Here's a picture of the squash prepped for the oven... as you can see, I put the basil and garlic on top (it burned a little, but the overall taste wasn't affected, as I just removed the burnt bits.)

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 medium Spaghetti Squash
• 1 large yellow straightneck squash
• 3 roma tomatoes
• basil, to taste
• 4 bay leaves
• salt
• pepper
• red pepper flakes
• olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup dry wine
• 1 vegetable or chicken bouillon cube (or 1 tsp. bouillon powder)
• 1 tsp. rubbed sage

Halve two spaghetti squash lengthwise and scoop out seeds; place on cookie sheet (or better yet, a jelly roll pan).  Brush the insides lightly with olive oil (or spray lightly with oil mister) and sprinkle with salt , black pepper, and red pepper (about 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper as a guideline, but you can eyeball it).  Place a bay leaf in each half.  Chiffonade basil, sprinkle in “bowl”.  Slice up yellow straightneck squash into coins, quartering larger slices.  Slice tomatoes into wedges.  Mince or press garlic.  Fill up each half with yellow squash and garlic, and place tomatoes on top (Be sure that basil and garlic are under the straightneck squash and tomatoes so that they don’t burn).  Brush tops with olive oil (or spray with oil mister), salt lightly.  Bake in 400F oven for 45 minutes or until spaghetti squash is browned and soft.  Remove.  Add yellow straightneck squash, tomatoes, and seasonings to a heated saucepan.  Use a fork to separate strands from spaghetti squash skin, add the “spaghetti” to saucepan.   Sautee on medium-high until garlic is well done.  Add sage, parmesan, wine, and bouillon.   Continue to sautee, stirring occasionally until the bouillon has dissolved and the liquid has been mostly absorbed (more gravy-y than water-y).  Add salt, black pepper, and/or red pepper to taste.  Remove from heat; let stand ten minutes before serving. Top with parmesan (or other) cheese to taste.  Serves 4-5.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the finished project because we ate it right away (Probably a good thing:  even in the best of times, cooked veggies aren’t very photogenic, and I’m no food stylist).  When I make it again, I’ll post a picture!

Hearty Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Vegetables <Click here to download a free .pdf of the recipe.

Ideas

• You can use whatever veggies you have on hand or that appeal to you.  Swiss chard or spinach, broccoli, peas, or baby corn would work really well in this dish.  Just make sure to lightly coat with olive oil to prevent it from burning.
• If you use vegetable bouillon, this is a vegan recipe that everybody, not only vegans, can enjoy.
• On the other side of the coin, you could certainly add meat to this — I would suggest rotisserie-style chicken pieces, but experiment.
• For a fancy party, serve it in a bread bowl… yummy :^)
• This recipe is a little spicy, so you could mellow it out (my family tends towards IBS and acid reflux, so I’d have to tone it down for some of them) by reducing or eliminating the red pepper.
• If you don’t like tomato skins, peel them of as soon as you take the squash out of the oven; it’s much easier to remove the skins after roasting.

Hope you enjoy my recipe :^)

I really hope you enjoy it!!! :^)

Please excuse the photo; it isn't the best... plus you can't see the gooey berry goodness under the buiscuit-y topping. Also, mom went a little overboard with the confectioner's sugar on top :^P

So I have written down the recipe, as follows:

Berry Filling

-6 cups crushed frozen raspberries and/or blackberries, defrosted
-1 cup orange juice
-3/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
-1 tsp. salt
-1 1/2 cups confectioner’s (powdered) sugar

In a large pot, combine berries, orange juice, and tapioca.  Heat on medium high, stirring occasionally, until thickened.  When tapioca is dissolved, add salt and sugar; stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat and cover.

Sweet Almond Scone Dough

-2 cups flour
-1 Tbsp. baking powder
-1 tsp. salt
-2 T. brown sugar
-1/3 cup margarine
-1 cup milk
-2 tsp. vanilla extract
-1/2 cup almonds

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar until well blended.  Cut in margarine.  Add milk and vanilla extract; stir until incorporated.  Fold in almonds.

Topping

-2 1/2 Tbsp. salted butter
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1/2 cup flour
-dash salt

Melt butter, add other ingredients.  Mix until a sugary dough is formed.

Put it All Together!

Grease and flour a large baking dish (10″ x 15″).  Pour the berry filling into the dish, using a scraper to spread it into the corners.  Next, pour the sweet scone dough over the berries.  Try to do it in three “globs” in different parts of the dish, so that it is easier to spread without displacing the berries. Next, crumble the topping evenly over the top.  Last, sprinkle almonds over the top.  Bake at 350 °F for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.

Optional:  when cool, sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.

Not optional:  eat as much as you can… it’s yummy! :^)

This is the final result of my hard work! Pardon the photo; my camera skills leave much to be desired.

Samosa Ingredients

- 2 lb. red potatoes, chopped into 3/4 inch cubes, skins on
-1/2 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
-1 1/2 cups roasted unsalted cashews
-2 tsp. salt
-2 tbsp. canola or other vegetable oil
-1 tbsp. garam masala (available in the Asian Foods section of most grocery stores)
-2 tbsp. curry powder
-2 cloves garlic
-1 tsp. fresh grated ginger root
-1 tsp. onion powder
-2 bay leaves, crushed with center vein removed
-dash turmeric
-salt, to taste
-1 pkg. pre-made egg roll wrappers at room temperature; about 20
-oil, for frying

Samosa Instructions

In a large pot, boil potatoes, carrots, and cashews until potatoes are fork tender, about 20 minutes.  Strain and remove to bowl.  Mash coarsely.   Meanwhile, add 3 tbsp. oil, garlic, ginger, onion powder, garam masala, curry powder, bay leaves, and turmeric to a small sacuepan, heat on low.  Add to coarsely mashed potato/carrot/cashew mixture; mix with a spoon to incorporate seasonings.  Add salt to taste.

This is the filling, coarsely mashed, with the seasonings incorporated. It's so yellow! The red potato skins are so thin and tasty that I left them in. They add color and yummy texture.

Coat the bottom of a large saucepan with canola or other vegetable oil; heat on high. While oil is heating, add filling to egg roll wrappers and wrap according to instructions.    Test oil temperature by dropping a piece of extra egg roll wrapper in pan.  If it sizzles, the oil is hot enough!  Using tongs, place 4-6 egg rolls in oil.  Turn when lightly browned, being sure to brown on all sides.  Alternatively, you can deep fry the egg rolls until lightly browned all over.  Remove to paper towel when done.

This recipe makes 16-20 delicious samosa egg rolls.

Dip Ingredients

-16 oz. light or fat free sour cream
-flesh of two medium avocados
-2 tbsp. cilantro
-1 tsp. curry powder
-1 tsp. celery seed
-1 tsp. black pepper
-2 tbsp. white wine
-2 tbsp. lemon juice
-salt, to taste

Dip Instructions

Blend all ingredients except salt in blender until smooth.  Add salt to taste.  Refrigerate prior to serving.

This is the creamy, refreshing avocado dip that I made. It went very well with the sweet, spicy curry.

I made these for a family dinner and will definitely make them again.  They were so yummy!  They went well with sliced cucumbers and baby carrots, but if you’re a meat-and-potatoes person, they would go very well with pork, venison, or steak.  They’re very filling, however, and definitely hold their own as an entree.

I looked at many different recipes for samosas, but ended up making my own recipe because of the difficulty of other recipes or the inclusion of ingredients I don’t like (such as peas – carrots aren’t traditional, as far as I know).  The dip was another creation of my own.  You’re invited to try my recipe and tell me about any variations or changes you come up with.  Good luck!  :^)

Brand:  Sally Hansen
Line:  Hard as Nails X-treme Wear
Color: Pacific Blue
Price: $2.99 at Rite Aid

Formula:  Creamy and super-pigmented.  This is opaque in just one coat!!!  It spread out well and dried relatively shiny, kind of pleathery.  For a super-duper shine, I would recommend using a top coat.

Application:  This polish line has a wide brush, which made application very easy.  The brush holds a lot of polish, so there is a potential for a polish flood if you’re not careful!  It dried pretty fast, and was dry enough to touch lightly without smudging in about five minutes.  It was not dentable after about an hour and a half.

Color:  SOOO GORGEOUS!  I am sick of shimmery, turquoise-y blues, so I am really excited about this color.  It dries a bit darker than it looks in the bottle.  I wouldn’t describe it as being purple or green based at all.  Instead, it is a bold primary ultramarine blue with no shimmer.

And now, for some photos:

This is a picture of the polish in the sunlight. I edited the photo in photoshop to more accurately reflect the true color of the polish as it looked on my nails. Nonetheless, the photo does no justice to its ultramarine loveliness.

This photo is of the polish in fluorescent light. Again, I edited the photo to more accurately reflect the look of the polish, so although the photo looks a little weird, that's the true color of the polish (at least on my browser). I only edited the nails, so the color of the bottle in the photo doesn't really reflect the way it looks in the bottle.

I can’t wait to do some more of these polish reviews… they’re a lot of fun!  More posts coming soon.  Thanks for reading!

The Process

1. First, decide what fashion icons inspire you. Just because a celebrity, movie or book character, or acquaintance is an inspiration for a style does not mean you are “copying” them.  You are just building off of their styles.
2. Find pictures of that person (or persons). What are some signature items that inspire you? For me, Ellen Page as Juno and Mary Kate Olsen (during her “boho” phase) are inspirational, regarding style. Juno’s signature items include sweater vests, plaid, graphic T-shirts, and sneakers. Mary Kate Olsen’s signature items are scarves, boho-inspired, flowing fabrics, large, roomy bags, and boots.
   

   A sample of Juno's style, some of which was inspired by Page's own taste. Note the jacket, T-shirt, scarf, and use of layering.

   

   Several of Olsen's signature items are here: The large bag and boots. She pairs them with a large wool coat and a funky plaid shirt-dress, and accents the outfit with sunglasses and some gold baubles. You could tone down this look by pairing a plaid tunic with jeans.

3. Next, take into account your sense of comfort. Will you ever actually wear gladiator boots that have four-inch heels and lace up to your knees? Probably not. For us working girls, practicality is an important consideration. Choose the items that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. A consideration for me was fabric type. I loathe synthetics, so I try to find items made with mostly natural fibers.
4. Think about your shape.  What looks good on your body?  Certain cuts and fabrics work well on some shapes but look terrible on others.  Using your shape to its greatest potential will make you feel confident and sexy!  Remember:  There is no “right” or “wrong” body shape.  Loving your body is an important part of being happy, confident, and well-adjusted.
5. Go shopping. The rescue mission, thrift store, or salvation army is the best place to go if you want to save money, but other resources include consignment shops, garage sales (cheap but seasonal), antique stores, vintage clothing shops, and flea markets. Stay away from department stores — the whole point is to make your style unique.  Some items, especially staples, can be picked up there; but don’t make it your main resource.  Secondhand stores and independent shops have the added bonus of being more ecologically and socially responsible.
6. Scour the racks for the items you are looking for. Don’t be afraid to look in menswear, or to try things on that you are unsure of. You never know how it will look on your body. The best rule of thumb is that if it strikes you, try it on. The worst that can happen is that you decide you don’t like it.
7. That being considered, select items that are in good shape, and don’t have stains, holes, pilling, or excessive wear. If it looks worn out on the hanger, it will look worn out on you.
8. Stick to your list of signature items first. For example, I first looked for a wool plaid jacket, sweater vests, scarves, T shirts, and flowy skirts, shirts, or pants. Try them on.
9. When you are done trying things on, consider the current contents of your wardrobe. Will the items you liked go well with anything you already have? Do you need to get rid of some of your old clothes? Do you need to find some new staple items to pair with your signature items?
10. Figure out whether or not you need any staples. Staples include jeans, slacks, button-down shirts, camisoles (ones that are meant to be seen and are there to complement part of an outfit), flattering long sleeve shirts in neutral colors, and leather (vegan leather, if you prefer) dress shoes. Look for staple items, and try them on with your new signature items. If they fit well, are in good shape, and are something you feel your wardrobe could be improved by, get them.
11. Look for accents. Accents can include scarves, hats,gloves, jewelry, belts, bags, and other accessories. These don’t necessarily have to match other items, as long as you don’t wear everything at once!
12. If you happen to have some extra cash, consider supporting cottage-industry artisans.  You can find all sorts of handmade goodies, from t shirts and dresses to jewelry, bags, and all manner of other things on sites such as Etsy.  Much better than buying at large chains, which put many artisans out of business or rely on sweatshop labor.
13. It may take days, weeks, or months to amass a unique, quirky wardrobe. If you live in a rural area, consider making a trip to a nearby metropolitan area. Most small to large cities have a large secondhand store (or several — hit all the stores in one day to save some gas money.  Better yet, bring your girlfriends and have a girl’s day out!) where you can find your whole wardrobe (7-10 whole outfits, plus shoes) for about $50-$100. Also, many stores have “family days” or special student discounts. Call stores in advance to find out whether you can use these offers to your benefit.
14. Of course, clothing is not all that makes up a style. Look through magazines and collect pictures of people whose hair or makeup you like. What do they have in common? For me, I like subtle makeup and funky, voluminous hair. Get your hair cut differently: it’s amazing how refreshed this change can make you feel. Next, get some new makeup. Most makeup expires about 6 months after purchase, so chances are that you’re due for a change. This is where you will probably spend the most money. Look for sales at drugstores and department stores in your area and be a compulsive coupon clipper. Buy high quality makeup. I recommend Physicians Formula organics tinted moisturizer and powder, as well as Loreal Bare Naturale loose powder eye shadow (although the applicator is a pain) and mascara. If you have sensitive skin as I do, these products will be less irritating. They also contain no parabens, and the risk of other chemical contents (such as lead, found in many lipsticks) is smaller (click here to visit the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics website, where you can download a list of brands that have signed the compact to omit parabens and lead from their products).
15. If you have the time, look up application techniques on the internet. Different looks can be achieved with different techniques. An interesting example is the evolution of beauty trends. In the twenties, “cupid’s bow” lipstick and S-waved cropped hair were very popular. By the 50′s, the style was totally different. Emulating a particular era of beauty can be a great way to pump up your style.

     

    

    This photo of 1930s bombshell Jean Harlow is an excellent example of the flapper trends that began in the 1920s. Note the short hair in S-waves, penciled in eyebrows, and heavy eye makeup, as well as the exaggerated "cupid bow" or "bee stung" lips.

     

    

    Jackie Kennedy greatly influenced American fashion during her role as First Lady. Her feminine, tailored ensembes, natural makeup and voluminous bob were instant trends.

16. Practice. Practice applying makeup, styling you hair, and putting together outfits. Look up fashion tips on the internet if you’re stuck. (Watching What Not to Wear can sometimes be informative, if you have trouble telling funky from frumpy). A good rule of thumb:
    1. Layer. Layer a staple under a signature item, such as a vest or jacket. Pair this with another staple and a couple of accents.
    2. Stick to one print if you’re a novice, and no more than three colors (jeans and neutral pants/skirts, etc. don’t count). If you’re adventurous, pair two prints. They should be in the same color family, and one should be much more subdued (A good rule of thumb:  from far away, it should appear to be a solid).
    3. Be consistent. Don’t wear a long flowy skirt one day and jeans with a bufalo plaid wool jacket the next. Try to combine things that work. Instead, for example, pair a flowy skirt with a vintage T shirt, flip flops, and the jacket. Complete the look with a scarf and a bright bag. Tomorrow, wear jeans and a floral button-down, paired with a neutral sweater vest and loafers.
17. Be confident. If you are nervous, be aware of your posture. Stand up straight and smile — this will give you the semblance of confidence. If you don’t believe you have great style, then no one else will.
18. Make sure that you are dressing appropriately for the occasion. Having your own style doesn’t mean that funky clothing choices are appropriate everywhere. Be mature! In a professional setting, dress conservatively. Of course, you can add a bright accessory such as a bag or a scarf to make a statement, but for the most part, try to fit in with what is expected.
19. Don’t be afraid to customize. Get some funky fabric or yarn and a pattern, and make something. Nothing is more rewarding than being able to tell your friends that you made the skirt you’re wearing.  Additionally, you have the option of upcycling your old wardrobe.  Turn your old too-small jeans into a bag or take in that baggy shirt.
20. Invite your friends over to help you find new ways of wearing your old clothes.  Consider having a clothing and accessory swap!
21. Don’t be afraid that people will laugh. Unless you WAY overdo it, you will probably receive many compliments. Of course, there may be a jerk who will say something mean, but in the end, you’ve got to do it for yourself .  The whole point is to be happy the way you are!

I hope that this tutorial helps you develop your own style, while saving money and the environment!  I’d love to hear your input or criticism.

I posted this tutorial previously on Hubpages.com, so if you have seen this before, that’s where!  I didn’t steal it.

The Crochet Jayne Cobb Beanie!

Instructions

Materials:
-5.00 mm (K) Crochet Hook
-2 skeins each of:
-Red Heart Super Saver in Gold (198g, 4 wt.)
-Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Rust (100g, 4 wt.)
-Red Heart Collage in Rust (100g, 4 wt.)
-Stitch markers (four different colors)

Gauge: 4″ = 11 stitches

Since this pattern is worked in a spiral, using stitch markers to mark the beginning of each “row” will be necessary.

This entire pattern is worked using two strands of yarn held as one.

Main Part (If you have made a hat before, it may be easier for you to improvise this part… I generally don’t follow a pattern and just use my best judgement, so these instructions are a little weird)
Row 1: Working in Gold, 8 sc into slipknot, pull to tighten. Slipstitch in first stitch. Do not turn.
Rows 2-3: 2 sc in each stitch; don’t work over the raw end, as it will be needed later to affix the pom-pon. Do not turn.
Row 3: *1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch. Repeat from * for remaining stitches. Do not turn.
Row 4: 1 *sc in first two stitches, 2 sc in third stitch. Repeat from * for remaining stitches. Do not turn.
Row 5: *sc in first four stitches, 2 sc in fifth stitch. Repeat from * for remaining stitches. Do not turn.
Row 6: *2 sc in first stitch, 1sc in next nine stitches. Repeat from * for remaining stitches. Do not turn. Place a stitch marker across from the row marker (estimate).

Place fabric markers at the row beginning and opposite.

Row 7: sc in each stitch except first stitch and opposite (marked) stitch. Place a stitch marker halfway between the other two markers on each side, so that you have a marker on the North, East, West, and South directions (estimate). We will designate the row (beginning) marker as North.
Row 8: 1 Sc in all stitches except East and West marked stitches; 2 sc in those. (For a larger hat, 2sc in North, South, East, and West)
Row 9: 1 Sc in all stitches except North and South marked stitches; 2 sc in those. (For a larger hat, 2sc in North, South, East, and West)
Rows 10-15: Repeat steps in italics. Remove South, East, and West markers; place markers in Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast positions.
Row 16: Using Vanna’s Choice in Rust, 1 Sc in all stitches except Northwest and Southwest marked stitches; 2 sc in those.

Move stitch markers 45 degrees.

Row 17: 1 Sc in all stitches except Northeast and Southeast marked stitches; 2 sc in those.
Rows 18-20: Repeat steps in italics.
Rows 20-28: sc in each stitch. Tie off.
Using Vanna’s choice in Rust, fold edge of hat up to meet three rows from edge. Slip stitch all the way around.

Here, you see the back of the hat. At the bottom of the photo, you can see the rolled edge.

Don’t go crazy trying to follow the instructions above exactly… use your best judgement and adjust if needed. If you deviate from the pattern, don’t worry — it’s a hat, not a souffle! As long as it looks like a hat and fits okay, it will be just fine.

Ear Flaps (make two, of course!)
Try hat on, so that the color-change “bump” is in the middle back. On the inside of the hat, one stitch from the chain stitches you just made (towards the edge), place markers where you think the ears should start and end.
Row 1: Using Red Heart Collage in Rust, sc 12 stitches into this row (insert hook into hole and out next hole, pull loop through).
Rows 2-8: 1 sc in each stitch. Chain 1, turn.
Row 9: Decrease first and last stitches, sc in each stitch in between. Chain 1, turn.
Row 10: 1 sc in each stitch. Chain 1, turn.
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until you have two stitches per row. Chain 1, turn. Sc in each stitch; chain 1, turn, for 14 rows.
Using two strands of same color yarn, sc along the edges of earflaps. Tie off.

Note how the ear flaps are attached to the inner bottom part of the rolled edge.

Pom-Pon
Make a 3″ pom-pon: Using Red Heart Collage in Rust, wrap the doubled yarn around four fingers a bajillion times, cut the end. Tie an eight inch length of doubled yarn around the middle of the pom-pon, pull as tight as you can, and knot securely. Turn pom-pon over, and using another 8 inch length of yarn, repeat. Do not cut these tie ends! Cut the loops, puff the pom-pon out, and trim.

Although the picture makes the pom-pon look enormous, it is a trick of perspective. The pom-pon is only about 3" across.

Finishing
Pull ends of pom-pon ties through second row from middle, so that the eight strands are equally spaced. pull to tighten. Knot with hat ends. Turn hat right-side out. Knot ends of earflaps and pull to tighten. Put it on!

For an authentic look, tie a knot in the ends of the earflaps.

I’d love to hear your comments and feedback, or to see a photo of your versions of this project!

I previously posted this tutorial on Hubpages.com, so if you’ve seen it before, that’s where!  I didn’t steal it.

Additionally:  I am not affiliated with the show Firefly, Serenity, or Joss Whedon in any way — I am a fan, and offer this tutorial as a tribute to the awesomeness that is Firefly!  I am not profiting from this project pecuniarily.