Bacon Spaghetti: A Recipe from the Great Depression

Made by my great grandmother during the Great Depression, this meal is easy to make, uses up odds and ends around the kitchen (the original recipe called for only a couple of rashers of bacon) and is very inexpensive. This is also one of those “better the next day” recipes, too, so make it ahead and enjoy later!

Bacon Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 large onion, diced (any but red will do)

2 (14.5 oz) cans of diced tomatoes

1lb bacon

1lb thin spaghetti (use whole wheat for a boost in whole grains, fiber and nutrients)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. Trim the fat from the ends of the slab of bacon. Cut the raw bacon into bite sized pieces. This is easier to do if you cut the rashers while they are still stuck together instead of trying to cut each individual slice. In a frying pan with deep sides and a lid, fry the pieces until cooked through, but not crisp. It should still be chewy. Remove the bacon to a paper towel to drain. Leave a tablespoon or two of bacon grease in the pan, discarding the rest (or save it for other recipes!).

2. Cook the diced onion in the same pan over medium-low heat until translucent. 

3. Add the diced tomatoes. Refill each can with water and add to the pan. This will help to create a sauce. Bring to a simmer.

4. Add the cooked bacon back into the pan.

5. Add the spaghetti, making sure it is completely covered with the liquid. Add a little more water if necessary, but it is not supposed to be watery. Just enough to cover the pasta. Cover the pan with a lid and let simmer until the pasta is cooked through to your taste (usually about 8-10 minutes, a little longer for whole wheat pasta). 

6. Serve hot and add salt and pepper to taste.

NOTE: This recipe can be tricky to get “just right” in terms of sauce and getting the bacon to the right “doneness” to your preference. It should work out if these instructions are followed, and then can be tweaked to your taste. DO NOT ADD TOO MUCH WATER! It will look like there is not enough in the pan, but push the pasta down (it will break and that is OK!) and just make sure there are no large areas exposed. It WILL work out! 

Overall Grade: A

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes

I am no professional baker, cook, chef, etc. But when I saw these adorable Chocolate Malt cupcakes on a blog I follow, I knew I HAD to try them. I made them for Father's Day as my grandfather absolutely loves chocolate malts. The maltier the better! I followed the recipe for the cake exactly. The only thing I did different with the frosting was to add more malted milk and sprinkle crushed malted milk balls to the tops of my cupcakes. I didn't have the gorgeous soda fountain style straws the original recipe showed, so I just cut some regular red and white striped plastic straws and used them instead.

I'll be honest: I wasn't that impressed with the cake. With ingredients like sour cream, whole milk and brown sugar I figured they were going to be nice, heavy, moist cake. I was certainly wrong. However, I will say this: I used jumbo cupcake tins and wrappers so I had to adjust the baking time (maybe I left them in too long?). Also, it was incredibly humid. I'm talking condensation-on-the-wood-floors-so-your-bare-feet-squeak humid. I think the humidity affected the frosting and the malted milk balls more than anything else, but it could have been a factor with the cake as well. I did like the fact that the cake was not too sweet. 

The frosting, on the other hand, was to die for. I had left over frosting when I was through with my cupcakes, so I put it into a plastic container and threw it in the fridge. I ended up using it on brownies (boxed, shh don't tell!) as a way of dressing them up. They were ridiculously good and the frosting came right back to life from being in the freezer.  

If I made these again, I'd use this recipe for perfect chocolate cupcakes, but I would add the malted milk powder to them. I wouldn't change a thing about the way I made the frosting! If you live in a hot, humid climate: beware! This is a very touchy recipe! I am not sure how it would work if there was air conditioning involved as we have not turned ours on yet. If you try it, let me know how it turns out! 

Product Review: Kiehl's Abyssine Cream

I am really excited to share a product discovery I recently made. If you’ve been following me, you know I have been searching for (and finally found!) my perfect tinted moisturizer. Next up on my To-Do list was to find a regular, untinted, high quality and naturally based skin cream. If I shower in the evening and I’m not going out, I don’t like to put my tinted moisturizer on. I don’t need it staining my pillowcases and, while the one I use, (Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint) is mineral based, I still don’t want to put more on just to go to bed. 

This cream by Kiehl’s, however, is perfect. The way it works is with abyssine: a molecule derived from algae that was discovered in the Galapagos, very deep in the ocean near hypothermal ocean vents. Abyssine has a unique self-protectant ability that also helps other organisms to survive in harsh environments. 

It helps your skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, fighting free-radicals to help delay future damage and the aging process. I am nearly 25 years old and while I don’t have any deeply set wrinkles or spots yet, it’s something that I think about. Particularly in the summer when the sun is so strong and damaging. You all know I can’t stand a super heavy cream that sits on top of my skin and that I am prone to breakouts and irritation. This product did not cause any skin problems and it soaked in nearly right away. However, it seemed to “stick around” (ie, did not leave me feeling parched 10 minutes later) but under the skin. It did not seem to have a noticeably strong fragrance, just a light, neutral scent.

I really can’t think of anything bad to say about this cream. I love a good bargain, but I won’t compromise when it comes to things I rub into my skin. Kiehl’s Abyssine Cream costs $48 for a 1.69oz pot and I think it’s worth every penny. 

Overall Rating: A+

Where to Buy: www.kiehls.com

Keeping Deer Out of the Garden

I have a problem. A four-legged, doe-eyed, white tailed problem. There is so much wildlife on the island I live on that it is nearly impossible to keep any sort of garden beyond evergreen shrubs and marigolds. I, however, am determined to keep my plants alive. I have quite a bit of variety in the gardens I tend from hostas and monarda, to roses and hydrangea, to impatiens and begonias. If you live in an area where deer are at all present, you'll know from your own experience that the little darlings will eat anything. They are particularly fond of hostas, which I imagine must be sort of like a fine, delicate lettuce to their palate.
I have heard of all sorts of hokey things people have done to try to keep deer out of their gardens and I'm fairly certain I have tried nearly all of them. I'll talk about some of the things I've tried, what works and what hasn't in this post. If you have deer in your area, but they aren't quite as dense as what I'm working with, some of the simpler remedies may work for you. However, when dealing with a captive, hungry audience such as these island deer, all the stops had to be pulled out (short of putting up an 8 foot high privacy fence or bringing guns and aggressive canines into the equation). Here's what I found:

1) "Human hair clippings sprinkled around your yard will keep deer out as they are skittish around human scent." If only it were that easy. Well, I'm here to tell you that once the deer-to-human ratio has reached a critical point, they no longer care who's around while they munch.

2) "Dispersing the urine/feces of large cats (wildcats, tigers, lions, etc) will keep the deer away as they will associate the smell with predators being nearby." This is one of the more obscure ones I have tried, but I did manage to get my hands on some processed tiger dung. Many local zoos are now selling the manure of their animals for fertilizing (or deer-repelling!) purposes. This turns waste material that would otherwise be thrown away into a way for the zoos to bring in extra funding to improve their habitats. It would make sense that a deer would be terrified of the scent of a lynx, for instance, and I will say that it works for a while. A short while. After some time passes and no danger has befallen them, they'll be right back where you don't want them - in your gardens!

3) "Motion-sensor lights at night will scare the deer off if they get too close." Not a chance. Just like the previous two, they'll get used to it (or won't be phased by it at all) and move in on your rose bushes.

4) "Hanging bars of Ivory/Dial/Irish Spring soap around your perimeter deter hungry deer from feasting on your flowers." This one gets mixed reviews. First of all, there is much debate over which brand works best (or if it even matters!) and whether or not the soap needs to be used first (to get the human scent on it). I have not had any luck with this method, however others in my area (though not on the island, so less captive a deer population) have had success. Apparently, Irish Spring was the winner and it did not need to be used first.

5) "Cut dryer sheets into strips and tie them around the plants you don't want the deer to eat." Ok, first off: I don't want the deer eating ANY of my plants unless it's a dandelion, violet or creeping charlie. Secondly, I don't really care of have bits of dryer sheets blowing all over the place. Third, I have heard absolutely no success stories with this method so I didn't even bother trying it myself.

6) "Use a repellent where the main ingredient is dried blood. Deer with think one of their buddies was attacked in the area and steer clear to avoid any lurking predators." DeerScram, Plantskyyd and other repellents using dried blood have been effective, even on the island. I have some people tell me that they've used such products for years and have had no problems since applying them to their gardens. But there have also been many others who claim that they had success for a while, but the deer wised up and came back.

7) "Deer hate onions and garlic. Hang fresh garlic around or try applying a repellent based of garlic to your property." The fresh garlic thing seems to work if your deer problem is less severe, however if you've got a major issue like me, the Liquid Fence seems to be working. It is the most foul smelling substance ever (rotten eggs + garlic) and I wear a mask, gloves and rubber boots when I apply it using a pump sprayer. I apply it to absolutely EVERYTHING - I want the smell all over and the taste (should they take a nibble) to be everywhere. I dry heave and feel nauseous for hours after applying - and don't even THINK about eating anything with garlic in it for a day or two. Be sure you shut all windows to your home, car, garage before spraying. But it works. I have had a lot of success with it as have my neighbors. But it is seriously nasty stuff.

Do you know of any off-the-wall deer repelling tricks or tips that might save me (and others) the misery of spraying Liquid Fence or other nasty smelling repellents?

Read about another blogger's struggle with deer in her garden.

Portion Control & Ingredient Monitoring

Photo Credit

No review this time, folks, but I do need to get something off my chest and I suppose it could fall under the "health/wellness/lifestyle" category.

I have been doing Weight Watchers since about Valentine's Day. My family and most friends know very well that I am doing it. My clothes are certainly fitting better, but I don't know how much I have lost as I do get on a scale. I know, I know this is one of the Cardinal Rules of WW: Thou shalt weigh thyself daily. I just can't do it. I get so frustrated and discouraged when I think I've done really well one week and I've lost nothing or worse - gained a pound.

In any event, those of you who are not familiar with the Weight Watcher's creed (I am referring to the Points+ program, not Classic), a condensed version might go a little something like this:

Weigh yourself every day.

Write down everything you eat.

Eat only high fiber, low fat, low carb, and moderate protein foods.

Have as many fruit and vegetables as you like.

That's about it. Very condensed and there are a myriad of other little rules, tips, tricks and cheats in there but that's the short of it. Now, as I've been going along in this, I've got a couple of gripes to share with you.

The Big Two are such: Weight Watchers does not encourage necessarily more healthy choices when it comes to food choices (particularly carbohydrates). Yes, fruit is a carbohydrate but I'm speaking specifically to the "grains" family here. For instance: 1 cup of artificial, processed, sugar-laden Waffle Crisp cereal is about half the points of 1/2 cup all natural, organic, whole grain granola. Now, I don't know about you all, but when I am on a volume restrictive diet, I go for quantity, not quality. If I can eat twice the volume of food for half the "cost" in Points, you bet your bottom dollar I'm going to go for that garbage kiddie cereal!

Secondly is the portion control bit of this whole charade. Ok, it's not a charade - I truly am trying to make this a lifestyle change, which perhaps makes me all the more annoyed at this next complaint. We all know that in America portion control is, well, OUT of control. Doing Weight Watchers forces you to be more aware of not just what you put in your mouth, but how much. On the positive: eating only 1 serving of food at a time not only allows the food to last longer in your home, but saves you money because you're not wasting it on buying more food, sooner!

However, in the season of BBQs, graduations and summer parties, this has been a bit of a challenge for me. I cannot control where a graduation dinner will be held or what someone will serve at their 40th birthday (fried chicken and potato salad, anyone?). But what I can say is that I have gotten the strangest looks from people when I endeavor to keep my portions under control. These looks have bordered from annoyed to concerned to angry: and now the comments have started rolling in. For instance, my family went out for my mom's birthday last week and I had half of my (giant) hamburger and half of the (enormous) crock of french onion soup I ordered. My cousin asks, "Are you done already? What's the matter? Is it not good? Do you not like it? What's wrong? Are you going to eat that?" Drilled like a criminal! I said, "No, it was very good. I'm full." Cue looks of concern/sympathy.

Just last night at another cousins graduation dinner at an Italian restaurant, I ordered the salad (dressing on the side, no bacon) and lasagna (and I promise, this was the most innocuous choice to be sure) much to the chagrin of yet another cousin. "What? No bacon? I'm so disappointed in you. You LOVE bacon. What's the deal with that?" When my salad came, sitting in a pool of heavy parmesan dressing, I ate about 1/3 of it. Again with the hawkeyed looks from family members as the waitress cleared my mostly full plate. Finally, when the lasagna arrived, each portion was - not exaggerating - enough to feed 4 people. I would venture to say that I ate about 1/5 of the massive hunk of goop. My grandmother, who is also dieting, was sitting next to me and leans over and says, "What's the matter? Don't you like it? You're looking a little pekid - do you feel sick?" I know this is bad, but I told her I had a headache and a stomach ache (true, from sheer graduation-day annoyances) but it got her to leave me alone and avoided funny looks.

I get the concern. I get that people don't like seeing others diet - it makes them uncomfortable, aware of their own excess; they think it's unnecessary because they don't believe person dieting is "overweight"; there are so many reasons. But I'm tired of hearing about it from everyone; I would like the sympathetic/concerned/angry/uncomfortable looks to stop.

Have any of you had experiences like this? What did you do to make it stop? Or how did you manage the aggravation while just letting it go?

Buying Health & Beauty Items on eBay

Alright, if you’re new to the idea of buying health or beauty items on eBay, this will be a good post for you. I have been burned a few times and had to learn the hard way the in's and out's of buying on eBay - particularly in the health & beauty arena. Now I’m going to share with you so you don’t make the same mistakes!

1. Check the expiration date. Ask the seller the approximate age of the item or when they purchased/received it. If it was over 3 months ago, I’d pass on the item. This is especially important with fragrances.
2. Find out how the item is being stored. Many of the sellers with the lowest prices are able to sell their items at such a discount because they have multiples of whatever it is they’re selling. If your item (especially if it is liquid like eyeliner, lotions or creams, fragrances or mascara) is being stored in a warehouse or where the temperature is not regulated, it could affect the performance of the product. In the case of fragrances, it will often make the perfume “turn” much faster and it won’t smell like it should.
3. Size matters! Many sellers on eBay try to be slick and sell sample or trial sized versions of high end beauty items. Beware! Check at Macy’s or where ever you normally buy your items from to see if the fragrance you want is actually a 0.33 oz bottle….Chances are, you’ll be looking for a large 3.4 oz bottle and mistakenly purchase a trial size. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the listing, ask the seller! 
4. Does anyone make real $#!+ anymore? But seriously, this is a huge issue on eBay. The company has cracked down on sellers listing counterfeit items, but no one can stop it all. I have had a seller swear that the fragrance they sold me was 100% authentic, but the bottle wasn’t even the same (I had an older bottle from Macy’s to compare it to). Unfortunately, you won’t know if your item is a fake until you receive it and open it, so make absolutely sure the seller you are buying from will accept returns of an open product. Save all the packaging for when you send it back.
5. Save correspondence. If you email a seller and ask a question, save all correspondence in case something should go awry and you need to cover yourself as far as getting money back, etc. 
6. Finally, if you find a seller you like, who has products you use at good prices and is honest and fair, stick with them. eBay’s website has an option where you can sort through sellers based on location. I prefer to buy from people on the US only (support my own home’s economy…plus faster/cheaper shipping) and I tend to stick to sellers I have purchased items from before. I also like when sellers use the “Buy It Now” option so I don’t have to worry about getting outbid and whatnot. However, you can sometimes save a few bucks going the auction route. Just don’t get sucked into the mindset of “It’s just one more dollar….” It adds up. Fast.

It’s really not super scary to buy (or sell!) on eBay and you can get some great deals. But you do need to keep your wits about you and know which questions to ask! Happy bidding! 

Book Review: Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano

This review is based on the first two books of the trilogy, Wither and Fever, as the third book is not yet published.

Synopsis (from Barnes & Noble): Wither

At age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years to live. Thanks to a botched effort to create a perfect race, all females live to age twenty, and males live to age twenty-five. While geneticists seek a miracle antidote, the world is crumbling: Orphans roam the streets, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and polygamy abounds.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to escape. But then her husband, Linden, exposes her to a world of wealth and decadence she never knew existed. Even if she can’t quite hate her husband, though, she knows to fear her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote and who may or may not be hoarding corpses in his basement lab. At the same time, Rhine is growing dangerously close to Gabriel, a house servant. Will she be able to escape the mansion—before her time runs out?

Fever

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but they’re still in danger. Outside, they find a world even more disquieting than the one they left behind.

Determined to get to Manhattan and find Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan, the two press forward, amid threats of being captured again…or worse.

The road they are on is long and perilous—and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and men die at age twenty-five, time is precious. In this sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price—now that she has more to lose than ever.

My Thoughts:

There are so many apocalyptic, future-demise books out there, but this was was different. Instead of featuring artificial intelligence gone wild or invaders from Planet Zorg, DeStefano presents a more probably scenario: human-induced biological failure. Both books are rife with murder, genetic testing, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual slavery and a myriad of other ethical concerns. The books are very fast paced page turners to be sure. The author paints a frighteningly vivid and plausible picture of the world Rhine and the other characters live in. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the third and final book in this trilogy. 

Hollywood, are you listening? This could be your next “Hunger Games”….

Final Word: A