Trader Joe's Mini Cheddar Chipotle Potato Bites

Trader Joe's Mini Cheddar Chipotle Potato Bites



Have you tried these?

They are

Ah-ma-ZING!!!

I promise!

Christmas Tree

This year, I wanted to get a white christmas tree, but decided to wait until next year.

I already have a 6 1/2 ft artificial tree that I've had for about 8 years now

My Christmas decorations match the decor in my house

- whimsy traditional -

purples & golds

with a splash

of shimmer & silver

So...

investing in a white tree means investing in all new decor

This year I decided to jazz up this tree

since all my lights from last year were on the blink.. .(hee hee )

I strung the pearl lights & the C7 lights

in the center of the tree...

I framed the outside of the tree with the

mini clear "twinkling" lights 

It's like I have a party in my house..

it's very bright & festive!!!



Christmas Tree 2012





White Pearl Lights



C7 Lights

Clear Mini Lights - Twinkling

Fall in Texas

 It is so very rare to see trees in Texas

with pretty orange and red colors

When we do get them

It's only for a brief minute

Then before you know it

they are gone

The 2 top pictures are from my dad's

This is down the street from my house

It almost looks like a painting

Thanksgiving Wine Labels

Thanksgiving Cabernet Sauvignon

Free Thanksgiving Wine Labels

from Better Homes and Gardens

I used these a couple of years ago

They are still the best I could find on the internet

I bought "two buck chuck"

(actually, it's $2.99 here in Texas)

from Trader Joe's

&

Slapped these labels on them

You can also find $2.99 wine

@

Central Market

&

Whole Foods

I buy several more expensive varietals to server with the meal

These get opened after the good stuff is gone

I used the Fall Landscape label (above) 

on the darker bottles

(Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay)

&

I used the Sunny Fall Landscape

on the lighter bottles

such as

(Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Grigio)

You do not have to buy these"full sheet" labels

You can print them out on plain copy paper

&

then you have to glue them on

You also have to remove the existing wine label

If you use the above labels, you can just put it

on top of the existing

if you are in a hurry like me

The wine labels print one per page

It's not perfect - mine cut off the "s"

but it still looks good

good luck

let me know if you try it

Thanksgiving 2012

How are you spending Thanksgiving this year?

I've been blogging since 2008. 

I haven't posted about Thanksgiving since 2009.

We do the same thing every year

Cook several turkeys in an underground pit

(doesn't everyone do this?)

&

I know everyone transports their turkeys

using a golf cart from the oven to the table

We serve it up buffet style

with about 20-30

of our closest family and friends

Well, stay tuned...

I plan on keeping ya "posted" on our 2012 festivities

Roasted Okra

Okra is not one of my favorite vegetables, but I can eat it  

Most people prefer it fried (like my son), but I do not fry foods at home

I had roasted okra at a restaurant here in Dallas called Si tapas

It inspired me to make my own



Fresh Okra



 from Patina Green Home and Market in McKinney

Slice it length wise

Toss with extra virgin olive oil

I used Texas Olive Ranch Roasted Olive Oil 

that I purchased from my friend,

Barbara at White Rock Local Market

sprinkle with sea salt

Yum.

My son even liked them.

Trader Joe's Mushroom Risotto

Trader Giotto's Mushroom Risotto

 

Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan Cheese

 As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I have yet to find a Trader Joe's product I do not love!

I was leery of this risotto, I have to admit. 
How can something so finicky to make
(do you watch Hell's Kitchen?)
taste good prepared frozen?



Well, let me tell you... it's not as amazing as homemade, but it is actually pretty darn good and alot less hassle.

Directions say to cook frozen, with 2 tablespoons of water for 5 minutes on high heat.

I used 2 tablespoons of white wine. You do have to stand and stir for 5 minutes.

It starts out soupy, and if it starts to get dry, just add more water or wine.

&

keep stirring...

&

 stirring...

...telling yourself that

homemade takes 45 minutes to a hour

of stirring

&

stirring

 &

 stirring 

&

(praying that you do not run out of warm liquid)

Thrift Store Chairs

BEFORE

I posted back in July

about my

Wine Room Project

how I found

these chairs (4) 

for $8.95 each

AFTER

I'm still debating on whether or not to re-cover the chairs.  I like the leopard print, and feel that I won't stress if red wine spills on them. 

I will post more once I get the room cleared out.  I keep putting off the garage sale.  It's just so hot here in Texas!

BHG's Corn & Blueberry Salad



Corn & Blueberry Salad



This is the best summer salad ever

It's very fresh and flavorful

Corn & Blueberry Salad

from Better Homes and Garden

Ingredients

6 fresh sweet corn, husked
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cucumber, sliced
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped*
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions

1. In Dutch oven bring salted water to boiling.
2. Add corn. Cook, covered, 5 minutes, or until tender. When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cobs.
3. In a serving bowl combine corn, blueberries, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeno.

For the dressing, in screw-top jar combine lime juice, oil, honey, cumin, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cover; shake well to combine. Add to salad; toss.

Cover and refrigerate overnight (up to 24 hours). Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Trader Joe's Pear Tart

Trader Joe's Pear Tart

If you have been following me

for any period of time,

you know how much

 I ♥ Trader Joe's

I believe I've mentioned them

about 8 times through the history

of this blog circa 2008

The most exciting post is when my friends and I

drove 1200 round trip

from Texas to Missouri

just to shop @ Trader Joes 

They are finally in Texas. 

YAY!

Right now, the closest one to me

 is in Ft Worth - about a 40 minute drive

  I try to go at least once a month. 

I have yet to try anything that I haven't liked,

so I'm going to start posting 

some of my favorite things.

Today, we have the Pear Tart. 

While I was shopping in the freezer section,

a Trader Joe's employee pointed this out to me.

She said that she had heard it was amazing,

especially with cinnamon sprinkled on top.

I served it on Saturday night to my girlfriends. 

o

m

g

It was so good

especially

with cinnamon on top 

House Party - Hope Springs Movie

Do you like to throw parties?

Do you like to try new products?

Do you like free stuff?

Check out House Party

There is a list of parties by sponsor - just apply to the parties you are interested

If you get picked, they provide an online tool to invite your friends

The idea is to post to Facebook and Twitter so that the word is getting out on the product they are promoting

I've gotten chosen a couple of times

I just received this party pack for the Hope Springs Party

Hope Springs is a movie being released on August 10th

starring Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, and Steve Carell

The party pack includes 12 small stemless wine glasses that have Hope Springs etched on them

Hope Springs Relationship Guides

Hope Springs IOU Coupon Books

Hope Springs Canvas bags

&

2 free passes to see the movie

The party is scheduled for Friday, 7/27 before the movie comes out