Irish Lamb Stew, Cookies N Cream Cake, and Roasted Celery Root and Pear Puree

 I've been busy in the kitchen again and I'm feeling a much needed break will be coming on. Or at least I'm taking a break for today. I made all the things in the title- along with cinnamon rolls yesterday because I didn't want the icing ingredients to go to waste. 

So...here we go. Starting with Lamb Stew. I had my doubts about this recipe..just seemed too simple. And I was right. I'm not into it. I so badly wanted to add carrots and all kinds of things but I resisted because I really wanted to find out it if it would be good on its own. It was edible- but I wouldn't make this again. This is from the Unofficial Harry Potter cookbook which I am cooking right through. I'm not about 65% through the book. Only 35% more to cook through! 

Looks very meh....

Next up- a cookies n cream cake. I was craving one for a little while now. It came out OK. I think if I were to make this again I would use a chocolate cake base with a deeper chocolate flavor. I just used the Hershey's Chocolate cake recipe and freestyled the icing. I used a mix of butter, cream cheese, and mascarpone with crushed Oreos. I wish I took a picture of the inside. This was actually the second attempt. The first time I baked the cake I baked it for about two hours because I went to watch TV and complete forgot I was baking a cake. 😂😂😂 Whoops. The remake was a lot better though. 

And last up- Celery Root and Pear Puree. I thought this was the last puree in the Vitamix book but looking ahead- there are more. I almost skipped this recipe thinking Celery Root would be hard to find. But---apparently not. To my knowledge I have never had celery root. Had no idea celery even has roots. But I'm always down to branch out and try new vegetables. So I very loosely followed the recipe...and I really like it. It has an edge to it. Very flavorful- kinda spicy. Complex. And the added pear (I used canned) gave it enough sweetness. I still am not really 100% sure what to do with puree. I feel like they go best with fancy food- you know where they place a smidge on the plate and then small portions of whatever food. I just served with Salmon and Rice. It was surprisingly good. 

And that's all for this week! 

Beekman 1802 Pistachio and Dark Cherry Goat Milk Soap Review

 There aren't enough Pistachio scented things- I wish there were more candles, soaps, lotions etc in a Pistachio scent. Although I don't know if the scent can really be captured....but for some reason it appeals to me anyway. Which is pretty much why I bought this scent- this one was the most intriguing to me of all the soaps in the Beekman lineup. 

Beekman claims:

Make every bath or shower feel like dessert with this skin-loving bar soap!

Scented with notes of pistachio nougat, dark cherry, and sugar glacé—it's like a nutty delight with a cherry on top!

Our rich, creamy goat milk lather nourishes and hydrates the skin while cleansing, leaving it soft, smooth, and smelling absolutely delicious.

Benefits:

• Triple-milled to last even longer, extending all of the benefits of nourishing goat milk down to the very last lather
• Goat Milk boosts skin health with the same pH as human skin, and it’s rich in lactic acid, vitamins, and minerals to help renew and strengthen skin

Top: Toasted Almond, Sugar Glacé

Middle: Caramel Drizzles, Dark Cherry, Pistachio Nougat​

Base: Whipped Coconut, Bourbon Vanilla, Amber​

I haven't had much luck with the Beekman soaps I've tried so far. Of the ones I have tried the only other one I have liked was the Orange Blossom Honey. I think this is the 2nd best of the ones I have tried so far.

I watched the infomercial on this scent and they did mention Tom Ford Lost Cherry scent being the inspiration. I haven't smelled that scent so I don't know. This doesn't really smell particularly like any cherry or almond scents I know of. Sometimes it smells a bit like Hall's Cherry cough drops. And a bit like a Cherry Almond scent.With a light fruitiness to it. It's not a bad scent at all, enjoyable. But if they discontinued it tomorrow I don't think I would care much. It's one of those scents that was nice to try once, I will enjoy the bar until it's gone and then move onto something else.

The bar lasted quite awhile too...I got mine in the large 9 oz size. Which will last quite awhile. Probably would have lasted me a lot longer but I tend to use excessive amounts of soap. I love a lathery, bubbly shower with as many suds as I can get.

And it does lather pretty well, rinses clean, and doesn't dry my skin much. My skin is definitely soft and I do think the goat milk makes a difference to that. 

Ingredients:

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Cocoate and/or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Caprae Lac (Goat Milk), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Extract (Kukui Nut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Pentasodium Pentetate... and Kindness.

Overall, it's one of the better scents from the brand.

Lancome Cils Booster XL Lash Serum and Mascara Primer Review

 The other day I stumbled upon an AI movie...have you seen one of those? They are so weird, I was so horrified I almost could not look away. I didn't end up finishing the movie- my curiosity was satisfied. But it is really unsettling how AI is getting into everything. Probably the oddest thing I have seen people do is use AI to create a profile picture on their social media, then people comment it and compliment people  on the AI version of themselves. Makes me wonder about the people that do this. Such an odd thing to do. 

But back to the mascara.

Lancome claims:

Get plush, voluminous, strengthened lashes with a sweep of this innovative white mascara primer. Gliding on smoothly and evenly, each coat creates an even surface layer to maximize the results of your favorite mascara. With a conditioning formula for visible performance, this mascara primer is infused with micro-fibers, Vitamin B5, and Vitamin E so lashes appear longer and fuller. The revitalizing lash and mascara primer formula helps improve lash results, thickness, and curl over time.
White in color, Cils Booster XL leaves lashes feeling luxurious and soft, while allowing the pigment of your favorite mascara to stand out, thus creating an intense and rich false-lash look.

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW
Cils Booster XL takes your mascara one-step further. This creamy and conditioning multi-purpose formula not only lengthens and thickens lashes but can also be worn overnight as a “lash mask.” Simply apply on clean lashes to nourish and rejuvenate before bed.

I went from never having a mascara primer to wanting to always keep one on hand. I like to try different mascaras. It's very rare that I will repurchase because I want to try them all. Every now and then I happen upon a complete dud and I hate wasting so even if I hate it I will still try to use it up. Instead of having sad lashes for however long that tube lasts I have started using with a primer so boost up the effects of the dud mascara.

I bought this for a bargain off Amazon. I think it was $10.00. The only thing was it was backordered so I had to wait quite a long time to get it. Worth the wait though. Kinda wish I had ordered a few more.

It goes on really well and because it's white, you can really see exactly the difference when you apply. This really feels like a mascara that applies lengthening fibers on your lashes. The length is out of this world. I've never seen my lashes get so long with any other mascara. The volume is decent.

I like to let it dry then sometimes throw on another coat before adding whatever mascara I am using.

The only problem I have is that I lose some of the length after  I apply mascara on top.  They just don't stay looking as long as they were with initial application.

Also as it dries the white color tends to dry down too...so give it enough time and you might not even have to apply black on top.

I can definitely see myself purchasing again- especially if I find a good deal. I have the Clinique primer as a backup and I think after I finish that it will be back to the Lancome one for me.

Timex Social Club

 I had a few more songs by this group- but I just realized they were songs always skipped so we narrowed it down to keeping just one song- Rumors.

It's al little funky. Most  forgotten. But it's a banger.

Keeping this post short and sweet...so I can go and enjoy the rest of my Sunday. 

Bathorium Little Charlie Konjac Bathing Sponge

I ordered this not realizing it was meant for little kids. I just saw a bathing sponge and that it was made of konajc and into the cart it went. But now since I have it- may as well go ahead and use it...

Bathorium claims:

Hand-harvested and plant-based, the little charlie™ konjac sponge is crafted for delicate, sensitive skin. Made from 100% natural, biodegradable vegetable fibers, it provides a gentle daily cleanse that lifts impurities without stripping or irritation. Naturally antibacterial, it helps prevent the buildup of bacteria often found in traditional loofahs or synthetic sponges - making it a safer, cleaner choice for your little one’s skin.

Soft enough for newborns yet suitable for dry skin sensitivities like eczema-prone skin, this plastic-free, compostable sponge gently cleanses while offering a soothing, mindful bathing ritual.

Usually I stick with cotton washcloths. It's the eco friendly choice but once upon a time I was really into the plastic loofahs.

You know the ones:

I don't use those anymore because I try to eliminate using plastic where I can. So I haven't used one of those for years. These days there are so many alternatives- no need to use those. My go to will always be washcloths but the kojac sponges have me curious. I know they were trending a few years back. 

Mostly I see them for the face. So I saw this- didn't read the description and bought it. I don't know how they turn the plant into a bathing sponge- but I do love that it's plastic free and biodegradable. So it won't sit in a landfill forever more.

As a sponge it's pretty nice. Gets nice and sudsy- it can help stretch a bar of soap as you can use less to cover more. And it feels like bathing with a little cloud. The texture is so interesting. It is a little small- to be expected since it's for bathing babies/kids. But I can work with it. 

I like the really cute star shape. 

It's supposed to last 3-4 months. I'm not sure it will last that long, I've been using it almost a month and I can definitely tell it has some wear and tear. Nothing too bad. I can't see it lasting more than 2 months- but maybe.

Overall, I'm into it. Maybe I'll buy another one sometime down the line- it's not the most cost effective- at least compared to a washcloth. But if you already replace plastic loofah's this is definitely a more eco friendly alternative to those. 

I'm glad I branched out a little bit. 

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches and Ginger Beet Puree

 It's too soon for this type of post....butI'm ready to post it anyway so up it goes.

 I'll start with the beet puree because it's out of my comfort zone when cooking. Because what do you do with a puree? In the book they have served with some roasted Brussels sprouts but I feel like I have eaten more than my share of sprouts this year. So I just made some cabbage and lamb. It wasn't bad. I just still feel it's outside of what I am comfortable cooking. It wa good though...if you like beets and ginger you would like this. It reminds me of the beet juice my Mom seems to love making. I've also had more than my fair share of beet juice. Anyway...fun to try something new. I probably wouldn't make again because I'm just not that into purees. There is one more in the book that I am going to try and hopefully I don't have to make them anymore. 

Rice, beet puree with fried cabbage, and some lamb

And last up- BBQ chicken sandwiches. I didn't read the recipe so I kinda just did whatever. I thought they were supposed to be cooked in the crockpot so that's what I did. Then when it was done I shredded it up. I made a batch of burger buns to go with it- last couple of times I just bought the buns but I was in the mood to bake bread I guess. The buns were my fave part. I don't think I love these type of sandwiches but it wasn't bad. Just not something I would make again. It probably would be better if I made it like the recipe. I did make the coleslaw to go with and also made some quick frozen veggies. 

And that's all for this week...