Have you been invited to yet another cookie exchange this holiday season? Racking your brain on which recipes to make? What if you could make just one batch of dough and then add in different things to make variations off of the basic recipe? Guess what? You can! Grab the…
We’ll be the first to say we’re not all about recycling, reusing or re-gifting (gasp!), especially during this time of year. But during a recent stop in to a thrift store, we spotted a few holiday wreaths that could definitely use a makeover. And thus, our thrifty wreath makeover project…
Mint is a delicious flavor year-round, but there is just something about the holiday season that make us crave all things peppermint. It is a sweet, nostalgic flavor and the desire for it is amplified because candy canes are all around. Find a round-up of where to find peppermint goodies…
It’s cold and flu season and that means getting ahead of the game by pre-making a big patch of chicken noodle soup. You can bag it in small batches of freezer bags and take out only as much as you need when you are in the mood for soup or…
Time to get your holiday craftiness in gear with goods from the recycle bin. Have you ever noticed that the POM wonderful pomegranate bottle looks a little bit like a fat, round snowman? Well take a look; once the little plastic wonder is painted white you can clearly see the…
The turkey was barely out of the oven, and already far too many television stations were busy pumping out countless holiday releases (that never quite made it to the big screen) featuring whats-his-name-type actors and low budget special effects. And somehow we love them. Despite their early arrivals and doomed…
Do you need a little inspiration to get in the mood to make your gingerbread house for the holidays? Take some time to test out the gingerbread flavors offered around town. Once you are cozy and warm in the belly with gingerbread treats you’ll be ready to make your own…
It is pomegranate season and if you are like some of us here at Chow Bella maybe you have neighbors with overflowing pomegranate trees. If they are friendly then by all means ask but a little late night neighborhood walk is totally acceptable in this beautiful fall weather and if…
Forget the fancy napkins and table-top decorations — there are enough dishes to juggle and fires to avoid this Thanksgiving. Instead, why not why not skip the fancy and go for some DIY table decorations. Let’s start with something to entertain the guests while they wait for the turkey to…
With Thanksgiving upon us — and knowing that some people are already pie’d out — we figured that making some cookies for your guests to snack on post dinner would be a good idea. Sticking with the pilgrims, these cutie cookies serve the sweet tooth and the theme. They are…
It is Hello Kitty’s birthday this month and what better way to celebrate then to craft up something pink and saccharin sweet. Ms. Kitty’s founder, Sanrio, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with Small Gift — a tour complete with a pop up shop. Look for this today on Mill Avenue…
The Thrifty Maker likes all things that have value and saves some bucks. Right now grapes are in season. Most supermarkets carry them year-round, but peak growing season in North America is July to December. The thinking was to buy grapes while they are in season and the least expensive…
Fall means pie, and no one knows it better than our foodie sister blog, Chow Bella. She’s even throwing a social, a Pie Social this Saturday to let everyone know how much she loves it. (Get all the juicy details here.)We wait all summer to get at the gooey-filled crust,…
It is fall and that means rich, earthy root vegetables are in season. Run straight out and buy some. This means carrots and potatoes yes but also beets, turnips, parsnips, squash and rutabagas. This is a favorite root veggie dish that is not quite so scary in the exotic root…
It’s mid-term election day and since it only takes minutes to head out to your local polling station to vote, that leaves the rest of your day to craft. Why not run home and make a T-shirt to declare how proud you are that you got off your ass and…
Got a DIY hankering to do some canning? It sounds so exotic and yet practical at the same time. It can be really costly to invest in all the equipment needed to do home canning. There is an easier way, though — freezer canning. By storing home canned jelly in…
From time to time, the Thrifty Maker will find, bargain, borrow, steal (not really) to create something a little different. She’ll rely on her own skills as a scout of treasures and will sometimes bring in a few experts to help. Traditionally, scarecrows were set up in gardens and fields…
It’s time to start thinking about what to serve the trick-or-treaters in your house before they head out to fill their bags with the sugar. This recipe allows everyone to get involved and will tempt the taste buds of the junior set right along with the more senior members of…
Photo: Cyndi Coon What are we so excited about over here at Chow Bella? Candy! No, not just Halloween treats. There’s going to be a new candy store in town. Candy Addict is coming soon to downtown Tempe — a family-owned candy store near ASU at 414 Mill Avenue. They will carry over…
Do you have an invitation to a fab Halloween party this year? Is your wallet telling you not to go because you don’t want to shell out $50 for a costume? Don’t lame out — make one! Head out to the nearest thrift shop and sift through the umbrella bin…
We are obsessed with pumpkin so much over here at Chow Bella that we thought it was time to take all the smack talk to task with a pumpkin showdown. All the blog contributors gathered ’round the table with their best pumpkin recipes to see whose dish gets the Great Pumpkin…
It is beginning to look a lot like fall – can you feel it in the air? Soon enough we will be able to turn our ovens on and bake and there is nothing thriftier then making your own bread. It really is inexpensive and is not hard at all…
