Fashion, Frugality, Food & Fun: December 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

This is a fairly simple Chicken and Dumplings recipe that I recently tried. They turned out very good, so here is the recipe:

Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients

Chicken (whole chicken or 4 boneless breasts)

Can biscuits 1 – 2 cans

Chicken Broth (32 oz)

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

Salt and pepper to taste

Flour (optional)

Directions

Cook chicken in about 5 cups of water until tender (about 20 - 30 mins for breast and be careful not to overcook). Once chicken is done keep broth, shred chicken and set aside. Next put chicken broth and cream of chicken soup in a large stockpot and bring for a gentle boil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Also may add chicken bouillon cubes if needed. Lower heat and tear biscuits in half and drop them into the broth (this makes thick dumplings, if you prefer thinner ones see below). Gently push the dumplings down into the broth, do not stir. Cook about 10 minutes. If more broth is needed add amount desired. Add shredded chicken and simmer until ready to serve.

If you prefer thinner dumplings, use Pillsbury layers biscuits. First combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Next tear the biscuits into three layers. Dip each layer into the flour and coat both sides. Next tear each layer into three pieces and drop into broth. Cook about 10 minutes and do not stir. I have tried this and it works well I just prefer large plump dumplings so I used the other method, which is pictured below.

This is especially good on a cold winter day!!

Before Dumplings Added

Dumplings Just Added

Final Product

Monday, December 10, 2012

First attempt at DIY Wreath making......

I saw a cute little wreath on pinterest that I decided to try and make. It can be for Christmas but can be used at other times of year as well. Total cost for everything was about $11. This is a picture of the wreath from pinterest.

This is the website the wreath was originally posted on.

Here is my attempt.

Items needed are:

Yarn (I had a lot leftover)

Glue (I used both fabric glue and a hot glue gun)

One of the round wreath forms you can get at craft stores (an interesting thing I read was that you can buy the black round tubing at lowe's for about $0.97 and then glue the ends together and it works as well as the ones you buy at the craft stores for $5 or $6. I have not tried this yet)

Sheets of felt. I used two colors and only used one sheet of each color for this wreath.

Buttons (3-4) or Bells, etc.

Scissors

Ribbon for hanging (optional).

Basically just start by wrapping the wreath form with the yarn. I wrapped it pretty tight so the white couldn't be seen

Next I worked on the flowers. I made three: one large, one medium and one small. I cut them freehand so they are not exactly even but I like that look. I used two colors for the flowers. I used the fabric glue to put the two pieces of felt together to make the flower petals.

I then put the flowers together with a hot glue gun. I finished them with a button in the center. Again using the hot glue gun I glued the flowers to the wreath. I started with the larger one at the bottom and glued them up the right side decreasing in size.

I added a ribbon to the top for hanging but I haven't decided if I like it better with or without the ribbon. I'm leaning towards without the ribbon.

Good Luck!!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Perfectly Thin(ner) Photos, Problem Solving and AWESOME shoes

I read an article in US weekly today that had three tips to look thinner in pictures. I thought it was a some good information that is easy to do.

1. Place your hands on your hips. This is supposed to make your waist look smaller.


Not that Blake needs to look thinner but you get the point

2. Keep your chin slightly up. It will make your neck look longer.


I have noticed that in most of Marilyn's pictures she does keep her head up

3. Do not stand directly facing the camera. Tilt to one side (it suggests 30 degrees). Standing straight ahead tends to make you look wide.

On another note there are some videos on YouTube called Quick and Simple Life Hacks. The user is HouseholdHacker. These are fantastic. There are just little hints for problem solving. For example, using coca cola to clean a window or using a baggie full of vinegar to clean a shower head. These are easy and the ones I have tried actually work. You should check them out.

Lastly, I ran across the most AWESOME pair of shoes I have ever seen and here they are!! Enjoy


Christian Louboutin Daffodile

~ADJ

Monday, December 3, 2012

Holiday Party Attire

This time of year is so exciting and offers many opportunities to be a social butterfly. There are Christmas Parties at least every weekend in December and here are a few looks to get you through the season. Sequins are a must for holiday parties!!

Basic outfit with a sequin skirt and some strappy heels to dress it up.


NY & Co. Sequin Pencil Skirt in Dull Gold

NY & Co.

Chelsea Box Pleat Trimmed Cardigan in Black

Jessica Simpson Barbara Black Leather Sandals

Classic sequin dress. The shoes are suggestions but you could really wear about any color shoe with this dress to make it extra dressy or to dress it down a little.