Summer is coming to a close and fall is nearly here. Today I have the perfect seasonal transition recipe for you: my pumpkin spice zucchini bread.



If you watched my vegetable garden tour video, you know that we produced a lot of zucchini in our garden this year. I have made everything from zucchini lasagna to zucchini noodles, and everything in between. This zucchini bread, however, is my favorite recipe.



The secret ingredient is pumpkin pie spice. I use a tablespoon in this recipe. If you are not a fan of pumpkin spice, you can substitute this with cinnamon. I have tried both versions and they are both delicious.



You will need two cups of shredded zucchini for this recipe. That was one giant zucchini for us, but you might need two smaller ones to make two cups.



This bread is moist and delicious. It also freezes really well. My recipe makes two loaves so you can enjoy one today and freeze one for later.





I hope you enjoy today's video.

News
You asked and I listened. I am now making my recipes printable for you on the blog. Please let me know if you like this new format. Also, my posts and recipes are now shareable on Pinterest.

I am enjoying connecting with everyone on my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe, and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

On Instagram
A beautiful photo of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic...

#PolishYourPoiseWithMadameChic book is such a beautiful writing. I should say that many of Jennifer's suggestions are so resonate with me. Seems like she wrote what's in my head 💕 Thank you so much for creating this beautiful content!

A post shared by Fauziah Hafidha (@fauziah_hafidha) on Jun 4, 2018 at 6:39pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Today's comment is a review of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic on Amazon. I appreciate everyone who writes reviews of my books. Thank you!

Lauren A writes that Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic is a must-read. She writes, "I read this with my 88 year old great grandma. She is French and we both enjoyed the read.

Now I am eager for Mrs. Scott’s new YouTube Videos and new book releases."

Lauren, I love that you read the book with your grandmother. The topics in the book are relevant and relatable to all ages. Thank you for sharing your kind review.


I hope you enjoy the recipe in today's video. Let me know if you make it. Also, please let me know what you like to do with zucchini this time of year. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.


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I love seeing what other people buy at the grocery store, don't you? Today, I'm sharing my first grocery haul with you. I went to Trader Joe's and purchased a few of my favorites. I also show you what I make: roast salmon, red split lentils, butternut squash, and salad.



Red split lentils
serves 4 small portions
1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1/2 chopped onion
1 cup red split lentils
2 1/2 cups broth (vegetable, chicken or beef) or use water with a bouillon cube
1 1/2 tsp dried herbs seasoning of your choice

In a pan over medium heat, sauté the onion in the olive oil for a few minutes. Add the dry lentils and seasoning and cook for one minute. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover with a lid. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the lentils are soft. Add toppings such as chopped celery, chopped tomato (you can also include this in cooking), crumbled cheese, etc. Serve over brown rice. You can also add spinach when cooking. There are many variations.

If you don't have a Trader Joe's near your home, they sell the exact kind on Amazon here. (They are much less expensive at Trader Joe's... if you live near one, I would recommend buying them there instead of on Amazon.)

I hope you enjoy today's video.

News
The manuscript for my new book is due tomorrow! I am finished with the first draft and excited to have some down time. I've been working on this project for months and there is a lot of love poured into it. I'm so excited for you to read CONNOISSEUR KIDS in the fall of 2019.

For more of The Daily Connoisseur, take my eCourses, Creating Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

Laura writes, "I so appreciate you and the financial e-course! I loved the encouragement and can do attitude!! I encourage everyone to take it, the quizzes at the end of each lecture were fun and helpful!!!"

Thank you, Laura!

Attention writers: my writing teacher, Alan Watt, who runs the LA Writers' Lab, is starting his new donation-based 90-Day Novel tele-workshop in May. For all of the information, visit www.lawriterslab.com. His great class was what got me started in writing. It's a wonderful way to build your discipline as a writer.

On Instagram
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic and a cup of tea...

Cultivate the quiet power of poise. #jenniferlscott #madamechic e una buona tazza di #kusmitea

A post shared by Deborah Vianello (@deborahmartinavianello) on Mar 4, 2018 at 8:35am PST

Comment of the Week
Regarding last week's wallpaper bedroom makeover, Emilia writes, "Jennifer, the wallpaper choices are very pretty, but what I find most beautiful is how 'real' this video feels. I love how the girls' bedrooms are not 'model bedrooms' with perfectly matching furniture and decoration items. I love that the they are having dominoes and the banana teething toy for tea, that the dolls are slightly big for their doll beds, that there is a multiplication table on the wall, that you portray life as it is, imperfectly perfect. Thank you for keeping it real and not massacring your readers with yet more bedrooms just like those on the pages of home decor magazines. I appreciate the liveness and love exuding from these rooms. Emilia"

Emilia, thank you so much. I really appreciated your comment. I get a lot of joy out of seeing my children's "play stations". Childhood play is so sweet and imaginative. Thank you for your kind comment.

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Do you enjoy knowing what others buy at the grocery store? What do you like to get at Trader Joe's? Do you have a good recipe for red lentils? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day. We celebrated with family at home and my husband cooked us up a proper English roast. It was delicious!




For today's post, I'm sharing one of my favorite quick bread recipes with you.

Whenever my bananas are too soft to eat, I like to whip them into this delicious banana bread.



The special ingredient in this bread is the chocolate chips. Eat a warm slice slathered with a tiny amount of butter and a cup of tea or coffee. What a treat!



Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
makes 2 loaves

4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
6 mashed bananas
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
4 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 tsp salt

Mix the butter and sugar until well blended. Add the rest of the wet ingredients: mashed banana, vanilla extract and eggs. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix. Lastly add the chocolate chips. Pour into two greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the loaf comes out clean. I like to enjoy one loaf and freeze the other for a later date. So delicious with a cup of tea or coffee. Enjoy!

For this recipe I used my Kitchen Aide and double loaf pans.

I hope you enjoy today's video.

News
Congratulations to Christina G., who won the Bizond steamer giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!

On Monday, I'll be launching my new debt-free course before going on a two-week break. I am so excited to share the new course with you! I have been working on it for months. The reviews from my ten-item wardrobe eCourse have been excellent and I know you will love the new debt-free course too.

On Instagram
A beautiful photo of Madame Chic on a rainy day...

. . "Rain, tea and a good book." ☁☕📚 . #lessonsfrommadamechic #jenniferlscott #goodbook #flatlay #flatlaybookstagram #cozy #morning #morningmood #bookphotography #diy #driedflowers #photography #flowers #diydriedflowers #bookstagram #books #canon600d #50mmlens #vsco

A post shared by Bella (@bellaartworld) on Feb 4, 2018 at 4:25pm PST

Comment of the Week
Kellee T writes: "I made a few of the turkey sloppy joes for the freezer and just had the first one last night - delicious! My husband and I are attempting to avoid some carbs, so we served the meat over sweet potatoes, it was amazing! My kiddos still had it in buns and loved it as well. Thank you so much for all your recipes!"

Hi Kellee, Thank you for letting me know how they turned out! I love the idea of serving it over sweet potatoes. I will try that next time. Thank you!


Today, I would love to know... how do you make your banana bread? What's your favorite quick bread recipe? Let me know in the comment section and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Today I'm making a fragrant variation of one of my favorite fast dinners, fried rice. I'm adding garlic and shrimp to make this decadent dish. Whenever I cook rice, I always make a double batch so I can make fried rice the next day. This works best with day-old rice. Use the proportions that work for you. If you like to add more vegetables, do so. If you want to use less soy sauce, that works too. This dish is very customizable. I hope you enjoy today's bonus video.



Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice

1 Tbs sesame oil
3-4 cups of day-old rice
1 1/2 Tbs minced garlic
2 cups mixed vegetables (steamed, and no longer frozen)
3 Tbs soy sauce to taste
2 eggs, scrambled
1 cup cooked shrimp
sriracha sauce, cilantro, green onions and avocado to garnish.

Heat sesame oil in a wok or frying pan on medium high heat. Add garlic, cook for one minute. Add rice and cook for a few minutes until the sesame and garlic are fragrant. Add your mixed vegetables and soy sauce to taste (I like to use about 3 Tbs) cook for 2 minutes. Mix in two eggs that you have beaten together with a fork. Lastly add the cooked shrimp. Cook for 2 more minutes. Please note, that over cooking the shrimp will make them rubbery. Remove from heat, being sure to scrape the pan to include the crispy parts when you serve. Garnish with sriracha sauce, cilantro, green onions and avocado.


News
Check out this wonderful feature on the Madame Chic books in WomanScape's article, Jennifer L. Scott's Timely Holiday Gift: Madame Chic.


On Instagram
Paper and Peony shared her favorite books and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic is one of them!

My favorite books! #myweekofagoodread . @dailyconnoisseur @meganhess_official @chantal_larocque_ @oneartsymama @thetiffanypratt . .Paper flowers made with Recollection paper packs from @Michaelsstores #makeitwithmichaels . . . . #books #fortheloveofbooks #bookstagram #booksaddict #madamechic #thiscanbebeautiful #handlettering #amylatta #meganhess #classic #chicandelegant #couture #paperflowers #moncton #paperbouquet #floristry #alternativebouquet #flashesofdelight #calledtobecreative #myunicornlife #livethelittlethings #diy #crafts #goodreads #bookpages #author #templates

A post shared by Chantal Larocque (@paperandpeony) on Dec 7, 2017 at 8:16am PST

Thank you for joining me for this bonus video. Today I would love to know how you make fried rice.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. See you on Monday for the lavender pomander craft!


Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Join me as I assemble freezer meals for my family today. I purchased beef stew meat and ground turkey at the grocery store and was able to assemble 8 freezer meals with what I made in this short cooking session.



You will notice that many of these recipes include the same, or similar ingredients. This is intentional. When doing a large cooking session like this, I choose recipes based on similar ingredients for efficiency purposes.

I hope you enjoy today's video.




Beef Stroganoff
makes 3 freezer meals

2 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 Tbs minced garlic
1 packed onion soup mix
2 cans golden mushroom soup
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
2 cups chopped mushrooms

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Ladle the mixture into gallon freezer bags. Label and freeze. To cook in the slow cooker, take out one freezer bag the night before and let it thaw in the refrigerator. Cook on low 8 hours or high 3 to 4 hours. To cook in the Instant Pot, you don't even need to thaw it, simply put the frozen food in the pot and pressure cook it on high for 20 minutes. I have tried both ways and this meal is delicious! Serve over egg noodles or rice and garnish with parsley.

*Please note: if you do not want to use beef, substitute mushrooms for the meat.



Beef Tips with Gravy
makes 2 freezer meals

2 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
1 cup beef broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup (or suitable substitute)
1 medium chopped onion
1 1/2 Tbs chopped garlic
1/4 cup brown gravy mix

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Divide between gallon freezer bags. This should make about two meals. Freeze. To cook, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. You can thicken the sauce with 1 Tbs cornstarch and 1 Tbs water mixed together, then mixed in the beef dish about 1/2 hour before the cooking is finished if using the slow cooker. If you are using the Instant Pot, you can cook from frozen 20 minutes on pressure cook. This dish is great served with rice, steamed green beans, dinner rolls and a fresh salad. My husband loves this meal!

For the next two meals, I have cooked 2 1/2 - 3lbs ground turkey with chopped onion, garlic and garlic salt.




Turkey Bolognese (sauce only)

Makes two freezer meals.
Divide the following ingredients between two freezer bags:

1 1/2 lb ground turkey
2 large jars marinara sauce
2 Tbs minced garlic
Chopped mushrooms
chopped greens (spinach, chard or kale)

Please note: use as many vegetables as you like. If you are using less meat, use more mushrooms or other vegetables to bulk up the meal. Freeze for up to three months. When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the fridge. Cook in slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for three to four hours. For the Instant Pot, cook direct from frozen for 20 minutes on pressure cook. (I cooked this in the Instant Pot last week and it was delicious!) Serve over noodles.




Kid's Favorite Cowboy Casserole
makes 1 large casserole

1 lb ground turkey mixture
1 1/2 cups corn
1 cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, divided
garlic salt to taste
1 chopped onion.
1 package tater tots, frozen

Mix the turkey, corn, mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, garlic salt and onion together in a bowl. Pour into an aluminum baking pan. Layer tater tots on top. Cover with aluminum foil and label your dish. Freeze for up to three months. Cook from frozen in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for around 1 1/2 hours. Times may vary depending on your oven. Right before taking the casserole out, sprinkle shredded cheese on top to melt. Children love this dish! It's a crowd pleaser.

News
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic is now available from China Citic Press

Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic from China Citic Press ❤️ #MADAMECHIC #polishyourpoisewithmadamechic #jenniferlscott #dailyconnoisseur #etiquette #China #ChinaCiticPress

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Dec 2, 2017 at 10:27am PST

On Instagram
Madame Chic from Tatarstan...

❓Какие Вы читаете книги? Любите вообще читать? 📚Конечно хотелось бы изучить классику и быть образованной дамочкой 👑, но нет. Спасибо, что вообще хоть что-то начала читать😂. ❣️Я люблю читать книги которые можно применить в жизнь ( про денежный учёт, полезные привычки,домоведение, красоту и тд). 💜💜💜Кто на фото найдёт цветочек с питью лепестками, получит от меня ПОДАРОК😘💜💜💜 #казань #мояказань #сирень #книги #ледиблог #леди #женскийблог #мамаблог #счастливаяжена #мысливслух #татарстан #французкаяжена #цветы

A post shared by ПП / Леди Блог (@tamara__green) on Jun 8, 2017 at 7:10am PDT

Comment of the Week
Cindie M. writes:
Oh, Thank You, Jennifer for the great printables! Another great video! At the risk of sounding melodramatic, you have literally changed my life since I started following you on youtube and your blog. I just finished reading all 3 of your books....should be required reading for every woman who wants to elevate every part of her life. You have renewed my love of classical music...you have challenged me to practice poise, even in the mundane parts of my day...you have inspired me to look presentable always, even when I do not feel like it...you have encouraged me to embrace art and culture in new ways (I took a painting class with my grown daughters & LOVED it! My husband & I are going to the ballet to see the Nutcracker next week! I have started buying myself fresh flowers every 2 weeks & arranging them myself!) Won't bore you with more, but you get the picture. Thanks for all you do, my dear!

Cindie, I absolutely loved your testimonial. Everything you wrote is why I continue to do what I do. Thank you for being such a great supporter of my work! Have fun at the Nutcracker!

I hope today's video inspires you to do freezer cooking for your family. It's an integral part of meal planning for us and I am always grateful to have a homemade meal on hand for the days when I do not feel like cooking from scratch.

Please let me know what your favorite meals are to freeze. Also, please let me know if you have any cooking requests for future videos. See you on Thursday!


Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.