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.

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).

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

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.

Sugared Almonds

2 cups Nuts
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water place all ingredients in a cast iron skillet turn on high until it begins to boil. Stirring constantly

Lower temp to med/high cooking until thick and sugary.

Take off heat and stir until nuts become real sugary put back on heat and glaze nut

Place nuts on pan separate with a fork.

I am Thankful for Craft

Create a Thankful, Thanksgiving Turkey. Cut and glue on colored paper or card stock.

The Begining of Fall

If you live in Arizona only the nights are feeling the slightest like Fall weather, and maybe if you get up early enough you can open your windows for and hour and get some fresh air. It is the week of null for me. All the Halloween is packed up and put away, I am trying to get rid of the last candy (so I don't eat it) and there is no rush to get ready for Thanksgiving yet. We have been taking advantage of our local parks enjoying some outdoor fun. It was also time for us to renew our Phoenix Zoo Membership.

Why do I love my Zoo membership

1. No guilt if I don't see everything (I always feel like I have to "get my monies worth"

2. Great safe outdoor place to burn off energy and a little exercise for me

3. Petting the goats ( I really do love goats Jet Stream is our favorite)

4. Merry-Go-Round (buy the 10 ride pack it is the cheapest)

5. Two playgrounds the giant tree and in the summer the splash park

6. Pack your own lunch (another money saver)

7. We love animals, and the baby Zebras are so cute

8. Discounts on Zoo lights

9. The Rhino's (my then 20 month old informed all at the exhibit that they "have a naked butt"

10. An all ready paid for last minute activity that works 7 days a week 363 days a year that is always fun.

Pumpkin Spice Play Doh

Pumpkin Play Doh

Smells so good you may want to eat it, but don't

5 1/2 cups flour

2 cups salt

8 tsp cream of tarter

3/4 cups vegetable oil

1 container pumpkin pie spice

orange food coloring (2 part yellow, 1 part red)

4 cups of water

Cook over medium heat untill all lumps are gone

add the liquid first then the dry.

kneed on a flour surface, if mixture is too wet add in flour and kneed until you get "play-doh" consistency

** it takes alot of food coloring and I did kneed in flour at the end.

Easy Fall Fun

Our 2 2/1 year old loves to decorate for Halloween, above are some fun easy crafts she has done. Flying Hand Bats, Paper Plate Spider Web, Triangle Witch, and some coloring fun, we find it to be a scary delight!
I Cheat YUMMY Peach Pecan Pancakes

Pancake Mix
Canned Peaches or Frozen
1/2 tsp Cinnamon or Cinnamon Plus Spice Blend
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/4 cup crushed pecans

Mix all together and cook as directed on pankcake mix.

Yummy Fall treat that is easy to make and great to eat.

Pumpkin Spice Kisses

ReDo on the cookies using less Pumpkin and rolling them in Raw Sugar.

This recipe came from a great sight called Picky Palate

I tried the cookies and they taste great but mine did not turn out as beautiful as shown on the site.

Pumpkin Spice Blossoms

1 Spice Cake Mix 18.25 oz
14 oz can Libby’s Pumpkin
½ Cup sanding sugar (I used Raw sugar on some of my cookies)
1 bag Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses (could not find so I used the Hersey with Peanut Butter, and Hershey's with Carmel)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer beat the cake mix and pumpkin until well combined, about 45 seconds. With a cookie scoop, scoop dough and roll top half in sanding sugar (dough is sticky) then place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until cooked through. Quickly transfer to a cooling rack and immediately press kisses into the center of each cookie. I immediately place cooling rack into the fridge for 15 minutes so the kisses don’t melt. About 36 cookies.

***Julie's notes****

I found the cookies to be too wet to roll in the sugar so I sprinkled it on some of mine. When I make them again, I don't the recipe needs the whole can of Libby's. I will add a little at a to the cake mix until it resemble a cookie dough, then roll in sugar. They are so EASY, and taste really yummy perfect for fall, easy to do with kids.

***Gigi's notes****

age 2 1/2

helped un wrap Kisses (ate a few)

dumped in cake mix and helped stir

"smashed" in some of the kisses

Sprinkled Raw sugar (alot on the floor)

lots of fun and they tasted good too!

Halloween Fun

Here is some Halloween fun that even the littlest crafter can do. This is listed on the Martha Stewart Web site at this link.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/glow-stick-spider?autonomy_kw=glow%20in%20the%20dark%20spiders&rsc=image_6

I can't wait to try this one with Masen. I think he will really have fun with this one!!! Here is what you will need.

Tools and Materials

6-inch glow stick

Eye hook

6-inch Styrofoam ball

Hot-glue gun

3-inch Styrofoam ball

2 mini glow sticks

8 glow necklaces

Clear elastic

Glow-Stick Spider How-To

1. Make the body: Snap the 6-inch glow stick, and shake. Screw an eye hook into the 6-inch Styrofoam ball, center it, and secure it with low-temperature hot glue. Insert the glow stick through the side of the ball, leaving about 1 1/2 inches exposed. (To insert the glow stick, use the end of the glow stick to scoop out a bit of the Styrofoam, then exert a lot of pressure to push the stick into the ball.)
2. Make the head: Insert the exposed portion of the glow stick into the 3-inch Styrofoam ball. Take two mini glow sticks and snap them. Insert them into the head for eyes.
3. Make the legs: First, activate the glow necklaces by bending and then shaking them. Insert the glow necklaces into the 6-inch Styrofoam ball -- four on each side, about 1 inch apart.
4. Tie a length of clear elastic to the eye hook, then hang the spider from a tree branch or a hook.

Sorry I can't Wait

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fall and Halloween, I am dreaming of the cooler weather, nightly walks and did I already mention HALLOWEEN!!! I am just crazy for it, bring on the Pumpkin everything! I will be having Candy Corn for breakfast. Even before we had children we have always dressed up and carved a pumpkin, made our house scary and gone crazy with candy! So While it is still to hot to think of going outside, welcome to my dream of Fall of and HALLOWEEN!

Crafty and Good to Eat

Can you see the possibilities, glueing letters, making Name Necklaces, I Spy letter "X" Alphabet soup, Letter pasta and meat balls! A yummy pasta salad, What fun. All of this for 1.49 at your local Trader Joe's

Grandma's Granola

10 cups - oats
1 cup rolled wheat germ
1/2 lb coconut
2 cups sunflower seeds
3 cups nuts
1 cup sesame seeds
2 t cinnamon
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup oil (I used 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup coconut oil)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup molasses
1 1/2 t salt
1 T vanilla

Mix everything and pour out on to cookie sheet cook for 20-30 min at 350

Loved making this with my 2 1/2 year old, there are so many things she could dump and poor.

**What I would change for next time
only 1/2 cup of oil (still use coconut)
only 1/4 cup of molasses
and if it is still a little moist and more oats and cook longer

We have eaten it as cereal, in yogurt, on top of cinnamon and sugar apple baked until apples soft. on top of ice cream of just by the hand full!