PROJECT {DOLLAR STORE} ACCESSORY CHALLENGE

 

I am late to the party, but one of the blogs that I follow,  Dollar Store Crafts posted a challenge based on the show "Project Accessory" where the first week the designers had to 15 minutes to grab stuff from a storage unit to create a necklace, a belt and one other accessory.  

Here are the rules:

"Our Challenge

• We will each start with a plain white tee and a pair of jeans, which we can alter if we wish.
• We will each create a necklace, a belt, and an accessory of our own choosing, and make them into one cohesive look.
• Since we don't have a storage unit to raid, we will go to the closest approximation we can:  the thrift store!  We get to pick one thrift  store and spend a maximum of $10 (before tax, since that varies from place to place).  No time limit on shopping, in case there are kids in tow...  You know how that goes!
• The contestants on the show had access to a wall of embellishments, so it's only fair that we get to dig into our own stashes.  Each item that we make for the challenge must be made up of at least 75% thrift store items and no more than %25 stash materials.
• The contestants had 2 days, but they also have no other responsibilities outside of the challenge.  Since we have lives to maintain, we get a week.  We'll post our creations for this challenge on Friday, November 4."

Everyone is welcome to play along with us as well!  Stop by next Friday and see what we made, and share your looks with us!"

As the deadline is tomorrow, I didn't have time to shop and raided my non-stash storage area, the garage where I seldom venture anymore.  I found the above items which I may or may not use on my project:  

• An old license plate
• Stained t-shirt that was going to be used as a car washing rag
• 3 Hot Wheels (one broken)
• Wheel off a scale model car 
• Purse I got from a free box at a garage sale a few years ago and never used and never got around to donating to Goodwill. 

I plan on spending $0 for this challenge.

If anyone wants to join in,  please do so and let Dollar Store Crafts know as well as myself as I would love to check out your creations!

CHILI'S COPYCAT SALSA

This recipe does taste very similar to Chili's restaurant salsa.  It is a very minimalist salsa with few ingredients and surprising mild for containing so many jalapenos.  The lime juice in it gives it a fresh zing when combines with the tomatoes and compliments spicy dishes.  It is also quick and easy - takes around 5 minutes.

  

Recipe posted by kimboleyanne at Food.com  
 

Makes 6-8 servings  - original recipe Read more: here 

• 1 can (14 1/2-15 oz) diced canned tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons diced jalapenos (I used 2 fresh jalapenos)
• 1 TBSP lime juice 
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 cup onion, diced - I used 1 small onion

Chop the jalapenos in half, remove the seeds and dice.

Peel onion and dice into pieces.

I used the juice of half of a lime, but you could use bottled lime juice.

Put the above ingredients in a food processor along with the salt and cumin, then open the can of tomatoes.

Run on high speed until pureed,  but still a little chunky (around 1 minute).

Store any unused portion in a glass jar in the fridge for about a week.






 

BETTY WHITE'S CHICKEN

This was adapted by a recipe posted at Colie's Kitchen for Betty White's Chicken and it was a big hit and I have already been asked to make it again.  In my variation I used 1/2 cup of Worcestershire sauce is place of 1/2 cup of the soy sauce and 1/2 tsp of prepared mustard instead of dry mustard.

She described it a bit like Korean BBQ, but  my son described it as having more of a hint of heat and a mouthful of flavor.

• 3 lbs. chicken (I used boneless breast meat, but you could use any kind)
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Non-Stick spray coating

Heat butter, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, sugar, water, mustard and garlic powder until water and sugar melt.  Allow to cool.

Spray pan with non-stick coating spray then arrange chicken in the pan.    Pour above mixture over chicken and put in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours, turning over each piece once for twice.

Pour off half of the marinade and bake at 375 degrees for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, turning the chicken occasionally.

FREE DOWNLOADABLE 2012 OWL CALENDAR

Artwork by Carly Johnson Issac

If you have an owl lover on your Christmas list, My Owl Barn has collaborated with 45 artists to create a free downloadable 2012 calendar where you can choose what image you want for which month here, or download their download their pre-made calendar and print if off for gift giving or for personal use.

Here is a sample of what I downloaded (prints 4 months per page).