Enjoying Frugal Luxuries

By Carole Stern

ENJOYING FRUGAL LUXURIES

Today with an overload of media hype in the form of TV, books and magazines, it is easy to be confused by such a wide range of choices. Madison Avenue has spent millions of dollars telling us how to dress, decorate, and entertain. Their refrain is always the same. Bigger, faster, newer is always better. We are all told to trade in, trade up. As a result we lose confidence in ourselves and in our ability to make realistic choices.

The constant emphasis on money and acquisition leaves us with a sense of insecurity and a loss of our authentic self. Instead we need to focus on what truly pleases us instead of what we are told we should want.

Enjoying Frugal Luxuries is about how to be pleased with much of what you already own, which does not mean making do, but instead making better. With a little care and special attention, many things can be transformed into something new and lovely.

This is a lifestyle book for women like me who want to simplify their lives and live with their own personal style. The book is organized as a journey through the year, beginning in January and ending in December. But whenever you receive this book just sit back and enjoy it. Do go back and read the January chapter because this begins your journey by creating a special place for you, a retreat from the world in which to read, write, sew, paint, to contemplate and create. I believe this is something that every woman needs and should have.

In this chapter you will also learn how to schedule some time for yourself beginning by choosing a weekly planner to organize your time and your life.

Every month you will find:

SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF: This section provides ideas for growth that are just for you. Here you will learn to reduce stress and enjoy more pleasure every day.

ORGANIZATION: This will provide more bliss for you by inexpensively creating a home that is rid of clutter and help you conquer the paper demon. It will provide you with a kitchen that works for you, closets that go from messy to manageable, and organize each room of your home for ease living.

YOUR ROOMS: Here you will learn inexpensive ways to decorate every room in your home. You will be incorporating your own style to make a very personal and inviting place to return to every day. Remember! What you love will never go out of style.

CELEBRATIONS: Life is full of celebrations and milestones of our lives. Here you will also find ideas for celebrating holidays at home.

GATHERINGS: Here you will find ideas for entertaining friends and family alike. Most of these ideas will be seasonal, so sit back and plan some fun with your friends and family. These recipes will not be expensive to make, but delicious to serve. Both the Celebrations and Gatherings will be examples of frugal entertaining.

OUTSIDE INTERESTS: This section is about your outdoor environment, your garden, porch, patio or deck. I believe that decorating has much to learn from gardening. You plan a lot, prune a lot, plant a lot, withdraw some, but in the end both your home and outdoor environment will reflect you sense of style.

AGENDA: Regardless of whether you live in a small home, apartment, or a grand home, your home is your castle and castle upkeep takes a lot of work! In this section you will get some ideas on doing the work efficiently and also delegating to get the work done.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 30, 2005
• ISBN: 9781469104119

Carole Stern

n/a

Book preview

JANUARY

 

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In a month that celebrates fresh starts and the beginning of a new year, I would like to invite you to sit back and do nothing at all for now. Let your mind wander past merry this and happy that and consider adventure, learning, and new friendships. What better time to consider a long held dream or launch a new one than in the New Millennium.

Choose your bliss; painting, writing, cooking, gardening, attending a concert, new show or enroll in a class of your choosing. Since you are reading this book, I believe that you are preparing to make some changes in your life and looking forward to enjoying frugal luxuries. You will learn a lot about them in this book. Some for yourself, some for your family and friends, but now is a time just for you.

FOR YOURSELF:

TIME OUT—A DAY OF SOLITUDE

You can ask any child what they fear most. Today the answer will be a time out. Whether banished to solitude for a juvenile transgression or denied a group activity, or sent to their bedroom to ponder over the wrong doing they have committed, spending time alone is the last thing they want to do.

As an adult, I love timeouts, my own timeouts, and look for special places to spend time alone. More often than not, I find that quiet place of refuge in my studio or out on my patio. I think everyone needs to find a place where they can rediscover themselves in solitude; a place where you can think, plan, or dream uninterrupted. Make a point of going there on a regular basis, away from your connection with work, home, colleagues, and partner. I’m as fond of company as anyone. I adore the buzz of a party, of conversation at dinner that ties friends together, and especially lunch with a good friend that spills into the afternoon. However, time alone is good for you and you need to find some. This month will be the beginning of your time outs. Make time to play, nurture yourself and enjoy the restorative powers of solitude. Solitude will give you the chance to restore coping mechanisms, and to replenish energy.

Your time outs need to be penciled in your Day Runner. Two hours is a good time, but anything is better than nothing, and a whole day is best. Simply taking the time matters more than what you do, so long as you’re able to clear your head and relax your body. Begin by asking yourself if you have any hobbies. If the answer is yes, then your time out might be spent with your favorite hobby. Quiet things like painting and gardening may be just the thing. Sometimes you may want to go somewhere like an art museum, your favorite coffee shop, or the new boutique that just opened. Make time for solitude. The key to enjoying its benefits is to experience solitude regularly, even when you feel you don’t have time.

TIME FINDERS

•   Cut back on TV time, which can take up to 25 hours a week, according to Nielsen Media Research.

•   Get up earlier than anyone else in the family.

•   Learn to cook two meals at once, so you don’t have to spend so much time cooking every day. For example, 2 meat-loaves instead of one.

•   Hire a baby sitter for two hours one afternoon each week, or trade time with a friend.

•   Schedule daily time alone, during which you are to be alone, which means you are off-limits to anyone else. If you have small children this may mean time in the evenings, or on the weekends.

ORGANIZATION: YOUR WEEKLY PLANNER AND SCHEDULE

PDA vs. Paper. Now that the price has finally come down, how to decide the best way to organize your life-on paper or on screen.

In a recent survey it was found that 55 percent of the people surveyed use a paper planner, a date book or an organizer to keep track of their lives. The main reason they have not tried a PDA (personal digital assistant: PDAs are too expensive. Well that reason may now be obsolete. While low end PDAs used to cost more than $200, Palm, the market leader recently launched the easy to use Zire, which costs just $99.00. Is this the time for the Luddites to finally go electronic? Not necessarily. It’s still a matter of personal preference. Below are some of the pros and cons of each medium.

Being frugal,I personally think these are still expensive and continue to live quite well with my Day Runner.

PDA

Information Storage

Most PDAs can store at least three years of calendar information. You can also create and edit hundreds of notes and to-do lists.

Safekeeping

With just a few clicks, your PDA and computer Sync with each other, transferring information from computer to PDA or vice versa. If you lose your PDA, you will have a backup on your computer or on a disc.

Expandability

Chart your workouts, store receipes for easy supermarket shopping, search for local restaurants, or get maps and directions by downloading any one of thousands of software programs available, many of them free.

Paper

Information Storage

Minimal. It’s happened to most people who use a paper planner. You reach the groaning point, when adding one more entry to the R section requires a simple remedy. Buy more inserts. Not a big problem.

Safekeeping

Misplace you planner and there’s no backup waiting for you unless you are smart enough to photocopy each weeks entries, a simple thing to do.

Expandability

Most planners allow you to add pages, such as maps, birthday logs, expense reports, travel information, credit-card logs, and to do lists. A few extra pages is all that most people ever need.

PDA

Writing Ease

It’s now easy or fast to write or tap information with a stylus. You have to master Graffiti writing or use the on-screen or built-in keyboard.

Reminders

Most PDAs can remind you of an upcoing event (via an alarm or a message)-from five minutes ahead (for a meeting) to five days (for a birthday).

Visibility/Eyestrain

A PDA can leave you bleary-eyed or reaching for your granny glasses if you’re opthalmologically challenged.

Portability

A battery-loaded PDA typically weighs four to eight ounces and can easily slip into a pocket for a shopping trip, if that’s your style.

Personal Attraction

PDAs are sleek, slim, and cool. Fans love their functionality. Paper

Writing Ease

No stylus, no Graffiti to master and no fingers fumbling with a keyboard smaller than a credit card.

Reminders

Paper planners don’t have alarms, which may be a pro or a con. Visibility/Eyestrain

One page of the smallest paper planner is bigger than the largest hadheld screen.

Portability

Some leather bound paper planners-especially when stuffed with lists, cards, and notes can weight in at one pound or more. However my planner can be placed in a purse or briefcase easily.

Personal Attraction

Two thirds of survey respondents say putting pen to paper is their favorite thing about planners.

I believe that most people can organize their life on an inexpensive Day Runner if they take the time to read the instructions and learn to use it properly.

In this chapter I am going to suggest that you purchase this kind of weekly planner and put together a schedule for yourself that will keep you on target with everything you need to do. You will need to add all your children’s appointments, including the times you need to chauffeur them from place to place, their games, shows and the like. You will also need to put in some things for your social life and for your soul. Begin by putting in your timeouts, this is very important. Write REWARD FOR RETURN in red marker on the front page of your planner in case you misplace it. Record the hours of the post office, the library, the cleaners, your favorite stores and restaurants in the planner’s address section. This way you will not make useless trips.

I like to write my to-do list, appointments and notes in my daily planner. Everything I need to remember is in the same place. This eliminates frantic searches for that one particular sticky note. In order to not play phone tag, I like to plan phone calls all together separate from the rest of my tasks. I think calls go faster if they’re all made at the same time. Mothers of small children are best called in the morning, and people who work outside the home on Mondays, or Tuesday evenings. I believe that organization can be learned, you just need some tools to help you. Obviously, if you have small children, work full-time or part-time outside the home, or if you work at home, you will need to make some allowances and the most important thing you will probably need to learn is to DELEGATE. When I say delegate, I mean your spouse, older children or whoever else shares your home.

It is important to come up with a strategy for sharing chores. It is important for each person to be responsible for the same jobs each week. That way there’s no doubt whose job it is. I think it is best to schedule routine tasks such as laundry, food shopping etc. for the same time each week. That way everyone has clean clothes and food.

Speaking of children, I think it is important to have a really large calendar, the kind you can buy at office supply stores. List all their activities for the season or year on it first, since many friends have children that are in several different sports. Many have music, dance, martial art, and any other kind of lesson you can think of, in addition to scouts or church groups. All their activities should be listed on the big calendar first, and then you can add them to your day runner. You should also indicate whoever is doing the driving, you, your husband or a friend. This way their will be no mix-ups.

Next I believe that everyone needs and in box. This way the kids put all school notices in Mom’s box; she reads them before slipping them to Dad’s box. He returns them to the kids trays, or if need be to mom’s, or throws them out. When the mail arrives, whoever gets it distributes it to the boxes. Remember notes likePick up milk or copy paper, goes in here too.

If you have young children, I think it is important to organize all the kids information together. Put the names of their classmates or friends with their addresses and phone numbers in a book, so you can find them in a hurry if you need to. Keep this by the phone. I think an emergency envelope is a good idea. this would include important numbers, fire, police, doctor, dentist etc. and a copy of the family’s health-insurance card, a signed letter authorizing any necessary medical care and some money in an envelope, just in case.

I think it is a good idea if the family holds weekly gatherings or meetings to update appointments and note which parent is doing the driving. The next thing to take a look at is organizing homework, lunch money, lesson equipment, papers from school, especially anything that needs to be signed and returned.

In addition to your weekly planner, I think my idea for some cleverly designed organizers should be put in place this month. Here they are.

You will need to make a small purchase of 3 large accordion files from one of the local office supply stores such as Office Max, Office Depot, Staples etc. They will be labeled as follows:

WARRANTY AND MANUAL ORGANIZER

You will mark compartments in your accordion file for each appliance in your home. You will begin with manuals, go on to warranties, and instructions for appliances and electronics. Staple the receipt (or a copy) to the warranty and manual. Makes a great record for insurance purposes. The next accordion file will be labeled:

MEDICAL ORGANIZER

In here you will put monthly receipts, copies of bills and paperwork; you will keep an inventory of all your children’s shots and a total at the end of the year. You can also keep information about prescriptions and any over the counter products your doctor tells you about. The idea is to have everything you need in one place for each member of your family.

The third accordion file will be labeled:

HOME FACTS ORGANIZER:

In this one you will keep information about your home, room by room. As you complete a project from your decorating journal, you can place all the information about it in here. You can include paint chips, fabric swatches and service contracts along with phone numbers if these apply. This is also good record for insurance purposes. All remodeling costs and the costs of major household purchases such as furnaces, air conditioners etc. should be kept here. A duplicate copy needs to be kept in your Taxes file, if it is deductible.

YOUR ROOMS: A WOMAN’S PLACE—Special Places, Private Spaces

I would like to say that I believe everyone needs a private retreat from the world in which to read, write, sew, paint, to contemplate and create. Women in particular need a room of their own. Whether you are a writer, are attending school, a banker, editor, nurse or owner of a small business this space will become essential. What better time than right now to claim a space of your own.

An at home sanctuary of sorts-may help make you calmer, enhance your relationships, improve your moods and perhaps even enhance your health. Retreating to an area where you can think whether it is just a chair or an entire room helps to reduce stress and therefore, experts say, may help prevent the escalation of physical problems that come with it, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, cancer and probably depression. In addition it revives you so that you can be more positive in your dealings with other people. Most of us are surrounded all day long by ringing phones, fax machines, or at least a blinking cursor. This eternal stimuli doesn’t give people a chance to engage in self-discovery.

I first discovered the importance of a room of my own when I was quite young. My grandmother had brought me a gift of oil paints when I was in the hospital for an extended stay. The excitement those paints brought to my life was unequaled by any other gift I had every received and would remain with me the rest of my life. Throughout my hospital stay, I painted. I painted the flowers I received, the room in which I stayed, the plush animals my parents brought me, the grounds outside, the terrace overflowing with poppies, and the trellis cascading with roses by my window. While my mother was very happy with my return home, she was not pleased with the smell of turpentine and paints permeating the house, so I was banished to the basement. One evening, my uncle Joe, a wonderful carpenter suggested that he could finish off the attic, so I could have a special place to paint. Everyone thought that was a great idea. He immediately began to work and before long my room was ready, complete with a small spiral staircase. I was in heaven. Next he made a window seat beside the only window in the room and my mother said we could go shopping for fabric to make a pillow for the window bench and some curtains for the window. I still remember the lovely pink and green fabric I chose.

My grandmother surprised me with an armoire that was like a secret room in itself. It provided all the storage I needed to keep my art supplies well organized. Every day after school I would come and do my homework immediately, so I could go up to my room. Here I could paint, daydream or read. As I got older a typewriter table was added because I had begun to write and needed a quiet place to work, so my room was perfect. Throughout my teen years and when I was in college, this room provided me with a place to refresh and revel in everything I found interesting.

After I was married and looking for a home, I knew that I would need a room of my own to be happy. Fortunately my husband understood and even helped me with what he calls my studio. He constructed a long bench about six feet long with slats beneath it for art to dry and a place to store unframed pieces. I have really personalized this room, which is easy if you find and use the things you love. The colors I have chosen are citrus colors of sunflower yellow and terra cotta orange. I am reminded of the wonderful sunflowers found throughout the french countryside and I made a cascade of them with natural branches that hangs about my windows. The terra cotta is repeated in several pieces of pottery I have collected over the years and both these colors are found in a southwest print that I used on my wicker chair, ottoman and work table bench. Speaking of my wicker chair, this is not just my chair. It has become my island my sanctuary. This chair is not just a place to sit, but has become an old friend. It’s part reading place, part dream tank and all luxury. Since my studio is actually a loft that looks down to my living room, I display much of my pottery along the wall that opens up the room. I also have a dried flower picture from one of my best friends, and pictures of my grandchildren there as well. One of my favorite things is a carousel horse that my husband bought me which reminds me of good childhood memories. My grandmother’s armoire is still with me, but the typewriter table has made room for a computer on which I write my books.

YOUR VERY OWN SPACE

You can personalize your room through color. Color is the most powerful and most expressive of all the decorative tools. Throughout your quest for personal style in every room of your home you will probably begin by considering which colors to use in each room. I usually design a room totally by color, probably because I am an artist, and color is a means of expressing myself that defies words. You need to ask yourself "What’s this room going to look like? Begin by getting out all the things you really love. Color may be inspired by your favorite things. In my experience good things come in threes, and color schemes work well in threes.

A good beginning is to select a dominant color. A secondary color and accent color, which you also love should come next, and all three colors should work well together. You can sometimes use two accent colors, but only one dominant and secondary color. If you look at your wardrobe, it will give you a pretty good idea of your inclinations. I like to consider the environment because color is affected by light. My kitchen, (for example) is not large and while it has southern exposure the window is not very wide so I chose white cabinets to provide more light and a brighter work area. There’s no better or quicker way to give your room new life than with an infusion of color-whether it’s majestic red, a calm green or something completely different. Remember white can be a catalyst for many different colors.

If you are starting with furniture you already own, you will want to take into consideration what color it is before making a final decision, since you will want to use color well to enhance or change the look or mood of your room. If you are starting from scratch in a bare room that you intend to furnish for yourself, and you know what style of room you want, you’re ahead of the game. You can simply choose whatever color scheme your heart desires. However most people start with at least one or two pieces of furniture they are going to decorate around. If you have no idea what you want your room to look like, I suggest that you go to your library magazine section and look through some shelter magazines until you get some ideas. Do you want a romantic look, classical, modern, eclectic, country, or any other type of look? This will guide you when you begin to consider what you need for your room. Since I am a magazine fiend, I collect pictures of rooms and furniture, appliances and the like and store them in my Dream Diary. You can also include these in your binder by room and month. While I am not suggesting that you run out and buy these new, they will give you an idea of what you like and what you can be on the lookout for when you go junking later in the year. Junking is my word for going to flea markets, garage sales, antique stores and the like. You can go antiquing any time of the year. I always have fresh flowers in my room, even if it is only three wildflowers in a small vase. Of course I have all my favorite books displayed on the wall and in a cherished book case, for inspiration and reference. I like to think that beauty can be achieved in very small simple ways. I believe that caring about beauty in the least of things can result in a creative art form. For now let’s assume you have a spare room that you can use as your own. It’s the little touches that make the difference in a room of one’s own. Regardless of how you plan to use your space you will probably need a desk or table on which to work. A frugal way of doing this is to use two sawhorses, an ordinary door, a sheet of glass or a sheet of clear acrylic plastic. This will provide an inexpensive desk that doesn’t look clumsy and works well with any color scheme you choose. Just paint the sawhorses to blend with the wall. Depending on how you are going to use this, you may want to alter the height a bit. This do-it-yourself desk or table can also be personalized with stencils or a faux finish. You can use it as a desk for a home office, for a computer, sewing machine, art table, craft table, or to just write letters. If space is a problem, you may want to cut the door or custom a glass top to a smaller size, it will still work well. I helped my friend Arlene make one for her room and she painted the sawhorses white and chose a glass top, since she was doing a blue and white color scheme. She used plain wood shelves painted white, edged with molding and mounted on decorative brackets for supplies and display. A wall-hung lamp shade provided light without cluttering up the desktop. Her room is lovely with her collection of blue and white china and desk accessories also in blue and white to match. She also added a white bentwood chair with a matching cushion.

Another inexpensive way to get yourself a desk is to go junking for it. In the June chapter we talk about junking expeditions. My friend actually got a nice wooden desk for $25.00 While it needed some refinishing, it has become the focal point of her room. The one area I would not skimp on is a desk chair. Using an old bedroom chair is an invitation to a backache. You want to select an ergonomic chair with good back support and the ability to be raised up and down. This can be another junking project or perhaps you know of a business that is moving and selling their office equipment. Sometimes decorators can be a big help with this kind of project. They often know in advance of companies that will be moving, so do you chamber of commerce offices. Before you do anything else, you will need to take inventory of the work materials you use regularly, then you can determine what kind of furniture you need to store these in.

TUCKED IN PRIVATE SPACES

While you may not have an entire room to call your own, there are other ways to be creative about finding a place of your own. Take a walk around your house. Is there an attic, laundry room space, a niche below the stairs, a guest bedroom that might be used. Also consider how you might use old furniture that can be refinished. For example, a Tv stand to hold a computer printer. Similarly, old kitchen tables and bedroom dressers could be candidates for clever storage. The most overlooked space in a room often is above our heads. Consider the fact that you can break up the monotony of a solid wall of shelves, by arranging cubicles of varying sizes. You can put doors on some of them to hide work materials, others can hold storage baskets. If you are blessed with an armoire, this can be the focal point of your room, or if you are short on space this becomes a home office in itself. My friend Marietta, lives in an old Victorian home and decided to utilize a very large closet the former owners used as a linen closet. Marietta decided to use her armoire which could be tucked right in and she did a really artful design to make this space her own. While Marietta owns a shop devoted to lovely Victorian things, she needed a home office for herself. Since beauty is something she is very conscious of, she decided to line her armoire with wallpaper and she even added a border design. She is a new grandmother so she decided to hand frame prints of her grandchild on the doors. This was done by using Velcro strips and beautiful ribbon to hang them from. They look lovely inside the doors of her armoire. Also added were pretty baskets and decorative boxes to hold accessories, paper and the like. She has her computer and everything she needs for her home office in one spot.

GREAT DIVIDES

Moving to a bigger house or adding an addition can be costly ways to get that room of your own. Here’s a much less expensive strategy:

Customize the space you have with a handsome, hardworking room divider. Whether crafted from scratch or assembled with ready-built components, room dividers are smart ways for you to gain a place of your own.

Many home centers sell these very inexpensively, or perhaps your father, husband or significant other could design and build you one. With this idea in mind you could consider stealing just six feet from a room to put your desk, with cubicles above and a screen affording privacy.

My friend Lois and I came up with a wonderful idea. She calls it her hidden hideaway. She wanted to make her kitchen larger so she opted to incorporate half the family room for her kitchen.

Since she couldn’t afford new cabinets, we placed shelves all along one wall. Below the shelves we placed a beautiful old buffet we found at a yard sale. She uses this when she serves buffet meals. It’s great, but back to the kitchen. Now that she had all her beautiful dishes and serving pieces on shelves, she was able to store the items formerly in her pantry, in her kitchen cabinets. We remodeled what had been her panty and established a portal to a private sanctuary. Your bliss, be it a special garden, a scented bubble bath, or just the wonderful chair on your porch just depends on how you view it. My idea of a sanctuary is a window to another world, one where you can dream a little, think a little, or perhaps record you innermost thoughts in a journal. When my friend Lois and I began, we knew we were dealing with tight quarters. Lois just wanted a place to write letters, plan a trip or enjoy a phone call from her best friends or her sister.

THEME FROM THE GARDEN

Sine my friend Lois’s favorite color is red and her favorite flower is the poppy, our garden theme was born. We began by painting our room white and placed a beautiful border of poppies all around the ceiling. Next we capitalized on the existing cabinetry which we painted white and attached a length of lumber to create a writing surface. We added a clip-on lampshade to deal with the dangling light fixture. A pillow of bright red fabric rescued a plain ladder back chair bought at a garage sale. This provided a comfortable seat for the desk. Lois completed the chair by stenciling beautiful red poppies on the white wood back of the chair, and adding red tassels on each side. Next we continued the poppy theme by placing a basket of silk poppies on one of the shelves. Continuing the red and white theme, we found some beautiful red desk accessories that included an appointment book, a pen and pencil cup and a letter rack. Lastly some of her favorite things went on the shelves. A beautiful snow globe from her daughter, a floral paper weight from a friend, and a lovely clock from her husband. A cordless phone completed her sanctuary. Finding a sanctuary depends on seeing past imagined boundaries. Only then can we realize the limitless possibilities in creating personal space.

Whether it is a cherished desk, favorite chair, or an outfitted movable tray, each of us deserves a special place to call our own. Do not let space or finances deter you from creating your private place. Consider using a Fold-Away Desk. The metal magnetic desk holds paper, pencils, and the like-plus it comes with supplies. To save space, bolt it to a wall. Another option is the Fold Away Wall Desk. Tuck this instant workstation just about anywhere—great for small-space living, mudroom etc. The steel desk bolts to the wall and folds up when not in use. It comes stocked with a collection of notepands, paper, cards, adhesive notes, and magnets. Both can be found in the January section of Resources.

Even a wicker bed tray with two side pockets can be considered. With these you can create a personal and portable haven. Be sure to identify a spot on a sofa or a comfortable chair with a table that gives you a place for writing, sipping coffee, or reading. You can soften the setting by adding a special throw pillow that lets everyone know this is your special place.

THE GIFT CUPBOARD

STAMPED FLOWER POTS: Due to the fact that I can’t wait till spring, I often like to engage my senses in creating things that make me think of spring. Hence these stamped flower pots. These are so simple to make and can be used in so many ways, that I just love them. All you need is a Terra-cotta flowerpot; purchased stamp of your choice and acrylic paint in two or three different colors and a sponge brush. Today you can buy stamps in every shape imaginable. I have used daisy stamps, musical notes, vegetables and fruits. You begin by painting the pot one color inside (to prevent moisture from seeping through pot and flaking of paint) and outside as well. Let it dry thoroughly. You can paint the rim of the pot a different color if you like. Next brush a different color paint (lighter than the first) on your stamp; stamp randomly all over the pot, rolling stamp gently across curved surface. Let it dry. I have used these to present friends with a new plant, packed with goodies and just because.

CELEBRATIONS: NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH

On the Sunday morning after New Year’s Eve, a brunch for your family will be a welcome treat. By now everyone has had their fill of big dinners, parties, cocktails and the like. A mid-day repast will be a welcome respite. the beauty of this brunch is that it allows you to be talking with your family, instead of running around like a short-order cook or waitress. Instead of standing over a stove and cooking eggs for each guest, you can begin assembling these quiches up to two days ahead. And everyone’s favorite warm breakfast breads can be made and frozen up to two weeks ahead. As for refreshments, there’s a hot Cinnamon Café Au Lait and a cool orange spritzer.

BRUNCH MENU

Cinnamon Café Au Lait

Orange Creamsicle Fizz

Potato, Canadian Bacon & Onion Quiche

Crab Quiche Florentine

Mixed Fruit Compote

Blueberry Braided Bread

Sour Cream Coffeecake

Orange Pecan Muffins

CINNAMON CAFÉ AU LAIT

 

V cup finely ground coffee

1   (3-inch) stick cinnamon, crushed

5 cups water

1-¼ cups hot 2 % low-fat milk

2   tablespoons sugar

Assemble drip coffee maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Place coffee and cinnamon in the coffee filter or filter basket. Add water to coffee maker and brew. Add milk and sugar to brewed coffee; stir well. Serve immediately. Makes 6 cups. Serves 6. You can easily multiply this recipe.

Per Serving:

Calories: 45 per 1-cup serving Fat: 1 gm. Cholesterol: 4 mg. Sodium: 29 mg.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE FIZZ

 

2 cups unsweetened orange juice

1   cup vanilla low-fat yogurt

2   tablespoons powdered sugar 1-½ tablespoons lemon juice 4 ice cubes

1-¾ cups orange-flavored sparkling water, chilled

Combine first 5 ingredients in container of an electric blender; cover and process until smooth. Pour into a large pitcher; add sparkling water, stirring well. Serve immediately. Makes 6 cups, serves 6.

Per Serving:

Calories: 80, per 1 cup serving Fat: 0.7 gm. Cholesterol: 3 mg. Sodium: 26 mg.

WINTER FRUIT COMPOTE

 

2 cups water

I cup dried apricot halves

I cup small pitted prunes 2 tablespoons golden raisins 6 whole allspice

2 (2-inch) sticks cinnamon

1 (16-ounce) can chunky mixed fruits in juice, undrained 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges in lite syrup, undrained

Combine first 6 ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes or until tender. Combine apricot mixture and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; stir gently. Cover and store in refrigerator up to 5 days. Discard allspice and cinnamon sticks before serving. Serves 12.

Per Serving:

Calories: 75, per V-cup serving. Fat: 0.3 gm. Cholesterol: 0 mg. Sodium: 12 mg.

POTATO, CANADIAN BACON & ONION QUICHE

 

Like a quiche Lorraine, but better, This version will win praise even from the men in your house.

1 cup sifted cake flour

1   teaspoon sugar

3 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1   to 4 tablespoons ice water Vegetable cooking spray

1-¾ cups peeled, shredded potato ½ cup chopped green onions

2   ounces lean Canadian-style bacon, chopped

½ cup (2-ounces) shredded low-fat jarlsberg or Swiss cheese

2   tablespoons all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon dry mustard

V teaspoon salt

Vs teaspoon ground red pepper

1-½ cups plus 1 teaspoon skim milk, divided

1-½ cups frozen egg substitute, thawed

Green onion fans (optional)

Cherry Tomato slices (optional)

Combine cake flour and sugar in large bowl; cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, over surface; toss with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened and mixture is crumbled. (Do not form a ball.)

Gently press mixture into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap; cover with additional heavy-duty plastic wrap. Place dough in the freezer 10 minutes or until plastic wrap can be removed easily. Place dough into a 10-inch deep dish pieplate coated with cooking spray, and remove plastic wrap. Fold edges under and flute. Prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes; cool completely on a wire rack.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add potato, onions, and bacon; saute 4 minutes or until potato is lightly browned. Remove from heat; add cheese, tossing well. Spoon into pastry shell. Combine all-purpose flour and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Gradually add 1-½ cups milk and egg substitute, stirring with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over potato mixture. Brush remaining teaspoon of milk over edges of pastry shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until set. Let stand 15 minutes. Garnish with green onion fans and cherry tomato slices, if desired. Serves 6.

Per Serving: Calories: 266 Fat: 8.9 gm. Cholesterol: 17 mg. Sodium: 222 mg.

CRAB QUICHE-FLORENTINE

 

While this is a delicious quiche, I have also added a ham and cheese version below in case you prefer meat to fish.

1 (7-ounce) can refrigerated breadstick dough Cooking spray

3¾ cup (3-ounces) grated Gruyere cheese 8 ounces lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed and drained ½ cup chopped onion 4 cups coarsely chopped spinach

V teaspoon dried tarragon

V teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

V teaspoon ground nutmeg

V teaspoon pepper

1 cup evaporated skim milk

½ cup egg substitute

Cherry tomatoes, cut in half (optional)

Unroll dough, separating into strips. Working on a flat surface coil one strip of dough around itself in a spiral pattern. Add second strip of dough to the end of the first strip, pinching ends together to seal; continue coiling dough. Repeat procedure with remaining dough strips. Cover dough with a towel; let rest 20 minutes. Roll dough into a 13-inch circle; fit into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Fold edges under; flute. Sprinkle cheese over bottom of crust. Top with crabmeat; set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute 4 minutes. Add spinach and next 4 ingredients (spinach through pepper; cook 2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Arrange spinach mixture over crabmeat. Combine milk and egg substitute; stir well with a whisk. Pour over spinach mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean; let stand 10 minutes. Garnish with cherry tomatoes, if desired. Serves 6.

Per Serving: Calories: 248 Fat: 7.7 gm. Cholesterol: 55 mg. Sodium: 556 mg.

TIP: Place the pie plate on a baking sheet, in case the filling bubbles over.

HAM AND CHEESE QUICHE

 

Substitute Swiss cheese for Gruyere cheese and M cup chopped reduced-fat, low-salt ham (about V pound) for crabmeat. Omit spinach, tarragon, Old Bay seasoning, and nutmeg; add 1 teaspoon salt. Cook ham, onion, salt, and pepper 4 minutes in a skillet coated with cooking spray. Proceed with directions above. Serves 6.

Per Serving: Calories: 220 Fat: 7.2 gm. Cholesterol: 24 mg. Sodium: 557 mg.

BLUEBERRY BRAIDED BREAD

 

If you prefer you can make this bread with dried cranberries or raisins.

1 package dry yeast ½ cup sugar, divided 1 cup warm orange juice (105° to 115°) 3-¾ cups bread flour, divided V cup margarine, melted 1 teaspoon grated orange rind ¾ teaspoon salt ¾ cup dried blueberries Vegetable cooking spray 1 teaspoon water 1 egg white, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon sugar

Dissolve yeast and V cup sugar in warm orange juice in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Add remaining ½ cup sugar 2 cups flour and next 3 ingredients; beat at medium speed of a mixer until smooth. Stir in dried blueberries and 1-V cups flour to form a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes) and add enough of the remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time to prevent the dough from sticking to hands (dough May be slightly sticky). Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a Warm place (85°) free from drafts, 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until almost doubled in bulk. Divide dough into 3 equal portions, and shape each into a 15-inch rope. Place the ropes lengthwise on a baking sheet covered with cooking spray; pinch ends together at one end to seal. Braid ropes; pinch loose ends to seal. Let dough rise 1 hour and 15 minutes or until almost doubled in bulk. Combine 1 teaspoon water and beaten egg white, and brush over top of loaf. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pan, and let cool on a wire rack. Serves 12.

Per Serving; (M-inch slice) Calories: 145 Fat: 2.6 gm. Cholesterol: 0 mg. Sodium: 119 mg.

SOUR CREAM COFFEECAKE

 

Streusel:

V cup granulated sugar

V cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1   teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cake:

2   cups granulated sugar

10 tablespoons butter, softened

V cup (4-ounces) block-style fat-free cream cheese 2 large egg whites

3   large egg

4   cups all-purpose flour

V teaspoon baking powder

V teaspoon baking soda

V teaspoon salt

1 cup fat-free sour cream

V teaspoon vanilla extract Cooking spray

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To prepare streusel, combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl; set aside. To prepare cake, beat 2 cups sugar, butter, and cream cheese at medium speed of a mixer until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add egg whites and egg, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cup, level with a knife. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients (flour through salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla. Spoon half of batter into bottom of a 12-cup Bundt pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with ½ of streusel. Spoon remaining batter over streusel; spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10