As a child, I remember my mother being very creative!  She could draw, we would paint ceramics, she crocheted and we would even make candles!  I guess this is where I caught my creative bug!  Working for the Quacker Factory has really helped me continue to enjoy being creative & to look beyond myself for inspiration!

Since it is winter, my skin has simply gotten very dry!!  So I thought that I would create some products that you can too—right at home, to help soothe this dry skin!!  What I came up with (inspired by Pinterest), is a Lemon scented body salt scrub—to remove the dry, flaky skin.  I also made a rich lemon body butter to soften the skin—all made from natural ingredients!  I purchased all of these ingredients from a local health food store.  However, I have seen that coconut oil is available in most supermarkets now.

Why not make several batches and give these as gifts to your best friends or co-workers!  Here is what you will need-

Salt Scrub-

1 cup of Kosher or Sea Salt

¼ cup olive or avocado oil

10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

pic 1

Mix all of these ingredients into a bowl & then transfer to a jar for safe keeping!  I use this in the shower—but be cautious if you plan use this right after shaving your legs—it can be painful if you nicked yourself!! 

pic 2

Body butter-

1 cup of coconut oil

1 tbsp honey

2 tsp of cocoa butter

10-15 drops pf Lemon Essential Oil

pic 3

Place all of the ingredients into a mixer (I used my Kitchen Aid) with the wire whip.  Whip the ingredients together until light & fluffy.  The mixture may seem oily once you rub it in to your skin.  But let it soak in overnight & feel the results in the morning!  

pic 4

Place both of these into individual mason jars for gift giving or in an air tight bowl for you!  If giving as a gift, I recommend creating a cute tag to tie to the jar with some twine!!  I cut an old dish towel with lemons on it to use as the top for a little extra pizazz!!  You could create a label for the top of the lid &   replace the tag & the fabric—you can purchase these labels at your nearest office supply store.

pic 5 

So whether you create your own body products or you simply want to order them online—take time this January to pamper yourself—you deserve it!  I know I do!!  You can also check out my collection of pampering products from QVC here--  (____________LINK NEEDED TO MY TOGATHER COLLECTION)

Until next time -

Quack, Quack--  Angel  XO

Make sure you are signed up to receive our Quacker Factory emails to know be up to date with all things Quacky…  

Click here to sign up…  http://bit.ly/Join_QF

Also…  

Like Quacker Factory on Facebook:

Quacker Factory Facebook Page - http://bit.ly/QF_Facebook

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Patrick’s Facebook Page - http://bit.ly/P_Facebook

It's National Dress Up Your Pet Day! We're celebrating with some of our all-time favorite photos from some of our hosts and our friends from the QVC Addicts Page! Take a peek!

Alberti Popaj - Prince Charming & Coco 

Carolyn Gracie - and her fur-babies! 

 Jayne Brown - Buzz

Jane Treacy - Kiwi 

And here are some dressed up pooches from our friends on the QVC Addicts Page!

So, which one was your favorite? Show us your pets dressed up in the comments below!

One of my favorite parts of the winter season is the good old comfort foods and soups. Here is one I just made. It is hearty and flavorful. Enjoy!

Chicken Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 celery chopped stalks

1 cup chopped carrots

1-cup peas

1 small onion

2 chopped garlic cloves

6 cups chicken stock

1-cup long grain & wild rice

½ cup half & half

¼ cup flour

1 Tb olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions.  Set aside Sauté, in olive oil, onion, celery, carrots until softened.  Add mushrooms and garlic  & peas.  Add chicken stock bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and stir in half & half, flour salt & pepper.  Cook for a few minutes.  Add chicken & rice.  Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve with crusty bread.  Enjoy!

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/JayneBrownQVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaynebrown1

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaynebrownqvc

toGather: www.gather.qvc.com/member/JayneBrown

How to Paint Like a Pro:

This is the time of year for indoor projects.  Few things are as gratifying as changing the whole look and feel of a room with a simple, inexpensive can of paint.  It is a simple D.Y.I project that most of us can tackle in a day or weekend.  The wall I recently painted was due to a pipe from our shower busting.  Not fun.  But that's just life in an old farm house.  I repaired the leak, patched the wall and now we’re ready for paint.

Before you begin, do a little planning.  Get all your supplies together first.

• Paint.
• A good brush.
• Paint trey.
• Paint Roller with proper nap for the wall texture to be painted.
• A #2 pencil.
• A flat bladed screw driver.
• A hammer and nail.  (I'll explain this one a little later).
• A paper plate.
• Medium grit sand paper.
• Stirring stick.
• Drop cloth.

Unless you're doing intricate designs, you probably won't need painters tape.

The key is to take the time to prep your wall surfaces before you begin.  Wash the walls down with a small mixture of dish washing detergent and warm water.  Most people don't do this but it removes any built up dirt and grease that may be on the surface.  It helps for the paint to adhere and makes for a cleaner project.

Lightly sand the entire wall with medium grit sandpaper and light pressure. Again most people don't take the time, but this smoothes out any rough surfaces and gives a much better overall result. 

Take your screwdriver and open the can of paint while it rests on a paper plate; this makes for less clean up and no paint ring on the floor when you're done.  Now take your hammer and nail and poke 5 or 6 holes in the lip of the paint can.  That lip is there to help seal the lid to the can, but it can also build up with paint.  When you go to hammer the lid back on after your project is done, paint flies everywhere.  Poking a few holes in this lip allows the paint to drain back into the can, and the mess is avoided.

The transition between wall and ceiling is tough for most of us; ceilings and walls are seldom ever truly flat or square, so tape really doesn't help.  Take your #2 pencil and lightly draw a line where the two meet.  This gives you a visual line to paint up to without getting it on the ceiling.  Try it, it works.  Mix your paint well, especially if it has been sitting for a long time; the ingredients in paint separate over time and a good mix will give you more even color.  When doing the edges of the wall, or what painters call "cutting out", make long strokes with the brush, with only a little bit of paint.  Paint goes a long way, so you don't want to layer it on too thick or the paintbrush lines will show later.  Dip your brush no more than 1/2 the length of the bristles into the paint and then pull the brush out of the can, scraping one side of the brush to clean it.  You don't need paint on both sides of the brush since you will only be using one; that's how drips happen.

When your trim is done you can roll with your roller for faster coverage.  Don't roll in straight up and down lines.  Paint in series of "W's", moving back over each line to get the best coverage and less little spots of the original color showing through.  These spots are called Holidays by the professionals - don't ask me why, they just are.  Most good latex paints only need one coat now days so the project goes fast and you get to sit back and enjoy the look of your new room.

Final hint: Pick the right paint for the project.  Water Based Latex is easiest to apply and clean up.  Oil based paints require lacquer thinner for cleanup and can be tricky. There are three basic levels of shine.  Flat, for most walls and all ceilings; semi-gloss for those walls that require more clean up like bathrooms and kitchens; and high gloss, which is usually reserved for trim work and moldings. 

Have some fun, change a room and make your home your own.  Enjoy!

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/DanHughesQVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/danhughesqvc

toGather: www.gather.qvc.com/member/DanHughes

Hello, foodies…

To celebrate National Soup Month, the In the Kitchen with Davidteam and I worked to compile our favorite winter warm-ups. You can find these 14 recipes--and more--on QVC.com and the QVC for iPhone app. We also Pinned these so you can pin and save them for later. (And if you're not following me on Pinterest yet, now's the time...I have 46 boards!)

One-Pot Brunswick Stew

Coconut-Curry Chicken Stew

Chicken Quinoa Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken and Corn Chowder

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

Pork Wonton Soup

Ratatouille Soup

Split Pea and Ham Soup

Hearty Vegetable Lentil Stew

Warm Gazpacho with Goat Cheese Croutons

White Bean and Ham Soup

Keep it flavorful!
—David

If you followed my Holiday Decorating Blogs, you’ll know that it was my first year of celebrating the holidays in an “all out” fashion!! From garland to glitter bows and ornaments, I wanted to bring it all into the house, and BOY DID I DO THAT!! It was fun, it was magical…and then came January 5^th (I keep my tree up until my birthday) and all I wanted to do was get it all ooooouuuuut!  But that same sparkly, beautiful glitter was now in my carpets and hardwoods, my throws, sofas and pillows – even the dogs were carrying it from room to room!

Being the self-admitting OCD person that I am, I have an arsenal of ways to tackle any mess.  I pulled out some of my trusty old tools but they just were not a match for “the glitter...the GLITTER!!” It was still there and I now started…to…panic!

In Comes DYSON to save the day!! (angels singing and cherubs dancing)

We all know Dyson as the “crème de la crème” of home vacuums and, truthfully, I have never owned one for myself.  Mom has one.  Sister-in-law has one.  They swear by it.  I always thought, “Well one day I’ll get one.” Today was going to be THAT day!

I went all out.  I wanted the latest technology.  The most suction.  I wanted EVERY SINGLE SPECK OF GLITTER out of my home – so I went for the Dyson Big Ball Cinetic Animal Upright Vacuum. WOW - was I impressed with its performance.  Not only did it pick up all of the glitter, pine needles, crushed pine cone shells, etc.,  from my tree; but it also cleaned up all of the micro fine particles that I had not seen hidden within my sisal rugs, and in the cracks and crevices between my hardwoods and in the corners.  I had never seen so much fine debris picked up by a vacuum.  Check out these photos. 

This was all the debris left after taking down my christmas tree

I was really impressed with the suction power of the Dyson and how it picked up everything with one pass!

Talk about putting Dyson to the test! This was the dust, glitter and particles hiding in my carpets, hardwoods and sisal rugs.

The on board extension pole made it easy to get every corner of my home clean.

Now the puppies can now enjoy laying in the sun on their clean carpet.

I also put together a fun, at home, demonstration video of how it picked up all of the tree remnants in just a single pass.

I am really excited to have finally added a Dyson to my home cleaning arsenal.  I now know why so many people call it “The Rolls Royce of Vacuums!”

As the saying goes – “A clean home is a happy home.”  I am truly happy that my home is clean, and I am ready for the new year! 

Happy Cleaning!! 

Xoxo 

Alberti 

Ps.  If you liked my blog, you might also like my Facebook page.  Click Like and join in on the conversations we have there.   

From wonderful QVC Shows and gatherings, to celebrating 20 years of marriage to my handsome husband, an unforgettable 3 Day 60 Mile Breast Cancer walk with my good friend Nancy Hornback, time spent with precious grand-kids and more, 2014 was quite a wonderful year! And now it’s been topped off with the unbelievable honor of the Customer Choice QStar Award! Of all of the amazing brands on QVC, you, our collectors, have voted to honor us! 

This is especially meaningful because it truly is from you, and for you.  We have built these wonderful brands and community together.  If not for you, we would not be here.  I am also extremely grateful for the opportunity QVC has created for us to connect over the years. What began as an on-air friendship now extends through blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, toGather and best of all, actual gatherings! 

All of us at Carolyn Pollack and American West value your passion, honesty, loyalty and friendship.  Your votes have moved me to tears, I know that you have many choices; that jewelry is not a necessity, and I am thrilled to know that what we design and craft here in our great country brings joy to your life. 

We would like to thank you with a special offer.  All Carolyn Pollack Sterling Jewelry will be on 4 Easy Payments and Free Shipping and handling on January 17^th  through 3:00am ET on January 18^th on QVC.com!

Sincerely,

Carolyn 

Oooooh k... Here's the scoop on my birthday dinner at SUR. My daughter, Hope and I gave it the episode titled:

LOST HOPE AT SUR..( Hope pretended she was lost and I lost Hope)

We had our own mini drama and here are the details….LOL!

We were in LA for Hope to interview at PHD schools and being that we would be there over my birthday, I begged Hubby to take us to SUR (Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant) for dinner to celebrate. He isn't a fan of the show Vanderpump Rules, but knows that I have watched it since the first episode.

Hope and I were sooooo excited to get there, we could hardly contain ourselves in the car. Chris and Nathan (Hope's boyfriend) thought we were being so goofy.....maybe he was right :) 

As we pulled up to the entrance, our eyes widened to see the pink/purple glow that beckoned us in.

We jumped out of the car and walked in. It was dreamy and very sexy. We made our way to the hostess to let her know we were there for our reservation. Our eyes darted from side to side, looking for any of the people on the show, or even better…. Lisa Vanderpump!! The place is gorgeous!! Chandeliers everywhere, pink roses on tables, sparkling lights and such a cool vibe. We were completely entranced.

All of a sudden, the hostess steps away, just as we were about to speak to her and guess who takes her place.... PETER ( or Peeta, as Lisa would say). He’s the manager of SUR. Hope and I were giddy with glee. We hadn't even gotten half way in the place and we already saw Peter. We were quickly seated, as Hope and I tried to play it cool (yeah right… lol). Hubby and Nathan said that watching us was the most fun ever.

We needed a plan. Hope thought we should get our order in, have a cocktail and then go investigate the place... Act a little lost and say we were looking for the bathroom. That was our only chance to walk around the place and scope out some of the other characters. Lol. We did just that. I got up first and Hope followed. We made our way around and kept our eyes peeled.

Something was wrong, though, we weren't seeing the whole place. We know exactly what SUR looks like and some of it was missing. We 'accidentally' overshot the bathroom, which led us to an open back door and there it was!! THE BACK ALLEY... You know the one, where the table and chairs sit and the crew goes out there to have their "Chats"... We stood there looking at it and saying, " ahhhh... There's the table in the alley!!!"

We turned back inside and went to the bathroom.

 Returning to our table, our waitress, Monica, was waiting for us. We finally broke down and told her we were fans of the show. She smiled and thought it was cute. I asked her where the rest of the bar was? The other one we see on TV? She said it's not open on Sundays and Mondays, but we could go peek at it. She pointed in its direction and off we went to spy "the big bar"…..

HERE'S THE GOOD PART…..

The door to the big bar was slightly ajar, we walked in and there it was in all its glory!!! No one was in there, except for one person….Peter….

He didn't notice us….yet. We didn't want to bother him, so we quietly looked around. All of a sudden, a deep, slightly annoyed voice says, "Excuse me..." We froze. It was Peter and he didn't sound very happy about us snooping around. "You're not allowed in here", he said. We walked over to him and I said, "I'm sorry, our waitress said we could have a peek. We are fans of the show and just wanted a quick look." Peter wasn't having it…"You need to book a tour, I need you to leave."... Poor Hope, her face just fell. Of course, I tried to lighten up the tense interaction and stupidly said, "Ok, we're sorry, Peeta (said with Lisa's English accent)"... He didn't think I was funny. Tails between our legs, embarrassed and a little humiliated, we sheepishly made our way back to our table.

Chris and Nathan heard a complete blow by blow of what just happened and they had a good chuckle over it. Hope and I decided not to look at it in a negative way, but to view it as our own dramatic episode on Vanderpump Rules, where Peter kicks us out of the bar. (In all fairness to Peter, he was really busy and the place was full and we should not have done what we did)...

So then the waitress comes over with a flaming desert for my birthday. She also delivers two free cocktails, compliments of the house for my birthday.

When the meal was over, guess who came to the table with the check...Peter...yikes. He offered to take us on a tour and apologized for the interaction we had earlier. Hope and I declined the tour, mostly because we felt embarrassed and a little humiliated. Chris spoke up and said, “I understand there was a little trespassing going on tonight". I kicked him under the table. Peter smiled and nodded.

So now that you’ve heard my saga, here are THE FACTS… JUST THE FACTS…

-The place is absolutely gorgeous!!

-The food was superb (of course we had the fried goat cheese balls...yum)

-Hope and I had Lisa's signature pink drink with Vanderpump vodka,,, it was soooooo good!

-Monica, our waitress, was a delight and took very good care of us.

-I was surprised at how affordable it was. Reasonable prices.

All things considered, it was an awesome experience! It was really cool to see the place exactly as it is on TV. The place is beautiful, the service was great and the food delicious. I hope Peter can forgive us for overstepping the boundaries. We just couldn't help ourselves. I'm sure they get a lot of crazy people, like us, come in every night and Peter tried to handle us as best he could. Still... It was our own little dramatic episode at SUR. Tee hee hee :)

Xoxo

A

Hello my LCNY FASHIONISTAS!

...Welcome to 2015...

I hope your holidays were awesome and peaceful. The holidays were hectic, crazy, emotional and wonderful. As many of you know my Mom was admitted to the hospital for two weeks in the middle of December. Being in the hospital with someone you love is extra draining during the holidays it is hard to stay afloat. My Mom had something called NPH.. It is extra fluid on the brain that can create many problems. Walking, cognitive among other issues. She went into the hospital needing assistance with a walker and wheel chair and as of today is walker free and the wheel chair is in the basement. This was not an easy diagnosis ....we have been chasing doctors and answers for at least five years. She had a shunt inserted into her brain to continuously remove extra fluid.

She is a very brave woman. Her love for her husband of almost 60 years and her love of family was her motivation and determination. She did not give up. I speak for all of us.....tearfully thank you Mom....I know I am not ready to fly solo without you. Now on to you my friends.....you supported me...I was not able to fully explain what was happening with her...she wanted privacy if things did not go well. But you continuously prayed and gave my family strength. You are awesome. I am so lucky.

So this new year is not going to be about resolutions we always end up breaking by February. Let's focus on friendship, support, kindness and paying it forward. This is an easy request for all of you.....support is what you do best. So bring your cup of joe and settle in for an hour of friendship, laughter and fun with yours truly and MBR on Wednesday starting at 9 am. Invite a friend to join us......because everyone is invited:)

Your friend,

Linda

My mom used to make this soup often while i was growing up, and it always tasted so good when it was so cold in MN. Perhaps it has a more formal name, but we always called it, "Mom's Cheese Soup! "

Enjoy!

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

2 tsp. salt

1tsp. pepper

2 cups milk

1tsp. Yellow mustard

1 can chicken broth

1 lb. Velveeta cheese

Pre-cooked vegetables of your choice, about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of each, such as:

Broccoli, cauliflower, sliced carrots, baby peas, mushrooms

 In a large pot, melt the butter, then add the onions, possibly mushrooms, and sauté them in the butter until cooked. Then add the salt and pepper and then the flour and mix together. Let the flour coat the onions and mushrooms. Then begin to add the milk, slowly and in small amounts to create a smooth rue used as a thickener. Then bring the milk mixture to a low boil for one minute, stirring the entire time. Then add the chicken broth and stir it in. Then cut the Velveeta into chunks and put into the hot milk mixture which then begins to melt. Stir often. Also add the mustard at this time. When it has a good smooth texture, add all your cooked vegetables. If its too thick for your liking, then add a bit of water to get it to the consistency you prefer. Let it all simmer on the stove top for 10-15 minutes, and then serve and enjoy!

Mom's Cheese Soup

Thank you all for getting up early with us for Fashionably Early! I was so excited to see such a large response from all of you, by sending me photos of your furry friends on Facebook, I had to share them!    

Jayne and I did share some of them on air during Fashionably Early, but in case you missed it this morning or haven't been able to visit my Facebook page, here are a few more for you to enjoy! 

Miss the show and still want to shop?   Check it all out here in my Collection of Fashionably Late/Early Fabs!

{Brian- 8 weeks old}

{Caraway}

{Chasey}

{Coco Chanel}

{Diamond}

{Teddy}

{Harley}

{Kodiak}

{Lily and Daisy}

{Marina}

{Mr. Darcy}

{Olivia Josephine}

{Prancer, Dasher and Rudy}

{Rusty}

{Samantha}

{Samson}

{Solan}

{Teddy}

Thanks!

Pat

Our Winter Walk continues on Shoe Shopping with Jane. This week we had adorable photos from Leilani Learn from Ryka as she brought 2015 in the most adorable way. Enjoy!

"It was nice to have a night all "dolled up" with this beautiful soul!"

"This is from the "Living For Me" shoot for QVC.  I was excited to be able to share some fitness tips for all the different teams!"

"Holiday Brunch with the family (and Santa) at the beach."

"Patrick wanted to wish everyone a Happy & Healthy 2015!!!"

Thanks, Patrick!! Happy New Year to you too!

-Jane

Most national hair care brands have various items within their line. From shampoos to hairspray, there are often endless products to choose from. In fact, some products are launched and then disappear from store shelves before we even know they existed at all (and in a lot of cases, we probably aren't missing anything!) This is not so with Wen. 

Chaz Dean, the creator of the line, says he is not interested in launching a new product unless it fills a real need for his customers. He believes in keeping his line simple.

He says you don't need a lot of products if you are using the right products. So imagine my surprise and excitement when I found out that Chaz has quietly been working hard on a new formula! Don't worry- your basic, seasonal, and Sixthirteen Cleansing Conditioners are not going away. But there now is another exciting option. I sat down with Chaz to learn more about the new, rice-based cleansing conditioners that have just launched on QVC.

Sandra: Why did you decide to create this rice-based formula?

Chaz: The new rice based formulas are the culmination of years of product development, experience and customer demand. We learned a lot in the development of WEN Sixthirteen, about adding an amazing array of treatment- based ingredients to WEN, and we knew from WEN Kids there was a huge demand for a gentle, rice-based cleanser. With Bamboo Green Tea you get the best of both worlds; a cleanser with potent treatment ingredients that is gentle enough to use every day as your main cleansing conditioner.

Sandra: I know Bamboo Green Tea is just the first in the new line. I'm so excited about what you have planned for us this year! Since I already use your cleansing conditioners, what is different about this new formula?

Chaz: The new rice based formulas contain a unique blend of our amino acid and peptide complexes, as well as our exclusive Four Tea Complex that we first began using in Bamboo Green Tea. I've added this to a gentle rice protein base to create a daily cleanser unlike any other WEN product on the market today.

Sandra: Is it for specific hair types?

Chaz: No, the new rice formulas are designed to work on all hair types. Universal products like this are really the direction of the future. Depending on your particular hair needs you might want to use more or less as a leave-in, or even incorporate oils for added hydration after cleansing. But I believe the WEN customer should be able to use this no matter what type of hair they have and get amazing benefits. Although I am currently LOVING the Winter Citrus Cleansing Conditioner.I think I'm going to switch it up this week and try the new rice-based formula. Who knows, I might even go a little crazy and mix them!

What is your favorite Wen product? Please feel free to answer here or join me on my Facebook page, Twitter, or toGather where we are always talking about the latest and greatest in skincare, haircare, and makeup. We even share recipes and fashion tips! So, let's get chatting! :)

Hello, foodies…

Besides your fridge, oven, and microwave, what kitchen appliances could you NEVER live without? Somewhere near the top of my list would be my pressure cooker/slow-cooker. I’ve mentioned more than once what a time-saver pressure cooking is, but slow-cooking, too, is a terrific time-saver. For example: if you know you’ve got a particularly busy morning ahead, why not make breakfast…ahead. Here’s my Slow-Cooker Oatmeal.

Slow-Cooker Oatmeal
Serves 6-8

This recipe is prepared with the KIND (20) Fruit, Nut & Chocolate Bars (M46350).

Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that David has used in his recipes.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups steel-cut oats
• 8 cups milk
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1-1/2 cups chopped, roasted, and unsalted cashews

Preparation:

1. Place the oats, milk, butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into a slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours. When ready to serve, stir in the blueberries and cashews.

If your slow cooker has a timer, set it to turn on during the night so you can wake up to a hot breakfast. If you don’t have a timer function, make this before bed and refrigerate it. Everyone can heat up their own bowl in the morning. If you happened to pick up the KIND bar Today’s Special Value(R) we had on Wednesday, you can crumble a few of the blueberry, vanilla, and cashew bars on top for a flavorful, nutritional kick!

So back to slow-cooking and planning ahead. In theory, you could make dinner for every night of the week in your slow cooker. On a Sunday, do your shopping. Then on Sunday night or Monday morning, if you have time, start your recipe….chop the veggies, clean and trim the meat, even brown your ingredients on the stove top. That way, when you come home, dinner is ready. Even if you can’t eat together, most slow cookers have a “warm” setting which keeps your meal hot, without cooking it any longer.

Here are a few general slow-cooking tips to keep in mind:

• It’s better to slow cook tougher, bone-in meats like pork butts, chuck roasts, or ribs because they’re moister. Boneless chicken breasts or flank steak can get tough and dry because of the long cook time.
• Because you’re cooking foods for a long time and the lid is on, you won’t need much liquid. Make sure your meat and veggies are just covered.
• While tempting to lift that lid to check progress, don’t. You can slow down the cook time by as much as 20 minutes per lift.
• Fresh herbs can brighten up your slow-cooker meal beautifully...both in taste and color. Sprinkle a little on each plate before serving.

Foodies, for your blog question today, tell me what’s your favorite slow-cooker recipe? Do you make your pot-roast in a slow cooker? A hearty stew? Dessert, perhaps? I’ll see you on Sunday at Noon ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

While in LA for my daughter's interview for PHD schools, I got to grab some birthday fun. California is such a beautiful state, with such kind people. It was my first time there and it was a dream come true to finally visit. It's breathtaking!! I wanted to share some photos from my trip with you!!

Malibu Beach....WOW!!

Hope and her sweet boyfriend, Nathan (love him!!).

Look at the sign in the back!!!

Ahhhh... Sophia Loren was right here!

I ALWAYS wanted one of these! (I hear the real ones are heavier though) ;)

This is the set from "Friends"... The couch looks big on TV... but it's really small. LOL!

I had to go to Whiskey A Go Go to see where all the big bands got their start. The doors, the Stones, Motley Crew.....Amazing!

No trip would be complete without tasty food! Check out this mile high cotton candy!!

Friends and family --and great food! It doesn't get any better than that!

I even got to catch up with my girl, Joan, a college friend who has lived in LA for 26 years. Lucky girl!!

I HAD to go here...and what a night it was! You can read more about that adventure here.

Me and my girl Hope <3

Now THAT'S how they do birthday candles in LA!

 Tha-tha-tha-that's all folks! 

Until next time, California Dreamers!

Xo

A

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”

Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

My mom was there. She was one of the 250,000 people listening to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that August day. When I ask her about it, she lights up, “It was a thrilling experience which stands out in my mind as one of the great moments of my life.”

My mom was 27 years old in 1963. She, her husband, and my 8-month-old brother had joined others with the Committee for Non-Violent Action and spent the week walking from Philadelphia to Washington D.C.

When I ask her about the experience, she said she was there because, “It seemed ridiculous that in the 1960’s, where the Constitution said everybody was created equal, that this type of thing--discrimination in jobs, education, opportunity, stability, housing, food-- was going on! This was all going on against a group of people because of the shade of their skin. I almost find that sentence hard to get out of my mouth.”

It was a warm day in Washington D.C. “It was so thrilling. There were people everywhere. The streets were flooding with more and more people coming from every direction.” It took hours to make her way to a spot near the first reflecting pool.

Marian Anderson, Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Odetta, Mahalia Jackson, and many more singers took the stage that day. When I asked about Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech she says, “His speech was thrilling. He was an amazing orator. Charismatic. Everyone was electrified by his speech.”

Three years later, my mom adopted me--a bi-racial baby. “When they put you in my arms I just fell in love.”  

Dr. King’s dream was a reality in our house. I grew up in a home that did not judge people based on the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Hello, foodies…

I think we’ve all stood in front of the open fridge hoping…and praying…to find some dinner inspiration. The next time you find yourself there staring into the abyss, wondering if you can make something with pickles and cheddar cheese, may this recipe come to mind.

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Serves 8–10                

This recipe is prepared with the Temp-tations® Old World 24-Piece Complete Oven-to-Table Set (K38331).

Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that David has used in his recipes.

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef

1 (14-oz) bag frozen peppers and onions

1 (15-oz) can sloppy joe sauce

2 oz cream cheese

4 oz pasteurized prepared cheese product  (like Velveeta)

3 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1 bag frozen tater tots

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the ground beef until cooked through and no longer pink. Add the peppers and onions and sauté until defrosted, about 5 minutes.

Drain the grease from the beef and vegetables and place the beef back into the sauté pan. Reduce the heat to medium, add the sloppy joe sauce, cream cheese, and cheese product. Stir until the cheeses have melted.

Place the meat and cheese mixture into a 13" x 9" baking dish. Top with 2 cups of cheddar. Spread the tater tots over the surface of the meat and cheese. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 45 minutes, or until bubbly and the tater tots have browned.

Foodies, again, this is a freezer-perfect recipe. Make this now and freeze it for up to six months. Hopefully you’ve got most—if not all of those ingredients in your fridge and freezer. And if not, why not just grab those ingredients the next time you’re at the store so you’re prepared. While you’re there…pick up a family-sized package of ground beef.

I’m sure you’ve all seen those packages of meat…they’re usually 3-7 lb portions of your favorite meats…chicken breasts, ground beef, pork chops, even strip steaks. If you don’t already buy them, start. Supermarkets bundle meat to kindly save families money. If you can use all of it in a week’s time, great. If not, use some of it to make a recipe in advance. Or, put what you don’t need into freezer-safe bags. If you have a FoodSaver, you’ll preserve it for even longer.

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole, as well as the next two recipes on In the Kitchen with David, are going to use ground beef to show you how you can put these packages to good use.

For your blog question, tell me how you save money at the supermarket. Do you take time to clip coupons? Do you look for the store discounts on specific items? Share your ideas with your fellow foodies…tell them what you’ve learned. I’ll see you Wednesday at 8pm ET.

Keep it flavorful!

—David

If there was a city in the world that Joan adored almost as much as New York, it was London. From her good friendship with Prince Charles and Camilla to her beloved Ritz Hotel, Joan considered London a second home. This is a bittersweet trip for me as Joan and I shared so many fun times here over the last 25 years. 

I am in London for four days with our designer Janie Amoia. We are here scouting trends and looking for fabulous design inspirations.

London is really happening for fashion right now and is considered the epicenter of trend; a home to new young designers.  Londoners are a pretty chic group. Lots of beautiful scarves and colorful designer bags! We are seeing a lot of incredible color, and prints look particularly great with florals and hounds-tooth EVERYWHERE! 

Janie and I are like two kids in a candy shop!  We are shopping for 4 straight days hitting the legendary Portobello Road Antique Market (where Joan and I would spend all morning pouring over antique jewelry), small boutiques, and of course the legendary Harrods’s and the sensational Selfridges! 

 {So much beautiful antique jewelry... such great inspiration!!}

 {…and we saw a lot of vintage Joan Rivers!!}

{Waiting for Wartski to open- it was one of Joan’s favorite, favorite jewelers!}

 {Checking out the fashions on Carnaby Street and Oxford Street…}

 {…and the fantastic windows at Selfridges!}

Janie is married to a “Brit” and knows London well, so it’s like seeing London through new eyes.  We have already foundtons of fantastic inspiration for new jewelry and apparel. Stay tuned!!

{A fun tradition every time I’m in London: Tea at the legendary Brown’s Hotel!}

PS – I was thrilled at how many chic women we saw wearing that iconic British outerwear statement: The TRENCH COAT. Join me on February 2 at midnight to hear all about it!!

-David

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Monday, January 26, 2015

2-4pm   Joan Rivers Classics Collection

11pm-Midnight   Joan Rivers Classics Collection

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

6-7pm Joan Rivers Classics Collection 

Saturday, January 31, 2015

8-10am AM Style with Leah Williams

Feb 2^nd (Today’s Special Value!)

Midnight-2am Joan Rivers Classics Collection 

9-10am Joan Rivers Classics Collection 

4-6pm   Joan Rivers Classics Collection 

7-10pm PM Style

11-Midnight Joan Rivers Classics Collection 

Follow Joan’s FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/joanrivers

Or INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/joanrivers

Follow David on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/daviddangleqvc

Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/daviddangle

Or on toGather at http://qvc.co/DDprofile

www.joanrivers.com

Hello Denim Divas!

Thanks!

Gary

I don't know if it gets any better than movie night at home with the family. There's no better feeling than cuddling up all together, and putting on a classic film.

Popcorn is a must, but it's fun to play around with different toppings. Set out a couple of different bowls, and have a taste test! My mom always made me popcorn with cheese sprinkles and M&Ms. I've been trying a few new topping ideas that are actually kind of good for you too! Hope you like :) Visit me on my Facebook page, and let me know which one you like best!

XO,

Kerstin

Lemony Kale Popcorn

Ingredients:

½ bunch kale, chopped (about 4 cups)

2 teaspoons olive oil

¼ tsp sea salt

2 tsp lemon zest

10 cups popped popcorn

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 F

Make sure kale is completely dry and then toss with olive oil and salt.

Place on baking sheet and cook until crispy; about 15 minutes. Stir once or twice during cooking and be careful not to burn it. Remove and let cool.

In a small bowl, crumble the kale into a powder, and mix with lemon zest. Toss with prepared popcorn.

Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Popcorn

Ingredients:

1 bag popped popcorn

¼ cup melted dark chocolate

1 tsp sea salt (or more to taste)

Directions:

Immediately after popping popcorn, drizzle with chocolate sauce. Toss very gentyl until popcorn is coated. Sprinkle with sea salt.

Easy Almond-Butter Popcorn

Ingredients:

6 cups popped popcorn

2 Tbsp agave syrup

1/4 cup peanut butter

pinch fine sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Heat the peanut butter and agave on medium low heat in a nonstick pan briefly, just until melted and completely combined. Be sure to stir the entire time so the mixture doesn’t burn.

Pour the mixture evenly over the bowl of popcorn and immediately stir with large spoons and toss until the popcorn is evenly coated. Be careful not to crush the popcorn while stirring. Sprinkle on the sea salt to taste.

Rosemary, Black Pepper, & Parmesan Popcorn

Ingredients:

2 bags popped popcorn
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 clove minced garlic (optional)
1/2 cup grated parmesan
Additional salt, to taste
Fresh coarsely ground black pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, and chopped rosemary. Pop the popcorn and place in a very large bowl. Evenly sprinkle the hot popcorn with the grated parmesan and toss to combine, then drizzle the rosemary olive oil over the popcorn. Season generously to taste with fresh coarsely ground black pepper and, if desired, add some additional salt.