Author: Scraps

Tuesday Reviews-Day | Vodka Distilled

Sips

vodka_distilled

I’ve found that when one is passionate about a subject and is, additionally, an avid reader, picking up a new book on the subject is akin to setting off on a great adventure.

At least, that’s what I used to think.

When I received a digital copy of Vodka Distilled: The Modern Mixologist on Vodka and Vodka Cocktails by Tony Abou-Ganim I was looking forward to really digging into it. Unfortunately, digging is what I felt like I was doing. The first 3 chapters are a bit of a slog, they read more like a 30-page term paper on the history and production of vodka–and suddenly I feel very sorry for mu high school English teacher and all those like her.

Thankfully, once the necessities were dispensed with, you could tell the rest of the book was the one the author really wanted to write. While there seemed to be a bit of confusion as to whether he was writing for the home enthusiast or the business-minded bartender when he discusses the cost benefits of fresh juices, etc. but the quotes and anecdotes that accompany the cocktail recipes and vodka profiles really make for enjoyable reading.

Though I do, as always, take exception to the habit of calling a Martini a cocktail if all it is is vodka stirred or shaken with some ice. That is not a cocktail, that is vodka on and off the rocks. Abou-Ganim does, at least, include the Vesper (that martini-like concoction popularized by Ian Fleming’s Bond in Casino Royale).

Not to downplay the writing any more than I already have–really, it becomes quite an enjoyable read after the aforementioned dry start–the real lasting strength of this book is in the gorgeous photography of Tim Turner. Each cocktail is beautiful captured and the author himself is quite charismatic in his shots.

Along with the cocktail recipes and vodka profiles that make up the bones of the book, there is a treatise on caviar as a companion to the clear, crisp spirit, along with detailed instructions on hosting a vodka tasting in your home.

Bottom line? Skip the first 3 chapters unless you, yourself, are writing a paper on vodka particulars and get straight to the good stuff. Study the vodka notes for the 50+ reviewed vodkas for your own edification and shopping notes and try out some of the recipes. But, by all means, don’t put it on the shelf. Leave this one out on your bar or coffee table open to admire the images within.

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I received a copy of Vodka Distilled for purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own.

38 Stones & Gems | Birthstones 101

64 Arts
image via the American Gem Trade Association

image via the American Gem Trade Association

Moving on from home decorating to decorating ourselves, it’s onward to the next art on this list:

38 Expert Knowledge of Stones and Gems

and going ahead and combining it with (because, really, why separate them?)

40 Valuing the Shape and Color of Stones

Despite the fact that I have serious issues with the way the word ‘expert’ is bandied about these days, let’s see what we can dig up about precious and semi-precious stones, starting with the first ones many of us likely encountered: out birthstones.

Matching stones with dates of birth (astrologically speaking, at least) goes back to biblical times, but the list we know as the birthstone guide only goes back to 1700’s Poland and was only set in stone–if you’ll pardon the pun–by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912. And while they don’t come right out and say it, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it wasn’t in an attempt to encourage more spending back in the day.

These poems were put out by the famous Tiffany & Co as early as 1870, though, so the practice of shopping by birthstone certainly isn’t new.

By her who in this month (January) is born
No gem save garnets should be worn;
They will ensure her constancy,
True friendship, and fidelity.

The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear.

Who in this world of ours their eyes
In March first open shall be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
And wear a bloodstone to their grave.

She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence, is known.

Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet flowery month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and happy wife.

Who comes with summer to this earth,
And owes to June her hour of birth,
With ring of agate on her hand
Can health, wealth, and long life command.

 The glowing ruby shall adorn,
Those who in July are born;
Then they’ll be exempt and free
From love’s doubts and anxiety.Wear a sardonyx or for thee,
No conjugal felicity;
The August-born without this stone,
`Tis said, must live unloved and lone.A maiden born when September leaves
Are rustling in September‘s breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind
`Twill cure diseases of the mind.

October‘s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.

Who first comes to this world below
With drear November‘s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz‘s amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

If cold December gave you birth,
The month of snow and ice and mirth,
Place on your hand a turquoise blue;
Success will bless whate’er you do.

Old ideas for old stones, yes? But it does give us an idea of the “powers” or features they used to ascribe to the bits of mineral elevated to the status of gems.

Some stones have received an update over the years. March is now more popularly aquamarine, for instance, June usually a pearl or moonstone, August to peridot, and blue topaz and tanzanite often sub in for December’s turquoise. And for the curious, sardonyx is a form of onyx with red bands instead of the black we’re more used to seeing.

I used to be quite excited about diamond as my birthstone, when I was still young enough not to realize how ghastly expensive they are! Now that I’m older and know more about why those shiny bits of carbon are so expensive (and the grief these inflated costs cause to so many for so little, really), I’m far less enamored of them these days, preferring the alternate stone of white sapphire if I had to wear one at all.

Still, a well-cut stone sparkling in the sunlight is certainly beautiful.

And those cuts and shapes are what give the stones their final worth. You’ve probably heard of the 4 C’s of diamond buying, and they apply more or less to other stones as well.

Cut, contrary to popular opinion, refers to the number of facets the finished stone has, not it’s shape. The more facets, the more surfaces there are for light to bounce around upon, and the more sparkle your jewelry displays.

Color, on the other hand, is exactly what it sounds like. Generally the less color in a diamond the better, though clever marketing has made even black diamonds more sought after these days. In gemstones that are not usually white/clear, the depth of color is more a personal preference.

Clarity sounds a lot like color, but really it has to do with the natural character (or defects) of the stone: inclusions (deviations within the stone itself) and blemishes (flaws on the outside of the gem). It really goes hand-in-hand with cut, above, and how the light bounces around the stone.

Finally, Carat is simply the size–by weight–of a stone. A single carat equals 200 milligrams  and each carat is measured in points. Since there are 100 points in a carat, then each point weighs 2 milligrams. This is what they mean when you see a cocktail ring with lots of smaller stones or a bracelet with oodles of chips in it described not in total carat weight but in points.

Not all gems are evaluated by the same criteria and with the same scrutiny of diamonds, but it’s good to know the basics at the very least.

It’s worth noting, too, that these days it’s not at all uncommon to see lab-created stones right next to their natural counterparts in a jeweler’s case and the one way you’d know it is by looking at the price tag. Fact is, lab-created stones are exactly the same as the natural ones they mimic, not mere stand-ins like cubic zirconia was/is for diamonds in costume jewelry, and might even be better in some respects as those inclusions and blemishes don’t happen in the lab the way they do in nature.

Both my engagement and wedding rings feature lab-created sapphires and I couldn’t be happier about it–I get all the sparkle without feeling guilty about how much they cost Todd.

What’s your opinion on birthstones?

Resources for Low-FODMAP Living

Nibbles

April is IBS Awareness Month and, as such, I though it would helpful to share the books and websites that have helped me so very much over the last few months.

My default reaction to a new idea or problem to solve is research. This used to mean hitting the library when I was in school and heading to the bookstore once I was a gainfully employed adult. Of course, the Internet is a fabulous resource, but you have to be able to weed out the truth from the fiction, tested theory from mere supposition. Respected authorities are still respected authorities, right?

image via Monash University

image via Monash University

Monash University, Dept of Gastroenterology These folks literally wrote the book on FODMAPs and are continuing to test and evaluate more ingredients as time goes on to determine just what effects they have on our delicate digestive engines. They recently released an iPhone app that, from all accounts, is quite helpful to its users. I can’t speak to it, personally, as I’m still waiting for the promised Android version (coming out soon, I hope). You can order their information booklet (link is to pdf order form) that goes over the basics of what FODMAPs are and how they can effect us, along with a handful of recipes to get your started. There are also some product information bits, but unless you’re in Australian those won’t help too very much. It doesn’t go into incredible depth on the subject as they believe (and not without good reason) that going through the low-FODMAP elimination diet and challenges should be  overseen by a qualified dietitian. But with FODMAPs stll relatively new in the US, it can be hard for those of us here to find someone who really knows about it and can guest you through the process.

image via the author's Facebook page

image via the author’s Facebook page

Which leads us to IBS: Free at Last! by Patsy Catsos. Catsos is a registered dietitian in Maine who is a great champion of the low-FODMAP diet for IBS sufferers. If you can’t find a local dietitian to work with, Catsos’ book is the next best thing and can gives very detailed information on what FODMAPs are, how they (can) effect us, and how to systematically remove the known high-FODMAP food sources from our diets and gradually test them through specific challenges. Catsos writes in a very approachable style, but also includes a chapter that goes into the nitty-gritty scientific details for those who want to go more in-depth. There’s an extensive Q&A section (in my Kindle version they were actually linked at the end of each chapter, which was pretty convenient) and a couple of recipes for basic bits.

One thing that I really found useful–and this is the only place I’ve found it put so plainly–was the explanation of just why High Fructose Corn Syrup is such a questionable ingredient. Yes, it’s true that HFCS is a combination of glucose and fructose (the “same” as table sugar, according the HFCS lobby, right?), table sugar is always 50/50 fructose and glucose, the glucose making the fructose easily digested by bodies with IBS. HFCS, on the other hand, can come in various ratios, three of which are the most common: 45% fructose/55% glucose, 55%fructose/45% glucose, and 90% fructose/10% glucose; and there’s no knowing which one the manufacturer is using. Fructose that’s not “balanced” by equal amounts of glucose are a problem for many IBS sufferers. I can this the free-range fructose problem 🙂

Catsos maintains both a website and facebook page to support her book and is very good about responding to questions on both.

image via Kate Scarlata

image via Kate Scarlata

Kate Scarlata is a Boston-based dietitian who is another proponent for the low-FODMAP diet. It was her guest post on Fooducate that started this whole journey for me. The author of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Well with IBS (I have not read this one, yet, but understand that it has a chapter on FODMAPs, but it’s not the main focus). Her blog, however, is a great source for inventive recipes that are frequently low-FODMAP friendly. Her Homemade BBQ Sauce is really tasty and even includes finely-grated carrots for a bit of extra vegetables. I used it to make BBQ Chicken Pizza one night and it was a big hit.

The easiest way to adjust to a low-FODMAP lifestyle is to cook most of your meals at home. If you’re already comfortable in the kitchen, this isn’t such a big change, but if you previously depended on a host of pre-made convenience foods or eat out for most of your meals, this can be a big adjustment. Finding good sources for recipes, then, is paramount.

Which is why I’m happy to see that Scarlata has put together 2 pdf ebooks: Low FODMAP Cooking with Kate Scarlata and a 21 Day FODMAP Friendly Meal Plan. I have purchased these but have only glanced at them so far. Still, they look like good resources, especially for Todd when he needs ideas when it’s his week to cook.

image via pilcookbooks.com

image via pilcookbooks.com

Finally, on the book front at least, I picked up a copy of this 3-in-1 Gluten Free Cookbook at Homegoods just before the holidays. Since it was an overstock-style store it was only $8 and I figured it was a low-risk investment in the event I didn’t need to continue wheat-free after the Elimination Phase, but would give me some pointers in the mean time.

Turned out to be the best $8 I’ve spent in a while! The cookies and cake I made over the holidays were well-received by my family and Todd and I continue to cook out of the book for dinner ideas. Because the focus is one gluten-free cooking, there are still plenty of recipes that won’t work for low-FODMAP living, but the bread and dessert chapters really are huge helps.

Of course, once I was out of research mode and into the day-to-day, I needed to stay on top of what was going on and the best way I’ve found to do that is by banding together with others of the same purpose. There’s a Low-FODMAP for Foodies facebook group that works both for inspiration and support, and a Pinterest board of Low-FODMAP Products and Recipes created by a fellow member of that group.

Then there are three recipe blogs I follow that focus on FODMAP or similar issues:

Granted, not all of the recipes available on those sites (or any other, for that matter) will be perfect for every IBS patient that responds well to a low-FODMAP lifestyle because everyone’s individual tolerances are different. It’s perfectly possible to be sensitive to only one or two of the five FODMAP groups or (like me) to be sensitive to all of them. It’s also possible, over time, to increase tolerance to certain foods over time.

It’s also entirely possible to be in that 25% or so of IBS sufferers that do not respond to a low-FODMAP lifestyle, which can be incredibly frustrating.

Products and tactics for eating out (fast food and fine dining, both) deserve their own posts in due time. For now, I think this is a pretty good start, don’t you?

5 Tips to Perfect Thank You Cards

Third Time Wife, Wedding Planning

Most of our mail is a casual affair these days with email and text messaging taking over the day-to-day communications. While I see the practical side of things like email invitations and online RSVP cards, I just can’t help but think how cool it is to get something other than bills and junk mail in the mailbox on any given day. Thank you cards might just be the last vestige of hope when it comes to retaining the beauty that is the hand-written card, so let’s go over some best practices.

1. Thank yous are easier to write the closer to the event.

This goes along with the idea that almost anything is easier to do if we just get started–putting it off never made it any easier. While I won’t go so far as to suggest you take your thank you cards on your honeymoon (though some industrious brides have done just that), setting time aside just after your bridal shower is certainly not a bad idea. If you’ve got a few waiting-room sessions in your future (the DMV, Social Security, and other name-change offices) bring the cards along and be productive when and where you can. This might be one of the reasons etiquette dictates 2-3 months as an acceptable timeline for getting those cards out.

2. A thank you is more personal if it’s handwritten.

Which usually means that the partner with the best handwriting gets the task. While it’s fine to have a sweet sentiment printed inside the card you choose or design, make sure there’s still room for a nice note somewhere on the card.

3. To make it easier to get the cards written, keep all the supplies in one (portable) place.

Cards, envelopes, a couple of pens (in case one runs out), stamps, and any envelope seals or stickers that you’re using can easily fit into a cigar box or other small enclosure. Decorate it if it makes you feel better, but keeping your act together will make the whole process much more enjoyable.

And a happy writer is a productive writer!

4. Be formal where necessary, be familiar when possible.

When you start your card with Dear So-and-so, the way you address the giver depends on your relationship. Your husband’s boss’s wife whom you’ve only just met at the engagement part? Mrs. Bossman is probably the way to go. But that family friend that you’ve always referred to as Uncle Bob (even if there’s no blood or marriage relation in place), go ahead and start with Dear Uncle Bob, since that’s the way you’d address them in person.

5. Keep things simple, but make it personal.

A thank you note can easily be just three lines

  • The initial thank-you stating the event you saw them at and/or the gift they gave you.
  • A short sentence about how you think you’ll use the gift.
  • The repeat of thanks to close the note with sincerity.

So, really, a thank you card could read

Dear Aunt Jo,

It was wonderful of you to make the trip out to the coast for our wedding. The place setting and glassware will look lovely on our holiday table. Thank you for always being there for us kids,

With Love,

Pete and Josie

Of course, you can always include something sweet that happened at the event and anything else you want, but that depends mostly on how many cards you have to write and how much time you’re willing to spend on them.

Cash gifts require a bit more creativity, but a message like “thank you for your generous gift, it will certainly come in handy while we get settled into our new home” will certainly get the point across. If you’ve gone the honeymoon registry path, telling them about the trip is another way to word a thank-you.

Alright, now, no excuses!

Achievement Unlocked: Guest “Book”

Third Time Wife, Wedding Planning

With so many options out there for creative guest books, it’s easy to fall into option overload and not be able to decide. This is where having a theme or over-riding idea can really help narrow the options to the ones that really drive that home.

In our case, I was looking for something easy to sign and collect that suited our vineyard theme. It’s not exactly a big leap to corks, now is it?

Recycled Corks, image via Amazon.com

Recycled Corks, image via Amazon.com

Depending on the size of your wedding, your drinking habits (and those of your friends and family), and how much time you’ve got it’s not unreasonable to collect all the corks yourself. Of course, as the wine industry goes to synthetic corks and screw-top bottles for various reasons, that might get a little tougher, so lucky for us that plenty of places sell both used and unused corks.

Now, having crafted with corks before, it might be easier for folks to sign fresh corks as opposed to used ones that might be brittle or uneven in shape. We’ve got quite a collection already going but there’s also a homebrew shop just down the road that sells fresh corks by the bag-full for not very much cash. That’s good no matter how you slice it.

Corks on their own will roll around if not corralled, so the next decision was how to hold them–both before and after signing.

For before a bowl or vase with a large opening works best, allowing for people to easily reach in and grab one without too much fuss. Several years ago I was gifted a lovely Block Tulip Garden crystal vase that I think will fit the bill nicely.

image via Winestuff.com

image via Winestuff.com

Once signed, the corks will go into this wire cork cage shaped like a wine bottle. Mr. Road Trip actually gifted me (us) this for our first engaged Christmas so it’s been sitting patiently in its box for over a year, now, waiting for it’s day in the spotlight.  Add a couple of fine-point permanent markers (possibly painted or beribboned to dress it up a bit) and a sign and you’ve got our guest book.

We could just leave the corks in their cage and set the whole kit and kaboodle on the mantle or some place and let it collect dust. Or we could use the signed corks to build a frame around one of our wedding photos in a shadowbox. In other words, I’ll have my wine-themed, semi-unique guest book and my displayable photo mat all at one go!

How did you solve your guest book dilemma?