Simple Organized Foyer

Silly Disclaimer: 
My husband just snapped this shot for me. 
Our table - nope, it's not pretty. 
No cute table runner. 
Not even a cute framed photo of the family. 
Function - pure and simple. 
And, honesty - this is how it looks this very second.
*************

My husband and I have a small table near our back door. (We don't really have a foyer, so we make due.) And, wow that tiny table gets LOADED with junk.

He teases that we need a trash can there. I grin and point to the waste basket in the washroom 3 steps away. He smiles and nods.

But, the piles continued...with both of us as culptrits.

Then, a simple solution.
A divided basket.

I asked him if it was too "high C" for him. (From the DISC Assessment.)
"You kidding? I *love* it!"

Really? He nodded.
Everything we truly needed we could locate at a glance: keys, library and blockbuster card, wallet, (apparently we need dinner mints), the camera for heading out on a walk, etc.

It either goes in the basket or gets put away - because it's now obvious that it goes someplace else.

Loose change goes in the red coffee can.
Purse goes on the shelf underneath.

Those cords? They're for our phones and bluetooths. (There's a surge protector hidden underneath and only the cords show.)

We love it. It's simple.
Pretty?
No - but we *use* it.

Linking to The Nesting Place for the What's Your Secret Linky Party.

Halloween Food: "Intestines with Subcutaneous Fat Covered in Arterial Plaque and Bile"

(Click photos for a close-up.)

Enjoy!!!
The bad news.
A few years ago I tried this experiment at an adult and child costume party.
It failed.
I guess it was just too gross.

The good news.
A co-worker tried it and her kids thought she rocked.
So, I'll pass it along.
Just in case you want to try it.

Ingredients:
Ziti or a package of long hollow noodles (details below)
Barilla Pastina or orzo
Red, yellow and green food coloring
A tub of pesto
A tub of Alfredo sauce
Red wine (optional)
Latex gloves to protect your hands from coloring (optional)

Disclaimer:
Obviously, it would be taste better if you make your own sauces. In this case, I knew that there were children present, so I wanted to leave the pesto in it's original container with the ingredient list showing. Nuts + kids with sensitivities = miserable party.

Noodles:
The hollow tube pasta I used can be found in a Greek or Mediterranean market. (And, you can buy them online.) The brand name is Misko and it's noodle "No. 2." Most Greek markets will have No. 2 or 3 for a lasagne called "Pastitsio." Even if they only have No. 5, it's ok. It will be much thinner.

And, of course, you can always just use whatever you have in the pantry. Barilla Thick Spaghetti, Rigatoni, Ziti or Mostaccoli, would be fine. (Yeah, I like Barilla.)

Since I was feeding kids, and to back off from the grossness factor a bit, I decided against boiling the noodles in wine - which makes them REALLY look blood red. Instead I added lots of red food coloring to the boiling water - which made them pink. (I think they look nice and colon-y in a 50's cartoon sort of way.) Then, in a separate pot, I cooked the baby pastina in water with lots of yellow food coloring added. (You can toss in a drop of green to bump it up a bit.)

Next, I added the pink noodles to the yellow pasta and tossed them with a bit of olive oil so they wouldn't stick - even if they sat a while during the costume party.

That's it for the cooking portion of this shin-dig. All that was left was finding a typewriter font - which reminded me of 1950's style sci-fi movies.
Oooh, scary!
At you can see in the photos, I labeled the noodles and pastina "Intestines and Subcutaneous fat." The alfredo sauce became "Arteial Plaque" and the pesto was a tasty "Bile." And, of course, you could simply label some marinara "blood."

Oh, and in tiny font...I let folks who might not be familiar with tubular pasta know that's what it was. Simply pasta.

Enjoy!
Muahahaha!
(If you think you are losing your mind because this sounds familiar...this is a replay of a post from October 22, 2008.)

Target Short-changing Shoppers

We couponers have known this for a while now.
Especially, if we are regular readers of the money-saving site, jillcataldo.com.

Now, the Chicago Tribune has picked up the story!
Maybe there will be some change forthcoming.
Get it, change? nevermind...

Excerpt:

Target, the mass merchandiser with about 1,750 stores nationwide, for months has been systematically shortchanging its customers who use certain manufacturer coupons. Target checkout registers have been crediting shoppers for a fraction of some coupons’ face value.

Target is calling it a computer glitch. Avid coupon users are calling it an outrage.

“It’s just a mess. It makes me not want to go there,” said Caroline Ilardo of Harwood Heights. On Wednesday morning, her $1.50 coupon for two packs of women’s feminine-hygiene products was reduced by the register to $1.02 at the Target store in Norridge. “You really have to watch the registers, and for people who don’t, they don’t know they’re getting ripped off.

“I think this is a serious issue that a lot of people aren’t aware of.”

For more info, read the full story by Gregory Karp of Chicago Breaking Business.

RECALL: Possible "Metal flakes" in Mega Pops Lollipops

There are reports that these lollipops might contain "metal flakes."

So check your Halloween candy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Miami, FL - October 22, 2010 - A limited number of Mega Pops™ brand lollipops may contain traces of foreign particles, and as a precautionary measure, manufacturer Colombina S.A. is asking customers to return these lollipops to their retailer and instructing retailers to recall the product voluntarily. Colombina believes the product presents no health risk.

----------

Until the situation is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties involved, Mega Pops will be temporarily unavailable in the U.S., as Colombina has asked retailers to remove the product voluntarily as a precaution.

-----------------------
Customers who return the product to the store where they purchased the product may receive a refund or store credit for the purchase price of the product. The offer applies to all bags of Mega Pops about which customers may have a concern, regardless of lot number.

For additional information, see the FDA's Firm Press Release.

Recall: Nestlé Raisinets

NESTLÉ® USA ISSUES ALLERGEN ALERT ON SINGLE PRODUCTION CODE OF NESTLÉ® RAISINETS® FUN SIZE BAGS

Here is the full Raisinet Press Release.

October 22, 2010 (GLENDALE, CA) – Nestlé USA’s Confections & Snacks Division is initiating a voluntary recall of Nestlé® RAISINETS® Fun Size Bags (10oz) with a production code of 02015748/UPC number 2800010255, which may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have allergies or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. Nestlé is taking this action out of an abundance of caution.

Nestlé® RAISINETS® Fun Size Bags (10oz) with a production code of 02015748 were distributed only in the U.S. to Target, Shop Rite and Don Quixote retail stores. Three complaints have been received to date. While this product is labeled with a precautionary statement “made on equipment that also processes peanuts,” the product should not, but may contain some peanuts that are not declared on the label.

Another Etsy Score! - "New" Vintage Glasses!

Lookie what I found on Etsy.com?   Glasses that match our Christmas plates!
(Actually they are our "winter plates.")

Nice, huh? I scored these beauties from Mary Beth Hale's Store which was a bit of a miracle. You see, I've been checking out this pattern for over a year on Ebay. Sure, there are lots of plates. But, I've only seen ONE set of these drinking glasses. There just aren't a lot of them out there. They are over 50 years old - so most of them have been broken, chipped, or the gold overlay has been scrubbed off. (These are definitely "hand washables.")

Is there something you've been seeking to complete a set? If you can't find the item, or more accurately, if you can't find the right price for the item you seek, try Etsy. You don't have to bother with the bidding process - and most of the sellers are FABULOUS! I give 2 Thumbs up for Mary Beth Hale's shop!

What are you looking for?

What did you find after a long search - and where did you find it?

Linking up to:

Restaurant.com - Grab Your 80% off code today!

Do you take advantage of the wonderful savings had at Restaurant.com?

If you are interested, head to Restaurant.com
Today, everyone can get $25 Gift Certificates for $10.

TODAY ONLY - Monday, October 25
Enter Promo Code: PUMPKIN

GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $2!

Seriously cool.

(And, no...I'm not getting a penny for sharing this!)

Now, I know you are likely skeptical.
I was.
I didn't give them a second look until a foodie friend I trusted from Wisconsin told me about them.

So, I put the word out - I asked a bunch of friends on Facebook.
And, they all came back saying the same thing. They LOVED it.

So, I tried it.
And, I couldn't have been happier.
Great food - at pennies on the dollar.

Here's the details.
Doesn't matter where you live - it's a nationwide program - 15,000 restaurants participate. Head to the site, enter your zip code and take a look at all the restaurants in your area. Around me, there's everything from family pizza joints to elegant French fine dining listed.

Click on the restaurant you are interested in and read all the info. Again, read all the info about the restaurant you are interested in. You will find that each restaurant has different restrictions. Some might allow your Restaurant.com certificates to be used only at dinner, or only on Sundays, or maybe they allow you to use them EVERY day of the week - but no alcohol is included. You have to read the details. And, then, if it works for you - great! If not, find a different restaurant!

This is how it seems to work. Restaurants choose to participate and most have $25 and $10 certificates available at the top of the month - and there is a little savings if you buy a certificate. Later in the month, the savings increase. By then, you might find that the $25 certificates are getting slimmer. Towards the end of the month, the site offers 80% - like now. For me, now's the time to buy.

Again, TODAY ONLY - Monday, October 25 - head to Restaurant.com
Today, everyone can get $25 Gift Certificates for $10.

TODAY ONLY - Monday, October 25
Enter Promo Code: PUMPKIN

GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $2!

Seriously cool.

My hubby and I bought certificates for Walter Payton's Roundhouse now called, "America's Historic Roundhouse" and we loved it.  (It's shown in the picture above.) My hubby had been there many times, but this was my first. It's a wonderful restaurant and a micro brew and we had a blast. We ate for pennies (pennies!) on the dollar, service was outstanding and the portions were so large I had lunch for the next day.

Thank you to Kat for telling me about the program.
And, if YOU find that YOU enjoy it, please pass it along, too.

Oh, and come back here and tell us where you went!!

Autumn Treasures

Melissa at the Inspired Room has an interesting post today. (She does most days, actually.) It is part of her 31 Days of Autumn Bliss and Day 21 is "Blissful Moments."

Melissa gave her list of "20 Little Things To Treasure in Autumn" - I'll let you read her list over at her site. And, she asked what our lists would be. Here's mine.

Dana's 20 Little Things To Treasure in Autumn
1. Nighttime walks with crunchy leaves underfoot.
2. Layered sweaters with scarves.
3. Crisp nights with crystal clear skies sparkling with stars.
4. The warm glow of candles placed around the dimly lit room.
5. The scent of apple, spice, and cookie fall candles.
6. A pot of chili on the stove filling the air with warm smells.
7. A pork shoulder in the oven, braising in apple juice, warming the house.
8. The aroma of fresh baked bread.
9. Warm flannel sheets.
10. Layers of blankets.
11. A cat snuggling under the covers.
12. Large mugs of cocoa with a hint of cayenne.
13. Board game nights.
14. Reading a book with a cup of orange hot tea.
15. Watching old holiday movies on AMC.
16. Snuggling under blankets with a big bowl of popcorn.
17. Walking through the woods collecting pine cones and acorns.
18. Using those pine cones and acorns to decorate the house.
19. Roasted chestnuts.
20. Stuffing.

How about you?
What are your 20?

Pondering Christmas in the Kitchen - and Under the Tree

I dunno about you guys, but money's pretty tight around the Café D household. And, since we don't believe in credit cards, we won't be going into debt for Christmastime either.

Each year I try to find ways to be more intentional - to buy, give away, and receive less "stuff." And, the truth of the matter is that for me, I just enjoy the time with family. I would be just fine with no presents under the tree.

Emily, from Remodeling This Life has an interesting post in her "31 Days of Living Simply" series. It's called Gifting: How To Not Give Or Receive Junk. In her post, Emily subscribes to the theory of giving her kids, "Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read." I like that.

At our house, we like to cook and bake. And, we like to do it together. (Yep, we are blessed with a 13 year old who enjoys spending time in the kitchen. He actually brings us recipes he wants to try.)

So, I enjoyed seeing an e-mail from the Container Store this morning which highlights not only their containers but also gives recipes from Real Simple to fill them.

Full disclosure here. I would likely buy the containers from the Dollar Store, Hobby Lobby or Michael's with a 50% off coupon.

Edited to add: Oh, look! Hobby Lobby is having a 50% off sale this week!

And, rather than use the Real Simple recipes, I would likely head off to my pal Lisa's amazing blog, The Cutting Edge of Ordinary for delicious recipes and mouth watering photography. Or, there's always my fall back - the amazingly simple - as healthy as you want em - Honey Oatmeal Cookies.

And, of course, we don't have to fill the jars with sweet stuff. We could give dry rubs for meat, maybe with some nice smokey paprika or adobo, and we could make some savory toasted nuts, too.

How happy would I be if we spent time as a family in the kitchen this season - cooking and laughing - filling jars with...love?

Very happy. Cuz after all...
Wasn't love the gift that gave us the season in the first place?

What will the Christmas season look like for you?

Recall: Tylenol from Johnson & Johnson

Tylenol Recalled Due to Moldy Smell
Full story from Linda A. Johnson, Associated Press.

TRENTON, N.J. — "Tylenol caplets are again being recalled by Johnson & Johnson after some consumers were sickened by ingesting the pills or smelling a musty or moldy odor on the bottles.

Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit received some complaints from people who reported nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea after taking the pills, a spokeswoman said Monday.

This makes 13 recalls in barely a year by the health care giant, mostly for more serious problems with its nonprescription drugs, contact lenses, blood glucose test strips and hip implants.

It's the fifth time that the New Brunswick, N.J.-based company has recalled nonprescription medicines because of consumer complaints about an unpleasant odor.

The moldy odor is thought to be due to the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, McNeil said in a statement.

Previously, the company said the chemical was on wooden shipping pallets that it has stopped using after Jan. 15.

Asked if that was again the case with the latest recalls, J&J spokeswoman Carol Goodrich said, "We've seen both.

"Some complaints have come in from smelling the bottles and some from ingesting the pills," Goodrich said.

She could not say whether any complaints from the prior recalls had involved people ingesting the pills.

The latest recall, announced Monday, covers one lot of Tylenol 8 Hour caplets in 50-count bottles.

McNeil said the recall is precautionary and the problems reported by consumers were temporary and not serious. The company said the risk of serious harm is remote.

The first two such recalls, both late last year, involved first five lots and then all product lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the red EZ-Open Cap.

On Jan. 15, J&J issued a large-scale recall of containers of children's and adult Tylenol, plus Motrin, St. Joseph's aspirin, Benadryl, Rolaids and Simply Sleep, also because of a moldy smell that had made people sick. Then on July 8, the company recalled 21 lots of Benadryl, Motrin and about nearly 20 varieties of Tylenol for the same reason.

J&J did not say how many bottles are in a lot.

Rival drugmaker Pfizer Inc. also recalled a product recently because of a musty odor, pulling bottles of its top-selling cholesterol medicine Lipitor on Oct. 9."

Additional information available at the the Tylenol recall page.

Recall: frozen veggies from Walmart and Kroger

Heads up, folks.
From the Associated Press
Original MSNBC Story

BELLS, Tenn. — A company in Tennessee is recalling some packages of frozen vegetables because they may contain glass fragments.

Pictsweet said Friday that 24,000 pounds of packages were distributed to Kroger stores in the southeastern U.S. and Walmart stores throughout the U.S.

Recalled are:
* Kroger 12-ounce Green Peas with production codes 1440BU, 1440BV, 1440BW, and 1600BD.
* Kroger 12-ounce Peas and Carrots with production codes 1960BD and 1960BE.
* Great Value-12 ounce Steamable Sweet Peas with "best by" dates of July 20, 2012, and July 21, 2012.
* Great Value-12 ounce Steamable Mixed Vegetables with a "best by" date of July 15, 2012.

The products can be returned for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact The Pictsweet Company at 1-800-367-7412, extension 417.

While this is a small event which so far doesn't seem to even to be mentioned on the FDA's site, it's big to you - if those veggies are in your fridge.

FDA's Major Product Recalls list.
All the best,

Branching Out.

Branching out.
Like my Thankful tree post.

Life goes by fast, doesn't it?
One day I'm sitting watching TV.
The next I'm dating a guy I met in college 23 years prior.

Dating.
Head-swimming.
Grinning from ear to ear.

Hospitals and recoveries.
Engagement.
Marriage.
Step-mom?!!!

LOVING life.
Noticing the coincidences.
Appreciating the twists and turns that only God could design.

So, here's the thing.
Now that the wedding is over, I'm definitely cooking more.
(Made Guiness Beer Bread last night. Oooh!)
But, there is so much MORE going on in my life.

Sure, I have my travel blog Feasting on Americana! so I can wax poetic about cool vintagey travels.
(And, I'll have some really amazing stuff from our honeymoon - very soon!!)

Yet, there's this crafty side of me...that wants to come out.
Like my... 5 Minute Frosted Hostess Candles

or my Pottery Barn (Knock-off) Ornament Wreath

Or, my Pez Christmas Tree with Santa Yoda Bobble-head!

So, in this world of re-purposing to save time and energy, I'm thinking about expanding my blog (officially) to what it has really become.  "Cooking (and Crafting) at Café D"

That's what I'm pondering.
Munching on beer bread.
Thinking... "I'm a step-mom?!?"
And, smiling...really big.