5 Things I’m Loving Right Now

There are things I like and there are things I love. (I’m not talking about the obvious, like husband and kids and grandsons.) 

Right now there are a few things in my life that have I more than love. Truthfully, I’m a little obsessed with them. I know you’ll appreciate these as much as I do, because you have excellent taste. 

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1 – ‘THIS IS US’

Not gonna lie: I didn’t want to like this show. Because we don’t have cable and only watch shows we’re really interested in (Love you, Masterpiece Theater!) it’s a big deal for us to commit to watching a tv show. Enter ‘This is Us.’ I started seeing the fandom grow on my Facebook feed and a close friend suggested I give it a try, so I decided to take a chance. Holy WOW.

Now we’re super invested in the lives of the Pearsons. Don’t judge. If you haven’t already started watching and worrying about what to do about your Crockpot, I highly recommend this show. It’s written so well and the story arcs are all pretty compelling.  Milo Ventimiglia’s portrayal of Jack Pearson has almost (almost!) made me forget about Gilmore Girls.  Warning: have tissues handy.

Also, Jack and Rebecca should have just made Ropa Vieja in your Crockpot. Cuban food would have saved him from the fire and Tia Cuca would have unplugged it and thoroughly Cuban Cleaned® it. Ya tu sabes. 

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2 – JOULE SOUS VIDE

I received my Joule Sous Vide last year for Mother’s Day from my kids. At first, I was hesitant to use it. I wasn’t quite sure how this new (to me) method of cooking was even viable. It sounded like crazy-talk. 

“So you put your food in a freezer ziplock bag and the device heats up the water like a jacuzzi? It cooks everything precisely to your specifications and all you need to do to your meat is sear it?” It sounds so uncomplicated and reasonable, doesn’t it? The truth? It totally is! 

Wait. What? 

Explanation from the Joule Sous Vide website: With traditional cooking methods, heat flows from a burner to a pan then into our food, or the glowing elements of an oven heat the air around the food, cooking it. Because the air in the oven and the metal in the pan are much hotter than you want your food to be, you’ve got to take it away from the heat at just the right time. Take it off too early or too late and your food is either over- or undercooked. But when cooking with water, instead of an oven or a pan, we can raise the temperature just enough to get the food to the exact temperatures we prefer. We can take it out as soon as it’s done cooking, or let it rest in the water until we’re ready to eat—no more obsessively checking inside the oven, no more chaining yourself to the stove.

My first attempt at sous vide cooking was Eggs Benedict for a family brunch. (I know. What can I say? I can tend towards overachiever. Shut up.) Trust me, I know how weird the thing looks sticking out of the pot and the food in baggies and all that. But the finished product? Showstopper!

The absolute beauty of this hardworking little kitchen friend – I named mine Julia – is that the food is perfectly cooked to the internal temperature because you tell it how you’d like it done from your no-brainer app on your smart phone. There’s an app! With guides and directions. It’s so genius.

Every time I cook with my Joule, I feel like I invented fire. My food turns out so perfect. It comes out ready to hit my cast iron pan for the perfect sear. Can you feel the love here? 

I don’t think I can love it any more than I do. I may do a video showing you how it works, but Chef Steps is way ahead of me there. Watch. And love.

I want to tell the world about how much I love this little device. Check it out for yourself. And if you’ve thought about it, come talk to me. I will talk you into it. There’s so much to love here! (Full disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, so if  you click on the link below and choose to purchase, it’s credited to my amazon account.) 

If you have any questions on Sous Vide Cooking, please feel free to ask. I am always happy to talk with new converts. 

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3 – MAGNOLIA HEARTH & HAND™ FLUTED GLASS TUMBLER

Magnolia. I’m seriously obsessed with all things Chip and Joanna Gaines. (Don’t judge.) Last year Eric and I visited The Magnolia Market at the Silos and fell more deeply in love with their fun aesthetic. Seriously. 

Now Target has gotten into the act with an entire line of Joanna’s distinctive look. These glasses – from the Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia collection. Okay, “tumblers.’ I don’t know anyone who calls them ‘tumblers’ in real life, but that’s not important right now. 

I ordered a dozen of them immediately. Target, you’re seriously killing me here. (No, this is not a sponsored post. I wish!) They are so friendly and happy looking and they fit into your hand in such a pleasing way. 

They’re not full-sized water glasses – okay, they’re’ tumblers,’ (shut up) but they’re perfect.

Pretty and functional and they have an old school Cuban feel to them. Can you tell? LOVE. 

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4 – POSTRES CUBANOS (AKA – CUBAN DESSERTS)

I guess you could say this works on multiple levels. I love me some Cuban Desserts (Postres Cubanos) and I had a customer share that they’d love to see them all on a poster. 

Your wish is my command. Boom! Here’s the link to my Etsy shop: Cuban Desserts Poster

Inspired by my Cuban friends – with a little help from Porto’s Bakery. And voilá. I added this to my shop this week. I’m quite proud of it. And more than a little in love with it. Now I’m busy making a list of all my Cuban friends who need this in their life. 

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5 – SPOTIFY

Believe it or not, I’ve completely given away my entire CD collection. I know. Who am I?? Much of my old – and new – favorite music is completely available on all my devices with Spotify.com. (Again, this is not a sponsored post. This is all about love.) 

Also, it’s 2018. I, personally listen to music on a computer or on my Echo (using Alexa) or on my smart phone. The monthly fee is so worth it to me to have access to ALL THE MUSIC IN THE HISTORY OF EVER WITH NO COMMERCIALS. I would spend so much more on music left to my own devices. So for me and my family (we have the $14.99 a month family plan) – worth it. 

I especially love, love, LOVE it for parties – and most recently a wedding (!) – it’s super easy to create an exhaustive personalized playlist for the theme at hand. 

Speaking of themes (and because I love you), I want to share one of my very favorite playlists that I’ve recently created. 

I began with a Cuban theme (are you surprised?) and chose songs about places in Cuba and Cubanity. Pretty sweet, right? 

LISTEN NOW

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

This is a glimpse of my life right now. Not just my love affair with my husband or kids or grandsons, but of everything else that makes up my extraordinarily ordinary life. And that is important right now.