Friday Favorites

Table setting Guide - This has table settings for a formal, breakfast, casual and a few others. Plus it has printable guides to help you out as you actually set the table.

5 Ingredient Chicken Recipes

The 25 Most Common Cooking Mistakes - I found the list interesting and regretfully I have done many of them.

Okay this is a new one for me that I am trying out and might have a review for it in the future....

Alice.com - I have found many of their products are either the same price as I pay now or lower. You can select your products just to store or to put in your cart and then the best feature....FREE SHIPPING! Another feature I really think I will enjoy is that you can set up reminders - so that it will send you a reminder to order something. Such as if you go through your granola bars every 3 weeks then you can set up a reminder to order them every 3 weeks. I haven't used it yet. But I think I will and if so....will do a review.

How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet - Just a good link to have around.

This and That

I have had a few people write and ask what almond bark is so I took a picture of the kind I use...



I know each store carries it's a different brand. But look for Vanilla Flavored Coating or Vanilla Flavored Candy Coating. Ask clerks in the store too - this time of year they usually know exactly where it is or if they have any left. Our Safeway usually has a special baking display right as you walk in and they almost always have some of it there. But usually I find it in Wal-Mart by chocolate chips and Baker's Baking Chocolate.


Next....

I got a notice in my inbox Amazon is doing $5.00 Magazine Subscriptions again - only of course on select ones but it would be a great last minute gift or stocking stuffer.


Finally a few links for creating your holiday table....

BHG - Set a Stylish Tables

Martha Stewart Christmas Table

Martha Stewart Centerpieces and More (had some cute place setting card ideas)

Real Simple 35 Easy Elegant Recipes for Christmas Dinner

Holiday Tipping Check List

Book Review: 2 Christmas Books

Christmas: Making the Perfect Celebration by Carolyn Bell

If you want a complete guide that gives you ideas for food, entertaining, decorations, gift giving and crafts for the holiday season - this is the book for you. The book begins with a countdown to Christmas, with helpful tips on what to buy when, and which preparations should be done first. It includes a week-by-week countdown to help you plan and organize your Christmas shopping and cooking, plus a timetable for preparing food on Christmas Day and suggested holiday menus. I found the recipes and projects to range from simple to complex. There are projects on how to create a festive table setting, how to decorate your home with projects to make wreaths, garland and candles, how to make homemade ornaments to decorate your Christmas tree and how to create your own holiday cards and gift-wrap. It has a whole section of crafts to make with kids too. Their are menus and recipes for holiday dinners, vegetarian meals, party foods and buffet dishes. The recipes include several different stuffing recipes, sauces and preserves, desserts and treats, drinks and cocktails and edible gifts. There were some recipes that sounded delicious to me and others that I didn't sound appetizing to me at all. I really enjoyed the vegetarian meal selections. The book also included techniques on how to test cakes to see if they are done, how to make almond past and royal icing, how to stuff and roast a turkey, how to make a glaze and so on.

As I said it is a complete guide to Christmas...with over 200 recipes, 50 projects and 1400 color photographs.

Although I think the book was very well done and has so much to offer I didn't make notes while I had this checked out and I didn't create any of the crafts. I am not sure if that though was because I checked it out in the summer and wasn't yet really in the holiday planning stage. I do think it would be worth another look. I remember really enjoying the edible gifts recipes and many of the crafts.

Christmas in Minutes: Festive Crafts in Less Than an Hour by Carol Cox

Product description:

Who isn't busy during the holidays? Clear, concise instructions teamed with brilliant yet simple ideas make this new book a must-have for holiday crafters with little free time on their hands. Taking only five to fifty-five minutes to complete, each project can be fitted into a busy schedule. The 30 projects are arranged in sections according to the time required to complete them. For example, gift tags decorated with bay leaves and rosemary sprigs can be made in under 15 minutes. It takes only 30 minutes to make a calla lily centerpiece. Forty-five minutes is plenty of time to make door wreaths, a glimmering silver twig tree, or an elegant eucalyptus garland. Designs use simple and available materials (natural or artificial) such as pinecones, fruits, ribbons, cinnamon sticks and grapevine wreaths to give your home that handcrafted feel without a lot of work.

If you are intimidated by flower arranging or using flowers in your decorating, this book might be a good start. It has some simple projects to do in 15 to 45 minutes that look elegant and just perfect for the holidays. I am not going to say it is great book. It does have some good arrangements but some of them are also a little busy - to me. But for a start - I think it would be a good to even just read to get ideas.

Some of the projects...
Cally Lily Tree (on the cover)
Dried Apple Ring
Berry Heart Chairback
Festive Pinecone
Clove studded and carved limes
Leaf Wrapped Candles

Also how-to instructions on how to make a triple bow, dry fruit, make lime roses, moss rope and so on.

Denture Tablets for a Crystal Vase

I was out of town for 2 weeks and when I got off the plane Master was waiting for me with roses. So I had to look through my vases to find a perfect fit. And in searching I was reminded of the disgusting look of one of my favorite vases. That I have to hide away because it looks so bad. Thankfully with flowers in it - it doesn't show up very well.



I told myself that after this bunch of roses I would find a solution to fix it. It is a Lennox crystal vase. I have in the past tried to use a paste of baking soda and vinegar on it and scrubbing with a slim brushes. But nothing would clear it up. I also had another vase just starting to turn cloudy. I had read online before that some people have used denture tablets to clean vases. I was a little skeptical but decided to ask around about - if it was a real solution and several people assured me it had worked with success for them.

So I picked up a box of denture tablets at the Dollar Tree. And decided to try it out.




Scrubbed with an old toothbrush - lightly. As their was a very light cloudy film after the first time using the denture tablets.


When I asked around about using the denture tablets, many said I might have to repeat the process. The first time I filled the vase to the narrow neck with water. And after there was still a light layer of cloudy film on the middle full part of the vase after scrubbing with the toothbrush. So I decided to do a second tablet filling it just past the cloudy film. And then was able to rinse with hot water and it was fine. Better then fine it worked.

No more cloudy vases....



That second vase only had a light ring of cloudy film. So it only needed one time through with the denture tablet process. The whole process was so easy. And here I think of all the time I had been struggling to try to get the Lennox crystal vase clean and couldn't. I will now always use them at first signs of cloudy film. It was a success!

Friday Favorites

60 Summer Side Dish Recipes - some really yummy easy looking sides. Side for me are always something I am trying to figure out and never know what to cook or just do the same ones over and over.

Making a Table Cloth - I have at times not found the color or size I wanted so this is something I think would be easy to do

Bar Planning 101 - has questions with fix it solutions for when setting up a bar for a party

Table Settings with Pictures - It has from traditional to themes (such as Asian table decorations). I think it might be a good place when throwing a party and needing to set and decorate the table.

Hostess with the Mostess - Totally what the name implies. Party ideas, recipes, entertaining help and finds to help you make your party better.

Friday Favorites

Another one of those summer menus by Whole Living that sounded yummy! Grilled Chicken with Red Pepper and basil served with caramelized corn.

I use cloth napkins because it saves money on paper products and also feel it is more eco-friendly. I think this is a very cute summery way to embellish cloth napkins you might have around the house.

Etiquette book by Emily Post free on Project Gutenberg

I know many of us are tasked to recycle, re-use and repurpose. I found this link for re-purposing plastic bottles.

And for just a wild card of a link this week that has nothing to do with really domestic service but Master likes me in eye shadow. And I am a girly girl who has done this very thing it talks about broken my eye shadow by dropping it on the floor.....Fixing Broken Eyeshadow.

Friday Favorites

Cool Down with Homemade Pops - Oh yum! So many of them I would love to try. They are all from Cooking Light it looks like too so hopefully not to high in the sugar and calories!

Paper bow making - Recycling magazines, old books and scrapbooking paper would be a great way to repuprose/recycle but also add a touch of fun to a gift.

There is also a great article on gift wrapping in Simply Service Holiday 2008 issue by marg_it that I know I will reference again around the holidays too but goes well with the above link too.

A Service Book of Days by Service Savoir Faire - a new blog by namaste that is a useful tool for those of us in service. I think the Service Book of Days would be a great way to keep track and focus on service.

Bandanna Tablecloth - I think for the summer time this is just such a great way to "dress" the table casually. Also as listed in the comments - a good place to get bandannas is Orientaltrading.com.

Practical Books

Over on FetLife I answered a thread on books that helped in serving so I thought I would share my answer here. I also started a similar thread on the Domestic Servitude group on FetLife.

My most cherished book is - Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson. Mine looks like it is also as I have used it so much.

It has everything in it: How to do all basic sewing stitches. How to iron a dress shirt and fold sheets. How to make up a bed with hospital corners. How to choose proper sizes for sheets, tablecloths, and other household linens. How to set the table for informal and formal meals. Expert recommendations for safe food storage. The most exhaustive and reliable information on fabrics, textile fibers, and their laundering, and drying. A thorough explanation of care labels and why and how you should often (carefully) disregard them. Housekeeping guidelines for people with pets or with allergies. What to do about dust mites. How to clean and care for wood, china and crystal, jewelry, ceramic tile, metals, and more. Guides to stain and spot removal. It is a great book for a domestic service.

A few of my other favorites: Handbook for Hosts: A Practical Guide to Party Planning and Gracious Entertaining By Adam Bluestein, The Editors of Town & Country - It is a good go-to-book on entertaining. It an easy to read quick reference guide when throwing a party. It is has helpful ideas on a preparing your food, table and home, being a good host, entertaining over night guests and also about being a good guest in someone else's home

New Book of Table Settings By Chris Bryant, Paige Gilchrist - This book is for modern times when potlucks, buffets, friends over to watch a movie is common. It gives you ideas that work for many types of settings. Many ideas in the book use things you find around your house or easy to make. Pretty formal tables as well as casual tapas after work.

Emily Post's Etiquette - I think it is a thorough general book to have on hand. Also because Master has come to me and asked how to handle situations of etiquette from a male perspective - How to Be a Gentleman: A Timely Guide to Timeless Manners By John Bridges or there is another one by Emily Post's son - Peter Post about the same topics.

The Weekend Baker by Abigail Johnson - This book has really great recipes. But also if you are a beginner baker or someone who doesn't have a lot of time to bake - this book is for you. It is so detailed on the steps of the recipes. It gives you step by step instructions for a variety of methods such as hand mixing or mixer stand.

The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook By Beth Hensperger - If you have a bread machine or are thinking of getting one this book is like a bible for Bread Machines. I wish I would have had it when I first got my bread machine as it just has great trouble shooting tips for baking. Even for me living in high altitude. The recipes are so versatile too.

There are many good books on wine, entertaining, cleaning naturally, coffee/tea, massage, personal care, cooking and so on. Just do a search at your local library on those subjects and it is sure to bring up many books. The library is a great inexpensive resource even in this day and age of the internet.

As Sir Stephen mentioned some books on spirituality in the thread on Service Oriented Slaves, I have books that are similar that have helped me. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - those agreements fit well for the relationship I am in - Owner/property. And really every relationship but I really could relate it back to my relationship with Master. Books on Buddhism have helped me immensely about meditation finding my center and focus. And actually more importantly it has helped me on acceptance of my life as sometimes as much as I want to be a slave - accepting what that actually means day to day can be a harder pill to swallow. The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle did a similar thing also - about learning to accept life and the things that come at you in unexpected ways. That the world is not ending if I can't do something perfectly - a lot of help on letting go of control - knowing I can't control everything and that is okay. I so want to do everything I can for Master - that I sometimes lose sight with the fact that I am only human and one person. That book helped remind me of that fact and to allow me to accept the moment as is.

So what books do count as practical books for serving? Or if you are on the top-side of the equation what books do you like those serving you to read?

Cinco de Mayo

It is going to be Cinco de Mayo in a couple days and I thought I would share a few good links to create a festive mood and delicious recipes. Master is going to be out of town so this year won't be much of a celebration with just me...well the cats are here but not sure they want Chicken Enchiladas and a margarita. I hope to at least make a few recipes I came across in the near future as we love Mexican food and I make it about once a week.

History
First though please know it isn't Mexican Independence day so learn about the origins of Cinco de Mayo: About.com, History.com, Wikipedia.com.

Decorating
For decorating I always think of a string of chili lights, sombreros, making a chili pepper wreath, brightly colored Mexican blankets and a center piece of bright orange, purplish, hot pink and yellow zinnias, and dahlias. Such as this display from Martha Stewart. Or just make brightly colored tissue paper flowers.

How To Make A Tissue Paper Flower -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

More crafts for decorations:
Mexican folk art of paper-cutting - to make into banners
Mexican Flag Pinata or this one by Martha Stewart
Mexican Dancing Clothes Pin Dolls - which would be really cute on a table and if doing a party - use them as place cards - by attaching a little tag to the "hands". Or if you are having a buffet use them in the same way but to tell your guest what each dish is or just hold a menu.
Metal cut-outs and punched tin napkin rings
Paper Flowers by Martha Stewart - I like how they are round and could be hung
Crepe Paper Mexican Flag
Make a canvas rug/table covering/table runner to look like a Mexican blanket


Recipes

First some that I really think look good that I want to make...
Chicken Enchiladas Verdes
Chicken Tostadas
Turkey Nachos - this is pretty much how I make my nachos most of the time even if I use seasoned ground beef/turkey or roasted chicken. Sometimes I substitute the black beans for refried or pinto just depending on what I have around or what sounds best
Chicken Enchiladas with Roasted Tomatillos
Margarita Cake by Betty Crocker

And then some links that have a good overview of Mexican recipes to celebrate Cinco de Mayo...
Food Network Cinco de Mayo Recipes
Food Network Salsa Recipes
Allrecipes.com Cinco de Mayo Recipe Collection
Food Network Margarita Recipes
Kraft Foods Cinco de Mayo Recipes
Epicurious Cinco de Mayo Complete Package Recipes
Taste of Home Cinco de Mayo Recipes
Mexican Recipes by Martha Stewart

Friday Favorites

Firefox browser has this add-on called StumbleUpon (I think it is compatible with other browsers too.) You can select topics you like and then it picks websites in those topics that you might like. You hit the stumble button and it pulls up a website for you. It allows you to rate it a thumbs up or thumbs down. And then you can hit stumble and go to the next. Anyway, it is wildly addictive.

And I think I will start doing a five favorites I have stumbled upon each Friday.



10 Delicious DIY Salad Dressings - I really want to try the Citrus Vinaigrette and then the French Style Dressing too. I don't like French Dressing but their version looks like something I might like.

Table Manners - Eddie Ross on Table Setting Styles....showing the difference between setting a table British Formal, French Formal and a few other styles.

Stitch Guide - it shows how to make several kinds of stitches from button hole stitch to feather stitch to overcast stitch and so on.

Simple Tricks to Make you look Smart - not sure they will make you look smart but I do think they will help you solve some little everyday issues that come up. Such as out and about and need a ruler - use a dollar bill as it is just a little over 6 inches.

Photograzing - It gathers photos of delicious looking food. And then links to those recipes.

Valentine Tablescapes and Crafts

First a couple links that are generic to use more then just Valentines...

Setting Table

Napkin Folding Guide

And now to Valentine links...

This one has a napkin folded as a heart for Valentines

And here are a couple Valentine inspired tablescapes that might inspire you for your table...

Cross Road Cottage Valentine Tablescape

Thrifty Tablescapes

BHG Crafts to help with Valentine tablescapes

Tablescape Blog


Crafts...

Felt Hearts

Sewn Cards

Owl Valentine

Cloth Napkins

When I moved in with Master, he had quite a few sets of placemats and cloth napkins. And I ended up making the most of the cloth napkins. I use them everyday meal time on the table as napkins in place of a paper towel or paper napkin. It really is a super easy way to dress up meal time. And it is more green then using paper napkins or paper towels.

I have them sitting in the counter on a basket (yes that is them in the photo) to grab from. Some have really faded and are getting worn but they still work. And truthfully some of them I would have never picked out but they were given as gifts. But they still make the table look nicer then a paper product. The clearance sections (in Target, Wal-Mart, Kohls) are great place to look because you can get cheap that way any where from 50 cents to $1.