What We Made for Dinner | Meal Plan + Cook with Me

Welcome to a new week of meal planning and cooking. I share what's for dinner in our household in today's video along with our plan and grocery bill.



I started meal planning again after not doing it for a long time. I was burnt-out, but now I'm back and fully see the benefit of meal planning. We eat better, we stay on budget, and I find cooking exciting and enjoyable again. I understand burn-out though so if you are experiencing that... I can relate to you!

Let's look at the meals this week:


Black beans and brown rice in the Instant Pot

My friend, Amy, shared this recipe with me from iFoodreal. You don't need to cook your rice or soak your beans, which makes this an excellent meal to make last-minute. It makes a lot so I froze half and easily served my family of 6 with the rest. We loved this with guacamole and cheese. It was a delicious meal and could be made vegetarian by replacing the chicken broth with vegetable broth. I used my Instant Pot for this, as well as my lemon squeezer.



Vintage Ambrosia Salad with Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken
For the ambrosia salad, I mixed pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and grapes, with one cup of shredded coconut (sweetened), one cup of mini marshmallows, and one cup of sour cream. I served this on a bed of lettuce with some grilled chicken. We rubbed the chicken with olive oil and seasoned it with lemon pepper (most people use lemon pepper for fish, but try it for chicken) and then grilled the chicken. This was a tasty, light, nostalgic dinner, perfect for the end of the hot summer.



Homemade Hamburger Helper with side salad

I initially saw the recipe on Countryside Cravings, but modified the recipe a bit to suit our tastes.

Homemade Hamburger Helper
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1½ cups milk
1½ cups beef broth
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

For this kid-friendly dish, sauté one chopped onion in olive oil and then add your ground beef. I like to use this meat masher to make the ground beef mince evenly chopped. Drain the cooked meat and return to the pan. Add the paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, milk, beef broth, uncooked pasta, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, then cover a reduce simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minute, or until the pasta is cooked. Stir in cheddar cheese when ready to serve.



Baked Potato Skins with Garden Salad
We love baked potato skins. I like to get them started in the morning by washing the potatoes, pricking holes in them and rubbing them with oil and seasoning them with season all. I bake the potatoes for about an hour at 400 degrees F. Later in the day, when we are ready to eat, I cut the potatoes in half and scoop out a lot of the flesh (save for another meal). Then place them in the oven and bake them again until slightly crispy (about 15 minutes at 400 degrees F). Then place chopped bacon and shredded cheddar cheese in each potato. Place back in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. Then serve with sour cream, chopped chives and green onions. We serve this with a side salad. Sooo good.



Strawberry and Cream Merengues This dessert is from the Cookbook for Girls which is a cookbook my daughters just love! Mix two egg whites until they are frothy. Add 1/2 cup of superfine sugar (we used regular sugar and it turned out great). Bake at 220 degrees F for one hour. Make whipped cream and add that, along with chopped strawberries to the merengues. Enjoy!

⚜️ Featured in the video:
Meal planning notebook/ grocery list
lemon juicer
Instant Pot
Kitchen-Aid white mixer
Copper measuring cups
Cast iron skillet
Vintage kitchen timer
French apron
Blue & white Churchill plates
meat masher
Season all seasoning
salad spinner
Cookbook for Girls

⚜️ Style
Nail polish Londontown (Changing of the Guards) JenniferS for 25% off
Leopard headband

I hope you enjoy today's video.

On Instagram
Lessons from Madame Chic on Instagram...

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Nighttime routine✔️ . I’ve been trying to take time to really take care of myself and do the things I truly love lately instead of always being “productive” and rushing through my days with a giant to-do list. Most nights lately that’s meant more time reading, writing, and soaking with all the candles burning. Tonight that means taking two Benadryl so I can go to sleep because I STILL can’t stop coughing. But hey, whatever works!

A post shared by Jordan Taylor Sears (@jordantailored) on Jan 30, 2019 at 8:35pm PST

Comment of the Week
Noni Posi writes, "I tried the salmon/crab recipe. It was a risk because my kids are so picky. But they ALL ate it ALL! 😱🥰 It’s pricey, so not a bi-weekly meal but it’s definitely on the Master Meals List as an option. And I figure - it’s still way cheaper than eating out at even a cheap sea food restaurant. ☺️ 🦀 🎣"

Noni, I'm so happy your family enjoyed the fish. So wonderful! It's really the best when our meals are appreciated. The emojis made me laugh, haha!


Thank you for watching. I hope today's video gave you lots of meal inspiration. Let us know in the comments what recipes you have enjoyed making lately. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.



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FTC: This video is not sponsored. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

The Chic Assignment Check-in, August

Welcome to The Chic Assignment Check-in for August. In today's video we are going to dive deeper into the biographies of Elgar, as well as Carl and Karin Larsson. We are also going to explore meal planning and ten-item capsule wardrobe transitions.



I hope you have enjoyed the assignments this month. Let's look closer at each of the subjects...

⚜️Chic Assignment no. 1 Elgar's Nimrod

Sir Edward William Elgar (1857-1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. We are going to listen to a performance of Elgar's Nimrod this month.

Today, we are learning more about Elgar and his interesting life. Check out his short biography.

Did you enjoy Sheku Kanneh-Mason's performance this month? I certainly did. If you felt emotional while listening to it, you're not alone. Here is a great article on Classic FM: A detailed explanation of why Elgar’s Nimrod makes you break down in uncontrollable tears.





The performance I'm recommending is this brilliant rendition by Sheku Kanneh-Mason.


⚜️Chic Assignment no. 2 Enjoy the art of Carl Larsson

Carl Olof Larsson was a Swedish painter (1853-1919) representative of the Arts and Crafts movement. His many paintings include oils, watercolors, and frescoes. He is principally known for his watercolors of idyllic family life. You can see more of his works on WikiArt or check out this beautiful art book, A Home, which shares Larsson's works in beautiful print form. We are going to learn more about his biography today, and also focusing on his talented wife, Karin. Together, they are the creators of Swedish style.

If you are interested in owning Carl Larsson prints for your own home, Great Big Canvas has a great selection.




A portrait of Karin Larsson

Learn more about Karin Larsson here.




Detail of Christmas Eve, 1906
I love this detail of Christmas Eve. Isn't it fascinating to take a look at a special evening like this from a bygone era?



I would have to say The Flower Window is my favorite. I just love this one and want to do something similar with houseplants in my own home. I admire Karin Larsson's design sense so much!

⚜️Chic Assignment no. 3 Explore the art of meal planning
I hope you enjoyed my meal planning video this month. I received a great reaction from viewers which indicates that you'd like to see more. I know I always get inspired when I see what other people cook for dinner. I plan to continue that as an off-shoot of my homemaking series. Thank you!


⚜️Chic Assignment no. 4 Start preparing your fall wardrobe
As the season is about to change, it's time to assess our summer wardrobes (winter wardrobes for our Southern Hemisphere friends). Take note of what worked, what didn't, what will return, and what needs to go and prepare your wardrobe for fall. My fall fashion video was last week and I hope that it provided more insights into the ten-item wardrobe process and how I prepare for fall.


Thank you to The Chic Society members for bringing us The Chic Assignment check-in. Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.) The lowest tier is only $1.99 a month. This is the tier that most people join. The two upper tiers also have many benefits and are featured below.

Elegant Connoisseurs
All the King’s Morsels
Awesome Possum Powers YouTube channel
Azalia Spa Goods
Dressed for my Day with Kay Harms
Freedom Moms by Ashley Buffa
Inspired by Nikki YouTube channel
Julie Kolman, My Confident Closet
Katy Rose, Artist
Lovely Bits by Nicole Brignolle
How to Love with a Healing Heart by Melanie Tito
Little Pink Casa
Oh Wondrous Grace Chronicle
The Secret OWL Society digital planners
Sturm Brothers Jewelry
Something to Cherish
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Heather Barrera
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Leslie Morris Gather n’ Grow
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Prudently At Home
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The Chic Connoisseurs
A Better Life with KAT (Flylady Cleaning System)
American Blossom Linens
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BewitchedCrafts.com
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healthywithluba.com
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This and That with Denise Jordan
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Yen Lee

On Instagram

*PLEASE READ* My deepest apologies for sharing an Instagram post that had a swear word in the caption. I had actually flagged that picture as "not to share" (people tag me in their book photos and I had seen this one before) but in my late-night shuffle of getting this blogpost together, I mistook it for another book post. This unfortunate mistake slipped through the cracks. There is no Instagram post to share today and I will be sure to vet the posts better in the future. Thank you for your understanding.


Comment of the Week
Jeni Keilty writes, "Just listened to Sheku Kanneh-Mason play Nimrod. Magical! Took my breath away. I appreciate your Chic Assignments so much. They have helped renew my love of experiencing culture. You have definitely elevated the atmosphere in my home. Thank you. xx"


Thank you, Jeni! I'm so happy you enjoyed The Chic Assignment this month. I loved Sheku's performance as well. It was magical!


Thank you for taking part in The Chic Assignment this month. I would love to hear your observations in the comments and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. Have a wonderful day and I'll see you on Thursday for another meal planning video. See you then!




*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

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Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

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FTC: This video is not sponsored. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

20 Life-Changing Homemaking Secrets in FARMER BOY... Part 1

My homemaking series continues today as we do a deep-dive into Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy. Last time, we explored the homemaking secrets found in the Little House series and the subject matter resonated with so many people who loved reading the books.



Today, we continue with part one of our exploration into Farmer Boy. I actually have 20 life-changing homemaking secrets from Farmer Boy, so in part one, we will discuss the first ten.


🍂 1. Homemaking traditions anchored their week

On page 84, we read that Almanzo's mother was making pancakes “because this was Sunday”. It is clear that they could look forward to this mouth-watering breakfast every Sunday. Creating traditions centered around food is a wonderful idea to incorporate into family life. A lot of people do this with “Taco Tuesday” or other meal traditions.

🍂 2. Everyone in the family kept busy. They worked really hard and had a strong work ethic.
In chapter 8, Sunday, Almanzo’s mother is described as someone who “never sat down in the daytime, except on her spinning-wheel or loom.”
But not just, Almanzo’s mother, the entire family kept busy...

🍂 3. They took off an entire day to do the house cleaning. All of them. Men, women, boys, and girls
In chapter 10, The Turn of the Wheel, Mrs. Wilder says, “We’ll start house-cleaning tomorrow, bright and early.” Page 118 describes the list of what Almanzo had to do on house-cleaning day. “Everything in the house was moved, everything was scrubbed and scoured and polished.” It's clear that this is referring to an annual or bi-annual house cleaning ritual as it is so involved. They seemed to all stop everything and take part.

🍂 4. Sometimes the housecleaning ritual went on for days
“Days and days he spent in the cellar." This indicates that the housecleaning wasn't just one day, but could potentially last for several days. This shows the priority that house cleaning took in their lives when work and school and all other agenda items are dropped in order to get the house in top shape.

🍂 5. When you wear an apron, that means some serious work is about to happen
In chapter 21, County Fair, they dressed up to go to the county fair. Almanzo’s mother wore her 2nd best dress. “And took an apron, for she was going to help with the church dinner.” Page 261 describes the exact work the ladies were doing and it was some serious cooking. Clearly an apron was worn to not only preserve their dress, but also as an indication of the magnitude of work taking place.

🍂 6. Parents held a high standard for cleanliness
Yes, it's true that bath time took place once a week, which doesn't sound very clean by today's standards, but we aren't taking into account the ordeal they had to go through just to pour a bath without running water... especially in the winter. Almanzo enjoyed his "Saturday night feeling" even if he didn't like taking a bath in the cold house. His mother would inspect his ears and face to make sure he kept up good grooming habits, which were probably life-long habits the children took with them.

🍂 7. Sometimes homemaking required them to work into the evenings
Chapter 23, Cobbler, describes how Almanzo’s mother stayed up late sewing them socks and clothes. Sometimes our homemaking requires us to stay up late into the evening and work "overtime", just like any other job would.

🍂 8. They monetized their homemaking
Farmer Boy describes how proud the family were of their mother as her butter was the best in New York and she secured such an excellent price for it. I looked it up, and $250 in 1866 is the equivalent to $7,804.25 today. Wow!

🍂 9. They were good, shrewd traders… a.k.a. Haggling is an art!
In the chapter titled, Tin-Peddler, Almanzo's mother was described as a "good, shrewd trader". She always got what she wanted, but it was all in good fun. Being a good, shrewd trader, is an excellent skill to have as life brings many negotiations our way. Being frugal and haggling for the best price would benefit any family's budget.

🍂 10. They turned their homemaking into healthy competitions
In the chapter on Sheep Shearing, Almanzo and his family engage in a little healthy competition. This is an excellent technique to get you through an unpleasant task. It had me thinking of ways we could turn our homemaking into healthy competitions with the kids. It could bring belly laughs and important lessons on sportsmanship and the satisfaction of a job well done.

⚜️ The Little House 9-volume set
Little House 9-volume set from Scholastic

⚜️ Time Stamps
0:00 Introduction
1:01 Homemaking traditions anchored the week
3:00 Everyone kept busy (strong work ethic)
4:34 They took off an entire day to do house-cleaning
6:46 House-cleaning could go on for days and days
8:43 When you wear an apron, serious work is about to occur
9:57 Parents held their children to high standards of cleanliness
14:40 Sometimes homemaking required them to work overtime
16:02 They monetized their homemaking
18:39 They were good, shrewd traders
20:45 They enjoyed healthy competition with their homemaking

⚜️ My nail polish: Londontown Changing of the Guards JenniferS for 25% off


I hope you enjoyed the homemaking tips in today's video. Make sure you are subscribed to my YouTube channel and click the bell for notifications so you don't miss part 2.


News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for August.

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Tamara writes, "I absolutely adored this course! One of the best investments I have ever made in my life. Jennifer, I would like to thank you for taking the time to create a course that is enriching. I look forward future courses."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)

📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.


On Instagram
Lessons from Madame Chic on Instagram...

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Home Inspiration: Jennifer L. Scott's, Lessons From Madame Chic. @dailyconnoisseur This book has not only influenced my fashion sense but has also impacted other aspects of my life.The part that stood out most to me was Chapter 10: Always use the best things you have. That advice has meant so much to me and has really influenced my approach to decorating my home. Stay tuned for home decor pictures. #books #homedecor #interiordesigns #bookstagram #preppygirl #preppy #preppyfashion #chic #madamechic #instagram #instapicture #instapic #instastyle #fashionstyle #home #decor #elegantstyle #instagood #instachic #love #bookish #classic #classicstyle #dailyconnoisseur #ettiquette #jenniferlscott #foodiesofinstagram #womensupportingwomen #bookgram

A post shared by SerendipitousCharm 🇨🇦 (@serendipitouscharm) on Aug 10, 2020 at 1:53am PDT

Comment of the week
GreenEyed Susan writes... "Oh my goodness, I was so shocked to see you making macaroni and tomatoes! My Mom used to make that all the time. I thought it was something she made up as I never heard of anybody else that made it, or knew about it. My Mom passed away a few years ago, so this instantly threw my back into my childhood and wonderful memories of my Mom. Thank you!"

GreenEyed Susan, I think macaroni and tomatoes is a nostalgic childhood treat for so many. I'm happy it brought back good memories for you. I will have another meals video coming out soon. I hope you will enjoy it!


Thank you for watching! I would love to know your thoughts on the homemaking secrets from Farmer Boy. Please leave them below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.



*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

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FTC: This video is not sponsored. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Preparing my Fall Capsule Wardrobe + Summer Ten-Item Wardrobe Recap

It's time to prepare for fall, and today I'm pondering my summer ten-item wardrobe, deciding what will stay and what will go, and setting my sights to fall.



The majority of my core items will be returning for the upcoming fall season... this might prove a disappointment for people looking for new items to consider, however, in today's video, I'm sharing some updates to my extras, including fall shoes, sweaters, and camisoles.

Let's talk about shoes. I'm exploring various fall flats this year and have some high-quality finds to share with you. I know that finding well-made, high-quality shoes is not always the easiest task. The following shoes are from Oliver Cabell, who have generously given us a discount code.



Mules are very popular right now. I like them because they feel like comfortable slippers, keep the toes warm (and hide a bad pedicure... ha!), and look great with jeans. This is the Oliver Cabell dream mule JSCOTT10 for $10 off your purchase.



I love driving shoes. I still have a high-quality green pair from London Sole and never want them to go. My black pair was damaged, however, and I'm so pleased with these Oliver Cabell Monti driving shoes JSCOTT10 for $10 off your purchase. They have an elegant look to them and are so comfortable.


I will also be trying out the beautiful Captain boot from Thursday Boots... more on that soon.




Lilysilk is bringing us this video and I have a new camisole to add to my extras this fall. The Lilysilk camisole in camel will look beautiful with a chunky cardigan, jeans and those mules! Code Daily12 gives 12% off.



And how Cottagecore is this romantic silk blouse? The Lilysilk Sweet Silk Shirt with half-sleeve has a poetic look to it. I love it. I could also picture wearing this as a layer over dresses in the spring. Code Daily12 gives 12% off


The Aspen cashmere wrap is a delightfully soft, lightweight wrap that would be a perfect transitional fall piece. I like that it has "sleeves" and doesn't slide off your shoulder like a blanket.


The Lisbon Traveler is a beautifully structured sweater that has a unique design. It has deep side slits, which would require you to wear a layer underneath. It is not clingy and is in a beautiful color for fall.



The Hampton Duster is a very heavy-weight, high quality cashmere duster. I love the length here and have enjoyed wearing dusters each season. My past dusters have never been the highest quality so I am excited to see how this one performs.

Also featured in the video:

⚜️ SKYE
SKYE Genevieve 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Opale 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Risette Dress code Jennifer20 for 20% off

⚜️ Mott & Bow "mom" jeans (the perfect crop) JLS10 for 10% off

⚜️ This is the clothing steamer I use.

I will review these items as the season goes on to let you know how they wear. In the meantime, I will still be wearing my summer clothes as the temperatures here are high! What is the weather like where you are?

I hope you enjoyed today's video.

News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for August.

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Tamara writes, "I absolutely adored this course! One of the best investments I have ever made in my life. Jennifer, I would like to thank you for taking the time to create a course that is enriching. I look forward future courses."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)

📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.

On Instagram
Madame Chic in Poland... Tag me with your pictures using the hashtag #jenniferlscott

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Może czas na zmiany? 🤔 Kolejna książka urlopowa pochłonięta 😁🌅🏖️🏝️ #czytambolubie #książka #madamechic #damabyć #wakacje #urlop #plaża #woda #morze #słońce #relax

A post shared by Ania Bidelska (@aniabidelska) on Aug 13, 2020 at 11:20am PDT

Comment of the Week
Julie D. writes, "Beautiful video Jennifer! I made your potatoes gratin that you shared recently and it was amazing! My husband shared the recipe with a friend and I was told their two small children (who normally don't like potatoes) had seconds and thirds! I served ours with pan seared cod with lemon caper sauce and some steamed asparagus. It's definitely a keeper so thanks for sharing!"

Julie, that's wonderful! I love to hear that kids like it too. Thank you!


I would love to know how your ten-item wardrobe is coming along. How did your summer wardrobe perform? What are your plans for fall? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.


*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home




FTC: This video is sponsored by Lilysilk. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. The new items in the video were selected by me and gifted in exchange for an honest review of wear through the season. All opinions are my own.

Meditations on Homemaking | The End of the Summer

Welcome to another homemaking week in the life. We are meditating on the end of summer in today's video, which brings seasonal recipes, and freshly washed laundry.



The end of the summer is an unusual time of year. Most people are ready for fall at this point... I know I am. Yet, we are still in 100 degree + heat. That could be one of the reasons why we are dreaming of colder days ahead.

The worldwide lockdowns have also made this a strange summer... We were supposed to visit England again this August, but had to cancel due to Covid restrictions... I know everyone has some version of cancelled plans. At this point, it's really about focusing on the present and appreciating what is right in front of us.

Here is my poem featured in the video: The End of Summer... All rights reserved.

The End of Summer
The end of summer quietly arrives,
It holds a certain peace.
My heartstrings are ready for what comes next,
Their curiosity will not cease.

But though I look forward to autumn,
Its final moments I embrace.
The solstice of our reckoning,
What challenges the world did face.

These meditations on homemaking:
Blithe thoughts to awaken the numb.
I’ll fold and think of summer’s end,
And the autumn that is to come.
- Jennifer L. Scott

Here are the recipes in today's video:

Butterscotch Cookies (from an old Amish cookbook I have)

6 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 Tbs. baking soda
2 Tbs. baking powder
4 eggs, beaten
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla

Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer. Add the vanilla and eggs. Sift in the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix until combined. Roll into a log and chill. Once chilled, slice into small disks (space them out a lot... I didn't and mine stuck together). Bake at 350 degrees for 15- 20 minutes. These cookies are chewy and delightful! Even though I messed them up in the video, they still tasted so good. Freeze half of this recipe... it freezes well. We have enjoyed these cookies so much this summer.



Zucchini and Tomato Gratin
I made this recipe up so I could use up some garden produce. Slice a zucchini and two large tomatoes. I used the beefsteak tomatoes we have been enjoying this summer. Also thinly slice one medium onion. Drizzle olive oil in a gratin dish and arrange the vegetables beautifully with the onion. Top with more olive oil, salt, pepper, and whatever seasonings you enjoy. Finally, top a mixture of breadcrumbs and melted button on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.


Featured in the video:

⚜️ Kitchen
Sifter
Kitchen-Aid
Copper gratin pan Mine is over a decade old, but I'm linking a similar one here.
French apron
Striped half-apron

⚜️ Cleaning & Home
Pink floral gloves
e-cloth microfiber cloths
Cellar Door Candles
Riverbend Home Turkish towels
Checked tablecloth

⚜️Style
Londontown nail polish (Cheerio) JenniferS for 25% off
Londontown nail polish (Changing of the Guards) JenniferS for 25% off
Mott & Bow white jeans https://bit.ly/2JCP5cT JLS10 for 10% off

I hope you enjoyed today's video.

News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for August.

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Tamara writes, "I absolutely adored this course! One of the best investments I have ever made in my life. Jennifer, I would like to thank you for taking the time to create a course that is enriching. I look forward future courses."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)

📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.

On Instagram
This week was a wonderful milestone for The Daily Connoisseur. We reached 30K subscribers on Instagram and 90K subscribers on YouTube. My sincere thanks to everyone who is subscribed to my channel and who follows me on social media, and takes part in the blog. You make this channel special and I would like to thank you.

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I would like to thank you here on Instagram for 30K followers. Why anyone would follow me on Instagram is a mystery to me as I am #instagramclueless but, nevertheless, I'd like to thank all of you who do. If you are new here and you don't know much about me, I'm an author. You can see all of my books at the bottom right of this picture. Writing is one of my favorite things to do in the world. I also love creating videos on YouTube. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Henry David Thoreau: "To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." I hope you have a beautiful day and thank you for joining our community of daily connoisseurs here on Instagram. #dailyconnoisseur #authorsofinstagram #lessonsfrommadamechic #connoisseurkids #mademoisellechic

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Aug 15, 2020 at 2:18pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Thank you for your amazing reaction to my Little House on the Prairie Homemaking video. I have one on Farmer Boy in the works so look out for that soon.
Kristyn writes, "I read these over and over as a child, and then as an adult with my children. Farmer Boy and The Long Winter are my favorites. They are probably the most different, one is about feast and one about famine. I admire the two mothers' hard work and devotion, even though their lives were so different. When I was 9 my family was snowed in with no electricity for two weeks while my father was away working. I remember looking up at our dog as I walked the path my mom had dug to our burn barrel and our dog ran on top of the snow. My sister, Mom and I played Little House for that two weeks. I had to be good and patient like Mary, and my younger sister had to be spunky and brave like Laura. We melted snow for water (the well pump ran on electricity) and thanked God the propane tank was full for the gas stove. It's funny, we all have good memories of that winter. Any time we might lose the power during a storm or get a big snowfall I feel mildly excited and I think that's why. (In Michigan it must be a coping mechanism!) I'm looking forward to Farmer Boy, thank you, Jennifer!"


Krysten, I loved your observation on how Farmer Boy represents feast and The Long Winter represents famine. We will explore Farmer Boy in the next installment. Thank you for watching!

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Let us know how the end of the season is going for you. What are your observations? Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur. See you soon!


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15 Life-Changing Homemaking Tips I Learned from the Little House on the Prairie Books

Welcome back to my homemaking series here on The Daily Connoisseur. This time, I have a fun diversion for us. Many of you know that I recently finished reading the entire Little House book series to my children. It took us around 10 months to complete this read-aloud as we read one chapter a night (2 nights off a week). If you have children, I strongly encourage you to read this series to them. They will be fascinated with the real-life stories and adventures that Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder faced back in the pioneer days.




While reading to my daughters, I took notes of all of the rich homemaking inspiration I could take from the books. I gathered my notes over the past months and finally have them to present to you today. So here we go... 15 life-changing homemaking tips I learned from The Little House on the Prairie series.

Please note that Farmer Boy (book 2) will have its own video as that book had so much information in it... For now, let's just focus on Laura and her family...



The following list below details only some of the references I discuss in the video. For a complete discussion of all references, please watch today's video.

15 Life-Changing Homemaking Tips I Learned from the Little House on the Prairie Books

🍂 Tip 1: Routine framed their day Daily life was not particularly exciting, but routines framed the day in an enjoyable way:

In the mornings after the chores and the housework was done, Laura and Mary studied their books. In the afternoons Ma heard their lessons. Then they might play or sew their seams, till time to meet the herd and bring Spot and her calf home. Then came chores again and supper and the supper dishes and bedtime. - On the Banks of Plum Creek p. 270

🍂 Tip 2: Housework was done first Housework was always at the top of the to-do list and even took place before the children had school.
“So, after the housework was done, Laura and Carrie and Mary studied their lessons and then settled down to sew while Ma read to them.” - The Long Winter p. 97

🍂 Tip 3: Cleanliness and good grooming were priorities It can be hard to keep children looking clean and well-groomed. Back in Laura's day, presentation of the home and presentation of self was very important.
“Ma cooked and cleaned and mended and helped Mary and Laura with their lessons. They did the dishes, made their bed, and swept the floors, kept their hands and faces clean and neatly braided their hair." - On the Banks of Plum Creek p. 296

🍂 Tip 4: They wore aprons to preserve their clothing
"Set the table, Laura," Ma said quietly, tying on her apron. Mrs. Boast put on an apron too, and they were all busy, poking up the fire, setting the kettle to boil for tea, making biscuits, frying potatoes, while Mr. Boast talked to the visitors who stood in the way, thawing themselves by the stove." - By the Shores of Silver Lake p. 216

🍂 Tip 5: They adjusted their routine for special occasions
"Breakfast was so merry in the warmth and stillness and light that the clock was striking half past eight before they finished, and Ma said, "Run along, girls. This one time I'll do your housework." - The Long Winter p. 133

"Pa came and ate the same supper of potatoes and bread with dried-apple sauce and tea and left the dishes unwashed and went to bed at once to save kerosene and coal." - The Long Winter p. 147

As you can see in both of these instances, the housework duties were either done by someone else due to special circumstances, or put off until the next day... but this was quite rare.

🍂 Tip 6: Work came before pleasure
"Work comes before pleasure," Ma always said (The Long Winter p. 173) This follows a rather long description of the house chores that they had to do, including activities such as washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, blackening the stove, and boiling the clothes.

🍂 Tip 7: They dealt with monotony with perseverance
In The Long Winter, many chapters dealt with the monotony that came along with eating the same food day in and day out. Hot boiled potatoes, a slice of bread and salt (p. 186) was the fare every single day. This would be incredibly troubling and they dealt with this harsh reality with a positive attitude and perseverance, looking toward spring.

🍂 Tip 8: They appreciated the small things
"How happy Laura was to fill the lamp, polish the chimney, and trim the wick." - The Long Winter p. 327
When you endure hardship, suddenly the small things seem very important and significant and are not taken for granted. I'm sure many of us can relate to that through this pandemic crisis.

🍂 Tip 9: They made looking presentable always a priority
"Clean and starched and dressed-up, in the morning of a weekday, they sat in a row on a bench in the waiting room while Ma bought the tickets." - By the Shores of Silver Lake p. 16

This was back when traveling was a cause for dressing well and good-grooming.

🍂 Tip 10: They took pride in their work
"After Laura and Mary had washed and wiped the dishes, swept the floor, made their bed, and dusted, they settled down with their books. But the house was so cosy and pretty that Laura kept looking up at it." - On the Banks of Plum Creek p. 301
Laura was proud of the work she did and took the time to admire it.

🍂 Tip 11: They acknowledged that good homemaking makes the house a haven

"It was so wonderful to be there, safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold. Laura thought that this must be a little like Heaven, where the weary are at rest. She could not imagine that Heaven was better than being where she was, slowly growing warm and comfortable, sipping the hot, sweet, ginger tea, seeing Ma, and Grace, and Pa and Carrie, and Mary all enjoying their own cups of it and hearing the storm that could not touch them here." - The Long Winter p. 94 - 95

🍂 Tip 12: Homemaking was enjoyable and they had a good attitude toward it

"All that day was such a happy time. Laura did her washing and sprinkled and ironed the clean, fresh clothes." - These Happy Golden Years p. 39

For Laura, washing and ironing was a "happy time". Attitude is everything when it comes to housework.

🍂 Tip 13: They never measured when they cooked
When Reverend Stuart asks Ma to write down one of her recipes, her response is: "Goodness!," said Ma. "I never measure, but I guess I can make a stab at it." - By the Shores of Silver Lake p. 221

They were so comfortable with their cooking and made their signature dishes so regularly, they never measured what went in... it was all by intuition.

🍂 Tip 14: They monetized their homemaking when they could
In By the Shores of Silver Lake, Ma opens the house to boarders with the intention of earning money to help pay for the homestead. This produced a lot of work for all of them, but they were thrilled with the extra money they made.


🍂 Tip 15: A bad homemaker's attitude is enough to ruin the atmosphere
"Mrs. Brewster let the housework go. She did not sweep out the snow that Mr. Brewster tracked in; it melted and made puddles with the ashes around the stove. She did not make their bed nor even spread it up. Twice a day she cooked potatoes and salt pork and put them on the table. The rest of the time she sat brooding. She did not even comb her hair, and it seemed to Laura that Johnny squalled with temper that whole week". - These Happy Golden Years p. 46

When Laura was a guest in Mrs. Brewster's home, she experienced first-hand that a bad homemaker's attitude can sour the experience for everyone in the house. Everyone walked on pins and needles around Mrs. Brewster, who had a very negative temperament.




News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for August.

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Tamara writes, "I absolutely adored this course! One of the best investments I have ever made in my life. Jennifer, I would like to thank you for taking the time to create a course that is enriching. I look forward future courses."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)

📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.

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Madame Chic in Vietnam... Tag me with your book pictures using the hashtag #jenniferlscott

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Thank you, Madame Chic Đầu tiên là cảm ơn tất cả vì đã làm việc vất vả để tạo ra quyển sách quý báu này. Lối hành văn Jen: * * * (Mình chưa thật sự thấy thu hút lắm trong hình thái diễn đạt) Kiến thức: * * * * Độ thực tế: * * * * Độ có tâm của tác giả: * * * * * (Mình cực kì thích cách mà Jennifer L.Scott đưa tên các nhân vật và tình tiết trong phim vào ấy, làm sao để sau khi xem xong phim mà vẫn nhớ được mọi thứ nhỉ =))) Mình thì chả nhớ gì ngoài mấy anh đẹp trai, đùa đấy) #madamechic #jenniferlscott #parisstyle #recommend #book #review

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Comment of the Week
cherls15 writes, "Hello, I am a single mum and I work part time. When I am at work, I give it my all and when I at home, I give it even more. It's just me and my son and sometimes it feels very sad for me as I wanted to cook great meals for my husband and 3 kids. However, it turned out to be just me and my son. I give him all of me and our home life. I also love great food and baking and ensuring we have a clean,neat and organized home. Even though you have a husband and four kids which I wanted but don't have, watching your videos brings me some relief and lifts my loneliness and longing. I feel prouder of myself when seeing you as you confirm to me that also staying at home and not working lots and lots of hours, it is the right thing for my son. Thank you. Lol I am not as elegant as you...! But I have that elegance within me too. Thank you again."


Cherls15, you are doing a wonderful job and your son is blessed to have you as his mama. Don't be hard on yourself and keep up the amazing work. You inspire me!



Thank you for watching today's video. I hope it gave you great homemaking inspiration. Let us know your thoughts and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.


*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home




FTC: This video is not sponsored. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.