Obsession: Mushroom Slicer

I adore it. The humble mushroom slicer. God, this makes cooking so much faster. Whoever invented this was a genius. I use it for eggs, small tomatoes, and soft cheese too.

Obsession: Immersion Blender

I just got this nifty little tool and am enraptured. I wanted one so that I could puree soups right in the pot because I think it's a pain in the ass to have to transfer everything into the food processor in batches. But when I was in the store, I saw that this one has a couple of other attachments that renders it my new favorite gadget. There is a whisk, which when attached to the motor can whip heavy cream into a thick dessert topping in about a minute. And there is a little chopping attachment that is like a mini food processor in which I can dice an onion or similar sized item quickly. The best part is that most of it can go in the dishwasher, so clean up is a piece of cake. Beats the big, heavy food processor any day!

Obsession: Lunessa

OMFG. I have discovered a new love.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I were in Manhattan celebrating a day off (I think it was the day after Thanksgiving) and we had decided to browse the sales. After a couple of hours of finding nothing we really wanted, we started to head for home. It was raining, we were cold, DKNY wouldn't budge on the price for a brown tweed coat, and my daughter had fallen asleep. Matt got behind the wheel and we started chatting about our weekend. But before we swung eastward towards Brooklyn, Matt stopped the car in the middle of Thompson Street, and asked me to get out. I was shocked! In the rain!?

He pointed to a gilt door unobtrusively marked by a small sign with a butterfly imprinted on it. "Go in there," he said, "and find things you like."

A mistake, to be sure.

The store was a paradise. It was wonderful. It was like Christmas, except no corny music. I enlisted the salesgirl's aid in compiling a list of "things I like" that was about 5 pages long. It must have been weeks later when Matt finally came in to retrieve me, agog at all the lovely, delicate, handmade gold and gemstone baubles. Champagne jewels wrapped in dainty strands of spun gold. Clusters of teardrop shaped garnets fashioned into earrings that resembled tiny bunches of grapes. Fragile-looking leaves made of precious metals dangling from thin, precise chains. Rings that looked like birch bark touched by Midas, sprinkled with miniscule crystals that could have been just-melted snow.

sighhhh

Observe:

www.lunessa.com

Go there. Buy. Remember: a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Obsession: Quirky Knife Block

Is this hilarious or what? If I didn't already have a full set of good knives I would buy this right now. I'm trying to think of someone I know who needs knives just so I can get this.

I found it on http://aplusrstore.com/

My New Obsession: Alex Sepkus Jewelry

It seems to me that this is becoming a cooking-and-jewelry website. I'm not sure where the two intersect, except that women do the lion's share of cooking in most families, and women also have a stronger fondness for jewelry than do men. Hm.

At any rate, my new favorite jeweler is Alex Sepkus. His work is intricate, organic-looking, and quirky. I love the spirally designs, and the use of lots of tiny stones.

Check his site out: www.alexsepkus.com

Birthday!

OK, people. My birthday is coming up in less than two weeks. Get your acts together! I like jewelry. It doesn't have to be expensive, custom-made baubles from a boutique jeweler. There is plenty to please me at places like overstock.com, zales.com, and even ebay.com. Here's a hint: green amethyst. Ring. Size 7. Love you!

Jools

I am obsessed with green amethyst. I desperately want a large (I mean LARGE) green amethyst solitaire ring with side accent stones set in yellow gold for my birthday. A square or rectangle cut stone with some interesting swirly gold, something maybe vintagey looking. Or maybe a severe, architectural design with modern angles and arty etching in surprising places.

Ring size 7 will do nicely. Hint, hint.