This week I was at Chaz’s place, getting my hair done. It is such a great energy with Chaz, his crew, the models, and hosts. We hang out, talk, laugh, and pet the puppies. I know he is busy with his Today’s Special Value--but this is what goes on the week before, to get ready:)
Everyone gets “puppy Love” at Chaz’s salon :)
This is Bella. She is playing coy. She is a major “love bug!” She always loves attention :)
Cooper's animals. From the horse she rides, to the horse she just rescued, to the dogs on her socks :)
Courtney and Sandra are getting a “puppy break” while getting their hair cleansed. It’s hard to be in a bad mood with the cuteness of the puppies around :)
This is my “Cousin It” imitation. Wow, I’ve never looked better! Lol! (Chaz is doing his magic on the trim!)
Wearing an Aran sweater is like receving a warm Irish hug! And this brand new sweater for St. Patrick's Day 2014 brings you the best hug of all, the one from family members who love you! When our Irish buyer first saw this Tree of Life design, it was in a throw for home decor. Siobain, our buyer, instantly (and brilliantly!) thought it would make a stunning sweater. So the work began on this one of a kind Aran sweater that Kilronan knitwear created for us.
Every Irish sweater tells a story since each stitch has a special meaning. But this one is a true work of art, symbolizing the bonds of family and friends. Here are some of the meaningful stories:
Tree of Life: The trunk is the symbol of parents and family unity, and the double tree on the back is the image of two families blended together.
Basket Stitch: The tree grows from the basket stitch, representing hope for a bountiful harvest.
Cable Stitch: A new twist on the cable stitch gives a meaning of safety and good luck.
Hugs and Kisses: Obviously this is the love of family but also contains the honeycomb stitch that represents hard work.
So all in all, your new sweater sends bountiful wishes to you and your family of love, prosperity and hope. It is the first time an Irish sweater tells such a story. So I wanted to share some photos that tell my story of family and of love!
I am so excited that Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best is finally returning for a brand-new season starting March 29th! I’m wearing many of my new QVC designs on the show all season long! Here’s a sneak peak of the season.
DAVID:
And some of your favorites from the show are featured in this Sunday’s big show at 8pm with Lisa Robertson.
And later this month, we debut my new Floral Elegance Sequin Scarf that I wore Oscar night. It is so glamorous and like no other sequin scarf we have ever done. It’s a stunner.
My teapot collection started when I was still living at home. I was in the basement and came across several boxes, opened them and inside were three beautiful teapots. I asked my mother where them came from and she said they were wedding presents. I thought these are to pretty to be in boxes and not displayed. Not long after that I met James. When he took me to meet his parents for the first time I was blow away by the collection of teapots his mother had. She collected them from the many places she has visited over the years. I have about 25 my mother-in-law has over 75! I thought I would share a few of the teapots we have collected.
These are a few of mine including the newest addition, the Belleek Bunratty Castle teapot.
This is one of the teapots James and I gave Gloria for Christmas many years ago.
She loves the quirky and unusual ones
These are mini teapots
If you are wondering if we drink tea, the answer is YES!! Everyday, but we only use the teapots for special occasions.
I am wearing sandals during my shows. I am getting ready to hang Bethlehem Lights flowers on my deck. I am shopping for maxi dresses. I am excited for the smell of BBQ. So how is it...I am also getting ready for a snowstorm??
Yup, a 3-inch-er headed our way. Hardly anything to fret over, but enough to irritate. And I love snow!! But even I am ready for warmer weather. C’mon, I’ve already transitioned my wardrobe… and my head! My head is in Spring mode now…so what the heck?!?
Joe and I just returned from Turks and Caicos. I’m a huge lover of giving travel tips bc admittedly, am biggest travel/hotel snob. When you get limited time off, you kind of have to make sure your time away is sublime. I dream of being the Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown. If you go, there are a few options. if you want to splurge, there are places like Amanyara and Regent Palms. I have had two people who travel with kids and families, rave about the Beaches All Inclusive resort there (including a doctor friend of mine) and the reason Joe and I love Turks, is that never have we seen water so see-thru-blue, and with little time to spare, a quick direct flight from Philly is ideal…as opposed to other Caribbean islands that require flying as far south as well, South America.
If you go to Turks, be sure to eat at Coco Bistro, the #1 best restie on the island…and take a boat tour with Island Vibes bc they take you snorkeling and also dock at an Iguana island and make conch salad using conch shells they dive for. I took one home as a souvi.
Watching news about this missing Malaysian airliner. Absolutely tragic. I can’t imagine the anguish. You know, the world is full of a lot of hard times and tragedy. It seems so unfair. A dear viewer, who bought the“Shawn’s Hear My Soul Speak” ringfor both herself and her daughter, sent me the loveliest poem she wrote that reminded her of my ring. She suffers from MS, which is why the words of her poem, were even more stinging and touching…
MY SOUL’S SONG
By Virginia Hendriks
Bits of paper clutter my days
Pieces of my life, they create such a maze
Where am I going? Where have I been?
Through ups and downs I have chosen to win
Turmoil and doubt I have quietly endured
With peace in my soul His grace is ensured
The body gives up, but the mind still has dreams
Thoughts keep invading like the sun's radiant beams
Writing, scribbling, jotting things down
In words or phrases my life has no bounds
Obsessed at times I must let it out
When reading my soul’s songs you will hear my heart shout
I am an introvert believe or not. I don’t watch a ton of TV...but when I do, I have my favs. Do you watch Nashville? It’s an addiction for Joe and me. I love Juliette Barnes. She’s terribly nasty, but underneath it all I think she has a good heart. And she is wicked talented as far as singing goes. (My dream is to sing.) And of course Downton Abbey. I’ll be honest…I’m way irritated. Just when it gets going, it’s over. 7 or 8 episodes and it’s done. And now we wait another almost full year for it to resume. Majorly deflating.
Joe and I saw ‘Son of God’ movie this weekend. Mark Burnett was the big Producer on the movie. Mark produced and created The Apprentice, of which I was a contestant. Sadly, we didn’t love Son of God, Passion of the Christ cannot be topped. Nonetheless, the scenes of Jesus being beaten and crucified are beyond words. My heart and stomach dropped.
Switching gears, I watched the Oscars and the movie I am currently itching to see, is Wolf of Wall Street. And while we are at it, I have been craving a good James Bond movie lately, JB is my fav. Grew up on those.
In other news, our friend at Clarks, Amy Oselkin had her bambino… ah, a little guy who is precious to look at.
Amy Stran and Gabrielle are close to having theirs too!
And as far as my latest loves at QVC…I ordered aLisa Rinna red carpet dress that I love, plus a Mark Zunino stunner. I also am in LOVVVVEEE with my new coffee maker, the Cuisinart single serve unit. Plus I just ordered an Isaac penny loafer in suede. And we are making in Sterling, a replica of my personal charm bracelet that is from the same collection as the “Hear My Soul Speak” ring. I wear it everyday and covet it. And you ask about it nonstop. So we are making a version for QVC…
Got my nails done recently, in anticipation of Spring. (Um yeah, didn’t realize snow was on the way.) Got a ladybug painted on my fingernail. I love it. Means I have a lucky angel with me all the time.
Lastly, sharing a photo of Joe that warms my heart. Him, wearing readers. He says he’s getting old and he can’t believe he needs reading glasses. I on the other hand thinks he looks wildly smart and adorable, so I ask him to put them on all the time, even when he is not reading things. Ha!!
Ok friends, off to eat my din din and relax before waking up to the Monday smack-down. May you find hope, and begin the week with a belief in the impossible, being possible.
With only 5 weeks left until Bree's arrival, we have been very busy finishing up some final projects around the house and in her nursery. Because my Dad is the ultimate Handy Man, my parents stayed with us last weekend to finish up some of these projects.
Here are some updates from the productive weekend!
This is the antique cradle that my parents brought with them. My dad refinished it when they had their first grandchild 8 years ago. Bree will be grand-baby #4 to sleep in it.
We set it up in our room with the blanket my Grandmother gave my mom when she was pregnant with big sis. It's been in the family ever since!
Dad and Steve put her name above the crib!
They hung wall art that my girlfriend's mom made! It matches her bedding and is monogrammed with her initials! They also set up the monitor too (can you tell how excited and ready we are!!).
The mirror is also a new addition to the room. They hung it on the wall and there was even time to antique! Mom and Dad found the gray table and Steve and I found the vanity tray.
The hall bath was transformed with mermaid decor! Sorry guests, lol!
I couldn't help but grab a picture of two grown men putting together a Mermaid themed bathroom, lol!
We still have a couple of small things to do, but overall it was a very fun and productive weekend with my parents! You know I will keep you posted with more projects and Bree fun on my Facebook page!! {Amy Stran QVC}
We love sharing your pet photos on Sundays with Carolyn and Dan. As many of you know, I lost my beloved Johnnie dog to cancer last week, and so many of you posted very personal messages of comfort to me and my family. In gratitude and to honor Johnnie, Dan's Murphy, and all of the wonderful pets who have shared our lives and left us all too soon, we showed some of the pictures of your pets on air yesterday and have posted some in our blog below.
We received hundreds of beautiful memorial photos and every single one was obviously a much-loved pet. We wish we could put them all in our blog today, but here are a few.....and I hope you will go to my FB page (www.facebook.com/CarolynGracieQVC) to see all of the other sweet Rainbow Bridge pets that were posted this week by QVC friends.
Mark your calendars—there’s a You’re Home with Jill on tomorrow at 7pm ET! That’s a much better time slot, isn’t it? Now you don’t have to watch while you're at work! :)
We’ve been organizing one room at a time this month and now we’re up to the living room, the family room, or the den—whatever you call that special gathering space. That room in my house is our living room and I feel like I tidy it up at the end of every day. Now, I fold blankets and take dishes to the kitchen. When the kids were smaller, I was forever vacuuming and stashing toys into the corners of the room so they were as “away” as they could be.
But how do you do a spring cleaning of your family room? Is there a better way to stash those toys? I’m a huge fan of the storage ottomans by Valerie Parr Hill. I have some of these in virtually every room, but several in our family room for storing the blankets, toys, magazines, dog toys, and random odds and ends. Depending on the size of your room, you can group a few ottomans together and make a coffee table. Or, you can set them underneath windows to create quick, functional window seats. In the springtime, I always clean out my ottomans because they end up accumulating some pretty strange things. And, regardless of when I last washed the afghans, all of them go in the wash for a spring cleaning. When you put them back in your ottomans, add a dryer sheet or two to keep them smelling fresh.
The whole living room should be thoroughly dusted and vacuumed. (Again, remember our 15-minute rule. If you don’t have time for both now, just tackle the dusting now and vacuum later.) And, yes, you need to be brave and remove the couch cushions to see what’s lurking in those crevices. I pray your couch contains nothing more than stale Cheetos and pocket change.
My grandmother also was an avid furniture rearranger, which is something I now do, too. If you have the space for a new layout, it’s a nice way to freshen up your room without necessarily changing a thing. You can also clean under all that furniture!
Lastly, make sure you incorporate some seasonal touches into your decorating. Here’s my new favorite craft project for your front door…thank you, Pinterest, for the inspiration!
Isn’t that the cutest? Here’s how you make this:
What You’ll Need:
1 small, old fashioned-style umbrella with a curved handle
1 large faux tulip bush & 1 small faux tulip bush
2 small bushes of faux greenery
1 bird’s nest with faux eggs
1 15" piece of colored ribbon
thin floral wire and wire cutters
To Assemble:
Arrange the faux tulips in a naturally-drooping way in one side of the umbrella. Attach the flowers to the umbrella tips with the floral wire, so that the flowers don’t fall to the bottom.
Add the bird’s nest to the opposite side and secure with the wire. Fill in the leftover empty spaces with the greenery and spread out for a natural look. Wire the greenery to the umbrella tips to secure.
Tie the ribbon into a decorative bow near the bottom of the umbrella. You can either hang this on your front door or arrange it on an entryway table.
After all that cleaning and crafting, you deserve a little comfort food. Here’s my favorite recipe for Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. DIG IN!
Melt the butter with the olive oil in large Dutch oven. Add in the onion and sauté until golden brown. Sprinkle the onion with the flour and stir until combined. Add the milk, cream, nutmeg, salt, pepper, Cheddar, and Fontina and stir until the cheeses are melted. Add the potatoes and simmer for 15–20 minutes over low heat.
Pour the potato mixture into a 9” x 13” baking dish. Top with the 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and bake for 20–25 minutes, until thick, bubbly, and golden brown.
There’s something about that first little green sprout emerging from the soil that I find so renewing. It’s a rite of spring for all of us gardeners who can’t wait to get our hands into the dirt and begin the process of planting out our vegetable gardens. And lucky for us that early spring is the time to sow peas!
March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day marks the pea season for me – it’s easy for me to remember – “Luck of Irish”, “The Emerald Isle” “Lucky Charms.” I like to plant both English (aka Garden) and Snap peas from dried peas. Avid gardeners who are also great planners use peas dried from their previous harvest, but is absolutely okay to purchase dried too (I do).
Select a sunny, cleared area in front of a fence or trellis. Sow the pea seeds about an inch to inch ½ into the soil and cover with peat moss or compost – you do not want a heavy soil over the seeds. Repeat sowing the seeds about an inch to an inch ½ apart. Keep the seeds watered regularly until you see the sprouts.
And the sky’s the limit with your base (i.e. trellis). Have fun with the remaining paint you used for your plant markers. Who says a trellis can’t be bright blue or red? Just imagine how your plants will look in front of a fun color. Have fun too with what your trellis is made of; what about White Birch branches, stalks of bamboo – or a vintage door or window?
Be sure to monitor your pea plants regularly around May. As the summer gets hotter the plants will swell quickly and you want to harvest them on the smaller side so they don’t lose their texture and sweetness. Pea crops come on at once and in abundance. I like to fill a large basket of peas, put aside some to eat raw and cook within a few days. The rest of the basketful I will de-pod, blanch and freeze in serving size containers – whether a Tupperware-like container or even in small freezer bags to be enjoyed all year round.
Normally by June the pea crop is finished and as peas are actually one of the few crops that do not deplete the soil, but actually enrich it with nitrogen, I make good use of it. With this plot of great soil, why not plant a few late season tomatoes which are sure to be full of flavor. Thanks peas!
How well do you think you know your favorite QVC hosts?
Below you will find four different photos of the Valerie Par Hill ottoman TSV. Each ottoman belongs to one of our QVC hosts containing some items you might find in their ottoman at any given time!
Four of the six hosts featured in the photo below participated in our quiz.Can you figure out which ottoman belongs to which host? ... Some are more obvious than others!!
A.
B.
C.
D.
So what do you think? Scroll down to see if you're answers were correct!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you’re curled up behind a big plate of Corned Beef & Cabbage. Or, if you haven’t yet decided on a dinner recipe, might I suggest something from David’s Main Menu page—we have a Luck of the Irish menu all mapped out.
I had so much fun on In the Kitchen with David yesterday. Did you? What was your favorite moment? Dare I even ask if you have a favorite Muppet? I loved every single moment and every single one of our special guests. It was a honor to meet them and I’ll be honest…I was a little star struck being around such famous celebrities!
Place the cabbage, kale, broccoli, dill pickles, and golden raisins in large salad or mixing bowl; set aside. Place the mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, celery salt, black pepper, and honey in a medium-size mixing bowl and whisk until completely combined. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until fully coated.
This recipe is prepared using the Prepology® 6-Piece Nonstick Cutlery Set with Sheaths (K39560).
This is one of those sides you can make any time of year. In the winter, it would pair nicely with a savory meatloaf or beef tenderloin. In the summer, it’s great with burgers, dogs, or even your favorite grilled fish. Here’s another great salad recipe (courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen) you might try alongside your favorite dishes…pay special attention to the tip in the beginning about how to avoid a soggy salad.
MEDITERRANEAN CHOPPED SALAD Serves 4
In-season cherry tomatoes can be substituted for the grape tomatoes.
Ingredients:
1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
10 ounces grape tomatoes, quartered
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 small red onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 romaine lettuce heart (6 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (1 cup)
Directions:
1. Combine cucumber, tomatoes, and 1 teaspoon salt in colander set over bowl and let stand for 15 minutes.
2. Whisk oil, vinegar, and garlic together in large bowl. Add drained cucumber and tomatoes, chickpeas, olives, onion, and parsley; toss and let stand at room temperature to blend flavors, 5 minutes.
3. Add romaine and feta; toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Your blog question today is what’s your favorite side salad? Do you like a Cesar or mixed greens salad? Maybe you prefer coleslaw or potato salad? I’ll see you Wednesday at 8pm ET.
Keep it flavorful! —David
P.S. Don’t forget about the Kale Foodie Challenge—your entries are due on Wednesday!
Hello my LCNY Fashionistas..as you know there is a lot going on this spring in the Davies household. The first event I have been working on was the Free to Breathe Lung Cancer Gala. This was the 2nd annual ......a lot of pressure to exceed last years expectations.
My story is simple....my husband Larry, of 27 years, passed away in 2010 from this disease. His prognosis was not good...but his will to live and see his daughters graduate from college and his son from high school kept him going.
The last few months of Larry's life he chose to be in a clinical trial. Even though he showed great improvement, the cancer spread too far to save his life. Our family believes he has saved many because the trial he was on was approved by the FDA. He is OUR hero.
The gala was wonderful..several survivors were acknowledged along with many advocates who volunteered their time to change the way lung cancer is perceived. So many people have asked me when Larry was diagnosed "Did he smoke?" My response was immediate "never". Now, four years later it is different when I am asked the very same question. I now respond "does it matter?"
Cancer is cancer...our goal for lung cancer is education, early detection, and a cure so WE ARE FREE TO BREATHE. As I said, my story is not unlike many others...the difference is that I have had you in my corner since day one. Your friendship is priceless. So, in honor of friendship, spring, new beginnings and girlfriend time on Wednesday mornings with Mary Beth Roe and me.....let's share some good news this week.
I am thankful for friends, family and every new day. Check out the pics of the gala. Yes that is my girl...... Jayne Brown :)
Do you—or does hubby—get pretty serious about college basketball right around this time? I know lots of my colleagues are filling out brackets at the office and I’m, well, dreaming about the party food! Someone has to think about what really matters, right? Here are my 10 best game-day recipes. Think basketball, baseball, football...it all works! For our purposes today, we're calling this menu Hoops & Scoops.
You can click on the recipe titles below and go straight to each recipe, housed under "David's Recipes" on QVC.com. Or, jump on Pinterest—we’ve housed all of these winners in one easy-to-find pin. Follow me if you’re not already.
It’s easy to love spring rolls. Not only do they have that perfect crunch, but they’re filled with a magical blend of veggies that always seems to pair perfectly with the sauce. I felt like a Zen master when we created my spring rolls recipe. You’ll love the blend of veggies inside and the ease of preparation, as they’re the baked, not fried.
Until a year ago, I didn’t know Buffalo Chicken Dip existed. But ever since then, it’s become a staple at my parties year-round. I always prefer to use rotisserie chicken. But, in a pinch, try substituting it for canned chicken—it’s delicious. In fact, I’ve made it a habit to keep it on hand just in case I need an emergency appetizer.
I grew up in North Carolina, but we vacationed in Georgia often and always returned with bushels of fresh peaches and Vidalia onions. True “Vidalias” are only grown in the state of Georgia. And, in my opinion, they’re the only onion that makes the perfect onion ring. Give this recipe a try—you’ll love the combination of the sweet onion, salty beer batter, and tangy sauce.
Pizza is just too good to eat in its original form. So we made it a dip. Like my Buffalo Chicken Dip, you probably have all the ingredients for this app in your fridge and pantry. If you don’t have the refrigerated pizza dough, you can use vegetables like celery and bell peppers. Tortilla chips and pita chips would be fantastic.
Hummus isn’t something I ever thought to make from scratch until one of our In the Kitchen with David team members told me just how easy it was. I’m a big fan of making everything from scratch at least once. And now that I made this—and have a big jar of Tahini paste in my fridge!—I find myself making this all the time. You’ll LOVE the chips, too!
This is exactly what it sounds like…an entire hoagie in a bowl. We even remembered the dill pickle! I love a bread bowls because you’ve got the dippers and serving vessel covered. Just plan to have some extra bread at the ready for serving…this makes a LOT of dip!
Sometimes several appetizers—and a dessert—is all you need for a game-day party. But I like to have a big vat of chili going on the stove in case my guests want something heartier than finger food. The gamut of toppings really makes this chili special. Hot sauce, avocado, and sliced jalapenos would be great, too!
Bacon and chocolate is a trendy combination nowadays, but it’s not a fad that will go away anytime soon. If you’ve tried bacon desserts, I think you’ll agree with me. If not, stop whatever it is you’re doing and go make these cookies. They will NOT make you mad!
Every tailgating party needs a little something sweet to balance out all that salt. Actually, scratch that. Bring on the salty peanut butter! And bring on some sweet chocolate candy! Put it all together in a finger-friendly pizza and you’ll cater to the whole crowd.
Okay, yes, you did see this recipe in my top 10 best chocolate recipes blog a few weeks back. They’re just that good. In fact, why don’t you double this recipe and freeze a batch. You’ll thank yourself later!
Feeling good about ourselves on the inside will shine through in whatever style or outfit we wear!
Exercise helps me to feel good about myself. One of my favorite ways to keep my body and mind healthy is through Pilates! Pilates challenges me to be my very best. It helps to enliven my spirit, gain confidence, and feel sexy!
Since moving to PA I've been so fortunate to have found a wonderful woman named Donna who owns and operates a Pilates studio close to my home. She is a fabulous instructor, very knowledgable and patient. She's taught me that Pilates is a never ending journey, it's a full body/mind workout. Not only does it tone and create lean muscles through resistance training, but it helps clear my mind and concentrate on my breathing to fully unitize each of the poses. Whenever I leave her studio I feel alive and stress free! My body feels limber and ready to take on the world.
Pilates is great for core strength, posture, and toning. It's a versatile workout that can be refined easily for beginners and continue to get infinitely harder. Check out Richie's face in the pic below! He thought it was going to be a walk in the park :)
Although I enjoy Pilates and the way I feel after a workout, it really doesn't matter how you decide to keep healthy and in shape. As long as you feel beautiful, you will look beautiful. It's all about the mind/body connection.
Have you ever tried Pilates? How do you keep in shape? I'd love to hear!!
The luck of the Irish is on your side, because I have a great recipe for you! It’s easy, yummy, and festive. Here’s a recipe for St. Patty’s Green Pudding Parfaits!
1 packet of Fat Free/ Sugar Free White Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix (yields 4.5 cups)
4 cups of Fat Free/ Skim Milk
5-10 drops of green food dye
¼ tsp. peppermint extract
15 Mint Oreo Cookies (Regular Oreos or any other chocolate cookie will do)
1 8oz Tub of Fat Free Cool Whip
Instructions:
Make each flavor of pudding in their own bow by following the instructions on the box (mix pudding mix with 2 cups of milk and stir).
When mixed then add 5-10 drops of green food coloring (depending on what color green you would prefer) and ¼ tsp. of peppermint extract to the White Chocolate Pudding. When both puddings are thoroughly mixed place them in the refrigerator to set (approximately 5 minutes).
Here comes the fun part -- Place 15 Oreos in a gallon size Ziploc bag (or food processor) and crush them until they are crumbs.
When the pudding is ready, take half of each flavor of pudding and put it in another bowl (giving you 4 bowls total—2 Chocolate Fudge & 2 green White Chocolate).
Next, divide you tub of cool whip into 3 equal portions.
Then take 1/3 of you Cool Whip and add to one of your bowls of Chocolate Fudge and stir. Take another 1/3 of your Cool Whip and add it to one of your bowls of White Chocolate and stir. Leave remaining 1/3 Cool Whip as topping. Now your 4 bowls of pudding should look as follows: 1 dark Chocolate Fudge and 1 light Chocolate Fudge; 1 dark green White Chocolate and 1 light green White Chocolate.
Now it’s time to build your tasty treat! Place a spoon in each of your puddings, the Cool Whip & cookie crumbs. Line up 4-8 wine glasses (depending on how large you would like to make the parfaits) and start to layer each of the ingredients.
I first placed a layer of cookie crumbs on the bottom.
I then did a layer of dark Chocolate Fudge followed by a layer of dark green White Chocolate
Next, more cookie crumbs!
Followed by a layer of light Chocolate Fudge, and then a layer of light green White Chocolate.
And of course this dessert wouldn’t be complete without a dollop of whip cream on top accompanied by MORE cookie crumbs! Yum!
And the last step, of course, is to enjoy this tasty St. Patrick’s Day treat!
An ideal skin-care regimen, such as my Power of Perricone 5-Piece Kit, incorporates a variety of essential antiaging ingredients to address the appearance of skin. I highly recommend treatments formulated with my powerful Cold Plasma delivery system, such as Cold Plasma Eye and Photo Plasma, which deliver benefits to the skin. The introduction of neuropeptides over 10 years ago revolutionized the beauty industry. My Neuropeptide Facial Cream and Neuropeptide Necolletage contain neuropeptides that address accelerated skin-aging concerns, restoring the appearance of firmness and suppleness while imparting visible radiance.
To help yourself age beautifully at every stage of life, incorporate a three-tiered approach into your routine: eat a noninflammatory diet, take daily targeted nutritional supplements, and apply antioxidant-based topicals that work synergistically to enhance the beauty of skin. Remember to always protect your skin from aging UVA and UVB sun rays, preferably with an SPF like Photo Plasma.
Here are the most frequently asked questions from our customers about the Masterbuilt Veranda 196 Sq. In. Electric Grill w/Cover. Don't see an answer to your question? Post your question to this blog, below, and check back throughout the day on Wednesday, March 19th, to have your question answered by our Masterbuilt team of experts!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I clean my Masterbuilt Electric Veranda Grill?
A: The grill grate is dishwasher-safe. You can also clean it with a non-abrasive grill brush. Clean the reflector plate with a soft sponge and warm, soapy water. Clean the grill after each use to prolong the life of your product.
Q: May I use an extension cord with this grill?
A: For best results, we recommend you plug the grill directly into an electrical outlet (GFI-type). If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy-duty three-prong cord no longer than 25 feet and marked W-A (suitable for outdoor appliances).
Q: What is the purpose of the reflector plate?
A: The reflector plate disperses heat evenly throughout the grill.
Q: Should I preheat the grill?
A: Yes, you should set the grill on HIGH to preheat, then reduce the temperature to your desired setting for grilling once you place the food on the grate.
Q: What's the best way to maintain consistent temperature in the grill?
A: To maintain consistent temperature while grilling, make sure you keep the grill lid closed as much as possible.
Q: Can I sear meat on this grill? Is it powerful enough?
A: Yes! Set your grill to HIGH and leave the lid closed until it reaches over 500 degrees. Once you place your food on the grate, it will sear the outside. For steaks, sear on each side for 2 to 5 minutes, depending on desired level of doneness. For chicken and pork, turn down the grill temperature to MEDIUM after searing the outside of the meat to allow the meat to grill low and slow to desired doneness.
Q: Is it okay to leave this grill outside?
A: The Masterbuilt Electric Veranda Grill comes with a custom cover. We recommend cleaning and covering the grill after each use. We also recommend storing it in a covered area, like a garage or patio, to shield it from the elements.
When I meet QVC customers all around the country they normally shout "Hey – Dadgum Good Guy!" I consider that a high-compliment, as the author of two "Dadgum Good" cookbooks! Those cookbooks were fun projects to work on, but closest to my heart is the work I do every day as the President/CEO of Masterbuilt. I love working with our team to bring innovative, quality cooking products to all of you. We're best known for our Masterbuilt electric smokers and the Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer.
Today, we're excited to bring you the Masterbuilt Electric Veranda Grill as the Today's Special Value. Our team had a lot of fun testing out these grills with some amazing recipes. A couple of my favorites are the Balsamic Pork Chops and the Easy Grilled Cajun Wings. You can check out some recipes here! I've been on a personal mission to eat healthier, so the Grilled Fruit Kabobs are a great dessert option.
I'm married and I have two daughters and one son. With three ladies in the house, I've heard time and time again that they didn't like to grill because it was intimidating. Once we designed this grill, we removed the intimidation factor completely. There's no flame, propane or charcoal and they love to use this grill.
If you're wondering, "How can an electric grill be powerful enough to sear my food?", let me tell you – this grill is a powerhouse! You can sear steaks and grill to perfection or choose to use the LOW to MEDIUM settings for more "low and slow" grilling.
So now that grilling season is upon us, tell us some of your favorite things to grill in the comments below! We would love to hear them!
It’s been such a brutal winter that it’s almost hard to believe spring arrives March 20 (woo hoo!). I know those of you who have endured snow storms and frigid temperatures can’t wait to trade in your boots and gloves for sandals and shorts. This month, I want to help put Old Man Winter behind us by sharing some inside scoop on Denim & Co.® apparel debuting for the warm weather ahead.
I spoke with QVC’s resident Denim & Co. experts—Program Host Carolyn Gracie and Designer Gary Goben—to talk about the “How” collections customers know and love. But first I have to share some exciting news…drum roll, please…Denim & Co. is launching a beach line this year! Just the word “beach” is like music to my ears! “It’s super exciting,” said Gary. “We’re doing cover-ups and scarves that you can wear to the beach over your bathing suit!” Carolyn added, “You guys have asked for things you can wear with your swim suits, so we’re bringing them to you! Keep checking our blogs and Facebook pages for more in the coming months.”
Now that I’ve gotten you even more excited for sunny days at the shore, or wherever you may be headed this summer, let’s talk about activewear. The Denim & Co. Active collection is full of soft, fashionable pieces you lounge in at home, wear while running errands, or put on for the gym. Carolyn explained it best: “I think Americans are dressing much more casually now; it’s accepted. We do it more frequently than getting dressed up. But there’s a difference between looking casual and looking sloppy. With Denim & Co. you can feel casual and comfortable and still look really put together. We have great colors, great fabrics, and the fashions are affordable.”
Many of the items in the Active collection are done in French terry, jersey knit, velour, and knit terry, so you know they are going to feel as great as they look. And there are many styles to choose from! “We’re bringing you shorts, capris, and crops, plus we have new yoga pants and leggings,” Gary told me.
Now to those “How” pants I mentioned. One of the many great things about them is you can wear them year round. There are four different “Hows”: “How Smooth,”® “How Comfy,”® “How Classic,”® and “How Timeless.”®
“The ‘How Smooth’ is a wide-waistband pull-on pant. We designed it to give the customer a very smooth look under her clothes so that there’s no bulk, no extra fabric, no belt loops—nothing like that,” Gary said. The “How Smooth” is perfect for wearing under your tunics. Carolyn explained, “It’s a fitted jean, so you look very slim. They’re the right weight, they’re not see-through, and they’re not so clingy that they enhance what’s not perfect. You don’t see bumps and lumps and things. It’s a very flattering fabric.”
The second member of the “How” group is “How Comfy,” which is all about the comfort of a yoga pant with the look of denim. “‘How Comfy’ is a knit jean,” Gary said. “They’re more stretchy and more comfortable, hence the name.”
“How Classic,” according to Gary, is all about the fit. “The ‘How Classic’ has elastic three-quarters of the way around. That means the center front of your waist from belt loop to belt loop is going to be flat, but then we put elastic all the way around to the back for comfort.”
I enjoyed hearing about “How Timeless” partly because of the fun nickname created for the women who wear them. “We refer to our ‘How Timeless’ customers as our ‘side-pocket senoritas,’” Gary told me. “These pants have a full elastic waistband with side pockets.” So what’s with the nickname? “Scott, a member of our team, invented the affectionate term for the ladies because many of them own a pair of the side-pocket pants in practically every color!” Carolyn explained. “We have the ‘How Timeless’ pants in Petite, Tall, and Regular, so there’s something for every customer, and they just last forever.”
If you’re a woman who likes to do some research before investing in a pair of pants, make sure to check QVC.com for more information. On the home page, click on the “Fashion” tab, click on Denim & Co. under “Brand,” and then click on the category you want to view. Or, if you already know you want to look at “How Comfy,” just type “How Comfy” in the search box—it’s that easy! And for even more details on each pant, make sure to look for a video posted with the product.
Now, let’s get back to spring! I asked Gary about the big trends for the season. “Anything chambray, like a lighter blue, is very strong, along with corals, yellows, royal blue, and mint green,” he told me. “The other big thing is floral prints. A floral print in anything is going to be really good.”
And that one item every woman should have in her closet? “A great pair of jeans,” Carolyn said. “I think if you have a great pair of jeans and you feel good in them, you can put on any kind of top and feel like you look good because of your jeans.”
“I totally agree with Carolyn,” Gary added, “a great pair of jeans. But I also think a must-have is a denim jacket. I love denim jackets over dresses, T-shirts, tunics—you name it!”
It may sound like Carolyn and Gary agree on fashion choices, but they’re actually in the middle of a competition they affectionately call Designer vs. Diva. “We have a viewer poll contest every couple of months where viewers can vote on their favorite of two items—one of which is picked by Gary and one of which is picked by me,” Carolyn explained. “And they don’t know which of us picked it until after they vote!” So, who will win? Make sure to follow Carolyn Gracie on Facebookand stay up to date on both Carolynand Gary’sblogs, so you don’t miss a minute of the fashion fun!
