2010 Chantal Outlet Warehouse Sale Dates!

Mark your calendars and get ready for bargains! The Chantal 2010 Warehouse Sale will be Friday-Saturday-Sundays -- November 5/7, 12/14 and 19/21.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Thompson Twins - "Lay Your Hands on Me" - 4:04
Good bouncy beat when you're halfway through and starting to lag a little.

Homemade BBQ Sauce!

This is from the Imperial Sugar advertisement in the September 2010 issue of Southern Living, in the special Texas subscriber edition. The creator is Chef Eddy, from "Bake It!" It is delicious! I put it on boneless chicken thighs and baked them. Everyone was using their fingers to get the drips off the plate!

HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE
Yield: 2 cups

1 1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup Imperial Dark Brown Sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon hickory liquid smoke flavor
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground black pepper**
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 teaspoon paprika powder**
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon chili powder

**(Updated 6-28-11 -- I used 1/2 tsp regular paprika and 1/2 tsp Penzey's Smoked paprika, and cut the black pepper back to 1/2 tsp.)

In a saucepan combine the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, honey and molasses. Add all the remaining spices. Bring to a boil and then simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes or until the desired consistency is obtained. Freeze any remaining BBQ sauce.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Donna Summer - "Dim All The Lights" - 4:32
I always thought this song was so happy and fun. And yes, I did dance to it back in the day!

Sandra Betzina's Fashion Forecast - Fall/Winter

Hooray! Sandra Betzina's 2010 Fall/Winter Fashion Forecast is now available! Click here to get your sewing mojo going!

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Zhena's Gypsy Tea Goji Cacao Berry

Cost: $5.99 at H.E.B.
Number of teabags: 22
Caffeine: A little
Type of tea: Green
Steeping time: 3 to 4 minutes
Mix ins: Hot with fat-free condensed milk, Iced with a little bit of sugar
Teabag fragrance: Like a fruity chocolate candy bar
Ingredients: Chinese green tea, licorice root, cacao nibs, goji berries, natural chocolate flavor
Opinion: "Cacao is rejuventating and anti-aging, and goji berries are antioxideant-rich" What a combo! The goji berries add a sweet-tart light fruity taste to a mild chocolate flavor. I've tried this hot with just a little fat-free condensed milk and iced with just a touch of sugar. Both tasted great! This flavor is perfect for the upcoming chilly days and nights.
Rating: 4

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Barenaked Ladies - "It's All Been Done" 3:26

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Plain White T's - "Rhythm of Love" 3:21

Reboot, Recenter, Refocus

And get back on blog track again. Honestly, this blog has been feeling out of sorts to me, taking a back seat as I've been preparing for transitions and life changes this past year. I'll get back to the regular features I love to write about and maybe even try a few new ones. And I bet you're just as sick seeing the french fries at the top the page, too. -- this sunrise is much prettier and inspiring!

15+ Favorite Albums and CD's

Facebook currently has a meme going around, having people list their 15 albums/CD's that will always stick with you. I went a little over, because there were some I couldn't bear not to include. I associate music with people, places and events. And all of these have a connection to one, two or all three. I love creating playlists on my iPod to bring forth happy memories and good times.

In no particular order:

Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
Belinda Carlisle - Greatest Hits
INXS - Kick
Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
Gavin DeGraw - Chariot
Enya - Shepherd Moons and The Memory of Trees
Mary Chapin Carpenter -
-The Calling and The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter
Gordon Lightfoot - Gord's Gold
Dan Fogelberg - The Innocent Age
Billy Joel - Glass Houses
U2 - Joshua Tree
Gerry Rafferty -
-Right Down the Line - The Best of Gerry Rafferty, City to City, Night Owl
Desert Rose Band - Greatest Hits
Clint Black - Killin' Time
Elton John - Sleeping With the Past
Scandal - Love's Got a Line on You
Al Stewart - Year of the Cat and Time Passages
Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits
Genesis - Genesis
Phil Collins - Face Value

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Sixpence None the Richer - "Breathe Your Name" 3:56

I was surprised I hadn't posted this one earlier. It's on a regular rotation on my iPod, I even downloaded the video from iTunes.

The song's lyrics have an underlying religious meaning of one's faith journey. I find it comforting to listen to the song and hear the words, "the part of you that's part of me will never die, will never leave..." Especially since I had just lost a very close friend. I was on the treadmill and literally felt a shiver shock run up one arm and down the other.

Take a look at the video, very quirky and fun to watch. I love the parachute guy!

From Scratch Oven Fries - Southern Living

We tried the From-Scratch Oven Fries - September 2010 issue of Southern Living magazine, page 138. And again, and again! No frying, no mess. It's a keeper! Each time, I changed it a little bit more. I found just one good-sized baking potato gave us plenty. In fact, I'm even leaning towards a smaller one, especially when I cut them a little bit thinner than 1/2". Our current version uses olive oil--just enough to lightly drizzle the sliced potatoes and sprinkling a little of Kroger's California Seasoning Blend Garlic Salt. I also use the "rapid/speed bake" setting to get the fries crispier. Check out your grocery store's spice aisle and try other seasoning variations. Check the Southern Living recipe link for other variations and dipping sauces.

The basic directions are - peeled potato, cut into 1/2" strips (or thinner). Place in a bowl and drizzle some olive oil, toss with your choice of seasoning. Place on rack on a cookie sheet and bake at 450 (with speed/convection fan setting if you have one) for 30 to 45 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy! (You can be making these while you are making hamburgers using your Cuisinart Griddler)

Penzeys Free Arizona Dreaming Coupon Code!

I loved the smell of Arizona Dreaming so much, I bought it last month without the coupon! Penzeys Spices Fall 2010 catalog cover features a coupon for a free 1/2 cup jar of it, or use product code 15853C if you order online. Offer expires November 30, 2010. The catalog has lots of yummy-sounding recipes using Arizona Dreaming -- Ultimate Scrambled Eggs...Tacos Five Ways (Pork, Turkey, Steak, Lamb and Mushroom & Cheese)...Arizona Dreaming Salad Dressing (at Penzeys.com)...Black Bean Tostadas, Arizona Dreaming Burgers...Amaizing Fresh Corn Salsa...and Arizona Dreaming Wings and Dipping Sauce (at Penzeys.com)

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

Three-Day Pattern Sale - September 16/18
McCall's - $1.99
Vogue - $3.99

Coupon Commotion - September 19/25
Lots of 40% off coupons!

September 19/25
Butterick - 99 cents
50% off entire stock of thread

Netflix Stars - I Love You, Man

Awful! Awkward, crude and cringy to watch. We kept waiting for the parts we saw on the trailer, which made us incur a momentary lapse in judgement to even think about adding this to our queue, but gave up and chucked it back to Netflix. I gave it 1 star only for the cast of supporting characters.

Netflix Stars - Cop Out

1.5/5 - Had its (very) occasional moments, and d r a g g e d. Not as good as I had hoped it would be.