My good friend Dawn Delaloye is launching a new home-based accessories business—featuring some fun jewelry and the innovative Miche Bag—and I’m hosting a virtual party to help her get started. And not only are you invited, but you’re already there! (Isn’t it great? You didn’t have to get dressed up and go anywhere, and I didn’t have to clean my house or make any hors d’oeuvres! And still, you get to preview some neat products and possibly win a giveaway—more on that in a minute—all from the comfort of your own home!)

When Dawn introduced me to the Miche Bag, I liked it right away for a couple of reasons: First, it’s economical (and who doesn’t need that right now?). Second, it’s versatile (allowing you to change looks without a lot of hassle). Third, it’s got a great “why-didn’t-I-think-of-that?” back story (click here to read about how an entrepreneurial mom dreamed up the concept, and then explore the rest of the site to see how the bag works). And finally, the styles are just so darn cute (my favorites are “Cassidy” and “Joie”). The jewelry Dawn offers is stylish and affordable, as well, and I invite you to take a look at the items featured on her site, www.bagladywithbling.com.

If you see something you like and decide to place an order while my party is in full swing (starting today, Tuesday, Sept. 8, through Saturday, Sept. 12), you have an opportunity to win a free item. Here’s how it works:

1. Visit Dawn’s site to explore her offerings.
2. When you’re ready to order, click on her Virtual Party & Contact Page and enter your items and contact information (remember to list me in the dialog box under “Hostess Name”). You can also call her at the phone number listed on her site if you have any questions.
3. Return to this post on www.hemmingshalfdozen.com and leave a comment below, letting me know that you placed an order.
4. If you order a Miche Bag from Dawn, I will enter your name in a drawing to win a free shell to change the exterior look of your bag. If you order jewelry, I will enter your name in a drawing to win a free bracelet. And if you order both, you will most certainly be eligible for both drawings. After all, who doesn’t love free stuff?

Happy shopping!

Please note: It is my goal to provide a top-quality, content-driven, ad-free blog. That said, I do occasionally promote something (or someone, as in the case of my friend, Dawn!) that I love and that I think would be of interest to my readers. No pressure here—just a fun way to spread the word!

When my son Kerrick requested mint chocolate chip ice cream for his 7th birthday a week and a half ago, I knew I had a challenge on my hands to come up with a dairy-free version that his older brother, Kellen, could enjoy—and a “healthy” version that I could feed to the rest of the family in good conscience. To accomplish both of those goals, I combined recipes and techniques from three different sources:

• For the ice cream “base,” I used the ingredients and methods outlined in many of the ice cream recipes my friend Wardeh Harmon has posted on her site, www.gnowfglins.com—including coconut milk and agave nectar.

• I also consulted the book Vice Cream (a nickname for vegan ice cream), by Jeff Rogers. This author’s recipes typically call for a base of homemade cashew milk, which I have made and used before. But on this occasion, I simply wanted a guideline for imparting the right amount of mint flavor. Rogers’s recipe for mint chocolate chip vice cream suggests 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract, but I thought that might be overpowering. So I opted to cut the amount in half for a milder hint of mint. I’m glad I did, as the flavor was just right—not too strong.
• Finally, I borrowed an idea from Missy Chase Lapine’s The Sneaky Chef to tint the ice cream a pale but pretty shade of green by incorporating 1/2 cup of her recipe for Green Juice—a puree made from steamed spinach. (Yes, I really did add spinach to my family’s ice cream. And no, I did not tell them. But only because they didn’t ask. If they had, I would have been honest, but as it happened, they were too busy devouring the ice cream to be suspicious about its ingredients. They got to enjoy a sweet treat—really, it tasted terrific!—and I got to feel good about it being a bit more nutritious than the average dessert.)

For the complete recipe, click here.

This post is part of the Tuesday Twister blog carnival hosted by www.gnowfglins.com. To link to today’s Tuesday Twister on that site, click here.

Please note: It is my goal to provide a top-quality, content-driven, ad-free blog. That said, I do occasionally include affiliate links in some of my posts. For example, if you click on either of the book covers above, you will link to Amazon.com, where you will have an opportunity to purchase the book—and if you do buy it after clicking through from my site, I will receive a small commission to support my work here, as well as my own book-buying habit. Seriously, though, I’d be just as happy if my recommendation inspired you to check out the title from your local library or borrow it from a friend.