Lisa Jeffries Nobling – Raleigh, NC

Category: Domestic Adventures

  • The Best Thing I Bought This Year: Electric Hot Water Kettle

    In these final days of Christmas shopping I was thinking about those hard-to-shop-for loved ones in my life and I found myself asking, “what’s the best purchase you’ve made this year that someone else might enjoy, too?” (I think this might be a new tradition for me that sticks! We’ll see come next holiday gift-giving season…)

    After breakfast this morning I was trying my best at some stubborn oil stains on a beautiful stainless sauté pan and was reminded that blazing hot water and baking soda is a great remedy. But waiting for water that hot? No, thanks! (Cue the quarantine cooking learnings from Jamie Oliver’s 15-Minute Meals…)

    via GIPHY

    Enter: The Electric Hot Water Kettle

    Truth be told, I’ve had one of these at my office for years, simply for making hot tea in the mornings. But using it for the ultimate life hack that it is preparing hot water for any use? It had never dawned on me prior to Jamie’s efficient meal prep teachings. Major lightbulb moment. Thanks, Jamie! ?

    Thanks to Jamie’s musings, I was encouraged to order another kettle for home use and snatched one up on Prime Day. Remarkably, it was the only thing I purchased on Prime Day! How’s that for personal restraint in the “Needless Spending” category? ?

    “Chefman” is the brand I have at my office that I believe was purchased at Best Buy years ago, at least five plus, and that thing still cranks out hot water on the regular.

    Chefman Electric Kettle on Amazon

    There are two (lots of) versions on Amazon currently and truth be told, I can’t tell the difference between the $29.99 version and the $45.00 version so… caveat emptor! (“Buyer Beware”) If we’re being honest, both are probably just fine. Go ahead and spend that $15.01 elsewhere, honey.

    AmazonBasics Electric Kettle

    Now priced at $24.00, the AmazonBasics version was $21.99 before and marked down to $17.59 on Prime Day so I snatched it up for the Casa de Chaos. I wish I had gotten one for the beach, too, at that price! Le sigh…

    Don’t Forget the “Why”

    If giving an electric water kettle feels even more impersonal than a coffee maker (unless it’s a Keurig® or a Nespresso® – now that is love) I mildly worry about that, too, so I’ll be sure to include a little note about WHY I love this device, how it’s made my life easier this past year, and maybe some goodies to enjoy with it (tea, dehydrated noms, etc.) and a link to catch up on Jamie Oliver’s 15-Minute Meals!

    So, friends, what’s been the best thing you’ve bought this year?

    Let me know in the comments!

    PS: I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. If you buy something as a result of my recommendation, they might reward me with a small commission. Thanks in advance for supporting my writing!

  • Kitchen Hacks: Crock-Pot Sweet Potatoes, InstaPot, and More

    Happy day-after-Christmas, everyone – I hope you all enjoyed a very merry long weekend of downtime with loved ones!

    Yes, Delta's toboggan reads "CHILL". Also, check her legwarmers! ;-)
    Yes, Delta’s toboggan reads “CHILL”. Also, check her legwarmers! 😉

    At the Jeffries Casa de Chaos, we had a very foodie round of gift giving and receiving. Manfriend and my parents both gifted me new attachments for our KitchenAid Stand Mixer… I’m one of those people who actually use it a few times each month, if not weekly. Manfriend selected the Vegetable Sheet Slicer:

    I’m pretty excited about all the vegetable lasagnas in our future, but also the breakfast casserole options using thin sheets of vegetables!

    Mom and Dad sent me home with the Spiralizer attachment:

    You may remember I already told you about my smaller spiralizer and how much I love using it, this is only going to ante up my spiralizing game. I’m also gearing up to use some apple recipes with this guy! I’ll share our best successes here in future updates.

    Last, Little Sister (who is currently living overseas serving in the US Army… thank you, Mandy!) shipped an InstantPot Ultra for my enjoyment in 2018. I have already been diligently googling “Vegetarian Instant Pot” recipes this morning and can’t wait to get more experienced this this handy kitchen device. I’ve never used a pressure cooker before, so I have a mild case of anxiety about totally destroying my kitchen, but I have a feeling I’ll be able to watch YouTube videos to fill in any questions I have that the user manual skips over.

    And no matter the distance, nothing could keep me and Mandy from sharing Christmas mimosas with each other. Thank you, technology!

    Last, if you’re like me and working this week and won’t have a ton of downtime for healthy cooking to head into the new year, please try this foolproof recipe for baking sweet potatoes in the Crock-Pot: http://paleomg.com/stupid-easy-perfectly-cooked-sweet-potatoes/!

    I *love* filling up the Crock-Pot when I pop home for lunch and have dinner ready to go when I walk in the house… because I rarely make it home “on time”. I experimented with this sweet potato option just before the holidays and it was amazingly simple and way better than running the oven for-ev-er just to bake a single sweet potato or two. I sauteed a few pieces of vegetarian sausage and served them with the baked sweet potato for a perfectly satisfying quick dinner.

    PS: The above are Amazon.com affiliate links – many of which showing some deep after-Christmas discounts on some of these items. I appreciate you using these links if you’re considering purchasing as I’ll receive a small credit or commission based on any purchases you make.

  • 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

    ‘Tis the season for gifting and more often than not, many of us could use a little help in the inspiration department. Here are some of my absolute favorite gifts I’ve received and even a few items I’ve wish-listed for myself this year!

    Spiralizer


    Hamilton Beach Spiralizer, 2 Speed Motorized Vegetable Slicer (59998) – $32.99
    I received this one last year from my family for Christmas and I’m absolutely obsessed with it. This is a great gift for the at-home gourmet on your list or the person who’s aiming to eat healthier in the new year. I have used this almost exclusively for making faux pasta noodles from veggies and the dishes have been out-of-this world good. (The “Avocado-Basil Zucchini Noodles with Chile-Lime Shrimp & Corn” dish I found on Pinterest is hands down one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life.)

    Candle Warmer

    Have someone on your list who loves candles? Help them savor the last bit of their favorite scents once the wick won’t stay lit any longer with a candle warmer.

    Decorative (Read: More Expensive, But Relatively Budget-Friendly as Far as Home Decor Items Go…) Versions


    Candle Warmers Etc. Carriage Candle Warmer Lantern, Oil Rubbed Bronze – $49.99


    Candle Warmers Etc. Mission Candle Warmer Lantern, Brick – $34.99

    Budget (Read: El Cheapo But Totally Functional) Version


    Darice 1199-15 Candle Warmer, Large – $6.99

    I had one of the cheap, plain ones above in the past and used it for many years. This year, I’m hoping for one of the more decorative options listed above as I will get tons of use out of this gift!

    Note: When you’re searching for candle warmers, you’ll have to look closely. Many are for simply melting fragrant waxes and probably aren’t safe for warming glass jars that may crack or shatter. The items I listed above are specifically for the purpose of warming jars of candles.

    Travel Wallet/Organizer

    Hello Wander Travel Wallet
    There’s nothing worse than fumbling through your giant carry on at the airport with the line queuing up behind you. I have three+ trips requiring air travel on the books already for 2018, so a wallet specifically designed for international travel is high on my list. Opt for a faux leather option and you’ll keep the price <$40! Look for one that allows easy access to a passport and photo ID/credit cards. I don't worry so much about one that can hold boarding passes anymore because ? (cell phone boarding pass = life). I'm also not usually one for bright-colored accessories, but a bold hue could stand out in the bottom of your bulky carry on. Just sayin'... For the item I listed above, the online reviews say it doesn't hold USD dollar bills just right, so you may want to explore Pinterest for others if you're a cash carrier. Me? Notsomuch.

    Belmto Moon Barette

    Belmto Moon Barette
    Maybe I’m obsessed with the cute haircut, maybe I’m just underwhelmed by how much I’ve been living in ponytail world lately. Regardless, this $11.90 gold barette makes for a great girlfriend/co-worker/gift exchange buy.

    Stay Tuned

    There’s more to come as I continue my shopping for the holiday season. I’ll pop in here a few more times with updates of fresh new ideas. Please stop in again soon, y’all!

    Until then, I leave you this video of my girl Reese Witherspoon and her funny take on how “social media is hard” and other tech woes of a southern gal:

    PS: Amazon.com affiliate links are included in some of the items above. I appreciate you using them if you decide to purchase so that I’ll receive a small commission on the sale. Running a self-hosted WordPress blog isn’t free and I appreciate your help in keeping things running smoothly around here! ?

  • Cocktail Experiments: Tuscan Orange Honeysuckle

    My manfriend works for a company that represents spirits brands in the state of NC and as a result, he occasionally brings home “innovation” or new flavor products for us to try. Earlier this year he brought Smirnoff’s “Wild Honey” vodka home for us to try and I’ve been racking my brain for tasty options for this *almost*-too-sugary-sweet flavor. I say *almost* because I was confident we could find some complementary flavors that needed to be balanced by the vodka’s honey sweetness… and we did!

    More on that to come… but first, what didn’t work. I started with our usual go-to house mixer of Ginger Ale but the combination was just too sweet for my palate. So I started researching what flavors pair best with honey and found the mention of blood orange. I hopped on my Instacart app* (more on that soon!) and found that although it’s November, Whole Foods carries blood oranges fresh in store. I also ordered Whole Foods’ Blood Orange Italian Soda and waited for the delivery!

    I have been a longtime fan of blood oranges because of their vibrant color and since my days in the South of France where they were pretty prevalent. If you can find them fresh here stateside, grab a few and enjoy.

    The Result: Tuscan Orange Honeysuckle

    Orange Honeysuckle Cocktail

    Ingredients (So simple!):

    • One fresh blood orange, sliced
    • Smirnoff Wild Honey
    • Whole Foods Blood Orange Italian Soda
    • Ice

    Directions:

    Squeeze a few slices or muddle a few slices of fresh blood orange in a glass with lots of ice. Add equal parts vodka and Italian soda, or vary proportion to taste preference. Stir and enjoy – preferably, poolside.

    Overall, this drink was still sweet and tasted much like summer in a glass. Although not perfect for our first fall chill, I’m glad I have a simple go-to recipe for this sweet spirit to keep top of mind and I can absolutely tone the sweetness down with a blood orange sparkling water instead of Italian soda. (I actually had ordered one from Whole Foods, buy my Instacart* shopper said it had been discontinued. Womp, womp.)

    Since I love drinking “appropriate for the season” cocktails, my next venture will be into a whiskey cocktail that calls for vodka and honey and see where it takes me. I’m thinking a boozy apple cider is where it’s at. Stay tuned!

     

    *Please Note: The Instacart links I’ve used above give me a referral credit if you sign up to try the service based on my recommendation. You get a credit, too… so sign up for the free trial if you like the idea!

  • Team No Waste

    Today’s breakfast/lunch (truly brunch without the boozy drinks) combo I whipped up in my small but mighty kitchen here in Antibes inspired this post. I used leftover bread from last night’s dinner as the base; layered in leftover sauteed Brussels sprouts, a few slices of mozzarella cheese, and frozen spinach; and topped with four eggs scrambled with about a half cup of water and voila — I have brunchy goodness that’ll be easily re-heated for the next several days and not an ounce of waste in sight.

    That’s got to be one of the best habits I’ve picked up living here in the South of France: just how little food I’m throwing away on a regular basis. Back in the States, it’s pretty normal for us to hit the grocery store about every week to 10 days, spend $100+ with the best of intentions of cooking a ton of meals at home, and then inevitable, every two weeks or so… I’m cleaning out the refrigerator and throwing a solid chunk of that $100 into a trash bag.

    Here in Antibes, the refrigerator in my apartment is the size of most dorm room units, and I’m also only cooking for one. I also have the better part of six+ grocery stores and markets within walking distance and a farmers market two blocks from home that’s open every day from 6:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. So I’m buying fresh items, every two or three days, and making the most of them. I’ve thrown away so little while I’m here and hope this is a habit I can stick with when I return home in May. The only complication is that it might mean more occasional trips to the grocery store, which is not nearly convenient at home as it has been here.

    Speaking of the grocery shopping aspect: I do a pretty solid job of utilizing both Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter’s online ordering services, though… so I think I can easily maximize the return on the $4.99 convenience fee charged AND save the time of having to actually shop in the store, too. I’v also been stalking the inventory of RelayFoods.com and am constantly drooling over their selection, so I see a lot more of that in my future, too. I think the saved cost of not throwing away so much of our inventory week after week will well make up for any additional costs in my convenience shopping ways.

  • The Point Launches 12 Days of Christmas Contest for Local News Readers

    The Point, a weekday newsletter service that delivers a quick morning read of the things you need to know to get your day started in the Triangle (current events, politics, sports, weather and local entertainment), is kicking off a 12-day contest on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, awarding readers with truly local gifts and experiences – and a new chance to win each day.

    Contest prizes include local coffee shop gift cards, apparel from local brands and retailers, and even concert tickets. Prizes will be announced each weekday in the morning newsletter sent to subscribers and readers will have until 11:59 p.m. to register at the unique link provided to win.

    To get in on the first day of reader giveaways – and to get a reminder for each of the following 11 prizes – register at http://www.ReadThePoint.com to receive The Point direct to your email inbox on Monday morning.

  • Make a Difference this Holiday Season

    Seriously y’all, it takes very little effort to do good things. And hey, you might even get to attend a party and see some folks you love in the process!

    Tonight – Thursday, December 2nd, 7:00pm (like head there in the next hour) 😉
    4th Annual Downtown Santa Ball
    The Downtowner Magazine is proud to sponsor our Downtown Santa Ball on Thursday, December 2nd, from 7-10pm in order to help children in need and to provide what might be the only gift they receive this holiday season. We’re pleased to have MeetandCompete.com as a co-sponsor for our fourth year. 100% of proceeds and all gifts will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Wake County. The event will be held at the Union Tavern located in the Depot building of the Warehouse District (directions below). Just bring a gift and enjoy amazing Downtown Raleigh and free beer and wine. Support the Union by purchasing other spirits!

    Thursday, December 9th, 6:30pm
    Jingle Ball 2010
    Get your holly on at this year’s Jingle Ball… and be sure to get there early. Suz and I got there last year as the food was finished and the open bars dry. So we donated, mingled, and headed over to Landmark for a few drinks. Couldn’t complain though, because I was stoked to see the turnout continue to increase for yet another year! I would say that was a mighty successful Thursday night!

    Thru December 18th
    Donate at ANY local Toys for Tots collection point… get the local details at http://raleigh-nc.toysfortots.org/ or find your own local Toys for Tots details (for all of you non-Raleigh folks) online at toysfortots.org!

    All December
    Need stocking stuffers or gifts? For just $13.95 you can get a terrific gift and help Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC with local service projects that benefit women and girls. Auto Bell Car Wash will donate 50% of each Full Service Car Wash coupon purchased. The coupons have NO expiration date and are honored at all 61 locations around the Triangle and the Southeast. To purchase, contact Joyce Rothchild at 919-518-1093 or by email at jrothchild@soroptimistraleigh.org.

    Got more locally awesome ideas for me to share? Send ’em on and I’ll list in a jiff! Email: ncsulilwolf@gmail.com.

  • A New Raleigh Restaurant and New Crafty Website Addiction

    Renee and I were chatting on the way to Cafe Caturra last night about how we both have sewing machines, but wish we actually knew what we were doing in that department.

    Now granted, I had to take a class or two in garment construction for my TATM degree… but my awesome momma may or may not have helped me with my final project after I broke TWO sewing machines in the process. (Read into that as much as you’d like.) I can rock out a design and the pattern construction. But, the actual garment construction? Notsomuch.

    Nonetheless, it hasn’t kept me from stumbling upon BurdaStyle.com:

    The site, “for people who sew”, has patterns, projects, skills, tutorials and more. I signed up for their eNews, so let’s see if Renee and I actually improve our lack of crafty skills in this department sometime this summer 🙂

    Oh yeah, back to the wine!

    Renee and I may or may not have sampled mmm… say 5 or 6 of the wine bar and restaurant’s 10 reds, 10 whites, and 5 dessert wines… many of which are seasonal which means enjoy them now, because come fall there will be some new wines to love. You can buy any of their wines in several sizes, so we opted for the 3 oz. pours, which is perfect if you don’t want a large pour of wine or want to indulge in several smaller. (I’m sure you can see where this is going.)

    I profiled the pre-opening of this place on i heart retail and was glad to read in TBJ yesterday that it finally opened. Renee and I just enjoyed the wine last night, but they do a full fresh food menu, so I’ll be back to try the food soon. Cafe Caturra is in Cameron Village near Talbot’s.

  • Add This to Your Christmas List

    I was debating whether or not to blog about this, but it’s gotten a TON of attention on my facebook… so apparently the people approve!

    My question to my twitter/facebook friends was this, “Do you think my Tarheel boyfriend would kill me if my car played the NC State fight song when I unlock the doors?”

    The press release I read about the Motor Mouth includes the following:

    “Looking for the perfect gift that someone will enjoy long after the holiday season is over? Look no further than Motor Mouth, the product that can turn anyone’s car or truck into a personal broadcast system. The product, which gives individual vehicles a unique ringtone so owners can tell the world what they are passionate about, is available in several sound series including hunter and sportsman, specific colleges, auto racing, barnyard, holiday and several others.”

    “Sounds available include: Sportsman Series: wild turkey (NWTF Licensed), duck commander, wild boar, goose, deer, duck and elk. Sports fans can enjoy the “Start Your Engines” race series or baseball, while the lifestyle series offers holiday sounds, barnyard animal sounds, horse sounds and hound dog sounds. The company also has exclusive rights with NC State University, East Carolina University, West Virginia University and University of Tennessee to market the sounds unique to those schools, including the school’s fight songs.”

    After several “likes”‘ and amusing comments on facebook, it appears that boys AND girls are a fan of this. I imagine people would have a fit over it in the parking lot at the NCSU vs. UNC game this weekend.

    I personally don’t need to attract any more wildlife than necessary (the deer are everywhere this year, drive safe!), but I do like the selection they have and think my car should play the NC State Fight Song… or maybe something NASCAR (I prefer “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity” over “Start your engines”, but I guess DW has that trademarked!).

    If you are so inclined, you can check out their website.

    {PS} This blog post was not endorsed or sponsored by Motor Mouth, nor am I employed by them – I just thought it was kinda cool. Lucky for them, huh?

  • Houseguests

    In my last post, I mentioned having a scheduling conflict with the Wine to Water event at Amra’s, but if I could do both, I for sure would.

    Here’s my scheduling conflict: Houseguests.

    But not just any houseguests, these are a group of 20-somethings (not unlike Nick and myself) who are bicycling across the country to raise money for childhood cancer research.

    How amazing is that??

    Visit them online at http://rallyfoundation.org/index.php/rallyacrossamerica and check out their blog, too!

    Here’s a little of their backstory:


    Magan, a recent college graduate, is a novice cyclist who is about to depart on a journey. As this summer’s Rally Foundation intern, Magan will push herself to the max by biking across the nation to raise money for childhood cancer research.

    Kicking off in Atlanta, Ga. and ending in Greenwich, Conn., Magan and her support team hope to reach their goal of 1,000 miles riding together for childhood cancer research. Their goal is to raise $75,000 for childhood cancer research.


    They’ve been invited to join in a bike trip around Raleigh and are then arriving here around 8pm or so. I think we’re going to take them to Tobacco Road for dinner and then out around Downtown a little more, if they don’t have an early departure time tomorrow.

    If you’re in the area and want to meet them (and maybe drop by a little donation? Even just $5.00!), come join us at Tobacco Road! Shoot me an email or leave me a comment if you want more details.

    Here is the website for the ride itself, with all kinds of extra details.