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Merry Christmas

We have been Busy Baking

If you want a yummy easy Holiday Treat my Sugared Almonds "how to" is HERE

Christmas Tag

Christmas Tag

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?

Yes and finished! (in November)

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.

Baking as a Family. Temple Lights, Zoo Lights taking walks at night to see the lights (um we like lights)

Coco Latte!!!

3. When do you put up your tree?

Day after Thanksgiving

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?

No, but if YOU go I will send money

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?

Home Sweet Home

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?

G and the Purple House, maybe the Toots Hippo game.. she just makes so many. Or the time I shot Mr Saftey in the eye with a Candy Cane

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?

Elf (Christmas Vacations, A Christmas Story, Shreck The Halls)

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking? What's your favorite treat?

Oh man we do, Sugar Almonds, Fudge, Divinity, Cookies, Carmel Pop Corn ....stop me now!

9. Fake or real tree?

Fake Tree and LOVE IT

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?

Oh I love to Panic Year Round.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

Somethimes

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?

Playing Games and eating, and Polor Express

13. What Christmas Craft do you like the best?

I am going to call Baking and EATING a craft!

14. Christmas music? Yes or no

Yes it starts after Thanksgiving

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?

I thought I was done, I need a 100 watt light blub, (Santa ask me to pick it up)

Our Ocean Theme Christmas Tree

Fisher Price Nativity

We are enjoying this Holiday Season. The kids love this Fisher Price Nativity. I enjoy finding all the different "Nativity Arrangements"

It brings me Holiday Cheer

Countdown To Christmas

My daughter's preschool teacher gave us a great idea for a countdown to Christmas. We wrapped up 24 of our Christmas Books (we have quite a few I have an obsession with Holiday books!) Each book is numbered, every night a different child gets to unwrap the next book. We read it before bed. We have funny books, religious books, pretty picture books. Over half of my collection is from Scholastic Book Club from school.

Happy Wrapping

Silhouettes

My weekend project

1. Took a picture of everyone in the family (side profile)
2. edit pictures to "fill the frame" by croping, put as black and white
3. print on paper as 8x10 in gray scale (card stock if your printer can do it), cut out
4. You can paint them the color you want or trace them out on to colored card stalk
5. Frame or display as you want

I will update my final in a few days

The kids will need Something to do, on this Holiday Break Try one of these

I am Thankful For Craft Here

Pumpkin Spice Play Doh Here

Snow Flakes Here

Make a warm "fire" that your can eat Here

Thanksgiving Handy-Crafts

I love this Hand Craft from Signing Time. I love that it uses the kids little hands and feet, so each year we can watch them grow, how fun is that!

Pie in a Skillet

This Skillet Apple Pie from America's Test Kitchen
Is amazing! Very easy, cutting up the apples took the most time.
I think it looks beautiful, I have seen the little individual cast iron pans, how great would that be! Any skillet will work as long as it is oven safe.

Thanksgiving Bookmarks

Found these little cuties at Michael's for 40% off!! Made for a very fun Fall afternoon.

Hands on Turkey Craft

(if you dont have brown paint mix equal parts of orange and green, then add just a few drops of red)

paint them up

press them down

Cut them out and string them for garland, or make them into a decortive reef, place cards, Happy Thanksgiving cards or even better a "These Little Hands are Thankful for You" cards!

Turkey Day is coming Fast!

I have had these coloring pages for a few years now, I can't remember which site I got them from (most likely I did a color page search) sorry I am not able to give credit. They are cute and a fun thing for the kids to do. I think thye would be a cute Place Card for Thanksgiving Dinner too! Remember last year we made this  Little Turkey

This years Halloween Best Book Pick goes too.....

Goodnight Goon: A Parody by Michael Rex

If you love Goodnight Moon, you will love this frightful delight, the pictures will have you looking at all the spooky details. My 3 year old has ask to read it everyday this week!

Halloween Chili

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 slices of bacon, chopped
2 pound coarsely ground sirloin (yes sirloin get a 2 lb roast and have the butcher grind it!)
3 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
Freshly ground black pepper
½ medium onion, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (I add one Big can and one 15 oz can)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
8-12 oz Beef Broth (pour un till it just covers bean/meat)
1 cup chili sauce (I use Heinz Chili Sauce)
Salt to taste
Yields: 8-10 servings big bowls
Preparation
.
Preheat a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat with vegetable oil and brown the bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving the fat in the pot.

Add the sirloin to bacon drippings in the pan, using the back of a wooden spoon to break it up while it browns. Season with the chili powder, cumin and ground black pepper.

Add the onion and garlic, and cook until softened, about 7-8 minutes. Add the beans, brown sugar, Worcestershire and Beef Broth, and cook 5 minutes. Add the chili sauce and season with salt to taste.

.
A few minutes before serving, add bacon back to the pot and stir to combine.

Make This

Another fun idea from Glamma, we made a mini size to start. Then enlarged a new one, put on card stock and took to have it laminated. Cut out the pieces put magnets on the back. I can't wait to make accessories for it. Necklaces, skirts, bags, shoes oh the possibilities. Just you wait! I hope to finish it be for next week.

Chalk Pumpkin

Our Delightful "Crazy Aunt Bethany" made this Chalk Pumpkin, she just painted it with chalk board paint! My three year old loves it! What a fun idea. I am thinking I might try it on a large artificial pumpkin. We will see if I have time this year, it not I absolutely will be doing it next year!

Scary Tree Display Finished (for this year)

Quick Witch Lunch

We had a Witch stop by and stir up a spell for lunch. It was a frightful delight. My little goon helped wrap the mummy, she shrieked with delight.

We swirled and whirled a brew so green (amazing how coolaid can do that thing) It was fresh worm juice.

Creepy crawly spiders joined us, but not for long they got gobbled up too!

Color it Halloween

Get more Free Pictures Here












**Pictures are from Coloringpages.com see link above**

Pillow Cases

My very Crafty sister had us over to make some Very Spooky Pillow Cases! They were so easy all you need it one yard of fabric and my sister! You can find her HERE. We made all 4 in an hour with crazy kids, each one took there turn! They all loved getting to sew. Take your fabric fold in half iron to make creases. Sew bottom and side. Inside out and measure 5 inches to make the "cuff" sew that and TA-DA! One more way to have some Halloween fun.

Price of Old Navy Halloween Socks

$1.00

How they look on this baby's chubby feet.
Priceless!

Halloween Tree

Thank you Monsoon Season for breaking a perfect size limb off my neighbors tree. It will make the perfect "Scary Tree" to add to my Halloween collection. I cut the branches trimmed it up and shaped it. Filled a tin can with "quick set" cement and spray painted it black. We added some hanging bats. It is still a work in progress, we are painting black pumpkins, and need some cob webs. I got some flashing lights to put under and around the tree (on the ground not the actual tree per Mr Safety putting lights on a dried out tree= fire hazard) check back for a picture of the final product I think it will be great!

Creepy Crafty Halloween

This very fun Craft was an inspiration from a great blog, Life and Art with Glamma Fabulous click here to see it. It was under $15.00 and my 3 year old loved it.

Super Nanny Casting Call

Super Nanny Casting Call at the Phoenix Zoo
That's right! Are you looking to tame your WILD children? Well then bring them to the Phoenix Zoo where they can "get their wild on" AND audition for the hit television series Super Nanny! September 5 from 10 - 4 p.m. Click here for more.

Mr Saftey Tip, Car Seats

****INFO From AskDr.Sears.com

Aug 09 - Keep Your Toddler in a Rear-Facing Car Seat Until Age 2 (Not 1)
AAP comments on rear-facing car seats. There is a well known myth that toddlers in rear-facing car seats whose feet can reach the back of the vehicle seat are more likely to suffer injuries to their legs in a car accident, however these injuries are NOT common in rear-facing seats.
New research indicates that children under 2 years of age are 75% less likely to die or experience serious injury when they ride in a rear-facing car seat and, toddlers between 1 and 2 years of age are 5 times safer than toddlers who ride in a front-facing car seat.
The reason behind this conclusion is pretty simple. When an accident occurs and a child is rear facing the force of the accident is distributed evenly over the entire body, forward facing children, because the force of the car crash is concentrated on seat belt contact points, can suffer from neck and head injuries because children’s necks are weak and their heads are disproportionately large for their little necks. Dr. Bull, who wrote the commentary for Pediatrics, states, “…it is far better to send children to orthopedic specialists to have lower extremities treated, than to send them to neurological specialists to have cervical spine injuries treated.” Makes sense!
According to the AAP, all infants should ride rear-facing in an infant car seat or convertible seat. If an infant car seat is used, baby should be switched to a rear-facing convertible car seat once the maximum height (when the infant’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 pounds to 32 pounds) are reached for that infant seat, as suggested by the car seat manufacturer. Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2. To see if your car seat is installed properly and to find a certified passenger safety technician in your area, visit http://www.seatcheck.org/ or www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. You also can call 866-SEATCHECK (866-732-8243) or 888-327-4236. PEDIATRIC NEWS UPDATESAUGUST 2009

AskDrSears.com - AUGUST 09 NEWS

Shared via AddThis

4th of July Fire Cracker

Twisler for the top, I found if you leave it together on the bottom it fans out better my 3 1/2 year old enjoyed SQUEEZING the whip cream out to decorate

*we did the individual rope on hers and thats how we learned to fan the top out**

Well, they did not turn out as "cute" as I had hoped but they tasted really good. I used twislers for the top. Whipped cream and food coloring for the decoration, (make sure you have the right colors I did not have any red) I am sure you could use frosting too. I bet if you are really creative you might be able to Jazz them up to be cute but I was a little disappointed with the final presintation, but hey it was a half hour of entertainment so it was worth it!

Great Book

Fantastic book with letters and advice from highly successful and influential people. Here's a little portion from the book. This letter is from John Teets

* Keep a positive mental attitude, or PMA

*Think today is the first day of the rest of your life.....Make the most of it.

*Be enthusiastic...it is an inside-out glow of mental energy

*There is power in prayer

*common sense is not so common

......his list goes on and the book is full of great stories and advice I am finding it to be quite delightful and inspiring. If you work with youth or our in a leadership position they are helpful thoughts.

Carmela's Chicken and Rosemary Bread

If you want an AMAZING melt in your mouth meal, keep reading below. This is a copy cat recipe from Macaroni Grill.

CARMELA'S CHICKEN

Ingredients:

6 oz butter

8 oz mushrooms

2 chicken breast (Pre-cooked)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 medium onion sliced and caramelized

6 0z cooking wine

1 pint heavy cream

24 oz pasta of choice (rigatoni or bow tie work well)

8 oz Parmesan cheese

Directions

1-Cook pasta as directed on package.

2-In a hot saute pan add butter, mushrooms, chicken, caramelized onions, salt and pepper and saute for 2 min

3-Add the wine and saute for another minute. Add the heavy cream and bring to boil over high heat.

4-Drain pasta and return to pot, mix the saute mixture until well Incorporated. Toss briefly and add cheese and mix well.

5-Transfer to plate and serve.

ROSEMARY BREAD

Ingredients:

1 package yeast

1 tbls sugar

1 cup warm water

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tbls rosemary (I didn't have rosemary so I just used Italian seasoning)

2 tbls butter

Directions:

1-Place yeast, sugar, and water in large bowl or food processor.

2-Mix in 1 tbls butter, salt, and 2 cups of flour.

3-Add one tbls of rosemary

4-Knead for about 10 min by hand or in food processor about 5 min until smooth

5-Add more flour if necessary

6-Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with towel.

7-Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until double.

8-Punch down dough and divide in half. Let raise about 5 min

9-Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and divide bread into two rounded oval loaves.

10-Sprinkle remaining tbls of rosemary over the top of loaves.

11-Let loaves rise again until double, about 45 min

12-Bake at 375 for 15-20 mins until lightly browned.

13-Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter.

Oil and Vinegar Dipping Sauce for Bread

Verde

Enchiladas Verde, I got the recipe from Americas Test Kitchen (click here). Really good but a lot of work, just as good as any restaurant. I am not a fan of cumin so I reduce the amount a lot, and I also used jalapenos and the canned tomatillos (for more on tomatillos and a good salsa click here).

Spaghetti Carbonara

Serves 4
Calories per serving: 412

Ingredients
3 slices bacon
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1/3 cup low-fat (1-percent) milk
1 large egg8 ounces spaghetti
1 cup frozen peas
1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese

1-Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Drain pan and dry bacon on paper towels; keep the skillet on the heat. Add the oil and onion (I like mushrooms so I added them here), and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.




2-Whisk together the milk and egg in a large serving bowl until well combined. Stir in the onion.

3. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook according to the directions on the package.

4. While pasta is cooking, slice baguette thinly on bias. Place slices on sheet pan. Lightly rub with flat side of garlic clove, and brush on a little olive oil and sprinkle basil. Place into oven on top rack for 5 to 7 minutes, until golden.

5. Two minutes before the spaghetti is done, stir in the peas. Drain and immediately transfer to the milk mixture. Toss until the pasta is well-coated. Add the cheese, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and toss well. Crumble the bacon into small pieces over the spaghetti, and toss. Serve immediately.



I was a bit nervous pouring raw egg on pasta and then eating, but the pasta is hot enough and it instantly cooks the add. It was very yummy!!

Grilled Chicken Cashew Mango Salad

Oh yeah that's a mouth full to say and a mouth full to taste! Costco had yummy mangos so we are adding them to everything!

Salad Greens (I used roman, spinach, iceberg and red cabbage)

carrots, cucumber, any veggie you like

diced mango's

diced cashews

diced grilled chicken ( we had BBQ chicken the night befor and I cooked up a few extra plain)

Dressing

I used my magic bullet and mixed

1 peeled mango pieces

1 + tsp of lime juice (to taste)

1 to 2 tsp Olive Oil

salt and pepper

I really don't measure I go my look, taste and texture. It was so yummy!

Summer Sizzel on the Grill

I love to BBQ in the Summer, and I love summer veggies! Try some yummy Sweet Potato French Fries, or Squash to add some awesome flavor to your meat.

Sweet Potato Fries

Peel and Cut into the size of fries you want, cover will a little olive oil, salt and pepper cook on baking sheet at 350 for 15-20 min, I like them to have a little crunch so I go for 15 min, or wait for them to brown on the ends

or Try this version Super Sweet Fries (my sister in law got us hooked on)

1 lg sweet potato

1-2 tsp of cinnamon

1-2 tbs of olive oil

Brown sugar

Peel Potato and cut as desired Coat with olive oil until evenly coated but not soggy Add desired amount of cinnamon and stir until mixed Spread single layer of fries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle desired amount of Brown sugar on top of fries. We have experimented with cooking degrees because we couldn't remember from the show but we find that 425 for about 40-45 minutes works. Just until they start to brown on the tips.

Squash

wash, slice, cover in a little EVOO salt pepper, spread even on baking sheet 350 20 min

Free Pass to local Museums

For More Info go to theculturepass.com

Bird Nest Cookies
12 oz butterscotch chips or semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 C peanut butter
1 (5oz) can crunchy Chinese noodles

peanuts, jelly beans, M&M's or what ever you would like to top them with!

Melt butterscotch, peanut butter together in double boiler. Mix in noodles. Spoon onto wax paper, add your "egg topping" refrigerate until harden. keep refrigerated

How to Boil Eggs

Nope, I'm not kidding there is a technique to this, so you don't get broken shells!

*** Bring raw eggs to room temperature before you start!!!***

Saucepan half full with warm water, carefully lower eggs into water, bring to a boil. Turn the heat down immediately to simmer and set timer for 15 min. Remove eggs and put into bowl filled with cold water. When eggs are cool, place back into clean egg carton.

Easter Egg Dye

1/4 tsp. food color

3/4 Cup boiling water

1 tsp. vinegar

Happy April

The first day of April

For those for follow NieNie it means new Silhouette's

If you read her blog you know her struggle

In honor of Nie we will be making family Silhouette today

Below is link if you would like to make them also

http://www.ehow.com/how_2267239_make-silhouette-art-piece.html

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

So I got this email from one of my friends. Starving for chocolate with none in the house I pulled the email out and made it. SO YUMMY. It is like Chocolate Chip Muffins.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 LARGE coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

AFTER POST EDIT:

This is Julie, we tried it, fun to make, really easy, smelled yummy, BUT, hard as a rock after cooling. I think my microwave is way more than 1000 Watts, will try an cook for half the time, because I cant give up on such an amazing idea and it worked for Amanda, maybe it is the crazy Kansas weather!

Go Green, Saving some Green and Keeping it Clean

Vinegar the wonder Cleaner

Cleaning with vinegar:
*Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
*Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.
*Rid a faucet of lime deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.

*Stainless still sinks can be cleaned the same way, then dry out with cloth and take a soft towel dipped in olive oil to polish up the sink, it help with water spots.
Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. (Because it is not harmful let the kids so this!)
Spray shower doors with full-strength white distilled vinegar after you’ve squeegeed the glass, or before you step in and turn on the water. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don’t remain on the glass.
Shine pennies by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted white distilled vinegar.

It's Spring Make Some Ice Cream

This is a yummy super fresh tasting Ice Cream

Tuttie Fruitie Ice Cream

4 bananas mashed

4 lemons (juiced)

4 oranges (juiced)

4 cups sugar

2 quarts half & half

mix together and pour into ice cream maker, mix untill desired cool, icy thickness.

St Paddy's Day

Corn Beef and Cabbage anyone? Here is the thing about Corn Beef, it really is like turkey, not so much in the taste but in the tradition, you only cook a whole one up once a year, usually with the same side dishes on the same day. I find eating to much of it makes me tired (and a little gassy)Click here for the recipe and some St Patricks Day facts I posted last year.

Lotion Recipe

So one of the women I work with shared this recipe with me for a nice creamy lotion. I got all of the ingredients at the Dollar General Store.
1-15 oz Sleepy Time Baby Lotion
1-4.5 oz Creamy Petroleum Jelly
1-4 oz Vitamin E Skin Cream

Mix all together. I reused an old bottle of lotion to put it in, or you can put in tubbies for gifts. I had some peppermint extract so I added that. I am sure you could add any scent to customize it to yourself. It is super dry here so this combination works a lot better for me than the Aveeno.

For the LOVE of Shrimp

This taste'y dinner will be my treat for My Valentine!

Pineapple Shrimp Tacos

Salsa

Diced Pineapple
Diced red pepper
Cilantro
Green onion
* add a few tsp of sauce to salsa to make it wet

Opt. Serrano chili

Sauce

Equal parts of butter and honey
½ tsp of lawerys or Ms Dash


Cook Shrimp in butter

Serve in double white corn tortillas and top with Mexican white cheese or mozzarella

Feeling the Love

Remember your 20's. Oh the time when you did take care of yourself! I remember wearing nice outfits, getting dressed and cute everyday, wearing perfume/body spray. Making sure I met my needs, intellectual (going to school) spiritual (church and enjoying it) social (meeting with friends often). I ate well, rested well, exercised. Made my signifigant other a daily priority on my list. AHW what happy times, I really loved myself, and those around me. Ten years later I still do, just allot more to do in a day and stuff gets missed of "MY NEEDS" list. I know I am a better, woman, wife and mother when I do take care of myself so share the love and enjoy a homemade spa day!

Start with a soak in the tub. Try a all natural Oatmeal Milk bath to sooth and moisturize your skin.

Oatmeal Milk Bath

1/2 Cup Oats

1/2 Cup Powdered Milk

Grind Oats in coffee grinder or blender until they are a power, mix in powdered milk. Add to bath water soak at least 15 min and pat dry.

Once you are done soaking, help out your feet with a sugar scrub to soften and smooth the bottom of your feet.

1 cup coarse raw sugar
1/3 cup olive oil

10 drops essential oil (I love lemon or lavender)

Mix together. Scrub bottom of feet, may also scrub with a pumice stone. I use this daily in the shower.

Last try a Almond Oatmeal Honey Facial Scrub

1 C oats

1 C almonds

1/2 C honey

Grind oats and nuts to make a "scrub" consistency then add honey. First place warm wash cloth on face then scrub face and rinse with warm water.

Hope you feel like a new you!

Oprah's Best Life Ever

I love Suze Ormen, her advice always seems very practical and right on with what will bring you financial success. Oprah is offering her new book with a game plan for 2009 to feel safe in the current economy, you can download the book for free until January 15!!
Click HERE

I clicked, and saved to my computer, in less the 10 seconds, definitely worth your time!

Happy New Year

We are almost a whole week into this wonderful New Year, I do have a list of goals that I would like to accomplish this year, some personal and some goals for our family. We have chosen a theme for this year of 2009.
"A Family Affair: Learning and Growing Together"

This theme is posted on the door going out to our garage, to remind us each day of our goals for the year. I am less worried about picking out the flaws in myself and trying to change them, and much more interested in gaining knowledge and experience that will improve my life and the lives of my family.

So welcome New Year: Chinese year of the OX
Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in ox years tend to be painters, engineers, and architects. They are stable, fearless, obstinate, hard-working and friendly.
What is the Chinese year animal of your birth year?
Click Here

Homemade Marshmallows

Homemade Marshmallows

3 TBS Powdered Gelatin

2 Cups Cold Water

2 Cups Sugar

2 Egg Whites

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Butter (For Greasing Pan)

Foil

In a medium sized saucepan soak the gelatin in the cold water.

After the gelatin has softened about 10 min.

Then add the regular sugar and then dissolve over low heat for approximately 8 mins. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Once gelatin has cooled in a mixing bowl with wire attachment beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Next slowly mix in powdered sugar, mix well. On low speed slowly pour in the cooled gelatin mixture. Increase the speed and beat until mixture is thick and white. (The volume should double in size & form peaks.




Prepare cookie sheet or baking pan depending on the thickness of marshmallows you wish.
Line the pan with foil then coat with butter then sprinkle powdered sugar.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and spread out then sprinkle with more powdered sugar. Let set our overnight or for 3 hours. The marshmallows should be light and spongy when set.

I cut the marshmallows with a knife and scooped out the recipe also suggest to turn over on cutting board and remove foil and cut into cubes and then roll in more powdered sugar.

Last Enjoy! They are wonderful!
This recipe is from the Food Network from Bobby Flay!

This is my Gift to You

Oatmeal Carmelitas.

My sister in law who we love to call Aunt Bethany (from Christmas Vacation) tantalizes our taste buds with theses yummy treats! So as my gift to all of you here is the recipe to share! Merry Christmas!

Aunt Bethany's Carmelitas

HOT MIX

40 light caramels

5 tbs. light cream or canned milk

Start to melt caramels and cream together and while making the dry mix

DRY MIX

1 1/4 C flour

1 1/4 C quick oats

1/2 C pecans

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 C brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 C melted butter

Combined all dry mix with butter and press into 9x3 lightly greased pan. (SAVE about 1/4 cup to sprinkle on top) Bake at 350 for 10 min, then spread Hot Mix , allow to stand for a few min then add 1-1/2 C of chocolate chips over Hot Mix, sprinkle remaining Dry Mix and bake 10 min more. Enjoy!

Fun Cakes

So I needed to make a cake for a Christmas party so I had some fun.

I made a regular Devils Food cake but used loaf pans. Divide batter into 2 pans and bake as directed.

Let cool

Cut tops to make level and frost the top of one and then place the other one on top.


Frost as usual...try something different

Have fun and enjoy all the fun things you can do!

Front

Top

Back Side

I made all the decorations with colorflow and and just had fun!

Carmel Corn

Carmel Corn

3 quarts (or 12 cups) of popped popcorn (1/2 cup un popped)
1 C sugar
1/2 C butter (one stick)
1/4 light corn syrup
1/4 t baking soda
1/2 t vanilla
food coloring optional
Combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, let it boil for 2 minutes until golden in color. Stir in baking soda and vanilla (and food coloring if desired). Pour over popcorn and mix. Lay out on a baking sheet to let cool. Break apart into pieces.