Thursday, December 29, 2022

Mashed Potato Casserole recipe


(I wrote this without reviewing... apologizes in advance for any typos, grammatical errors and/or spelling mistakes)

So... I'm not sure whether I can call this a casserole, but I used a casserole pan for this dish and when I look up the definition of "casserole" this fits the description... sort of ;). 

It is winter, and it is cold. We have a whole bag of potatoes that are starting to sprout so before they all go bad, I decided to improvise and make this dish. It is a messy put-together dish but it takes little effort to make. It is also beginner friendly! I tried to be as detail-oriented as I possibly can in my instructions for those who might not be as experienced in cooking so don't let the number of steps scare you.




This recipe will make your potatoes fluffy and full of flavour. I hope you will enjoy :) I also like how the potato skin gets mashed into the mix so you will hardly notice that you are eating it.

You can do this with any potatoes. I had large and medium ones. But any potatoes will work.

Olive Oil I used


Ingredients:
  • potatoes (as many as you like, but 4 medium ones (10 small ones) would be enough)
  • olive oil (enough to cover all the potatoes)
  • steak seasoning* 
  • shredded cheese (any kind of cheese works, I used a three-cheese mix)
  • optional: butter

*if you don't have any steak seasoning and none is accessible to you, then you can make your own by combining garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt and spice/herb of your choice (e.g. dill seeds, rosemary, oregano... etc


Steak Seasoning from The Keg



utensils and equipment needed:
  • a pot for boiling/simmering the potatoes
  • a masher or bowl to mash or squish the potatoes
  • a casserole pan (or an oven tray)
  • an oven (I used a toaster/air fryer oven)


Instructions:

  1. Boil water in a large pot
  2. Prepare the potatoes by cleaning/scrubbing them or getting rid of any sprouts, but keep the skin
  3. Put the clean potatoes into boiling water and boil for about 30 minutes (make sure the water is boiling the whole time). The potatoes will be ready when you can poke a fork through them but the fork can't hold the potato (as in, the potatoes will fall off the fork).


  4. Take the potatoes out and set them on a tray (for the oven) or a casserole dish
  5. Mash the potatoes (in the tray/casserole dish) with a bowl or masher until the height of the potatoes is slightly lower than the rim of the tray/dish
  6. Let them set for about 5 minutes (to get rid of some of the moisture)


  7. Preheat your oven to 230/240 degrees celsius (or 450 degrees Fahrenheit)
  8. Pour a liberal amount of olive oil on the mashed-up potatoes. The potatoes will absorb the olive oil but you will not need to add more olive oil. 
  9. You can also add butter after the olive oil but this is optional since we will be covering the whole dish with cheese.
  10. Sprinkle steak seasoning on the potatoes and make sure most of the potatoes are covered with the seasoning.
  11. Cover all the potatoes with a layer of shredded cheese. You can choose mozzarella or cheddar. I chose a three-cheese mix. A pizza cheese mix or taco cheese mix will also work.


  12. Put the tray/casserole dish into the oven. Be careful, the potatoes are heavy and the tray/casserole will be hot. Do not cover the dish with aluminum or tin foil.
  13. Leave in the oven for 20-30 minutes (depending on your oven's cook time)
  14. When the cheese had bubbled and started to look "done" it is ready! You can choose how golden yellow or golden brown you want your cheese to look.

 ENJOY!




Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Kiehl's Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate review


The way I will define this product is that it is a moisturizer at the price of a serum. I was introduced to this product by a Kiehl sample. But don't get me wrong... this is worth what you pay for.

I was heading off to a girl's weekend getaway in a cabin near mount Fuji and didn't know what to bring since it was a Friday and it was the start of Golden Week and I had gotten off work, I was only able to put so much into my night bag without looking unprofessional at work. 

I was staying in a cabin that the woods that used a combustible heater and my skin instantly became very dry. however, the moment I applied this product to my skin, it instantly quenched the dryness. 



Anyways, enough of my experiences, let's talk about what this product actually is.

Product Details:

The highlight of this product is that it is a pore-minimizing serum. It helps lift and tightens the skin. This product helps smooth, firm and lift your skin with a potent yeast extract. It is suitable for all skin types.


The Container:

I was a bit disappointed that given the hefty price tag, the container is made of plastic. The pump is also not very well made. The only two aspects I could appreciate about the pump are that 1. you can adjust how much product comes out and 2. you are able to lock it (prevent the product from coming out) with a simple twist.

Scent:

There is a strong essential oil scent from the Bergamot Essential oil and Geranium Essential Oil contained in this product. But for those who are concerned, the fragrance/aroma disappears as you rub the product against your skin.

Pros:
  • instantly hydrates and relieves skin
  • it improves the texture and health of your skin in the long run
  • the scent (but this can be a pro or con depending on your fondness for the aroma of essential oils)
  • a little goes a long way (I suggest 2-3 pumps at the max output amount)

Cons:
  • it can be a little pricey
  • it can feel sticky
  • the plastic container
  • Kiehl's calls it a concentrate and describes it as a serum, but it is thick, like a moisturizer

Verdict:

Out of Kiehl's Concentrates, this is my favourite one. I can always count on it to relieve my skin's tightness and dryness and in the long run, it improves my skin's texture and overall health. I have been using this product for over 4 years and I love it... I have gone through multiple bottles and it hasn't failed me or my skin.

Whenever I use masks, I develop mask acne but thankfully this product instantly relieves my skin from dryness and irritation. 

score: 9.5/10

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