WAKIAC

Warm Taco Dip

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 10 minutes - Cook: 5 minutes

1/2 lb ground beef
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 oz taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown meat in skillet; drain.

Reserve 2 tbsp tomatoes for garnish.

Add remaining tomatoes and taco seasoning to skillet; cook 5 minutes.

Spoon into 1 1/2 quart shallow baking dish and top with cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted

Garnish Suggestions: tomatoes, sliced green onions, avacado, sour cream, etc...

Makes 6-8 servings

Cornflake Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

This is actually a recipe from an old cookbook I had as a kid. I can't remember what book (it sort of fell apart from over-use). Please note that this recipe IS kid friendly and written for children.

Equipment:
measuring cup and spoons
plastic bag
rolling pin
pie plate (a low lip salad bowl works just as well )
6-inch skillet
spoon
paper towels
waxed paper
pastry brush
13x9x2 inch baking pan
fork
hot pads
tongs

Ingredients:
2 cups Cornflakes (the off brand is honestly not as good) OR potato chips, (need 1 cup of crushed chip crumbs)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
8 chicken drumsticks (we buy the thigh portion bags, they work just as well, but you have to adjust the cooking time).

Put cornflakes into a plastic bag. Close the bag tightly. Use a rollong pin to crush the Cornflake crumbs into a pie plate.

Put butter or margarine into the skillet. Put skillet on burner. With adult help, turn the burner to low heat. When butter or margarine, turn off the burner. Move skillet off burner. Stir in salt and pepper until well mixed.

Rinse the drumsticks under cold water. Use paper towels to dry them. Put chicken pieces on a piece of waxed paper.

Brush the chicken with melted butter on all sides. Roll each piece in Cornflake crumbs till coated.

Put drumsticks into a baking pan. Be sure pieces don't touch each other. If there is any butter left over, pour it over the chicken. Put the baking pan into the oven.

With adult help, turn the oven to 375 degrees f. Bake until chicken is done. This will take about 50 minutes. Chicken is done when it's easy to poke with a fork. (yay for 1980's lack of specific temperature). Turn off the oven.

With adult help, use hot pads to remove chicken from the oven. Use tongs to put drumsticks on the serving plate.

Makes 4 servings.

This recipe has like 900 extra steps that an adult doesn't necessarily need, but isn't the point of kids cooking to use nearly every dish in the kitchen?

Mom's Superbowl Dip

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

2-4 blocks (16-32 oz) cream cheese
12+ oz Salsa

Set cream cheese out until it reaches room temp.

Put the cream cheese in a bowl and mix until it looks pretty smooth.

Add salsa to taste. I like mine a dark pink, almost red; mom prefers a lighter pink...

Make a lot. The men in my house literally carry around a huge bowl of this and will eat it in less than an hour. I keep the stuff on hand to make 3-4 batches for parties.

Olive Dip

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

1-2 blocks (8-16 oz) cream cheese
1 can sliced olives - finely diced
red pepper flakes

Mix and chill

Sports Injury Slush NOT EDIBLE

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

***Let me start this with: This recipe is NOT edible!!! It's an alternative to an ice pack if you don't have any handy***

2 parts water
1 part rubbing alcohol

Mix both in a plastic, sturdy, Zip top bag. Double bag in case of any leaks. I like to add duct tape to the zipper as well, just in case.

Place in freezer until the mixture forms into a slush.

Place in a pillowcase or a damp towel and place over the sore area for 10-15 minutes.

DO NOT PLACE ON BARE SKIN. This gets incredibly cold and has the potential for causing hypothermia.

***Again: This recipe is NOT edible!!! DO NOT TRY TO EAT IT!!! It's an alternative to an ice pack if you don't have any handy***

Chicken Florentine

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep Time: 10 minutes - Total Time: 26 minutes

3 Tbsp. Zesty Italian Dressing, divided
4 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
8 slices Shaved Smoked Ham
1 cup Shredded Swiss Cheese

HEAT 1 Tbsp. of the dressing in large ovenproof skillet on medium heat. Add spinach; cook and stir 1 min. or just until spinach is wilted. Remove from skillet; cover to keep warm.

ADD remaining 2 Tbsp. dressing and the chicken to skillet; turn chicken over to evenly coat both sides with dressing. Cook 5 to 6 min. on each side or until chicken is cooked through (170°F).

TOP evenly with ham and cheese; cover. Reduce heat to low; cook 1 to 2 min. until cheese is melted. Or, place under a broiler to brown. Spoon spinach mixture evenly onto four plates; top each with a chicken breast.

Makes 4 servings.

Pork Medallions Alfredo

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep Time: 10 minutes - Total Time: 20 minutes

1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed
1/3 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
4 cups hot cooked egg noodles
1 cup cooked peas
2 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped

SPRAY large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Heat on medium-high heat. Add meat; cook 2 min. on each side or until lightly browned on both sides.

ADD cream cheese, broth, dressing, Parmesan cheese and juice; stir until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended. Cook 3 min. or until sauce is thickened and meat is cooked through.

SERVE over the noodles along with the peas. Sprinkle with basil.

Makes 4 servings.

Italian Chicken & Tomato Pasta Toss

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 10 minutes - Total Time: 20 minutes

3 cups medium curly egg noodles, uncooked
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

COOK pasta as directed on package.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat.

Add chicken; cook approx. 6 minutes, or until cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Add tomatoes, dressing and garlic. Cook and stir 3 min. or until heated through.

DRAIN pasta. Toss with the chicken mixture and basil; sprinkle with cheese.

Substitutions:

You can use 1/2 tsp. garlic powder instead of the fresh.

Makes 4 1-3/4 cup servings

One-Pan Roast Pork with Parmesean Fries

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 10 minutes - Total: 1 hour

1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 cup grated parmesean cheese
1 tsp. garlic salt, divided
1 1/4 lb. Yukon gold or russet potatoes (about 3 medium), cut into wedges
1 pork tenderloin (1 lb.)
2 tbsp. balsalmic vinaigerette dressing
1 tbsp. honey

Preheat oven to 425 degrees f. Combine egg white, cheese, and 3/4 tsp of the garlic salt. Add to potatoes; toss to coat. Spread onto the greased large baking sheet.

Bake 15 minutes. Place meat on same baking sheet next to the potatoes; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp garlic salt. Bake an additional 20 minutes. Meanwhile combine dressing and honey.

Brush meat with dressing mixture. Continue baking 10 to 15 minutes or until meat is cooked through (160 degrees f if you are taking internal temprature), and potatoes are tender, brushing meat occasionally with any remaining dressing mixture.

Makes 4 servings.

Sweet Citrus Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 10 minutes - Total: 40 minutes

1 2/3 cups hot water
1 pk (6 oz.) Stuffing mix for shicken
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 1/2 lb.), pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
2/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees f. Add hot water to stuffing mix; stir just until moistened. Set aside.

Place chicken in 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix juice, sugar and butter until well blended; pour over chicken. Top with prepared stuffing.

Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (170 degrees f if you're checking internal temp).

Makes 6 servings

A nice vegtable side and dinner is served! Yum!

Easy Bake Chocolate Frosting

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

2 cups icing sugar - sifted
3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder
1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tbsp vegtable shortening

In a medium bowl, combine icing sugar, milk powder and cocoa powder. (Sift cocoa if lumpy).

With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening.

Spoon about 1/3 cup of mixture into each of 9 small containers or ziploc bags and seal tightly.

Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 12 weeks.

Makes 9 packages of chocolate frosting.

To Use:
1 pkg. Chocolate frosting mix
3/4 teaspoon water

In a small bowl, combine frosting mix and water. Stir with a spoon until smooth. Makes about 1/4 cup.

Expanding on the guidelines #6 and 7: The Inner Martha Stewart and

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:19:00 +0000

I spent my preteen years looking down at Martha Stewart, her miss perfect exterior really just annoyed me. I've always been a bit of a rebel. Then came the chink in her armor, and i took a second look. She still maintains her perfection exterior, but i'm a crafter too, just because she looks one way doesn't mean that i can't use her ideas and still be me. Especially around Halloween.

Channeling the inner Martha Stewart here just means getting crafty.

Anything that you can buy for your wedding can be made. I've already given you instructions for making a bouquet, but why stop there? If you have the time you can bake the cake, print your invitations, make the decorations, even sew the dress.

Micheals offers cake decorating classes, if you want or need to learn, (god, i sound like a commercial for that place) but if you're going to be making your own dress, you should probably already know how to sew.

If you have a crafty bunch of friends, make your bridal shower into a make the centerpieces day.

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll-Up

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 15 minutes - Total:40 minutes.

1 lb. lean ground beef
4 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onions (about 1 small)
1/2 lb (8 oz.) pasturized, prepared cheese product, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 pkg. (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza crust

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (farenheit).

Cook ground beef, bacon and onions in a large skillet on medium-high heat until ground beef iss evenly browned, stirring occasionally. Drain; return meat mixture to skillet. Add cheese; cook until completely melted, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; set aside.

Unroll pizza dough onto baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Press into 15X8-inch rectangle. Top evenly with meat mixture. Roll up dough, starting at one of the long sides. Rearrange, if necessary, so roll is seam-side down on baking sheet.

Bake 20 to 25 min. or until golden brown. Cut diagonally into 6 slices to serve.

Makes 6 servings, 1 slice each.

Expanding on the guidelines #5: Flowers for the Frugal

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:18:00 +0000

Now, for my wedding i never even talked to a florist. I knew better from my mother's wedding. I was only 12 at the time, but i went with my mom on all her meetings with her florist. Even as a twelve year old i knew that those prices were crazy. My mother spent over two hundred dollars on two silk flower bouquets, and if she had gotten them fresh, the bouquets would have cost twice as much. I didn't even want to look for a discount florist, i knew that even if i'd found one, the moment i said "wedding," the prices would skyrocket. And really, you can't lie about what you're using the flowers for. I can't think of an occasion that uses those sorts of bouquets, can you?

If you feel comfortable with your crafting skills, do your own floral arrangements. I did, but then again, if i'd gotten my flowers fresh it could have easily cost me thousands of dollars, even with my small wedding party. Black roses don't come cheap.

You can make all of your floral needs yourself, centerpieces are easy, and any other floral you need isn't much more difficult. Here's one way to make your own bouquet.

All you need for this project is silk flowers, wire, floral tape, hot glue, and a spool ribbon to wrap around your stems.

After you pick your flowers, you build the bouquet in an outwards spiral, using wire or hot glue to secure the bouquet every layer. (in case the phone rings or something) This is the most subjective step, because your bouquet needs to meet your personal aesthetic.

After you like the look of your bouquet, you bind the stems into a solid pillar and cut them to a length you like, usually enough to make a good handle.

Next you wrap the stems in a couple of layers of floral tape, securing the ends with hot glue. This will keep any errant wires from poking through the ribbon and smooths the overall look of the stem.

Finally you wrap the stem in ribbon of your choosing, starting with a small piece glued across the bottom, then carefully glue an end to begin wrapping up the stem, finishing with the hot glue.

If you make some mistakes, don't worry, you can always add an extra length of ribbon, or hide your mistake behind a bow.

And if you aren't quite that crafty, don't worry, both Michaels and Walmart carry bouquet forms where you can just stab your flowers into provided foam.

If you still don't feel up to it, got to a florist, but remember, silk is cheaper to fresh, and it won't wilt away, before, or after your ceremony and pictures.

Favorite Topped Deviled Eggs

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 15 minutes - Total Time: 15 minutes

12 hard cooked eggs
4 oz (1/2 of an 8 oz pack) neufatchel cheese, softened
3 tbsp light mayo
2 tsp dijon mustard
2 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp paprika

Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks; place in a medium bowl. Add Neufatchel cheese, mayo, mustard, vinegar and sugar; mix until well blended.

Spoon mixture into a large, resealable plastic bag. Cut a small corner from teh bag and pipe the filling into the egg white halves. Sprinkle with paprika.

Add, if desired, your choice of the topping suggestions listed below just before serving.

Makes 2 dozen, or 24 servings

Country flair: top with 10 slices cooked and crumbled bacon and 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions.

Italian flair: top with 1/2 cup thinly sliced, drained, jarred sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil and 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil.

Fiesta flair: top with 6 tbsp. finely chopped red peppers and 1 tbsp. chopped cilantro

Coastal flair: top with 1/2 cup drained canned baby shrimp and tbsp. chopped fresh dill.

Expanding on the guidelines #4: Wedding Services or Highway Robbery?

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:17:00 +0000

Okay, this one is common sense, if you tag wedding onto anything is going to be more pricey. First i'll touch on why that is, they give you a couple of tips.

What do you think of when you think of weddings? A big white dress, glitz and glitter? All of your family and friends laughing and eating and toasting champagne? Weddings are pricey because they aren't just a celebration, you can celebrate wearing a pair of jeans and grilling hot dogs. Weddings traditionally have been a status symbol, and as such, spending money has become the norm.

The origin of a white dress in marriage is a Victorian tradition, and as straight-laced as that culture was, it was never a symbol of purity. Because of the travel of the time, horse and buggies or walking, wearing white was generally impractical. The purchase of an impractical, white dress that one could never feasibly wear again was used to show off one's wealth.

This sort of history is what makes the modern wedding market so pricey. It's brides like you, looking to save a few bucks that are making changes in this market.

Walmart and Michaels craft stores are two stores that have jumped on the weddings-for-less bandwagon. Both stores have at least a small aisle devoted to weddings. You can find diy invitation kits, bridal accessories, even items to help you make wedding cakes at very affordable prices. (and Michaels usually has a 40% off coupon in it's adds every week, to make things even cheaper)

But, lets face it, even if you're doing your wedding on the cheap it's still a status symbol. It is for me, but then doing things a little differently is sort of my thing. You want your wedding to still look like a million bucks, even if you spend as little as possible. So be the clever women, (and men! I'm all about equal opportunity) i know you are and make your wedding happen, your way!

And now for the tips and tricks.

The location is all important, right? If you're looking at a church wedding, use the church at which you are a member, they will often give members a discounted or free use of their facilities. Also, you can see if you can hold the reception there as well, it will probably have to be dry, but liquor eats up a lot of the wedding budget anyways.

If your heart is set for an outside wedding, they you will have to start planing early, like at least a year in advance, so that you can see what the place you choose will look like around the time of your wedding. Try a smaller public park, the city can rent these out for usually around fifty dollars (a fact i learned from my high school graduation party) I can't, however, guarantee that there won't be any unruly kids playing on the playground.

If you're looking at a hall for a reception, have your intended call with all the specifics of your reception, the date, number of people, the meals you have in mind, liquor, and whatever else you need, but tell them that it's a family reunion. This will give you an idea on a bartering point when you call to make your reservation for real. (An unscrupulous bride won't tell the hall that it's a wedding reception, if you choose to go down this route, i won't judge.)

When looking for a place to hold your ceremony and reception you should remember three things.

First, that bartering is okay, if they aren't willing to barter a little, then you can always take your business elsewhere.

Second, that looking for these locations is a lot like buying a car, you should take a man with you (perferably whoever's forking over the cash) to keep perspective on things.

And finally, ask why, question what makes their services so special. (this works especially well if you've done the family reunion trick.)

Most of these tips work for caterer's too.

Lemon Shrimp Pasta Salad

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: 20 minutes. - Total: 20 minutes.

3 cups (8oz.) farfalle (bow-tie) pasta, uncooked
1 lb fresh asparagus spears, cut into 2-inch lengths
1 cup light, zesty flavored italian reduced fat dressing
1 tps. dried oregano leaves
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 lb.cooked large shrimp (20 - 25 count)
1 cup halved or quartered cherry tomatoes
1 package (8 oz.) reduced fat Colby & Montery Jack Cheese, crumbled

Cook pasta as directed on package, adding asparagus to the cooking water for the last 3 minutes of the pasta cooking time; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well.

Meanwhile, mix dressing, oregano, and lemon peel.

Place pasta mixture in a large bowl. Add dressin mixture, shrimp, tamatoes and cheese; mix lightly.

Serve immediately, OR, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 12 servings, 3/4 cup each.

For another variation, Prepare as directed, omitting shrimp and increasing the tomatoes to 2 cups.

Expanding on the guidelines #3: Wedding Photography in the Modern Era

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:17:00 +0000

Wedding photographers are expensive, but with the age of digital photography, and a little ingenuity you can find a photographer for much less than normal.

Depending on how fancy you want the portraits to be, there are a few different options.

1) For the reception you can have a basket of disposable cameras on every table, so your guests can document it.

2) Call your local college's art department, speak to the photography professor, and ask him if he has any promising students who are looking to expand their portfolios

3) Get your formal pictures taken at Sears Portrait Studio or the like. (This may sound a little trashy, but i've worked at Sears Portrait Studio, and they can take some nice wedding pictures.)

4) Call your local papers and ask if any of their freelance photographers would like some extra work. Photographers that don't usually do weddings are more likely to charge less. This doesn't mean they're any less capable. Some photographers don't like doing the same thing everyday, or like to have their weekends free, so they choose not to be wedding photographers, but that doesn't mean they won't do a wedding every once in awhile.

Expanding on the guidelines #2: Wedding Cakes that are Sweet on your Wallet

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:03:00 +0000

Lets start with this: Why have a traditional wedding cake?

According to the Bridal Association of America the average cost of a wedding cake is $540, but why should you have to pay so much? There are several options to get around the extremely expensive traditional wedding cake.

1) A decorated styrofoam cake, with or without a space for a real slice of cake that you can cut, while you serve your guests sheet cake or cup cakes. You can rent or buy one here for just 4 dollars.

2) Just a decorated sheet cake.

3) Cupcakes on their own. You can set them out on a serving table or buy a tiered stand for them. (This gives it a wedding-cakey appearance, while being much, much cheaper.)

4) Why buy cake? I've read a couple of articles, and saw a food network special on wedding pies. (according to those, wedding pies are hot right now)

I'm sure there are other ideas i haven't come up with or found.

Personally i'm going with both idea 3 and 4. I was planing to get the cupcakes at Walmart, put them on a tiered stand, and sprinkle them with card symbol sprinkles. (Our theme is that of a Deck of cards.) I told Omni about the pie thing and he was all over that, he doesn't like cake that much, he was happy with "Costco pies". My mom, however changed the plan a bit, she wants to get the cupcakes and the pies at a fancier place than Walmart/Costco and she offered to pay since it will be more expensive. Either way though, it's still cheaper than getting a traditional wedding cake. If you go my mom's route, go through the cake tasting process, typically a bakery will give the first three or so samples to you for free.

Orange Mulled Cider

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Prep: about 5 minutes Total Time:25 minutes

1 gal (4 qt.) apple cider
1 package orange flavored sugar free drink mix
4 cinnamon sticks
2 tsp. whole cloves
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

Place all ingredients in large saucepan. Cook on low heat 20 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. (Do not boil).

Remove cinnamon sticks and cloves; discard. Serve warm.

Makes 16, 1 cup servings.

Wild Rice Turkey Salad

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

3 cups cooked wild rice
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
1/3 cup chopped green onion
1/3 cup chopped celery
1 can (8oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained and halved
2/3 cup mayonaise
2/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teasoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
1 cup cashews, divided
1 cup halved seedless red grapes

In a large bowl, combine the rice, turkey, onions, celery and water chestnuts.

Combine the mayonaise, sour cream, salt, pepper and dill. Pour over salad and gently stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Coarsley chop 3/4 cup of cashews. Just before serving, stir the grapes and chopped cashews into salad.

Garnish with remaining cashews.

Yield:6-7 servings.

Expanding on the guidelines #1: The Internet is your Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:10:00 +0000

This is more true now than ever. The online resources for a bride, frugal or not, are immense. And it’s easy to find them, just a simple web search and a few clicks.

The first thing I researched was the dress. There are several great online stores for weddings. I’m plus size, so the first place I turned to was Beauty Plus Power. I got my dress from Aphro Bridal for $225, a fantastic price.

But buying things isn’t all you should look for online. I’ve found several great resources for organization and ideas online. WedPlan for instance, can put you in touch with several vendors in your area, though, don't expect them to be too discounted. FrugalBride.com is a Canadian website that offers some great planing resources, things like check lists and how to word response cards. Things that need to be done, but aren't thought about right off the hop. I even found a website aimed at getting the groom involved, The Plunge is a website written by men, for men.

So use the internet, look for sales, the resources you want, even play a couple of games online to unwind. The internet is your friend.

N.B.
Aphro Bridal is a web-based wedding dress company out of china They serve sizes 2-28 and will do custom tailoring with no extra fee. Getting my wedding dress out of china made me nervous, but they delivered. I had a few minor complaints but I received the dress in a timely manner. (Less than two weeks, but I paid to rush it, for a -small- fee) They even offer free shipping fairly often, so watch for those sales.
My complaints were these: A loose clasp on the halter straps, (easily fixable) they used the wrong shipping company, and the garment bag they used sucked.

Easy Bake Chocolate Cake Mix

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Now this recipe is a favorite for all four of my children... It's very moist and good to eat by itsself or with frosting...

1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegtable oil

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt.

Stir with a wire whisk until blended.

With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed and mixture resembles corn meal. (I use my food processor for this).

Spoon about 1/3 cup of the mixture into each of 11 small containers with tight fitting lids or ziplock bags. Seal containers. (I keep mine in the original bowl and just measure the 1/3 cup as I go. Less lost and less mess).

Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place.

Use withing 12 weeks. Makes about 11 packages of the children's chocolate cake mix for teh easybake style oven.

To Use:

1 package (1/3 cup) cake mix
4 teaspoons water

Mix together and stir with a fork or spoon until blended and smooth. (I reccomend the fork).

Pour into greased and floured 4" round minature baking pan.

Follow directions for the children's oven (approx 10-12 minutes if you've allowed it to preheat for 10 minutes). OR... Bake in mom's preated (375 degrees) oven for 12-13 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a rack for about 5 minutes.

Invert onto a small plate and remove the pan.

When cool, decorate as desired.

Off The Grid...

noreply@blogger.com (~The Shoebox~) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:12:00 +0000

Sorry I have been under the radar and auto posting lately. I have been nursing a suck Hubby back to health and doing 3 very full workload classes for school. It snowed last night.... AFDSGDGWERGRGEDGQFREAG! I am going to start canning veggies and fruit tomorrow afternoon. I am making several scarves, behold the power of knitting and crocheting. Will post pics laters. Toodles Yo!

More on budget weddings.

noreply@blogger.com (Driandriana) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Okay, to start, i apologize for the lack of posts. Life has been busy. For today's post, I'll go over what i feel are the basics of low budget weddings. I'll probably go into each one in more depth later.

Low budget guidelines

1) The internet is your friend. Searching around for good deals online can pay off. Look for sales, do your research. Find coupons for things you need.

2) Look for an alternative to the traditional wedding cake. Wedding cakes are expensive, and in my opinion, unless you have a true artist, overcharged.

3) Do not hire a "Wedding Photographer" When i looked for one, i couldn't find one that charged less than $1500. In fact...

4) Any business that tags their services as "wedding" is going to overcharge you.

5) Silk flowers are cheaper than fresh, and making your bouquets etc. is even cheaper.

6) Get crafty. If you're crafty, you can make almost anything on the cheap.

7) Use your connections. If you have a friend or family member who can help you with your wedding, ask them to help. You could even ask them to give it to you as your wedding present.

You can pick and choose which ones to follow based on your priorities. If you save on the cake you can splurge on the dress, or whatever it is that you really, absolutely, must have.

Before i can expand on any of these subjects, however, i should tell you what sort of Wedding I'm having. That way you'll know when what i'm saying is from actual experience, and when it's merely from my research.

Omni's and My wedding is small, 60 or so people, and will be held in a church, the same one my mother and grandmother were married in, in fact.

The reception will be held immediately after the ceremony, in the lower level of the church. We will be serving desserts and finger foods, rather than a meal. (The ceremony is scheduled for 1:00, so the snacks will be served around 2:00, 2:30)

We've put together our own music list, which we'll be burning onto a CD and playing on random.

We also decided against a registration, because the more things we get the more we will have to tote with us to our new house, cross country.