The cosmetics counter and traveller's tales.

It is possible to spend ungodly amount of money on cosmetics and toiletries.  One thing I like is the web sites that rate these items. They make it possible to avoid an expensive mistake.  Beauty Survival is one example.  I shop off and on at a discount mall which does have a cosmetics store selling Clinique, Estee Lauder and a few other brands.  Items are about 15-25% off.  There are a lot of "testers" open which helps.  I have also become a Walmart shopper and usually buy shampoo and other sundries there.   Sales at the local drugstore and an occasional purchase on the web round things out. 


If you find a lipstick, etc. that you absolutely love, buy in quantity because you never know when these items will be discontinued.  At the discount store, I will always take the empty lipstick tube and try to find a close match.  This works pretty well. 


We were in San Francisco last fall and I ran out of moisturizer.   There was a busy, cramped Walgreens across from the hotel, and I perused the shelves for a smallish size of moisturizer that did not cost and arm and a leg.  Found Aveeno, and you know what?  It's really good and I recently bought another bottle.  It's a fraction of the cost of some "name" brands.  I also like the Jergens product that promises you give you a slight tan.  Don't think it does, but I like it anyhow.   Both of these items come in small sizes that I like to use for travel.


My parents, bless them, who always traveled by car, carried a humongous cosmetics case with giant industrial sizes of hair spray, deodorant, etc. Huge bottles of shampoo.  Of course, now every motel has the sample sizes.  When I travel, I carry ziplop plastic baggies to tote these items home in.  They are nice to give to homeless shelters and even food banks.  Or use on your own if  you're staying in frugal places like Microtel.  I do like Microtel, because they operate on the theory that a travel needs a place for everything, and I find their rooms very convenient and the prices, too.  We are more likely to carry our breakfast or find a local cafe to pick up some local color. 


The Inn where we stayed in Nantucket actually had delicious blueberry muffins, obviously homemade, and good orange juice and decent coffee.  How often does that happen?   The Brant Point Inn.  Friendly people and we got a last minute suite for 4 that didn't quite break the bank.  

I have rambled a bit.  It is possible to save on cosmetics and breakfast but not Nantucket inns in August.   We go to the Cape for one weekend in the winter and stay cheaply which evens things out.  With the economy tanking again, the staycation will resurface.  So much to do in Boston in the summer that it's not really onerous, and with restaurant week you can even eat cheap(er).  


There is a sales tax holiday this weekend.  I may buy some catfood.  It has gone up and now even Walmart wants 54 cents a can. My diabetic cat needs certain flavors in one brand and dry food I can only get from the vet.  I love my kitties but they are a definite luxury.  The ginger cat has taken to sleeping on a leather ginger pillow.  He's relentless in seeking out luxurious spots for napping.   The down duvet, mostly.   Cats aren't dumb.  

Onward, 


The Cheeseparer

David Eyre's Pancake

David Eyre's "Hawaiian" Pancake 

A while back, the New York Times Food section asked readers for their all time favorite recipes.  The response was overwhelming, and this was one of the best.  We lived in Illinois at the time, but got the Sunday Times.  I made it immediately, as apparently did many others.  The next week, there came a retraction.  4 Tablespoons, not 8 of butter. The following week, more comments, mostly to the effect that 8 T. of butter was just fine, thank  you.  This is cheap to make but today for 4 people, I made three.  Two regular size, and a small half-size (2 T. of butter).  Please use real butter--stock up when it's on sale and freeze.  Freshly grated nutmeg is best, and for heaven's sake use an honest-to-god lemon, not store-bought lemon juice.  Yuck!  I just use  generous squeeze of lemon, and also, maybe somewhat less powdered sugar.  Experiment until you find the exact right proportion for your family.  Cast iron works best.  Flour, milk, and eggs.  What could be simpler?  

Here is the link to the recipe and some of the history, etc.  Life is good.  David Eyre's Pancake

Easy Italian

I found a super-easy recipe for focaccia that is ready from start to finish in 2 hours.  My kind of bread.  Here is the link.  Tasty and Quick Focaccia   It's very forgiving.  The supermarket had "very quick" but not "instant" yeast, so I used that.    Also baked it at the wrong temperature.  I didn't have the cheese whatever or the pizza spice so I used about 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan and some "Florentine" seasoning from Penzeys.  Came out just fine.  Makes a lot but you will eat a lot.  Our entree was a pasta dish. 


Cook 8 oz of your favorite pasta.  While it is cooking. slice 4 garlic cloves thinly and put to simmer in a skillet with  2 T. olive oil.  When the garlic is golden, add 8 oz. cherry tomatoes and saute until just bursting.  When the pasta is done, drain and add to the skillet along with 1 T. chopped fresh basil.  Serve with parmesan cheese.  So good and fresh and if your garden is producing, you have a cheap meal.  Cheap does not have to mean processed food or flavorless.  Nope.  Not at all.  


The Cheeseparer