In my recent post about pressure cookers, I mentioned my favorite quick dinner — chicken adobo. I learned my version of what is traditionally a Filipino dish by way of Mark Bittman’s classic tome “How To Cook Everything.” It was one of the first recipes I tried and fell in love with as a budding 19-year-old culinarian, and I’ve been having fun with it ever since. Bittman’s version is a super simple braise of chicken (pork is amazing, too, honestly) cooked in one part vinegar to two parts soy sauce, with plenty of garlic and some bay leaf for some je ne sais quoi. I’ve kinda added a few things and changed the cooking technique over the years to suit the tastes in my household, but it’s a great formula to improvise with. Sometimes I just do the bare bones adobo, but I often deviate depending on my mood and what’s in the fridge, adding a touch of orange juice, a splash of mirin, or some ginger. Here, I present it to you the way I make it most often: with ginger and green onion added, served fall-off-the-bone tender over brown rice with peas. And have I mentioned all of this can be yours in about 20 minutes, start to finish? — Megan B. Click for chicken adobo! (more…)

A few months back, I posted about a great mail order site from the folks at The Sweet Potato Project. Like I said before, I’m always happy to eat a little dessert, but to do it while giving to a worthy cause really sweetens the deal. That is why I’m absolutely loving Baking For Good. Want to buy something sweet for your someone special? If you do it at bakingforgood.com, 15% of the price of your purchase is donated to the charity of your choosing. What are you waiting for? Start shopping! — Erica P.

How committed are you to living green? Would you consider a 100 percent recyclable nursery, with everything made from cardboard? That may take a little getting used to. It also may not be quite as thrifty as you’re expecting — that cardboard cot above? $300. Check out the entire slideshow at LilSugar.

My day was brightened considerably when I came across this adorable lamp on Anthropologie’s website. Made from stacked porcelain tea cups, the One-Lump-Or-Two lamp looks like it came straight through Alice’s looking glass. Though considerably pricey at $198, I’ve been daydreaming about displaying it in a Lewis Carroll-themed library complete with shelves of first editions and these playing card posters decorating the walls. — Katie D.

True story: when I was little, the worst trouble I ever got into was when I was caught stealing cookies from the cupboard. It’s that kind of dedication to my sweet tooth that makes me crazy about the Dunk Mug (and gave me the four cavities I have to get filled next month, yikes). Designed by my new idol Dominic Skinner, the Dunk Mug has a built in shelf for discreetly housing a small cookie stash. The cookie shelf (or “biscuit shelf,” if you’re as charmingly English as the site) should be turned away from you as you drink so that nothing falls into your lap as you sip your morning caffeine. Don’t worry: there are both left-handed and right-handed mugs available since sugar junkies don’t discriminate! — Katie D.

Way back when, we linked to It’s Lovely! I’ll Take It!, a site that can now be found at LovelyListing.com. We’re happy to say that Lovely Listing’s takedowns of ridiculous real estate listings are as hilarious as ever, but a recent post about a house referred to as “Barbie’s Haunted Mansion” got our attention for a different reason. The new owners of the house have put up their own website, 1127 Bridge Avenue, to document their renovation of the very Victorian, very pink, rather neglected mansion. We love before and after stories, so we can’t wait to follow along!

Depending on your age (or interests) you may find something vaguely familiar about these prints by John Ruszel. The designs he creates are made using pieces of dismantled typewriters — those machines that some of us actually used in high school and college. The results are strangely beautiful. See more of his work at his website or, if you’re in the Bay area, stop by the Rellik Tavern now through March 14 to see his work in person. I haven’t found any info online about purchasing his work yet, but I’ll add it if I do. — Mary T.

Television gets a bad rap. With the medium flooded with reality shows and pseudo-celebrities, it’s too easy to upturn your nose at it and moan about the “idiot box” ruining modern culture. Let’s not forget that cinema and literature aren’t the only mediums that can change our lives in noble and profound ways. Modern television has brought us series that surpass even the most Oscar-worthy films (“The Shield,” “Arrested Development”, and “Firefly,” to name a few personal favorites). Austrian artist Albery Exergian understands that TV isn’t always a lowbrow hobby, so he gave his all-time favorite American television shows a high art makeover in minimalist posters for £50 each (about $78). I would be proud to have the whole series in my living room, alongside my Tivo. — Katie D.

I don’t need these retro chic metal flower tubes from Plow and Hearth, but I oh, do I want them! Made of iron and painted in vibrant colors, they remind me of the old aluminum tumblers my grandma kept at the summer cottage. A set of four would be perfect for hanging on the back of our deck chairs or across the gate at the bottom of the yard. — Sarah L.

1) You want to turn your herb gardens upside down. Simone Rene says: “sigh..now I am dreaming of an indoor herb garden hanging beneath my cabinets..” and tyna agrees: “Simone – my head went to that exact same place. How cool would it be to have a couple of herbs hanging at your fingertips – maybe over the kitchen sink window – that you can pick as needed when cooking?” Click to see Boskke’s upside down hanging planters.

2) We all seem to love talking about books. Greta says: “Oh how I do love book recommendations. While the following list may not all be coffee table books, they will definitely be books that you’ll want to read–maybe again and again. Here’s the list: http://picnicsinthepark.blogspot.com/2010/01/list-2-of-52-lists.html.” Lots of you also suggested books by Taschen as great coffee table books.

3) Tissue pods get a thumbs-up. Lora says: ” Just bought this (in white). It’s quite cool, but much larger than it seems online. You remove the tissues from the box- but it’s not that big of a deal….it’s so much better than a mundane tissue box!” See the tissue pod here.

4) The DIY bottle torches work. Jay says: “I made these a while back (not my idea, just copied from original link). They are pretty awesome, and work nicely.” Click for other ways to re-use bottles.

5) You choose axes for function more than form. Bettina says: “I like the Swedish ones much better, they look much more like they can get the job done. )” See Chad’s review of “pretty” axes here.

Photo by Yee Wong