when you have to continuously explain your costume and the only response you get is a look that says “Man, you are odd!“.  Let’s play a game.  I will describe my costume to you and see if you can guess who/what I was…. Ready?

I wore a black dress.  I had silver buttons running down my back and I had a “Mary” name tag sticker on.

Last year’s failure is one of the main reasons I am clinging to the bumblebee outfit so tenaciously.  Everyone should be able to recognize a bumblebee when they see one.  Hopefully. 

Because I love lists, I am going to give you a run down of my Halloween costume history.  Here we go; Bumblebee, Miss Mary Mack (that’s the answer), A Best Buy Employee, A Giant Referee (it had a hoop around the middle so I looked like a ball), Miss Trailer Park 2005, Snow White, Snow White again, and the list goes on.  I encourage everyone to loose their inhibitions, dress up as something fun, and get your Halloween on!!

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Oct. 29, 2009

I Just Can’t Have Nice Things Anymore

As I continue to settle into my new home, I find that my budget allows for me to buy one new home accessory a month.  Even with the budgetary allotment, I never seem to have enough money for sweet paintings like this anymore.  Is it because I have a child, all my extra money goes to the purchase of Bionicles and Xbox 360 games?  I am unsure.  All I know is that they don’t paintings like this in IKEA.

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Posted by Jennifer Carey on Oct. 19, 2009