Sunday, April 22, 2012

http://xkcd.com/616/

It's pretty much like this.

Except now I have a credit card.

Granted, I've been using a debit/check card for ages now, so hopefully the habit of spending less then I earn will stick around, but we all know the horror stories.

It's a strange feeling, another small shock as a voice in my head says, "Yikes. I'm an adult now. When did this happen?" Or, at least, I am less of a child dependent on others and more dependent upon myself, my own good sense and reasoning. 

http://theoatmeal.com/pl/senior_year/economics


Friday, April 13, 2012

Kitchen gadget love

Well, I bit the bullet and got a mandoline. Oh. My. Gravy. Best twenty bucks I've ever spent!

So we don't usually do potato dishes around here, but now that I have a super slice-o-matic, believe you me I'll be making just about everything au gratin.
It begins with potatoes.
Of course I'm using potatoes--it's Passover and we have more than I know what to do with.

~snick snick snick~

A sharp blade is a wonderful thing. Much safer and easier to use than a dull one--don't let them fool you with cheap serrated blades. Those things from the dollar store may work for a little while, but eventually they rip and tear your food rather than slicing it neatly. Far better to spend the money on equipment that will last with good care.

Granted, the model I got was something very basic from a lower-end big box store (brought to you by the letter K), but there are 3 thinness settings and a nice plastic gripper to prevent you from flaying your hand on that last little bit of vegetable. In all, it works and I'm amazed. I sliced four spuds in about a minute, each as nice and thin as can be.
Refrigerator pickles are also on the list. Gosh. Home-made coleslaw and kimchee.
Bring it, summer. I'm ready.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

oh. my. wallet.

so I may have mentioned that my dude is Jewish. Well, it's that time of year again--clean out the fridge, toss anything leavened that'll go bad soon, and plan a week's worth of food.
Hi Passover.

I think so far this is the most we've spent on kosher-for-Passover food yet... that's what I get for wanting a pot roast. Yeah, it'll be dinner and at least a couple more lunches for the guy through the week, but any way you cut it, kosher meat is expensive.

The good news is multifold. Firstly, we already have a set of special cookware saved aside for this particular week of no leavened anything. I get paid soon. This only happens once a year. And I get to make all kinds of things that normally we don't have, like baked chicken, beef stir-fry, and the aforementioned pot roast. I don't think the guy has ever had pot roast. (Yes, his childhood was wanting in several departments.)
Addendum: it's not that we can't have these things during the rest of the year, it's that we eat milky most of the time and every so often have burgers or steak when we get a craving for meat. Fake meat works just as well for burritos or a quick sandwich, and it's cheaper.

For a more thorough explanation of kosher laws, check this out:
http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm

And Passover:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm