Favorite Gadget Series - 3

It's time for another "Oldmarrieds favorite kitchen gadgets!" Ok, really, it's just time a for a new post!

Today's gadget is a mighty fine tool called a garlic press.


Mmmmmmm, fresh garlic

I can't quite remember where I first saw a garlic press used, most likely on a Food Network show, but I knew I had to have one. It may be considered a "uni-tasker" by the great Alton Brown, but man, it really saves me time in the kitchen.

Almost any time a recipe calls for "minced garlic" I pull out my handy garlic press. Simply pluck out a garlic clove from the garlic bulb, lightly smash with the side of knife to remove the paper skin and then plop into the press and viola! Minced garlic! Side note - be sure to press your garlic over the cooking vessel you prefer as you want all the tasty garlic juices to be in your cooking, not lost on a cutting board.

We bought our press at Ikea for the amazing price of $2.99. Sadly, you must pick up your own in store as they are not available for purchase online (hey, you just need to go to Ikea any way, it rocks! NC residents - Ikea Charlotte opens on February 18th at 9am, I'm not counting the hours or anything...). I would honestly have a hard time paying the $15+ I've seen them for at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Quick list of recent pregnancy cravings

I thought it might be fun to keep a running list of my most recent pregnancy cravings and if they've been fulfilled. My mind has been focused on food lately and I'm thankful I'm able to eat more normally again (the first 12ish weeks were rough!). In no particular order:

• Pickles - We ran out at home, must buy more (yes, I will admit to sipping a little pickle juice from the jar, yum!)
  
• Ice cream - Not with the pickles, but I love me some chocolate ice cream & milkshakes
  
• Sushi - I've abstained from the raw stuff since August, but I'm going to try my hardest to get some soon!
  
• Five Guys burgers - I had my first Five Guys burger about a month ago and have been craving them like mad since. Paul indulged me today by meeting me there for lunch, score!
  
• Chick-fil-a - since we're about a mile away from one at home, I've had this one often
  
• Citrus - I am loving oranges & grapefruits. We get our Broughton Band fruit this weekend!!!
  
• Turkey & Stuffing - Thank goodness Thanksgiving was last week, just in time!
  
• Mexican - Particularly from our local, not so good for you, place.
  

Every week brings a new craving!

Wait! Did I mention we're expecting on this blog? I don't think I have! See, I'm am blog-a-holic and post to a few, so in my pregnancy induced amnesia, I hadn't thought to bring it up here. So if you hadn't caught on, I'm pregnant and we're excited to be bringing 'oldmarried baby' into the world at the end of April in 2009!

Thanksgiving Success

Photos courtesy of my brother - Thanksgiving Day eats

Final turkey prep


Turkey going in the oven



The spread!


A full plate

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

This list is more of a reminder for me this week, but I wanted to share what we'll be eating this Thursday :)



Apps/Light lunch
Veggies/dip
Chips/Salsa
Hot Spinach/Artichoke dip
Pigs in blanket

Dinner
Herb Roasted Turkey breast (Barefoot Contessa recipe)
Turkey Gravy
Garlic Yukon gold potatoes (recipe)
Stuffing
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Potato Casserole (with marshmallows on top!)
Yellow squash Casserole (squash from mom & dad's summer garden)
Green Bean Casserole
Watergate Salad
Fresh yeast rolls

Desserts
Pumpkin Pie (recipe)
Pecan Pie
Fresh whipped cream
Flavored coffee

YUMMY! I can't wait until Thursday!

Holiday Eating Tips

I'm sure most everyone has seen this gem in an email at one time or another. However, I do think it needs repeating with the impending (eat-yourself-silly) holidays.



HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum
balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You
cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares
that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going
to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it.
Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk
or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a
sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to
control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is
to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the
buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plat e of food and that vat of
eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or
if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always
have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor
Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory & celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean,
have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the
party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.