Raindrops on Roses

 It’s Monday and over the last few years this dreaded day of most of the working world has become one of my favorite days of the week.  Since I began cooking professionally I have adapted to what I call a “restaurant week”. Wednesday is now my Monday and Sundays are my Fridays.  And although I attend church on Sunday morning, Monday is more of a Sabbath than anytime of the week.  Okay, well except for the part where I go to school on Monday nights, but a degree doesn’t just earn itself and I know that it won’t be forever. 

On my weekends I also like to a search the internet for interesting blogs.  Sometimes they’re food related but often they are just a strange hodge podge assortment of pages about crafts, clever writing, art, photography and sometimes hilarious kittens.  They’re like an odd collection of Russian stacking dolls.  Each strange page containing the link to another weird page and all of a sudden I’m reading a blog about Chinese circus cats. 

Inspired by a blog I discovered in this manner (A Beautiful Mess) I am enclosing a top 5 list of things I love (she often does this on Sunday) and this being mine…well, it’s only fitting. 

These are a few of my favorite things…. (right now).  

1.     Holga Cameras – An older camera that is actually pretty cheap to buy and it uses that thing they call film.  I think I still remember what that is.  Something about the simple and inconsistent structure of each Holga camera creates some very unique pictures. A new discovery for me and it’s on my list of things to get in 2010.

 
 
 

2.     Toasters.  Specifically, the new Magimix toaster sold at Williams Sonoma.  Okay, let’s face it, 90 percent of the time a toaster is simply on the counter to be, well, esthetically pleasing.  So it should be beautiful and practical.  This one fits the bill perfectly. It's also see thru so you can watch your toast...toasting. So what if it’s like $300, right?  Sigh, maybe I’ll wait for a clearance sale for this one.

 

3.     Rock sugar from Teavana.  Water sometimes tastes so blah and tea hot or cold just seems to hit the spot.  This German Rock Sugar from Teavana adds just a hint of sweetness, the crystals are unprocessed and have about half the calories of regular white sugar.  Equally awesome is the beautiful glass jar the sugar comes in.  I imagine it would look lovely sitting on the counter next to my Magimix toaster.  Okay, I have to say it (go ahead and cringe)…this rock sugar ROCKS!

 

4.     Bourbon.  Yeah, bourbon…the drink of refined gentlemen and southern ladies.  And with the Kentucky Derby this past weekend I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention mint juleps.  Here’s a lovely and light recipe from Epicurious.  This is more of a spritzer and is easy to swallow, even for those who typically shy away from such spirits.

 

5.     Lists.  I love lists, I love to write them, I love to check the items off and looking at the completed items with satisfaction.  Sometimes I put on already completed tasks on my list just to give me a head start…like “eat cereal”, “check facebook”.  Wow, I’ve already completed two things today, and then I cross them off and feel oh so productive.  But seriously, the world must depend on and revolve around lists.  Here’s a link to none other than a list about the top mobile and web based list making tools.