Last issue of Everyday Food : (

No More Day Food

My and everyone else's last issue of Everyday Food.  It was one of my, if not THE favorite recipe magazine ever.  I was a subscriber from the very beginning in 2003. I thought the recipes were innovative, tasty and most importantly - easy to create in my own kitchen. "Martha Light", if you would.

Per the "Dear Everyday Food Subscriber" insert, Martha Stewart Living magazine plans instead to incorporate it in their subscriber issue copies (apparently not the newsstand ones?!) five times a year, beginning with the March 2013 issue.  And content will also be available on YouTube and as a video newsletter "Everyday Food with Sarah Carey".

But it just won't be the same without that cute little magazine I would either stuff in my purse or have on my coffee table, waiting to be flipped through for inspiration and feeding my family.

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales - ALL of them are going on sale!

Super Weekend Sale - December 7/9
$1.99 Simplicity
$2.49 Burda (!)

December 14/15
$1.99 McCall's
$3.99 Vogue

December 15/22
$1.99 Butterick

Super Santa Sale - December 21/24
$6.99 Kwik Sew
Gutermann 26 spool thread box - $15 (a $49 value, regularly $29.99)
(I have this, great and usable colors for last minute thread run-outs and regular sewing projects!)

Thursday Tea Time

Double feature this week!
The Republic of Tea Life of Pi Mango Black Tea

Cost:  $11.99 at Cost Plus World Market
Number of teabags:  50
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black
Steeping time:  5 minutes
Add ins:  Just a splash of Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss Sweet Cream.  It's quite good by itself, too.
Teabag fragrance:  Mango
Ingredients:  Black tea, apple bits, sweet blackberry leaves and natural mango flavor
Opinion:  Normally I don't really like fruity teas in the cooler months, but the Life of Pi tea just came out along with the Life of Pi movie.  Maybe it will taste better when the weather is warmer and/or iced.  Maybe the movie is better.  It had a nice mango scent, but I thought it had a strange aftertaste I couldn't quite put my finger on.  Not bad, just unexpected.  I also brewed two bags and had eaten earlier white chocolate peppermint popcorn.  Well, that could be it right there - there's an unexpected and strange combo!
Rating:  2

Thursday Tea Time - Chai Apple

This week - Twinings Chai - Spiced Apple

Cost:  $2.69 at Publix in Jacksonville, Florida
Number of teabags:  20
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black
Steeping time:  5 minutes
Add ins:  Just a splash of Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss Sweet Cream.  It's quite good by itself, too.
Teabag fragrance:  Apple cinnamon
Ingredients:  Black tea, natural apple, chai, cinnamon and ginger with other natural flavors, cardamon and clove.
Opinion:  I finally found this!  Albeit in Jacksonville, Florida.  Definitely worth the search. I only knew it existed because it was listed on the side of the Ultra Spice Chai box, "If you enjoy...try"  And on this box it says "try French Vanilla Chai"  OK, the search is on!  So far I've been beyond impressed with Twinings Chais!   Again, just like the Ultra Spice Chai, this can sip alone.  But add that Natural Bliss Sweet Cream and OMG!  You have hot apple pie a la mode in a mug!   Whoa!  Think I will change this rating to 4.5.  And maybe go back to Jacksonville.  It's that good.

Rating:  4  4.5

Purple Haze

Snapped these in the front seat on the way home!

Friday Flowers a few days early.  I couldn't resist these beautiful Purple Haze roses at Central Market on sale today.  Purple anything always makes me happy!

White Christmas

In a mug!  Yes, that is what Mod Coffeehouse calls this.  It's gingerbread white mocha and it is wonderful!

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Phillip Phillips - "Home" - 3:30
Great beat!

Shop Small

I love to support my indie stores and crafters - and what better place than Austin's Renegade Craft Fair - Winter edition!

I love to collect the cool cards from the vendors!

Got a new scarf to add to my Little Minnow Collection --  LOVE the animal print!

Framing these!  They match my new bedroom colors!

Of course!  Chickened out buying the "Unicorn Puke" scent!  Maybe next time?!  (It actually smelled pretty good!)

Thursday Tea Time - Chai Spice

This week - Twinings Chai - Ultra Spice


Cost:  $2.99 at World Market and $2.69 at Publix
Number of teabags:  20
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black
Steeping time:  5 minutes
Add ins:  Just a splash of Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss Sweet Cream.  It's quite good by itself, too.
Teabag fragrance:  Cinnamon
Ingredients:  Black tea, natural chai, cinnamon, ginger and other natural flavors, cardamon, clove
Opinion:  Changing it up a bit to chai. Love this ultra spiced chai!  It has a strong cinnamon and ginger flavor, and then a nice afterbite. Great by itself to sip (think of cinnamon toast!) and super good with the Natural Bliss Sweet Cream.  Yum!
Rating:  3.75

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pin please

And a nice pair of sparkly shoes, too!

Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Fat Free Brownie Mix

Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Brownie Mix - Fat Free sounds like a great idea, right?!
130 calories, 26g carbohydrate, even 3g of protein!
Even the option to make a single serving in the microwave?
Yes, yes, yes?!
Oh no, no, no.

First, try stirring and mixing one carton of yogurt (Kroger Lite Vanilla) into the mix - not funsies at all.  I think I must have inhaled a serving.   Bake and slice and look at the result.   Bravely taste.






 

Yeah, it didn't taste much better...

I'm sticking with baking from scratch or using Costco's Ghirardelli and/or Wegmans brownie mixes.

Christmas Inspiration Traditions Old and New

Kicking off the 2012 holiday crafting season with the acquisitions of the December Martha Stewart Living (I've kept all of her Christmas and holiday issues), and this year trying out HGTV's December issue, along a new book, Mollie Makes Christmas.   Stay tuned for the results!  

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

Daily Doorbusters start November 13 and go through November 21 -- Are you ready?  Here's the list!

Tuesday, 11-13 - 
Duck brand duct tape $2.99, $4.99 for licensed and team prints
Wednesday, 11-14 - 
9" x 12" felt squares 5/$1
$1.99 Butterick patterns, $3.99 Vogue patterns
Thursday, 11-15 - 
Licensed character fabrics and no-sew throw kits (I see Hello Kitty!) 50% off
50% off Wilton candy melts, 40% off entire stock fine art supplies
Friday, 11-16 - 
50% off Country classic solids, 65% off Holiday Inspirations fabrics, 40% off ready to finish wood
Saturday, 11-17 - 
$19.99 Holiday Inspirations plush animals, $2.99/yard Blizzard and anti-pill fleece, BIGIF rotary blades (Olfa, Fiskars & Dritz), 2/$25 Holiday Inspirations wreaths, 40% off Keepsake calico prints, 40% off Sensations yarn, $9.99 Swarovski strung crystal, 40% off entire stock of paints and finishes, $2.33 Red Heart Super Saver yarn, 60% off Notions wall
Sunday, 11-18 - 
$34.99 3-piece sewing room on wheels, 50% off Holiday Inspirations ornaments, ribbon and bows, 60% off framed art, 60% off Sew Classics apparel fabrics, 40% off nursery fabric, 40% off novelty cotton
Monday, 11-19 - 
50% off nutcrackers (I hate nutcrackers, just FYI), $9.99 handy scrapbook carrier, $5.99 Caron one pound or Lion brand Pound of Love yarn
Tuesday, 11-20 - 
$29.99 20 yard roll Pellon Siliconized batting, 40% off Creativity for Kids kits, 5/$1 open stock print and cardstock papers
Wednesday, 11-21 - 
$24.99 Cricut Everyday cartridges, $179.99 Cricut Expressions 2, $8.99 12" x 12" Paper stacks, 60% off all candles, holders and fragrances, $3.79 Lion brand Homespun yarn, 50% off Organizing Essentials Seasonal storage, $99.99 25-yard roll Pellon Natural Cotton batting, 50% off Holiday Inspirations Christmas outdoors decor, 70% off Holiday Inspirations Christmas picks

Chantal Outlet Sale Finds

Bounty!  (and we are not talking paper towels)

Surprise deal on the mise en place cup dishes - they also came in shades of orange and green.  Love how they are nice and flat and less likely to tip and crash in my cupboard.  Another square baking dish - love these, and so glad to see them back this year.  And keeping with tradition and additions to my collection - another teapot with infuser, and two 20 ounce! mug/saucers.  I love that Pure vanilla color and the gorgeous red, which the camera did not do justice.  I got all this for $30, easily worth almost triple retail.

You still have another weekend to discover your finds.  They do restock with new merchandise and have different deals and specials all three weekends.  Don't forget to "Like" their Facebook page to print and bring a $5 off coupon!

Do Your Best. . .

LOVE this from The Crafty Chica!

Watercoloring Class -- 5 Weeks

I worked on the water and shadows a bit more before removing the frisket on "Fred" and the tops of the rocks. . .

Fred's close up. . I really like how he turned out!  (I honestly surprised myself)

I still need to blend the rocks a little bit more and he's done-- ready for framing and displaying in my husband's office!

I have really enjoyed working in this medium.  I went to Half-Price Books and stocked up on some watercolor books so I can practice and try different techniques.  Stay tuned for more adventures!

Friday Flowers

Thursday Tea Time

This week, The Republic of Tea Warm Up the Day Tea - Pumpkin Spice


Cost:  $9.99 at Whole Foods
Number of teabags:  50
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black
Steeping time:  5 minutes
Add ins:  Just a splash of Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss Sweet Cream.  It's quite good by itself, too.
Teabag fragrance:  Allspice
Ingredients:  Black tea, ginger, cinnamon, natural ginger and pumpkin flavors, sweet blackberry leaves, nutmeg, cloves, allspice
Opinion:  This week's entry in Pumpkinapolooza,   A nice pumpkin flavor, abeit more in the background, with an interesting blend of spices -- blackberry leaves?! -- for a warming and soothing mug of yum.  I've been drinking several mugs of this a day helping to recuperate from bronchitis and my tummy from the queasy caused from the Z-Pack.  Yes, it makes me feel much better!  : )
Rating:  3.75

Pretty pumpkin color!