Scentsation

Perfume Recommendations
Mmm, you smell so good!
I get that a lot. Sometimes it's because I've been cooking or baking, but most of the time it’s based on a perfume spray, essential oil, lotion or other product I’m wearing. As someone who loves to cook, perfumes and their compositions fascinate me and I dabble in making perfumes, hair products, bath salts and other potions.

I like many designer perfumes, but that is not all I wear. I sometimes wear singular oils or blends from From Nature with Love (www.FromNaturewithLove.com), a natural products website. I have several dozen perfumes yet am extremely picky about them "Designer" perfumes are from www.Fragrancenet.com, beautyencounter.com and www.Scentiments.com
Notice how I didn't mention department stores! The only department store purchases are for newer Estée Lauder (Modern Muse), Chanel (Chance Eau Tendre) or Lancôme perfumes with which I can snag a gift with purchase. My main current perfume wardrobe: Crystal Noir by Versace, Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson (smells like Shalimar and SO cheap), Amor Amor by Cacharel, Champagne/Yvresse by Yves St. Laurent, L'Instant de Guerlain, Pamplelune by Guerlain, Flower by Kenzo. My favorite night fragrances: Midnight Rain by La Prairie and Fracas by Robert Puiget. The best office fragrances: Elie Saab Le Parfum and Honeymania by Body Shop

How do I find out about perfumes/scents and research new releases? I look at magazines for samples and launches, then sniff in person at Sephora, duty-free shops or at a department store. I spend a considerable amount of time on Fragrantica.com. People are pretty picky there so if the consensus is it's a good perfume, I will buy it. Many new favorites like Crystal Noir, Tokyo, Elie Saab and Fancy Nights came from their good reviews. The reviews also convinced me to try Narcisco Rodriguez for Her, an excellent warm floral perfume.

Perfume oil favorites: Rosewood, Osmanthus, Neroli, Orange Blossom, Lettuce, Dirt, Leather, African Musk, Arabian Musk, Ocean Rain, Vanille Bourbon Henri Bendel Type, Chocolate, Peach Orchard, Mandarin, Bergamot, Tuberose, Blackcurrant, Violet, Jasmine, Gardenia

Essential Oil Favorites: Bergamot, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Organic Orange, Organic Lavender, Lime, Clary Sage, Gujuru Balsam, Vetiver, Nutmeg, Patchouli (mixed with other oils)

Floral & Fruity favorites
 Amor Amor by Cacharel is an all-time favorite for almost 10 years. It is very flirty and fun, like a tropical cocktail.

DKNY Golden Delicious (Eau de Parfum) smells like sparkling apple and florals. It smells nice in the air and draws compliments. The lotion is even better.

Indian Night Jasmine by Body Shop-I buy the perfume oil

 Pampelune by Guerlain is a bracing yet refined grapefruit perfume

CK IN2U is a sporty grapefruit and musk scent. The lotion smells divine, but the perfume comes in a distant second, although is a good spritz in the summer

 Juba by the Body Shop—Calyx, by Prescriptives or Clinique is extremely close to this discontinued “juicy fruit” favorite

Heavy & Sweet Favorites
Yvresse by Yves St. Laurent smells like you’ve bathed in champagne and honey, so of course I love it! I have used this perfume for almost twenty years!

Midnight Rain by La Prairie is a sexy fruity patchouli scent done very well. It is not for the wallflower!

Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci smells sharp and fruity with a little patchouli at the end, kind of like Euphoria but I like this one better.

 Ylang Vanille by Guerlain smells like exotic vanilla and flowers in the sunshine. Very sweet and powdery, so only use a little.

 Lady Million by Paco Rabanne smells like honey and new money.

Powdery Powerhouses
Jean-Paul Gaultier Classique is a strong aromatic perfume that lasts all day!

Crystal Noir by Versace always draws compliments. The tropical coconut and ginger waft in all day long with woodsy notes. Excellent in cool weather.

Flower le Parfum by Kenzo Intense and more woodsy than the EDP counterpart

Flower by Kenzo (Eau de Parfum) Violet and rose with musk and wood make for a powdery floral with a Turkish delight heart

Florals-modern and classic
Very Irrésistible by Givenchy A modern quietly sensual wafting rose scent

L’Instant de Guerlain An expensive-smelling jasmine and honey scent

J’adore by Dior is great for jasmine lovers with money to spare

Fou d’Elle by Ted Lapidus A snuggly vanilla floral with green notes.

Fracas by Robert Puiget is a classic jasmine tuberose blend for a lingering vintage scent

 STELLA BY Stella McCartney combines rose and amber for a rounded floral effect. It used to be light but long-lasting, but I heard the staying power was compromised after a recent reformulation.

Passion by Annick Goutal is a heady, long-lasting jasmin-centered perfume. Get the Eau de Parfum if you can.

Good fragrances for Winter or Night—intense but lightweight
Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson smells pretty close to Shalimar—a vintage vanilla patchouli, but softer and lighter.

Amor Amor Forbidden Kiss by Cacharel smells like plums and coffee. I like it on other people more than on me.

For the Gents
Thunderstorm by Demeter smells like BASS. Heavy vetiver, a huge thundercloud

Activist by the Body Shop smells like hay, citrus, tobacco and leather, a new classic scent

Tokyo by Kenzo is zippy, warm, woodsy and fresh

Visit by Azzaro is rumored on Fragrantica to be close to Tokyo but at half the cost. I ordered it and hope it’s true!

Good for the Office-floral, light and long-lasting
Laundromat by Demeter It doesn’t last forever but is a clean light scent

  Elie Saab Le Parfum is a beautiful floral that smells like sophisticated blossoms. It smells even more expensive than it is. Still pretty expensive, though!

 
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre has a cool floral structure with a hint of quince. It lasts all day and draws lots of compliments. But duty-free if you can.

Honeymania by Body Shop smells like wildflowers wafting in a sunny field.

Modern Muse by Estée Lauder is a sparkling floral with a hint of patchouli. It doesn’t last very long on me, but I absolutely love it.

Perfumes I want to try:
Liberté by Cacharel combines orange and patchouli, which sounds intriguing

 Darling by Kylie Minogue--Some say it smells like the iconic Deci-Delà from the 1990’s. I’ve ordered it (less than $20) and can’t wait to try it!

Sloppy Janes Recipe

Here is my Sloppy Joes recipe. I actually call them Sloppy Janes; they are a vegetarian and vegetable-laden counterpoint to Joe! Kids love them and they are slow cooker friendly!

VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOES AKA SLOPPY JANES

• 1 Tbsp Molasses
• 1-3/4 cups Water (hot)
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 Onions medium-sized, chopped
• 1/2 pound Carrots, chopped
• 3 stalks Celery, chopped
• 1 Green Bell Pepper medium-sized, cored, seeded and chopped
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes (28 oz)
• 1 can Tomato Paste (6 oz can)
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1 tsp Allspice 
• 1/4 cup Ketchup
• 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce, Braggs Amino Acids or Soy Sauce 
• 2 cups TVP® (Textured Vegetable Protein) you can also use meat or cooked lentils

Directions

In a medium bowl combine the hot water with the 2 cups TVP. Set aside while preparing the chopped onion, celery, carrots and green pepper.

Heat a nonstick skillet, add the olive oil and quickly saute the chopped onion, green pepper, carrots, celery and minced garlic. Cook until onion is slightly translucent and green pepper has softened slightly. Add the TVP.

Mix the tomato paste with the can of tomatoes and seasonings and stir into the skillet. Bring to a boil, taste and add salt if desired. Sauce should be thick, but spreadable; add a little more water if needed.

Spoon sauce on bottom half of split roll, hot dog bun or a cornbread pancake. Pile on lettuce and cheese (if desired) and top with other half of bread. 

Cookbooks: the gift that keeps on giving!

Cookbooks

I guess with new life in the house, I haven't been reading cookbooks like I usually do. However, I do still read and below are the cookbooks on my list to check out.

Here are my latest recommendations, many by authors whose cookbooks I already have.

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed  Bryant Terry does it again (and again). His Vegan Soul Kitchen changed my cooking. I think this has more of a diaspora bent, but it is quite in the line of his usual fare. Great for newcomers to his style, but I don't see anything groundbreaking for those who have his other books.

I've been meaning to pick up Pati Jinich's Mexican Table: The Secrets of Real Mexican Home Cooking. I get sucked into her PBS show. She has a pretty songbird voice and quick, flavorful recipes. I'm betting her tres leches recipe is the truth.

The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food I really like Vietnamese food and like the influences of France, especially for the desserts.

Plenty More, by Yotam Ottolenghi helps along the adage, "Eat your vegetables!" Infinitely easier when armed with this cookbook and "Plenty", "Jerusalem" (my favorite) and "Ottolenghi".

I am curious to peruse Mama Dip's Kitchen, named after a North Carolinian's woman's restaurant. Plenty of southern cooking recipes I often yearn to make.

For the vegan potty mouth: Thug Kitchen. I will just leave it there.

B. Smith is on my mind, given her Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and recent struggles. I love this cookbook and use it often.

Marcus Off-Duty is probably closest to the way I cook. Samuelsson's chicken-fried steak on salad juxtaposed with quinoa with coconut, broccoli and cauliflower exemplify the meaty and earthy sides of indulgence, yet balance each other nicely.

It is now my goal in life to get invited over to Dorie Greenspan's home in Paris for dessert. But for now, I will consult this cookbook.

"You are what you eat" is an oft-quipped phrase, but I didn't curtail my wheat intake until I witnessed my newborn suffer. She is what I eat, too, at least for now. So, after a gastrointestinal consultation, I cut out wheat and dairy from my diet, adding back limited dairy. Every time I try some wheat, I am reminded that it is no longer welcome in my temple! As a food lover, cook and inquisitive person, I've thought of many ways to "have my cake and eat it too." I layer cheeses, turkey pepperoni on tomatoes, kale and onions sans crust for veggie pizza; I use chestnuts, coconut, tree nuts and flax to make delicious cookies and wrap blanched kale leaves around my favorite hot dogs topped with ketchup, onions, tomatoes and homemade cole slaw. But I still have a ways to go, so I will probably consult Dr. Davis' latest Wheat Belly cookbook.

You are probably wondering: How do I feed my voracious cookbook appetite? The "library". I get hardcover and Kindle library books; the latter I use through Overdrive, an app that links to my library and library card and enables me read and return books all day, every day. It is 1000% free and so convenient!!!!

These are a few of my favorite things: a gift-giving guide

"Oh, you shouldn't have!"

Do you ever wonder if people really mean it? Here are some gift recommendations for people with inscrutable tastes...

A Google map of great places
Sometimes the best gifts are gifts of your time and efforts. Make a map of your favorite places or places you would like to try or visit. You can map them all out with comments and "gift" them with a hyperlink for nearby or visiting friends and family. Here is one I did for New Orleans: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ll=29.946605,-90.06815&spn=0.079429,0.154324&t=h&z=13&vpsrc=6&msa=0&msid=200281274416280337000.0004c1572431e1f8288e3

Leather goods spell Levenger for me. I love the quality, colors and functionality of their totes, portfolios and pens.

Anyone who sees me on a regular basis has seen me in clothes and shoes from Boden. They go up to size 18/20 and almost always fit well for me.  About 75% of their clothes, including woolens, silks and lined dresses, are machine washable! They are from the UK, so it's an online-only experience here in the U.S. Make good use of their garment measurements to determine your size for each article of clothing and check out the Clearance section. They also have great clothing for children and adults. I recommend Talbots (on sale) for work pants and Target for sweaters. I have at least 15 Target sweaters! Many of my 3-season coats and shoes are here: http://www.pinterest.com/oshunwave/spring-in-my-step/ and http://www.pinterest.com/oshunwave/play-clothes-closet/  

My favorite pregnancy styles-Tunics, low boots, straightleg jeans, leggings and off-shoulder dresses: http://www.pinterest.com/oshunwave/bumpin-style/ The best wardrobe thing I did while pregnant was to find an amazing strapless bra. I never had to worry about proportions and the strap sliding off; it always stayed up thanks to the bump, and I rocked some fun strapless outfits during the summer! My go-to: Lilyette Indulgent Comfort Strapless with Lift (on Pinterest)

Have a stylish friend, aunt, uncle, brother, grandma, mate or someone who just hates the cold? Head to Hats.com (ha!) They have some excellent-quality hats and some good deals, too!

For your book nerd

I am not a big t-shirt wearer, but I like Lithographs: "Unique t-shirts created entirely from the text of your favorite books." That's all she wrote!!

Want to buy an expensive kitchen electric appliance? Williams-Sonoma and Costco are my favorites, since you can return troublesome items with the most ease.

Some inexpensive kitchen items: 

A personal Crock-Pot for work

Great whisks

Garlic Press-you can leave the peel on!

Simple, effective juicer

Kitchen Shears--take apart, so they don't get gunky

A great peeler

A chef's knife
Silicone mats, great for making very soft cookies

Perfumes? This is a gift I prefer to give rather than get. I have several dozen perfumes yet am extremely picky about them. I buy fragrance oils, beauty oils and essential oils from From Nature With Love. "Designer" perfumes are from Fragrancenet.com, beautyencounter.com andScentiments.com. I tend to buy Eau de Parfums. Notice how I didn't mention department stores? The only department store purchases are for newer Estée Lauder (Modern Muse), Chanel (Chance Eau Tendre) or Lancôme perfumes with which I can snag a gift with purchase.

My main current perfume wardrobe: Crystal Noir by Versace, Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson (smells like Shalimar and SO cheap), DKNY Golden Delicious (smells close to "J'adore"; j'adore le prix!), Amor Amor by Cacharel, Champagne/Yvresse by Yves St. Laurent, L'Instant de Guerlain, Pamplelune by Guerlain, Flower by Kenzo as well as several Nina Ricci scents. My favorite night fragrances: Midnight Rain by La Prairie, Fancy Nights and Fracas by Robert Puiget. The best office fragrances: Elie Saab Le Parfum, Pamplelune by Guerlain, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and Honeymania by Body Shop. Many of these are on "Just for the Smell of It" on Pinterest. For men? Kenzo Tokyo, Bvlgari Man Extreme and Bvlgari AQVA Marine and AQVA Toniq. Loved La Nuit de L'Homme by YSL but the scent disappeared too soon. My mom loves Annick Goutal's Passion. Fragrantica.com is a great online community for scent lovers, and you can get great perfume suggestions and comments.

OK, I need to give a shout-out to The Body Shop. I worked there 20 years ago and have been a fan before, during and ever since. I remember when Mango Body Butter first came out. I would mix scents and take home samples and make gift baskets. The best deals are when you become a Love Your Body member. I get insane deals and get points and free gifts. I seriously save hundreds every year and get sweet-smelling soft locs and skin as a result. And the still don't test on animals! Check out my Pinterest site for some of my favorite products.

The Sweet Smell of Christmas (Scented Storybook) Hardcover by Patricia M. Scarry, $8-$9 retail, is one of my favorite childhood Christmas books. It has a cute little bear and has six smells; I still remember candy canes, an orange, gingerbread, apple pie and a pine tree--from over 30 years ago! Scholastic has these books, and my daughter loves picking up these books at school.

Pippi Longstocking DVD set: Every year this movie would come on TV, and it was one of the highlights of the season for me. I often dreamed of a world with kids doing what they wanted, so I loved this story and shared the notion kids should be in charge!

NPR has over three hours of music from 2014. Make a mixtape for your bestie!

Chopped! BLT Salad

A delicious, bright salad to enjoy in fall to winter. Use grape tomatoes if larger tomatoes are not looking great in the supermarket.

Turkey Bacon, Kale and Heirloom Tomato Chopped Salad
Serves 2-3 as main course or 4-5 as appetizer

Ingredients
4 ounces (4 pieces) good-quality turkey bacon, each cut into 8 pieces
8 leaves kale, washed and chopped into bite-size pieces
A small handful of fresh parsley, chopped
One shoot/stalk of spring onion, minced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Dash lemon juice (or vinegar), salt and pepper
2 pounds tomatoes, preferably heirloom, diced into 1/2-inch pieces

Directions
Brown turkey bacon in small skillet 3-5 minutes. Turn off heat and chop/prepare other ingredients or wait 5 minutes. Add kale to skillet and stir to release browned seasoning from turkey bacon. Meanwhile, scoop mayonnaise into serving bowl. Add onion, parsley, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Stir enough to combine thoroughly.  Press diced tomatoes to release seeds and extra juice, then add to mayonnaise mixture. Add bacon mixture and stir. Serve immediately (will be a little warm) or chill 2 hours or more.

Sweet and Sour Kale Salad

We are overrun with kale in our garden, and use it often. Here is the recipe from this weekend, when I wanted to experiment with a new raw kale salad and add Chia seeds, which I am learning to incorporate into more meals. And I love sweet and sour "agrodolce" flavors!

Kale Salad Agrodolce
Serves 6 as main course, 12 as side dish
• 1 large sweet white onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 4 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
• 8 cups thoroughly washed kale, woody stems removed, about 1/2 pound
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup julienned carrots
• 1/2 cup Chia seeds
• 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
• 5 sprigs of parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
• 6 pitted dates, minced
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 3 tablespoons coconut milk
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
Soak sliced onion in red wine vinegar and pomegranate molasses and set aside. Using kitchen scissors, cut kale into pieces the size of a cracker. Then place kale in a large bowl with olive oil, lemon pepper and salt. With very clean hands, "massage" kale for 3 minutes, until it is shiny, dark and wilted. Meanwhile, pour liquid from soaked onions into a small pan; add onions into kale bowl. Cook over high heat until it is cooked down to a thin syrup like maple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool a minute or two, which will thicken the vinegar liquid. Add hot liquid into bowl with kale. Add remaining ingredients into the bowl and mix with a large spoon until well blended.
I prefer to wait at least an hour to serve so Chia seeds can soak up dressing and soften and flavors can meld.

Gluten-free Skillet Cornbread

I am curious to see whether going wheat-free will improve how I digest food. A few days ago, I wanted to make cornbread but did not have a wheat-free recipe on hand. This recipe combines some of my favorite methods from America's Test Kitchen.

Gluten-free Skillet Cornbread

Serves 8

• 2 1/4 cups fine-ground cornmeal
• 1 3/4 buttermilk (I now sometimes use a can of evaporated milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice plus about 1/4 cup water. It adds a depth of flavor.)
• 1 1/4 cups super sweet frozen corn, thawed
• 1/4 cup sugar, or less, to taste
• 1/4 c. canola or vegetable oil
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut in 4 pieces
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place rack in middle position. Place 10-inch cast-iron or ovenproof skillet or 9- by 9-inch metal pan in oven to preheat for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal and buttermilk. Set aside.

Process the corn kernels and sugar in a blender until very smooth, about 1 minute.

Carefully add the oil to the hot skillet and continue to bake until oil is just smoking, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and add butter, carefully swirling pan until butter is melted. Pour all but 1 tablespoon of oil mixture into the cornmeal, leaving remaining oil mixture in pan. Whisk corn purée, beaten eggs, baking powder, baking soda and salt into cornmeal mixture until well-combined.

Pour mixture into the hot skillet and bake until top begins to crack and edges are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cornbread cool in pan for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Variations: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped jalapeños, 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar or pepper jack cheese just before baking.