Happy Cransgiving

Ryan and I were put on cranberry duty for this year's "widows and orphans" thanksgiving, hosted by my dad's friend Lee. I made some adjustments to the recipe and it was amazingly good. Even Lee said afterwards that no one ever eats the cranberries, and our dish was licked dry. (Well, it wasn't licked, but I'm sure someone tried). Anyway, in the spirit of giving and all that, here's the recipe for Totally Awesome Cranappleness:

1 bag cranberries
2 cups sugar
2 cups orange juice
2 cups chopped and peeled Granny Smith apples
1 cup dried Bing cherries

Place all ingredients in large pot on medium heat. Cook until cranberries pop and then continue cooking at a simmer for about 10 minutes or until it becomes thick. Refrigerate.

Almost Infamous

Boris gets lit bloggers upset on everyone's favorite topic: The National Book Awards. I didn't read the books written by any of this year's nominees (quite honestly, all I seem to read these days centers on pilates, yoga or anatomy) but I did attend the awards as Boris' guest in 2001 (aka "The Year Franzen Broke") and acted like a complete and total doof when JF squeezed by us to hit the paté. To make matters worse, I congratulated him later by saying something hideous like "Thanks for making Missourians proud!" Why why why? Yo JF: I'm now living in Kansas, so don't worry, you bring no glory nor shame for me and my state.

La Dolce Vita

I swore off sulfates (read: detergent) in my hair products and shower gel a while ago, which wasn't all that hard, and most of the products available at Whole Foods fit the bill for a less chemical cleansing experience. (I'm especially fond of most of the Avalon stuff; surprisingly, Aveda, for all of their save-the-planet rhetoric, still jams a bunch of chemicals in their products). But here's the rub: while I love the essential oil scents, sometimes I crave something different. Something sweet. Erica and I hit Bath and Body Works while malling a few weekends ago, and we discovered their Tutti Dolce line. Oh sweet lord, this stuff smells good. I am in love with the cinnamon frosting scent (though "flavor" is probably a better word to describe it); it's one of the few food-scented body products that smells sweet and not sickly. I could eat this stuff (I think Ryan tried when he used it once in the shower). But, I feel like a traitor to the cause because of the sulfate issue.

Please, makers of health food store cosmetics: whip me up something that smells yummy. I love the lemongrass and peppermint, but I want candy too, dammit! (Or, at the very least, organic dark chocolate...work with me here.)