Monday, March 31, 2014

Thrifting finds #50: First Birthday!

Urgh.

Felt a migraine coming on this morning, so I took a  pill for it.  Unfortunately, that introduces its own set of problems, so I'm not feeling tip-top today.

Plus, hey guess what it did yesterday?

It snowed.

Tomorrow's April. This had better stop.

Anyway.  I want to take a moment to thank youall for your comments and emails about our wedding rings.  I love the fact that even though I haven't technically met most of you in person, we're still friends anyway.  Don't you think that's kind of cool?

Looks like we're probably going to go down the Amazon route.  It sounds easy until you realize that they have eleventy-million  wedding rings to choose from, and I'm not good about making a decision.

Plus, we have a birthday!  My cheesy little slice of the blogosphere is officially a year old!  Actually, it was a year old three weeks ago, but I never said I was good at details.



So Happy Birthday to me!  I'd celebrate with a slab of cake, but since I can barely fit into my jeans as it is, I'll have to forego it.

Too bad the pickins at the thrifts were so thin this week.  We had torrential rain yesterday (which turned into sleet and snow, see above) which did not keep people out of one of the Goodwills, but totally did keep people out of the Savers.  I don't know how to explain that.

So here's what I found:



1. Butterfly Gold Casserole!  Let me start out by saying that I do not collect this pattern, despite the fact that I got this yesterday and a gravy boat last week.  I'm going to chalk this purchase up to "empty hand syndrome" and leave it at that.  And since I only have two pieces of BG, it is officially not  a collection.  Whew.  No lid, but I can probably find one later.  Goodwill, $3.00

And by the way, it looks like they've got someone new pricing the Pyrex at the GW.  I saw a Spring Green casserole with lid that I thought I might buy until I saw that it was marked $18.00.  Now, that's probably not a bad price for it (though correct me if I'm wrong), but that seems more of a retail or antique mall price than a thrift store price.  Hubby keeps picking up things he likes, looking at the prices and shaking his head.

What's Cooking? Department The Spotless* Test Kitchens here at Fondue HQ went out on a limb this week, as you'll see in a moment.  But first, a bit of Pedestrian Pasta:

*Totally not spotless


Baked Penne with Meatballs!  Plus a healthy shot of pesto for good measure.  I don't know why it is, but my pasta always seems really dry, no matter how much sauce I use.  Any ideas?  I bake it covered and try not to overcook it, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. It's palatable, but never juicy enough.


Peking Roast!  This needs a bit of explanation.  I got the recipe from an old "Hints from Heloise" book.  She said it came from a Chinese hotel famous for its tender beef.  Basically, you marinate the roast in vinegar overnight, then pour it off and pot roast it in coffee.  Weird, huh?  It was one of those recipes that was just so strange that I had to try it.  On the good side, it didn't taste of coffee when all was said and done.  And it smelled great while it was cooking in the Crock Pot.  It didn't look too good--kinda like a hunk of beef floating in ink, but it was extremely tender.  Unfortunately, it was overall kind of bland.  Certainly no more effort than making a regular pot roast, but not really worth making again.  I'm a little skeptical of its Chinese origins, too--one doesn't usually associate China with coffee, you know?
Notice that I managed to sneak in the new Butterfly Gold casserole and the gravy boat from last week?  By the way, the gravy boat isn't that great--the lip is really kind of dribbly.


And that's it for this week.  Kinda slim, I know, but maybe things will pick up next week.  Maybe?


15 comments:

  1. Happy Bloggy Birthday Uncle Veg xxx

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    1. Thanks, Darlin'! Maybe next year I'll remember the day...

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  2. The best piece of Pyrex I ever picked up at a thrift was priced $16.01. It was in mint condition & is very rare (JAJ coral red snowflake space saver). It was probably only still there because it was priced so high. Wish they priced more Pyrex higher around here!

    & Happy Birthday to the blog!

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    1. Thanks!
      I kind of bristle at paying that kind of price at a thrift store, even if it is a rare item (though if rare enough, I'd probably give in.) Case in point: one GW had a Russel Wright vegetable bowl for 8 bucks. Certainly not a bad price, but a little high for the Goodwill I thought.

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  3. Butterfly Gold is not so bad and the lid for that one is pretty!

    Happy Blogiversary!!

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    1. Thanks!
      So I guess the lid is white with a pattern? I just kind of assumed that it was clear Pyrex. Might be harder to find than I thought!

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  4. Happy Blogaversary! I can't believe it's been a whole year!
    Also, I'm bummed about the gravy boat. You were so excited :(

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    1. Thanks! I can't believe it either. I never thought I'd stick with it this long, as I tend to have a short attention sp

      The gravy boat isn't so bad, I'll just have to use it with a ladle.

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  5. Thank you so much! I certainly don't feel any older... ;)

    P.S. I check your blog almost daily, even though I hardly ever comment.

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  6. Happy Birthday to you! Even though I've only been following for a month or so, I can say that yours is one of the first ones I read when it hits my in box.(clapping hands and happy face) BTW, I consulted my handy dandy 8 Ball and foresaw a long life for you and your blog despite your crack about Butterfly Gold.

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    1. Well gosh! You're going to make me blush and shuffle my feet!
      And technically, I didn't make a crack about BG. I only said that I don't collect it. (Disclaimer: My memory only lasts 12-16 minutes, so heaven only knows what I said.) It's not a bad pattern, just a little too '70s for me. This new casserole of mine is actually rather attractive.

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  7. I hate people who leave links in comments sections but you MUST try this make ahead crock pot meal I posted last summer during our remodel SO DAMN GOOD http://www.heywhatsfordinnermom.com/2013/08/crock-pot-garlic-ginger-beef-dinner.html anyway it's great we all love it and I hate tasteless old recipes too! so annoying--well damn writing a novel here but we bought our rings online too and it worked perfectly just figure out what you DON'T want and it's easier

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    1. I don't mind links in comments at all--especially ones for recipes! Thanks for sharing.
      Funny you should mention that I should figure out what I don't want first, as that's the way I often make decisions!

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  8. Hooray! Congrats on your first year! And on the Pyrex find, any Pyrex find is good, even if I don't buy it, I just like to see it. Thank you for sharing this at my History & Home link party - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

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    1. Always a pleasure to share at your party, Dawn!
      Oddly, Pyrex has been kind of rare of late. For a while there, I was seeing it all over the place.

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