goat cheese and blackberry jam

So easy. So elegant. So delicous! This goat cheese dip is truly as simple as mixing goat cheese and any jam or preserves you want. Just start mixing little by little, taste, and add accordingly-I started with about half a log of cheese (2 oz.) to 1 tablespoon of jam. Another option is to serve one chunk of goat cheese on a cracker and then spoon jam on top, but that is messier and the flavors obviously don't get mixed as well- so I like to mix the jam and cheese first, then people can scoop their crackers into it.

I used Smucker's Simply Fruit Seedless Blackberry- other ideas for jam/preserve flavors are fig, peach, raspberry, pear, or a spicy jalepeño pepper jam. MmMMmm.

[easy dip for party, easy appetizers, goat cheese and jam appetizer, elegant party appetizers, vegetarian appetizers, goat cheese and jelly]

soccer mom chic

I can only imagine what the other soccer Moms think when they see this lady approach the stands on the first day of soccer practice....

Victoria Beckham soccer mom- cute fall outfit

Maybe the soccer field isn't the best place for six inch heels, but that's how the above fashionista/soccer mom rolls. But you don't have to go that extreme to look cute running around with your kids or attending games & practices this fall. And I promise it takes just as long to put on a cute top and jeans as it does a hoodie and sweatpants. Here are some easy  ideas for a casual, cute look you can still be comfortable in.


[Warning: You don't actually have to be a soccer mom to wear these.]

A long cardigan is a necessary addition to any fall wardrobe. They're flattering on just about every body shape and are oh-so-warm and cuddly. But if you are very short or petite, stick to mid-length cardigans that don't end below your butt, so you aren't drowned. Wear with boots and more form fitting bottoms like leggings/jeggings/skinnies or  at least straight leg jeans. Pair plain cardigans with a colorful scarf and take a thicker, knitted "coatigan" along for those days when it's not quite cold enough for a thick jacket. You can find these in those all-American style stores like GAP, J. Crew and Banana Republic along with department stores.

 H&M Beige Cardigan 



Top Shop Knitted Navajo Coatigan

 

J. Crew Dream Ribbed Yoga Cardigan- Fern

An off-the-shoulder t-shirt is an effortless but sexy look for warmer days (see Posh and then her husband for proof of sexiness). A long necklace or scarf looks great with these basic tees- bring a jean jacket if it gets chilly. You should be able to find them at most mall staples like American Eagle, Macy's, Nordstrom, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and Express.

Need Supply Co.  Basic Babydoll Tee

 

Alloy Off the Shoulder Top

Plaid prints are another cute and easy-going look. Pull your hair back into a ponytail and put on some aviators and you'll feel like an adorable tomboy.

American Eagle

Bundle up with a cozy scarf. A cute scarf instantly transforms your look and is so simple to throw on with any sweater or jacket. A knitted eternity scarf will keep you warm while still looking good. A pashmina (silk & cashmere scarf) like the green one below adds a chic touch to any outfit- I have one in just about every color. 

Knitted eternity scarf - Etsy.com

Forest Green Pashmina- Lapurse.com

Navy Knit Eternity Scarf- Etsy.com seller SwakDesigns

Knit hats are another stylish but sensible pick as the temperatures cool down this fall. Other cute options are berets and vintage-inspired bucket hats. Find one with a flower or bow- or pin your own on for some feminine flair. All of the below hats were found on Etsy.com, where you can have one made in any color to match your fall jacket! You can also find knit hats at stores like Target, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters and department stores like Saks and Nordstrom- they aren't hard to find!

        

[knit slouch hat, soccer mom, cute fall outfits, cute outfits for moms, cute fall hats, cute winter hats, knit hats]

enchilada casserole

The avocado in this dish is, to me, what makes it amazing. You can add anything else you like-sweet potatoes, jalepeño peppers, olives, broccoli, hot sauce... and you can also substitute the TVP for other protein-packed foods like edamame, refried beans or Boca Burger crumbles. I use salsa because it's an easy way to get your tomatoes, onions and peppers all in one quick jar scoop. But if you want to stay with all fresh ingredients, go for it!

Bob's Red Mill High Protein TVP

So what is TVP? It's dehydrated soy-(stands for Textured Vegetable Protein, you may have seen that listed as an ingredient in fake meats) It's super healthy and has 24g of protein in just 1/2 cup! I've seen it in vegetarian cookbooks for years, and finally stumbled upon it at Marcs's for just $1.98 for a bag. (Giant Eagle also has it for $4). It cooks sort of like rice, all you need to do is rehydrate it with hot water. I like to mix TVP with diced tomatoes and garlic and use it as a substitution for ground beef, but it has more of a rice texture.

Serves 4

You'll need:

Soft burritos- 4, sliced into 1" thick strips

Black beans- 1 can- drained, rinsed

Frozen Corn- 1 bag-cooked

Avocado-1, peeled & sliced

TVP- 1 cup (can sub Boca Burger Crumbles or Rice)

Salsa or Diced Tomatoes- 1/2 cup or more, (can also use taco sauce to top)
Chiles or Jalapeños-optional, to taste

Sharp Cheddar- shredded

Fresh Cilantro- chopped

Garlic- 2 cloves, minced

Onion Salt -to taste

Preheat oven to 350 and spray casserole dish with non-stick spray.

Sauté minced garlic in a bit of olive oil 2-3 minutes. Add 1 cup of water and heat until very hot, then add 1 cup of TVP and stir until all TVP is covered. Let sit 5-10 minutes until TVP is completely reconstituted. Stir in salsa, chiles/jalapeños and other desired seasonings.

In a separate bowl, mix corn, black beans and avocado with onion salt and cilantro. 

Layer 1/2 of the sliced burritos, TVP mix (or Boca/Rice), then avocado/black beans/corn mix. Sprinkle with cheddar. Top with remaining sliced burritos. Pour taco sauce or salsa over top and  sprinkle more cheddar if desired. (I ran out of cheese.) Bake 20 minutes at 350.

[Mexican vegetarian recipes, TVP enchilada, enchilada with avocado, vegetarian enchilada casserole, healthy vegetarian casserole, gound beef substitutions, mexicn lasagna]

i d.i.e. for...

Ughk.... I d.i.e. for these ornate bangles from Stella and Dot. Pair them with a cluster of plain gold bangles for a beautiful Moroccan style.

Sunset Bangle & Sloane Enamel Bangle

savory crepes with asparagus

Crepes aren't just for breakfast. All around the world they're prepared with savory fillings such as cheese, asparagus, ham, spinach and ratatouille. Many times these savory crepes are topped with sauces like Béchamel, mushroom, swiss or cheddar cheese. I didn't want to scare my husband with anything too weird, so I went with a cheddar cheese sauce to give it a more familiar flavor, but added white wine to it for flare.

It is essential to make your crepes thin, so they don't just taste like a less-sweet pancake. The key to thin crepes is to swirl your pan around to spread the batter out.

Makes 5 crepes

Crepes

Butter- 2 tbsp melted

Milk or Soy Milk- 1/2 cup (I only had vanilla soy, but it didn't ruin the savory flavor)

Eggs- 2

Flour- 1/2 cup

Salt- 2 pinches

Filling

Asparagus- 20 spears

Mushrooms- 8 oz., sliced

Sauce

If you're watching calories, you could skip it and just sprinkle a little cheddar on top of the veggies inside.

Butter- 3 tbsp

Flour- 4 tbsp

Milk or Unflavored Soy Milk - 2 1/2 cups

Sharp Cheddar Cheese- 1 1/4 cups

White Wine- 1/2 cup

Salt & Pepper- pinch

How to make:

Mix all ingredients for crepes with hand mixer until well blended. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight if possible. I only refrigerate it while I slice the veggies.

Saute the asparagus spears and mushrooms in a little bit of olive oil and/or no-cal cooking spray for 5-7 minutes until al dente.

Meanwhile, as the veggies cook, spray pan for crepes generously with non-stick spray (Pam). Heat pan to medium-high.

Add batter 1/4 cup at a time and as soon as it hits the pan, start swirling the pan, very slowly until the batter has all settled and no longer runs. Then set the pan back on the heat for 1-2 minutes. 

It's time to flip when you see the corners beginning to dry and flip up.

Flip over and let the second side cook for 10 seconds. Take off heat, fill with veggies and sauce and fold in half.

To cook sauce: Melt butter and whisk in flour. Slowly stir in milk and wine and bring to a boil.  Turn heat to low and stir in cheddar. The key to this sauce is to stir constantly and serve immediatley. I spoon some inside the crepe and some over the top.


[savory crepes, crepes with asparagus and mushrooms, dinner crepes, crepes with cheddar cheese and white wine sauce]

jewelry travel bag

The days of throwing your jewelry into zip-lock bags or loose into your travel bag are over! Every girl should own one of these über useful (and cute) travel bags. I gave them to my bridesmaids as one of their gifts, and I hope they love them as much as I do. 

It's a nice way to organize your rings and easily pack even your chunkiest jewelry without worrying about tangles and knots. Each jewelry travel bag has 16 pouches for rings and they even fit my gigundo cocktail rings! I got my bag pictured below from Etsy.com (my favorite site ever), from seller FernHollowFinds. I got my bridesmaids' bags from Etsy seller Greenwillow in different prints to fit each girl's style. 

Both sellers were very helpful and were willing to make multiple bags in any material/print and even personalize them with initials on the bottom. Get one before your next vacay, fo real.

Search "jewelry travel bags" on Etsy.com and you'll find tons!

[jewelry travel bags, jewelry pouches, bridesmaid gifts, creative bridesmaid gifts, jewelry for bridesmaids, how to pack jewelry, easy ways to organize jewelry, how to travel with jewelry]

12 uses for cucumbers

Still looking for ways to use up those garden cucumbers? Here are 12 useful ideas for how to use this magically versatile veggie. 

1. Get your vitamins! Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Need a pick me up? If you're feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Flavor your water. A single cucumber slice in a glass of ice water adds a light and flavor that is extremely refreshing and just wonderful. Fill a glass pitcher with water and ice and toss in some cucumber slices for a classy touch when hosting. Everytime I drink it I swear I'm never drinking regular water again.

4. Repel garden pests! Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Shrink cellulite. Cellulite- woman's arch-nemesis. For a fast and easy way to remove to shrink cellulite before going out or to the pool, try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Hangover help. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache-free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Kill cravings! Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Make squeaks shut their face! Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

9. Chill out, girl. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams. *Warning- do NOT stick face in boiling water to enhance the aromatherapy.

12. Fight pen marks. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

10. Freshen your breath. Just chow down on my curry couscous patties and you don't have gum or mints? Fear no more! Press a cucumber slice to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

11. Shine up. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.


[uses for cucumbers, cucumber recipes, cucumber gardens]

couscous cakes

Ah couscous. The grain so nice, they named it twice. I made a box of couscous and was noticing how my leftovers were conglomerating and sticking together when I had a genius revelation...couscous patties! Just blend in some beans and veggies, and you have a delish patty with tons of protein. You can put on a bun or eat by itself with some sauce. Either way, it's fabulous.

I used a box of Near East Mediterranean Curry Couscous, so the prep was easy and seasoning wasn't necessary because it already has a strong flavor. I probably ate about 1/2 of the box beforehand, so I'm estimating the amount leftover that I used. If you don't use the box of Mediterranean Couscous with the curry seasonings packet, season the couscous with curry, cumin, lemon, turmeric, parsley salt & pepper, (or any way you want!). I loved the way the carrot shreds add a more crunchy texture, but you can add any veggies you want- spinach, zucchini,  onions, mushrooms.... just cook them first. 

Makes about 8 cakes (3"-4" wide)

Near East Mediterranean Couscous-COOKED 1 1/2 cups

Garbanzo Beans- 1 14 oz. can, drained & rinsed

Egg- 1

Sliced Carrots- 1/3 cup, cooked (I use frozen & heat them up in microwave)

Optional- oats, ground flax seed

Cook couscous according to package directions.

Put garbanzo beans, carrots and egg in food processor and blend well. Then remove blade & stir in couscous by hand- also adding any oats or flaxseed for an extra nutritional boost. Roll into balls and smash with patty maker or form into patties by hand.

I got this patty maker at Bed Bath & Beyond for $2-super convenient!

Cook on a skillet with zero-cal cooking spray or saute in a pan in a little bit of oil. Can also grill. Cook first side, 4-5 minutes and 2-3 minutes on the other side.

Top with ranch if you want a quick sauce, or mix sour cream with dill and garlic salt or use any yogurt sauce.

fall faves

I can't wait for fall. Even though it only lasts about 2 weeks here in the midwest before the snow falls, I love wearing cuddly sweaters and cozy scarves and drinking spiced apple chai tea and pumpkin lattes and wearing cute fall jackets and hats and going to football games and carving pumpkins and making soup and smelling the leaves... get the picture? I love fall. I've been browsing the internet making some wishlists, and here are some of my  favorite affordable fall picks:

1. HM Blouse $24.95

2. Top Shop Green Floral Snood £16

3. HM Cable-knit Sweater

4. HM Bag $34.95

5. HM Faux Leather Pants $24.95

6. Top Shop Oyster Crepe Unstructured Jacket £55

7. Urban Outfitters- Kimichi Blue Wooden Heel Oxfords $78

8. J Brand Bell Bottoms-722 Love Story- Ink $179 

9. Top Shop Pearl Triangle Stud Earrings £10



[fall 2011 trends, fall 2011 favorites, fall 2011 fashion, back to school clothes, eternity scarves, leather jeggings, j brand bell bottoms]

vegetarian tuna salad

Skip the mercury and fishy smell with this yummy I-can't-believe-it's-not-tuna vegetarian tuna salad. (See the Top 10 Reasons to Skip Tuna here.) 

I was playing around in my kitchen trying to create a bean dip, and the result tasted just like tuna salad! I don't know how it's possible, but I'm so glad I found this substitute, I've missed tuna salad sandwiches and tuna melts and now I have an easy vegetarian sandwich to pack for lunch. Top with romaine lettuce and a tomato on wheat bread for a healthy and satisfying lunch! You can also add chopped celery or edamame for extra protein and a crunch.  

If you don't have a food processor, mash the beans and stir in the mayo then add other ingredients.

 Makes about 4 sandwiches

White Beans (like Garbanzo or Butter Beans)- 1 14 oz. can

White Onion- 1/4 cup, minced

Light Mayo or Cream Cheese*-  1/4 cup

Relish or Chopped Pickles- 2 tbsp. 
Onion Salt

Salt & Pepper- to taste

Edamame- 2/3 cup, cooked (OPTIONAL)

Celery- 1/2 cup, chopped (OPTIONAL)

Place beans, mayo, garlic salt, onion salt, salt and pepper in food processor and chop until blended.

Add edamame and chop a few more times.

Remove the blade and stir in chopped celery, onion and pickles/relish.

Serve on whole grain bread. Cook on stovetop for a vegetarian tuna melt!

[vegetarian tuna salad sandwich, healthy kids lunches, vegetarian sandwiches, vegetarian kids lunches, tuna fish substitutes]