Domestik Goddess
 You know it’s going to happen anyway. Before their little sugar-icing buttons have had time to set, at least one of those poor little gingerbread-man cookies is bound to lose his head. Or arm. Or leg.
If you don’t drop one on his head on his way from cookie sheet to cooling rack (my specialty), someone is going to sneak in and grab a quick bite.
So go ahead, go with the flow — make those gingerbread men as nature intended to begin with: Headless and/or partially dismembered.
Here are Fred’s ABC cookie cutters — where ABC stands for “Already Been Chewed.”
I think you’ll know how best to use them. No questions asked. Just, be sure to eat all the evidence.
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
Preventing an Electrical FireLast week, my cousin Roger's house caught fire. No one was home at the time, so fortunately no one was injured but m... Greenies Dog Treats - More InformationDog forums, blogs and and list-serves continue to be a-buzz with stories of dogs who have required serious and expensive... Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
Do you know about Alltop.com? It’s sort of a digital magazine rack serving up the “best of the best” news stories from across the Internet. Sounds impressive, no? All the cool kids hang out there — and now, it seems, you and I do too!
 Through some lucky oversight (or perhaps a computer melt-down somewhere?), Domestik Goddess has been tucked cosily into the Alltop Frugality page along with all your favourite penny-pinchers — like About.com Frugal Living and Uncommon Cents and Frugal Simplicity… well, you get the idea!
Fun With Frugality
This might be a good time for a quick word about what frugality is, as I see it:
Frugality is not about living mean and small. No, I love beautiful and foolish things as much as the next person (as regular readers will very well know!) and never could get my brain in gear for clipping coupons…
Frugality is about knowing the difference between want and need — and setting priorities for your life. It’s about “old-fashioned values” — if you’ll forgive a hackneyed phrase that only a politician can say with a straight face these days — and making the most of our own strengths and talents, lending a hand to neighbours, nesting at home, enjoying the moment, and recognizing that there’s more to a creative and fulfilling life than the figures on a paycheque.
We’re looking at some tough economic times ahead, folks, and really tough times for the environment, too. We can’t be out there frittering away our money and our resources like a sailor on shore leave. But that doesn’t mean your life has to be a grim and narrow round of drudgery — quite the opposite!
Frugality (actually, I prefer to think of it as being “thrifty,” it sounds so much softer) can be a lifestyle full of colour and creativity, if you put your imagination to work.
And that’s what Domestik Goddess is all about.
If you’re new here, stick around and you’ll see what we mean… And if you’re a regular and you can’t help feeling you’ve heard quite enough from me for one day, well, you know that’s cool, too. 
 Take a moment and check out frugality.alltop.com, if you like — and take a scope around there to see what else Alltop has to tempt your tastes. Major subjects are Work, Living, Culture, Interests, Tech, People, Good, News, Geos and Sports: and each one has lots of sub-topics to help you find the stuff you like.
Especially, don’t miss the Moms — they’re the ones who secretly rule Alltop, I suspect, along with the rest of the world!
- Keep Cozy with Corn
Yes, apparently there really is such a thing as a stove that burns corn. Seems this is actually one of those not-so-new ... - Give Memories to Mother
Making a few last-minute plans for Mother's Day on Sunday, I just came across a list of cheap-but-meaningful Mother's Da... - What, Me Frugal?
The experts say that money problems are the number one cause of fights in a marriage, more distructive to more relations...
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
Give Memories to MotherMaking a few last-minute plans for Mother's Day on Sunday, I just came across a list of cheap-but-meaningful Mother's Da... What, Me Frugal?The experts say that money problems are the number one cause of fights in a marriage, more distructive to more relations... Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
 Why send the kids out to collect Halloween treats in a tacky plastic pumpkin, when there are more attractive treat containers to be found — like these cheerful reusable buckets in felt or painted metal? Reusable and durable items means that you won’t be shelling out for new treat containers, year after year.
And when the kids get too old for trick-or-treating?
Get thrifty and recycle! Re-purpose the buckets as tabletop Halloween decorations, piled high with tiny gourds and autumn leaves, use them to hold the treats that you hand out to neighbourhood ghosties who come to your door, or even put it into play as an ice bucket at a grown-up Halloween party: just slip a plastic container inside to keep everything clean and dry.
 These two styles of Halloween buckets are both from The Contemporary Home.
Sadly, TCH only serves customers in the UK — but the rest of us can find crafty inspiration in the online shop, even if we can’t shop there!
Make Your Own Halloween Treat Buckets
What about decorating your own bucket with black and orange craft paints and a simple Halloween stencil of a bat or pumpkin or haunted house? Pick up a lightweight metal bucket for just a dollar or two in a discount department store — I see them most often near the vases and artificial flowers — or, for a bit more, your local hardware store or garden centre. Craft paints dry quickly, so you can paint the background first, then take a quick break for a cup of tea — and the bucket will be ready for its decorations.
Want to make your own felt treat buckets, inspired by those Halloween goodies at The Contemporary Home? A bit of trial-and-error with a piece of old newspaper will help you make a simple pattern and get the size of bucket you need. You’ll want to cut one long rectangle of felt to form the sides, a circle for the bottom, and a long skinny strip for the handle. (You might want to use a double layer, if the felt you’re working with is on the thin and flimsy side.) Put the pieces together with fabric glue, then do a quick decorative line of stitching around the seams for strength. Slip in the lid from a plastic container or a couple layers of sturdy cardboard to give shape to the bottom of the bucket.
Another option would be to recycle one of those ice-cream pails that have a handle, and simply cover it with colourful felt or a Halloween-themed fabric. If you use a fabric that will fray at the cut edges, either tuck in the edge and glue it down or leave an extra half-inch and pull out the cross-threads to fray it into a decorative fringe.
Finish off your Halloween treat bucket with seasonal decorations. Cut-out felt shapes of spiders, bats, or a jack-o-lantern bats (as shown), or use stencils and fabric paint. You might even embellish your artwork with bits of string and googley eyes… or customize the treat pails to match the kids’ Halloween costumes… the only limit is your imagination!
- Cool Dog Treats
Here's a dog-treat maker that I sure wish I'd found at the beginning of the summer, to give "my furry boys" a frozen ic... - Cool Fabric for Halloween Costume
While we're on the subject of Halloween, I've just come across a little treasure trove of creative ideas and advice on m... - Plastic Pails for a Penny-Pincher
Empty plastic pails are very likely to be "free for the picking-up" from your local bakery. We arrange to get some of th...
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
Cool Fabric for Halloween CostumeWhile we're on the subject of Halloween, I've just come across a little treasure trove of creative ideas and advice on m... Plastic Pails for a Penny-PincherEmpty plastic pails are very likely to be "free for the picking-up" from your local bakery. We arrange to get some of th... Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
Bored with the same-old-same-old supper? Food writer Chris Perrin is back with a new recipe, and a new ingredient to challenge our cooking comfort zones — not seitan this time, but the mysterious miso… Chris has a cook’s certification from the Kansas City Culinary Institute, is a columnist for BIAO Magazine and at many foodie websites, and is hard at work on a vegan cookbook.
Enjoy! Jen
 Yellow Miso
A lot of people ask me why I do not eat meat. I think they expect me to launch into a diatribe about how meat is murder and animal rights. No one ever expects me to reply “Because I love to cook.”
I cannot say I am unsympathetic to moderate animal righters, but at the same time there are so many other, equally valid reasons for adopting a veg*n diet: economic, environmental, and health reasons top this list, but I think my favorite still has to be how much I have learned about the art of cooking.
To this end, when I became vegan, one of the first things I did was make a list of new ingredients and started cooking with them. This list included things like tempeh (fermented soy beans), parsnips (which I had never had), celeriac (an Emeril favorite), and Durian (don’t, just don’t.)
So here is my challenge to you: Live the spirit of me (as a vegan) and try something new tonight. You can even cook meat! Although, if you really want to set yourself up for a challenge, try to cook a completely vegan meal. No milk, no cream, no butter, no eggsjust weeds and grass! Well, maybe some fruits or veggies.
The last time I went looking for a new ingredient, I ended up with a container of yellow miso, which looks approximately nothing like I thought it would and smells far worse than I could have imagined. Still, when cooked, it becomes mild, a little salty, a little sweet, but comfortingly earthy.
Try this dish, which uses eggplant and miso together. Serve over basmati rice for a satisfying meal.
Miso Eggplant Bowls
4 Japanese eggplant or one medium-sized eggplant, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, cut into 1 inch squares
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, cut into quarter thick slices
1 tablespoon of Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon of corn starch
6 tablespoons of vegetable broth
2 tablespoons of yellow miso
tablespoon of sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
If you have time, start by coating the eggplant in salt and letting it rest for an hour. This will pull out the some of the moisture and make it more firm. After an hour, use a paper towel to knock the salt off and pat the eggplant dry. Omit salt from the rest of the recipe.
Into a skillet over high heat, put the olive oil and the onions. Saut until they start to turn translucent. Add the carrot and saut for 2-3 minutes.
Put the eggplant into a bag with the rice wine and the cornstarch and shake to coat. The rice wine will add a little acid to the dish and help preserve the color of the eggplant’s skin. Add the eggplant to the dish and saut until soft all the way through, which can take 7-10 minutes.
Add the broth, the miso, and the sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens to your liking.
For more of what is going in Chris’ lunchbox, on his dinner table, and on his party menus, as well as thoughts on food and culture, food in the media, and even the occasional recipe featuring meat, check out Chris’ food blog, Blog Well Done.
- Cheesy Eggplant Bake
I love the rich aubergine colour and fat rounded curves of eggplant -- surely the most elegant and mysterious of vege... - Botanical Parchment Bowls
Sculpting with natural materials is, well, almost second nature to California artist Margaret Dorfman.
Her unique... - Storage Bowls
Every kitchen needs storage containers for leftovers. But do they need to be ugly? I think not!
Skip the tacky plas...
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
So here is my challenge to you: Live the spirit of me (as a vegan) and try something new tonight. You can even cook meat! Although, if you really want to set yourself up for a challenge, try to cook a completely vegan meal. No milk, no cream, no butter, no eggsjust weeds and grass! Well, maybe some fruits or veggies.
The last time I went looking for a new ingredient, I ended up with a container of yellow miso, which looks approximately nothing like I thought it would and smells far worse than I could have imagined. Still, when cooked, it becomes mild, a little salty, a little sweet, but comfortingly earthy.
Try this dish, which uses eggplant and miso together. Serve over basmati rice for a satisfying meal.
Miso Eggplant Bowls
4 Japanese eggplant or one medium-sized eggplant, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, cut into 1 inch squares
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, cut into quarter thick slices
1 tablespoon of Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon of corn starch
6 tablespoons of vegetable broth
2 tablespoons of yellow miso
tablespoon of sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
If you have time, start by coating the eggplant in salt and letting it rest for an hour. This will pull out the some of the moisture and make it more firm. After an hour, use a paper towel to knock the salt off and pat the eggplant dry. Omit salt from the rest of the recipe.
Into a skillet over high heat, put the olive oil and the onions. Saut until they start to turn translucent. Add the carrot and saut for 2-3 minutes.
Put the eggplant into a bag with the rice wine and the cornstarch and shake to coat. The rice wine will add a little acid to the dish and help preserve the color of the eggplant’s skin. Add the eggplant to the dish and saut until soft all the way through, which can take 7-10 minutes.
Add the broth, the miso, and the sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens to your liking.
For more of what is going in Chris’ lunchbox, on his dinner table, and on his party menus, as well as thoughts on food and culture, food in the media, and even the occasional recipe featuring meat, check out Chris’ food blog, Blog Well Done.
- Cheesy Eggplant Bake
I love the rich aubergine colour and fat rounded curves of eggplant -- surely the most elegant and mysterious of vege... - Botanical Parchment Bowls
Sculpting with natural materials is, well, almost second nature to California artist Margaret Dorfman.
Her unique... - Storage Bowls
Every kitchen needs storage containers for leftovers. But do they need to be ugly? I think not!
Skip the tacky plas...
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
 Serena Smith, glass artist of Oregon, caught my eye on Etsy with her gently rounded feminine figure beads, all earth mothers and goddesses, and floral beads that are tiny fantastical garden gems — but I think it was really the sinuous perwinkle-blue-tailed mermaid who made me an instant fan.
Serena’s been making beads since 1991, and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996 with a degree in glass. A member of the Oregon Glass Guild, International Society of Glass Beadmakers, Glass Art Society and Portland Bead Society, she is a self-supporting artist and craftsperson, “occasional teacher” of the fine craft of glass lampworking.
You can find images of Serena’s beads in several books and magazines, including the gorgeous1000 Glass Beads published by Lark Books — and you can find the artist herself at Serena J.A. Smith Designs. She sells her beads on Etsy at serena29.etsy.com.
- Mermaid in Glass
As mesmerizing as the play of sunbeams on ice, this graceful mermaid is one of my favourite pieces in the portfolio of g... - Roll-Your-Own Paper Bead Art
For a quick, cheap craft to keep kids busy or to save your butt when you've forgotten to get a birthday card... look no... - Two Bees (Beads) to Share
The bee on the left is one of my own honeybees. She lives in a nice white box in my yard and flies about visiting the f...
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
Roll-Your-Own Paper Bead Art For a quick, cheap craft to keep kids busy or to save your butt when you've forgotten to get a birthday card... look no... Two Bees (Beads) to Share The bee on the left is one of my own honeybees. She lives in a nice white box in my yard and flies about visiting the f... Hey, just wanted to say thanks for reading Domestik Goddess -- you know, when you could be doing the dishes, or writing to your Aunt Mabel, or something productive like that. Much appreciated!
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