juicy

I love pretty things that make my life easier.  I have fond memories of my family making fresh squeezed orange juice when I was younger  I remember them making it with a small glass juicer that involved slicing the orange in half and twisting the halved fruit on the juicer till all that was left was the hallowed out rind and sticky hands that smelled of oranges.  As an adult I have had a busy life with a strong desire to keep things simple and reduce the pack rat tendencies that I was raised with which means I have a lot less kitchen gadgetry than you would imagine a kitchenista should have.  

My kitchen is actually pretty basic knives, a grating tool, big fry pan, little fry pan, small pot, big pot, whisk (yup every time you see fresh made whipped cream I probably did that by hand) strainer, tea pot(s yes i got caught collecting.. it was an accident... I bought one, simultaneously got gifted one, got one that was supposed to be gifted out but found out they already had one then bought another at a charity auction.. hey, it was charity..) silverware and a couple grapefruit spoons (I used to have 7.. they are now down to 2.  I've decided this means that there must be a grapefruit spoon gremlin or the sock monster got bored and is experimenting.) and now.. I can officially say I have found another item to go in my kitchen that I won't feel guilty about owning.  It happened while window shopping at an antique shop (the difficult art of looking not buying).  An antique depression glass juicer.. I saw it and knew that it was coming home with me and I wasn't going to get to save money and just covet things from afar.     

 best $8.00 spent this year

Winter Warmer

Ingredients: 

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Water - 1/2 cup

Cinnamon - a pinch or so

Maple Syrup - sweet as you like it.. I used a tablespoon

Cayenne - a pinch or so depending on how spicey you like it

Booze of choice - about a shot or more if you need extra courage

Directions: 

Heat water and lemon juice with syrup and spices then add a shot of booze.  Drink and feel your body thaw.