ShE's NoT yOuR aVeRaGe MoM: TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 220)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 220)

Being Chic on the Cheap!

Howdy partners! Today's tip comes from the depths of my closet and emptiness of my pocketbook. It's no secret that money has been tight around here, but that doesn't mean I don't look good! (Well, you be the judge!) And even though I haven't had a lot of extra cash for clothes, I want to share with you some tips for making what you have stretch a little further. Join me...to the closet we goooooo. ;0)

One of the best things to do to stretch your wardrobe is to make sure you have some fabulous basics. The top I have above is from Banana Republic, purchased at TJ Maxx for 5.99. (Thank you Mommy for the gift card!). It's a classic black and fitted at the top with a V-neck and loose at the bottom. Super cute and super comfy!

The first look is great for warm nights (think date night!) or looking nice during the day. I paired it with a pair of super comfy stretch jeans (another TJ Maxx find, 7 dollars on clearance) rolled up into cuffs and had a little fun with my super cute and comfy hot pink wedges (Ross $9.99) and matching pink beads (seriously Wal-Mart clearance for $3!). Grab a blazer if it's nippy and look how cute this is!

This second look is one of my favorites! I paired the top with a snappy black and white striped cardigan (Ross clearance $8) and paired it with a pair of comfy faded stretch jeans (TJ Maxx clearance $8.99). Black and white is so graphic it's really fun to add a punch of red! I added the red shiny necklace (Target $1 section!!) and my favorite red and black leopard print ballet flats (Ross 9.99). Black and white stripes are very in right now and I love, love this look!

Look #3 is conservative, but super cute! I paired the top with a pretty lavender basic comfy tee (Target 3 bucks on clearance) and my charcoal colored light weight wool military inspired capris (Old Navy clearance 5 bucks!) and my favorite comfy black ballet flats (Ross $12.99). My purple purse (TJ Maxx 12.99 clearance) and purple and silver necklace ( I made it myself!) make great accessories!

The last look would be the most likely candidate for a day like today. My kids are out of school and they want me to take them to the playground. Doesn't mean you have to wear sweats, right? Right. I paired the top with my comfy cargos (Target $6 on clearance) and my pinstriped short sleeved blazer (TJ Maxx $5 clearance!). Along with my signature cons (in sky blue and $24.99 at TJ Maxx) and my great retro denim cap ($7 clearance Target) I am fabulous! Wow, I just realized that my entire outfit cost less than my shoes! Awesome!
So let's recap: 1. Have great basics....check!
                      2. Make sure to accessorize....check!
                      3. Don't be afraid of a little color....check!
                      4. Have great shoes....check, check!
                      5. Don't spend a lot and look great too? I think I've got it down! Happy good lookin' TiP fOr TuEsDaY! ;0)

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qUiCk ReCiPe GuIdE

Being Gluten-free rocks!

Honey Lemon Barbecue Sauce (gluten-free)

3 tablespoons clover honey
1/2 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons brown mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Recycled Chicken Enchiladas (gluten-free)

2 to 3 pieces of leftover cooked chicken
small can of diced green chilies
1 lrg green onion (chopped)
1 can black olives (halved)
1 can black beans
1 can authentic red chile enchilada sauce (Las Palmas)
1 package corn tortillas or Frito's corn chips or 5 minute rice
2 to 3 cups of shredded Mexican blend cheese
sour cream

Heat chicken, green chilies, and onion in skillet over medium heat...stirring occasionally. Add black olives and black beans and red chile sauce, simmer for 10-12 minutes on medium/low heat. Wrap in corn tortillas and cover with cheese and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Serve with sour cream. OR serve over bowls of Frito's corn chips, cover with cheese and sour cream. (kid friendly) OR serve over instant rice with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Ham and Potato Soup (gluten-free)

1/2 large onion (chopped)
1/4 margarine or butter (soy butter works as well)
2 tablespoons Bob's Red Mill all purpose flour (gluten-free)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dill
2 cups water
4 to 5 medium red potatoes
1 lb cubed ham (or turkey ham)
2 cups milk (dairy or soy)

In the bottom of your large soup pot combine margarine and onion and saute till onion is translucent. Remove from heat and stir in flour, salt, pepper. Add water and potatoes and return to medium heat. Stir in milk and bring to a boil letting simmer about 5 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Add cubed ham and garlic and dill and reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer 25 to 30 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Serve when potatoes are no longer firm.

Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-free)

(I actually converted this recipe from a traditional pumpkin bread recipe, if you don’t need gluten-free just use regular all-purpose flour and enjoy)

1 can (15 oz) of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 2/3 cups sugar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons pure vanilla (not imitation)

4 large eggs

3 cups Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free All purpose Flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ raisins or chocolate chips if desired

Move oven rack to lower position to ensure tops of loaves will be in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of (2) 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½ loaf pans or (1) 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan, (Pam spray works)

Mix Pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs in large bowl till blended. Stir in the remaining ingredients (minus raisins, or chocolate chips) until blended. Stir in raisins or chocolate chips. Divide batter evenly between pans.

Bake 8 inch loaves 50 to 60 minutes, 9 inch loaf 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack.

Loosen sides of loaves from pans. Remove from pans and place topside up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate for up to 10 days.

The best vegetable soup ever, no kidding (courtesy of the Today Show) *this recipe is naturally gluten-free as well!

Mark Bittman, New York Times columnist and author of "The Food Matters Cookbook"

Ingredients

3/4 cup olive oil, more or less
2 onions, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, peeled and chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch parsley, washed and chopped, thick stems discarded
2 or 3 cabbage leaves, chopped
1 bunch chard, preferably white, washed and chopped
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 cans white beans (such as cannelloni) with their liquid if possible

Preparation

Put about a third of the olive oil in the bottom of a deep pot and turn the heat to medium.

Add half the onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, which takes about 10 minutes.

Add about half of the remaining oil and repeat the process, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go.

Add the remaining oil with the parsley, cabbage and chard and cook, stirring occasionally, until everything is softened but not browned.

Add the tomato paste and stir.

Mash the beans so that they're about half mashed and half more-or-less whole. Add this mixture to the pot, along with any bean cooking liquid and enough water to make the whole mixture stewy but not watery.

Continue cooking, tasting and adjusting the seasoning as necessary, until all the vegetables are very tender and the soup is hot. Serve hot or warm.

Serving Size

Makes about 10 servings

Impossible Pumpkin Pie

3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup gluten free baking mix ( I like Pamela's)
2 table spoons margarine
1 13 oz can evaporated milk (or 1 1/4 cups Coffee Rich)
2 tea spoons gluten free vanilla
2 eggs
1 16 oz can pumpkin
2 1/2 tea spoons pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350. Beat all ingredients until smooth-1 minute in blender. Pour into a lightly greased 9 or 10 inch pie pan. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, checking at 45 minutes.
Optional: add 3/4 cup chopped pecans in mixture before pouring into pan. Garnish with whipped cream.

ShE's NoT yOuR aVeRaGe MoM

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 220)

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