Trying new things

About 5 months ago I bought some interesting spices coriander, saffron and cardamom  and I have yet to use them I'm very intimidated by them and I'm dying to try them in different recipes, now I know that cardamom can also be used in sweet recipes as well as savory. I'm afraid to waste the saffron because it is so expensive.  Any advice, recipes would be greatly appreciated!

P.S I also found these 2 products that were in my cabinet , I think I'm going to make some pasta or a sauce with the anchovies but I'm at a loss on what to do with the lychee's I' m a foodie I couldn't help but buy it.

Vanilla

About 3 years ago I was browsing threw Amazon and I saw 15 Madagascar vanilla pods for 12 dollars, the price was great and I have never seen a vanilla pod so I ordered it. I made a bunch of vanilla ice cream and was at a loss on what to do with the rest of them so I wrapped them up in paper towels and placed in a ziploc bag and stored in my baking cabinet and was forgotten about.

Fast forward 13 months I went to use them and they were dry as the desert so I put them away until I can figure
out what to do with them, I was thinking of vanilla sugar. But the day after my daughters birthday in October she came home with 2 big jugs of vodka, when I saw it I immediately thought of making vanilla extract!

I took 4 of the smallest vanilla pods broke them up into pieces and placed them into a clean canning jar and filled it up with vodka I would say about a cup and a half, tightly sealed it and put it away in the cabinet. I couldn't help but look and the vodka had already turned dark.

Two months later I have a large jar of homemade vanilla which should last me a long time, I'm very happy about the income. Now if I make vanilla sugar what exactly do I use it for?

Well you are not going to believe this!

After all that bitching and moaning about me being done helping my daughter 2 weeks yes 2 weeks after moving into her apartment she gets EVICTED!! Yes evicted!  Her and idiot friends and roommate called for a maintenance man to unclog the toilet and left their bong out in the open so the janitor reported them and gave them 24 hours to vacate the premises. I know what I said but I can't put her out on the street cold and alone and nobody around to help, and sad to say I can really use the money she gives me for rent 1 barely have 50 bucks left over after paying all of my bills, this dang lupus and arthritis prevents me from working so I depend on SSI.

After crying and yelling at her for over a hour she promised she will be out soon and I don't have to cook for her. So far so good and I also told her she cannot sleep all day and be up all night going in and out she's been keeping her word so far so good because I cannot go threw the same thing again.

Thanksgiving (Might be my last)

When I say might be my last I mean I don't enjoy cooking it because i do all the shopping , the prep, cooking and cleaning so you see why i'm not so keen into it. Next year I think i'm going to check out the Golden Corral buffet  I have heard great things about it and maybe see a movie. Now the only reason I cooked this year was because my mom was in town and she cleaned up THANKS MA!! I was very surprised how great my sweet potatoes came out because I did the lazy version.. canned I  usually bake, peel and slice them make a syrup on the stove then bake oh yeah don't forget the marshmallows! but i just added butter and brown sugar, dinner was good regardless.  After my previous post on pies I went ahead and bought frozen pie crust, I made something new sweet potato pecan pie I loved it, here's the recipe for that and a picture of that and my juicy turkey.

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Prepare dough for one 9 inch pie. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
3. Blend together the butter, sweet potatoes, eggs, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, salt, corn syrup and evaporated milk. Pour filling into crust and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
4. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until inserted knife comes out clean. Set aside to cool.