Image from My Baking Addiction

This is my mother-in-law’s Sweet Potato Casserole.  It’s simply the best!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 c. cooked mashed sweet potatoes

1/2 c. sugar

2  eggs beaten

1/2 c. milk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 stick butter melted

Combine and spoon into greased 1 to 1 1/2 qt. baking dish.

Topping

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c.  chopped nuts pecans

1/3 c. flour

1/2 stick butter melted

Combine and spread over potato mixture.

Bake at 350 for 35 min.

I know it’s been forever since I last posted.  I have been so busy, caught up in the whirlwind of summer, that when I finally looked up – it’s starting to be fall outside!  Oh, how time flies!

This morning, the air outside was crisp and cool, and there were even a few trees in the backyard with a hint of fall on the edges of their leaves.  It inspired me to bake something warm and cozy, something to slow down with, enjoy and start getting in the mood for fall. Nothing is quite as cozy as the smell of banana bread baking in the oven.  It’s even better if it’s filled with chocolate chips, and a little on the healthier side.  Here’s how to fill your own home with the smell of yumminess, and the joy of eating it:

Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2 Cups All-Purpose or White Whole Wheat Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cornstarch

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 Cup Earth Balance Spread

1/2 Cup Honey

2/3 Cups Soy Milk (Or Almond, Oat, etc.)

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 Very Ripe Bananas

1/4 Cup to 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 315 degrees. Lightly grease a 7 by 4 by 3 pan with oil.

In your mixer or a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, salt and cinnamon.  Add the 1/2 cup of Earth Balance spread, honey, soy milk and vanilla to the dry ingredients.  Mix until smooth.  Add bananas and mix.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

Fill the prepared pan with the batter.  Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate the pan 180 degrees. Repeat this process for a total of 1 hour baking time.  When the loaf is thoroughly baked, a toothpick will come out clean when inserted.

Let the bread stand for 20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges, and invert on a cutting board.  Remove pan, then re-invert the loaf.  Serve warm, or store for up to five days.

*  Recipe was adapted from Babycakes Cookbook

(Ok, so not quite a gazillion, but a ton!)  I was recently contacted by Fotolia to try out their photo service for a month, and of course I said “Yes!” right away.  I am always looking for images to use, and stock images can get really expensive.  Fotolia offers a membership plan, to help keep costs down for stock image users.  I’m going to try it this month, and  I will have to report back to everyone about my experience.  The cool thing about it all is that 10 lucky Frugal Style readers will get to try their service right along with me!!!  The first 10 to email me at melissavest@gmail.com will get a coupon code to try their service for 14 days, with 3 image downloads a day.

So, if you’re a graphic designer, blogger, creative guru or just would like to try out Fotolia’s stock image program…now’s your chance!

About Fotolia:

Fotolia is the first worldwide social marketplace for royalty free stock images, allowing individuals and professionals to legally buy and share stock images and illustrations.

Fotolia offers the largest image bank of free and affordable royalty free photos and illustrations perfect for any medium, web or print.

Photographers and designers constantly update Fotolia with thousands of new photos and illustrations each day, while photographers and designers receive commission from each photo sold and revenue from advertising on the free section.

You can learn more about Fotolia here.

Image from imgfave.com

It didn’t used to be this easy.

I know the changing game has made a lot of good people nervous. But, as a creative, I feel this new business world has been tailor-made with me in mind.

When Melissa asked me to guest post on The Frugal Style – I was elated! First because of the mad love I have for this blog – and second because this season in my life is teaching me great deal about the art of embracing both frugality and wealth.

These days, it’s easier than ever – not only to start your own business, but to do it with little or no start-up money. I’d like to share with you some of my favourite resources for savvy entrepreneurs.

I’ve had an ongoing love affair with the library since I was 15. I can get lost in a pile of books for hours. Nay, days. Since I began building brandyglows, the space where free books grow has taken on new meaning.

Scope out the business section and you can learn the equivalent of an MBA. Or, hone your craft. Whatever your business, the free Wi-Fi combined with all the free books. You’ve so got this.

I have a secret weapon. It’s the life-giving kind of lethal. When I start to feel stuck, I journal my way to breakthrough. Currently I have two running journals. One is a simple wide ruled notebook. I use it to make my to-do lists every morning, brainstorm new ideas and “get the yuck out”, meaning three pages of free-writing every morning (an exercise I picked up from The Artist’s Way – also, the reason I use wide ruled).

I started an explorative art journal recently, too. It helps me grow my business plans byactivating my right brain. We have become so accustomed to left-brain business management. There’s nothing wrong with that, but, if you’re in a creative field, you may be suspicious of the way “you’re supposed to do things”. The best part about journaling is that you get to discover onyour own terms what practices and techniques work for you.

If you’re looking to build a business on the cheap, you probably don’t have a marketing team.Strike that, you are the marketing team.

“Marketing in the future is like sex; only losers will have to pay for it.”

Welcome to the future. Tweet your heart out. Don’t think “sell”; think “engage”, “connect”and “relationship”. Reach out to your clients. Douse them in the sparkly stuff you know they’ll love – and not just your own brand of shine. Advertise yourself sparingly. Leave a trail of delicious links and they’ll find their way back to your site. Think of it as a grand experiment. No one is a social media expert, it’s far too new for that. All you have to do is get in the game and play.

Last of these gems, your loved ones have …