DIY Day Off! Homemade Ricotta and Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Today I took off of work and decided to carpe the diem and make some homemade basics for the kitchen. Both were incredibly easy! Here are the recipes:

Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Slow-Roasted Tomatoes


Roughly 1 lb. cherry tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
Olive oil
Salt
Oregano and other dried herbs
One clove of garlic

1. Preheat you oven to its lowest setting. Some ovens only go as low as 200 degrees F, but mine goes to 170.

2. Place the halved tomatoes face up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

3. Bake in the oven for about three to four hours. I baked mine for about three and a half.

4. When you remove them from the oven, taste one! They're delish.

5. Place into a jar.

6. Pour some olive oil into a bowl and add your herbs (however much you like, honestly) and a grated clove of garlic to it.

7. Pour the mixture over your tomatoes and close the jar. You're done!

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta Cheese 

recipe adapted from Evan's Kitchen Ramblings

3 cups milk

1 cup (250 ml) whipping cream

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Juice of one lemon

1. Combine milk, cream and salt into a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

2. Line a colander with cheesecloth or a coffee filter or paper towels and place over a large bowl.

3. Once the milk combo comes to a boil, add the lemon juice and turn the heat to low. Simmer for two more minutes.

4. Off heat and let stand for five minutes.

5. Pour into lined colander and allow the whey to strain out for an hour.

6. Refrigerate! Though apparently it freezes well.

Nom away.

My New Year's Resolution was to fix my nails.

From left to right (top pic): esteemia Cuticle Away, Sally Hansen Complete Care, Pretty Nails Moisturizing Polish Remover, Sally Hanson Maximum Growth Cuticle and Nail Treatment, nail stick, three-sided nail file.

When I get a notion to do something as simple as taking obsessive care of my nails, I tend to go hard. In an attempt to grow my nails out, I ran to CVS to stock up on nail care supplies on my way to work. Naturally I used my break to begin mending my tattered, peeling nails.

So far, I'm really happy with the results and it's only been two weeks. I never used to push back my cuticles or filed instead of just gnawing off the offending bit of nail, but I definitely couldn't imagine going back.

Here is my routine!

• First, I painted my cuticles with Cuticle Away and let it sit for about a minute. Then I used the stick to push back my cuticles while making sure to kind of separate it from the nail. Wash hands.
• Next, I rub the Sally Hansen Maximum Growth on my cuticles for another minute or so. Wash hands!
• So then I file and shape my nails (I like oval-shaped) with the emory side of my file. Then I use the 'Smooth' side on the edges of my nails as well as the top. It's gentle enough to file the top of the nail and take off some of the leftover cuticle.. or whatever that is. I then use the 'Shine' side on the tops. The shine is totally optional.
• I use the Sally Hansen Complete Care growth polish as instructed. One coat. Dry. Two coats. Dry. One more coat. Dry. It's dries pretty quickly, actually.

From then on, I just try not to bite my cuticles and use plenty of lotion of my hands. I do this routine about once a week :).

Wedding Clutch

I'm writing this because I want everyone to know that I want to make this clutch sometime this summer. I figure if I write it then I have to do it, right? Anyway, I think this clutch is just darling and the instructions on The Purl Bee look quite simple, if done with patience! I'll let you know when I make one.