Marinated BBQ Artichokes and Lancashire Hot Pot

 I feel like I've had an exhausting week in the kitchen...I haven't. But it sure feels that way. 

Hopefully this is a super short post.

Starting with artichokes. I've had spinach and artichoke dip. But nothing else with artichoke. This particular recipe took forever and I could not figure out what the instructions were telling me to do because I'm just not familiar with artichoke. And the vids didn't help. It take forever to boil the chokes, then it takes more time to make the marinade and dressing. And I didn't even use the dressing. Because i figured the whole thing was a bit pointless. I think I threw away the heart- which is supposed to be the best part. And I really don't know what part of the leaves you are supposed to eat. So I quite after marinading it and at as is. The marinade was bomb though.And the dressing was good even though I really freestyle most of it. I didn't grill it- I just figured I would quit while I was ahead. So I ate it with marinade on it. Feels like I wasted a lot of time and energy for very little result. So I probably won't be making anymore artichoke anytime soon or in the next few years.

This was it...I just made rice and quick BBQ chicken to go with.  

Then I grabbed my Unofficial Harry Potter book...I'm heavy into the hearty recipes. This is a Lancashire Hot Pot. Seemingly more well known than the previous Hot Pot I made. I almost used Chuck but decided to just go traditional and use lamb. I've made quite a few lamb dishes this year. This one was OK. I wanted the potatoes to be crispy but it won't be with the way the recipe was written. It wasn't bad. Very filling. I think there are better Lancashire Hot Pot recipes out there though...my favorite way to eat lamb is just seared chops. Wouldn't make it again---- but as always it was nice to try something new.

Doesn't look that great- but it is what it is! 

Pretty unexciting week for me. Maybe next week will be a bit more exciting....

Project Pan #52

 I've been sucked into the world of gaming. Again. The last couple of weeks I have been watching vids on all the different games/consoles. I watched people play a bit of games I grew up playing and felt all the nostalgia feels. I remember every time we would go over someone's house and they had kids, everyone would be in the room with the video games- I remember Street Fighter and Mortal Combat Games like it was yesterday. Also remember all the Mario games and especially the Donkey Kong games that I don't remember playing- maybe I watched my brother playing. Anyway, I've really been having a grand old time and I really feeling the urge to become a retro gamer and collect old consoles/games. Even though most games I would rather just watch. Except tonight. I am going to play some of my games for a few hours. 

But...let's get back to project pan. Which I've pretty much abandoned. I think I didn't want to do a post until I finished my face powder- but that thing just keeps living on. Even though it looks like such a small amount left in the pan- I feel like it multiplies or something. 

I finished 525 Market. I don't know if I took a picture of the pan. I don't see one so I guess not. This was wasy to pan...and I really do need to pick out another color to replace it.

I'll have to pick out the next shade to pan...although I haven't been panning any shadow lately. Wasted time. I'm gonna jump back into it though because I do want to finish a few more shadows. I'll probably choose a color by the next update.

Still working on using up my Laura Mercier Powder. I feel like I am getting so close and it refuses to use up. Although it's a nice powder, I'm a bit over it. I've been using it for years and just ready to reach for something new. 

And now the couple of things I added last time...

Bioderma Micellar Water- So close to being done with it. I really only have a tiny bit left. Should be gone by next update.

Eden's Garden Goodnight Essential Oil- I finally used up a roller ball of this. Just made another one. I rarely use it though...I'm gonna try and use a ton tonight though. I feel it works better when I use a ton. 

And lastly- ORS Color Blast in Dragon Fruit. Haven't touched it. But I have a long weekend and I am definitely going to grab it this weekend! I want some colorful hair! 

And that's all. A bit of a boring update. But an update nonetheless. I won't do my next update until I've used up something whether it be the powder or the Bioderma. If I pick a shade later...I'll come back and add it in.

Granado Jardim Real Bar Soap Review

Take me  to Brazil. I probably won't be getting to Brazil anytime in the next couple of years- so I guess trying their soaps is the next best thing? I bought this on sale a couple of months ago in a three pack. So this makes the 2nd one of the pack. I also bought another gift set that has two soaps in it...I just want to test them all. 

Granado claims:

Inspired by the lush gardens of 19th-century Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Real combines the citrus and effervescent freshness of bergamot and mandarin with the romantic delicacy of flowers, highlighting orange blossom as the star of the creation.

The creamy bar soap, made with 76% natural-origin ingredients, contains a plant-based formula enriched with vegetable glycerin, murumuru butter, and coconut oil, which help to hydrate and soften the skin while leaving it delicately scented.

First up, let's talk packaging. I don't think this is the normal packaging but it comes in a cute tin ornament that I will definitely be keeping to reuse for something. Not sure what. This one has a cute little fish on it. Then it comes wrapped pretty nicely. I like it. And bonus the packaging is super earth friendly.

The soap itself is nice. Looks like high end soap. Has the name embossed in it. 

It lathers well, rinses clean, doesn't dry my skin. In fact, my skin feels pretty soft.

But the scent. Not a fan. 

It had potential. It has some lovely floral notes, I can't pick them out but they aer definitely the scent of flowers. But not the same old, same old flowers. The floral notes in this are different. According to the scent notes it's supposed to be orange blossom, mandarin, and bergamot. I can definitely tell that there is citrus but I wouldn't have picked those. The floral notes are lovely and unique. But there is something off about it. It's a very loud floral. Not headache inducing but it has some punch to it. And for some reason the scent reminds me of port-a-potties. I'm not sure what notes is giving that association...and I tried to get past it...or overlook it. Or get used to it. But I really didn't enjoy whatever note that was.

Ingredients: 

 ELAEIS GUINEENSIS OIL (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) OIL), AQUA (WATER/EAU), COCOS NUCIFERA OIL (COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL) , SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, STEARIC ACID, PALMITIC ACID, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEED BUTTER, GLYCERIN, SORBITOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, MYRISTIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ETIDRONIC ACID, DISODIUM DISTYRYLBIPHENYL DISULFONATE, PEG-12, CELLULOSE GUM, TETRASODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHEROL, HEXAMETHYLINDANOPYRAN, TETRAMETHYL ACETYLOCTAHYDRONAPHTHALENES, BENZYL SALICYLATE, LINALYL ACETATE, CITRONELLOL, COUMARIN, POGOSTEMON CABLIN OIL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, AMYL SALICYLATE, TRIMETHYLCYCLOPENTENYL METHYLISOPENTENOL, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS FLOWER OIL, PINENE.

I did really like the first soap I tried from the brand..and I'm still excited to try more. But this one did not do it for me. 

 

Estee Lauder Youth Dew Eau De Parfum Review

 Got an oldie to review today. Although most of the older perfumes aren't my thing, I do enjoy trying them out. Youth Dew is an oriental perfume that launched in 1953. So it has definitely been around. I had never heard of it...but it does feel familiar. I think mainly because a lot the oldies really start to smell similar after awhile. 

Youth Dew claims: 

Youth-Dew by Estée Lauder is a Oriental Spicy fragrance for women. Youth-Dew was launched in 1953. The nose behind this fragrance is Josephine Catapano. Top notes are Spices, Aldehydes, Narcissus, Lavender, Coca-Cola, Orange, Peach and Bergamot; middle notes are Spicy Notes, Cloves, Cinnamon, Rose, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Lily-of-the-Valley, Cassia and Orchid; base notes are Incense, Tolu Balsam, Oakmoss, Peru Balsam, Patchouli, Amber, Vetiver, Vanilla and Musk.

Absolutely captivating, with opulent flowers, rich spices, precious woods. 

It has been called one of the sexiest fragrances ever created, and more than 50 years after it was launched it continues to entice with its sensual, yet timeless appeal.

THE INSPIRATION

"Women still like to feel beautiful, pampered and loved, And that is what Youth-Dew is all about."

-Estée Lauder, Founder

Estée Lauder wondered why women relied on the men in their lives to buy them perfume. And why they reserved fragrance only for special occasions. To change women's minds-and forever change the world of fragrance-Mrs. Lauder created Youth-Dew Bath Oil in 1953.

Captivating, rich and exceptionally lasting, women bought it for the bath, but, as Mrs. Lauder predicted, soon began wearing Youth-Dew as their fragrance as well. Because it was sold as a bath oil, not perfume, women felt free to enjoy and wear it every day. Instead of using Youth-Dew by the drop, women used it by the bottle. Men loved it too, saying it was "simply the sexiest fragrance ever."

Made in USA

It has all of the notes that I like- it has bergamot, spice, Vanilla, Patchouli, Amber. I think those are the notes that I pick up and really like...but there's also something to it that I really don't like. It has a similar scent to Tabu, Hermes Caleche, and Guerlain Shalimar. But there's something there that I don't like- especially when wearing it. Maybe it's a floral note of something? I'm not sure but it just makes it smell like an older perfume and I can't help but think it definitely smells like something that was popular a few decades ago. It also kinda reminds me of this old Tinkerbell perfume I picked up in the mid 90's from JC Penny. That was my first perfume and the scent of that is burned into my brain. 

I think of all the old perfumes I have tried that have a similar DNA to this  Guerlain Shalimar is my favorite.- it doesn't smell quite as "old". So of all the oldies with a similar DNA- Shalimar is my favorite. 

One interesting note I kept reading about is a Coca Cola note. If I'm thinking about it, I get it. But it's not the first thing that cross my mind and not something I really pick up when I smell it. 

It is a very heavy, intoxicating scent. I don't think this is one for everyone (not one I can wear). It can also be a little headache inducing if I wear it. 

I mostly smell that odd note when I tried to wear it. I have found the best way for me to enjoy is as a room spray. I get more of the powderiness to it that I love but none of the old floral notes. So that's probably how I'll use up the rest of the bottle. 

Speaking of the bottle- I love it! I think there are two different bottles. I saw the glass one in store and was going to get it until I saw this. I have never seen a bottle quite like this. I think it's Tiffany Blue? It look s vintage and I love that! Keeping the bottle forever...

One thing I usually like to do when I try out an old fragrance is look up celebs that supposedly wore it. According to the Googles- Madonna, Joan Crawford (This seems like a JC scent!), Gloria Swanson, and Janet Leigh

It's had many ads. I always love looking through them: 

Overall, I'm glad I gave it a try- but it isn't for me. It's not something I would ever wear out the house...but it does suit as a room spray and I'm happy to add the bottle to my collection. I also added the lotion to my collection when I thought it would be a hassle to get my hands on the perfume- review of that should be coming in the next few months.

Tina Turner

One more post for the day. Today we talk Tina Turner. I remember being so excited to listen to her discography- but then I found out that her music is just really not my cup of tea. At least most of her solo stuff. I think I liked more of her music under the Ike and Tina band. 

So I only have one song to share today. And of course it's What's Love Got To Do With It. Not my favorite look of hers but it's ICONIC. I'm so tempted to go do my hair like that for fun....

And of course- gotta have the live version..

I really should have a movie night and go watch What's Love Got To Do With It. I have never seen it somehow- but I know it's a classic.

Fennel and Apple Salad, Greek Chicken Wraps, and Blueberries and Cream Pie

 Yet another food post- I haven't been blogging. But I have been cooking. Usually after fighting through some extreme laziness. For the next couple weeks I think I have just going to cook one thing a day on my cooking days. I had just been doing too much and I'm going through a kinda burn out. 

Anyway...here is what I made this week...

Fennel "Salad"

I don't know what the name for this was. And I'm too lazy to grab the cookbook. I almost skipped this recipe because it seemed like it was doing too much. I'm glad I didn't skip it though. I have never used fennel or radishes in anything I've made...so it was nice to come across a recipe that uses them. It is a vitamix recipe and supposedly the vitamix is supposed to shred the veggies. And it didn't. So once I saw that it was blending it, I went with it and basically made a fennel, radish, apricot, apple smoothie. Or basically a puree. It didn't taste bad. Kinda like apple sauce with fennel. I think this would made an amazing juice..if I had a juicer.. It wasn't bad. Just not what I had intended. 

Also---I bought the apricots for this...and they were terrible. I have never had a good, fresh apricot. Do they exist? 

Next up- Greek Chicken Wraps...

 ..that I turned into flatbread. I wanted to make my own wraps but was too lazy to roll them out and cook them so I just spread it out like a pizza dough and applied all the toppings. This was really good! I made a small batch of hummus too since I had cooked chickpeas earlier in the week. This is like the perfect summer/sunny day dinner. So fresh!

Last up--- blueberries n cream pie. I ended up making a small one because I had a small pie crust I wanted to use up from the freezer. I would definitely make a larger one next time- I think it would bake up better. I think I might bake one when I go to the states that way I can share it with my family. Also..they have a fresh blueberries growing in the backyard that would be perfect for this.  I ate this one with vanilla ice cream...perfect pairing!

And that is all for this past week. Not a bad week for me.