Tag: Fall shopping

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I never thought I would become a a devotee of Pampered Chef but I was hooked after a neighbor gave an amazing party that featured Fall products. I immediately signed up for my own party and scored hundreds of dollars of free quality items and had a great time hosting my Pampered Chef party in my local watering hole. So I decided to host a Pampered Chef Fall catalogue party. It is time for pumpkin-spiced everything and who doesn’t love making homemade whipped cream?! Save a few bucks and add some whipped love in a variety of flavors to your favorite hot beverage!

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How do you make this whipped love? I have just the tool for you!

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The Whipped Cream maker is available on my Pampered Chef catalogue

www.pamperedchef.com/go/tonimcdowell

Another of my favorite Pampered Chef treasures is the Deep Covered Baker. I use it in the microwave and the oven for everything from Herb-Roasted Chicken and Roasted Veggies to Italian Roast Beef that I shred for Portillo’s-style beef sandwiches.

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Some of the Pampered Chef staples that I use every time I cook are back so you can be your domestic goddess on….these products take the pain out of chopping, dicing and shredding. Next post I will share with you all the products I am scoring for myself. Let’s Pamper our kitchen.

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Fall…it’s that time of year when all of the fall clothes come out of the back of closet and out of my storage. I add a few items here or there but my days of hanging out in a mall wandering aimlessly and spending money on things I will never wear are over. Strategic Shopping is where its at. For this I love Pinterest. I get all of my outfit ideas from Pinterest. I type in what item I have in my closet for example, the Boyfriend Jean, I type it into the search and hundreds of outfit ideas pop up. I scan a few and dive into my crazy closet and put an outfit together. If a special item is trending like the blanket scarf, my newest obsession by the way, then I go out and buy one or two of that item only. Boutique shopping is my favorite and I am in love with Poppy and Stella in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore. They always have the on trend items I am searching for…another amazing boutique here in Baltimore is Cloud Nine. Cloud Nine Clothing is amazing and my first fashion love in Baltimore.  So try the closet shopping and put an end to impulse shopping! 75 Fall Outfits to Wear Now

As I sit here  and pin (Yes…click on the hyperlink to see the outfits ideas) different Fall outfits for you guys to see how easy it is to shop in your closet I come across a great outfit idea that I just happen to have in my closet within easy reach. I can’t wait to wear this outfit tomorrow! I have the elements of this outfit down to the jewelry and tan handbag…lol…work to Happy Hour easy peazy!

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So, this is how I am going to spend my Saturday afternoon. I am giving a Pampered Chef party. I love the idea of cooking wonderful, comfort food in the Fall and decided this is one way to kick start the season. Thanksgiving will be here in just a few weeks and I am going to start planning that menu now!

Come out if you are in the area and let’s have some fun! If you can’t make it and want to make a purchase here is the link to follow. http://www.pamperedchef.biz/kellyvail and click on “find a show” in the upper right corner then type in Toni McDowell as host, click on connect to show and the shopping cart icon and shop away!

I will post pics of this event Saturday afternoon! Here are a few Pampered Chef recipes to tempt you!

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Pumpkin-Maple Cream Trifle

Ingredients

  •  Maple Walnuts (optional, see Cook’s Tip)
  • 1 box (14.4 oz/400 g) whole graham crackers (5 x 2 in./13 x 5 cm)
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) plus 3 tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup (do not use maple-flavored pancake syrup), divided
  • 1 pkg (3.4 oz/102 g) cheesecake or vanilla instant pudding and pie filling
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk
  • 1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) (1 3/4 cups/425 mL)
  • 2 tsp (10 mL) Cinnamon Plus® Spice Blend
  • 1 container (12 oz/1 L) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
  •  Additional Cinnamon Plus® Spice Blend Plus

Directions

  1. Prepare Maple Walnuts, if desired; set aside. Coarsely break graham crackers into Stainless (6-qt./6-L) Mixing Bowl. Place 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the maple syrup in Small Batter Bowl; microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds or until hot. Pour hot syrup over crackers; toss to coat and set aside.
  2. For pumpkin filling, combine pudding mix and milk in Stainless (4-qt./4-L) Mixing Bowl; whisk until mixture begins to thicken. Add pumpkin and spice blend to pudding mixture; whisk well. Fold 2 cups (500 mL) of the whipped topping into pudding mixture; set aside.
  3. For maple cream, combine remaining 3 tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup and remaining whipped topping in Stainless (2-qt./2-L) Mixing Bowl; fold gently. Attach open star tip to Easy Accent® Decorator; fill with 2/3 cup (150 mL) of the maple cream and set aside for garnish.
  4. To assemble trifle, place one-third of the graham cracker mixture over bottom of Trifle Bowl. Top with half of the pumpkin filling, spreading to edges. Top with another third of the graham cracker mixture. Top with remaining maple cream, spreading to edges. Top with remaining graham cracker mixture and pumpkin filling. Cover; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with Maple Walnuts, if desired, and pipe with reserved maple cream. Sprinkle with additional spice blend, if desired.

Yield:

  1. 24  servings of about 1/2 cup (125 mL)

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 180, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 27 g, Protein 2 g, Sodium 160 mg, Fiber 2 g

U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving:

1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat (2 carb)

Cook’s Tips:

Soaking the graham crackers with hot maple syrup will soften the crackers to a cake-like consistency.

To make Maple Walnuts, combine 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter and 3 tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup in (10-in./24-cm) Sauté Pan. Stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Add 1 cup (250 mL) walnut halves and cook, stirring constantly, 5-7 minutes or until walnuts are evenly browned. Spread walnuts in a single layer on parchment paper; cool completely.
Pumpkin pie spice can be substituted for the Cinnamon Plus® Spice Blend.
Roasted Herb Turkey_ Pampered Chef
Roasted Herb Turkey_ Pampered Chef

Rosemary-Herb Roasted Turkey

Ingredients

  • 1   thawed, frozen or fresh turkey, 12-18 pounds
  • 1 large lemon, sliced
  • 1 large onion, cut into wedges
  • 2-3   fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Rosemary Rub

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities; cook and reserve for use in stuffing or gravy, if desired. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Lift wing tips up toward neck, then tuck under back of turkey. Place lemon, onion and thyme inside body cavity. Tie ends of legs together with cotton string. Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in Roasting Pan.
  2. Brush skin with oil using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush. Sprinkle with rub. Roast turkey 3-4 hours or until Pocket Thermometer registers 180°F in thickest part of thigh and juices run clear. (To prevent overcooking, loosely cover breast with aluminum foil when turkey is about two-thirds done. Check for doneness about 30 minutes before turkey is expected to be done.)
  3. Remove turkey from oven; let stand 20 minutes. Using Meat Lifters, carefully remove turkey from Roasting Pan to Reversible Bamboo Carving Board. Cut string from legs and discard. Carve turkey using Carving Set.

Yield:

  1. Varies depending on size of turkey  servings of 4 ounces

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 240, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 95 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Protein 32 g, Sodium 75 mg, Fiber 0 g

U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving:

4 meat (0 carb)

Update November 9, 2015

The Pampered Pumpkin Chef party was a blast! We had a great time trying new recipes and looking over all of the EXCLUSIVE Holiday products. I wanted to add two of the recipes that we tried so you can enjoy a little pampering too!

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Microwave Chocolate Lava Cake

  • Combine oil, eggs and water that is specified on back of devil’s food cake mix, according to directions.
  • Pour into DEEP COVERED BAKER.
  • Drop balls of chocolate frosting using STAINLESS STEEL SCOOP on top of wet batter.
  • Put DEEP COVERED BAKER into microwave for 10 minutes.
  • Enjoy with optional ice cream on top!
452005-med
Hot & Cheesy Bruschetta Dip
Ingredients:
8 oz (250 g) part-skim mozzarella cheese
8 oz (250 g) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
1/4 cup (50 mL) light mayonnaise
1 1/2 tbsp (22 mL) Herbs de Provence Seasoning Mix
3 garlic cloves
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground black pepper
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 egg, beaten
1 frozen puff pastry sheet (from 17.3-oz/397-g pkg), thawed (see Cook’s Tip)
Toasted Baguette Slices (see Cook’s Tip), assorted vegetables or crackers

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Grate mozzarella using Microplane® Adjustable Coarse Grater.
  2. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, seasoning mix, garlic pressed with Garlic Press and pepper in Classic Batter Bowl; stir in mozzarella.
  3. Pump half of the tomatoes in Manual Food Processor 7–10 times or until coarsely chopped; add them to cheese mixture. Repeat with remaining tomatoes and stir them gently into cheese mixture.
  4. Scrape cheese mixture into Round Covered Baker and microwave it, uncovered, on HIGH 1–2 minutes or just until cheese starts to melt; stir halfway through cooking.
  5. Unfold pastry onto lightly floured Large Grooved Cutting Board and lightly roll seams using Baker’s Roller®.
  6. Place lid of baker over pastry. Using Pizza Cutter, cut around the lid to form a circle. Using Creative Cutters, cut out and reserve two shapes from center of pastry circle.
  7. Place pastry circle over dip, lightly brush it with some of the egg and top it with cutouts; lightly brush cutouts with egg. (Discard the rest of the egg.)
  8. Bake, uncovered, 16–18 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Remove baker from oven. Serve dip with Toasted Baguette Slices, assorted vegetables or crackers.

Yield: 24

Nutrients per serving: (about 3 tbsp/45 mL dip): Calories 100, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 2.5 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Sodium 130 mg, Carbohydrate 5 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 4 g

Cook’s Tips: Puff pastry is easiest to work with when it’s cold. Thaw it in the refrigerator, and keep it chilled until you’re ready to use it.

Soft cheeses like mozzarella are easiest to shred when they’re very cold. Freeze it for 15 minutes before shredding.

To make Toasted Baguette Slices, preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place 24 thin slices of French bread on Large Round Stone with Handles. Lightly brush or spray the bread slices with olive oil. Bake 8–10 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned.

© 2012 The Pampered Chef used under license.
http://www.pamperedchef.com

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So I have been ‘poshing’ a lot this week and I swear it is going to be the death of me. Fall is coming and I am dreaming of sleek jean and boot combos. My favorite brand of shoes and boots is Frye and I have them in many colors, heights and textures. They make me extremely even weirdly happy lol!  What is your favorite boot and how do you wear it? I normally hit up Pinterest when I want to style a new pair of boots they are always spot on. Here are a few of my favs…..

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This pair I plan to wear with soft jeans, a GAP tee and a beautiful chocolate brown Coach scarf with lot dangly earrings and flowing locs. The piece de resistance will be my sexy chocolate leather Coach tote that I have carried for years that still gets compliments everywhere I go.

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For this pair I have to find boot socks so that I can rock these boots with shorts and a sweater in the beginning of the season. I can also see these being a Sunday go-to Farmer’s Market staple with leggings and a long soft sweatshirt. I also have an old distressed authentic biker jacket that I picked up years ago for $30…A soft tshirt and jeggings makes this the perfect walkabout the neighborhood jacket when the evenings turn crisp.

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The Veronica Leather Combat boot is next on my Poshmark list….I lived in combat boots during my Army years and I am still attached to that comfortable, supportive style. This Frye boot is right up my alley and will work great when I am feeling in a distressed denim mood.

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Here is a pair that slipped through my fingers. I own this pair of Frye shoes in a lemony yellow, dusky rose pink and a tan pair. Found these on Poshmark but had trouble getting them from the seller but I will not give up these babies need to join her sisters in my closet. I have lots of outfits in mind for this pair. Wish me luck!

Check out Poshmark if you are like me and don’t have the time or patience to break in new boots or shoes. Check out my Posh page…sz 10s are hard to come by https://poshmark.com/closet/tonimc70 The prices really can’t be beat and the customer service is top notch. Don’t take my word for it…check it out yourself ;-)!