Tomato Basil Soup

     I wanted a way to enjoy the last tastes of summer, so I found a recipe for tomato soup.  The recipe said it can be served hot or cold and this time of year it is nice to have options, because the weather can be fickle.

Ingredients:

12 plum tomatoes

2 onions

2 garlic cloves

Fresh basil leaves

1 tsp thyme

4 cups vegetable stock

28 ounce can plum tomatoes in their juice

Olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cut tomatoes in half, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Place on baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes

In stockpot, saute onions and garlic with olive oil, salt and pepper

Add canned tomatoes, basil, thyme and chicken stock.

Add oven-roasted tomatoes including liquid.

Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.

Puree in blender or food processor.

Salt and pepper to taste.

     I thought it tasted okay. It was a good way to get some veggies into the diet.  I think if you aren't opposed to dairy you could add some cream and blend.

Recipe from the Barefoot Contessa:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-tomato-basil-soup-recipe/index.html

DIY Halloween Costumes III: Tiaras & Feathers

This is the third installment of  my quest to make my own Halloween costume.  I struggle with all thing related to fashion and crafting, so this is going to be a challenge. My goal is a DIY peacock. Something that is not overly sexy, but still cute. So far, I've got a blue dress and a tail of tulle. This week's task is to make a feather head piece.

     For the headpiece, I  again turned to Pintrest for ideas. The majority of images were of feather clips. I thought the dress and tail of tulle were kind of subtle, so the headpiece really needed to say Peacock.  The headpiece, needed to be the center piece of the costume, so I turned to feathers and a tiara. 

     I went to Charming Charlie's and got the most basic tiara. I needed something without a lot of detail because I was going to cover it in feathers.  I got an assortment of peacocky feathers from JoAnn's and Michael's. Again I had an idea of what I was going to do, but wanted to remain open to other creative possibilities.

     First, I took YouTube's advice and covered the tiara in dark blue felt. This created a smooth surface for me to work. Most importantly, I focused on feather arrangement rather than covering the tiara in feathers. This was really key to the success of this crafting project.  Next, I laided out the feathers and glued them on layer by layer.  Feathers, feathers everywhere! This was almost as messy as working with glitter.

     The result was exactly what I wanted- a feathery headpiece that said Peacock. I had some leftover feathers, so I made an accessory for the tail ribbon where it ties up front. That means, I am all tulle in the back and all feathers up front. Yeah!  I never wear feathers in real life, but maybe I should because they are fun!  Here is how the pieces turned out:

Links:

Pintrest

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=peacock+headpiece&qpvt=peacock+headpiece&FORM=IGRE

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvl_D1CIdCY

Crockpot Ribs

   

     I am a huge fan of the crockpot and am always looking for new things to make in it.  This time I tried ribs, which I never ever make, but if it can be done in a crockpot, I'll add it to the menu.  The instructions seemed almost too simple:

• Cut up an onion and line bottom of crockpot
• Salt & pepper ribs, coat with sauce of choice and add to crockpot. Cook 7-8 hours until fall off the bone tender.

     Since the ribs part was so easy I decided to make my own BBQ sauce.   I didn't love the BBQ sauce, but the ribs were tasty!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup (3 ounces) tomato paste

2 TBsp melted butter

2 TBsp honey

2 TBsp apple Cider Vinegar

2TBsp water

2 tsp tamari

1 tsp hot sauce

1/2 tps mustard

1/2 tps onion powder

1/2 tps chili powder

1/2 tps paprika

1/4 tps allspice

1/4 tps cinnamon

1/4 tps black pepper

Preparation:

Mix tomato paste, butter, hot sauce, honey, vinegar, tamari, mustard and water.

In another bowl, mix together allspice, cinnamon, pepper, chili powder, paprika and onion powder.

Mix spices into wet ingredients and brush on meat.

Makes one cup of sauce. This can also be used as a dipping sauce.

BBQ Recipe from Mark's Daily Apple

DIY Halloween Costume II: A Tail of Tulle

This is the second installment of  my quest to make my own Halloween costume.  I struggle with all thing related to fashion and crafting, so this is going to be a challenge. My goal is a DIY peacock. Something that is not overly sexy, but still cute. So far, I've got a blue dress. This week's task is to make peacock tail out of multi-colored tulle.

     I  got the idea for a tail of tulle from Pintrest.  I heard that making a tutu was pretty easy and I thought why not do a half tutu and call it a tail? Brilliant-right?!  My next stop was YouTube for an instructional demonstration.  Remember I am bad a crafting, so even if something is considered "easy," I worry.  You Tube reassured me and I was ready to get some tulle and start.

     To foolproof this crafting event, I decided to order Tulle Spool.  The tulle comes on a roll, six inches in width, so all I would need to do is cut it to the desired length. Choosing the "right" colors was the hardest part of this project. Why does tulle come in so many different colors? I finally decided on navy blue, royal blue, purple and emerald green.  I also got some iridescent teal ribbon. 

     I felt very prepared and began working on it as soon as I got the supplies. I decided to cut the tulle into different lengths (6ft, 4 ft, 5ft and 3ft- folded over it is half the length).  I had an idea of what I wanted, but remained flexible to changing the plan up as needed. This was key to me not having a crafting meltdown.  The tulle was really easy to work with and the colors went well together. What really made it pop is the iridescent ribbon.

     Honestly, the picture does not do the colors justice. In person, it is flowly and sparkly- very flirty! I actually had a lot of fun making the tail.  I think I may have some creativity in me. In fact, check out the Rice Kracker Girl FaceBook page this week to see what I did with all the leftover creativity and tulle :)

Links:    

Pintrest

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pintrest+peacock+halloween&qpvt=pintrest+peacock+halloween&FORM=IGRE

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXo6uv9HxA

Tulle Spool

http://www.amazon.com/Expo-Shiny-Tulle-Spool-25-Yard/dp/B007RDZSA0/ref=sr_1_13?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1380747804&sr=1-13&keywords=tulle+on+a+spool

Iridescent Ribbon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005X5OX7S/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Rudeness, Meet My Sassy

     I recently, went to a Lululemon store and got a taste of their legendary customer service. Upon entering the store, I was immediately greeted.  As I was returning the greeting, the sales person looked me up and down with disapproval.  She and all the other sales people offer no additional help, as I looked around the store. Oh lulu why don’t you love me? What if I lost 10 lbs? 15 lbs? 50 lbs?  I mean, I actually fit in the clothes you make-so what is the problem?

     The problem is the Lululemon brand is rude and snobby.   Even the employees say so: “better in the moment than in retrospect”, “great with someone with no life commitments”, “run by mean, stupid and insecure sorority girls.”   Yet we all keep going there?  Why???  Because Lululemon makes the best damn workout clothes!

     When I am in squat with a 100lbs+ on my back, when I am at yoga in some twisted upside down position or when I am running, I know those my lulus won’t rip, sag or fail me.   I have total confidence, that in my lulu pants, I won’t hear a tearing sound and have my hoo-haw exposed (That’s right,  hoo-haw, check the Urban Dictionary if needed).   Lululemon has unbeatable QUALITY.  That alone makes me swallow the rudeness.  But on top of that, they make some of the most stylish and figure- flattering clothes, which make me squeal like a girl “that is soooooo cute!!!”  I am lulu smitten.

     I know it sounds like I am in a bad romance.  To be fair, the description on their website “Lululemon makes technical athletic clothes for yoga, running, working out and most other sweaty pursuits” promises nothing about customer service.   Besides, if the in-store service gets too abusive, I can always shop on-line.  So go on with the judging looks. Hell, call me an Orca to my face. Just don’t stop making adorable quality clothes that make me workout with confidence.

     I know this post started off sounding like a rant about Lululemon, but that wasn’t my intent. I think the “culture” at Lululemon ultimately drives the superior quality and stylish products they produce.  The moral of this story is to rise above rudeness and get what you want and need from the experience.  Also, it helps to poke a little fun at it…hey lulu- does this squat make YOUR shorts look fat?

Links to less than stellar Lululemon experiences:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-licorish/lululemon-cult-culture_b_3690378.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/lululemon-plus-size_n_3675605.html

*Employee quotes came from http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/lululemon-Reviews-E42589.htm

DIY Halloween Costume I: The Plan

This is the first  installment of  my quest to make my own Halloween costume.  I struggle with all thing related to fashion and crafting, so this is going to be a challenge.  

    I know Halloween is weeks away, but the earlier I start on my costume the better!  Last year, I was in a total panic. I ordered 7 costumes on-line and prayed one of them fit. One did fit, the last one that I got!  You can imagine how stressed I was with 6 costume fails.  Yet I am not complaining, Halloween is a fun holiday and I like dressing up. I just need to get better at it!

     This year I decided to start very early (I started mid-September).  Looking at the pre-made costumes, your choices are slutty or matronly. There doesn't seem to be anything that is in between. I wanted something that is cute and little sexy.  I decided I am going to Do-It-Myself (DIY) this year.  This is going to be a challenge because crafting is not a natural talent I possess. Thank goodness there is Pintrest for ideas and YouTube for instructional videos.

     My costume idea is peacock. So far I've got the blue dress.  I ordered 6 different dresses and this one came last (again)! It was a good fit and nice color, so the crafting can begin.  My costume crafting plan is:

• Make a peacock tail out of  multi-colored tulle
• Make a feather hair piece and a clip for the tulle tail ribbon
• Learn how to do a peacock eye with makeup

     I am going to be posting each step, to help keep my progress in check. I am simultaneously excited and worried.  One of the reasons I find crafting frustrating is it never turns out like I picture it in my head.  Oh well, I am going to give it a try and hopefully there is minimal crying and gnashing of teeth. DIY- a trick or a treat?

Rosemary Potatoes

 
 This one came together all on its own. I was going to make some potatoes- mashed potatoes.  Then I remembered all the rosemary I had growing and thus this side dish was born. The result was delicious.

     To make, I cubed four red potatoes. I added salt, pepper and olive oil and put in a glass baking dish. I baked at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. Then I pulled it out of the oven, added butter and put it back in for another 10 minutes.

     It went very well with the steak I made and then there were left overs!  I fried some up in butter for breakfast the next morning. That was delicious. The rest I ate cold as a snack. That was also delicious.

     Usually I plan out my recipes and even rehearse cooking them in my head. This just popped into my head  and got made with ease.  It was nothing fancy, but a easy and delicious surprise.