5.31.2021

My Tablecloth Routine from Start to Finish

6:14 AM 3 Comments

 


Mega Motivation continues this month as we explore kitchen decluttering and decoration. I'm sharing my tablecloth routine from start to finish today. Oh, how I love tablecloths! You can check out the Mega Motivation playlist here to see much more inspiration. 



In today's video I share why I like to use tablecloths (for two very different reasons), how I store them, how I launder and care for them, and how I style them. I also share the different styles I enjoy. 





News

📍Connoisseur Kids is now available in Poland and Vietnam. 

📍*NEW* The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 


On Instagram

Madame Chic in Japan... 

Comment of the Week
Pat D. writes, "The costs of these meals makes me wonder why I’d ever want to eat at a restaurant again!!"

Hi Pat, it's definitely lovely to escape to a restaurant every now and then, but when you break down the costs, it makes dining at home more attractive.

I hope you enjoyed my tablecloth routine from start to finish. I would love to know how you like to use tablecloths in your own home. 

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


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5.27.2021

6 Budget Dinner Ideas | What's For Dinner?

5:30 AM 6 Comments

 

Welcome to a new episode of What's for Dinner? Today I'm sharing family-friendly budget meals that will please your dinner guests and your bank account! 




Today's video is a collaboration with my friend, Robin from Faith and Flour. She is also sharing her budget meals so make sure you also check out her video to get twice the inspiration. 


⚜️ Featured in the Video
Riverbend Home kitchen store DCSPRING10 for 10% off
Spode Blue Italian at Riverbend Home DCSPRING10 for 10% off

⚜️ What I'm Wearing Rungolee Porto Dress code DailyC for free silk face mask
Nail polish by Londontown JenniferS for 25% off



This Tomato Feta Pasta is a recipe that's gone viral through TikTok. I found the original recipe on Delish and modified it for my own family. 

Tomato Feta Pasta

Tomato Feta Pasta

Yield: serves 6

Ingredients

  • 2 pints of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 shallot, quartered
  • 3 cloves of garlic, smashed
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • A pinch of salt and pepper
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 6 to 8 oz block feta (or crumbled feta)
  • 4 sprigs of thyme
  • 10 oz. elbow macaroni
  • ½ cup cooking water from pasta
  • Zest of one lemon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In an ovenproof casserole dish combine tomatoes, shallot, garlic, and the majority of the olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using) and mix to combine.
  2. Place the feta block (or if using crumbled feta, keep it together in the center) in the center of the tomato mixture and drizzle with the rest of the olive oil. Scatter the thyme over the tomatoes. Bake for 45 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water according to the package instructions, reserving ½ cup of cooking water before draining.
  4. Add the pasta and reserved pasta water to the tomatoes and feta and toss to combine. Sprinkle with lemon zest. Enjoy.
Created using The Recipes Generator


Slow Cooker Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole is a family-friendly meal that can be assembled in the morning and served to the delight of your children at dinnertime. I originally found this recipe on Pinterest. 

 
Slow Cooker Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole

Slow Cooker Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole

Yield: serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 oz taco seasoning
  • 5 oz cheddar cheese soup
  • 4 cups potatoes, sliced
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup beef broth

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef with garlic and drain. Grease the slow cooker and spread the potato slices in the bottom. Spread the ground beef on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle the taco seasoning on top of the beef. Spoon the soup on top. Sprinkle cheese as the top layer. Pour beef broth over the whole mixture. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
Created using The Recipes Generator


Chicken Pot Pie Stromboli this recipe is adapted from The Everyday Dishes Turkey Pot Pie Stromboli. It's a fun take on the traditional chicken pot pie. 

Chicken Pot Pie Stromboli

Chicken Pot Pie Stromboli

Yield: serves 8

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp heavy cream
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrot mix
  • 1 ½ cup cooked, shredded chicken
  • ½ cup Monterey jack or cheddar cheese
  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, sauté the onion and celery in butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and flour. Cook for one minute. Add the broth and heavy cream and stir until a thick sauce forms. Add the chicken, peas and carrot mix and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Allow the chicken mixture to cool. This step is important so you don’t burn through the pastry.
  2. While the chicken mixture is cooking, roll out a puff pastry sheet on a cutting board. Place the cool or room temperature chicken pot pie filling inside the pastry and top with cheese. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with egg wash and roll the dough into a log shape. Place the Stromboli seam side down on a prepared baking sheet. Brush the top with the rest of the egg wash, cut a few slits into the pastry, and bake for 35 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Created using The Recipes Generator


Spinach Mushroom Quiche with Herbed Cheese I make this easy quiche all the time and frequently substitute ingredients based on what I have. The herbed cheese sends this over the edge. It also makes a delicious breakfast. 


Spinach Mushroom Quiche with Herbed Cheese

Spinach Mushroom Quiche with Herbed Cheese

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 10 oz fresh spinach, chopped
  • 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 6oz container of herbed cheese (Boursin)
  • 8 oz shredded cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pie crust that could fit a 9-inch-deep dish
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the garlic and shallot in butter until shallot is softened, but not brown. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft. Add the spinach and stir until it cooks down. Add the herbed cheese and shredded cheese and stir for one minute (not too long… you don’t want it to get rubbery). Remove from heat. Beat the eggs with the milk in a separate bowl and set aside. On a floured surface, roll out the pie crust and place in the deep-dish pie pan. Fill the pie crust with the spinach cheese mixture. Pour the egg mixture on top. Brush the edges of the pie crust with egg wash. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the egg mixture is set when tested with a fork.
Created using The Recipes Generator


Tuna Melts on Croissants Tuna melts are a classic budget dish. I enjoy making them on croissants for a fresh new taste. 

 
Tuna Melts on Croissants

Tuna Melts on Croissants

Yield: 4 - 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cans tuna, drained 
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup chopped celery
  • ¼ cup chopped scallion or red onion
  • 1/3 cup chopped apple
  • 2 dill pickles finely chopped
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • 6 slices of cheddar cheese
  • 6 croissants (or 12 slices of sourdough bread)
  • Tomato and lettuce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degree F. In a large bowl, mix 2 cans of tuna with the mayonnaise, celery, onion, apple, and pickles. Mix well. Add the garlic salt and mix to incorporate. Cut your croissants in half and lay them on a baking sheet lined with foil. Spread the tuna mixture on top of each opened croissant half. Top with cheese. Bake in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the croissants are crispy. Add tomato and lettuce if desired. Enjoy.
Created using The Recipes Generator


Clam Chowder with fresh clams is ideal, but pantry clams are frugal and still make for a great, hearty soup. 

 
Clam Chowder

Clam Chowder

serves 6

Ingredients

  • 4 slices of bacon, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 cans minced clams
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 2 large celery stalks, sliced
  • 2 medium potatoes, cubed
  • 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • Drizzle of heavy cream
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. In a large stock pot, sauté the bacon until cooked. Remove the bacon and keep the fat in the pan. Add the butter to the bacon fat. Add the onion and celery and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently. Add the all-purpose flour and stir for one minute. Add the milk, stock, and bay leaf and stir until a thick sauce forms. Add the potatoes and cook until they are tender, around 15 minutes. Add the clams and stir to combine. Cook another 5 minutes. Distribute the soup evenly among soup bowls. Drizzle with heavy cream and top with bacon and chopped parsley. Enjoy.
Created using The Recipes Generator

News

📍Connoisseur Kids is now available in Poland and Vietnam. 

📍*NEW* The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for May

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 



On Instagram



Comment of the Week
Monday's video on 5 ways to be more elegant really sparked a great conversation in the comments on YouTube. I appreciated reading all of your additions to my list. 

Megroux wrote, "One more, knowing when a person wants advice and when they simply want to be heard."

This is fantastic advice, Megroux. Being a good listener and being there for our friends and family is very elegant. We don't need to try to solve everyone's problems. Sometimes people just need to be heard. Thank you for sharing that. 

I hope you enjoyed this episode of What's for Dinner? Let us know if you've discovered any great dinner ideas in the comments and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. See you soon! 

~ Jennifer 

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 post is not sponsored.  I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 
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5.24.2021

5 Ways to Be More Elegant

6:26 AM 2 Comments

 


In today's video I'm sharing 5 ways to be more elegant. These are practical tips that can aid you in any social situation. 


⚜️Be open and friendly

When meeting new people our body language should be open and friendly, not closed off and standoffish. A great reminder is to keep your phone out of sight so you don't use it as a crutch when you start to feel social anxiety. Giving eye contact, smiling, and listening, with genuine interest will take you far when wishing to express an air of elegance. 

⚜️Be interesting 

Once you do engage in conversation, have interesting things to say. Discuss topics you are passionate about and that can help you get to know the other person. Don't be afraid to discuss books, films, interesting places, and cuisines. 


⚜️Go light on the makeup

For an optimal air of elegance, daytime makeup should be subtle and kept to a minimum. Daylight reveals all things and we do not want our faces caked with makeup. Get away with using only what you need to enhance your beauty. You can always turn the volume up on your makeup application after sunset, if desired. 


⚜️Dress for elegance

You knew this tip was coming! Our first impressions of people are always visual impressions and what you wear is like your visual calling card to the world. Dress appropriately and dress for elegance, displaying your true style. When you get in the habit of doing this on a regular basis, not just when you "expect" to see people, you will naturally exude elegance.


⚜️Practice good deportment

Another visual cue lies in our posture. Good posture and deportment (how we sit, stand, and walk) makes up a lot of our elegant persona. If you are not in the habit of sitting, standing, and walking in an elegant fashion, it's time to practice on a daily basis. Practice at home. Walk elegantly up and down the stairs. Be conscious of how you sit and how your posture performs throughout the day. This will make you move gracefully and be a very flattering aspect of your visual first impression. 

Thank you to Babbel for sponsoring today's video. 


⚜️ What I'm wearing
Lilysilk blouse Daily15 for 15% off
Mott & Bow jeans JLS10 for 10% off
Londontown nail polish Dragonfruit JenniferS 25% off
Jackie Mack Designs necklace TDC15OFF for 15% off
SKYE earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off

News

📍Connoisseur Kids is now available in Poland and Vietnam. 

📍*NEW* The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for May

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 



On Instagram

Connoisseur Kids in Poland... 


Comment of the Week

MM writes, "I just got it! Why I like Daily Connoisseur - to me it's like a lady's magazine that I listen to - but without all the tacky trashy bits."

MM, thank you for that high compliment. That's what I'm going for!

I hope you enjoyed today's video. I would love to know your tips for being elegant in every circumstance.


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 post is sponsored by Babbel.  I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 
Continue reading...
# elegance # elegance tips
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