Hidden Gem #5: Wooden Wall Clock

$2.00!!!

Little Sis and I dropped in on an old favorite on Friday - The Thrift Station in Danville.  Generations of Sisters have shopped here.  So it is a tried and true classic.  It's hard to come in here and not find something that you love.  Sister Spend almost bought a huge bag of royal blue yarn for $11 to fuel her new knitting hobby, but decided (against her better judgement) to keep looking for a better deal.  I mean, where else are you going to find a huge bag of royal blue yarn for less than $11?

Other great things about the Thrift Station include:

• Being right next to El Balazo. Great Mexican food!
• And once a month(?) they have a day where you get to stuff as many items as you can fit into a grocery bag for only $7.  

The Thrift Station
486 San Ramon Valley Blvd
Danville, CA

Hidden Gem #3: Black Tassel Loafers

I've been coveting men's loafer shoes for a while now and I almost bought some the other day at Nordstrom, when Lindsey stopped me, saying that I could probably find some at a thrift store that didn't make me look like an elf and would cost a 1/4 of the price (the $40 Steve Madden pair were curiously small looking on my feet). So when I saw these at the Novato Hospice a few days later I was delighted! Size 8, in perfect condition, $8. Of course Sister Thrift had been right, and they've been on my feet every day since.

~Sister Spend

Hospice Hodgepodge 2
910 Grant Avenue
Novato, CA

Hidden Gem #1: Striped Flower Shirt

Does this look like a popcorn bag or something Leslie Caron would wear circa "An American In Paris"? According to Jorgen, it looks like the former, but for $4 I don't really care. I bought this on a whim at Novato Goodwill and I will be wearing it either to my next carnival or on Bastille Day.

~Sister Spend

Novato Goodwill
936 7th Street
Novato, CA

New Year's Day Dinner Menu

My husband and I celebrated New Year's Day with Little Sis and two of her friends, Joelle and Morgan. Morgan is French so we were anxious to impress him with some good cooking. This is what Kelsey and I decided to make...

Happy Hour Stuffed Mushrooms

Presecco

Chicken Parmigiana

Shiraz-Cabernet-Merlot, 08 Barren Jack

Bacardi Rum Cake

Chai Tea

We loved the chicken parm so much that we decided to make it again the next night. Pioneer Woman has great photos and step by step instructions for all her recipes. It makes things a lot easier on the chef.   Here are our recipes:

Happy Hour Stuffed Mushrooms
15 medium sized mushrooms
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 clove garlic
5 tablespoons shredded Jack cheese
2 tablespoons dry white or red wine
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

Remove stems from mushrooms and save for other use. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter; brush over mushroom caps, coating thoroughly. Stir together remaining 4 tablespoons butter, garlic, and cheese until well blended. Place mushrooms, cavity side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Evenly mound filling in each mushroom, pressing it in lightly. Broil about 6 inches below broiler unit until bubbly and lightly browned (about 3 minutes). Serve warm.

Chicken Parmigiana
See this recipe on The Pioneer Woman blog...

side note: I don't think I can last another day without making this recipe from the same site. It's just looks too mouthwatering!

Bacardi Rum Cake
1 C. chopped pecans or walnuts
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 3-3/4 oz. pkg. jello instant vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1/2 C. cold water
1/2 C. Wesson oil
1/2 C. dark rum

Glaze:
1 stick butter
1/4 C. water
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. dark rum

Preheat oven to 325˚. Grease and flour 10” tube or 12-cup bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter over nuts. Bake 1 hour. Cool. Invert on serving plate. Prick top. Drizzle and smooth glaze evenly over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze. Repeat till glaze is used up. For glaze: melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in rum.

Many warm wishes for the new year and the new decade!  May 2010 bring you health, happiness, great adventures, and delicious meals with friends and family.